TWO ARRESTED IN JC HOMICIDE
A FATHER AND SON HAVE BEEN ARRESTED ON MURDER CHARGES IN THE DEATH OF A JOHNSON CITY CONVENIENCE STORE CLERK. 41-YEAR-OLD MARK ANTHONY SEXTON JUNIOR AND 18-YEAR-OLD MARK ANTHONY SEXTON III ARE CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN THE JUNE SECOND DEATH OF TAVA WOODARD. IN ADDITION, THE YOUNGER SEXTON IS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF A FIREARM IN THE COMMISSION OF A DANGEROUS FELONY AND TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE. THE ARRESTS CAME AFTER A MONDAY SEARCH OF A HOME ON FAIRVIEW AVENUE. WOODARD WAS KILLED DURING A ROBBERY AT THE ROADRUNNER AT 408 NORTH BROADWAY STREET. THE SEXTONS ARE JAILED ON $1-MILLION DOLLARS BOND EACH AND WILL BE ARRAIGNED TODAY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY SESSIONS COURT.
SEARCH FOR MISSING MAN
WASHINGTON COUNTY AND JOHNSON CITY AUTHORITIES ARE ASKING FOR HELP IN FINDING A MISSING MAN. 55-YEAR-OLD WESLEY SPURLOCK WAS LAST SEEN MONDAY MORNING NEAR THE WINGED DEER PARK DISC GOLF COURSE. HE’S KNOWN TO FREQUENT WINGED DEER PARK, AND THERE’S CONCERN BECAUSE HE HAS MEDICAL CONDITIONS. SPURLOCK IS A WHITE MALE, 6-FEET TALL, 190 POUNDS. HE WAS LAST SEEN WEARING A GREEN SHIRT, CAMOUFLAGE PANTS AND RED BOOTS. IF YOU SEE HIM, CALL 9-1-1 OR YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
87 LAYOFFS IN JC
87 EMPLOYEES WILL BE LAID OFF AT A JOHNSON CITY FLOORING PLANT. Q.E.P. FILED THE NOTICE THIS WEEK AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SAYS THE LAYOFFS WILL TAKE PLACE AUGUST 9TH. Q.E.P. OWNS THE FORMER HARRIS FLOORING PLANT ON EDDIE WILLIAMS ROAD AND PRODUCES WOOD FLOORING UNDER THE HARRIS BRAND. THE STATE ALSO SAYS A TEAM WILL WORK WITH THOSE IMPACTED.
EARLY VOTING—THIRD HOUSE DISTRICT
SO FAR, EARLY VOTING TURNOUT HAS BEEN LOW FOR A SPECIAL PRIMARY FOR THE THIRD DISTRICT TENNESSEE HOUSE SEAT. TIMOTHY HILL AND STACY VAUGHAN ARE SEEKING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION AND THE WINNER WILL FACE DEMOCRAT LORI LOVE IN AUGUST. THE SEAT WAS VACATED AFTER SCOTTY CAMPBELL RESIGNED IN APRIL AFTER AN ETHICS VIOLATION. HILL HAS BEEN FILLING THE SEAT ON AN INTERIM BASIS. EARLY VOTING ENDS JUNE 17 AND PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IS JUNE 22ND. THE GENERAL ELECTION IS AUGUST 3RD. THE DISTRICT INCLUDES ALL OF JOHNSON AND PARTS OF CARTER, SULLIVAN AND HAWKINS COUNTIES.
MAN ACCUSED OF HITTING WOMAN WITH A 2X4
A BRISTOL MAN IS JAILED WITHOUT BOND AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY HIT A WOMAN WITH A 2X4. BRISTOL VIRGINIA POLICE SAY 48-YEAR-OLD JAMES MOONEYHAM IS CHARGED WITH FELONIOUS ASSAULT. OFFICERS WENT TO A HOME ON VERMONT AVENUE AND FOUND THE WOMAN WITH SEVERAL VISIBLE INJURIES AND SHE WAS ALSO BLEEDING. SHE TOLD POLICE MOONEYHAM HIT HER SEVERAL TIMES, INCLUDING USING THE PIECE OF WOOD. MOONEYHAM WAS FOUND IN THE HOME AND WAS TAKEN TO THE SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA REGIONAL JAIL. A COURT DATE IS PENDING.
KINGSPORT—2024 BUDGET
KINGSPORT’S 2024 BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED ON FIRST READING. THE BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN APPROVED THE PLAN, WHICH HOLDS THE LINE ON PROPERTY TAXES, BUT DOES INCLUDE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN WATER AND SEWER RATES. DEPUTY CITY MANAGER RYAN MCREYNOLDS SAYS THERE’LL BE A 4.5-PERCENT WATER RATE HIKE AND A 5.75-PERCENT SEWER INCREASE. SECOND AND FINAL READING IS SET FOR JUNE 20TH. THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS JULY 1.
MAN FACES NUMEROUS CHARGES
A JOHNSON CITY MAN FACES A LONG LIST OF CHARGES AFTER A JUNE 5TH ACCIDENT. CALEB DARR IS ACCUSED OF LEAVING THE WRECK NEAR SOUTH ROAN AND BUFFALO. POLICE STOPPED DARR ON WEST WALNUT, WHERE THE VEHICLE ROLLED TOWARD AN OFFICER AND STRUCK A POLICE CAR, AND WHILE BEING ARRESTED, DARR ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED TWO OFFICERS. DARR CONTINUED TO RESIST ARREST BEFORE HE WAS SEDATED AND TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. HE WAS LATER RELEASED AND TAKEN TO JAIL.
