FRIDAY AUGUST 15

SECTION OF W OAKLAND AVE TO REOPEN, MARKETPLACE INTERSECTION TO CLOSE

WORK TO IMPROVE WEST OAKLAND AVENUE IS SOON TO CONCLUDE, AND THE SECTION BETWEEN WEST MOUNTAINVIEW ROAD AND MARKETPLACE BOULEVARD WILL REOPEN ON AUGUST 18^TH. ON AUGUST 18^TH, MARKETPLACE BOULEVARD WILL CLOSE AT THE INTERSECTION WHERE IT CONNECTS TO WEST OAKLAND AVENUE. THIS IS NECESSARY TO JOIN THE EXISTING MARKETPLACE BOULEVARD TO THE NEW WEST OAKLAND AVENUE, THE CLOSURE IS EXPECTED TO LAST ABOUT ONE MONTH, OR UNTIL ALL NECESSARY WORK IS COMPLETED. 

MAN ACCUSED OF STATUTORY RAPE IN SULLIVAN CO

A MAN WAS ARRESTED IN SULLIVAN COUNTY SATURDAY AND CHARGED WITH 3 COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED STATUTORY RAPE, FOLLOWING AN INDICTMENT BY A GRAND JURY. ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, LOGAN B STARNES WAS INDICTED IN JULY, ARRESTED SATURDAY, AND RELEASED ON BOND SUNDAY. ACCORDING TO THE GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT, STARNES ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED THREE COUNTS OF STATUTORY RAPE BETWEEN OCTOBER 6^TH AND 7^TH 2024. HE’S ACCUSED OF ENGAGING IN UNLAWFUL SEXUAL ACTS WITH A PERSON OLDER THAN 13 AND YOUNG THAN 18 YEARS OF AGE. COURT DOCUMENTS ADDED THAT STARNES WAS AT LEAST 10 YEARS OLDER THAN THE VICTIM. HIS NEXT COURT APPEARANCE IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 10^TH.

ETSU HOPES TO HAVE STUDENTS IN HOTELS MOVED TO CAMPUS BY END OF SEPTEMBER

AS THE FALL SEMESTER APPROACHES, EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IS PREPARING FOR ANOTHER LARGE INCOMING FRESHMAN CLASS. NEARLY 100 STUDENTS WILL LIVE IN A NEARBY HOTEL DUE TO LACK OF AVAILABLE STUDENT HOUSING. JOE SHERLIN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT LIFE AND ENROLLMENT, HOPES THAT STUDENTS ACCOMMODATED IN THE HOTEL WILL BE ON CAMPUS BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER. SHERLIN MENTIONED THAT STONE HALL IS CURRENTLY BEING RENOVATED WITH NEW AMENITIES AND FINISHES, AND THAT IT’S PLANNED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS CURRENTLY IN THE HOTEL. SHERLIN SAID ETSU HOPES TO CREATE MORE RESIDENCY IN THE FUTURE AS THE CAMPUS’S POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW. ETSU STUDENTS HEAD BACK TO CLASSES AUGUST 25^TH.

CARTER CO RECEIVES $200K DONATION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

THE ELIZABETHTON/CARTER COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY RECEIVED A GENEROUS DONATION FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR. THE AGENCY RECEIVED 200,000 DOLLARS TO SUPPORT ONGOING EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITY REGARDING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. ACCORDING TO CARTER COUNTY MAYOR PATTY WOODBY, THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM IS THANKFUL FOR THE ANONYMOUS DONATION. CARTER COUNTY EMA DIRECTOR CATHY UMRICHIN SAID THE FUNDS WILL HELP THE TEAM STAY PREPARED AND RESPONSIVE.

AI WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEM INSTALLED AT 10 SCHOOLS IN SEVIER CO

SEVIER COUNTY SCHOOLS IS USING A NEW TOOL TO KEEP STUDENTS SAFE. EVOLV IS A WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEM THAT USES SENSORS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IMAGE ANALYSIS TO DETECT POTENTIAL PROHIBITED ITEMS BEING BROUGHT INTO SCHOOL BUILDINGS. SEVIER COUNTY ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS TONY OGLE SAID THE SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED AT THEIR JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES. THE PRINCIPALS AT THE 10 SCHOOLS HAVE WORKED TO SET UP THE SYSTEMS AND PREPARE STUDENTS AS THEY RETURN FROM SUMMER BREAK. HE SAID STUDENTS MAY HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE AS THEY GET USED TO GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM, BUT OGLE HOPES IT WILL FLOW WELL ONCE THEY GET ACCLIMATED.

MAN EXPECTING TO MEET MINOR ARRESTED

A MOUNT CARMEL MAN WHO TRAVELED TO WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA BELIEVING HE WOULD MEET A JUVENILE AND TAKE THEM TO TENNESSEE FOR SEXUAL ACTS HAS BEEN ARRESTED. 51-YEAR-OLD RICHARD HOLTZCLAW WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT INCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA SHERIFF’S OFFICE, DEPUTIES DISCOVERED HOLTZCLAW WAS IN POSSESSION OF A SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, AND THAT HE WAS WANTED IN HAWKINS COUNTY. HE WAS CHARGED WITH 40 COUNTS OF TAKING INDECENT LIBERTIES WITH CHILDREN, 1 COUNT OF ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION AND KIDNAPPING, 2 COUNTS POSSESSION, REPRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, SOLICITATION AND FACILITATION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, 1 COUNT OF USE OF COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS TO FACILITATE CERTAIN OFFENSES INVOLVING CHILDREN, AND 1 COUNT OF POSSESSION OF A SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.

MAN ARRESTED IN JOHNSON CITY ACCUSED OF MURDERING 19-MONTH-OLD IN NC

A MAN ARRESTED IN JOHNSON CITY THURSDAY IS WANTED ON CONNECTION WITH THE 2023 DEATH OF A 19-MONTH-OLD IN NEWBERN NORTH CAROLINA. LAWRENCE EVERTT IS CURRENTLY AWAITING EXTRADITION TO CRAVEN COUNTY. KIYVEON PITTS WAS ARRESTED IN THE NEW BURN AREA. THE CHILD’S DEATH IS THE RESULT OF GUNSHOT WOUNDS RECEIVED INSIDE A VEHICLE IN JULY OF 2023, IN WHAT AUTHORITIES ARE CALLING A GANG RELATED SHOOTING. THE CHILDS FATHER WAS ALSO WOUNDED, BUT WAS TREATED AT A HOSPITAL AND RELEASED. BOTH EVERTT AND PITTS ARE CHARGED WITH FELONY MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDER.

TRAFFIC SHIFT STARTS TODAY ON I-26 IN UNICOI CO

A TRAFFIC SHIFT WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON ON INTERSTATE 26 IN UNICOI COUNTY, AS CREWS GET CLOSE TO FINISHING REPAIRS FROM HURRICANE HELENE. T-DOT STATE IN A RELEASE, THAT AS OF THURSDAY, ONE LANE OF THE INTERSTATE IS OPEN IN EITHER DIRECTION BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 39 AND 40 IN ERWIN. THE LANES USE THE EASTBOUND SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE, WHILE WORK OCCURS ELSEWHERE. T-DOT SAID THE OUTSIDE LANE OF TRAFFIC WILL OPEN ON EACH SIDE OF I-26 THIS AFTERNOON. THE RELEASE STATED THAT THE INSIDE LANES OF THE I-26 BRIDGE WILLS TAY CLOSED AS CREWS FINISH UP REPAIRS IN THE AREA. THE ENTRANCE RAMP FROM JACKSON LOVE HIGHWAY TO I-26 WEST WILL ALSO REOPEN.

ONE ARRESTED AFTER GREENEVILLE FOOD CITY ROBBERY INVESTIGATION

ONE PERSON WAS ARRESTED AFTER AN INVESTIGATION INTO A ROBBERY AT FOOD CITY IN GREENEVILLE. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM THE GREENEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, OFFICERS RESPONDED TO A REPORTED ROBBERY AT THE FOOD CITY ON SNAPPS FERRY ROAD ON AUGUST 8^TH. POLICE SAID IN THE RELEASE, THAT AFTER A REVIEW OF SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE, WITNESS STATEMENTS, AND OTHER INVESTIGATIVE FINDINGS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ALLEGED ROBBERY DID NOT OCCUR AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY REPORTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. HOWEVER, THE INVESTIGATION DID LEAD TO THE ARREST OF CHAMPAIGNE CANSLER OF MOSHEIM. WHO WAS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ROBBERY. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT STATED NO FURTHER INFORMATION WOULD BE RELEASED AT THIS TIME.

FORMER VFD TREASURER WROTE $26K IN CHECKS TO HERSELF

THE FORMER TREASURER OF THE LAKE VIEW FIRE DEPARTMENT IN HAWKINS COUNTY WAS INDICTED AFTER SHE ALLEGEDLY DEPOSITED AT LEAST 26,000 DOLLARS OF DEPARTMENT FUNDS INTO HER PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT. ACCORDING TO TENNESSEE COMPTROLLER JASON MUMPOWER, HIS OFFICE INDICTED PEGGY LONG ON ONE COUNTY OF THEFT OF PROPERTY 10,000 DOLLARS OR MORE BUT LESS THAN 60,000 DOLLARS. LONG’S INDICTMENT COMES AFTER AN INVESTIGATION THAT BEGAN WHEN FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS REPORTED SUSPICIOUS FINANCIAL ACTIVITY. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT LONG HAD WRITTEN SEVEN UNAUTHORIZED CHECKS TO HERSELF BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF JANUARY AND MARCH. THOSE CHECK’S REPORTEDLY TOTALED 25.000 DOLLARS.

DEMOLITION STARTS AT HAMPTON HIGH FOOTBALL FIELD

DEMOLITION WORK HAS BEGUN AT HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL’S FOOTBALL FIELD AND CONCESSION STAND, MORE THAN 10 MONTHS AFTER FLOODWATERS FROM HELENE IMPACTED THE AREA. BLEACHERS WERE TORN DOWN ON THURSDAY, MAKING WAY FOR BRAND-NEW ONES. BRANDON YOUNG, CARTER COUNTY SCHOOLS PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR SAID THEY’RE REBUILDING A COMPLETELY NEW STADIUM, HOPEFULLY STATE OF THE ART, SOMETHING THE STUDENTS CAN BE PROUD OF. HE SAID THE A NEW FIELD HOUSE, NEW CONCESSION STAND, AND NEW BLEACHERS WILL BE INSTALLED ALONG WITH A TURF FOOTBALL FIELD. RENOVATIONS ALSO STARTED INSIDE HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL. YOUNG SAID THEY ANTICIPATE HAVING STUDENTS BACK IN THE HIGH SCHOOL BY JANUARY 1^ST AFTER CHRISTMAS BREAK.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO BRISTOL TN CITY CHARTER EXPOSES RIFT WITH CITY SCHOOLS

MAJOR CHANGES PROPOSED TO THE BRISTOL TENNESSEE CITY CHARTER HAVE CAUSED A RIFT BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND BRISTOL TENNESSEE CITY SCHOOLS. SEVERAL PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT THE SCHOOLS SYSTEM, INCLUDING CREATING AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY, A CHANGE THAT WOULD GRANT CITY COUNCIL POWER TO SET THE AMOUNT OF TUITION NON-RESIDENT STUDENT PAY, AND SETTING A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF NON-RESIDENTS. OTHER CHANGES INVOLVE THE SCHOOLS SYSTEMS FINANCES, INCLUDING MAKING THE CITY RECORDER SERVE AS THE TREASURER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AS WELL AS GIVING THE CITY RECORDER THE POWER TO DISBURSE FUNDS. DR ANNETTE TUDOR SAYS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HASN’T BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS, AND DOESN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY’RE BEING PROPOSED. MAYOR MARK HUTTON SAID THE CHANGES ARE A NECESSARY STEP TO BETTER ALIGN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.