MONDAY MARCH 17
MAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING JC POLICE OFFICER APPEARS IN COURT
A JOHNSON CITY MAN FACING AN ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE AFTER ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING A JOHNSON CITY POLICE OFFICER WEDNESDAY EVENING APPEARED IN COURT FRIDAY MORNING.  TIMOTHY BLAIR WAS APPOINTED AN ATTORNEY BY JUDGE JOHNATHAN MINGA DURING HIS ARRAIGNMENT. PROSECUTORS FILED A MOTION FRIDAY TO REVOKE BLAIRS BOND, STATING THEY BELIEVE BLAIR IS A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT DECISION WILL BE MADE AT HIS NEXT COURT DATE. IF BOND IS MADE AVAILABLE TO HIM AND HE CAN PAY IT, JUDGE MINGA SAID BLAIR WOULD BE PUT ON HOUSE ARREST WITH AN ANKLE MONITOR WAS ALREADY TOR AND SEVERAL OTHER PRECAUTIONS. BLAIR WAS ALREADY OUT ON BOND FROM AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CHARGE FROM NOVEMBER, AND HAS A CRIMINAL HISTORY DATING BACK TO 1994. HIS NEXT PRELIMINARY COURT DATE IS SET FOR MARCH 27TH.
NO INJURIES AFTER EARLY MORNING FIRE IN BRISTOL VA
THE BRISTOL VIRGINIA FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED IN A STRUCTURE FIRE SATURDAY MORNING ON BRISTOL VIEW DRIVE. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, A CALL REPORTING FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM A BUILDING CAME IN AROUND 1:10 AM SATURDAY. THE RELEASE SAID THE FIRST UNIT ON SCENE OBSERVED A STORY AND A HALF STRUCTURE FULLY INVOLVED WITH 30 TO 40 FOOT FLAMES COMING FROM THE STRUCTURE. THE DEPARTMENT SAID STRONG WINDS IN THE REGION CAUSED THE FIRE TO SPREAD RAPIDLY THOUGH THE BUILDING, AND CREWS IMMEDIATELY BEGAN ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE ANY POSSIBLE OCCUPANTS. THE STRUCTURE INVOLVED IN THE FIRE WAS LOCATED AROUND 40 FEET FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS PRIMARY HOME AND GARAGE, BOTH OF WHICH SUSTAINED MELTED SIDING. THE BUILDING WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

MAN ARRESTED FOR INDECENT EXPOSURE IN KINGSPORT
THE KINGSPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID OFFICERS ARRESTED A MAN WEDNESDAY, AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY EXPOSED HIMSELF TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN AT A SHOPPING PLAZA ON EAST STONE DRIVE. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM THE KINGSPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT, 56 YEAR OLD CLARK RATLIFF OF KINGSPORT WAS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF INDECENT EXPOSURE. OFFICERS RESPONDED TO A DOLLAR TREE ON EAST STONE AMID REPORTS OF INDECENT EXPOSURE. WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED, THEY LEARNED THAT A MALE HAD EXPOSED HIS GENITALS TO A WOMAN AND HER CHILD WHILE THEY WERE SHOPPING AT THE STORE, THEN LEFT IN A BLACK PICKUP TRUCK HEADED TOWARD TARGET. AFTER LOCATING RATLIFF, OFFICERS LEARNED THAT A DIFFERENT WOMAN AND CHILD HAD ALSO BEEN VICTIMIZED BY HIM WHILE SHOPPING AT TARGET. RATLIFF WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE KINGSPORT CITY JAIL.

JOHNSON CITY FIREFIGHTERS CONTAIN BUFFALO MOUNTAIN WILDFIRE AFTER THREE HOUR BATTLE

JOHONSON CITY FIREFIGHTERS CONTAIN A WILDFIRE ON BUFFALO MOUNTAIN AFTER A THREE-HOUR BATTLE SATURDAY. ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE, FIRE FIGHTERS RESPONDED ABOUT 8:30 PM SATURDAY, TO A WILDFIRE ON TOP OF BUFFALO MOUNTAIN, AT BUFFALO MOUNTAIN CITY PARK. THE COMBINATION OF HIGH WINDS AND STEEP TERRAIN PRESENTED CHALLENGES TO FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS. JOHNSON CITY FIRE FIGHTERS ALONG WITH HELP FROM THE TENNESSEE DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND THE EMBREEVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, HAD THE 4 ACRE FIRE UNDER CONTROL IN ABOUT 3 HOURS. NO STRUCTURES WERE INVOLVED IN THE FIRE AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

SR-81 REOPENED FROM WASHINGTON TO UNICOI CO
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HELENE, STATE ROUTE 81 HAS RECONNECTED WASHINGTON AND UNICOI COUNTIES. ACCORDING TO THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, A 1.1 MILE SECTION OF STATE ROUTE 81 WAS COMPLETED WITH GUARDRAIL INSTALLATION, GRADE WORK, THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROCK BUTTRESSES AND FINAL SURFACE PAVING FRIDAY. THE COMPLETED STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WILL REDUCE A ONE HOUR DETOUR OVER 5,400 MOTORISTS HAVE TAKEN DAILY SINCE HELENE. MOTORISTS ARE ASKED TO WATCH FOR ROAD CREWS AS TDOT CONTINUE RESTORING STATE ROUTE 81.

3 JUVENILES CHARGED WITH BURGLARY IN GREENE CO
THREE TEENAGERS WERE APPREHENDED COUNTY FRIDAY MORNING AFTER ALLEGEDLY BREAKING INTO A STORE. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM THE GREENE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO AN ALARM CALL AROUND 1 AM AT THE DOLLAR GENERAL AT 4660 107 CUTOFF. WHEN DEPUTIES ARRIVED, THEY FOUND THE FRONT DOOR OF THE STORE BROKEN, AND DETERMINED SOMEONE HAD ENTERED THE BUILDING. DEPUTIES REVIEWED SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE, WHICH SHOWED THREE SUSPECTS DRESSED IN BLACK, BREAKING INTO THE STORE. DEPUTIES SEARCHED THE NEARBY AREA BUT WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYONE. A CALLER LATER REPORTED SEEING SUSPICIOUS MALES DRESSED IN BLACK, WHO WERE WALKING ALONG CAMP CREEK ROAD. DEPUTIES USED THERMAL IMAGING TO FIND TWO FO THE SUSPECTS, AND ALSO IDENTIFIED AND APPREHENDED THE THIRD. THE SUSPECTS WERE AGES 15, 15 AN 16. ALL THREE WERE FROM FREE WILL BAPTIST FAMILY MINISTRIES, A RESIDENTIAL GROUP HOME FOR JUVENILES. ALL THREE WERE CHARGED WITH BURGLARY AND WILL APPEAR IN GREENE COUNTY JUVENILE COURT.

TN BILL THAT WOULD REGULATE HEMP SALES AMENDED
A PROPOSAL TO REGULATE HEMP PRODUCTS LIKE GUMMIES AND FLOWER IN TENNESSEE JUST TOOK ANOTHER STEP FORWARD, BUT IT’S CHANGING. IN THE BILL AS AMENDED, THESE PRODUCTS WILL NOT BE SOLD IN A CONVENIENCE OR GROCERY STORE. SINCE ITS FIRST READING IN FEBRUARY, THE BILL HAS QUICKLY MOVED THROUGH THE SENATE AND HOUSE. THE BILL ALSO INCLUDED A COUPLE OF OTHER NEW RULES FOR THE HEMP INDUSTRY, INCLUDING BANNING OF SYNTHETIC HEMP, AND A BAN ON ADVERTISING HEMP PRODUCTS AS CURES OR TREATMENTS FOR ANY HUMAN ILLNESS. IT WOULD ALSO MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO SHIP DIRECTLY TO THE CONSUMER. THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMMISSION WOULD ALSO TAKE OVER STATE ENFORCEMENT FOR RETAILERS AND WHOLESALERS. IF IT PASSES, THE ACT WOULD TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1ST 2026.

DOG DIES, OTHERS SICKENED IN BLUFF CITY, AUTHORITIES SAY POISONING POSSIBLE
PET OWNERS IN BLUFF CITY ARE BEING URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION AFTER ONE DOG DIED AND SEVERAL OTHERS FELL ILL, PROMPTING AN INVESTIGATION BY SULLIVAN COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL. BEGINNING THURSDAY, DOG OWNERS REPORTED THEIR PETS EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS SUCH AS LETHARGY, STAGGERING, EXCESSIVE DROOLING, VOMITING, AND SEIZURES. FIVE DOGS IN THE AREAS OF BUNKER HILL, PERRY, AND MOUNT HOLSTON ROADS HAD BEEN AFFECTED, WITH ONE DOG SUCCUMBING TO THE ILLNESS FRIDAY MORNING. AUTHORITIES ARE CONCERNED THAT THE INCIDENTS MAY BE LINKED TO COYOTE BAITING WITH POISONED MEAT, WHICH IS ILLEGAL. PET OWNERS WHO SUSPECT THEIR DOG MAY HAVE BEEN POISONED OR WHO HAVE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE CASE, ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT SULLIVAN ANIMAL CONTROL BY CALLING 423-279-2741.
MULTIPLE CREWS RESPOND TO FIRE AT 421 BOAT RAMP
MULTIPLE FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE DISPATCHED TO A BRUSH FIRE AT THE 421 BOAT RAMP ON SATURDAY NIGHT NEAR THE SOUTH HOLSTON LAKE BRIDGE. EMA DIRECTOR JIM BEAN SAID THE CALL CAME IN AT 10:07 PM SATURDAY. BEAN SAID SEVERAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE WERE ON SCENE. THE 421 AREA EMERGENCY SERVICES VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED AT 11:50 PM THAT THERE WERE NO EVACUATIONS. AS OF 12:17 AM THE FIRE WAS ALMOST 100 PERCENT CONTAINED. CREWS ONS CENE REPORTED NO INJURIES OR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.

MAN CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR ASSAULT AFTER CAUSING CRASH IN CARTER CO
A MAN WAS CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR ASSAULT ON FRIDAY AFTER STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN CARTER COUNTY. A REPORT FROM THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL SAID AN INFINITI QX4 WAS TRAVELING EAST ON US HIGHWAY 19E, WHEN IT WAS STRUCK BY A TOYOTA LANDCRUISER THAT WAS TRAVELING WEST, AND ALLEGEDLY CROSSED THE ROADWAY’S CENTER LINE INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE OF TRAVEL. THE DRIVER OF THE TOYOTA, IDENTIFIED AS 50 YEAR OLD DANIEL PETERSON, WAS CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR ASSAULT AND IMPLIED CONSENT. THE DRIVER AND A PASSENGER IN THE INFINITI WERE REPORTEDLY INJURED, AND CHARGES ARE PENDING AGAINST THE DRIVER.

MARION MAN CHARGED AFTER ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING FAMILY MEMBER

A MARION VIRGINIA MAN WAS CHARGED SATURDAY, AFTER ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING A FAMILY MEMBER. ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA SHERIFF’S OFFICE, DEPUTIES WERE CALLED TO JOHNSTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SHORTLY BEFORE MIDNIGHT, AFTER A SHOOTING VICTIM WAS BROUGHT IN FROM AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN THE MEADOWVIEW AREA ALONG LEE HIGHWAY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE SHOOTING OCCURRED OVER AN ALLEGED DOMESTIC RELATED INCIDENT. 34 YEAR OLD TORRY PERKINS WAS CHARGED WITH ABDUCTION BY FORCE, ASSAULT ON A FAMILY MEMBER, USE OF A FIREARM IN COMMISSION OF A FELONY, AND MALICIOUS ASSAULT.