MAYOR ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT
THE MAYOR OF MOUNT CARMEL HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC ASSAULT AFTER AN INCIDENT THURSDAY NIGHT. THE HAWKINS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ARRESTED 49-YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER SCOTT JONES—WHO REPORTEDLY SAID THAT NO ASSAULT TOOK PLACE. A SHERIFF’S DEPUTY SAID THE VICTIM TOLD HIM THAT SHE AND JONES HAD BEEN ARGUING OVER REMOVING THE TELEVISION FROM HIS ROOM. THAT’S WHEN JONES ALLEGEDLY SHOVED HER TO THE GROUND. A POLICE REPORT NOTED ABRASIONS ON THE VICTIM’S ELBOW. THE VICTIM WAS ADVISED ABOUT ORDERS OF PROTECTION.
BRIBERY CASE SENT TO GRAND JURY
A BRIBERY CASE INVOLVING A FORMER WASHINGTON COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS BEEN SENT TO A WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND JURY. WILLIAM MCMANUS APPEARED IN COURT TODAY AND WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO A PRELIMINARY HEARING. HE TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE’D BEEN INVOLVED IN A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE WHO HAD CHARGES PENDING AND IN EXCHANGE FOR SEX, HE INDICATED HE COULD REDUCE THE CHARGES. MCMANUS WILL RETURN TO COURT AUGUST 17TH.
OVER 250 LAID OFF
257 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LAID OFF STARTING TODAY FROM WORLEY FIELD SERVICES IN SULLIVAN COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. A NOTICE WAS FILED EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE LENGTH OF THE LAYOFFS IS UNKNOWN. WORLEY FIELD SERVICES IS LOCATED AT 1500 ISLAND DRIVE IN KINGSPORT AND ACCORDING TO ITS WEBSITE, THE COMPANY PROVIDES ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES TO CHEMICALS, POWER, MINING AND MINERALS SECTORS.
JC—REOPEN
STARTING MONDAY, THE CITY OF JOHNSON WILL BEGIN A PHASED REOPENING OF SOME CITY FACILITIES. THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW GUIDELINES FROM GOVERNOR BILL LEE AND THE CDC. SOME PARKS AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES WILL RESUME INCLUDING FREEDOM HALL POOL—BY RESERVATION ONLY, PAVILION RESERVATIONS, LITTLE LEAGUE AND BABE RUTH BASEBALL AND THE BATTING CAGES AT WINGED DEER PARK. ON JUNE 8, CARVER RECREATION AND THE LANGSTON CENTRE WILL RE-OPEN ALONG WITH OFFICES AT WINGED DEER. TEMPERATURE CHECKS WILL BE IN PLACE AND MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED. MEMORIAL PARK COMMUNITY CENTER, LEGION STREET POOL AND THE ROTARY PARK SPLASH REMAIN CLOSED ALONG WITH PLAYGROUNDS AND OUTDOOR BASKETBALL COURTS. CITY HALL ALSO RE-OPENS JUNE 8TH.
BALLAD—SEEKING CARE
OFFICIALS WITH BALLAD HEALTH SAY THEY CONTINUE TO SEE PEOPLE NOT SEEKING CARE OVER FEAR OF COVID-19 AND THAT CAN LEAD TO MORE SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS IN THE FUTURE. DR. CLAY RUNNELS IS CHIEF PHYSICIAN EXECUTIVE AT BALLAD AND SAYS BALLAD IS TAKING SEVERAL STEPS TO ENSURE PATIENT SAFETY, “WE’RE CONDUCTING SCREENINGS AND CHECKING EVERYONE THAT ENTERS THE BUILDING…WE ARE REQUIRING FACE COVERINGS WITH EVERY PATIENT, VISITOR, TEAM MEMBER, PHYSICIAN.” ALSO, MANY PUBLIC AND PATIENT CARE AREAS HAVE BEEN RE-DESIGNED TO ALLOW FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING, CLEANING AND DISINFECTING HAVE BEEN INCREASED AND THERE ARE MORE HAND SANITIZING STATIONS.
COVID-19-TESTING-WASHINGTON/GREENE
THE WASHINGTON AND GREENE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE MODIFIED FREE COVID-19 TESTNG HOURS STARTING MONDAY. TESTING WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND NOON MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT 219 PRINCETON ROAD IN JOHNSON CITY AND AT THE GREENE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT 810 CHURCH STREET IN GREENEVILLE. TESTING CONSISTS OF A NASAL SWAB AND RESULTS MAY BE AVAILABLE WITHIN 72 HOURS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT EITHER HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
ELIZABETHTON ELECTRIC RE-OPENS
THE CITY OF ELIZABETHTON CONTINUES ITS PHASED REOPENING OF CITY BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES. STARTING TODAY, THE ELIZABETHTON ELECTRIC SYSTEM’S LOBBY WILL RE-OPEN FOR FULL-SERVICE UTILITY BUSINESS. CITY HALL REMAINS RESTRICTED TO DRIVE-THRU UTILITY PAYMENTS ONLY.
