FRIDAY JULY 18

2 DEAD, 3 INJURED IN WRONG WAY CRASH ON BRISTOL HIGHWAY IN BLUFF CITY

THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL HAS RELEASED ITS PRELIMINARY REPORT FOR A TUESDAY NIGHT CRASH ON HIGHWAY 11-E. TWO PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND THREE PEOPLE, INCLUDING TWO JUVENILES WERE INJURED IN THE CRASH. THE THP REPORT STATES A HONDA ELEMENT WAS TRAVELING EAST IN THE WESTBOUND LANES ON 11 E NEAR ROCK LANE. THE HONDA IMPACTED A KIA SORENTO TRAVELING WEST IN WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS AN OFF-SET HEAD ON STYLE COLLISON. THE DRIVER OF THE HONDA IDENTIFIED AS 45-YEAR-OLD ROBERT EUBANKS WAS KILLED IN THE CRASH. A PASSENGER IN THE KIA IDENTIFIED AS 46-YEAR-OLD CHARLIE SHEPHERD WAS ALSO KILLED IN THE CRASH. THE DRIVER AND TWO JUVENILE PASSENGERS IN THE KIA WERE INJURED. 

MAN FACES MURDER CHARGE IN CARTER CO FENTANYL OD

A MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH 2^ND DEGREE MURDER AFTER A FATAL OVERDOSE IN CARTER COUNTY IN JULY 2023. THE CARTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORTED THAT 41-YEAR-OLD BOBBY CARR OF BLUFF CITY WAS INDICTED AND CHARGED WITH 2^ND DEGREE MURDER AND THE SALE OF SCHEDULE II NARCOTICS. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE, AN INVESTIGATION BEGAN JULY 1^ST 2023, AFTER DEPUTIES WERE CALLED TO A HAMPTON HOME FOLLOWING A 911 CALL ABOUT A DEAD MAN. INVESTIGATORS REPORTEDLY FOUND EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST DRUGS HAD BEEN USED IN THE HOME, AND AN AUTOPSY REVEALED THE 53 YEAR OLD’S CAUSE OF DEATH TO BE FENTANYL OVERDOSE. THE VICTIM REPORTEDLY BOUGHT THE DRUGS THAT LED TO HIS DEATH FROM 52 YEAR OLD THOMAS FARMER OF JOHNOSN CITY. FARMER WAS INDICTED ON THE SAMES CHARGES AS CARR IN MARCH 2924. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE LEARNED FARMER BROUGHT THE DRUGS FROM CARR BEFORE SELLING THEM TO THE VICTIM.

EASTMAN CONTRACTOR’S WILL TRANSFER TO ANOTHER CONTRACTOR

IN A WARN NOTICE POSTED TUESDAY, CAM INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS IN KINGSPORT SAID ALL 413 OF ITS WORKERS ARE TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER CONTRACTOR, TURNER INDUSTRIES. THE NOTICE COMES AFTER EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY SELECTED TURNER INDUSTRIES FOLLOWING A REBIDDING PROCESS. ACCORDING TO THE WARN NOTICE, THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW CONTRACTOR UPON SEPARATION ON AUGUST 3^RD 2025. TURNER IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN PROVIDING SERVICES TO EASTMAN ON AUGUST 4^TH.

SALES REP WHO ATTEMPTED TO DEFRAUD QUILLEN VA MEDICAL CENTER SENTENCED

A FORMER SURGICAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE WHO PLEADED GUILTY IN JANUARY TO DEFRAUDING THE JAMES H QUILLEN VA MEDICAL CENTER WAS SENTENCED WEDNESDAY. 54 YEAR OLD ERIC SMITH WAS SENTENCED TO SERVE 12 MONTHS AND ONE DAY IN PRISON AFTER CONSPIRING AND BRIBING TWO VA EMPLOYEES TO HELP HIM AND ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL DEFRAUD THE MEDICAL CENTER. HE PLEADED GUILTY IN JANUARY 2025. ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, SMITH WAS ORDERED TO PAY 120,433 DOLLARS IN RESTITUTION. IN JANUARY 2024, SMITH AGREED TO PAY THE RESTITUTION AND FORFEITED HIS SEIZED BANK ACCOUNTS WITH MORE THAN 156,000 DOLLARS. HE ALSO RECEIVED THREE YEARS OF SUPERVISED RELEASE UPON HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON. THE OTHER SALES REPRESENTATIVE 36-YEAR-OLD LANDON CHESTER WILL HAVE HIS SENTENCING HEARING ON AUGUST 5^TH.

MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY OPENS IN TELFORD

A NEW FARMER-OWNED MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY IS CELEBRATING ITS GRAND OPENING IN TELFORD THURSDAY MORNING. THE RIBBON WAS CUT AT THE APPALACHIAN PRODUCERS COOPERATIVE DURING A CEREMONY AT THE FACILITY ON HIGHWAY 11E. LOCAL AND STATE LAWMAKERS SPOKE AT THE EVENT. THE APC OPENED AND STARTED TAKING APPOINTMENTS IN EARLY JUNE. PRIOR TO ITS OPENING, LOCAL FARMERS ONLY OPTION WAS TO OUTSOURCE CATTLE TO MEAT PROCESSING FACILITIES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. GENERAL MANAGER MARK ZANATI SAID THAT AREA FARMERS WILL SAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY BY NO LONGER HAVING TO SEND THEIR ANIMALS OUT OF STATE FOR MEAT PROCESSING.

ONE INJURED AFTER PURSUIT, WRONG WAY CRASH IN SULLIVAN CO

CHARGES ARE PENDING FOLLOWING A POLICE PURSUIT THAT RESULTED IN A THREE-VEHICLE CRASH, LEAVING ONE PERSON INJURED IN SULLIVAN COUNTY. A REPORT FROM THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL INDICATED THAT THE CRASH OCCURRED AT 11:01 AM WEDNESDAY AT HARR ROAD IN SULLIVAN COUNTY. THE THP SAID A LINCOLN MKZ WAS ALLEGEDLY FLEEING FROM THE WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN A FELONY PURSUIT, WHEN THE DRIVER CROSSED STATE LINES INTO SULLIVAN COUNTY. THE DRIVER BEGAN HEADING SOUTH ON HARR ROAD ALONG WITH A DODGE DURANGO AND A CHEVY SILVERADO. THE LINCOLN REPORTEDLY TURNED AROUND DURING THE PURSUIT AND BEGAN TRAVELING NORTH, WHEN THE DRIVER STRUCK THE DOOR OF THE DODGE, THEN COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH THE CHEVY. THE DRIVER OF THE LINCOLN 27-YEAR-OLD ANTHONY WIDNER WAS INJURED IN THE CRASH. NO OTHER INJURIES WERE REPORTED. CHARGES AGAINST WIDNER ARE PENDING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA.

52 INDICTED ON DRUG CHARGES IN SCOTT CO

THE SCOTT COUNTY VIRGINIA SHERIFF’S OFFICE ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY THAT 52 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INDICTED ON A NUMBER OF DRUG CHARGES. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE, THE SCOTT COUNTY GRAND JURY HANDED DOWN 91 INDICTMENTS ON 52 PEOPLE ON JUNE 20^TH. THE INDICTMENTS INCLUDE CHARGES OF POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, AND DISTRIBUTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. THE PEOPLE WHO WERE INDICTED LIVE ACROSS SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA IN SCOTT, WISE, DICKENSON, TAZWELL AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES. ADDITIONALLY, ONE PERSON FROM WEST VIRGINIA, SIX FROM TENNESSEE AND TWO FROM KENTUCKY WERE ALSO INDICTED. A ROUNDUP OPERATION OF THOSE CHARGED WAS CONDUCTED ON JULY 9^TH.

WOLFE OUTLINES GOALS UPON RETURN AS JONESBOROUGH MAYOR

THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF GROWTH IN JONESBOROUGH SINCE KELLY WOLFE LASTY SERVED AS THE TOWN’S MAYOR. NOW APPOINTED TO SERVE AS TOWN MAYOR AGAIN, WOLFE SAY’S HE’LL FOCUS ON ADDRESSING THAT GROWTH, AND DEFERRED NEEDS BETWEEN NOW AND THE 2026 MAYORAL ELECTION. THE BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMAN TAPPED THE ALDERMAN WOLFE TO STEP IN AFTER CHUCK VEST VACATED THE JOB AFTER ACCEPTING THE JOB OF WASHINGTON COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR. THE BMA RECENTLY PASSED A 28% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, WHICH WILL ADD AN ESTIMATED 810,000 A YEAR TO THE TOWN’S BUDGET. WOLFE SAID A GREAT DEAL OF THAT SIMPLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS DEFERRED NEEDS LIKE PAVING, POLICE AND FIRE RADIOS, AND POLICE CRUISERS.

NEW FOOTAGE RELEASED IN SHOOTING DEATH OF KENTUCKY JUDGE

NEW VIDEO HAS BEEN RELEASED IN THE SHOOTING OF DISTRICT JUDGE KEVIN MULLINS IN HIS CHAMBERS BY LETCHER COUNTY SHERIFF SHAWN “MICKEY” STINES. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT THE LETCHER COUNTY COURTHOUSE BACK ON SEPTEMBER 19^TH 2024. SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE FROM INSIDE MULLINS’ CHAMBER SHOWS THE JUDGE SPEAKING WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE AROUND 2:35 PM. STINES ENTERS THE CHAMBERS AT 2:39 PM. THE ROOM THEN CLEARS LEAVING THE TWO ALONE. FOR NEARLY 10 MINUTES STINES AND MULLINS HAVE A CONVERSATION. STINES MAKES A VIDEO CALL TO SOMEONE THEN AGAIN, A MINUTE LATER. HE THEN ASKS FOR MULLINS’ PHONE AND MAKES A CALL. THAT’S WHEN THINGS CHANGE. STINES GETS UP FROM HIS CHAIR, REACHES FOR HIS GUN, LOCKS THE DOOR, AND FIRES MULTIPLE SHOTS.

RIDELY CONVICTED ON 18 COUNTS

A GREENE COUNTY JURY RETURNED WITH 18 GUILTY VERDICTS AGAINST 47-YEAR-OLD SCOTTY LYNN RIDLEY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. RIDLEY HAD BEEN INDICTED ON 4 COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED 1^ST DEGREE MURDER. THE JURY FOUND HIM GUILTY ON TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED 1^ST DEGREE MURDER, AND TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED 2^ND DEGREE MURDER. RIDELY FIRED SHOTS AT HAMBLEN COUNTY DEPUTIES WHILE FLEEING, AND THEN AGAIN AFTER ARRIVING AT HIS GILBRETH ROAD HOME IN MOSHEIM. HE WAS ALSO FUND GUILTY ON FOUR COUNTS OF EMPLOYING A FIREARM DURING THE COMMISSION OF OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT A DANGEROUS FELONY, THREE COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, SIX COUNT OF FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT, AS WELL AS ONE COUNT OF FELONY EVADING. SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 22^ND.

GREENEVILLE POLICE ARREST MAN ON GREENE, HAMBLEN WARRANTS

A MAN WANTED ON WARRANTS IN GREENE AND HAMBLEN COUNTIES WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY GREENEVILLE POLICE WEDNESDAY EVENING. WHILE ON PATROL, A POLICE OFFICER SAW BRANDON HARVILLE INSIDE THE MARATHON MARKET ON WEST BERNARD AVENUE. HAVING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE THAT HARVILLE, WHO WAS LISTED AS HOMELESS, HAD ACTIVE WARRANTS, HE WAS DETAINED. WARRANTS WERE CONFIRMED AND HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. HE’S CHARGED IN GREENE COUNTY WITH VIOLATION OF PROBATION.

TRUCK DRIVER CHARGED AFTER CRUSHED CARS FALL ONTO HIGHWAY IN GREENE CO

A TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVER IS FACING CHARGES AFTER SEVERAL CRUSHED CARS FELL OFF THE TRAILER HE WAS PULLING. ACCORDING TO MOSHEIM POLICE, THE TRAILER WAS OVERLOADED AND UNCOVERED. AS THE TRUCK ATTEMPTED TO PASS UNDER THE INTERSTATE 81 UNDER PASS AT EXIT 23, THREE CRUSHED CARS WERE KNOCKED OFF THE TRAILER AND ONTO HIGHWAY 11 E. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CREWS INSPECTED THE BRIDGE FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. AUTHORITIES SAID THE TRUCK WAS TRAVELING FROM KNOXVILLE AND HEADED TOWARD JOHNSON CITY.

GRAY MAN ARRESTED FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES ARRESTED A GRAY MAN, AFTER RESPONDING TO A CALL IN THE 100 BLOCK OF CEDAR PARK STREET SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT JULY 17^TH. THEY FOUND THE VICTIM WALKING ALONG THE ROAD. SHE STATED THAT 38-YEAR-OLD RALEIGH MEEKS WAS INTOXICATED AND STRUCK HER SEVERAL TIMES. A RECORDS CHECK REVEALED THERE WAS AN ACTIVE TEMPORARY ORDER OF PROTECTION WITH THE VICTIM LISTED AS THE PROTECTED PARTY. MEEKS WAS FOUND STILL AT THE RESIDENCE AND CHARGED HIM WITH AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT AND VIOLATION OF AN ORDER OF PROTECTION.