DOMTAR—REPURPOSE
DOMTAR PLANS TO RE-PURPOSE ITS KINGSPORT PLANT. IT’S BEEN IDLE SINCE APRIL AND WON’T RESUME UNCOATED FREESHEET MANUFACTURING. THAT’S IMPACTED MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE. DOMTAR ANNOUNCED PLANS TO ENTER THE LINERBOARD MARKET AND WILL CONVERT THE KINGSPORT PAPER MACHINE. THAT’S EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2023 AND IT’S EXPECTED KINGSPORT WILL EMPLOY ABOUT 160 PEOPLE. DOMTAR WILL INVEST $300 TO $350-MILLION DOLLARS IN THE CONVERSION OF THE OPERATIONS.
6TH—HICKS
AS HE LOOKS AHEAD TO NOVEMBER AND THE PROSPECTS OF REPRESENTING WASHINGTON COUNTY’S 6TH DISTRICT IN THE STATE HOUSE, REPUBLICAN NOMINEE TIM HICKS SAYS THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES HE’LL FOCUS ON. ONE OF THOSE IS THE DRUG ADDICTION PROBLEM, WHICH HE SAYS IS BAD, “THAT’S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY WANT TO TACKLE. ME..BEING A RECOVERING ADDICT MYSELF…IT’S SOMETHING THAT’S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE STRUGGLING WITH IT.” WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS ANOTHER AREA THAT HICKS SAYS IS KEY. HICKS UNSEATED INCUMBENT MICAH VAN HUSS THURSDAY AND WILL FACE DEMOCRAT BRAD BATT IN NOVEMBER. HICKS IS THE SON OF THE LATE BOBBY HICKS, WHO SERVED TWO TERMS IN THE STATE HOUSE FROM THE 6TH DISTRICT.
7TH—ALEXANDER
AGRICULTURE WILL BE A MAIN FOCUS FOR REBECCA ALEXANDER AS SHE’LL REPRESENT THE 7TH HOUSE DISTRICT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. SHE SAYS THERE’S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, “AND HOW WE CAN REVIVE OUR SMALL FARMS AGAIN AND GET BIG GOVERNMENT OFF THE BACKS OF OUR SMALL FARMERS AND TRY TO HELP OUR FARMERS GET GOING AGAIN.” ANOTHER FOCUS WILL BE FULLY FUNDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND EXPANDING BROADBAND ACCESS. ALEXANDER UNSEATED INCUMBENT MATTHEW HILL IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AND IS UNOPPOSED IN NOVEMBER.
MILLIGAN—REMOTE
MILLIGAN UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR 100-PERCENT ONLINE COURSES THIS FALL. COURSES WITH CLINICALS AND LABS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE ON LINE, INCLUDING UPPER-LEVEL NURSING AND ENGINEERING COURSES. TUITION AND FEES WILL REMAIN THE SAME FOR THE ONLINE OPTION EXCEPT ROOM AND BOARD WON’T BE CHARGED. STUDENTS HAVE UNTIL AUGUST 14TH TO DECIDE.
