WCSO CHARGES JOHNSON CITY MAN WITH TWO COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
A JOHNSON CITY MAN IS FACING ASSAULT CHARGES AFTER AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED SUNDAY IN THE 500 BLOCK OF OLD STAGE ROAD. WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO A RESIDENCE WHERE 28 YEAR OLD KHALIL SCOTT POINTED A FIREARM AT AND THREATENED TO SHOOT TWO PEOPLE. SCOTT LEFT THE AREA PRIOR TO OFFICERS ARRIVING. HE WAS APPREHENDED MONDAY BY THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL. THEY CHARGED HIM WITH LEAVING THE SCENE OF A CRASH, DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE AND DUE CARE. THE WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHARGED SCOTT WITH TWO COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.
DRIVER CHARGED WITH DUI AFTER TREE IMPALES CAR
THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE THAT WAS IMPALED BY A TREE ON APRIL 20TH, HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH DUI AND CHILD ENDANGERMENT. THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL REPORTED THAT A TOYOTA COROLLA WAS TRAVELING WEST IN THE HOUSTON VALLEY ROAD/TARLTON CIRCLE AREA OF STATE ROUTE 107 JUST AFTER 4 PM. THE VEHICLE REPORTEDLY WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, INTO A DITCH LINE, THEN HIT A DOWNED TREE. THE TREE ENTERED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, THE VEHICLE SPUN, AND CAME TOR EST PARTIALLY IN THE ROADWAY. THE DRIVER IDENTIFIED AS 31 YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER MOIR JR WAS INJURED. A 7 YEAR OLD PASSENGER WAS UNINJURED. MOIR WAS CHARGED WITH DUI, CHILD ENDANGERMENT, POSSESSION OF A HANDGUN WHILE INTOXICATED, IMPLIED CONSENT, DUE CARE, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE.
LEE CO WOMAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS ON METH CHARGES
A PENNINGTON GAP WOMAN WAS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON TUESDAY. MELINDA DAVIS WAS SENTENCED AFTER SHE WAS CONVICTED ON METH DISTRIBUTION CHARGES. THE COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE STATED THAT DAVIS WILL BE PLACE ON SUPERVISED PROBATION INDEFINITELY AFTER SHE SERVES OUT THE SENTENCE.
COMPANY CITED AFTER WORKPLACE DEATH OF GRAY MAN IN GATLINBURG
APPALACHIAN STAFFING SERVICE HAS BEEN CITED FOLLOWING THE WORKPLACE DEATH OF A GRAY MAN AT THE GATLINBURG CONVENTION CENTER IN DECEMBER OF 2023. THE TENNESSEE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY HEALTH ADMINISTRATION SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO THE SCENE TO DETERMINE WHO EMPLOYED THE WORKER, AND WHAT LED TO THE DEATH, AFTER RECEIVING A REPORT REGARDING A WORKPLACE FATALITY. THE VICTIM WAS IDENTIFIED AS 66 YEAR OLD JEFFERY COKER OF GRAY. ACCORDING TO THE TOSHA REPORT, NONE OF THE EMPLOYEES HAD RECEIVED TRAINING TO RECOGNIZE THE HAZARDS OF FALLING, AND THE PROCEDURES TO MINIMIZE THESE HAZARDS. IN TOTAL, APPALACHIAN STAFFING SERVICE HAS BEEN ORDERED TO PAY 8,200 DOLLARS.
NEW LAW WILL REQUIRE ALL VIRGINIANS TO HAVE CAR INSURANCE
IF YOU DON’T HAVE CAR INSURANCE IN VIRGINIA, IT MAY BE TIME TO DO SOME SHOPPING. A NEW LAW IS SET TO TAKE EFFECT IN VIRGINIA ON JULY 1ST, REQUIRING ALL VEHICLES IN THE STATE TO BE INSURED. IN 2023 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED A BILL ENDING A DMV PROGRAM ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO PAY 500 DOLLARS TO REGISTER AN UNINSURED VEHICLE. GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN SUBSEQUENTLY SIGNED THE BILL, ALLOWING IT TO GO INTO EFFECT BEGINNING JULY 1ST. THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES SAID THAT MORE THAN 6,000 VIRGINIANS CURRENTLY PAY THE 500 DOLLAR FEE TO DRIVE AROUND UNINSURED. PEOPLE CAUGHT DRIVING AN UNREGISTERED VEHICLE COULD HAVE THEIR LICENSE SUSPENDED AND FACE MORE THAN 700 DOLLARS IN POTENTIAL FINES.
FOUR NETN HIGH SCHOOLS RANKED IN TOP 20
FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS IN NORTHEAST TENNESSEE RANKED IN THE TOP 20 IN THE STATE. U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT’S RANKED THE TOP 20 HIGH SCHOOLS IN TENNESSEE BASED ON MULTIPLE CRITERIA, INCLUDING COLLEGE READINESS, STATE ASSESSMENTS, UNDESERVED STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND GRADUATION RATE. SCIENCE HILL HIGH SCHOOL WAS RANKED TENTH, DUE TO THEIR 96 PERCENT GRADUATION RATE AND A COLLEGE READINESS SCORE OF 40.5. THE REGION TOOK THE LAST THREE SPOTS OF THE TOP 20 WITH GREENEVILLE HIGH BEING RANKED EIGHTEENTH, DOBYNS-BENNETT COMING IN AT 19TH, AND UNIVERSITY SCHOOL AT 20.
FENTANYL FOUND AT WEST GREENE HIGH SCHOOL
FENTANYL FOUND AT WEST GREENE HIGH SCHOOL LAST WEEK. A JANITOR AT THE SCHOOL FOUND THE DRUG WHILE CLEANING THE GIRLS BATHROOM. THE BATHROOM WAS IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN AND AN INVESTIGATION BEGAN IMMEDIATELY. THE SCHOOL HAS ADDED MORE STAFF TO MONITOR THE BATHROOMS TO PREVENT THE INCIDENT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. ALL ADMINISTRATORS CARRY NALOXONE, THE OPIOID REVERSAL DRUG, IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
BALLAD HEALTH AND ANTHEM INSURANCE REACH AGREEMENT
BALLAD HEALTH AND ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF VIRGINIA REACH A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THE DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES WILL BE EXPANDED AS A WAY TO STREAMLINE PROCESSES. ANTHEM SAYS THAT THE AGREEMENT WILL ADDRESS HEALTHCARE AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CARE FOR THOSE BEING SERVED IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. THE AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT NEARLY 50 THOUSAND ANTHEM MEMBERS.
JONESBOROUGH MAKES USA TODAY’S TOP TEN SMALL TOWN LIST
JONESBOROUGH MAKES U-S-A TODAY’S TOP LIST OF SMALL TOWNS. TENNESSEE’S OLDEST TOWN WAS RANKED NINTH ON THE LIST, JUST AHEAD OF WINTERSET, IOWA. THE NUMBER ONE SPOT BELONGS TO LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN. IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE LIST AND READ MORE, YOU CAN GO TO 10BEST.USATODAY.COM.
VIRGINIA ENERGY OFFERING $1M IN RESILIENCE PLANNING
VIRGINIA ENERGY IS OFFERING $1 MILLION IN RESILIENCE PLANNING FOR COMMUNITIES. THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY IS TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FEDERAL RENEWABLE ADVANCING COMMUNITY ENERGY RESILIENCE PROGRAM. THE PLAN WILL HELP STUDY ELECTRICAL GRID AND DEMOGRAPHICS TO DEVELOP PLANS TO HAVE ENERGY SYSTEM ENDURE MAJOR WEATHER EVENTS.
BRISTOL TN APARTMENT FIRE
NO INJURIES REPORTED IN TUESDAY NIGHT APARTMENT FIRE IN BRISTOL, TENNESSEE. THE FIRE OCCURRED AT THE VILLAGE SQUARE APARTMENTS. THE OWNER SAYS THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A GAS GRILL LEAK. TWO BALCONIES AND A ROOF WERE AFFECTED.
BRISTOL VA CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERING RAISING LODGING TAXES, WHILE LOWERING TRASH FEES
THE BRISTOL, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING RAISING THE LODGING AND RESTAURANT MEAL TAXES IN THE CITY, WHILE LOWERING TRASH COLLECTION FEES. THE LODGING TAX WOULD INCREASE FROM THIRTEEN TO FIFTEEN PERCENT, WHILE THE MEAL TAX WOULD GO UP TO ELEVEN PERCENT FROM TEN PERCENT. IN 2023, THE COUNCIL VOTED TO RAISE TRASH FEES FROM $33 TO $60 TO HELP OFFSET EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE NOW-CLOSED LANDFILL, BUT WAS THEN LOWERED TO $48. THE NEW PROPOSED TRASH RATE WOULD BE $38. THE COUNCIL STILL HAS TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED THE TAX RATES AND TRASH COLLECTION FEES.
EV CHARGERS INSTALLED IN JOHNSON CITY
BRIGHTRIDGE INSTALLS THE FIRST NON-TESLA FAST CHARGERS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN THE REGION IN JOHNSON CITY. THE CHARGERS ARE LOCATED IN THE PUBLIC PARKING LOT ON CHERRY STREET. BRIGHTRIDGE RECEIVED A $300,000 GRANT TO INSTALL THE LEVEL THREE CHARGERS IN 2022 AND ARRANGED A LEASE WITH JOHNSON CITY FOR THE LOCATION. THE CHARGERS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF E-V INFRASTRUCTURE, AS THEY ARE USED FOR LONG DISTANCE TRIPS AND CAN ADD EIGHTY PERCENT CHARGE IN LESS THAN 45 MINUTES.
LOCAL LAWMAKERS VOTE ON TEACHER GUN BILL LOCAL STATE REPRESENTATIVES VOTE FOR BILL TO ALLOW TEACHERS TO CONCEAL CARRY ON TUESDAY. THE BILL PASSED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY A 68-28 VOTE WITH TWO MEMBERS VOTING “PRESENT NOT VOTING.” THE SENATE PASSED THE BILL EARLIER THIS MONTH. THE BILL WOULD ALLOW TEACHERS TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES IF THEY MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS. THERE MUST BE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN LOCAL POLICE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THE PRINCIPAL FOR THE TEACHER TO CARRY THE GUN. THE TEACHERS WOULD ALSO HAVE TO SUBMIT A BACKGROUND CHECK, PASS A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION, RECEIVE 40 HOURS OF FIREARMS TRAINING, AND SUBMIT THEIR FINGERPRINTS. ALL OF THE AREA LAWMAKERS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE BILL. THE BILL NOW HEADS TO GOVERNOR BILL LEE.
