MONDAY JUNE 30

TWO ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH JOHNSON CITY SHOOTING

JOHNSON CITY POLICE OFFICERS RESPONDED TO A SHOTS FIRED CALL AT THE CHERRY STREET PARKING AREA AROUND 3:20 AM SUNDAY. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A VERBAL ARGUMENT LED TO GUNFIRE. TWO PEOPLE SUFFERED GUNSHOT WOUNDS. ONE WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE, THE OTHER WAS TRANSPORTED TO AN AREA HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. MOMENTS AFTER THE INCIDENT, OFFICERS APPREHENDED TWO SUSPECTS. 18 YEAR OLD MORLAND WHITELY OF JOHNSON CITY IS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT. 18 YEAR OLD DRAKE BLACKBURN OF JONESBOROUGH IS CHARGED WITH ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT.

SULLIVAN CO COMMISSION PROPOSES FY 2026 BUDGET WITH 9 CENT TAX INCREASE

THE SULLIVAN COUNTY COMMISSION PASSED A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 ON FIRST READING LAST WEEK, THAT INCLUDES A 9 CENT PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. SULLIVAN COUNTY MAYOR RICHARD VENABLE SAID ON WJCW’S IN TOUCH PROGRAM, THAT THE JAIL AND HIGHWAY SERVICES ARE TWO MAIN FOCAL POINTS IN THE BUDGET. NEARLY 15 MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO HIGHWAY FUNDS, WITH 56.1% GOING TOWARD HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE MAINTENANCE. 21.7 MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THE JAIL, WITH MOST OF THAT GOING TOWARDS JOBS AND OTHER NECESSITIES TO OPEN THE JAIL. A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD BEFORE SECOND READING OF THE BUDGET EXPECTED AROUND THE SECOND WEEK OF JULY.

I-40 REOPENS ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION AT STATE LINE

MARK NAGI WITH THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAID THE THEY’VE REOPENED ONE LANE OF INTERSTATE 40 IN EACH DIRECTION AT THE TENNESSEE/NORTH CAROLINA STATE LINE. THIS COMES AFTER FLOODING AND A ROCK SLIDE CLOSED THE INTERSTATE NINE DAYS AGO, AND ONE WEEK BEFORE THE 4^TH OF JULY HOLIDAY WEEKEND. NAGI ADDED THAT DRIVERS SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING IN THE AREA, DUE TO WORKERS STILL BEING PRESENT.

TN TOURISM BREAKS REVENUE RECORD FOR 4^TH STRAIGHT YEAR

ACCORDING TO THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM IN TENNESSEE BROKE REVENUE RECORDS FOR THE 4^TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN 2024, BRINGING IN NEARLY 150 MILLION VISITS, AND MORE THAN 31 BILLION DOLLARS. ALICIA PHELPS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NORTHEAST TENNESSEE TOURISM ASSOCIATION SAID THE STATEWIDE NUMBERS FROM 2024 ARE A GREAT INDICATOR OF HOW THE REGION IS PERFORMING, AND THAT 2025 IS ALREADY OFF TO A STRONG START, SAYING IT WAS THE LARGEST 1^ST QUARTER THEY’VE EVER SEEN. SHE SAID THE REGION IS AT AN ADVANTAGE, BECAUSE IT DOESN’T RELY ON JUST ONE TYPE OF ACTIVITY.

MOUNTAIN CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER ANNOUNCES JOB WITH CLEAN SPARK

THE MOUNTAIN CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING STARTED WITH A BOMBSHELL ANNOUNCEMENT. JASON BRYAN, A PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER, ANNOUNCED THAT HE TOOK A JOB WITH CLEANSPARK JUNE 2^ND. CLEANSPARK WANTS TO CONSTRUCT A 30-MEGAWATT BITCOIN MINING OPERATION ON 50 ACRES OF LAND ALONG HIGHWAY 421 AND RAINBOW ROAD. BRYAN ADDED HE WOULD NOT VOTE OR PARTICIPATE IN FUTURE DISCUSSIONS. THE PUBLIC HAS EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE MINE, ITS POTENTIAL TO AFFECT MOUNTAIN CITY RESIDENTS’ RETIREMENT, AND THE OVERALL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. DESPITE PUBLIC OPPOSITION, MAYOR JERRY JORDAN IS FOCUSING ON THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF A NEW BUSINESS IN MOUNTAIN CITY. PLANNING COMMISSIONERS RECOMMENDED APPROVING A ZONING CHANGE FOR THE 178 RAINBOW PROPERTY.

WEST RIDGE STUDENT IDENTIFIED AS DROWNING VICTIM

THE SULLIVAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS IDENTIFIED 16 YEAR OLD KEYTIN REECE, AS THE PERSON WHO DROWNED AT WARRIORS PATH STATE PARK EARLY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THE RISING JUNIOR AT WEST RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL DOWNED WHILE SWIMMING WITH FRIENDS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, AND HIS BODY WAS RECOVERED LATER IN THE DAY.

JONESBOROUGH MAN FACING BURGLARY 7 THEFT CHARGES

SHORTLY AFTER 7:30 AM ON JUNE 12^TH, JOHNSON CITY POLICE RESPONDED TO A BUSINESS IN THE 3600 BLOCK OF WEST MARKET STREET WHERE A GLASS DOOR HAD BEEN SHATTERED WITH A BRICK. SECURITY FOOTAGE SHOWED A SUSPECT BREAKING THE GLASS, ENTER THE BUSINESS, AND TAKE MERCHANDISE VALUED AT 280 DOLLARS. THE SAME DAY SHORTLY AFTER 9:15 AM, POLICE RESPONDED TO A BUSINESS IN THE 900 BLOCK OF NORTH STATE OF FRANKLIN. SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWED A MAN FITTING THE SAME DESCRIPTION THROWING AN OBJECT DESTROYING THE GLASS DOOR, BUT NOT ENTERING THE BUILDING. THROUGH TIPS THE MAN WAS IDENTIFIED AS 27-YEAR-OLD BAILEY WILLIAMS OF JONESBOROUGH. ON JUNE 26^TH HE WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH BURGLARY, ATTEMPTED BURGLARY, AND THEFT OF PROPERTY UNDER 1,000 DOLLARS.

EMORY& HENRY PLACED ON PROBATION BY ACCREDITATION ASSOCIATION

EMORY AND HENRY UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED FRIDAY IT HAS BEEN PLACED ON PROBATION FOR GOOD CAUSE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS COMMISSION ON COLLEGES. A STATEMENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY READS, ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT THE OUTCOME WE HAD HOPED FOR, WE ARE ENCOURAGED THAT THE COMMISSION HAS RECOGNIZED OUR SIGNIFICANT RECENT PROGRESS IN ADDRESSING OUR FINANCIAL POSITION AND OUR POTENTIAL TO REMEDY THE DEFICIENCIES WITHIN THE SANCTION PERIOD. IT’S REPORTED THAT THE DECISION WAS BASED ON FINANCIAL RECORDS FROM 2023-2024. THE UNIVERSITY SAID IT’S TAKEN STEPS TO ADDRESS THEIR BUSINESS MODEL, PROVIDING APPROPRIATE CONTROL AND DISCIPLINE TO BUSINESS PRACTICES TO ENSURE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OPERATES IN A RESPONSIBLE, COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER.

BRISTOL VA OFFICIALS WARN AFTER SOMEONE SCAMMED OUT OF $5K

BRISTOL VIRGINIA OFFICIALS ARE WARNING THE PUBLIC OF AN EMAIL INVOICE SCAM, AFTER A RESIDENT WAS SCAMMED OUT OF 5,000 DOLLARS. ACCORDING TO CITY MANAGER RANDALL EADS, A FRAUDULENT EMAIL WAS SENT TO A LOCAL PROPERTY OWNER, THAT APPEARED TO HAVE COME FROM A CITY OFFICIAL. EADS ADDED THAT THE FBI IS NOW PART OF THE INVESTIGATION. HE ADDED THAT CITY OFFICIALS WILL NEVER ASK FOR MONEY THROUGH A WIRE TRANSFER. ALL CITY EMAIL ADDRESSES END WITH @BRISTOLVA.ORG OR @BRISTOLVA.GOV. IF YOU RECEIVE A SIMILAR EMAIL, YOU SHOULD REACH OUT TO AUTHORITIES.

TEMPS HEAT UP AS GAS PRICES REMAIN COOL AHEAD OF HOLIDAY TRAVEL

U.S. AIRSTRIKES IN IRAN CAUSED PETROLEUM FUTURES TO SPIKE LAST WEEK, WITH OIL CREEPING UP TO 78 DOLLARS A BARREL. THAT QUICKLY DISSIPATED BY LAST MONDAY, AND BY THE END OF THE WEEK, OIL PRICES WERE WHAT THEY WERE PRE-CONFLICT. WITH INDEPENDENCE DAY AROUND THE CORNER, AND 61.6 MILLION HOLIDAY TRAVELERS PREPARING TO HIT THE ROAD THIS WEEK, GAS PRICES MAY INCREASE SLIGHTLY. HERE IN THE TRI CITIES GAS IS SELLING FOR AN AVERAGE OF 2.91 A GALLON IN JOHNSON CITY, 2.83 IN KINGSPORT AND BRISTOL. THOS PRICES ARE DOWN THREE CENTS FROM A WEEK GO, 21 CENTS A GALLON LOWER THAN THE SAME DAY ONE YEAR AGO.

BRISTOL FARMER’S MARKET TO BEGIN WEDNESDAY HOURS JULY 2^ND

THE STATE STREET FARMER’S MARKET WILL LAUNCH ITS FIRST WEDNESDAY MARKET OF THE SEASON ON JULY 2^ND, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY EACH WEEK TO SHOP FOR HANDMADE CRAFTS, FRESH BAKED GOODS, AND LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE JUST AS THE MOST ANTICIPATED CROPS OF SUMMER BEGIN TRICKLING IN. BEGINNING WEDNESDAY JULY 2^ND, THE MARKET WILL BE OPEN FROM 2 TO 6 PM EACH WEDNESDAY, AND FROM 8AM TO NOON EACH SATURDAY. WEDNESDAY MARKETS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SEPTEMBER, AND SATURDAY MARKETS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF OCTOBER. ALL MARKETS ARE HELD AT DOWNTOWN CENTER, AT 810 STATE STREET.

SEARCH WARRANT FINDS NARCOTICS & ILLEGAL DRUG SALE ITEMS IN BUCHANAN CO

THREE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE ROWE AREA OF BUCHANAN COUNTY WERE ARRESTED FRIDAY, AFTER POLICE DISCOVERED ILLEGAL NARCOTICS AND SEVERAL ASSETS ALLEGEDLY PURCHASED WITH DRUG SALE PROFITS. ACCORDING TO THE BUCHANAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, AFTER EXECUTING A SEARCH WARRANT OFFICERS SEIZED SIGNIFICANT QUANTITIES OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS THAT INCLUDED FENTANYL, MUSHROOMS, COCAINE, AND MARIJUANA. IN ADDITION, SEVERAL ITEMS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN PURCHASED WITH PROCEEDS FROM ILLEGAL DRUG SALES WERE CONFISCATED, INCLUDING FIVE VEHICLE, THREE MOTORCYCLES, A SIDE-BY-SIDE UTILITY VEHICLE, TWO TRAILERS, AND NUMEROUS FIREARMS. 65-YEAR-OLD JOSEPH KEEN, 65-YEAR-OLD WANDA KEEN AND 38-YEAR-OLD NICHOLAS KEEN ARE EACH CHARGED WITH DISTRIBUTION OF A SCHEDULE I OR II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. ADDITIONAL CHARGES ARE EXPECTED.

MORELY RECEIVES LIFE IN PRISON AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY OF MISSING MAN’S MURDER

JACOB MORELY, A MAN FOUND GUILTY IN 2023 FOR THE MURDER OF CODY BIRCHFIELD, WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FRIDAY. BIRCHFIELD’S BODY WAS FOUND BURIED AND HIDDEN UNDER MORLEY’S HOUSE IN MARCH 2022. BIRCHFIELD HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPORTED AS MISSING. MORELY WAS FOUND GUILTY OF BIRCHFIELD’S MURDER ON FEBRUARY 3^RD. HE WAS PREVIOUSLY CHARGED WITH 1^ST DEGREE MURDER, ABUSE OF A CORPSE AND TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE.

CARTER CO CRACKS DOWN ON INTERNET CRIMES TARGETING CHILDREN

LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CARTER COUNTY IS INTENSIFYING EFFORTS TO COMBAT INTERNET CRIMES TARGETING CHILDREN, AS OFFICIALS REPORT AN INCREASE IN OFFENDERS BENDING OR BREAKING THE RULES. SHERIFF MIKE FRALEY EXPRESSED CONCERNS OVER THE GROWING NUMBER OF PREDATORS USING THE INTERNET TO FIND VICTIMS. THE CARTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE COLLABORATES WITH THE INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN TASK FORCE. SPECIAL VICTIMS INVESTIGATOR PRESTON WHITE, WHO MANAGES THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY AND ONLINE CASES, SAID THAT OFFENDERS OFTEN CRATE FAKE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, USING FALSE NAMES BUT REAL PHOTOS TO CONCEAL THEIR IDENTITIES. SINCE ASSUMING HIS ROLE IN DECEMBER, WHITE HAS FILED OVER 10 COURT CASES AND HAS TRACKED DOWN OFFENDERS USING TIPS FROM THE TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, AND ANONYMOUS MESSAGES SENT THROUGH THE CARTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE FACEBOOK PAGE.