GAS PRICES FALL

DEMAND IS DOWN, AND GAS PRICES ARE FALLING—ALBEIT AT A SLOW RATE.  THE NATIONAL AVERAGE PRICE IS $3.83 A GALLON, AND THAT’S DOWN 3-CENTS FROM LAST WEEK.  OIL PRICES ARE HOLDING AROUND $90-DOLLARS A BARREL AND TRIPLE-A SAYS GAS PRICES WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO FALL, BUT IT’LL BE SLOW AND STEADY.  IN THE TRI-CITIES, THE AVERAGE PRICE IS $3.33 A GALLON—DOWN 4 CENTS FROM LAST WEEK.

JCDA—SEVIER CENTER REPLACEMENT

THE JOHNSON CITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAS RECEIVED FEDERAL APPROVAL TO MOVE FROM THE JOHN SEVIER CENTER TO A PLANNED 145 UNIT DEVELOPMENT CALLED TAPESTRY AT ROAN HILL—WHICH WILL BE BUILT ON SOUTH ROAN STREET NEAR FOOD CITY.  THE MOVE WON’T TAKE PLACE UNTIL THE DEVELOPMENT IS COMPLETE AND MOVE-IN READY AND HAS MET ALL HUD REQUIREMENTS.  GROUNDBREAKING IS SET FOR LATER THIS YEAR.  THE SEVIER CENTER WILL REMAIN OPERATIONAL WITH ITS SECTION 8 HOUSING THROUGH THE ESTIMATED 18 TO 24 MONTH CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT.  THE TAPESTRY AT ROAN HILL WILL HAVE A NEW 20 YEAR SECTION 8 CONTRACT.  THE SEVIER CENTER WILL THEN BE POSITIONED FOR REDEVELOPMENT.

GET A FLU SHOT

MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY NOW IS THE TIME TO GET A FLU SHOT.  WHEN YOU GET IT THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON, IT’LL REMAIN EFFECTIVE THROUGH THE REST OF THE SEASON.  WHEN YOU DO GET THE SHOT, IT’LL TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR IT TO BE FULLY EFFECTIVE.

MOUNT CARMEL GETS GRANT FOR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

MOUNT CARMEL HAS RECEIVED A $50-THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANT TO CREATE A NEW OUTDOOR CLASSROOM.  MOUNT CARMEL IS ONE OF 25 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION TO BE AWARDED A HOMETOWN GRANT FROM T-MOBILE.  THE CURRENT CLASSROOM—AT THE LIBRARY—IS PINCHED FOR SPACE AND THE NEW SPACE WILL BE AT THE CITY PARK.  IT’LL GIVE MOUNT CARMEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND HOMESCHOOLED STUDENTS A PLACE TO LEARN ABOUT CRAFTS, ECOLOGY AND GARDENING.

WOMAN CHARGED WITH KINDAPPING, OTHER COUNTS

A JOHNSON CITY WOMAN ACCUSED OF KIDNAPPING AND OTHER CHARGES WILL BE ARRAIGNED TODAY.  COURTNEY FAIR IS CHARGED AFTER AN INCIDENT IN THE 1-THOUSAND BLOCK OF JOHN EXUM PARKWAY.  POLICE FOUND A VICTIM WITH A LACERATION AND HE CLAIMS HE WAS PULLED INSIDE A HOME AND BOUND WITH PACKING TAPE.  HE RECEIVED MULTIPLE LACERATIONS DURING A STRUGGLE WITH FAIR, WHO ALLEGEDLY BRANDISHED A KNIFE.  FAIR WAS ARRESTED A SHORT TIME LATER AND WAS TAKEN TO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER.