THURSDAY AUGUST 21

SETTLEMENT REACHED IN DANIEL BOONE FOOTBALL HAZING CASE

THE LAWSUIT FILED ON BEHALF OF TWO DANIEL BOONE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AGAINST WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOOLS HAS BEEN SETTLED. THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN 2023 AFTER FOOTBALL PLAYERS WERE ALLEGEDLY HAZED AND SEXUALLY ABUSED BY TEAMMATES IN THE LOCKER ROOMS. THE DETAILS OF THE SETTLEMENT, INCLUDING ANY MONETARY VALUES AWARDED, WERE SEALED BY A JUDGE. PARENTS OF THE ALLEGED VICTIM SAID THE SETTLEMENT WAS POSSIBLE DUE TO A LETTER FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT JERRY BOYD SAYING HE ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTS THAT TOOK PLACE, ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE HEAD COACHES AND OTHER COACHES THAT WERE ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM. 

BRISTOL VA GIVES VI PROPERTY OWNER 15 DAYS TO REMEDY ISSUES

THE CITY OF BRISTOL VIRGINIA HAS GIVEN THE OWNER OF THE FORMER VIRGINIA INTERMONT CAMPUS 15 DAYS TO FIX CERTAIN ISSUES AT THE PROPERTY. IF THE CITY’S DEMANDS ARE NOT MET, LEGAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN, ACCORDING TO A LETTER FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY. BRISTOL VIRGINIA HAD PREVIOUSLY SET A DATE OF MONDAY AUGUST 18^TH FOR THE CHINA BASED COMPANY THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN PLAN FOR THE FORMER CAMPUS’S FUTURE.

CITY COUNCIL ASKS FOR GREENEVILLE CITY MANAGER’S RESIGNATION

THE GREENEVILLE CITY COUNCIL FORMALLY REQUESTED THE RESIGNATION FO CITY MANAGER TODD SMITH DURING TUESDAY NIGHTS MEETING. A TIE VOTE ON THE ISSUE WAS BROKEN BY MAYOR CAL DOTY WHO ORIGINALLY PUT THE ISSUE ON THE NIGHTS AGENDA. GREENEVILLE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER CHRITINA POTTS SAID SHE HAD NOT HEARD ANY OF THE ISSUES THAT MAYOR DOTY ADDRESSED IN REQUESTING SMITH’S RESIGNATION. POTTS ALSO SAID SMITH WAS HIGHLY REGARDED WITHIN THE WORKPLACE AND COMMUNITY. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ADDRESS THE MATTER OF APPOINTING AN INTERIM CITY MANAGER IN TWO WEEKS.

LEE CO BOS VOTES FOR 3^RD PARTY AUDIT OF SCHOOL SYSTEM

THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVED A MOTION TO HAVE A THIRD-PARTY AUDIT THE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT COMES AMID CONCERNS OVER THE HANDLING OF FUNDS BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IN JUNE, BANK STATEMENTS REVEALED THAT MORE THAN 200,000 DOLLARS WAS MISSING FROM THE DISTRICT’S ACCOUNTS, WHICH VIRGINIA STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING. BOARD MEMBERS SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE AUDIT IS TO BUILD A SYSTEM THAT PREVENTS FUTURE ABUSE. SUPERVISOR MICHAEL KIDWELL SAID HE SUPPORTS PLACING PEOPLE ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION.

FENTANYL, METH FOUND DURING UNICOI CO TRAFFIC STOP

DEPUTIES IN UNICOI COUNTY REPORTEDLY SEIZED METH AND FENTANYL DURING A TRAFFIC STOP FRIDAY. ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE, CHIEF DEPUTY FRANK ROGERS SAID THAT DEPUTIES PULLED OVER A LEXUS ON 2^ND STREET IN ERWIN EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. ACCORDING TO RIGERS, THREE PEOPLE WERE INSIDE THE LEXUS. THE DRIVER WAS IDENTIFIED AS 48-YEAR-OLD LOU SOLORIO OF JOHNSON CITY. DEPUTIES SEARCH SOLORIO’S PURSE AND FOUND A SUBSTANCE BELIEVED TO BE METH, A GLASS PIPE, AND BAGGIES. A SEARCH OF THE VEHICLE RESULTED IN THE DISCOVERY OF MULTIPLE PACKAGED BAGGIES WITH A WHITE POWDER BELIEVED TO BE FENTANYL. SOLORIO WAS CHARGED WITH SIMPLE POSSESSION, WINDOW TINT VIOLATION, DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE, DRIVING IN POSSESSION OF METH AND POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. A PASSENGER 42-YEAR-OLD MARVIN GREEN OF SEVIERVILLE WAS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE II DRUGS WITH INTENT TO SELL, POSSESSION OF METH FOR RESALE, AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.

CHATTANOOGA MAN FOUND WITH 2,000 FENTANYL PILLS, 60 GRAMS OF POWDER

A CHATTANOOGA MAN WAS FOUND WITH FENTANYL PILLS AND POWDER IN BRISTOL VIRGINIA, AFTER A MUTI AGENCY INVESTIGATION MONDAY. 20-YEAR-OLD JARMAINE CLAYTON WAS FOUND WITH MORE THAN 2,000 FENTANYL PILLS AND AROUND 60 GRAMS OF FENTANYL POWDER. CLAYTON WAS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE A SCHEDULE II DRUG. ADDITIONAL CHARGES ARE PENDING. HE’S BEING HELD IN THE REGIONAL JAIL IN ABINGDON WITHOUT BOND.

GREENE CO ROAD WORK

MOTORISTS TRAVELING ON US 321 IN GREENE COUNTY SHOULD BE AWARE OF UPCOMING ROAD CONSTRUCTION ACTIVATES THAT WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON TRAFFIC. BEGINNING MONDAY AUGUST 25^TH, RESURFACING ACTIVITIES WILL GET UNDERWAY ON A 3.1 MILE SECTION OF U.S. 321, BETWEEN RICKER AVENUE AND US 11E. WHILE THIS WORK IS TAKING PLACE, ON STREET PARKING WILL BE PROHIBITED BETWEEN THE MAIN STREET AND TUSCULUM BOULEVARD INTERSECTIONS IN DOWNTOWN GREENEVILLE. THERE WILL BE INTERMITTENT LANE CLOSURES DAILY BETWEEN 8 AM AND 8 PM. ALL WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE FRIDAY OCTOBER 31^ST CONTINGENT ON FAVORABLE WEATHER. MOTORISTS SHOULD EXPECT DELAYS AND USE EXTREME CAUTION IN WORK ZONES.

ONE DEAD AFTER JOHNSON CITY SHOOTINGBottom of Form

ABOUT 2 AM MONDAY, OFFICERS WITH THE JOHNSON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF SHOTS BEING FIRED AT 2412 NORTH ROAN STREET. WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED, THEY FOUND A MAN IN THE PARKING LOT SUFFERING FROM MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS. A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE SHOOTING WAS THE RESULT OF AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN TWO MENT THAT TURNED PHYSICAL. 37-YEAR-OLD JUSTIN STURDIVANT OF JOHNSON CITY DIED AT THE SCENE. 45-YEAR-OLD JACOB MCGLONE OF SCOTTSBORO ALABAMA WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH 1^ST DEGREE MURDER. THE INCIDENT REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

THSO PROMOTES SAFER HWY 11 W CAMPAIGN

THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICE IS JOINING AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT ON FRIDAY, TO ANNOUNCE THE UPCOMING SAFER ON 11-W CAMPAIGN. HIGHWAY 11-W IS A U.S. ROUTE SPANNING 120 MILES FROM KNOXVILLE TO BRISTOL, CONNECTING SEVERAL EAST TENNESSEE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE WAY, DURING SAFER ON 11-W, PARTICIPATING LAWE ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WILL CONDUCT A DUI CHECKPOINT ON HIGHWAY 11-W FROM 9 PM TO 11 PM ON AUGUST 29^TH, AND INCREASED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT WILL CONTINUE FROM AUGUST 29^TH THROUGH LABOR DAY.

TWO FOUND DEAD IN ABANDONED COAL MINE

TWO PEOPLE WERE FOUND DEAD IN AN ABANDONED COAL MINE IN BUCHANAN COUNTY VIRGINIA.  ACCORDING TO THE BUCHANAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, 49-YEAR-OLD JERRY CHAMBERS OF JEWELL RIDGE VIRGINIA, AND 53-YEAR-OLD JERRY ORVILLE JENKS OF PAYNESVILLE WEST VIRGINIA WERE LOCATED AROUND 10:30 AM WEDNESDAY. SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAD REPORTED TO A REPORT OF TWO MISSING MEN IN THE SPRUCE PINE SECTION OF THE COUNTY. THEY HAD INFORMATION THAT THE TWO MEN HAD POSSIBLY ENTERED AN ABANDONED DRIFT MINE. MINE RESCUE TEAMS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND CORONADO MINE RESCUE RESPONDED. THE BODIES WERE LOCATED AND CONFIRMED TO BE THE MISSING MEN. THE BODIES WERE TAKE FOR AUTOPSY. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAID FOUL PLAY IS NOT SUSPECTED.

WISE CO SCHOOL SYSTEM EMPLOYEE FACING CHILD SEX CRIMES

AN EMPLOYEE WITH THE WISE COUNTY VIRGINIA SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE COUNTS OF CHILD SEX CRIMES. ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE FROM THE WISE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, 28-YEAR-OLD TYLER JAY TIBBS OF COEBURN WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH 3 COUNTS OF CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, 1 COUNT OF TAKING INDECENT LIBERTIES WITH A CHILD BY A PERSON IN A CUSTODIAL OR SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP. AS OF TUESDAY, TIBBS WAS BEING HELD IN THE REGIONAL JAIL WITHOUT BOND.

HITCHCOCK BROS SENTENCED TO LIFE

JOSHUA AND JACOB HITCHCOCK, THE BROTHERS WHO WERE FOUND GUILTY OF MURDERING THEIR FATHER IN CARTER COUNTY, WERE BOTH SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON ON WEDNESDAY. A JURY FOUND THE BROTHERS GUILTY OF 1^ST DEGREE MURDER AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT 1^ST DEGREE MURDER IN MAY. JACOB HITCHCOCK WAS ALSO FOUND GUILTY OF TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE. THE BROTHERS WERE EACH SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON ON THE MURDER CHARGES, AS WELL AS 15 YEARS FOR THE CONSPIRACY CHARGES.  THE SENTENCED WILL RUN CONCURRENTLY, AND BOTH MEN ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE. A MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL HAS BEEN FILED. A STATUS HEARING FOR THAT MOTION IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 19^TH.