FRIDAY MAY 16
ELIZABETHTON/CARTER CO ANIMAL SHELTER OVER CAPACITY AFTER HORDING SITUATIONS
THE ELIZABETHTON/CARTER COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER IS URGING FAMILIES CONSIDERING ADOPTING A NEW PET, TO CONSIDER THE 17 PUPPIES AND 24 DOGS RECENTLY RESCUED FROM HORDING SITUATIONS. THE ANIMAL SHELTER POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT IT RESCUED 17 PUPPIES, RANGING IN AGE FROM 10 TO 16 WEEKS, FROM A HORDING SITUATION TUESDAY. WEDNESDAY, THEY REMOVED ANOTHER 24 DOGS OF VARIOUS BREEDS FROM TWO LOCATIONS. SHANNON POSADA, DIRECTOR OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER SAID THEY ARE OVER CAPACITY, WITH AROUND 60 DOGS LOOKING FOR NEW HOMES.
TENNCARE CHANGE WOULD AID BALLAD HEALTH RURAL HOSPITALS
A REVENUE BOOST THAT COULD GUARANTEE BALLAD HEALTH’S RURAL HOSPITALS STAYING OPEN UNTIL AT LEAST 2028 IS GETTING CLOSER TO FEDERAL APPROVAL, BUT THE TWEAK TO TENNCARE REIMBURSEMENT FOR HOSPITALS ISN’T ASSURED JUST YET. THE PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD HIKE TENNCARE HOSPITAL REIMBURSEMENT RATES TO THE AVERAGE PAID BY COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, AND COULD NET BALLAD AROUND 100 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. WITHOUT IT, BALLAD’S COMMITMENT TO KEEP ITS RURAL HOSPITALS OPEN, PART OF THE COPA THAT GOVERNS THE INPATIENT HOSPITAL MONOPOLY, WOULD END IN 2026. THE PROPOSAL GAINED STATE APPROVAL THIS YEAR, BUT CONGRESS ALSO HAS TO APPROVE, AND THE PROPOSAL HAS REACHED THAT STAGE, JUST AS MEDICAID CUTS ARE ON THE TABLE.
TN HEMP STORES FACE UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOLLOWING NEAR BAN ON THCA
THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE DEALT A CRUSHING BLOW TO HEMP STORES ACROSS THE STATE, AFTER MOVING FORWARD WITH A BILL THAT WOULD BAN HEMP PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN MORE THAN .3% THCA. THCA TURNS INTO AN INTOXICANT WHEN BURNED. DISCUSSIONS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY ON HOW HEMP STORES CAN MOVE FORWARD. SOME MAY LEAN ON THCA DRINKS THAT AREN’T INCLUDED IN THE BAN AS AN AVENUE TO KEEP PEOPLE COMING IN THE DOORS. THEY’VE ALSO BEEN TAKING SUGGESTION FROM CUSTOMERS ON WHAT KINDS OF PRODUCTS THEY’D LIKE TO SEE. SOME ARE CONSIDERING MOVING THEIR BUSINESSES OUT OF TENNESSEE ALTOGETHER.
TN VOUCHER APPLICATIONS OPEN MAY 15TH
FAMILIES BEGAN APPLYING FOR TENNESSEE’S NEW EDUCATION FREEDOM SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR THURSDAY. THE CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAM, WILL USE PUBLIC SCHOOL DOLLARS TO PAY FOR STUDENTS’ PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION. THERE ARE 20,000 SCHOLARSHIPS, OR VOUCHERS, AVAILABLE FOR K-12 STUDENTS, WHICH ARE WORTH 7,295 DOLLARS EACH. REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM SLATER OF GALLATIN SAID 30,000 VISITS TO THE STATE’S EDUCATION FREEDOM SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION WEBSITE WITHIN THE PAST WEEK, SUGGESTS THERE’S HIGH INTEREST IN THE PROGRAM. CRITICS BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS WHO WILL RECEIVE THE VOUCHERS WILL BE THOSE ALREADY ATTENDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THE 7,295 DOLLAR VOUCHER ISN’T ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER FULL, PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION.
JOHNSON CITY IDB APPROVES BRUSH CREEK ECONOMIC IMPACT PLAN
THE BRUSH CREEK DEVELOPMENT PLAN PASSED ANOTHER HURDLE WEDNESDAY, AS THE JOHNSON CITY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AN ECONOMIC IMPACT PLAN. THE PLAN INCLUDES SIX PHASES WITH FIVE PROJECTS, THAT WOULD INCLUDE RE-ROUTING MCKINLEY ROAD, SEVERAL MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING UNITS, 100,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL SPACE, AN PARKING STRUCTURE, AND A COMMUNITY PARK. THE CITY CAN ALLOCATE NEW TIF REVENUES WITHIN THE DISTRICT. EACH PHASE WILL GET A 20 YEAR TIF, WHICH CANNOT EXCEED 21.7 MILLION DOLLARS. THE PROJECT STILL NEEDS APPROVAL BY THE CITY AND COUNTY COMMISSIONS.
ONLY ONE-THIRD OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR HELENE RELIEF HAVE APPLIED
JUST ONE THIRD OF PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR TENNESSEE’S HELENE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAM HAVE APPLIED. TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS APPROVED THE PROGRAM IN FEBRUARY, GIVING HELENE VICTIMS WHO LOST THEIR HOMES, FARMLAND, OR BUSINESS A PAYMENT EQUAL TO THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, PLUS 30 PERCENT. JOHN DUNN, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE TENNESSEE COMPTROLLERS’ OFFICE SAID THEY SENT EVERYONE A POSTCARD TO LET THEM KNOW THEY’RE ELIGIBLE, AND THEN SENT A SECOND POSTCARD TO THOSE FOLKS WHO HAD NOT APPLIED YET. THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,500 PROPERTIES ACROSS 9 COUNTIES STILL ELIGIBLE TO GET THE PAYMENTS, INCLUDING 500 ADDED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. ALL OF THEM HAVE A DEADLINE OF JUNE 30TH TO APPLY. APPLY AFTER THAT AND YOU WON’T GET THE MONEY.
LACK OF OXYGEN LIKELY CAUSE OF PRIVATE PLACE THAT CRASHED IN VA
THE NTSB FINAL REPORT RELEASED TUESDAY SAYS A LACK OF OXYGEN THAT INCAPACITATED THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS, IS LIKELY WHAT CAUSED A PRIVATE JET TO CRASH IN VIRGINIA. THE OXYGEN PROBLEM WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY A LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE, BUT INVESTIGATORS COULD NOT DETERMINE THE EXACT REASON FOR THE PRESSURE LOSS, BUT NOTED THAT THE JET HAD A NUMBER OF MAINTENANCE ISSUES. 4 PEOPLE DIED IN THE CRASH JUNE 4TH 2023. THE PILOT JEFF HEFNER, NEW YORK REAL-ESTATE BROKER ADINA AZARIAN, AZARIAN’S 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND LIVE-IN NANNY EVADNIE SMITH. HEFNER STOPPED RESPONDING TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL WITHIN MINUTES OF TAKING OFF FROM ELIZABETHTON AIRPORT.
MOTORCYCLIST INJURED IN TWO VEHICLE CRASH IN GREENE CO
A MOTORCYCLIST WAS FLOWN TO JOHNSON CITY MEDICAL CENTER, FOLLOWING A TWO VEHICLE CRASH IN GREENE COUNTY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE SOUTH GREENE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE WRECK THAT OCCURRED AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY AND CLUBHOUSE LANE. FIRE CHIEF DAVID WEEMS SAID WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY FOUND THE DRIVER OF THE MOTORCYCLE, WHO WAS CONSCIOUS AND ALERT, LYING IN A FIELD ADJACENT TO THE ROAD. THE PATIENT WAS TRANSPORTED TO JCMC BY HIGHLANDS AIR RESCUE. NO DETAILS ABOUT THE CRASH HAVE BEEN PROVIDED.
GREENEVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC ASSAULT
A GREENEVILLE MAN WAS CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC ASSAULT EARLY WEDNESDAY, AFTER GREENEVILLE POLICE RESPONDED TO A DOMESTIC IN PROGRESS CALL AT HIS APARTMENT IN THE 400 BLOCK OF THE ERWIN HIGHWAY. RONALD ZIMMERMAN WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER HIS GIRLFRIEND SAID A CONVERSATION TURNED INTO AN ARGUMENT, WHEN SHE TOLD HIM, YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO ME WHEN I’M SPEAKING TO YOU. SHE REPORTED HE THEN GRABBED HER BY THE NECK AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO BREATHE. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET AWAY, GRAB HER DAUGHTER, LOCK THEMSELVES IN THE BATHROOM, AND CALL HER MOTHER, WHO THE CALLED 911.
WASHINGTON CO SCHOOLS ANNOUNCE SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM
THE WASHINGTON COUNTY TENNESSEE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS ANNOUNCED ITS SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM. BULK FEEDING WILL TAKE PLACE AT BOONES CREEK AND WESTVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FROM 11 AM TO 12 NOON EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM JUNE 4TH THROUGH JULY 16TH. MEALS ARE FREE TO CHILDREN UNDER 18, AND MEALS CAN BE PICKED UP AND TAKEN HOME. SUMMER CURBSIDE MEALS WILL BE SERVED AT JONESBOROUGH ELEMENTARY, MONDAYS THROUGH THURSDAYS IN JUNE AND JULY. BREAKFAST WILL BE SERVED FROM 8 TO 9 AM, AND LUNCH FROM 12 NOON TO 1 PM. ALL KIDS UNDER 18 ARE WELCOME. MEALS MUST BE EATEN ON SITE.
ETSU RECEIVES $350K GRANT FOR ENCYCLOPEDIA OF APPALACHIA
EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY’S CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR APPALACHIAN STUDIES AND SERVICES, RECEIVED A 350,000 DOLLAR GRANT TO REVISE THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF APPALACHIA. THE GRANT, AWARDED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES, WILL GO TOWARDS UPDATING AND EXPANDING THE ENCYCLOPEDIA’S 2,000 PLUS ENTRIES. DR RON ROACH, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER, AND LEAD GENERAL EDITOR OF THE PROJECT, SAID IN A RELEASE, THAT THIS IS THE ONLY ENCYCLOPEDIA FOCUSED ON APPALACHIA. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA IS PRODUCED WITHIN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE PRESS.
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF NE TN ASKS FOR HELP DUE TO INCREASED FOOD INSECURITY
ACCORDING TO THE FEEDING AMERICA MAP THE MEAL GAP STUDY, IN 2023, 47 MILLION AMERICANS, INCLUDING 14 MILLION CHILDREN, WERE FOOD INSECURE, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RATE FEEDING AMERICA HAS SEEN IN MORE THAN A DECADE. SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF NORTHEAST TENNESSEE FEEDS MORE THAN 40,000 PEOPLE PER MONTH IN OUR REGION. DUE TO THE INCREASE IN FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR AREA, LEADERS ARE ASKING THE COMMUNITY FOR HELP, SO THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR MISSION. YOU CAN HELP BY ORGANIZING A FOOD DRIVE OR DONATING FOOD BY FINDING A DROP-OFF LOCATION, OR HELP MONETARILY ONLINE AT THE SECOND HARVEST FOODBANK OF TENNESSEE WEBSITE, OR BY SENDING A CHECK TO PO BOX 3327 JOHNSON CITY TENNESSEE 37602.
MAN WITH 400 GRAMS OF METH ARRESTED
A HAMPTON MAN ARRESTED ON MAY 9TH FACES VARIOUS DRUG CHARGES AFTER POLICE REPORTEDLY FOUND MORE THAN 400 GRAMS OF METH IN HIS POSSESSION. ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE FROM THE CARTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, 51-YEAR-OLD SCOTTIE BIRCHFIELD WAS ARRESTED AFTER A JOINT INVESTIGATION BY SEVERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. BIRCHFIELD WAS WANTED OUT OF CARTER COUNTY ON A WARRANT FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR IN COURT, AND AN ATTACHMENT FOR CHILD SUPPORT. HE WAS ALSO WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH AN INVESTIGATION INVOLVING DRUGS AND FIREARMS. AN INVESTIGATION DETERMINED HE WAS STAYING AT A MOTEL IN JOHNSON CITY WHERE HE WAS ARRESTED. A SEARCH OF THE MOTEL ROOM FOUND A LOADED 9MM HANDGUN, 14,000 DOLLARS CASH, DIGITAL SCALES, PLASTIC BAGGIES, AND 424 GRAMS OF METH.
ABINGDON MAN ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGED SHOOTING
AN ABINGDON MAN IS FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES AFTER AN ALLEGED SHOOTING ON TUESDAY. ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE FROM THE WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA SHERIFF’S OFFICE, DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO A REPORTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT NEAR DENTON VALLEY ROAD. DEPUTIES FOUND THE VICTIM’S VEHICLE AND EVIDENCE CONSISTENT WITH THE REPORT, INCLUDING BULLET HOLES. THE SUSPECT 67 YEAR OLD DEWEY JOHNSON WAS INTERVIEWED AND ARRESTED. HE WAS CHARGED WITH STRANGULATION, ATTEMPTED MALICIOUS WOUNDING, FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, FIREARM IN COMMISSION OF A FELONY, KIDNAPPING, AND SHOOTING OR THROWING A MISSILE AT LAW ENFORCEMENT/EMERGENCY VEHICLE WITH MALICE. AS OF THURSDAY HE WAS BEING HELD IN THE REGIONAL JAIL WITHOUT BOND.
JOHNSON CO APPOINTS TWO NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
THE JOHNSON COUNTY COMMISSION MET THURSDAY TO VOTE ON SCHOOL BOARD VACANCIES. THE COMMISSION VOTED TO APPOINT RALPH WALKER AND HOLLY BROWN TO THE JOHNSON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. WALKER SAID IT’S AN HONOR TO SERVE THE COUNTY WHERE HE WAS RAISED. BROWN SAID SHE COMES FROM A LONG LINE OF EDUCATORS WHO ALL TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
JOHNSON CITY MAN CHARGED WITH 2 COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
ON MAY 14TH OFFICERS OF THE JOHNSON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRESTED 21 YEAR OLD MARQUES NAVE IF JOHNSON CITY AND CHARGED HIM WITH 2 COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. THE ARREST WAS THE RESULT OF AN INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED ON MAY 9TH, WHEN A VICTIM CAME TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REPORT THAT HE WAS ASSAULTED IN A DOWNTOWN BREEZEWAY. THE ASSAULT HAPPENED AROUND 2 AM MAY 4TH. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THA TWO VICTIMS SUSTAINED SERIOUS BODILY INJURY DURING THE ASSAULT. DURING QUESTIONING, NAVE ADMITTED HIS ROLE IN THE INCIDENT. THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING, AND MORE ARRESTS COULD FOLLOW.
SEVERAL KINGSPORT ROADS TO BE CLOSED FOR RACKS BY THE TRACKS
MULTIPLE ROADS IN KINGSPORT WILL BE CLOSED SATURDAY FOR THE ANNUAL RACKS BY THE TRACKS FESTIVAL AND ITS ROAD RACES. THE CITY ANNOUNCED THAT CLINCHFIELD STREET FROM WEST CENTER TO PRESS STREET WILL CLOSE TODAY AT 3:00 TO PREPARE FOR THE FESTIVAL. THE CLOSURE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL RACKS BY THE TRACKS IS OVER ON SATURDAY. THE 5K AND 10 K RACES WILL ALSO CAUSE SEVERAL ROADS TO BE CLOSED. RACES BEGIN AT 9 AND 10:30 AM SATURDAY. ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE RACES WILL START AT 7 AM. THE ROADS THAT WILL BE CLOSED ARE CLINCHFIELD, ARCH, PRESS, ROLLER, WEST SULLIVAN AND SEQUOYA STREETS, CHEROKEE VILLAGE, AND LOVEDALE DRIVE. THE CITY ALSO NOTED THE KINGSPORT FARMERS MARKET WILL NOT BE OPEN SATURDAY.
