TUESDAY MARCH 25
CREWS RESPOND TO JOHNSON CITY FIRE
CREW WITH THE JOHNSON CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A STRUCTURE FIRE IN THE HOLLY STREET AREA OF JOHNSON CITY SUNDAY EVENING. THE FIRE OCCURRED AROUND 11 PM ON THE CORNER OF HOLLY AND KNOX STREETS. THE FIRE REPORTEDLY STARTED AT THE BACK OF A POOL HOUSE AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE HOME. FIRE CHIEF INA KEYS SAID THAT A SMALL CAMPFIRE MAY HAVE STARTED THE FIRE, AND SPREAD DUE TO HIGH WINDS. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.
DR LOUISE FINCHER NAMED PRESIDENT AT EMORY & HENRY
EMERY AND HENRY UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED THAT DR LOUISE FINCHER, WHO HAS BEEN SERVING AS INTERIM PRESIDENT SINCE JON WELLS STEPPED DOWN IN JULY, WILL BE THE UNIVERSITY’S 23RD PRESIDENT. THE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED IN A NEWS RELEASE, THAT AFTER HEARTFELT REFLECTION, THE EMORY AND HENRY UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS HONORED TO OFFICIALLY APPOINT DR LOU FINCHER AS THE PRESIDENT OF EMORY AND HENRY UNIVERSITY. FINCHER HAS MORE THEN THREE DECADES PF EXPERIENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE. IN 2014, FINCHER WAS SELECTED AS THE FOUNDING DEAN OF EMORY AND HENRY’S SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES IN MARION.
EX-KENTUCKY SHERIFF CHARGED WITH JUDGE’S MURDER PLANS INSANITY DEFENSE
A FORMER KENTUCKY SHERIFF ACCUSED OF MURDERING A JUDGE INSIDE HIS COURTHOUSE CHAMBERS IS PLANNING TO USE AN INSANITY DEFENSE IN HIS TRIAL. FORMER LETCHER COUNTY SHERIFF SHAWN “MICKEY” STINES IS ACCUSED OF FATALLY SHOOTING DISTRICT JUDGE KEVIN MULLINS IN HIS CHAMBERS LAST SEPTEMBER. THE TWO HAD BEEN FRIENDS FOR DECADES. ACCORDING TO A NEW COURT FILING, STINES NOW PLANS TO PLEAD INSANITY. STINES WAS INDICTED ON ONE CONT OF MURDER OF A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, AND PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN NOVEMBER.
IN-SCHOOL VACCINATIONS OFFERED FOR STUDENTS IN SWVA
THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S LENOWISCO HEALTH DISTRICT IS SET TO PROVIDE IN-SCHOOL VACCINATION CLINICS FOR RISING 7TH AND 12TH GRADERS IN LEE, SCOTT, AND WISE COUNTIES, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF NORTON. MULTIPLE VACCINATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THESE CLINICS. STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR THE VACCINES FOR THE CHILDREN PROGRAM WILL NOT INCUR ANY CHARGES. HOWEVER, THOSE WITH INSURANCE MUST PROVIDE THEIR INSURANCE INFORMATION. PARENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT A SIGNED CONSENT FORM TO THE SCHOOL FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO RECEIVE THE VACCINATIONS. WITHOUT THIS CONSENT FORM, STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ANY VACCINES AT THE CLINICS.
GAS PRICES MAKE A U-TURN AND HEAD UPHILL
AFTER WEEKS OF LITTLE MOVEMENT, THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR A GALLON OF GASOLINE INCREASED BY ABOUT 4 CENTS LAST WEEK TO 3.12 A GALLON. EVEN THOUGH THE PRICE OF CRUDE OIL REMAINS BELOW 70 DOLLARS PER BARREL, PRICES AT THE PUMP ARE GOING UP AS MORE REFINERIES MAEK THE SEASONAL SWITCH TO SUMMER BLEND GASOLINE. SUMMER BLEND GAS IS LESS LIKELY TO EVAPORATE IN WARMER TEMPERATURES AND IS MORE EXPENSIVE TO PRODUCE. HERE IN THE TRI CITIES GAS IS SELLING FOR AN AVERAGE OF 2.70 A GALLON THIS MORNING. THAT’S ABOUT THE SAME PRICE AS A WEEK AGO, AND 10 CENTS A GALLON LOWER THAN ONE MONTH A GO.
FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO HOUSE FIRE…TWICE
FIREFIGHTERS IN GREENE COUNTY RESPONDED TWICE TO A CALL AT A RESIDENCE ON SUSONG MEMORIAL ROAD SATURDAY AFTERNOON. ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO THE HOME SHORTLY BEFORE 4 PM. A FIRE, WHICH APPARENTLY BEGAN ON THE FRONT PORCH HAD BEEN EXTINGUISHED WITH WATER HOSES WHEN AUTHORITIES ARRIVED. ABOUT 30 TO 45 MINUTE AFTER FIREFIGHTERS CLEARED THE SCENE, THEY WERE CALLED AGAIN TO BECAUSE THE FIRE HAD REKINDLED. THIS TIME A FIRE UNDER THE HOUSE WAS EXTINGUISHED. IT’S BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS BETWEEN THE FLOOR AND UNDER PINNING OF THE HOME.
ONE DEAD, 3 SERIOUSLY INJURED AFTER HEAD-ON CRASH IN SCOTT CO
ONE PERSON IS DEAD AND THREE OTHERS SERIOUSLY INJURED AFTER A HEAD-ON CRASH IN SCOTT COUNTY VIRGINIA LAST WEEK. ACCORDING TO VIRGINIA STATE POLICE, THE CRASH OCCURRED ON ROUTE 71 THURSDAY AROUND 5:20 PM. VSP SAID A 2009 HYUNDAI ACCENT WAS TRAVELING NORTH, WHEN IT CROSSED INTO THE SOUTHBOUND LANES IN AN ATTEMPT TO PASS ANOTHER NORTHBOUND VEHICLE. IT HIT A 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN HEAD-ON. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE HYUNDAI WENT OVER THE GUARDRAIL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. A PASSENGER IN THE HYUNDAI IDENTIFIED AS 40 YEAR OLD DANIELLE WARD OF KINGSPORT. SHE WAS REPORTEDLY NOT WEARING A SEATBELT. WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND DIED AT THE SCENE. THE DRIVER 34 YEAR OLD STETSON LANEY OF KINGSPORT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF THE CHRYSLER, 87 AND 81 RESPECTIVELY, BOTH SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. LANEY HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH RECKLESS DRIVING. AS OF MONDAY THE CRASH REMAINED UNDER INVESTIGATION.
SCAMMER USES BITCOIN PLOY TO TAKE $10.000 FROM GREENE CO WOMAN
A GREENE COUNTY WOMAN REPORTED TO THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT SHE HAS LOST 10,000 DOLLARS HAVING BEEN THE VICTIM OF A SCAM. A MALE CALLER, SAYING HE WAS WITH HER BANK, AND SAYING HER ACCOUNT WAS SHOWING TRANSACTIONS, SOME PORNOGRAPHIC IN NATURE. HE TOLD THE WOMAN THE BANK NEEDED A PICTURE OF HER DRIVER’S LICENSE AND 34,000 DOLLARS. SAYING SHE ONLY HAD 10,000 DOLLARS, SHE WAS DIRECTED TO DEPOSIT THE MONEY IN A BITCOIN DEPOT MACHINE LOCATED AT THE RIVERSIDE MARKET ON THE ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY. THE VICTIM DID AS TOLD THEN SENT A PICTURE OF THE RECEIPT WITH THE ORDER NUMBER TO THE MAN. THE WOMAN THEN WENT TO HER BANK, WHERE SHE WAS NOTIFIED THEY DID NOT CALL HER, AND THAT SHE WAS PROBABLY SCAMMED. THE VICTIM THEN CONTACTED BITCOIN AND WAS TOLD TO FILE A POLICE REPORT.
HUMAN REMAINS FOUND IN POPULAR TN STATE PARK
HUMAN REMAINS WERE FOUND AT A POPULAR STATE PARK OVER THE WEEKEND. THE GRUNDY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORTS THE REMAINS OF TYLER CURTIS, A TRACY CITY RESIDENT, WERE FOUND IN A WOODED AREA OF FIERY GIZZARD STATE PARK EARLY SUNDAY. CURTIS WAS REPORTED MISSING IN LATE FEBRUARY. DEPUTIES SAY FOUL PALY IS NOT YET SUSPECTED, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN DEFINITIVELY RULED OUT AT THIS TIME. THE VARIOUS AGENCIES AND STATE PARK RANGERS ASSISTED IN THE CASE. THE INVESTIGATION IS ACTIVE AND ONGOING.
BRISTOL TN BOE APPROVES BONUSES FOR TEACHERS, STAFF
THE BRISTOL TENNESSEE BOARD OF EDUCATION ON MONDAY APPROVED ONE TIME BONUSES FOR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF. TEACHERS AND OTHER ELIGIBLE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WILL GET 2,000 BONUSES AND ELIGIBLE PART TIME EMPLOYEES WILL GET 1,000 DOLLAR BONUSES. THE TEACHER BONUSES WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE STATE UNDER THE GOVERNOR’S EXPANDED SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM. THE BONUSES FOR EVERYONE ELSE WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IN ORDER TO GET STATE FUNDING FOR THE TEACHER BONUSES, THE BOARD HAD TO AFFIRM ITS PARTICIPATION IN SECTION 4 OF THE EDUCATION FREEDOM SCHOLARSHIP ACT, WHICH WAS PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN LATE JANUARY.
TDOT TO SHIFT TRAFFIC PATTERN ON I-26 IN UNICOI CO
THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCED A CHANGE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ON THE HELENE STRUCK PART OF INTERSTATE 26 IN UNICOI COUNTY. CURRENTLY, ONE LANE IS OPEN IN EACH DIRECTION BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 39 AND 40 IN ERWIN USING THE WESTBOUND SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. BUT BEGINNING TODAY, TRAFFIC WILL BE MOVED TO THE EASTBOUND SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. THE TRAFFIC SHIFT WILL ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PERMANENT WESTBOUND BRIDGE OVER THE NOLICHUCKY RIVER. A PORTION OF THE EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND BRIDGES WERE DESTROYED DURING FLOODING BY HELENE IN SEPTEMBER. DRIVERS ARE ASKED TO USE CAUTION AND EXPECT DELAYS IN THE AREA.
BODY SENT FOR IDENTIFICATION AFTER RUSSELL CO HOUSE FIRE
A BODY HAS BEEN SENT FOR IDENTIFICATION AFTER IT WAS RECOVERED FROM A HOUSE FIRE IN RUSSELL COUNTY VIRGINIA MONDAY MORNING. ACCORDING TO RUSSELL COUNTY SHERIFF BILL WATSON, CREWS WERE CALLED TO A HOUSE FIRE ON SPRING DRIVE AROUND 1 AM. WATSON SAID THE REMAINS OF A PERSON WERE RECOVERED, AND HAVE BEEN SENT TO A FORENSICS CENTER FOR IDENTIFICATION. THE IDENTITY OF THE PERSON HAD NOT BEEN RELEASED AS OF MONDAY EVENING. WATSON SAID THE HOUSE WAS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE.
YOUNGKIN SIGNS BLIGHTED PROPERTY BILL FOLLOWING VA INTERMONT FIRE
VIRGINIA GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN HAS SIGNED A BILL INTO LAW THAT WILL GOVE LOCALITIES MORE OPPORTUNITY TO REGAIN CONTROL OF BLIGHTED PROPERTIES. THE LAW ALLOWS LOCALITIES SUCH AS BRISTOL TO PETITION THE CIRCUIT COURT TO APPOINT A SPECIAL COMMISSIONER, WHO CAN OVERSEE AND EXECUTE THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF A BLIGHTED AND VACANT PROPERTY. IN ORDER FOR A PROPERTY TO BE ELIGIBLE, IT MUST HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS, AND DEEMED TAX DELINQUENT. IR MUST ALSO BE DECLARED BLIGHTED ACCORDING TO STATE CODE. THE FORMER VIRGINIA INTERMONT CAMPUS HAS SEEN SEVERAL FIRES INCLUDING A MASSIVE FIRE IN DECEMBER, AND HAS ALREADY BEEN CLASSIFIED AS BLIGHTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, VI HAD BEEN VACANT FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS. THE VI CAMPUS HAS BEEN OWNED BY A CHINESE OWNED COMPANY, THAT PURCHASED THE CAMPUS IN 2016, TWO YEARS AFTER THE COLLEGE CLOSED.
NORTHEAST STATE RECEIVES $10K DONATION FOR AUTOMOTIVE, MOTORSPORTS PROGRAM
NORTHEAST STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE RECEIVED A 10,000 DOLLAR DONATION FOR ITS COLLEGE AUTOMOTIVE AND MOTORSPORTS PROGRAMS. GREATNECKTOOLS DONATED MORE THAN 10,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF TOOLS FOR THE PROGRAMS MONDAY. NORTHEAST STATE SAID THE TOOLS WILL HELP PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH INDUSTRY GRADE EQUIPMENT TO ENHANCE HANDS ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
