Archives for December 2016

BLOOMINGDALE–A man has died after being hit by a pickup truck Friday.

Sullivan County deputies responded around 3:30pm on Stuffle Street in Bloomingdale after David Wells who was behind the wheel of the pickup truck hit David Brandon and then called 9-1-1.

Brandon was taken to Hudson Valley Medical Center where he later died.

A Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said the two knew each other and at some point had gotten into a fight but police are still working out all the details.

Charges are pending.

ABINGDON-If you live in Virginia and if you want to speak your mind on proposed budget cuts, you can do so next Wednesday.

Among Governor Terry McAuliffe’s proposals is to slash funding to state colleges and universities by five percent in an effort to close a $1 billion shortfall

The meeting is set for 10am at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon. Other meetings will be held in Fairfax and Richmond.

GREENEVILLE-It is beginning to look a lot more like winter, but with it comes the flu.

Officials with Takoma Regional Hospital in Greeneville say they have seen a rise in the number of reported cases of the flu.

Other health care workers are seeing spike in strep throat as well.

The Flu shot is available in Tennessee at your local county health department on a sliding-fee scale. Low-income individuals may be eligible to receive free or reduced cost flu vaccine.

Virginia officials urge you to contract your local health department about flu shot specifics.

Other ways to combat the flu aside from getting your annual flu shot are: washing your hands, cover your coughs and sneezes and stay home when sick.

BRISTOL-A store specializing in gifts and toys in downtown Bristol will be shutting its doors near the end of January.

Phyl’s of Bristol Co-owner Katie Timp says there are several reasons including increased competition, the lack of parking and the growth of online shopping for closing.

Timp adds that almost everything but the collectibles are 50-percent off. The collectibles are currently 20-percent off.

Phyls’s of Bristol will officially close January 21st.

CHURCH-HILL-Underprivileged families in eastern Hawkins County are getting some much-needed help thanks to Hawkins County Schools.

The district will be opening a Family Resource Center at Carters Valley Elementary school.

Officials say the center will be similar to the resource center at Rogersville Middle School and will have non-perishable food items, hygiene products, and clothing.

The center will officially open Wednesday January 11th.

GREENEVILLE – Officials in Greeneville are getting ready for the 3rd Annual Midnight on Main celebration.

The celebration kicks off at 7 p.m. tonight and will feature music, dancing, food, drinks, a new play area for kids and fireworks to cap the night.

Alcoholic beverages will not be allowed on the street.

ABINGDON-A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a shooting in Abingdon earlier this week.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office says 22-year-old Benjamin Lamie of Saltville shot another man with a shotgun in the 27,000 block of Fiesta Drive around 10:40 Wednesday night.

Lamie fled the scene and was later found in Bristol, Tennessee and was arrested by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department.

Officials add the man who was shot only received minor injuries.

GREENEVILLE-The Greeneville Fair Board has decided to go with another ride vendor following an accident last year.

The Fair Board opted to go with Florida-based Belle City Amusements Inc starting in 2017.

The board broke its contract with Family Attractions, LLC after three girls were hurt when the Ferris Wheel owned by Family Attractions overturned on August 8th.

Belle City is not without its own safety issues. Back in September in Memphis, a ride operator accidently released safety restraints before a ride came to a complete stop injuring four people.

Fair Board President Rick Clark says the Belle’s Insurance Company has said that was a minor incident.

FAYETTEVILLE, NC-A woman who was killed in a Wise County crash a week ago, will be laid to rest today.

Rebecca Starling was the driver of a car that was hit by Samantha Dennis on Route 58 near Coeburn on Friday, December 23rd.

Starling had just moved to Missouri from North Carolina but had decided to move back at the time of the crash.

Starling’s two young daughters also received non-life threatening injuries in the crash.

Dennis is facing several charges including felony murder.

WASHINGTON, MAINE–A Greeneville man accused in a fatal DUI crash in Maine faced the victims’ families Thursday.

54-year-old Randall Junior Weddle was driving a tractor-trailer from Tennessee to Maine back in March when he crashed into two other vehicles east of Augusta, killing two people.

Weddle pleaded not-guilty to all charges, including two counts of manslaughter.

Weddle’s attorney is trying to get the trial moved to a different location due to extensive local media coverage.

The judge in the case says he will try to pick a jury first before considering a change-of-venue.

Thirteen members of the victims’ families attended Thursday’s hearing.

Weddle remains in the Knox County Jail in Rockland.