News Staff For the busy Labor Day travel season, the Tennessee Department of Transportation announced that motorists won’t have to worry about alternate routes or lane closures while traveling the interstate to their Labor Day weekend destinations.TDOT said that it will halt all lane closure activities on interstates and state highways beginning on Friday, Sept. 3 at … Read more
Local lawmakers and county leaders discussing broadband service have a goal to get nearly 500-million dollars in funding to provide broadband access to everyone in Northeast Tennessee.They refently discussed how local electric companies can access rural areas and provide much needed service.Leaders plan to start the application process for grants in January and use local … Read more
While Ballad Health has suspended elective surgeries for now, Holston Medical Group is now accepting new patients.”Even though a surgery might not be truly emergent it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t get done, it can affect long term health, return to work, quality of life,” said HMG’s Dr. Cheryl Stanski. Dr. Stanski said their surgeons can … Read more
A Lee County man is sentenced 21 years in the Virginia Penitentiary for kidnapping and “maliciously wounding” the mother of his child, according to a press release from the Commonwealth’s Attorney H. Fuller Cridlin.In the Lee County Circuit Court, Brandon Webb was found guilty on all charges that happened in May, and his prison sentence … Read more
Five Southwest Virginia residents have pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court after working with dozens of others to file fraudulent claims for more than $499,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s. The release states that Patrick Payne, 43; Randall Johnson, 42; Steven Mullins Jr., 33; Curtis Mullins, 25; and … Read more
A Lee County veteran who was killed in the Korean War has been accounted for 70 years after he was reported missing in action.According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Army Cpl. Roy H. Thomas, 22, of St. Charles, Virginia, was accounted for Dec. 22, 2020.In late 1950, Thomas was a member of Company … Read more
A Korean automotive supplier is investing $40 million in Washington County and will create 117 new jobs according to officials.This marks Sungwoo Hitech America Corp.’s first U.S. manufacturing operations.Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Sungwoo Hitech officials made the announcement.Sungwoo Hitech purchased the former Alo Tennessee (Bush … Read more
Locally based skincare company Crown Laboratories is buying StriVectin, an anti-aging and skin rejuvenation line sold at stores like Costco, Ulta and premium skin care outlets.CEO Jeff Bedard told news outlets the purchase fills the one gap that remained in Crown’s efforts to serve all markets.“What this really does is position us to have a … Read more
There’s going to be a new sheriff in town soon. Longtime Washington County Sheriff Ed Graybeal has retired.Graybeal, who has been sheriff since 2003, submitted his retirement letter.In the letter, Graybeal requested Chief Deputy Leighta Laitinen serve the remainder of his term, which ends on August 31, 2022.The Washington County Commission has 120 days to … Read more
Appalachian Power customers will see an increase in their bills this fall.The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved, in part, an environmental rade adjustment clause proposed by the utility provider earlier this year.App Power sought to recover environmental compliance expenses associated with federal rules regulating the disposal of coal ash at two of the company’s … Read more