Unicoi Budget Increase

Because of a significant shortfall, the Unicoi County Commission approved the budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, which includes a 26-cent property tax increase from $2.35 to $2.61.Loren Thomas, Chair of the Unicoi County Commission, said there were some large increases, especially to things like solid waste, our food and medical costs for the inmates … Read more

Abingdon Fourth Of July

Abingdon tourism leaders say this year’s Independence Day celebration is returning and will be the biggest yet.The festivities are slated to take place ahead of the Fourth of July, on Saturday, July 1.Organizers say the event promises an unforgettable day filled with live music, food, activities and an epic fireworks display at Latture Field around … Read more

Gray Volunteer Fireworks

If your’e thinking of purchasing fireworks, the Gray Volunteer Fire Department is one of a handful in Northeast Tennessee selling fireworks for the holiday.Firefighter Connor Morgan says this is the departments largest fundraiser of the year, and the department is hoping to use money raised this year to buy new equipment. Morgan says this helps … Read more

Spearhead Trails

Spearhead Trails will begin offering a 3-Day Trail Permit on June 30 for 20 dollars per rider. The Southwest Regional Recreation Authority has announced the new permit will give riders access to motorized and nonmotorized Spearhead Trails systems for 72 consecutive hours. Clikc onto spearhead trails.com for more details.

Governor Lee European Tour

Governor Bill Lee has returned to Tennessee following a six-day European trip for an economic development tour of France and Italy. The governor was joined by Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter on the trip to “strengthen relationships with European businesses and increase foreign direct investment (FDI) from trusted global companies … Read more

Greene County Unemployment

Some good employment news. Greene County’s unemployment rate in May was 3.7%, according to recently released information by the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.The May jobless rate was up from 3% percent in April and just above the 3.6% recorded in May 2022, the state agency reported.The Greene County labor force was counted … Read more

Greene County Pageant Girls

Three Greene County residents, Anna Grace Parlapiano, Mylee Doty and Jaida Jones, will be among the 14 contestants in the upcoming Miss Tennessee’s Teen Scholarship Competition.The state competitions for both the Miss Tennessee and Miss Tennessee’s Teen pageants will kick off June 29 and continue through July 1 in Memphis.

Sean Williams Case

Quite a few Jane Does have filed a civil lawsuit against Johnson City and multiple officers, alleging “for years, Sean Williams drugged and raped women,” and Johnson City Police Department officers “let him get away with it.” The lawsuit accuses the police department of receiving at least six reports alleging Williams had attempted to drug … Read more

Forest Service Road Work

The U.S. Forest Service is announcing that a Sullivan County road within the Cherokee National Forest is going to be temporarily closed while contractors make repairs.NFSR 87, known as Flatwoods Road, was damaged by a flood in 2019, according to a release from the Forest Service.The road, located in the Watauga Ranger District near the … Read more

Scott County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested

A Scott County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office deputy K9 Officer Tihlee Anderson was arrested after an alleged domestic assault on Sunday.The sheriff’s office reports that deputies responded to the residence of an off-duty deputy regarding a “domestic situation” early Sunday morning.According to a press release Anderson was arrested for domestic assault.Anderson was reportedly taken before a … Read more