Lee County Man Sentenced

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

Unemployment Benefit Fraud

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

Lee County Veteran Identified

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

Korean Auto Supplier Invests Locally

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

Crown Labs Makes A Purchase

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

Washington County Sheriff Retires

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

Energy Bill Increase

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

Sullivan County Man Caught

A man in Kingsport tried twice to escape law enforcement, but was evetually apprehended. The Kingsport Police Department’s (KPD) Vice and Narcotics Unit made an arrest after a vehicle pursuit and foot chase of a man wanted on an outstanding warrant in Sullivan County.A press release stated that KPD officers and agents with the Tennessee … Read more

Carter County Schools Retention

The Carter County Board of Education is announcing it will meet on Thursday, September 2 to discuss “employee retention.”Carter Co. Schools closed Monday, citing lack of substitutes and bus driver shortage.According to a post from Carter County Schools, the special called meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Training Center on Stateline Road … Read more

Abingdon Recycling Event

Grab your ID or a utility bill and get over to the The Town of Abingdon’s Sustainment program Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful to provide the community with some free recycling options.Abingdon Recycle Day will be held on Saturday, August 28 from 9 a.m. until noon at 314 Depot Square.This event will have e-waste recycling, document … Read more