TUESDAY APRIL 1

BRISTOL VA BURN BAN STILL IN EFFECT, FIRE CHIEF EVALUATING AFTER RECENT RAIN

A BURN BAN IS STILL IN EFFECT IN BRISTOL VIRGINIA, UNTIL EVALUATIONS ARE COMPLETE AFTER RECENT RAIN SHOWERS. THE BURN BAN WAS PUT INTO EFFECT MARCH 22^ND DUE TO DRY CONDITIONS AND HIGH WINDS. AND EVEN THOUGH WINDS HAVE CALMED, DRU CONDITIONS CAN STILL CAUSE A FIRE, LIKE ONE LAST WEEKEND. THIS IS BATTALION CHIEF MICHAEL WISE. WISE SAID IF YOU HAVE BRUSH OR OTHER TRASH YOU DON’T NEED TO BURN IT. RESIDENT CAN DRAG THE BRUSH OR OTHER TRASH OUT TO THE CURB, THEN NOTIFY THE CITY AND THEY’LL COME PICK IT UP.

JOHNSON CITY MAN CHARGED WITH 2 COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT

A JOHNSON CITY MAN WAS ARRESTED BY WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES ON ASSAULT CHARGES SUNDAY. ACCORDING TO SHERIFF KEITH SEXTON, DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO A CALL IN THE 1900 BLOCK OF HONAKER COURT AT 6:30 AM. THE VICTIM ADVISED DEPUTIES THERE WAS A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION AFTER SHE TOLD 54 YEAR OLD MICHAEL LANG HE NEEDED TO LEAVE THE RESIDENCE. HE REPORTEDLY BECAME IRATE AND STARTED CHOKING THE VICTIM. ANOTHER RESIDENT OF THE HOME HEARD THE ALTERCATION AND CAME INTO THE ROOM. LANG THEN CHOKED THAT SUBJECT AND THREW THEM TO THE GOUND. LANG WAS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT.

AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATE FATAL HOUSE FIRE IN MT CITY

AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING A FATAL HOUSE FIRE IN MOUNTAIN CITY. MOUNTAIN CITY MAYOR JERRY JORDAN SAID THAT CREWS RESPONDED TO A HOME ON SHOUN STREET EARLY MONDAY MORNING. CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CALLED IN TO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED. THE VICTIM’S BODY WILL BE SENT FOR AN AUTOPSY.

NEIGHBORHOOD DISPUTE LEADS TO CHARGES AGAINST LIMESTONE MAN

A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN NEIGHBORS IN LIMESTONE LED TO CHARGES AGAINST ONE OF THE MEN INVOLVED. A GREENE COUNTY DEPUTY RESPONDED TO A CALL AROUND 5:20 PM SUNDAY. THE COMPLAINANT WAS FOUND FIXING A FENCE BETWEEN HIS PROPERTY AND THAT OF BILLY CAMPBELL. THE MAN REPORTED THAT CAMPBELL REMOVED THE FENCE GATE, ALLOWING OVER 1,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF CATTLE OUT OF THE FIELD. HE ALSO REPORTED CAMPBELL HAD CURSED HIM, THROWN A CHAIR AT HIM, THEN CAME TOWARD TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHILE CARRYING A 4 BY 4 POST, AND THREATENING TO KILL THE COMPLAINANT. WHEN THE VICTIM GOT A BALL BAT FROM HIS 4 WHEELER TO DEFEND HIMSELF, CAMPBELL WENT BACK TO THE DOORWAY OF HIS OWN RESIDENCE, THEN EXPOSED HIMSELF TO A FEMALE. AND ARRIVED, LOCKED THE DOORS AND WINDOWS AND WOULDN’T ANSWER THE DOOR. DUE TO PRIOR HISTORY WITH CAMPBELL, OFFICER BREACHED THE DOOR AND MADE ENTRY TO THE RESIDENCE. CAMPBELL WAS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND INDECENT EXPOSURE.

MIDWAY WOMAN FACE DUI. ASSAULT ON NURSE CHARGES

A TRAFFIC STOP JUST BEFORE 9 AM SUNDAY LED TO DUI CHARGES, AND AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF ASSAULT ON A FIRST RESPONDER. A GREENE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY REPORTS HE OBSERVED A VEHICLE LEAVE THE WALMART PARKING LOT AND RUN A RED LIGHT. THE DRIVER THAN ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO A GAS STATION, BUT MISSED THE DRIVE AND DROVE INTO GRASS INSTEAD. AS THE DRIVER, JESSIE MCCURRY BACKED UP, SHE NEARLY STRUCK THE POLICE CRUISER. AFTER FAILING FIELDS SOBRIETY TEST, MCCURRY WAS CHARGED WITH 3^RD OFFENSE DUI. AFTER CONSENTING TO A BLOOD DRAW, SHE COMPLAINED THE NEEDLE HURT AND GRABBED THEE WRIST OF THE NURSE. SHE WAS THEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT ON A FIRST RESPONDER.

GREENEVILLE RAILROAD CROSSING CLOSED

A SIGNIFICANT RAILROAD CLOSURE WILL BE IN EFFECT IN GREENE COUNTY THIS WEEK. GRADE CROSSING WORK WAS SET TO BEGIN MONDAY, CLOSING THE RAILROAD CROSSING AT THE ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY NEAR WEST MAIN STREET THROUGH THE END OF DAY WEDNESDAY. TRAFFIC WILL BE DETOURED AROUND THE CLOSURE. NORFOLK SOUTHERN WILL BE PERFORMING THE REPAIRS, AND EXPECTS TO HAVE THE CROSSING OPEN FOR MORNING TRAFFIC THURSDAY.

THREE VA LAWS GOING INTO EFFECT JULY 1^ST

AFTER THE 2025 VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDED IN FEBRUARY, GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN HAS STARTED TO TAKE ACTION ON MANY BILLS. THERE ARE A FEW OF THE BILLS THAT YOUNGKIN HAS ALREADY SIGN INTO LAW THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT JULY 1^ST. ANYONE WHO SPREADS RUMORS OR THREATENS TO SHOOT, BOMB, BURN OR DESTROY ANY BUILDING, PUBLIC PLACES OR ANY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION WILL BE CHARGED WITH A CLASS 5 FELONY. IF THE PERSON IS UNDER 18, THEY’LL BE CHARGED WITH A CLASS 1 MISDEMEANOR. IT’LL NOW BE A CLASS 6 FELONY FOR ANYONE WHO HIDES, DAMAGES, DEFRAUDS OR STEALS SOMEONE’S MAIL. AND ANYONE WHO KNOWINGLY ALLOWS A MINOR WHO DOES NOT HAVE A DRIVER’S LICENSE TO DRIVE A CAR OR ALLOW A MINOR WITH A LEARNERS PERMIT TO DRIVE A CAR IF THEY KNOW THE MINOR IS PLANNING TO BREAK THE LAW, WILL BE CHARGED WITH A CLASS 1 MISDEMEANOR.

MAN GRAZED BY BULLETT WHILE INSIDE BRISTOL APARTMENT

A MAN WAS HIT BY A BULLET IN HIS APARTMENT AFTER A REPORTED SHOOTING OUTSIDE. ACCORDING TO BRISTOL VIRGINIA POLICE, OFFICERS WERE CALLED TO A SHOOTING AT AN APARTMENT ON HARMELING STREET AROUND 5:35 AM ON SATURDAY. MOST OF THE PEOPLE OFFICERS SPOKE WITH SAID THEY HEARD AN ARGUMENT BEHIND THE APARTMENT BUILDING FOLLOWED BY GUNSHOTS. WITNESSES SAW A BLACK MALE IN A WHITE HOODIE OR JACKET, GETTING INTO A DARK COLORED VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN AN SUV. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE AREA HEADING SOUTH ON OAKVIEW AVENUE. A 35 YEAR OLD MAN TOLD OFFICERS HE HEARD AN ARGUMENT OUTSIDE WHILE HE WAS JUST INSIDE THE BACK DOOR, WHEN HE HEARD A GUNSHOT AND WAS GRAZED BY THE BULLET NEAR THE SHOULDER BLADE. HE WAS TREATED ON SCENE BY EMS. THE INCIDENT REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL BRISTOL VIRGINIA POLICE AT 276-645-7400.

BRISTOL VA JOINS EFFORT TO BRING NEW AIRLINE TO TRI CITIES AIRPORTBottom of Form

THE BRISTOL VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO COMMIT 75,000 DOLLARS TO SUPPORT A LOCAL ORGANIZATION’S EFFORTS TO FUND AN ADDITIONAL AIRLINE AT TRIC CITIES AIRPORT. THE ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS BRIDGE HAS BEEN WORKING TO RAISE 2 MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP FUND A NEW AIRLINE FOR TWO YEARS. WITH PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS FROM KINGSPORT AND WASHINGTON AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES, THAT STILL LEAVES BRIDGE JUST UNDER 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS SHOT OF ITS GOAL AS AN APRIL 7^TH DEADLINE NEARS. BRIDGE IS HOPING FOR ADDITION SUPPORT SEVERAL ADDITIONAL COUNTY AND CITY GOVERNMENTS, AS WELL AS PRIVATE SECTOR COMMITMENTS TO REACH ITS GOAL.

WOMAN CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR HOMICIDE

A WOMAN IS FACING CHARGES IN THE DEATH OF AN ETSU GRADUATE ASSISTANT. A WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAND JURY INDICTED 25 YEAR OLD MIALANDRA BIZZELL ON CHARGES OF VEHICULAR HOMICIDE AND LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT, IN CONNECTION TO THE DEATH OF 26 YEAR OLD HALIE ANN REX. ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT, BIZZELL WAS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE WEH SHE STRUCK REX WHILE SHE WAS RIDING HER BIKE. A COURT APPEARANCE IS SET FOR JUNE 16^TH.

2 JUVENILES ARRESTED FOR ARSON

THE BRISTOL TENNESSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS CHARGED TWO JUVENILES AFTER ALLEGEDLY COMMITTING ARSON LEAST WEDNESDAY ON 5^TH STREET. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, A STRUCTURE FIRE WAS REPORTED AT 1215 5^TH STREET AROUND 4:30 PM. CREWS EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE QUICKLY AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATIONS, SEVERAL JUVENILES WERE IDENTIFIED WHO WERE BELIEVED RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING THE FIRE. TWO SUSPECT, AGES 13 AND 14, WERE CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ARSON, AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASSING, BURGLARY, AND FELONY VANDALISM. POLICE ARE ASKING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE INCIDENT TO CALL 423-989-5568.

CROWN LABS NOW OPERATING AS REVANCE

JOHNSON CITY BASED CROWN LABORATORIES ANNOUNCED MONDAY THAT IT WILL NOW OPERATE UNDER THE NAME REVANCE. IN A PRESS RELEASE, THE COMPANY STATED THE NAME CHANGE WAS MADE AFTER THE RECENT ACQUISITION OF REVANCE THERAPEUTICS. ACCORDING TO THE RELEASE, THE CHANGE FROM CROWN TO REVANCE, WILL BETTER REFLECT THE OFFERINGS OF THE NOW COMBINED COMPANY. ACCORDING TO CEO JEFF BEDARD, THE UNIFICATION OF THE COMPANY UNDER THE REVANCE NAME, WILL STRENGTHEN ITS STANDING IN THE SKIN CARE INDUSTRY.

MOUNT CARMEL RESIDENTS UPSET OVER 35% INCREASE IN SEWER RATES

RESIDENT SIN MOUNT CARMEL ARE UPSET ABOUT A 35 PERCENT INCREASE IN THEIR SEWER RATE THAT GOES INTO EFFECT TODAY. RESIDENTS SAY THE INCREASE COMES AT A BAD TIME, ON THE HEELS OF A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR JIM STABLES SAID THE TOWN RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE TENNESSEE COMPTROLLERS OFFICE ALERTING THEM THEY WERE IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS. HE SAID THE TOWN’S UTILITY DEPARTMENT HAS SHOWN A DEFICIT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND WITHOUT ACTION NOW, THEY COULD FACE CONSEQUENCES. STABLES SAID THERE WILL BE A RATE REVIEW EVER YEAR TO ADDRESS FUTURE RATE INCREASES.