REGIONAL EYE CENTER SCHOOL SCHEDULE CHANGES
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11
TENNESSEE
JOHNSON COUNTY SCHOOLS – CLOSED
VIRGINIA
GRAYSON COUNTY SCHOOLS – CLOSED
SCOTT COUNTY SCHOOLS – CLOSED
SWVA COMMUNITY COLLEGE – CLOSED
VA HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE – CLOSED
UVA WISE – CLOSE
EMORY & HENRY – OPENING AT 10 AM
BUCHANAN COUNTY SCHOOLS – REMOTE LEARNING
DICKENSON COUNTY SCHOOLS – REMOTE LEARNING
LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS – REMOTE LEARNING
NORTON CITY SCHOOLS – REMOTE LEARNING
RUSSELL COUNTY SCHOOLS – REMOTE LEARNING
SMYTH COUNTY SCHOOLS – REMOTE LEARNING
WASHINGTON CO VA SCHOOLS – REMOTE LEARNING
WISE COUNTY SCHOOLS – REMOTE LEARNING
MT EMPIRE COMMUNITY COLLEGE – SNOW SCHEDULE
NORTH CAROLINA
ASHE COUNTY SCHOOLS – CLOSED
AVERY COUNTY SCHOOLS – CLOSED
MITCHELL COUNTY SCHOOLS – CLOSED
OPTIONAL TEACHER WORK DAY
WATAUGA COUNTY SCHOOLS – CLOSED
MADISON COUNTY SCHOOLS – 3 HOUR DELAY
GAS PRICES DIP THEN TICK UP AGAIN AMID TARIFF CONCERNS
AMID THE THREAT OF TARIFF’S, THE NATIONAL OVER THE LAST WEEK AVERAGE FOR A GALLON OF GAS TICKED UP 2 CENTS TO 3.13 A GALLON, 7 CENTS MORE THAN A MONTH AGO AND 1 CENT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. GASOLINE DEMAND INCREASED FROM 8.3 MILLION BARRELS PER DAY LAST WEEK TO 8,32 MILLION BARRELS PER DAY. TOTAL SUPPLY ROSE FROM 248.9 MILLION BARRELS TO 251.1 MILLION BARRELS, WHILE GAS PRODUCTION DECREASED LAST WEEK, AVERAGING 9.2 MILLION BARRELS PER DAY. HERE IN THE TRI CITIES GAS IS SELLING FOR 2.83 A GALLON THIS MORNING. THAT’S DOWN A PENNY FROM LAST WEEK, BUT 9 CENTS HIGHER THAN ONE MONTH AGO.
POLICE INTERVIEWS SHOW DECLINE IN FAITH IN MEGAN BOSWELL
THE FIFTH DAY OF MEGAN BOSWELL’S MURDER TRIAL PAINTED A PICTURE OF DIMINISHING CONFIDENCE IN HER FROM POLICE THROUGH HOURS OF RECORDED INTERVIEWS. MONDAY’S PROCEEDINGS PICKUP UP WITH TBI AGENT DAVID GRATZ RETURNING TO THE STAND AND CONTINUE TESTIMONY. HE SPENT MUCH OF SATURDAY DESCRIVING HIS INTERVIEWS WITH BOSWELL IN FEBRUARY 2020 AT THE SULLIVAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. WHEN ASKED WHO THE INVESTIGATION LED TO, HE CONFIDENTLY STATED BOSWELL WAS ULTIMATELY THE ONLY SUSPECT. THE BULK OF THE REST OF THE DAY WAS SPENT WITH SULLIVAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE LIEUTENANT MATT PRICE ON THE STAND. THE JURY NWAS SHOWN TWO INTERVIEWS WITH PRICE, GRATZ AND BOSWELL, FROMM FEBRUARY 20TH AND 21ST. BOSWELL BEGAN POINTING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HER MOTHER, SAYING SHE HAD BEEN TALKING WITH ETHAN PERRY, AND MAYBE HE HAD GIVEN EVELYN TO HER. THE CLAMED HER MOTHER HAD TAKEN EVELYN FROM HER TRAILER IN MID DECEMBER, DIVERTING FROM HER PREVIOUS STORY. THE TRIAL CONTINUES TODAY.
PAIR ARRESTED WITH METH, FENTANYL, CRACK COCAINE
WASHINGTON COUNTY TENNESSEE SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES ARRESTED 42 YEAR OLD KIMBERLY ANDERSON OF ELIZABETHTON AND 54 YEAR OLD DAVID TAYLOR OF JOHNSON CITY LAST THURSDAY ON MULTIPLE DRUG CHARGES. ACCORDING TO SHERIFF KEITH SEXTON, THE PAIR HAD 50 MILLILITERS OF METH ON SYRINGES, 1.7 GRAMS OF METH IN BAGGIES, 1.1 GRAMS OF FENTANYL, AND 1.2 GRAMS OF CRACK COCAINE, ALONG WITH VARIOUS PIECES OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. BOTH ARE CHARGED WITH MANUFACTURE, DELIVERY, POSSESSION OR SALE OF METH, AND UNLAWFUL DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. ANDERSON IS ALSO CHARGED WITH DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED OR REVOKED LICENSE, RUNNING A STOP SIGN, AND INTRODUCTION OF CONTRABAND INTO A PEANL FACILITY. TAYLOR IS ALSO CHARGED WITH TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE, 2 COUNTS OF POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE II DRUGS FOR RESALE. THEIR NEXT COURT APPEARANCES ARE SET FOR FEBRUARY 19TH.
DUO SENTENCED FOR 2024 JOHNSON CO COURTHOUSE BOMB THREAT
TWO PEOPLE WERE SENTENCED FEBRUARY 7TH IN CONNECTION WITH A BOMB THREAT AT THE JOHNSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN FEBRUARY 2024. ACCORDING TO THE JOHNSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, JULIANNA REECE AND BRANDON STANTON PLEADED GUILTY TO THE CHARGES, AND ASKED CRIMINAL COURT JUDGE LISA RICE TO CONSIDER PROBATION. ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE, ULTIMATELY AFTER CONSIDERING THE FACTS, BOTH SUBJECTS WERE ORDERED TO SERVE THEIR SENTENCES. REECE WAS SENTENCED TO SERVE TWO YEARS AND ONE MONTH. STANTON WAS ORDERED TO SERVE A THREE YEAR SENTENCE.
LAWSUIT ALLEGES WRONGFUL TERMINATION BY JOHNSON CITY SCHOOLS
A FORMER TRACK COACH FILED A LAWSUIT ALLEGING HE WAS WRONGFULLY TERMINATED FROM HIS POSITION WITH JOHNSON CITY SCHOOLS. THE PLAINTIFF, ANTHONY JONES CLAIMS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DISCRIMINATED AGAINST HIM CONCERNING HIS RACE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND/OR AGE, WHICH ULTIMATELY LED TO HIM BEING LET GO FROM HIS COACHING POSITION. AMONG THE ALLEGATIONS IS ONE THAT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER GINGER CARTER MOUNTED A CAMPAIGN TO REMOVE COACHES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO JONES. THE SUIT LISTS SEVERAL DEFENDANTS, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS STEVE BARNETT, BOARD MEMBER GINGER CARTER, AD KEITH TURNER, ASSISTANT AD JEFF ALDRIDGE, PRINCIPAL JOSH CARTER, AND OTHERS.
TOWNE ACRES SRO TRANSITIONING TO SUV INVESTIGATOR ROLE
OFFICER ERIK HILTON IS SAYING GOODBYE TO TOWNE ACRES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR A NEW ROLE WITH THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. AFTER ALMOST SEVEN YEARS OF SERVICE AS A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, HILTON WILL NOW BE AN SUV INVESTIGATOR WITH THE JOHNSON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. HILTON HAS BEEN AN SRO FOR 17 YEARS, AND SERVED WITH THE JOHNSON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 27 YEARS. HE’S PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN PROGRAMS LIKE D.A.R.E, PROJECT ALERT, POLICE EXPLORERS AND MORE. TOWNE ACRES PRINCIPAL DR JOSH SIMMONS SAID HILTON HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE PART OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. OFFICER SHAWN PHILLIPS STARTED AS THE NEW TOWNE ACRES SRO MONDAY.
FORMER EMPLOYEE OF DOE MOUNTAIN REC AUTHORITY IN JOHNSON CO CHARGED
A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE DOE MOUNTAIN RECREATION AUTHORITY IN JOHNSON COUNTY HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THEFT AND OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT. ACCORDING TO THE TENNESSEE COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE, DMITRIY GROESBECK WAS INDICTED BY A GRAND JURY IN NOVEMBER 2024. THE NONPROFIT AUTHORITY MAINTAINS 8,600 ACRES OF PROTECTED MOUNTAIN TERRAIN AND TRAILS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES. THE INVESTIGATION BEGAN AFTER AUTHORITY OFFICIALS IDENTIFIED AND REPORTED QUESTIONABLE FINANCIAL ACTIVITY. GROESBECK IS ACCUSED OF MISAPPROPRIATING AUTHORITY FUNDS TOTALING 12,026 DOLLARS, BY TRANSFERRING THE MONEY FROM THE AUTHORITY’S BAND ACCOUNT TO A PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT.
TWO COMPANIES ANNOUNCE LOCAL LAYOFFS
TWO COMPANIES POSTED NOTICES OF LAYOFFS AFFECTING EMPLOYEES IN THE TRI CITIES. ACCORDING TO A WARN NOTICE, S & B ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS NOTIFIED THE STATE OF A PERMANENT LAYOFF ON MARCH 28TH, AFFECTING 112 EMPLOYEES BASED OUT OF THE COMPANY’S KINGSPORT OFFICE AT 100 EASTMAN ROAD. IN ANOTHER WARN NOTICE, FEDEX ANNOUNCED A PERMANENT CLOSURE AT ITS LOCATION AT 2165 HIGHWAY 75 IN BLOUNTVILLE ON MARCH 31ST WHICH WILL AFFECT 88 EMPLOYEES. BOTH NOTICES WERE POSTED ON WEDNESDAY.
SULLIVAN CO MAN CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR
AN INVESTIGATION INTO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL RESULTED IN THE ARREST OF A SULLIVAN COUNTY MAN. THE SULLIVAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ARRESTED 45 YEAR OLD JONATHAN PRICE OF BLOUNTVILLE FRIDAY. ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE, INVESTIGATORS RECEIVED A TIP FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN ABOUT IMAGES THAT HAD BEEN UPLOADED ONLINE. INVESTIGATORS REVIEWED 155 IMAGES AND DETERMINED THEY CONTAINED CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL. PRICE WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE SUSPECT AND SPOKE WITH HIM. A SEARCH WARRANT WAS EXECUTED AT PRICE’S HOME FRIDAY MORNING, AND HE WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAID THE INVESTIGATION WAS ONGOING WITH ADDITIONAL CHARGES PENDING.
WOMAN ARRESTED IN GATE CITY FOUND WITH VARIETY OF DRUGS, PARAPHERNALIA
A WOMAN WAS ARRESTED FRIDAY IN GATE CITY AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP LED POLICE TO FIND A VARIETY OF DRUGS AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. ACCORDING TO THE GATE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, 27 YEAR OLD KAYLA ADAMS WAS ARRESTED FOLLOWING A TRAFFIC STOP DUE TO A RECKLESS DRIVER COMPLAINT. POLICE SAID THEY OBSERVED THE VEHICLE ADMAS WAS OPERATING SWERVING ON NENA DRIVE. UPON CONTACT, POLICE OBSERVED ADAMS WITH SLURRED SPEECH AND WATERY EYES, AND SHE REPORTEDLY ADMITTED TO SMOKING MARIJUANA. POLICE SAID ADAMS WAS THEN PLACE UNDER ARREST FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE. ONCE PLACED UNDER ARREST, A SEARCH OF HER VEHICLE YIELDED ABOUT 112 GRAMS OF METH, ABOUT 50 XANAX PILLS, SUBOXONE AND KLONOPIN TABLETS, SMOKING DEV ICES, HYPODERMIC NEEDLES, SCALES AND BAGGIES. SHE WAS ALSO FOUND TO HAVE A SUSPENDED LICENSE IN TENNESSEE.
SUSPECT ARRESTED ON WARRANT AFTER DRIVING PAST SCHOOL BUS
GREENEVILLE POLICE WERE INFORMED BY A WITNESS THAT A VEHICLE DRIVE PAST A SCHOOL BUS THAT HAD IT’S EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. OFFICERS SPOKE WITH THE MAN IDENTIFIED AS TERRY STARNES. STARES HAD AN ACTIVE WARRANT FOR VIOLATION OF PROBATION, AND WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST.
JOHNSON CITY WOMAN ARRESTED FOR METH & PILLS
WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES ARRESTED 43 YEAR OLD APRIL DAWN HIXON AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP LAST WEEK. DURING THE STOP DEPUTIES NOTED THAT HIXON HAD AN ACTIVE WARRANT FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR. A K-9 ALERTED ON THE CAR, AND OFFICER FOUND 2.7 GRAMS OF METH, TWO GLASS PIPES, AND MORE THAN 20 SMALL BAGGIES COMMONLY USED IN THE SALE OF DRUGS. SEVERAL XANAX AND CLONAZEPAM PILLS WERE ALSO FOUND IN HER PURSE. HER NEXT COURT APPEARANCE IS SET FOR FEBRUARY 26TH.
