JOHNSON CITY RESIDENTS REMINDED OF HOLIDAY SCHEDULES

JOHNSON CITY RESIDENTS ARE REMINDED THAT CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED NOVEMBER 28 AND 29^TH, DECEMBER 24^TH AND 25^TH AND JANUARY 1^ST FOR THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS DAY. GARBAGE AND RECYCLING SERVICE ARE SUS[ENDED FOR THANKSGIVING DAY AND CHRISTMAS DAY. CUSTOMERS WHOSE REGULAR COLLECTION DAY FALLS ON THANKSGIVING SHOULD PLAN TO HAVE GARBAGE AND RECYCLING PICKED UP ON NOVEMBER 30^TH.  CUSTOMERS WHOSE COLLECTION DATE IS DECEMBER 25^TH SHOULD EXPECT PICKUP ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 28^TH. COLLECTION WILL BE ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE JANUARY 1^ST.

AREA CHRISTMAS TREE FARM LOSES 80,000 TREES TO FLOOD WATERS

THE TRINITY TREE COMPANY AT AVERY FARMS JUST ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE LINE HAS BEEN SUPPLYING CHRISTMAS TREES TO THE COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS, BUT FLOODWATERS FROM HELENE TOOK OUT NEARLY 80 PERCENT OF THE FARM’S CROP. GRAHAM AVERY, WHOSE FAMILY HAS OWNED THE PROPERTY FOR SIX GENERATIONS SAID IT HAS COST THE FARM MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND MANY YEARS TO START OVER. ROOT ROT AND GROUND POLLUTION MAN THE ENTIRE PIECE OF LAND MUST BE UPROOTED AND REPLANTED. IT’LL TAKE 10 TO 15 YEARS FOR THE FARM TO GET BACK TO WHERE IT WAS. WHEN ASKED IF THEY WOULD TRY TO REBUILD OR OF THEY HAD OTHER PLANS FOR THE LAND MOVING FORWARD, AVERY EMPHASIZED THEIR COMMITMENT TO BRINGING IT BACK BETTER THAN EVER.

ALLEGIANT TO BEGIN NONSTOP LIGHTS FROM ASHEVILLE TO WASHINGTON DC

ALLEGIANT AIR HAS ADDED A NONSTOP ROUTE FROM ASHEVILLE TO WASHINGTON DC. ALLEGIANT ANNOUNCED TUESDAY THAT IT WOULD NOW OFFER NONSTOP FLIGHTS FROM ASHEVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT TO WASHINGTON DC VIA DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO ALLEGIANT, THE NEW ROUTE STARTS JUNE 20^TH, AND ONE-WAY FARES START AT 39 DOLLARS. THE ROUTE FROM ASHEVILLE TO WASHINGTON DC IS PART OF 44 NEW NONSTOP ROUTES THROUGHOUT ALLEGIANT’S NETWORK.

BRISTOL TN RECEIVES GRANT FOR POTENTIAL MUSIC VENUE PROJECT

THE CITY OF BRISTOL TENNESSEE RECEIVED A 100,000 DOLLAR GRANT THAT WILL GO TOWARD OPENING A MUSIC VENUE TO HOST CONCERTS. THE LOCATION IS THE SHELBY STREET LOT, NEAR WEST STATE STREET, WHICH IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD. THOMAS AND LITTON HAS BEEN CONTRACTED TO COMPLETE DRAWINGS FOR THE SITE. TERRY NAPIER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EVENTS SAID THE SITE WOULD OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR LARGER CONCERTS AND BIGGER ACTS.

TDEC EMAILS HIGHLIGHT CSX REPAIR WORK IN RIVER GORGE

TENNESSEE’S ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATOR IS INVESTIGATING CSX’S RAIL REPAIR WORK ON THE TENNESSEE SIDE OF THE NOLICHUCKY RIVER GORGE, AND VISITED THE SITE EARLIER THIS MONTH WITH CSX AND TWO FEDERAL AGENCIES. THOSE TWO AGENCIES, THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND U.S. FOREST SERVICE, ALONG WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, HAVE BEEN SUED IN FEDERAL COURT OVER CLAIMS THEY’VE UNLAWFULLY ALLOWED CSX’S WORK WITHOUT PROPER PERMITS. TDEC MEANWHILE GRANT CSX A LIMITED PERMIT OCTOBER 16^TH, TO REPAIR A SECTION OF LINE FROM SOUTH OF ERWIN TO THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE LINE. TDEC SPOKESPERSON KIM SCHOFINSKI SAID AS REPAIRS CONTINUE AT THE SITE, TDEC’S INVESTIGATION TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE IS ONGOING.

YOUNGKIN REQUESTS $4.4B FOR HELENE RECOVERY IN SWVA

VIRGINIA GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN HAS ASKED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR 4.4 BILLION DOLLARS TO HELP SOUTHWEST VIRGINIANS WORKING TO RECOVER FROM HELENE. ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE FROM GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN’S OFFICE, HE SUBMITTED THE REQUEST FRIDAY TO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT ELECT DONAL TRUMP, AND CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATORS. THE FEDERAL SUPPORT WOULD AID IN REBUILDING AND RECOVERY EFFORTS IN 36 LOCALITIES IN THE AREA.

CHUCKY PIKE BRIDGE PARTIALLY REOPENS AFTER HELENE

THE CHUCKY PIKE BRIDGE OVER THE NOLICHUCKY RIVER HAS PARTIALLY REOPENED TO TRAFFIC. ACCORDING TO THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, ONE LANE IS NOW OPEN TO TRAFFIC, WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON EACH SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. THE BRIDGE HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE FLOODWATERS FROM HELENE DAMAGED IT IN LATE SEPTEMBER.

COUNTY TO SERVE AS CONDUIT FOR STATE LOAN FOR JONESBOROUGH

WASHINGTON COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE SIGNED OFF ON A 3 MILLION DOLLAR STATE LOAN FOR THE TOWN OF JONESBOROUGH, TO ADDRESS FLOOD RECOVERY ISSUES WITH ITS WATER SYSTEM. WASHINGTON COUNTY DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTS AND BUDGET MITCH MEREDITH SAID THE COUNTY WILL SERVE AS THE CONDUIT FOR THE LOAN FROM THE HELENE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE LOAN PROGRAM, A STATE BACKED INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT TENNESSEE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY HELENE. MEREDITH SAID THE MONEY WILL PASS THROUGH THE COUNTY, BUT THE TOWN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAYING THE 10 YEAR LOAN. THE TOWN WILL APPLY FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM FEMA. THE COUNTY COMMISSION WILL BE ASKED TO APPROVE THE STATE LOAN AT ITS MEETING NOVEMBER 26^TH.

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WOMAN REPORTS LOSING $2,000 AFTER RESPONDING TO RENTAL LISTING

A JOHNSON CITY WOMAN REPORTED SHE LOST OVER 2,000 DOLLARS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RENT A PLACE IN GREENE COUNTY. THE VICTIM SAID SHE RECENTLY CONTACTED THE SUSPECT ON FACEBOOK ABOUT A LISTING HE HAD FOR A RENTAL UNIT IN GREENE COUNTY. SHE MET WITH THE MAN AND PAID 2,400 DOLLARS CASH AS A SECURITY DEPOSIT. THE RENTAL WA SUPPOSED TO BE MOVE IN READY THIS WEEK. HOWEVER, THE SUSPECT CLAIMED THAT IT WOULD BE A FEW MORE DAYS, AS INSPECTIONS NEEDED TO BE CONDUCTED FOR RENOVATIONS HE HAD DONE. ACCORDING TO THE GREENE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, THE VICTIM ASKED FOR HER MONEY BACK SO SHE COULD SECURE HOUSING ELSEWHERE, THE SUSPECT REFUSED, SAYING SHE WAS IN A LEGAL BINDING CONTRACT.  THERE WAS NO LEASE OR WRITTEN AGREEMENT. THE VICTIM DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE SUSPECT OUTSIDE FACEBOOK.

ONE INJURED IN MOSHEIM WRECK TUESDAY MORNING.

ONE PERSON WAS FLOWN FROM THE SCENE OF A ONE CAR WRECK ON WEST ANDREW JOHNSON HIGHWAY IN MOSHEIM TUESDAY MORNING. ACCORDING TO REPORTS, A TRUCK LEFT THE SOUTHBOUND LANES OF THE HIGHWAY, AND TRAVELLED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT NEAR BRIDGE BURNER’S BOULEVARD. THE DRIVER WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. HIGHLANDS AIR RESCUE TRANSPORTED THE PATIENT FROM THE SCENE.