SULLIVAN CO BOE APPEALS JUDGE’S ORDER TO REINSTATE FIRED TEACHER

THE SULLIVAN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTED THURSDAY NIGHT TO APPEAL A JUDGE’S DECISION TO REINSTATE FIRED TEACHER MATTHEW HAWN. HAWN WAS TERMINATED IN 2021, AFTER A PARENT COMPLAINED ABOUT MATERIALS USED IN HIS CONTEMPORARY ISSUES CLASS. THE BOARD’S DECISION WAS UPHELD BY AN IMPARTIAL HEARING OFFICER A YEAR LATER. HAWN APPEALED TO THE SULLIVAN COUNTY CHANCERY COURT WHICH DETERMINED LAST MONTH THAT HAWN WAS NOT INSUBORDINATE OR UNPROFESSIONAL AND ORDERED THA HE BE REINSTATED. THIS IS DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS CHUCK CARTER. CARTER SAID THE CASE WILL NOW MOVE TO AN APPEALS COURT.

SBA APPLICATION DEADLINE NEXT WEEK

THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION LOANS RELATED TO DAMAGE FROM THE SEPTEMBER FLOODING. THE SBA SAYS APPLICATIONS ARE STILL BEING ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THEM. THE DEADLINE IS NEXT TUESDAY JANUARY 7TH FOR PHYSICAL DAMAGE. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO SBA DOT GOV OR CALL 800-659-2955.

2 FOUND DEAD WITH GUNSHOT WOUNDS IN KINGSPORT

THE KINGSPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING AFTER A MAN AND WOMAN WERE FOUND DEAD WITH APPARENT GUNSHOT WOUNDS. ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE, OFFICERS WERE CALLED TO THE 3100 BLOCK OF TIFFANY COURT FOR A DISTURBANCE AT 8:36 AM ON DECEMBER 28TH. BEFORE OFFICERS ARRIVED, A THIRD PARTY ENTERED THEM HOME AND FOUND THE MAN AND WOMAN UNRESPONSIVE ON THE FLOOR. POLICE SAY BOTH SUFFERED FROM APPARENT GUNSHOT WOUNDS, AND A FIREARM WAS FOUND INSIDE THE HOME. THE FIREARM WAS COLLECTED AS POTENTIAL EVIDENCE. POLICE IDENTIFIED THE WOMAN AS 25 YEAR OLD MIKAYLA SANDUSKY OF OAK RIDGE, AND THE MAN AS 27 YEAR OLD AS DILLION PRATER OF JOHNSON CITY. THE BODIES WERE SENT FOR AUTOPSY.

BALLAD HEALTH SETS VISITOR RESTRICTIONS AS FLU SPREADS RAPIDLY

AFTER TRACKING A STEEP RISE IN FLU CASES IN THE REGION, BALLAD HEALTH HAS IMPLEMENTED VISITATION RESTRICTIONS AT ALL OF ITS FACILITIES TO LIMIT THE SPREAD. ON THURSDAY, BALLAD ISSUED AN ADVISORY STATING THE VISITATION RESTRICTIONS WERE GOING INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO REFRAIN FROM VISITING PATIENTS…ANYONE WHO HAD FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS, SUCH AS COUGH, SORE THROAT, FEVER, CHILLS, RUNNY NOSE, BODY ACHES, NAUSEA, VOMITING OR DIARRHEA. ANYONE YOUNG THAN 18. AND ANY GROUPS OF MORE THAN TWO ADULTS PER PATIENT. BALLAD NOTED THAT EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE FOR END OF LIFE PATIENTS, FAMILY BIRTHS, AND PATIENTS AT NISWONGER CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL.

ONE INJURED AFTER CRASH ON I-26 IN KINGSPORT

ONE PERSON WAS INJURED AFTER A CRASH ON INTERSTATE 26 IN SULLIVAN COUNTY WEDNESDAY. ACCORDING TO THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL, A FORD RANGER WAS TRAVELING WEST ON I-26 NEAT THE 1.2 MILE MARKER JUST BEFORE 7 PM. THE VEHICLE HIT THE RUMBLE STRIPS, OVERCORRECTED, FLIPPED AND CAME TO REST ON ITS TOP AGAINST THE CABLE BARRIER. THE DRIVER OF THE FORD WA REPORTEDLY TRAPPED, AND WAS EXTRACTED BY FIRST RESPONDERS. THE DRIVER REPORTEDLY HAD MINOR INJURIES AND WAS LATER RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST CRASH, A SECOND OCCURRED IN THE AREA. ACCORDING TO THE THP, A CHEVY EQUINOX SHOWED DUE TO TRAFFIC IN THE AREA. A DODGE AVENGER THEN REPORTEDLY HIT THE CHEVY IN THE REAR. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

JANE DOE SETTLEMENT PULLED FROM JOHNSON CITY COMMISSION AGENDA

AN ATTORNEY TOLD JOHNSON CITY COMMISSIONS, THAT A SETTLEMENT PROPOSAL TO END A FEDERAL LAWSUIT ALLEGING POLICE MISCONDUCT SURROUNDING SEAN WILLIAMS’ ALLEGED SERIAL RAPES IS OFF THE TABLE, SAYING IT’S NOT CLEAR WHEN OR IF THERE WILL BE A SETTLEMENT PROPOSAL FOR THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER. COMMISSIONERS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO REMOVE THE ITEM FROM THURSDAY’S AGENDA WITH NO DISCUSSION AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR MEETING AFTER CITY MANAGER CATHY BALL REQUESTED IT. CITY ATTORNEY TOM SEELY SAID THE ITEM WAS PLACED ON THE AGENDA EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL, ON THE BELIEF THAT THERE WOULD BE A SETTLEMENT PROPOSAL FOR THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER.

$1.4M IN RESTITUTION COMING TO VICTIMS

ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY FOR FORMER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OWNER JOE WOOD, WILL RECEIVE RESTITUTION WITHIN WEEKS. WOOD WHO OPERATED WOOD CONSTRUCTION AND REMODELING FROM 2019 TO 2021 REACHED A PELA AGREEMENT WITH FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ON FEDERAL WIRE FRAUD CHARGES IN JUNE. AS PART OF THE DEAL, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN NO MORE THAN 10 MONTHS JAIL TIME, A RELATIVE OF WOOD AGREED TO FUND REIMBURSEMENT FOR AT LEAST 64 VICTIMS WHOSE CASES MET THE REQUIREMENTS TO FALL UNDER THE WIRE FRAUD STATUE. SEVERAL MORE QUALIFIED VICTIMS WERE IDENTIFIED THIS SUMMER AND FALL, WHICH PUSHED THE TOTAL RESTITUTION FROM JUST UNDER 1.2 MILLION TO JUST OVER 1.4 MILLION DOLLARS.

JUDGE BLOCKS TN AGE-VERIFICATION LAW FOR PORNOGRAPHIC WEBSITES FROM GOING INTO EFFECT

A FEDERAL JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKED A TENNESSEE LAW THAT WOULD REQUIRE PORNOGRAPHIC WEBSITES TO MAKE USERS VERIFY THEIR AGE TO WATCH ADULT CONTENT LESS THAN TWO DAYS BEFORE IT WAS SET TO GO INTO EFFECT. THE PROTECT TENNESSEE MINORS ACT, WHICH PASSED LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, REQUIRES WEBSITES CONTAINING A PORTION OF CONTENT THAT IS HARMFUL TO MINORS TO MAKE PEOPLE PROVE THEY ARE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD EVERY HOUR WHILE ACCESSING THEIR SITES. LAWMAKERS SAID WEBSITES COULD DO THIS BY REQUIRING USERS TO UPLOAD THEIR PHOTO ID’S AND A PHOTO OF THEMSELVES. COMPANIES THAT DON’T COMPLY COULD BE CHARGED WITH FELONY UNDER THE LAW. THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN BOTH THE SENATE AND HOUSE. HOWEVER THE FREE SPEECH COALITION ARGUED THAT IT VIOLATES THE 1ST AMENDMENT AND CREATES PRIVACY ISSUES. THE JUDGE’S RULING HAS TEMPORARILY BLOCKED THE LAW FROM GOING INTO EFFECT UNTIL LITIGATION IS RESOLVED.

GATE CITY MAN INDICTED ON ARSON CHARGE FOR STATELINE TIRE FIRE

A SUSPECT HAS BEEN INDICTED IN RELATION TO THE FIRE THAT DESTROYED STATELINE TIRE IN SCOTT COUNTY VIRGINIA IN NOVEMBER. ACCORDING TO A VIRGINIA STATE POLICE SPOKESPERSON, A GRAND JURY HAS INDICTED 24 YEAR OLD TRISTAN SEXTON OF GATE CITY WITH ONE COUNT OF ARSON. FIRE FIGHTERS RESPONDED TO THE BLAZE EARLY ON THE MORNING OD NOVEMBER 4TH. IT REIGNITED THE NEXT MORNING, PROMPTING FURTHER RESPONSE. IN ADDITION TO DESTROYING STATELINE TIRE, THE FIRE ALSO LED OFFICIALS TO WARN PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES IN THE AREA TO TURN OFF THEIR HVAC UNITS. SEXTON IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN THE HAWKINS COUNTY JAIL ON OTHER CHARGES IN TENNESSEE.

NAVE REAPPOINTED MAYOR OF BRISTOL VA

BECKY NAVE WAS REAPPOINTED MAYOR OF BRISTOL VIRGINIA THURSDAY MORNING. THE BRISTOL VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL MET AT 9 AM TO DECIDE WHO WOULD FILL THE ROLE. PRIOR TO OFFICIALLY APPOINTING THE MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR, NAVE AND COUNCIL MEMBER ANTHONY FARNUM WERE SWORN BACK INTO THEIR COUNCIL SEATS. BOTH WERE RE-ELECTED ON THE LAST CITY ELECTION. THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY CHOSE TO REAPPOINT NAVE AS MAYOR FOR A SECOND TERM, AND ALSO CHOSE JAKE HOLMES TO SERVE A SECOND TERM AS VICE MAYOR. NAVE SAID THE COUNCIL STILL HAS SEVERAL ONGOING ISSUES TO TACKLE, SUCH AS THE CITY’S LANDFILL, BUT SHE’S OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BRISTOL’S ECONOMIC FUTURE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE OPENING OF HARD ROCK BRISTOL ‘S OPENING.