MONDAY MARCH 31

DIRECTOR OF SULLIVAN COUNTY SCHOOLS SPEAKS OUT AFTER ALLEGED ASSAULTS

THE SULLIVAN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WANTS TO REASSURE PARENTS, AFTER TWO INCIDENTS LAST WEEK ED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIONS. DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS CHUCK CARTER SAID THERE WAS A QUICK RESPONSE AT BOTH SCHOOLS INVOLVED. CARTER REAFFIRMED THAT SULLIVAN COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE ADAMANTLY FOLLOWING THE HIRING PROCESS STEPS FOR ALL SCHOOL POSITIONS. CARTER SAID THAT ALL SCHOOLS HAVE RESOURCE OFFICERS PRESENT, AND THERE IS A POLICY EVERYONE FOLLOWS, WHETHER IT’S A STUDENT OT TEACHER, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

MAN KILLED IN MOTORCYCLE CRASH AT I-26/I-81 INTERCHANGE

A MAN WAS KILLED IN A MOTORCYCLE CRASH THAT OCCURRED IN THE AREA OF THE INTERSTATE 26 AND INTERSTATE 81 INTERCHANGE IN SULLIVAN COUNTY ABOUT 9:49 THURSDAY NIGHT. ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL, THE MOTORCYCLIST WAS GOING WEST ON I-26 AND TOOK EXIT 8 B TO MERGE ONTO I-81 NORTH. THE MOTORCYCLE THEN RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, WENT THROUGH THE MEDIAN, AND CAME TO REST BLOCKING THE RIGHT LANE OF I-81 NORTH. THE MOTORCYCLIST, IDENTIFIED AS 46 YEAR OLD ANDREW ALAN AUTRY OF VIRGINIA, WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE AND LANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF I-81, WHERE HE DIED AT THE SCENE.

GAS PRICES MAKING SEASONAL CLIMB

WITH SPRING BREAK IN FULL SWING, DRIVERS WERE PAYING MORE AT THE PUMP COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS WEEK. THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR A GALLON OF GAS WENT UP 3 CENTS, SINCE THE PREVIOUS WEEK TO 3.15 A GALLON. ACCORDING TO TRIPLE A, GAS PRICES TYPICALLY START GOING UP THIS TIME OF YEAR AND PEAK DURING SUMMER. BUT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS STILL ABOUT 40 CENTS LOWER THAN LAST YEAR, DUE TO TEPID GASOLINE DEMAND AND WEAK CRUDE OIL PRICES. ACCORDING TO NEW DATA FROM THE ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION, GAS DEMAND DECREASED FROM 8.82 BARRELS PER DAY LAST WEEK, TO 8.64. TOTAL DOMESTIC SUPPLY DECREASED FROM 240.6 MILLION BARRELS TO 239.1. GAS PRODUCTION DECREASED LAST WEEK, AVERAGING 9.2 MILLION BARRELS PER DAY. HERE IN THE TRI CITIES GAS IS SELLING FOR AN AVERAGE OF 2.76 A GALLON THIS MORNING, 3 CENTS HIGHER THAN ONE WEEK AGO.

CONCRETE BARRIES AT BALLAD ENTRANCES PRECAUTIONARY DUE TO PURPORTED NATIONAL THREAT TO HOSPITALS

BALLAD HEALTH SAID SATURDAY, THAT CONCRETE BARRIERS PLACED OUTSIDE ITS FACILITIES ARE ONE PART OF INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES, DUE TO A PURPORTED NATIONAL THREAT TO HOSPITALS BY A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. A MESSAGE TO TEAM MEMBERS FROM LEVINE SAID THAT THE EXACT DETAILS OF BALLAD’S EMERGENCY PLAN WILL NOT BE RELEASED THE ADDITION OF CONCRETE BARRIERS, VEHICLE CHECKPOINTS IN BALLAD PARKING LOTS, AND ENHANCED SECURITY INSIDE FACILITIES. THE COMMUNICATION TO EMPLOYEES SAID THE ENHANCED SECURITY PROCEDURES WENT INTO EFFECT ON FRIDAY. ADDITIONAL SECURITY PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED AND CERTAIN ENTRANCES HAVE BEEN CLOSED TO BETTER CONTROL ACCESS.

BAIL REVOKED FOR MAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING JCPD OFFICER

A MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED 1ST DEGREE MURDER AFTER ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING A JOHNSON CITY POLICE OFFICE APPEARED IN COURT THURSDAY. TIMOTHY BLAIRE WAS OUT ON BOND AT THE TIME OF HIS COURT APPEARANCE, AND HAD HIS BAIL REVOKED. THE DECISION WAS BASED ON BLAIR’S CRIMINAL HISTORY, INCLUDING A PREVIOUS AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CHARGE. HE WAS ALSO OUT ON BOND AT THE IME HE ALLEGEDLY SHOT THE POLICE OFFICER. BLAIR’S NEXT COURT DATE IS SET FOR JUNE 19TH AT 9 AM.

TRUMP FIRES TVA BOARD MEMBER AFTER TN SENATORS CRITICISM

AFTER TENNESSEE SENATORS MARSHA BLACKBURN AND BILL HAGERTY CRITICIZED THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY LEADERSHIP, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS FIRED A BOARD MEMBER. AN SEC FILING SHOWS THAT MICHELLE MOORE’S APPOINTMENT ON TEVA’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ENDED ON MARCH 27TH AT TRUMPS DIRECTION. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN NAMED MOORE TO THE BOARD, AND SHE WAS UNANIMOUSLY CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE IN DECEMBER 2022. IN AN OPINION PIECE PUBLISHED ON MARCH 20TH, BLACKBURN AND HAGERTY ASKED TRUMP AND ENERGY SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT TO APPOINT AN INTERIM CEO TO REPLACE RETIRING CEO JEFF LYASH. A TVA SPOKESPERSON EXPLAINED THAT THE BOARD DECIDES WHO TO HIRE AS CEO.

UNDER TN BILL, STUDENTS WOULD BE TAUGHT MARRIAGE BEFORE KIDS AS ONE KEY TO SUCCESS

TENNESSEE’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS COULD SOON BE REQUIRED TO TEACH THAT THE KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL LIFE INCLUDE FOLLOWING A PROPER SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, HIGH SCHOOLS, JOB OR HIGHER EDUCATION, MARRIAGE, AND THEN CHILDREN. THE SENATE PASSED THE LEGISLATION 25-5 ON THURSDAY, IT HAS SEVERAL STEPS REMAINING IN THE HOUSE. PROPONENTS ARGUED THE SO-CALLED SUCCESS SEQUENCE COULD HELP LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY BY DELAYING LIFE EVENTS, SUCH AS GETTING MARRIED BEFORE HAVING CHILDREN. OPPONENTS RAISED CONCERNS THAT THE INSTRUCTION COULD INDOCTRINATE STUDENTS ABOUT MATTERS THAT SHOULD BE PERSONAL CHOICES WHILE MAKING STUDENTS WHO HAVE A SINGLE PARENT FEEL BAD ABOUT THEMSELVES. THE TENNESSEE PROPOSAL WOULD REQUIRE A FAMILY LIFE CURRICULUM IN A K-12 SCHOOL INCLUDE AGE-APPROPRIATE TEACHING ABOUT THE POSITIVE PERSONAL AND SOCIETAL OUTCOMES OF THE SEQUENCE. UNDER STATE LAW, PARENTS CAN OPT THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF THE FAMILY PLANNING CURRICULUM.

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.

HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL’S CTE PROGRAM RECEIVES NEARLY $64,000

HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL’S CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS RECEIVED A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL BOOST, AFTER SUFFERING SETBACKS DUE TO FLOODING FROM HELENE. THE ASSOCIATION OF GENERAL CONTRACTORS PRESENTED A CHECK FOR NEARLY 64,000 DOLLARS TO THE SCHOOL. FLOODING FROM HELENE FORCED HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL TO CLOSE, RELOCATING STUDENTS AND STAFF TO A TEMPORARY FACILITY. THE SKILLS-USA CTE PROGRAM WAS SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THE DISRUPTION. JAMES HANSON, PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF GENERAL CONTRACTORS EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN THE FUTURE WORKFORCE. SKILLS-USA IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PREPARING STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN SKILLED TRADES, AIMING TO CREATE A STRONG WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE.

MAN CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING CAPTURED IN BRISTOL VA

A MAN CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING WAS CAPTURED IN BRISTOL VIRGINIA. AUTHORITIES SAY THAY HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR RICKY HATFIELD SINCE A HIGH-SPEED CHASE IN BLUFF CITY LAST MONTH. HATFIELD FACES MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES FROM THE BLUFF CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE ALSO HAS WARRANTS OUT OF BRISTOL TENNESSEE FOR KIDNAPPING, CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, AND AGGRAVATED BURGLARY. BLUFF CITY POLICE SAID HATFIELD WAS CAPTURED EARLY FRIDAY AT A SHELL GAS STATION ON EUCLID AVENUE IN BRISTOL VIRGINIA. HE WAS BEING HEL DIN THE REGIONAL JAIL IN ABINGDON, AWAITING EXTRADITION BACK TO TENNESSEE.

WOMAN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN EARLY MORNING WRECK

A GREENEVILLE WOMAN WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A TWO VEHICLE COLLISION EARLY SUNDAY MORNING ON THE EAST ANDREW JOHNSON HIGHWAY. AUTHORITIES SAID THE WRECK OCCURRED AROUND 12:30 AM NEAR A NEW TRAFFIC LIGHT AT SERRAL DRIVE. ACCORDING TO GREENEVILLE POLICE, BOTH VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING WEST, WHEN THE DRIVER OF A CHEVY SILVERADO, 36 YEAR OLD BRENTON WARD OF PARROTTSVILLE, SAW A MINIVAN APPROACHING AT A HIGH SPEED FROM THE REAR. WARD SAID THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON THE MINIVAN AND HE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, BUT THE MINIVAN STRUCK HIS TRUCK IN THE REAR. THE DRIVER OF THE MINIVAN, 48 YEAR OLD AMBER ELLERS OF GREENEVILLE WAS FLOWN TO JOHNSON CITY FOR TREATMENT OF SUSPECTED MAJOR INJURIES.