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Local News

  • Harriman vets honored with diplomas

    Two Harriman High School would-be graduates didn’t make it to their caps and gowns when they were young men.

    Instead, over 40 years later Melvin Page and Chester Edwards both got their diplomas at the Roane County School Board meeting last Thursday thanks to legislation that permits diplomas to be issued to veterans whose education was interrupted by their service in World War I, World War II, the Korean War or Vietnam War. 

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  • Schools have no backup plan if tax hike fails

    Roane County Commissioner Ron Berry was surprised to hear that school officials don’t have a contingency plan in place in case their request for a 9-cent increase in the property tax rate doesn’t get approved.  

    Director of Schools Gary Aytes said they didn’t think a backup option was needed. 

    “We felt pretty confident that’s what we could get,” he said. 

    The 9-cent increase will generate $1.017 million. School officials are counting on the money to fund their 2014-15 budget. 

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  • Harriman budget has no tax increase

    The 2015 budget passed easily with no tax increase at the special-called Harriman City Council meeting Thursday.

    Harriman City Councilman J.D. Sampson didn’t make a motion to raise taxes, but he thought it would be a good idea. He said costs will continue to rise, and raising taxes now in addition to debt payoffs in the next year or two will mean more money in the city’s coffers for paving and other needs. 

    “I aint going to make the motion to raise taxes, but I think as the mayor has said the time is coming,” Sampson said.

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  • Judge assigned in McFarland lawsuit

    Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Gary Wade has appointed Senior Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood to hear Tom McFarland’s election lawsuit. 

    McFarland lost to Mike Pemberton in the race for 9th Judicial District circuit court judge. He’s now suing Pemberton, the Roane County Election Commission and Tennessee Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins in Roane County Chancery Court. 

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  • Meadows managed bank not a problem for trustee

    The Roane County Trustee’s Office can continue to do business with United Community Bank after Darryl Meadows becomes a county commissioner on Sept. 1. That’s the opinion of Greg Leffew, who will become the county attorney on that same day. 

    The trustee’s office banks with United Community Bank, where Meadows serves as the branch manager. 

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  • Roane County Commissioners retire
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  • Guy ‘good hearted,’ mom says

    Loved ones of Miranda Guy will remember more than her tragic death.

    “She wasn’t a bad person,” said her mother, Tammy Guy Edwards.

    “She was a good-hearted person.”

    Guy, 28, who was shot and killed during an altercation with law enforcement, is said to have pointed a gun at her own head before pointing it at law enforcement on Tuesday afternoon.

    She was a burglary suspect who had fled from police in a white pickup before stopping at 314 Fairchild St. and fleeing inside.

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  • South Roane firefighters battle Laurel Bluff blaze
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  • Miller vs. Evans for mayor in Rockwood

    From staff reports

    One of Rockwood’s most outspoken City Council members and a former mayor will be facing off in November for the city’s top elected position.

    Mike “Brillo” Miller filed papers Tuesday to reclaim the seat he vacated in 2009 due to Rockwood term limits.

    He will be challenged by Peggy Evans, a first-term City Council member who, until recently, sat as the city’s vice mayor.

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  • Community honors ‘good man’ judge upon his retirement

    Circuit Court Judge Russell E. Simmons Jr. is retiring at the end of the month.

    On Tuesday, colleagues, attorneys, friends and family paid homage to his 24 years on the bench during a reception at the Old Roane County Courthouse.

    “He has a lot of friends in this community and in the 9th Judicial District,” said Darla Watson, Simmons’ administrative assistant. “It’s phenomenal the friendship that’s being shown and turned out for him for his retirement.”

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