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Local News

  • Rocky Houston trial begins today

    By DAMON LAWRENCE

    rclawrence@bellsouth.net

    Ambush? Or self-defense?

    Rocky Houston and his attorney may try to convince a jury the latter is what caused the violent deaths of a sheriff’s deputy and his ride-along passenger two and a half years ago.

    If the trial of Rocky’s brother, Leon, is an indication, the state will try to show the jury the deaths were the result of a premeditated slaughter.

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  • Powers moving to TTC-Dickson

    By CINDY SIMPSON

    rccindysimpson@bellsouth.net

    Harriman Councilman Mark Powers has been appointed director of the Tennessee Technology Center at Dickson.

    Powers, who leaves his job as head of the Tennessee Technology Center at Harriman to accept the appointment approved Friday by the Tennessee Board of Regents, will also soon be leaving his official city capacities.

    “I was encouraged to apply for the job. I got the right kind of encouragement so I went ahead,” Powers said.

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  • Rogers predicts difficulty in seating jury

    By DAMON LAWRENCE

    rclawrence@bellsouth.net

    Publicity has been plentiful throughout the murder cases against brothers Rocky and Leon Houston.

    The impact that might have on jury selection for Rocky’s upcoming trial was discussed during a hearing in Roane County Criminal Court last Thursday.

    “I think it’s going to be very difficult to get a jury, but we’re going to try to do that,” defense attorney Randy Rogers said.

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  • Funding changes could be hard on Roane

    By DAMON LAWRENCE

    rclawrence@bellsouth.net

    The school system continues to sound the alarm about state funding.

    Earlier this year, Roane County Schools business manager Eric Harbin told board members that the funding formula the state used to allocate money to school systems resulted in less state money for Roane County.

    Director of Schools Toni McGriff said the future points to more of the same.

    “We expect to get hit again next year,” McGriff told board members last week.

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  • Time 'of essence' in Pinnacle Pointe dispute

    By CINDY SIMPSON

    rccindysimpson@bellsouth.net

    A potential resolution of a quarter-million-dollar dispute between Harriman and the developers of Pinnacle Pointe shopping center is waiting on more information.

    Councilman Mark Powers expressed curiosity about where the issue stood at a recent city council workshop.

    A special audit by the state into allegations of wrongdoing showed Prestige owed the city roughly $250,000 for excavation work the city did on the Pinnacle Pointe development on Hwy. 70.

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  • RSCC eyes economic 'field of dreams'

    By CINDY SIMPSON

    rccindysimpson@bellsouth.net

    With a nod to the if-you-build-it-they-will-come school of thought, Roane State Community College is making a fundraising effort to substantially improve its ballfields to draw tournament play.

    And that could be good for the Roane County economy.

    Improvements could give the college a chance to host the Tennessee Junior and Community College Athletic Association Region VII tournament. It could also be used for recreational play and tournaments.

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  • Oakdale City's equipment stolen

    By JUDY UNDERWOOD

    Morgan County News Editor

    More than $20,000 in equipment has been stolen from the Oakdale City Maintenance facility and Mayor Vic Jeffers is angry and disheartened.

    Jeffers said he has worked with Paul Scarbrough (city recorder) for more than ten years to collect the tools the city needed for it’s maintenance department.

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  • Davis explains teachers' dismissal, resignation

    By JUDY UNDERWOOD

    Morgan County News Editor

    Following Monday night’s school board workshop Director of Schools Mike Davis commented on the resignation of Sunbright teacher and football coach Johnny Harrison and dismissal of Oakdale teacher Susan White during an interview.

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  • Spurling sentenced for sex with underage girl

    By DAMON LAWRENCE

    rclawrence@bellsouth.net

    Criminal Court Judge Eugene Eblen sentenced a former school teacher to 90 days in jail for his guilty plea on statutory rape.

    Kevin Spurling, who taught in the Knox County school system, accepted a plea agreement with prosecutors in July for a two-year sentence.

    Spurling was asking for judicial diversion and no jail time, but Eblen said he didn’t feel it was proper.

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  • Former RMC administrator dies

    By CINDY SIMPSON

    rccindysimpson@bellsouth.net

    The Roane County medical community is mourning the loss of the man credited with shaping Roane Medical Center into what it is today.

    Harry Wade, who was administrator of the Harriman-based hospital for many years, died Thursday in a Knoxville hospital. He was 82.

    Wade was named administrator of what was then Harriman City Hospital in 1953. During his 37 years of leadership, the facility that evolved into Roane Medical Center underwent major building and service expansions.

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The Roane County News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Roane County and Kingston, Tennessee, and the surrounding area.