Local News

Harriman voters decided that four years of Chris Mason leading the city were not enough as they re-elected him to a second term on Tuesday.

Mason took a commanding 61-percent lead over contender Wayne Best early in the race and held onto it as precincts reported in Tuesday night. Unofficial election tallies show Mason's victory at 651 over Best's 425, giving the incumbent mayor 60.5 percent of the votes.

Rockwood officials approved a 3-percent across-the-board pay raise for city employees upon first reading of the 2011-12 budget last month.

The proposed increase in pay comes without an increase in the city’s property-tax rate of 75 cents per $100 valuation.

Also up for a raise — one of 10 percent — is Rockwood Municipal Airport manager Danny Collins. A contractor with the city, the raise will up his take-home pay to $35,000 a year.

Harriman resident Mike Burger sets sail on his Hobie Cat Getaway in Watts Bar Lake.

He’s among the East Tennesseans who have sought refuge from the late spring heat wave on the water.

The area’s waterways, pools and splash pads will continue to get a workout: forecasters are predicting temperatures in the 90s until Friday, with few chances of rain.

But be careful out there: air-quality alerts were issued over the weekend.