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Local News

  • High schoolers can earn degree at middle college

    Roane County’s brightest upcoming juniors were recently invited to become the first class of Roane State Community College’s middle college.

    It would be an opportunity for select students to attend Roane State in the morning as a group and then return for their high school classes and extracurricular activities in the afternoon.

    It goes a step further than simple dual enrollment; it actually allows the students to complete an associate’s degree while still in high school.

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  • Tennessee Promise exciting for RSCC, TCAT

    Roane State Community College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology just became more accessible to potential students.

    Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam’s Tennessee Promise initiative pays tuition and fees for all graduating high school seniors to attend either a state community college or TCAT.

    It is a last-dollar scholarship award after students get their eligible financial aid and other funding.

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  • Judge hopefuls add big bucks to war chests

    Ninth Judicial District circuit court judge candidate Tom McFarland has raised $37,425 for his campaign, according to his first-quarter finance report submitted on April 9.

    “We’re right on schedule,” McFarland said. “We developed a plan at the beginning, and everything is going very well.”

    The judicial district consists of Roane, Loudon, Meigs and Morgan counties.

    “I want to point out that the reason we’re encouraged is our report will show that we’ve got support from every county,” McFarland said.

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  • MOUNT PISGAH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY STUDENTS WORK TO FEED the NEED

    “On your mark ... get set ...  go!”

    With that call over the loudspeaker in Oliver Springs’ Mount Pisgah Christian Academy’s gym on Tuesday, two separate tables of students began scooping rice and beans into bags in a competition to be the first to fill a box with 20 meals.

    “This is the day they’ve been working for,” said educator Megan Burnham.
    The work with Feed the Need, a program through Champion Events, helps participants like Mount Pisgah combine fundraising with providing meals for the hungry.

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  • Hardship account to help Kingston water customers pay bills

    Kingston Water Board plans to carry through with a measure to help disadvantaged city water customers when money gets tight.

    The uncertainty — at least for board members — lies in determining who will be eligible for assistance.

    The board approved a proposal at its April meeting that would allow Kingston water customers to voluntarily add a $1 donation to their monthly bills to fund a so-called “hardship account” to help pay overdue water bills for customers who are struggling financially.

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  • Vets thrilled with new VA clinic

    Roane County’s veterans got a good look at the new Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic and its staff during its open house Wednesday in Shoppes at Walden Ridge.

    Congressman Chuck Fleischmann; officials from Humana, who will be operating the clinic through a contract with the VA; and local, state and other federal officials joined the veterans for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours.

    “It has been needed for a long time,” said Clyde Luttrell, an Oliver Springs veteran who had previously traveled to Knoxville for treatment.

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  • Man charged with beating jailer girlfriend

    Jacob Tyler Summers is charged with domestic assault for allegedly beating a Roane County Sheriff’s Office corrections officer on April 5.

    Sheriff Jack Stockton said he discussed the incident with his employee – Paige Beaty.

    “She just wanted to ensure me that she was sorry that it happened,” Stockton said.

    Stockton said he tried to reassure Beaty.

    “I told her she can’t control someone else’s actions,” he said.   

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  • Farmers market pavilion to be up and ready for upcoming growing season

    A pavilion at Riverfront Park for the Harriman Farmer’s Market producers to sell their fruits and vegetables should be finished for this market season.

    It will include areas for the sellers to display their products.

    A $38,800 grant to build the pavilion is through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Rural Farmer Market Capital Development Grant Program. It was awarded last year.

    Dina Jackson, grant and marketing coordinator, said they’d soon have some engineering designs to present to council.

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  • County hopes to sweeten Plateau deal

    Roane County Executive Ron Woody got unanimous approval on a resolution that calls for renegotiation of the Plateau Partnership Park deal.

    “I think everybody is aware we didn’t get a fair shake on that deal,” Commissioner Steve Kelley said. “Roane County definitely ended up holding the short end of the stick.”

    Plateau Partnership Park is a joint industrial park venture between Roane, Cumberland and Morgan counties.

    All of the land is in Cumberland and Morgan counties.

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  • Gallaher attorney negotiating plea in Grill & Pub death

    Eric Gallaher may never face a jury in his manslaughter case. His attorney, Donice Butler, said they’ve had discussions with the District Attorney General’s Office about a possible plea deal that would resolve the case without having to go to trial.

    Butler said Gallaher might enter a plea if they can “negotiate one that he could live with.”

    “I wouldn’t want to release the details of that plea unless and until we’re ready to enter it,” she said.

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