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Local News

  • Kamp aims to ease kindergarten transition

    Laughing and learning are normal occurrences at Kingston Elementary during the school year.

    But what’s commonplace in the school’s classrooms during the summer?

    The same thing — at least during Kinder Kamp for incoming kindergartners.

    “It is a huge help for them to come and get familiar with it all,” said Kingston Elementary kindergarten teacher Jennifer Raymer.

    “It helps with the transition so much.”

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  • Softball team’s Pink Out game cites Narramore

    Pink clothing is not unusual on the field at many children’s softball games.

    But at a game last week at Midway, the preponderance of pink had special impact.

    When Midway 8-and-under hosted a Pink Out game against Kingston last Monday, it was in honor of April Narramore.

    The longtime South of the River resident was diagnosed with breast cancer in April.

    “The ‘C’ word is always devastating,” Narramore said, “but I haven’t been alone through any of it.”

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  • Sewer issue may be resolved

    Kingston officials hope they’re on the verge of settling a longstanding issue with the wastewater treatment expansion and putting the long-delayed project on a fast track to completion.

    City Council members learned this month of the latest meetings between city officials and the contractor for the wastewater plant expansion.

    A subcontractor hired by the chief contractor damaged an oxidation ditch a couple of years back, causing delays and, potentially, cost overruns.

    The project required an initial $262,000 in engineering and related costs.

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  • OS homecoming queen goes from tiara to combat boots

    Morgan Gail Wright proves she can be sugar, spice and everything nice and still whoop some butt.

    The 2013 Oliver Springs High School homecoming queen is no stranger to the sweat and physical challenge of boot camp. In fact, she welcomes it.

    She went through the grueling Freedom Alliance Military Leadership Academy last summer.

    “That was probably the two hardest weeks of my life so far,” said Wright.

    Wright said it is similar to ­— but more intense — than the Civil Air Patrol summer program she went through.

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  • Zoning vote shocks residential community

    The head of Kingston’s Planning Commission admitted that a proposed development before the body had no shortage of problems.

    That didn’t stop the commission Tuesday from approving a zoning change of 47 wooded acres from residential to commercial at a meeting packed with opponents.

    The development has been proposed to move the Jerry Duncan Ford dealership from Hwy. 27 in Harriman to a more visible site near Interstate 40, according to Steve Kirkham, who owns the site with Duncan.

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  • Public defender dies

    The Ninth Judicial District’s first public defender died Wednesday after taking a dramatic turn for the worst with a serious infection.

    Joe Walker, who was appointed Roane County’s first public defender almost 25 years ago, had the position ever since, including after a 1991 accident which left both him and his son Andrew without use of their limbs.

    “He had an unwavering commitment to the public and to us, really,” said Assistant Public Defender Walter Johnson, who worked for Walker since 1992.

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  • ‘In God We Trust’ issue to come to commission vote

    The “In God We Trust” resolution appears headed for a vote at the July 14 Roane County Commission meeting.

    Sponsor Randy Ellis didn’t indicate a willingness to pull the resolution until the Aug. 11 meeting, which is after the election.

    “I don’t think we need to,” Ellis contended. “It’s not a political issue, so there’s no use to pull it.”

    Election Day is Aug. 7.

    Early voting is from July 18 to Aug. 2.

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  • Stockton not coasting

    A month before the start of early voting, Roane County Sheriff Jack Stockton said he plans to stump hard in his quest for a third term.

    “We want to win, but we don’t underestimate our opponent by no means,” he said. “We take everyone serious that’s on the ballot.”

    Stockton faces Rockwood Police Department Patrolman Jared Hall in the race for sheriff. Both men were invited to participate in a forum hosted by the Roane County Tea Party on Thursday at the Kingston Community Center. The forum started after press time.

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  • ‘Smart’ device school policy change expands

    A revised policy that will allow high school students to use tablets and smartphones during the school day was approved by the Roane County Board of Education on second reading this month.

    “It’s going to be great,” Director of Schools Gary Aytes said. “It gives students more ownership of their environment and their education.”

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  • Live band noise still too much

    There’s a clamor about noise again in the city of Kingston.

    The furor is coming from the same place that spurred a 2012 effort to tweak city noise ordinances.

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