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Today's News

  • Rockwood loses councilman

    Rockwood City Councilman Bill Thompson lost a long battle with cancer Sunday morning.

    He didn’t lose his wit and charm during his health struggles, and he stayed positive during his treatments, rarely missing a Rockwood City Council meeting.
    “Even when he was so sick, he’d say, ‘I’m going to get to feeling better.’” said City Recorder Becky Ruppe.
    Thompson was even positive when he recently attended a finance meeting and was encouraged to return home.

  • ‘No!’ said to tax hike

    Should residents have to pay more in property taxes to make up for a Roane County Schools shortfall caused by cuts in state funding?
    The county’s budget committee answered that question with a resounding “no” on Monday, voting to keep the county’s property tax rate at $2.18 per $100 valuation for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

  • Motions hearing delayed in murder case

    A conflict has led to the appointment of a new lawyer for accused murderer Shawn Smoot, reports Assistant District Attorney General Bill Reedy.

    Smoot is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Brooke Nicole Morris. Her body was found at Blair Road and Old Blair Road on Oct. 15, 2011. Police said she had been shot.
    Last year Assistant Public Defender Walter Johnson was appointed to represent Smoot.
    “The public defender determined their office had a conflict,” Reedy said.

  • Starved child hearing put off

    A motion hearing for Matthew Dotson has been rescheduled for next month.
    Dotson and his wife, Amanda, are charged with first-degree murder. They allegedly starved their 2-year-old son, Clifford, to death.
    Matthew Dotson’s attorney, Joseph Lodato of Knoxville, filed a motion to withdraw from the case because of his client’s “failure to fulfill contractual obligations,” the motion said.
    Assistant District Attorney General Bill Reedy said Lodato appeared in court on Monday, but Matthew Dotson was a no-show.

  • Mounger estate lawsuits expand

    A 1,200-acre lakefront tract in East Roane County is the subject of another lawsuit. The property is owned by the Estate of Katherine Mounger.
    Two of her children — E. Jay Mounger and Katherine Mounger Lasater — are executors of the estate.
    On May 9, 2007, the estate entered into a contract to sell the property to McKenzie Loudon Properties LLC for $15.2 million.

  • Deal reached in development official’s DUI case

    The drunk-driving case of Darrell Williams, the vice president of business development for The Roane Alliance, was resolved Monday in General Sessions Court.

  • Case of mother accused of holding boy for beating put off

    Latoya Brown came to court on Monday hoping to be exonerated of allegations that she held a 10-year-old boy so her son could hit him.
    She left court disappointed.
    Brown’s accusers didn’t show up, and the case was rescheduled to Aug. 19.  
    “It’s irritating,” Brown said. “They’re making me waste gas and time to come over here for something I didn’t even do.” 
    Monday marked the second time the case has been postponed.

  • Cousin county needs help from severe flooding

    Roane County, West Va., was devastated by flooding last week. More than 100 homes were damaged or destroyed.
    Roane Countians in Tennessee are collecting cash donations or Walmart gift cards to assist those Roane Countians in rebuilding their lives.
    Donation drop-off areas are as follows:
    • Harriman: Ellis Surplus and Salvage at 301 Roane St.
    • Kingston: Roane County Courthouse, County Executives Office.
    • Oliver Springs: James Brummett Insurance, 104 Kingston Ave.

  • Clean Energy grant awarded by governor

    Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday announced the city of Oak Ridge is receiving $200,000 in Clean Tennessee Energy Grant funding to replace and retrofit existing fluorescent lighting fixtures to LED lighting in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building and the Oak Ridge Civic Center Complex. 

  • Musical has the answers

    A family-friendly musical about a girl with a knack for offering advice will open June 22 at Roane State Community College’s O’Brien Theatre on the Roane County campus.
    The Roane State Music Department is producing “Dear Edwina” with stage director Tony Cedeno, choreographer Jennifer Austin, pianist Slade Trammell and drummer Brandi Walls.
    Performances are June 22, 2 and 7 p.m.; June 23, 2 p.m.; June 29, 2 and 7 p.m.; and June 30, 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person at the door.

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