Today's News

By DAMON LAWRENCE

dlawrence@roanecounty.com

Citing health reasons and a need to spend more time with family, Mike Hooks has decided to give up his spot on the Roane County Commission.

He also is moving out of the commission district he represents.

He spoke about his decision to resign at Monday’s regular meeting.    

By CINDY SIMPSON

csimpson@roanecounty.com

Heavy traffic that slows travel to a crawl on Hwy. 70 has inspired a look at widening the section of roadway from the new bridge to Rite Aid in downtown Kingston.

By DAMON LAWRENCE

dlawrence@roanecounty.com

Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood heard arguments from Board of Professional Responsibility attorney Sandy Garrett and Kingston attorney Chris Cawood on Friday.

The board wants to see Cawood disciplined for a sexual tryst that involved the girlfriend of one of his clients.

However, the board’s own hearing panel ruled in December that no disciplinary action should be taken. The board wasn’t happy with that decision and appealed.  

By DAMON LAWRENCE

dlawrence@roanecounty.com

People worried about their health because of the TVA ash spill could get a free medical screening courtesy of TVA.

The agency is paying Oak Ridge Associated Universities to address the health concerns of locals because of the disaster.

Wendy West, a spokeswoman for ORAU, said the screenings should begin soon.

“We’re waiting on some final checks and balances on the screening protocols to make sure everything is a go,” she said.