Today's News

Vickie Nevels doubts the Milford Barnett murder trial will go forward as scheduled on Tuesday in Roane County Criminal Court.

She has good reason to be skeptical.

Barnett, her younger half-brother, is accused of killing their elderly mother, Pearl Barnett. It’s been nearly five years since Pearl Barnett’s death, and Nevels has seen the trial postponed several times.

“It’s been horrible for me these past five years,” she said.

Rockwood officials would like to ban pain management clinics and the troubles often associated with them.

“The problem is that you can’t take an otherwise legitimate business that is not intrinsically illegal and say you cannot locate anywhere in the city of Rockwood,” said Sandy McPherson, who is acting as city attorney.

“The state took the initiative and provided that there would be very stringent regulations as to how those things would be operated,” he added.

Roane County Habitat for Humanity recently broke ground on its first home in more than two years.

“It’s been two years in the making,” said Habitat for Humanity President and Kingston City Councilman John Byrkit. “We’re just so excited we could bust.”

The last two homes were built in 2009 on Pine Ridge Road in Harriman. This new home, surrounded by others on Hope Circle in Kingston, will be the first of three the nonprofit, Christian organization will build for new partner families.

The annual Roane County Chamber of Commerce banquet, now in its 66th year and considered by many the spring social event for Chamber members, will be on April 20 in Whitestone Country Inn, Kingston.

The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. with a wine reception and silent auction, followed by a four-course gourmét meal.

That will be followed by the presentation of this year’s prestigious business awards: the Athena Award, Business of the Year, Distinguished Service Award and the Paul Goldberg Young Professional Award.