Today's News

By DAMON LAWRENCE

dlawrence@roanecounty.com

After nearly five months of freedom, Rocky Houston is back behind bars.

Special Judge David Hayes revoked his bond Friday afternoon and ordered him back to jail. Special prosecutor Kenneth Irvine argued that the bond should be revoked because Rocky committed numerous violations of his bond conditions since his release from jail in March. The judge agreed.

“You have violated the conditions of release,” Hayes said.

By TERRI LIKENS

tlikens@roanecounty.com

When a group of concerned residents went to meet with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials Monday, they got a surprise: the top dog was there.

Lisa Jackson, the national director of EPA, had quietly slipped into Kingston to meet with the group of a half dozen people, which included Randy Ellis of Harriman, on the fly ash disaster.

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.