FREE Vessel Examinations this Saturday for Jefferson County Boaters
The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Knoxville-First Flotilla invites all Jefferson County boaters to get a free vessel safety examination on Saturday, July 12th, at the boat launch at the Dandridge Municipal Park on Chestnut Hill Road and Public Drive. Coast Guard Auxiliary-certified vessel examiners will perform a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) for your boat […]
LOCAL STUDENT GRADUATES FROM FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Furman University President Elizabeth Davis presided over the class of 2025 commencement exercises, which took place Saturday, May 10, in Paladin Stadium on campus. The class of 2025 included 571 students who graduated in the spring semester. Sophie Madeline Swann of Dandridge, Tennessee, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. Swann’s […]
Tribute To Frank Niceley
Previously published in The Tennessee Conservative Photo credit: Geneva DeCobert The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal] – The first sentence of Frank Niceley’s Obituary states as follows: “Frank Samuel Niceley, age 78, passed away on June 19, 2025, from a heart attack. He died with his boots on, plowing a river bottom field on his farm in […]
Austin Brooks Announces Candidacy For Jefferson County Mayor
A Vision for a Prosperous Future Austin Brooks, a resident and business owner in Jefferson County, is excited to announce his candidacy for County Mayor. As a Jefferson County Commissioner, member of the Jefferson County Planning Commission, and Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party, Austin has demonstrated his commitment to the prosperity of Jefferson […]
Secretary of State Hargett, Sen. Seal, Rep. Farmer, & Rep. Faison Announce $10,000 in TOP Grant Funding for Jefferson County Libraries
Secretary of State Tre Hargett, State Sen. Jessie Seal, State Rep. Jeremy Faison, and State Rep. Andrew Farmer today announced $10,000 in Training Opportunities for the Public (TOP) Grant funding for libraries in Jefferson County. Specifically, Dandridge Memorial Library will receive $3,860 to help cover the cost of digital literacy instructors, Wi-Fi hotspots, and internal […]
BODY OF MISSING DOUGLAS LAKE BOATER RECOVERED
The body of a Knoxville man who went missing on Douglas Lake Sunday afternoon has been recovered. On June 10, 2025, just before noon EDT, search and recovery teams located the body of David Simanca Molina, 22, in the Muddy Creek area of Douglas Lake, near Point 7, at a depth of approximately 81 feet. […]
SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING BOATER ON DOUGLAS LAKE
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and local emergency responders continue the search for a missing boater on Douglas Lake after receiving a report yesterday afternoon that an individual had entered the water and did not resurface. According to witnesses, on the afternoon of June 8, 2025, at approximately 1:30 p.m., David Simanca Molina (21), […]
Doug Ibbetson Announces His Re-Election Campaign for Jefferson County District One School Board
Jefferson County resident Doug Ibbetson has announced his candidacy to continue to represent District One on the County School Board. District One is comprised of the neighborhoods of Dandridge, Chestnut Hill, Indian Creek, Parrotts Chapel, Shady Grove, Swannsylvania, Oak Grove, Deep Springs and Piedmont. Doug has continued to make it his priority to visit each […]
Canterbury Seals the Deal on Douglas Lake
With light wind and shifting water levels across Douglas Lake, anglers were once again forced to adjust on the final day of Stop #3 of the NPFL season. The offshore bite never really came back after Day One, and while shallow patterns remained the deal, water color and stability varied depending on where you were. […]
Jefferson County, TN Resident Convicted of TennCare Fraud
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has announced the conviction of 39-year-old Ashley Barnhart Martin of Dandridge, Tennessee. On April 17, 2025, Ashley Barnhart, also known as Ashley Martin, pleaded guilty to one count of TennCare fraud and one count of theft of services. The OIG’s investigation revealed that Ms. Barnhart failed to report her […]
Jefferson County Budget Committee To Recommend Property Tax Increase
The Jefferson County Budget Committee will forward a recommendation for a six penny property tax increase to the full body for consideration and approval. A motion from Commission Chair/budget committee member Carmichael and 2nd from Budget Committee Vice Chair Huffaker to answer a deficit still just shy of $1.5 million dollars following the recent approval […]
Using Fire as a Tool: TVA Executes Controlled Burn on Douglas Dam Reservation
A prescribed fire team from the Tennessee Valley Authority, along with representatives from the Tennessee Division of Forestry carried out a controlled burn Wednesday on TVA’s Douglas Dam Reservation. Close to 40 acres located between the dam and its elevated overlook area were burned with coordinated precision as part of an ongoing effort to enhance […]
TWRA ASSESSING POTENTIAL WILDLIFE IMPACTS FROM CHANGES TO CHEROKEE DAM AERATION SYSTEM
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has announced plans to replace the current aeration system at Cherokee Dam with new turbine technology by 2026. These upgrades, designed to improve water quality downstream, may have unintended consequences for aquatic wildlife in Cherokee Reservoir — particularly Striped Bass. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is currently evaluating these […]
