Four School Bus Mechanics Suspended Pending Investigation As Escapee Remains At-large
Four Jefferson County Department of Education employees have been suspended without pay following the escape of a prisoner on work detail. Justin Allen, Jr. Shults, Bryan Drinnen and Eugene Ogle, all employed as mechanics with the Jefferson County School System and all located at the bus garage, received letters dated September 20, 2019 notifying them […]
County Commission Approves $11 Million Funding Request
Jefferson County Commissioners met for their Regular Monthly Voting Session on Monday, September 16, 2019 at the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. Absent at Roll Call were Commissioners Phagan, Blevins and Byrd. Following the call to order, the floor was opened for nomination and election of officers for the County Commission for the 2019/2020 year. By […]
Local Lawmakers Announce Technology Grants for Public Libraries in Jefferson County
State Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) and Representatives Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) and Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) announced today that Jefferson County is receiving $7,738 in Technology Grants from the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The lawmakers made the announcement after being notified by Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “Access to technology is something many of […]
Regulatory Barriers Persist, Rural Broadband Advances at a Snail’s Pace
Rural broadband expansion is caught in a regulatory tug of war that started in 1999. State legislators authorized municipal utilities to provide internet services at a time when few private internet service providers (ISP’s) were willing to reach into certain fledgling market areas. Municipal providers were “authorized” but limited to their electric service areas, essentially […]
County Has Healthy Rollover
The Jefferson County Commission met for their regular Work Session on Monday, September 9, 2019 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. Beyond familiarizing themselves with the full meeting agenda, the Commission heard from various Department Heads for status updates. Six citizens addressed the Commission with two being from Parrott’s Chapel, one regarding Broadband, one voicing […]
Mayor Potts Proclaims September 17-23 Constitution Week In Jefferson County
Jefferson County Mayor Mark Potts has proclaimed September 17-23 as “Constitution Week” in Jefferson County. September 17 marks the 232nd anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. It is the 64th anniversary of the first resolution by the U.S. Congress to observe Constitution Week. This celebration of the American form of government rests on the […]
Fall Foliage Lovers
For fall foliage lovers it is that time of year when the gaze goes to the tree tops to see if there is any change of color. While a few leaves of yellow may be present sporadically, we have not reached the combination locally that will produce those wonderful shades of red and orange that […]
Above Average Temps Predicted For Next Few Days
The calendar may say that summer is winding down but the thermometer tells an entirely different story. While the average temperature for this time of the year is generally in the mid eighties and decreasing as the month progresses toward fall, next week may prove to be the anomaly. If the current weather forecast holds […]
Investigation Concluded In Talbott Elementary Teacher Incident
Information was released today regarding an incident that happened recently at Talbott Elementary School. Director of Schools, Dr. Shane Johnston, has transferred a first grade teacher Donnalyn Taylor from Talbott Elementary School to the Jefferson Academy (alternate school) for the remainder of the 2019/2020 school year. The teacher in question self reported sliding a chair […]
Study: Frequent social media use disrupts sleep, physical activity in teen girls
Cyberbullying and lack of sleep and physical activity may be to blame for the ties between social media use and poor mental health and well-being in teen girls, researchers found. They studied nearly 10,000 adolescents in England over three years starting in 2013 when participants were 13 or 14 years old. The teens were asked […]
TDCI Reminds Tennesseans of “100 Deadliest Days” for Teen Drivers
With back to school season under way, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) is reminding consumers that this time of year is especially dangerous for teen drivers. Research from the AAA Foundation indicates that the number of crash fatalities involving teen drivers rises significantly between Memorial Day (May 27, 2019) and Labor Day […]
THDA Awards Grant To Aid In Jefferson County Flood Recovery
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency has awarded a $500,000 grant to help low-income residents of Jefferson County repair homes that were damaged after severe storms triggered floods there earlier this year. The Rebuild and Recover Disaster Program Grant, which will be administered on behalf of Jefferson County by the Tennessee Community Assistance Corporation, will provide […]
Civil Asset Forfeiture: New Research Indicates Limited Value, Federal and State Reform Legislation Pending
A media release and comprehensive report made by the Institute for Justice (IJ) demonstrates the limited value of civil asset forfeiture in curtailing crime. Tennessee ranks among the top states for the use of civil forfeiture, the practice of seizing private property and cash under criminal code without the requirement of a conviction or filing […]
Voting Glitch Raises Questions In County Commission
Jefferson County Finance Office and Jefferson County Mayor’s Office will not be relocating to another downtown Dandridge location according to a tie vote of County Commissioners that defeated a motion that would have purchased the proposed new location for up to $1 million dollars plus associated costs. The motion was tied to the sale of […]
