TUESDAY APRIL 15

2 DEAD AFTER HEAD ON CRASH ON I-81 IN GREENE CO

TWO PEOPLE ARE DEAD AFTER A HEAD ON COLLISION ON INTERSTATE 81 IN GREENE COUNTY MONDAY MORNING. ACCORDING TO THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL, A HONDA CRV ENTERED THE INTERSTATE AROUND 3:19 AM, TRAVELING NORTH IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANES NEAR MILE MARKER 30. ACCORDING TO A THP REPORT, THE HONDA HIT A SOUTHBOUND FORD EXPLORER HEAD-ON. BOTH VEHICLES CAUGHT FIRE AFTER COLLIDING. THE THP SAID THE DRIVER OF THE HONDA, 80 YEAR OLD PAUL MARTINEZ AND A PASSENGER 37 YEAR OLD SHERRI THORNTON DIED IN THE CRASH. THE DRIVER OF THE FORD WAS EJECTED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES.

LOCAL SCHOOLS DIRECTOR SAYS HIS BOARD IS AGAINST UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS BILL

A BILL THAT TOOK ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN TENNESSEE’S LEGISLATURE LAST THURSDAY HAS SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE PREPARING FOR SOMETHING THEY MIGHT PREFER TO AVOID. THE SENATE PASSED THE BILL BY A VOTE OF 19 TO 13, WHICH WOULD ALLOW SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO CHARGE TUITION TO UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS OR DENY THEM ADMISSION. WASHINGTON COUNTY TENNESSEE SCHOOLS DIRECTOR JERRY BOYD SAID HIS BOARD MEMBERS AREN’T INTERESTED IN THE OPTION OF CHARGING TUITION. THE BILL WOULD ALSO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO COLLECT CITIZENSHIP OR LEGAL IMMIGRANT DOCUMENTS FROM EACH ENROLLING CHILD, WHICH BOYD SAID WILL JUST ADD ANOTHER LAYER TO THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS.

MAN ESCAPES INJURY, SWIMS TO SAFETY AFTER TRUCK LEAVES ROAD

THE DRIVER OF A PICKUP TRUCK WAS FORTUNATE TO ESCAPE INJURY SATURDAY, WHEN THE TRUCK HE WAS DRIVING BECAME SUBMERGED IN A CREEK. THE MAN TOLD OFFICERS HE DROPPED HIS CONTAINER OF TEA, AND WHEN HE REACHED DOWN TO RETRIEVE IT, THE RIGHT TIRES OF HIS VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD. THE TRUCK TRAVELED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND WOUND UP IN LAKE CREEK AND QUICKLY BECAME FULLY SUBMERGED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CLIMB ON TOP OF THE CAB, THEN SWIM TO SAFETY.

JOHNSON CITY POLICE INVESTIGATING SHOOTING

JOHNSON CITY POLI9CE OFFICERS RESPONDED TO A CALL ABOUT SHOTS FIRED AT THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE PARKING LOT AT 150 WEST STATE OF FRANKLIN ROAD ABOUT 1:50 AM SUNDAY. WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED, THEY FOUND A VICTIM SUFFERING NON-LIFE THREATENING GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO A FINGER AND HIS LEG. THE POLICE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING AND NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE. POLICE ARE ASKING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THIS CASE TO CALL 423-930-6535 OR TEXT 423JCPD AND YOUR TIP TO TIP 411.

JONESBOROUGH MAN ARRESTED FOR FELONY EVADING

A JONESBOROUGH MAN WAS ARRESTED FRIDAY AFTER FLEEING AN ATTEMPTED TRAFFIC STOP. ACCORDING TO WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF KEITH SEXTON, DEPUTIES ATTEMPTED A STOP ON A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY 38 YEAR OLD DAVID ALAN GREENE JR ON ARNOLD ROAD. HE ABANDONED HIS VEHICLE IN THE 300 BLOCK OF ARNOLD ROAD AND RAN INTO THE WOODS. K-9 SHEBA TRACK GREENE TO A NEARBY CREEK WHERE HE WAS FOUND HIDING UNDER A FALLEN TREE. HE WAS CHARGED WITH EVADING ARREST, RESISTING A STOP, DRIVING ON A REVOKED LICENSE, AND WINDOW TINT VIOLATION.

SEWER LINE REPAIR TO CLOSE EDGEWOOD ST

JOHNSON CITY WATER AND SEWER SERVICES WILL REPAIR A SEWER LINE ON EDGEWOOD STREET BETWEEN ELMWOOD AND NORTH BARTON STREETS ON WEDNESDAY, FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM. EMERGENCY TRAFFIC WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PASS, AND NO THROUGH TRAFFIC WILL BE PERMITTED. THE STREET WILL REOPEN ONCE ALL NECESSARY WORK IS COMPLETED. MOTORISTS ARE ASKED TO OBSERVE ALL POSTED SIGNAGE, AND TO AVOID THE CONSTRUCTION AREA. DRIVERS WHO CANNOT AVOID THE AREA SHOULD EXPECT DELAYS, USE CAUTION IN THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE, AND OBSERVE POSTED SPEED LIMITS FOR THEIR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF WORKERS.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER ASSAULTING, HOLDING GIRLFRIEND AGAINST HER WILL

A BRISTOL VIRGINIA MAN WAS ARRESTED SUNDAY AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY HELD A WOMAN AGAINST HER WILL. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM THE BRISTOL VIRGINIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, OFFICERS ARRIVED AT A HOME ON OAKCREST CIRCLE SATURDAY AMID REPORTS OF A DOMESTIC SITUATION. THE VICTIM TOLD OFFICERS HER BOYFRIEND, 30 YEAR OLD JONATHAN LOGAN ASSAULTED HER AND WOULDN’T LET HER LEAVE HER HOME. THE WOMAN MANAGED TO FLEE THE HOME TO A NEARBY NEIGHBOR, WHERE SHE CALLED POLCIE. LOGAN WAS LOCATED AT THE WOMAN’S RESIDENCE AND WAS ARRESTED. HE WAS CHARGED WITH ABDUCTION, DOMESTIC ASSAULT, AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

BOILER SYSTEM ISSUES DISRUPTS SERVICES AT FRANKLIN WOODS

A BILER SYSTEM FAILURE IS IMPACTING SERVICES AT FRANKLIN WOODS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IN JOHNSON CITY. BALLAD HEALTH ANNOUNCED MONDAY NIGHT THAT A SIGNIFICANT FAILURE IN THE SYSTEM IS IMPACTING THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CRITICAL HOSPITAL OPERATION, THAT RELY ON HOT WATER, STEAM, AND PROPER TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY. THE HEALTH SYSTEM SAID ENGINEERING SUPPORT IS ONSITE, AND THE SERVICE DISRUPTION IS EXPECTED TO LAST 24 TO 48 HOURS. WHILE NO NEW ADMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED DURING THE DISRUPTION, BALLAD SAID THE IS NO SAFETY RISK TO PATIENTS OR STAFF, AND THAT ALL CARE NEEDS ARE BEING MANAGED APPROPRIATELY.

GROUNDBREAKING HELD FOR COMMUNITY ATHLETIC, OUTDOOR FITNESS COMPLEX

A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY WAS HELD MONDAY MORNING FOR A COMMUNITY ATHLETIC, OUTDOOR FITNESS COMPLEX, AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER BLOUNTVILLE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS. PHASE ONE OF THE PROJECT INCLUDES TWO BALL FIELDS, A NEW CONCESSIONS TAND, PICKLEBALL COURTS AND A COVERED SHELTER. SULLIVAN COUNTY MAYOR RICHARD VENABLE SAID HE’S HOPEFUL THE COUNTY WILL SECURE A PHASE TWO FOR THE PROJECT, WHICH COULD INCLUDE A FARMER’S MARKET, A NEW PAVILION AND RUBBERIZED TRACK. VENABLE SAID FUNDING FOR PHASE TWO HASN’T BEEN APPROVED YET, BUT THAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE FALL. COST OF THE PROJECT IS LISTED AT 4.98 MILLION DOLLARS, AND THE CONTRACT CALLS FOR COMPLETION AROUND DECEMBER 23RD.

FEDERAL JURY CLEARS FORMER CORRECTIONS OFFICER IN DEATH OF MARION INMATE

A FEDERAL JURY HAS CLEARED FIVE FORMER CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS IN A CIVIL SUITE RELATED TO THE DEATH OF AN INMATE HOUSED AT THE MARION VIRGINIA CORRECTIONAL TREATMENT CENTER. THE JURY FOUND THE OFFICERS WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE DEATH OF CHARLES GIVENS. THE LAWSUIT CLAIMED GIVENS DIED IN 2022, AFTER A BRUTAL BEATING, AND CLAIMED THE BEATING WAS COVERED UP. A GRAND JURY PREVIOUSLY CHOSE NOT TO INDICT THE FORMER OFFICERS ON CRIMINAL CHARGES, AND A JURY CLEARED ALL FORMER OFFICERS IN THE CIVIL CASE. ACCORDING TO THE LEE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT CLERK’S OFFICE, GIVENS HAD PLEADED GUILTY IN 2011 TO 1ST DEGREE MURDER.