Cleetus McFarland and Friends Invade Bristol Speedway for an Action-Packed Weekend
Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) will host Cleetus & Cars and the Bristol 1000 on September 3 and 4, 2022. The two-day event features burnout competitions on Saturday and nitrous-powered Ford Crown Victorias racing on the BMS track Sunday. "Cleetus McFarland," says the high-flying stadium trucks will be present on both days.
Read full storySmelser to Retire from Sullivan County Emergency Communications Center Post This Year
Sullivan County Emergency Communications District confirmed earlier today, The communications chief is preparing to step down at the end of this month after a 30-year commitment to 9-1-1 dispatch in Sullivan County. Virginia Smelser is currently the Executive Director of Sullivan County 9-1-1, a post she has held since 2017.
Read full storyBusinesses and Some Families Are Not Benefiting from Tennessee's Food Tax Holiday
Coming out of a pandemic, local eateries -whether brick and mortar or food trucks- are still facing many challenges to stay in business. The passing of the "food tax holiday" for the month of August has been a winner for many traditional families in the volunteer state. The majority of people still eat at least one meal at home if not more. Sadly, restaurants and others in the food service industry aren't saving money as they already purchase items without food sales tax, and add sales tax when they sell the prepared food to their customers. The tax is still there for customers as prepared food during the month of August, while grocers aren't charging the tax.
Read full storyWeather Impacting Hikers Along the Appalachian Trail, Derailing Through and Day Hikes
The number of hikers on the Appalachian Trail (AT) has dropped off this season. The weather in the mountains this season has been brutal, with the number of intense storms and bouts of heavy rains across the southern Appalachians.
Read full storyGray's Mize Farm & Garden Supply Transitions to Hardware Store Thanks to Food City
Mike Farm & Garden in Gray, TennesseeJohn Dabbs/Photographer. You may have seen changes at the trusty Mize Farm & Garden if you've been on Old Gray Station Road recently. Since Food City acquired the store this spring, plans have been underway to transition Mize to a "Curt's Ace Hardware." Now the signs are changing, and the "help wanted" signs are out. K-VA-T Food Stores purchased the business along with other locations and has partnered with Ace Hardware to bring a new line of hardware stores to the Tri-Cities.
Read full storyService and Ambiance Rank General Morgan Inn as One of the Best Hotels in the Region
Bar and Lounge at the General Morgan InnJohn Dabbs/Photographer. The Central Hotel in the center of downtown Greeneville had seen better days toward the end of the 20th century. Initially built in 1886, the hotel underwent a significant renovation in 2000 under the oversight of multiple historic preservation groups in the downtown area. Now opened under the name "General Morgan Inn," the four-star hotel is one of the best hotels in the region.
Read full storySell Your Home Quickly - Johnson City and Tri-Cities Rank in Top 20 Real Estate Markets
When theWall Street Journal/Realtor.com Emerging Housing Markets Index listed Johnson City, Tennessee as the number 3 emergency housing market in the country (Johnson City Metro Area - encompassing Washington, Carter, and Unicoi Counties), it made a big splash in the real estate market nationally. The position changed the metro area's ranking from #17 in the spring to #3 in the summer. The study is a comprehensive ranking of 300 metro-areas nationwide.
Read full storyWarning - East Tennessee Seeing an Increase in Bear Encounters According to TWRA
In a news release Monday, the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) said there has been a marked increase in the number of bear encounters in the Volunteer State this year. The TWRA cites one reason for the increase is the sharp uptick in population, with nearly 200,000 people moving into Tennessee since 2019 - making it the 8th fastest growing state in the U.S.
Read full storyBroyles Assumes the Helm as Bluff City Mayor After Bowling's Sudden Resignation
Richard Bowling has resigned as the Mayor of Bluff City, Tennessee. Bowling cited his health as the reason behind his resignation from office as the chief city official in the small town. Bowling is in his late 70s. Bowling became the City Manager and Mayor after Mayor Irene Wells's death, and Ray Harrington's appointment was revealed to be invalid - as he had moved out of the city limits.
Read full storyRooted Owner Cut California Ties to Move East and Call Kingsport Home for Business
Where do you find a talented hair stylist with experience in difficult hair? Staked at 124 Commerce Street, you can find Lori Bock at Rooted Salon. Brock hails from Los Angeles County, California, where she studied Cosmetology and Drug/Alcohol Counseling at Mount Saint Augustine. Brock has been working as a cosmetologist for 37 years this September. She has developed a thriving business in the “model city” since opening her salon here two years ago.
Read full storyHeritage Days Festival Expecting a Large Turnout for September Event in Bluff City
Bluff City Dinosaur ParkShizzyMcShizz/WikipediaCommons. Things can get a bit wild in Bluff City these days. There is a lot going on for such a small town, and now we have elections coming up soon and the annual Heritage Days Festival on Main Street.
Read full storyIs This War on the Homeless, or Handling Public Safety Concerns in the Twin-cities
Homeless camp in Johnson City, TennesseeJohn Dabbs/Photographer. The "twin-cities" are dealing with blowback from a new Tennessee law that went into effect on July 1, 2022 making it illegal to camp on Tennessee public property. The law makes it a class-E felony for anyone camping on state property not expressly designated as a camping area. As the law went into effect the Virginia side of Bristol is grappling with more homeless.
Read full storyTenneva Hotel Design Problems Revealed in U.S. District Court Filings
Fire Chief Mike Carrier announced the collapse of about two to five floors in the middle of the future Holiday Inn at Volunteer Parkway and West State Street, behind the Chamber of Commerce, on September 25, 2020. Since then collapse the circumstances surrounding the collapse and when the project will resume have been a mystery.
Read full storySeniors Sour on Shuffleboard and Warm to Pickleball Trend in Local Cities
Have you heard of the sport? If not, maybe you should try out one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Pickleball is like three sports rolled into one: ping pong, badminton, and tennis.
Read full storyFun Fest Balloon Rally Continues to Please Crowds Saturday Morning in Kingsport
Balloon preparing for takeoff in KingsportNikki Lewin-Dabbs/Photographer. The clear skies provided a perfect sunrise and a sky filled with nearly 20 hot air balloons in Legion Field and on Fort Henry Drive near Memorial Park outside of J. Fred Johnson Stadium today. The event continues to be a favorite for people of ages in the Kingsport area, especially the early risers.
Read full storyEmergency Response Tests Local Fire, Police, EMS, and School Officials
Active shooter response exercise at Science Hill High SchoolJohn Dabbs/Photographer. Johnson City School Department officials worked with Johnson City Police Department, Johnson City Fire Department, and Washington County-Johnson City EMS in an "Active Shooter Drill" held at Science Hill High School on Thursday, July 21, 2022.
Read full storyEmergency Services Look for Reasons Behind Supply Shortages in Medicine and Medical Devices
Paramedics load patient into ambulance.Mat Napo/Unsplash. Ambulance and health care services around the country continue to deal with a shortage in medications and medical supplies. The reasons are multifaceted. We same shortages began after 9/11/2001 when the U.S. Government began ordering large quantities of nerve agent antidote kits. After the supply chain caught up, we started seeing shortages affiliated with other disasters, such as bags produced in areas devastated by hurricanes.
Read full storyCapacity Crowd at Evening Breeze Arena for Rodeo Magic in Elizabethton, Tennessee
The rodeo at Evening Breeze Arena in Elizabethton was a capacity crowd on Friday and Saturday night. With gates opening at 6 p.m. there was still plenty of heat in the air until the sun began to set when the event began at 8 p.m.
Read full storyFeeling Hungry and Lucky? We Tried Mr. Lucky's at The Bristol Casino
Mr. Lucky's - Bristol CasinoJohn Dabbs/Photographer. Sleeping in a bit this morning, we skipped breakfast and washed the car before doing some errands. Being famished by 12:30 p.m., we made our way over to the Bristol Casino to check out Mr. Lucky's. I'd never heard of the establishment before the casino came to town, and having tired of the same-old-same-old we wanted to try something new.
Read full storyModel Magic Anticipates Big Crowds at Region's Largest Festival in Kingsport
Fun Fest is here from July 15 - 23, 2022. The iconic festival is the region's largest event and is expected to draw record crowds once again. The Model City's festival is popular because it provides something for everyone - Art, Music, Sports, and Fun for the whole family.
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