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Local News

  • Vice- mayor caught up in sting

    When it comes to bad investments, Jellico Vice–Mayor Mike Johnson feels he made the worst.

    After being cited by Knoxville City Police last Thursday for four counts of prohibited sexual activity in establishment offering food and alcoholic beverage, Johnson says his investment in The El Tenampa Cantina on Chapman Highway was a mistake.

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  • Happiness comes from tale of sadness

    At first Peyton is shy. He hides behind his grandmother, a woman he calls mommy, until he is ready to play.

    Peyton Douglas has big round dark eyes with hair to match. He bounces around the playground, goes up the slide backwards and peeks between the wooden slats of the swing set with his dark eyes.

    It is in those eyes his story lays.

    In his eyes is the truth about who dislocated his arm, burned him with a cigarette and left multiple bruises all over his tiny body last year.

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  • Camp focuses on nature and God

    Like many young boys in rural Illinois, Bill Bennett grew up hunting and fishing. Years later, he feels that he has come up with a way to connect a love for the outdoor pursuits with his role as executive director of Galilee Bible Camp, a nondenominational Christian ministry of American Missionary Fellowship.

    “My vision was to try to figure out a way to use (hunting and fishing) as an instrument to share the Gospel in a non-threatening way,” said Bennett.

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  • Press staff picks up awards

    The LaFollette Press staff brought home multiple awards on Saturday as journalists from across East Tennessee gathered to honor their own.

    In a capacity crowd at The Foundry, the Press staff was recognized by the East Tennessee Society for Professional Journalists for their work in seven categories.

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  • Jail committee reviews design of jail addition

    By NATASHA COLBAUGH

    stories@lafollettepress.com

    Architects were optimistic about the most recent design of the jail and courthouse addition, yet as the meeting progressed the design became more of a work in progress.

    Last Thursday, jail committee members along with members of the sheriff, court and county offices met with the engineers with Michael Brady Inc. (MBI) to discuss the newest design plans.

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  • Widener retires after 36 years in law enforcement

    After chasing criminals for 36 years, Caryville Police Chief Bill Widener is ready to sit back and take it easy for a while.

    Born in Jellico, the Campbell County native spent several years in the Army before coming home and becoming a police officer in Jacksboro. After learning some of the law enforcement ropes, Widener then spent the next 10 years of his career employed at the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department. His final career move was to become the chief of police for the town of Caryville, which is something he has spent the last 24 years dedicating his life to.

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  • Continued meeting leads to budget workshop for LaFollette City Council

    The LaFollette City Council meeting came to a quick close on Tuesday after two weeks of being adjourned in session. Council members again postponed passing a water and sewer rate ordinance for the first and second reading.

    The ordinance, intended to set the rate schedule for water and sewer rates, could soon be void for council members, according to Councilman Bob Fannon.

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  • Pajama pillow publishing inspires reading and writing

    Students at Caryville Elementary School polished up their reading and writing skills with a pajama pillow-publishing day Monday.

    First, second and third graders took part in writing, editing and illustrating stories for class books as part of the publishing experience.

    “This encourages writing and reading skills,” said Tammy Wishoun, grandmother of first and second graders. “It also helps their imagination.”

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  • CCSD deputy resigns after dispute

    A Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy embroiled in a “he said, she said” case is no longer with the department.

    In April, Calvin L. Raynor was accused by a female colleague of instigating an inappropriate relationship with her and then leveling threats, according to court records. While the female applied for an order of protection against Raynor, it was denied.

    Raynor initially remained employed with the department.

    However, as of April 30, he had resigned his position with the department.

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  • Drug court offers hope

    Their stories are the same as any other addicts.

    The drug use began at an early age and quickly escalated.

    Next came the brushes with law enforcement. Not far behind that, the felony charges began racking up.

    So goes the life of an addict.

    Not always.

    Instead of this pattern repeating itself, participants in the Eighth Judicial Drug Court are given a chance to stop their downward spiral. For some it can mean the difference between life and death.

    For Gussie Kidd Hall that is exactly what it meant.

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