Today's News

High school cross-country runners from Campbell County made their presence felt Thursday during the Region 2 Championships at Victor Ashe Park in northwest Knoxville.

For the first time ever, Jellico had a runner qualify for the state meet. Jasper Budd, a junior, finished just over three seconds behind Cory Self of Gatlinburg-Pittman in the Class A boy’s race. Budd, who set a new personal record (18:36.40), will try for a similar finish Saturday at the state championships in Nashville.

Jacksboro and LaFollette split a varsity basketball doubleheader Thursday night at Agee Gymnasium.

The host Lady Eagles won their second game in as many outings, 35-29. Point guard Whitney Williamson paced Jacksboro with 15 points — 11 of which she scored during a second quarter blitz — and a pair of three-pointers.

Post players Hannah Owens and Jamie Mynatt chipped in seven points each for the Lady Eagles, followed by Whitney Sawyer with four, Krista Williams and Michaela Smith one each.

On the eve of a trial where a guilty verdict could have made Dean Branam a registered sex offender, the case has been continued until January 2010.

Earlier this year Branam was indicted on three counts of sexual battery and seven counts of assault, court records said.

Of those charges, four of them alleged Branam used his position of authority, as a teacher, “to accomplish the sexual contact,” according to the indictment records read.

In all, there were seven underage female victims, the indictment said.

After a nearly two year hiatus the source of numerous discussions and as many jokes returned to the commission meeting room on Monday evening.  

While it was not used as the official means for tabulating votes the machine that went missing without a trace during former mayor Jerry Cross’ tenure made a trial run during the group’s regular monthly meeting.

While commissioners like Whit Goins, who has been a long time proponent for reinstating the voting machine seemed pleased with its return, others were not as enthusiastic.