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Accused school shooter Kenneth Bartley will be tried in Campbell County Criminal Court beginning on Nov. 18. In March, the court of criminal appeals ruled Barley's original guilty plea was an uninformed decision, meaning the plea was thrown out.

 By PETER SAWYER

psawyer@lafollettepress.com

CARYVILLE — On Tuesday, Gov. Bill Haslam appeared briefly at the Caryville Municipal Building to sign Lynn’s Law — which provides greater power to prosecute those who abandon the disabled. The signing of the law occurred just over one mile from the site of its tragic inspiration.

  A 38-year-old iconic landmark was “deforested” and scrapped last Thursday when crews removed and demolished the 30-foot tall, tree-shaped Thacker Christmas Inn and Restaurant sign near Interstate 75 exit 134 in Caryville. 

The larger-than-life sign was cut at the tree’s base by a welding torch before a tall crane lowered it down to a flatbed truck. It was eventually hauled away to a Knoxville scrap yard, although a large chunk of it lingered late Monday afternoon in the parking lot of a shuttered gas station across the street. 

CAMPBELL COUNTY—The County Commission renewed a policy with Blue Cross Blue Shield for employee health insurance at a six percent cost increase.
Campbell County employees experienced an increase in medical insurance claims, which made it hard to get competitive health insurance quotes, according to Debi Samples.
“Because your claims have gone up so drastically, none of (the) other carriers were willing to quote you this year,” Samples said. “I have no competitive bids to bring you.”