Sullivan County, TN

BLOUNTVILLE — The Sullivan County Schools system will get the same amount of local revenue in the upcoming budget year as it was slated to receive this budget year. The total is $35,659,718. It is the amount the school system submitted in its budget request, which was based on revenue...

(WCYB) — The Sullivan County Board of Education voted 6-1 to dismiss social studies teacher Matthew Hawn. School board officials say the decision was based on his "insubordination and repeated unprofessional conduct." In February, Hawn assigned students an opinion piece titled "The First White President." A parent complained it negatively...

Sullivan County Board of Education Chairman Randall Jones talks about the teacher pay equalization plan set to be implemented for the 2021-22 school year starting July 1. The proposal would pay Sullivan teachers of four college degree levels the average pay of six local Tennessee systems: Johnson City, Kingsport, Sullivan County, Bristol Washington County and Hawkins County. The plan includes a 0- to 30-year scale.

If the current construction timetable holds, schools in Washington and Sullivan counties in northeast Tennessee will be at least partially powered by a new 9-megawatt solar farm by the end of the year. Silicon Ranch, BrightRidge and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at the newly christened Martin Solar Farm in northwest Washington County June 8.

Starting a program at a brand new high school can have its share of difficulties. Bill Wagner faces the usual challenges for his first summer as head coach of West Ridge’s softball team, but also the added issue of blending three schools who struggled to find consistent success: Sullivan South, Sullivan Central and Sullivan North.

KINGSPORT — The Tri-Cities Juneteenth Festival returns to the Model City on Saturday with a day full of diverse music, fun activities for the kids, and a chance for folks to show their love for one another. The festival will take place from noon to 9 p.m. June 19 at...

COEBURN, Va. - Eastside busted open a tie game with a 10-run fifth inning en route to a 14-4 triumph over visiting Holston in the semifinals of the Region 1D baseball tournament at Tracy Stallard Field on Wednesday. A total of 14 Spartans batted in the decisive frame, including senior...

PINEY FLATS - Earl Waymann Fortner, 81, of Piney Flats, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Monday, June 14, 2021, peacefully at his home after a courageous battle with lung and brain cancer. He was a life-long native of Sullivan County. He was the son of the late Earl and Marie Cox-Fortner. Earl attended New Hope Church of Christ.

SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WCYB) — UPDATE: All lanes are back open following a crash in Tennessee State Route 93 Monday morning, according to Community Relations Officer for the Tennessee Department of Transportation Mark Nagi. --- Tennessee State Route 93 northbound is closed in part of Sullivan County following a multi-vehicle...

At 3:19 am. a fatal crash occurred on Sullivan’s Bend road. Faith Hickman, Nicholas Howard, and Justin Hickman were traveling eastbound when the vehicle ran off the roadway. They overcorrected and reenetered, then the vehicle ran off the road on the right side. The vehicle crashed into a tree. Faith...

Lynn Stewart, special projects manager for Sullivan County, explains work underway in the wing of the historic Sullivan County Courthouse that used to house the county jail (circa 1950s-1980s). Demolition began Monday, June 14 to remove the steel walls and bars that separated eight cells. Cutting a doorway through the back wall was the first step. Stewart said a door is needed there to meet fire code once the space is converted to county offices, and in the meanwhile it will give the demolition contractor a way to get the steel and other debris out of the building.

The Upcoming Events list is a public service of the Times News. Email sports@timesnews.net, fax listing information to (423) 392-1385 or contact the Sports Department evenings at (423) 392-1323 or 1-800-251-0328, ext. 4323. Include sport, dates, deadlines, location and contact information. Baseball. CAMPS. • ETSU SUMMER YOUTH CAMPS, for ages...

BLOUNTVILLE — A jail break of sorts on Monday will help make room for a couple of Sullivan County officials and their employees to move into space once occupied by inmates. D.H. Griffin Wrecking Company, Inc., began jail cell demolition and removal in the 1955 two-story addition on the back side of the historic Sullivan County Courthouse.

Workers with D.H. Griffin Wrecking Company, Inc., of Bristol, Va., work to cut and knock and doorway through the wall of a 1955 addition to the historic Sullivan County Courthouse, Blountville, Tenn., on Monday, June 14, 2021. The space inside served as the county's jail until the late 1980s. Work is underway to gut the second floor of steel jail cells, in preparation of the space being transformed into county offices.

BRISTOL, TN - Andrew Scott Tipton, 44, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2021 after a brief illness. The family was by his side praying for his recovery until his last moment on earth. He was born May 29, 1977 in Sullivan County, TN and also lived in South Carolina,...

KINGSPORT - Wanda Barr Strickler, 90, of Kingsport, TN, went to be with her Lord and Savior after a period of declining health on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. She grew up and lived her life at the foothills of Bays Mountain. Wanda was a devoted member and servant of God at Depews Chapel United Methodist Church. She loved to sing the old hymns and read her bible. Wanda retired, after over 30 years of service, with the Sullivan County Department of Education. She was a Title I Teacher’s Aide at Temple Star Elementary, Rock Springs Elementary, and Sullivan Gardens Elementary. Wanda touched the lives of many, many children in this position. She loved her family and loved to celebrate the holiday, cook-outs, and get togethers. Wanda loved to cook and bake and feed her family and loved to feed and watch her birds. She found a great joy in going to yard sales and also having yard sales. Wanda loved having visits from her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. They brought her so much pride and joy. She longed for the day that she would see her Savior and sing His praises and worship Him. Wanda often would say she could not wait to see her beloved Grandpa Hood and Grandma Hood. She longed to be with her husband, Jack, and her sisters, Mickey, Wilma, and Jolene.

Honaker (9-3) at Chilhowie (10-3-1) The Skinny: These two programs are regional tournament regulars and split a pair of regular-season matchups. Honaker posted a 7-6 win over Chilhowie on May 11, while Chilhowie topped the Tigers, 7-5, on May 27. … Black Diamond District regular-season champion Honaker advanced with a 12-5 first-round win over J.I. Burton Monday. Ace pitcher Alex Barton got the win, while Ethan Compton was 3-for-4 with three RBIs. … Hogoheegee District regular-season champ Chilhowie got a first-round bye and will have ace pitcher Daniel Hutton (6-0, 1.21 ERA, 45 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings pitched) raring and ready to go. Hutton (.411, 20 RBIs), Jordan Williams (.409, 12 RBIs), Clint Goodwin (.364, 10 RBIs), Kyle Plemmons (.348, nine RBIs), Zak Tuell (.348, nine RBIs) and Brandon Bush (.345, 10 RBIs) are also top hitters. Williams is the only guy on the squad who started in 2019. … The last regional tournament semifinal game played on Chilhowie’s home field saw the Warriors prevail over Giles, 29-18, in an epic 2012 Region C, Division 2 tourney clash that featured a combined 47 runs, 35 hits and 16 errors.

KINGSPORT - Ida Mae (Coffey) Elam, 83, of Kingsport, departed this life on Monday the 14th of June 2021 to rest in the arms of her Heavenly Father. Ida was born in Sullivan County on April 22, 1938 and resided in the Sullivan County area all her life. She died at home after a short illness.

Penny Schwinn, Tennessee commissioner of education, talks Monday after a roundtable luncheon about the Accelerating Tennessee 2021 Tour. She was in Northeast Tennessee Monday and visited schools in Johnson County, Bristol, Tennessee, Sullivan County and Washington County, in addition to the roundtable at the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce. The tour is looking at best practices to accelerate student achievement, and the discussion in Kingsport Monday was on partnering with business and industry for career technical education careers.

KINGSPORT — Two groups have scheduled events in the Model City to commemorate Juneteenth. The following events (except the Thursday online event) are at the V.O. Dobbins Community Center and Ball Field, 301 Louis St. at MLK Drive. The events are free, and parking is also free in the nearby...