PHOTO GALLERY: Greeneville edges Volunteer for 2-AA title

GREENEVILLE — Angelyn Diaz scored twice and assisted Kinsley Spradlen on a third goal as Greeneville held off Volunteer 3-1 to capture its 22nd consecutive district championship on Thursday, Oct. 15 at Fox Field. The Volunteer defense held Greeneville scoreless until the 37th minute when Diaz took a pass from Andrehina Moreno and found the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. That’s where it stood at the intermission. Three minutes into the second half, Diaz dished to Spradlen for a goal and the 2-0 lead. Volunteer cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 51st minute when freshman Ansley Glass scored on an assist from senior Raya Kochemba. Diaz struck again with about three minutes left in the match to give the Lady Greene Devils some breathing room with the 3-1 lead. Volunteer keeper Khloe Sanders had 17 saves in the title match. “Couldn’t be more proud of the effort tonight. Khloe had a fantastic game. The whole team played well,” Volunteer coach Mitchell Magill said. “Looking forward to a potential rematch in a week. I think we can get there if we play the way we did tonight.” In the District 1-AA tournament championship, Arvella Nave scored two

Swifty Pig wins Tri-Cities Best Brisket

SULPHUR SPRINGS, Tenn. (WJHL) - David Ford spent a lengthy career with the United States Department of Agriculture and had the opportunity to travel across the country. But he knew a few years ago that it was time to return home. Ford and his family got Swifty Pig BBQ off...

JC Commission gives first approval for Culver’s property transfer

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Tri-Cities’ first Culver’s restaurant took another step toward eventually opening in Johnson City on Thursday night. The Johnson City Commission approved the conveyance of the property behind the West State of Franklin Road Publix on first reading during its Thursday meeting. The property is approximately 1.88 acres and is […]

Phil’s Dream Pit opens new Elizabethton location

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) — The second brick-and-mortar Phil’s Dream Pit location officially opened its doors on Friday. Phil’s Dream Pit has been a staple barbecue restaurant in the Kingsport and Gray communities for years; its flagship location is on Eastern Star Road. Phil’s Dream Pit CEO Brian Pipkin told News Channel 11 that the City […]

The power of storytelling: What the country could learn from a small-town festival

Josh Goforth, a storyteller and acoustic musician in his 40s, stood at the microphone beneath the Courthouse Tent in Jonesborough, Tennessee. He had decided to start his set with a song, and since the tent was just yards from the railroad tracks, he chose a bluegrass standard called “I’m Bound to Ride.” It follows a […]

Scout and Azure need forever homes this weekend

(WJHL) – Tails and Paws for Friday, October 16, 2026. Tails Paws highlights animals that are up for adoption at various animal shelters across the Tri-Cities. Today we focus our attention on some of the cats that are up for adoption at the Washington County/Johnson City Animal Shelter. If...

Grab A Stool At Ridgewood Barbecue In Bluff City, Where East Tennessee Has Eaten Smoked Ham Since 1948

Some restaurants chase trends, and some simply refuse to change because they got it right the first time. In the hills of Bluff City, Tennessee, there is a barbecue spot tucked into a quiet residential stretch that you might drive past without a second glance. Locals know better. Families have...

Shanghai Chinese owners say farewell ahead of restaurant closure

BRISTOL, VA. (WJHL) - After 30 years, Shanghai Chinese restaurant, a place that's full of memories, community, and good food, is coming to a close. Owners Ying and Xian Chen are thankful for the love customers have shown over the years. The restaurant is having a special celebration for the community and customers.

Friendly Cats Supervise the Stacks at This Small-Town Tennessee Bookstore With Thousands of Titles

Some of the best finds in Tennessee hide behind ordinary storefronts on quiet main streets. This one looks modest from the road, then opens into aisle after aisle of books, movies, and puzzles that seem to keep going. Two friendly cats keep an eye on the shelves while shoppers hunt...

Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter to host Halloween adoption event

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter will host its Spooktacular Adoption Event at the shelter on Oct. 22. The event will be from 2-6 p.m. Adoption fees for all animals will be $25 throughout the week. Vet references are required for puppies and kittens, the shelter said. “Autumn is a wonderful time […]

Brews and Boos happening this weekend in Jonesborough

Greeneville-Greene County Humane Society Dog of the Week: Cookie

Cookie used to work at an Oreo factory, preparing packs of the delicious dessert for folks across the country. She worked her way up from assembly to quality assurance…though sometimes she did her job a little too well. Every once in a while, someone would open their brand new pack of Oreos and all the cream would be scraped off the cookies, leaving only the chocolate bits. “I don’t know what happened,” Cookie would say with icing on her nose. Sometimes, someone would start to take a bite of the scrumptious sandwich cookie and see tiny nibbles all around the edges. “I just have to be sure they were baked to perfection,” Cookie said with crumbs in her teeth. Baking was fun, and Cookie loved her job, but sometimes when she went home from work, she felt like something was missing. One day, she woke up and sat up straight in bed, empty Oreo packages scattered around her. “I know what I want more than sweet cookies! Someone to love!” she cried. So, Cookie packed up her doggie suitcase and traveled to the Greeneville-Greene County Humane Society, where she is waiting for her fur-ever home. The perfect home for sweet

Group preserving historic home site areas at Bays Mountain

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – The Bays Mountain Park Association, also known as Friends of Bays, is working to preserve the history of the people who used to live on the mountain. Brenda Fox, a member of the Friends of Bays History Committee, said the project began when her husband, David Fox, created a website to […]

Bays Mountain Park installs colorblind viewer at dam

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium has installed a new colorblind viewer just in time for the changing leaves. The viewer, provided by the TN Department of Tourism Development, is located on the dam. The park said the viewer uses EnChroma lenses designed to alleviate red-green colorblindness. “The hope is that those […]

Every Saturday Night, Old Time Music Fills A Tiny Hiltons Barn Where Country Music History Runs Deep

Saturday night in Hiltons sounds a lot like country music history coming alive. Inside the Carter Family Fold, fiddles, banjos, guitars, and mountain voices take over a little barn tucked into Southwest Virginia. The setting may be humble, but the story behind those walls reaches far beyond this tiny community.

2 Dudes Gaming announces Oct. 18-24 event schedule

Star Staff Reports 2 Dudes Gaming in Elizabethton has announced its schedule of tabletop gaming events and activities for Oct. 18-24, featuring One Piece, Cyberpunk, Sorcery, Yu-Gi-Oh and Riftbound. The […]

Unicoi County Animal Shelter seeking newspaper donations

UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Unicoi County Animal Shelter is seeking newspaper donations for its cats and kittens, the shelter said on Wednesday. The shelter said no donation is too small and that every newspaper will make a difference. It said in a social media post: “Do you have old newspapers piling up at […]

Grammy Winner Linda Davis Headlines Bean Station's 29th Harvest Festival

A three-time Grammy Award winner is set to headline a small-town street festival in East Tennessee this weekend, as country singer Linda Davis takes the stage in downtown Bean Station, a community of fewer than 3,000 residents, for the 29th Annual Bean Station Harvest Festival. The free event runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes live music, craft vendors, food trucks, and inflatables for kids.

Shanghai Chinese owners say farewell ahead of restaurant closure

BRISTOL, VA. (WJHL) – After 30 years, Shanghai Chinese restaurant, a place that’s full of memories, community, and good food, is coming to a close. Owners Ying and Xian Chen are thankful for the love customers have shown over the years. The restaurant is having a special celebration for the community and customers.  “We have […]