Downtown Elizabethton offers extended shopping hours and complementary beverages Friday

MyRide TN, a senior-friendly volunteer transportation service, has launched a branch in Johnson City. The program officially began on Jan. 10, providing older Tennesseans with rides to a variety of destinations, including medical appointments and grocery stores. Rides are provided Monday through Friday and priority is given to doctor appointments, according to their website.

BRISTOL, Va. — The up-and-coming Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol has a new Vice President of Human Resources. Marina Alvidrez takes on the position, in which she reports directly to Allie Evangelista, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, according to a press release.

ROGERSVILLE— The Rogersville/ Hawkins County Chamber of Commerce recognized the adult and youth volunteer of the year award winner. The award was presented by the director for Of One Accord Ministries, Sheldon Livesay, at the chamber breakfast on Jan. 26.

Dine-around bunch alumni the Retiree recently returned from her holiday sojourn out west. Our friend arrived in Johnson City after enduring an eight-hour flight that expanded to 11-plus hours caused by bad weather flight re-routings that included an unlooked-for side trip to Tallahassee, Florida.

LINVILLE, N.C. — Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, provides a unique experience for guests visiting in the winter months. While the rugged mountain is known for its wild weather this time of year, there are many magical moments to be had during what is often a quieter season.

There’s been a murder most foul in the Model City, and the Friends of Allandale need your help in solving the crime. Friends of Allandale is proud to present its first-ever Mardi Gras Masquerade Murder Mystery event on Feb. 18 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Allandale Mansion. Tickets are $30 per person and the evening will include a mystery to solve, desserts, hurricane punch, coffee, and a bring-your-own-cigar lounge in the mansion’s courtyard.

Jan. 30, 1898: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Chattanooga Sunday Times reported several news accounts relevant to those living in and near Johnson City and Jonesboro, which was spelled that way in 1898. Information with a dateline from Johnson City and a date of Jan. 29 included: “’The marriage of Miss Nannie Martin to John F. Fountain, of East St. Louis, Ill., Wednesday forenoon, at 10 o’clock, in the Methodist Episcopal church, south of this town was one of the most brilliant nuptial events of the year. The bride is one of Johnson City’s loveliest young ladies, the daughter of Mrs. M.L. Martin, and was quite popularly known throughout East Tennessee. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Dr. Kennedy, pastor of the church in the presence of a large congregation of friends of the bride and groom. The windows were darkened and the church brilliantly illuminated by electricity, which made the pretty decorations of holly, ferns, smilax and potted plants look even more beautiful. Mendelssohn’s wedding march was played by Miss Dora Cargille as the bridal party entered the church. Miss Beulah Fountain, sister of the groom, was maid of honor; Charles Cargille acted as groomsman, and Will D. Martin, brother of the bride, acted as best man. The bride wore a handsome traveling suit, made of cadet blue cloth, trimmed in fur and black braid and cut steel buckles. The attendants and maid of honor were also gowned in blue. Mr. and Mrs. Fountain left on the vestibuled train for Chattanooga. They will go to East St. Louis soon, where they expect to reside permanently.”

BLOUNTVILLE — Some high schoolers look forward to earning their drivers license before graduation, but a local student plans on earning her airplane pilot's license before starting her senior year. Lindsay Chapman, a 17-year-old junior at West Ridge High School from the Rock Springs community of the Sullivan County,...

Washington County commissioners recently approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Kingsport regarding grant funding for a public water project in the Deakins Road, Double Springs Road and Hunt Road area. The project is part of the Washington County’s continued partnership with area municipal utility systems to extend water...

A chemical reaction at Nuclear Fuel Services in Erwin sent two employees to the hospital on Monday, according to a press release from the company. The release states the facility experienced a minor chemical reaction during “routine inventory activities” around 10:30 a.m. Monday.

East Tennessee State University’s Clemmer College is offering counseling and mental health support to students, faculty, staff and members of the community through the Department of Counseling and Human Services’ Community Counseling Clinic. There is no cost to utilize these services.

KINGSPORT — Kingsport Board of Education Vice President Todd Golden said he still thinks it is legal and a good practice for individual board members to interview the three top superintendent candidates one-on-one next month. However, he said those would be in addition to interviews of the top candidates...

In a work session to discuss local issues with state legislators on Friday, Johnson City commissioners questioned a bill filed in the General Assembly that would remove urban growth boundaries, which limit where a city can expand. State Reps. Tim Hicks (R-Gray) and Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough) and state Sen. Rusty...

Matt Combs was recently named the 2023-24 Principal of the Year for Washington County Schools for his hard work serving the students and staff at Jonesborough Elementary School. Combs has spent 16 years as an educator for Washington County Schools, first teaching first and fourth grade at Boones Creek Elementary...

Home might be where the heart is, but it’s been nothing but heartbreak for the East Tennessee State men’s basketball team. That trend continued Saturday as Chattanooga walked out of Freedom Hall with a 73-64 victory, a result that continued ETSU’s historic run of home losses.

If East Tennessee State is going to cure the curse of playing at home, it will have to come against the team its fans consider its biggest rival. ETSU plays host to Chattanooga in a Southern Conference basketball game at 4 p.m. on Saturday. It will be the second meeting of the two teams in eight days and the Bucs hope to pick up right where they left off. Last Saturday, ETSU walked out of Chattanooga with a 78-62 victory, one in which they shot 79% in the second half to win going away.

KINGSPORT — Greeneville senior guard Adjatay Dabbs put an end to Dobyns-Bennett’s six-game winning streak on Friday in nonconference boys basketball action at the Tribe Athletic Complex. Dabbs’ 16-foot running layup with 2.5 seconds left sunk the Indians 61-60. The Indians had a chance, but a long pass...

GATE CITY — Ethan Collins and Casey Dotson willed the Wise Central boys basketball team to a program first on Friday night. Collins, a sophomore, and Dotson, a senior, combined for 57 points to lead the Warriors to their first-ever victory over Gate City.

West Ridge and Daniel Boone settled for a split of Friday's Big 5 basketball doubleheader in Gray. After the Lady Trailblazers secured a 53-41 win inside Bobby Snyder Gym, John Dyer's Wolves came through with a 72-63 victory.

Aaliyah Story was the story. The impressive David Crockett freshman narrowly missed a triple-double in a shot-blocking, rebound-grabbing and defensive performance usually reserved for upperclassmen. She joined with fellow freshman Brylee Tullock to lead the Pioneers to a hard-fought 49-43 win for their first regular season sweep of Science Hill in 18 years on Friday night at the Lady Pioneers’ gym.