Maryville College alumni and friends are doing good here in Blount County and across the world as part of the fourth annual KT Global service event this month. They are building a playground in Ghana, holding a food drive in Ireland, cleaning up a park in Chicago, landscaping at a school in Knoxville and much more. Monday, MC alumni joined with Maryville Rotary members at a Habitat for Humanity build...

Blount County gas prices hovered over the state average for the second week in a row, as prices fell across the nation. As of Monday, April 22, the gas price average in the county was $3.30 per gallon. According to a release from AAA — The Auto Club Group, gas prices fell an average of 4 cents per gallon in Tennessee last week. The state gas price average is now $3.34, which is 9 cents less than a year ago. ...

The Maryville Farmers Market opened for the season on Saturday. The market opens at 8:30 a.m. Saturdays at the Founders Square Parking Lot in the 200 block of East Broadway Avenue.

The Blount County Highway Department will close parts of Big Springs Road and South Old Glory Road to enable resurfacing work today, April 22. A press release from the department states that Big Springs will be shut from its intersection with William Blount Drive to its intersection with South Old Glory Road. Highway department staff are also closing South Old Glory from Big Springs to Maryville‘s city limits, past Mary Blount Elementary School. ...

A Maryville firefighter and soldier with the Tennessee National Guard, Spc. Noah Green, has been named Region III’s Best Warrior following a competition held from April 14–19, in Kentucky. “Personally, I did a lot of preparing for this competition,” said Green. “I spent a lot of time studying and researching, and I also spent a lot of time in the gym leading up to this. It’s an honor to represent my unit and the state of Tennessee, so I took this competition very seriously.” ...

Maryville Police Department’s Officer Ryan Hickman describes his partner as a wrecking ball with a tail. Redmond, a 3 1/2-year-old Belgian Malinois/Shepherd mix, has been working with Hickman for two years. Redmond is not only an astute and dedicated K-9 but also a ladies man who has won the heart of one of Hickman’s two Australian Shepherds, Myrtle. ...

Members of the Alcoa High School Key Club hosted a prom for Asbury Place nursing home residents on Saturday. Umbrellas and beads adorned the rooms at Asbury Place in a masquerade theme reminiscent of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Key Club President Caroline Buchanan said she and an Asbury Place event coordinator thought a spring event might give residents something fun to look forward to, so right after Christmas, The...

A Louisville man has been arrested after allegedly biting off part of his girlfriend’s lip. Deputies responded to a call from Blount County Communications Center that a 48-year-old Jefferson City woman, bleeding from her face, had approached a business on Air Base Road asking for help. When deputies arrived, they reported that the woman was “covered in blood” and holding a paper towel to her lips. ...

Blount County Schools recently recognized five alumni with awards for their accomplishments and service, and asked each to share advice for with today’s students. The Distinguished Alumni Award went to Regina Jennings, a 1981 graduate of Heritage High School. She is a senior vice president and financial advisor with Pinnacle Financial Partners. This award is the highest honor, according to BCS, and given to someone who has demonstrated outstanding leadership,...

In 1785, in what would become Blount County, there was little peace for the early settlers. In fact the Native Americans were on a rampage. Blount County became part of the State of Franklin in 1784 and under the leadership of John Sevier more settlers moved into the areas that were part of the territory claimed by the Cherokee. The Baker’s Creek and Nine Mile areas sat on the edge and in places over the line of Cherokee territory. The Cherokee were not happy with...

A planned Blount County transition center campus designed to serve people leaving the local jail got a step closer to breaking ground Thursday, April 18. The Blount County Board of Commissioners voted without comment Thursday to convey between 3.5 to 5 acres of county-owned land in the Bungalow community of Maryville to the nonprofit McNabb Center for a transition center campus. With that vote, commissioners also forwarded a total of more than $6 million in grant funding from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and...

Maryville High School football players and coaches hosted a "Maryville Football Experience" on Wednesday, April 17, for students from across the district. Students from Maryville City Schools' Comprehensive Development Classrooms for special education were invited on the field to participate in an obstacle course and drills while family and friends cheered from the stands.

Upcoming road construction on the section of U.S. 129 known as “The Dragon” in Blount County is expected to affect traffic into July. Expect delays and use extreme caution in the area, as workers will be present. Crews will begin posting signage and mobilizing equipment Monday, April 22, for upcoming resurfacing between Tabcat Creek and the Tennessee/North Carolina state line on U.S. 129. Resurfacing activities are scheduled to take place...

Alcoa High School honored top students at its annual Committed to Excellence banquet April 17. The school recognized Senior Scholars based on a combination of ACT scores and grades: Olivia Baumann, Caroline Buchanan, Charles Cowart, Addison Davis, Levi Deaton, Annalise Erhart, Reed Gossett, Addison Kerr, Andrew Knight, Ainsley Lamar, Lila Miller, Jesus Ortega, Sullivan Sharp, Houston Whedbee, Noah Wilson, Tripp Wilson and Olivia Yeager. Nine of those were recognized as...

Maryville Fire Department staff are considering the benefits of a voluntary accreditation program as the department’s program status lapses. The Commission on Fire Accreditation International is a global organization that certifies fire departments meet the standards outlined in their rigorous program. The fire department’s accreditation lapsed March 31 after employee shakeups left staff scrambling to compile the necessary data. Maryville Fire Chief Tony Crisp said nothing has changed at the agency, but he and his staff need to sit down and discuss what the accreditation...

A Knoxville man was arrested after allegedly running from Blount County Sheriff’s deputies multiple times. Deputies responded to a call on April 15 about a domestic disturbance. On arrival, they spoke with a 78-year-old Maryville man who told deputies that Roger White, 35, was in an argument with Danielle Rickard, 34, North Wildwood Road, Maryville. Deputies reported that they told the man to open the door, “fearing for her safety.” ...

Be Aware Blount is hosting a Drug Take Back from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Blount County Justice Center on April 27. Executive Director Amanda Small said the Take Back program allows people to dispose of prescription medications they are no longer using. She said anyone wanting to dispose of old or unused medication can do so from the comfort of their car by driving through and handing...

Maryville High School last week awarded seniors Coston Autry $25,000 and Mohib Ahmed $15,000 in Lamar Alexander Scholarships. Finalists Arowyn Casenhiser, Reagan Moss and Emma Simms each received $1,000. All five were among 15 Senior Scholars honored this year, along with Ana Elam, Sullivan Matzek, Ophelia McQueen, Alice Morrison, Katherine O’Boyle, Livia Odoi, Patrick Qiu, Allison Shore, Thomas Tisdale and Lauren Turner. ...

On April 17, Maryville Police Department officers responded to a bomb threat made at University Eye Specialist, 622 Smithview Drive, Maryville. Blount County Communications Center advised that the threat was made to the University of Tennessee Medical Center's dispatch. MPD evacuated the facility and had all personnel gather at a safe distance from the building. The report states that precautionary evacuations were also implemented for Eye Care Optical, 628 Smithview Drive and Cedar Creek Pediatric Medicine, 616 Smithview Dr. A Blount County sheriff's deputy and K-9 conducted a search of the building and determined it was clear. The evacuation ended and all patients and employees were allowed to return to the building.

Blount County Fire Department Board of Commissioners will hold its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. April 23, at 808 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville. Louisville Board of Mayor and Alderman will meet at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Apr. 22, at 3623 Louisville Road.