EVENSVILLE — The Animal Shelter Alliance (ASA) of Rhea/Rhea County Animal Shelter will provide free vaccinations for Rhea County area pets. The free vaccines are made possible through Petco Love’s national vaccination initiative “Vaccinated and Loved,” which is providing 1 million more free pet vaccines to existing animal welfare partners, including ASA of Rhea for family pets in need. Parvovirus and distemper in dogs and panleukopenia in cats — the...

DAYTON — Bobby D. Vincent recently announced his retirement from the duties of foreman for the Rhea County Grand Jury. “It has been a distinct pleasure to serve the citizens of Rhea County in this capacity,” Vincent said. “The function of the grand jury is an important one in our justice system. We are entrusted to make a judgement on the facts, evidence and testimonies presented to us. If the members of the jury are in agreement, we decide the case does or does not...

RHEA COUNTY — The Rhea County School System recently announced its policy for free and reduced-price meals for children served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program. For School Year 2024-2025 Rhea County Schools will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). “No further action is required of parents,” school officials said. “This USDA provision allows your child(ren) to participate in the school meal programs...

RHEA COUNTY — When Amanda Neal Harwood lost her sister-in-law, Amber Lane Neal, in a car accident in 2019, she knew two things: She wanted to find a way to honor her late sister-in-law’s memory and find a way to give back to the Rhea County community. “She was always doing things for others,” Harwood said. “Her unexpected departure occurred just days before I was scheduled to run the Great Smoky Mountain Half Marathon.” ...

DAYTON — St. Bridget Catholic Church is inviting the community to its annual bake sale and bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 12, and Sunday, Oct. 13. Operating hours on Saturday, Oct. 12, are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and operating hours on Sunday, Oct. 13, are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s theme is “Fall into the Holidays.” St. Bridget Catholic Church is located at 320 Walnut Grove Road, Dayton, TN, 37321. The event will feature homemade baked goods and holiday homemade crafts, gifts, home décor, a silent auction and more. Admission is free, and the event is hosted by the St. Bridget Women’s Council.

DAYTON — This Coca-Cola sign which appeared on the side of Mansfield’s Coffee Shop when it was in this location is being refurbished so that it can brighten the corner of Market Street and Second Avenue as it once did. From my research, I have found that Mansfield’s was first located on the corner of Market and Second during the 1940’s. At one time it was owned by a Mr. and Mrs. Coleman. Zama Lusk Denton stated in a Herald-News article of the 1980s that...

DAYTON — Another option for Saturday morning breakfast is now being offered by the American Legion in Dayton. According to Post Commander Dennis Roddy, the meal will be a fundraiser for the Post. The doors will open at 8 a.m. and will close at noon. Scheduled for the first Saturday of the month, Legion members will be offering scrambled eggs, cat head biscuits, gravy, pancakes, bacon, sausage and coffee. Roddy said this will be an “all you can eat” buffet style breakfast. Their plans are for this to be an ongoing monthly event to raise money for the Post. Adults can pay $10 and kids under 10-years-old are $6.

EVENSVILLE — The Rhea County Fire Department Association will be holding a free Family Fun Day and Fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Rhea County Fairgrounds in Evensville from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The event will feature bounce houses, fire trucks, a silent auction, live auction and more throughout the day. A horseshoe tournament is set to begin at 1 p.m. with registration for the tournament beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing until 12:30 p.m. Concessions will be available to purchase and includes a hamburger plate and a hot dog plate with the option of chips, chili, slaw and a drink. Follow the Rhea County Fire Department Association’s Facebook page for updates.

Rhea County Sheriff’s Department Administrative Assistant Connie Floyd celebrated her retirement on Thursday after 24 years of service to the department. Floyd is pictured above at the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department offices in the Rhea County Justice Center.

GRAYSVILLE — A short police chase landed a Rhea County man behind bars and facing numerous drug-related charges after he was apprehended on Tuesday, Aug. 27, according to an arrest report on file at the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department. Thomas Dewayne Smith is facing the charges after originally being pulled over for speeding in Graysville at around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Rhea County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Kevin Ritchey said he...

SPRING CITY — The Spring City Autumn Festival, hosted by the Spring City Chamber of Commerce, returns Saturday, Sept. 21, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Front Street in downtown Spring City. The event will feature live entertainment, craft and food vendors, a pumpkin patch, chili cook-off and a kids area. The Mr. and Miss Harvest Pageant will also be held during the festival. The Spring City Chamber of...

VONORE, Tenn. — The 11th Annual Monroe Life Balloon Festival will return to East Tennessee this Labor Day weekend at the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum in Vonore, Tenn. Enjoy balloon rides, live music, food, games, an inflatable Kid’s Zone, craft and vendor booths. All proceeds of this non-profit event will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Monroe County. The two-day Balloon Festival goes from Saturday, Aug. 31, to Sunday, Sept. 1, from 4 to 10 p.m. each day. ...

DAYTON — On Wednesday, Sept. 11, the Rhea County Imagination Library will host a celebration at the Clyde W. Roddy Library in Dayton, bringing together preschool children and literacy enthusiasts for a morning of fun, learning, and community spirit. The Rhea chairperson, Linda Abel, announced that the event will be from 9 to 11 a.m. and is held in honor of the library’s mission to promote early childhood reading. It will feature a variety of activities and special appearances including The Book Bus, promising to...

DAYTON — Local communications workers are joining nearly 17,000 others across the Southeast in a strike against AT&T in an attempt to get the communications to the bargaining table over unfair labor practices, according to Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3802 Union officials. Local communications workers have been demonstrating on Railroad Street in downtown for the past several days, and on Wednesday, CWA and AT&T entered into federal mediation and had their first meeting with the mediator this morning. ...

A swearing-in ceremony at Levengood Educational Center was held on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at noon. Rhea County General Sessions Court Judge Jace Cochran swore in B.J. McCoy, District 2; Bimbo McCawley, District 4; and Wayne Cox, District 6, for the Rhea County School Board. Chip Pendergrass, Dsitrict 8, not pictured, was sworn in the day before by Cochran at the Rhea County Justice Center. School board members sworn-in

SPARTA, Tenn. — In many parts of the United States, for millions of Americans, access to basic healthcare is a challenge at best and an impossibility at worst. Due to geographic, economic, or cultural barriers, more than half of the U.S. population is uninsured or underinsured. Remote Area Medical (RAM) is stepping in to address this urgent issue by offering a free, comprehensive healthcare clinic at White County High School located at 267 Allen Drive, Sparta, TN, 38583, on Sept. 14-15. ...

NASHVILLE — Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson recently announced that revenues for July were $1.7 billion, which is $51.2 million more than July of last year. The total growth rate for the month was 3.10 percent. “July total tax revenues grew more than expected in the final month of the fiscal year,” Bryson said. “Sales tax receipts, motor vehicle registration fees, fuel tax, gross receipts taxes, and franchise and excise tax collections all contributed to the monthly revenue gains. ...

Jewells is such a fun, spunky girl! We have no idea why she is our longest resident. She has been here since March 28 and desperately wants out! She is 1-year-old and weighs 32 pounds. She loves all the attention and absolutely adores people. She’s such a happy girl, we’d love to see her get the home she deserves! Jewells is available for adoption at the Rhea County Animal Shelter, located at 9118 Back Valley Road in Evensville. Contact the shelter at (423) 775-2029 for more information.

NASHVILLE — The July employment situation improved in counties across Tennessee, according to new data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). Seventy-seven counties reported lower unemployment than in June, while rates stayed the same in eight counties and increased in the remaining 10. Rhea County’s unemployment rate for July was 5.1 percent, nearly the same as the June rate of 5.2 percent. A year ago, in...

DAYTON — Bryan College recently announce the establishment of its new coed equestrian team, creating an exciting opportunity for students to engage in equestrian sports regardless of their level of riding experience. This initiative invites students from diverse academic backgrounds to develop their equestrian skills and participate in competitions within a supportive and encouraging environment. “What distinguishes the Bryan Equestrian Team is its commitment to inclusivity across all majors,” school...