James Douglas Stephens
James Douglas Stephens, of Pikeville, Tennessee, born October 29, 1931, passed away August 14, 2020. He was born in Pikeville, graduated from Bledsoe County High School, and attended UT-Knoxville. During the Korean War, he served in the Air Force (A/1c(P) as a radio operator/interceptor for a flight crew. He received the Occupation Medal (Germany), National…
Read MoreCarol Grace Reed
Carol Grace Reed, of Pikeville, Tennessee, 79, died on August 12, 2020 at Cumberland County Medical Center, Crossville. Carol was born on September 25, 1940, in Biddeford Maine, to parents James Gould Austin and Hilma Kirstead Williams. Carol attended Thornton Academy in Saco and The University of Maine in Westbrook. Carol then accepted a music…
Read MoreAllen Ray Oakes
Allen Ray Oakes, age 60, of Dunlap, TN, passed away August 7, 2020 at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN. Ray was born in Bledsoe County, he was the son of Lenard and Clara Oakes. He worked in the timber business most of his life with his father and brother as owner/operators of logging equipment and…
Read MoreAgnes Jordan
Agnes Jordan, 88, of Acworth, Georgia, formerly of Pikeville, Tennessee, died Sunday, August 9, 2020. She was preceded in death by her husband, John C. Jordan; grandson, Peyton C. Schutt; and parents, Julian Malcolm and Rachel Haire. Agnes was a unique character in many ways, always welcoming animals and children, showing love to everybody and…
Read MoreBetty Joyce Turner Cooper
Betty Joyce Turner Cooper, 82, of Knoxville, Tennessee died Thursday, August 13, 2020 at Rhea County Life Care Center with family by her side. She was of the Methodist faith. Betty worked for 20-plus years as a reservation agent for Delta Air lines. During this time she became a world-wide traveler along with shopping wherever…
Read MoreBledsoe census response rate low
Bledsoe County’s 2020 Census self-response rate was the fourth lowest in the state as of Monday, August 17. Census data is extremely important in regard to funding for local governments, as money received for local projects including roads, education, and much more is based on Census data. The county had a 45.6 percent self-response rate,…
Read MoreBTC Fiber sets up hotspots to aid in remote learning
As students begin school in Bledsoe County next week, BTC Fiber has set up WiFi hotspots around the county and in neighboring Sequatchie, Van Buren, and Rhea Counties to assist students in the event schools need to move to a hybrid or remote learning plan. BTC Fiber General Manager Charlie Boring said he has been…
Read MoreCounty’s first COVID-19 death in general population
As the rise in cases of COVID-19 has taken hold in rural areas of Tennessee such as Bledsoe, Tennessee’s Commissioner of Health Dr. Lisa Piercy said she expected deaths in rural areas to rise as well. That prediction came true last Tuesday, August 11, as the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) reported the first death…
Read MoreFree school supplies to be given away Friday
The annual Give A Child A Chance Day event which provides free school supplies and other back to school services for students will be held via drive-thru at Bledsoe County Fairgrounds this year due to COVID-19. The event is this Friday, August 21, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at 234 Allen P. Deakins Road. For…
Read MoreFrances Dean Minton
Frances Dean Minton, of Dunlap, Tennessee, passed away Friday, August 7, 2020 at her home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Aaron Leon Minton; parents, Ralph and Ova Lee Roberson. She is survived by her daughter, Chanda (Raymond) Blevins, Dunlap; son, Wayland Minton, Signal Mountain; grandchildren, Kristy Minton, Aaron (Jessica) Blevins, and Owen…
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