FBI: TCA committed fraud against Tennessee, US government
Bledsoe County residents who were hopeful of 1,000 new jobs coming into town through Textile Corporation of America (TCA) are finally getting answers about what went wrong in federal investigation documents unsealed for public viewing last week. Company leaders and brothers Karim and Rahim Sadruddin are believed to have committed a slew of crimes including:…
Read MoreCommissioner McCord hosts town hall in Bledsoe County
State and local officials gathered with members of the public last Wednesday, May 22 for a town hall meeting with Jeff McCord, recently appointed Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). Mayor Gregg Ridley started the meeting off stating nearly 15,000 residents in the county only 895 people live and work…
Read MoreZero jobs as of June, TCA investigation continues
It’s been nearly two years since state officials appeared in Pikeville, showing up in force, to present a new industry to help save one of Tennessee’s distressed communities — Bledsoe County. Two years later, and the parking lot has set consistently void of a workforce at Textile Corporation of America’s factory on Ferro Street since…
Read MoreBoard sending Pendergrass ouster to DA
The Bledsoe County Board of Education voted to move forward with ouster proceedings of Board Member Vince Pendergrass at a special called meeting on Tuesday, May 28. They also increased sanctions against Pendergrass and extended them six months. The Board voted four to two in favor of referring the case to District Attorney Mike Taylor…
Read MoreWillann Smith
Willann Smith, 73, of Pikeville, died Wednesday, May 22, 2019. She was of the Baptist faith, a Teacher’s Aide in Bledsoe County Schools for thirty years, enjoyed being with her family and grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her parents, Robert W. and Maymie Ruth Cox Reed. Survivors include her husband of 34 years, Slater…
Read MorePatricia Nail
Patricia Nail, 77, of Pikeville, Tennessee, died Sunday, May 26, 2019. She was a member of Cold Springs Baptist Church. She was a member of the Home Demonstration Club. She was a Teacher’s Aide at Pikeville Elementary School and a charter member of the Rescue Squad Crewettes. She was preceded in death by her husband,…
Read MoreMary Hollis Taylor Foster
Mary was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. Mary was born to Joe Moxley Hollis and Thelma Lenora Lowman Hollis in Georgiana, Alabama. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Thomas Watkins Taylor, Sr. and George Samuel Foster; her son, Thomas Watkins Taylor, Jr.; granddaughter, Jessica Paige Thomas; and four brothers.…
Read MoreElectrical ‘boom’ wakes up Pikeville residents
A loud boom in downtown Pikeville startled some residents awake on Friday, May 24, after a transformer fuse blew near Scotties Restaurant, according to Manager Mike Deakins of Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative’s Pikeville office. Deakins said the fuse, made of porcelain, had a ‘disconnect’ and blew around 6:30 a.m. The equipment was older and could have been…
Read MoreBledsoe County to receive buses from VW Settlement
Bledsoe County Schools were selected to receive five new diesel school buses from the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced today. Bledsoe was one of 39 entities to receive funds from the grant program, which totaled $8.8 million to support school bus replacement across the state. For…
Read MoreBCHS recognized for traffic safety education
Bledsoe County High School was awarded the 2018-2019 Gold Traffic Safety Award for completing activities with the Reduce TN Crashes program, along with five other high schools in the state. For more see the May 23 issue of The Bledsonian Banner.
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