Area News

Two Bledsoe County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Bledsoe County Mayor Gregg Ridley. The cases were confirmed on Friday afternoon, March 27. Mayor Gregg Ridley and Pikeville Mayor Philip Cagle plan to hold a virtual press conference via Facebook this afternoon to discuss the situation. For more on local COVID-19 updates, visit…

A welfare check made on March 17 at the home of Ted William Miller of Cliffside Road ended sadly. Emergency personnel found the 70-year-old man had succumbed to injuries while working on his tractor, according to the incident report from Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Brock. For more see the March 26 issue of The…

Three Bledsoe County Schools pulled together to help aid in relief to tornado victims in nearby Putnam County, where 19 people were killed by the devastating storms. During their week-long fund raisers, over $1,000 in gift cards and donations were made and several backpacks filled with essential items. A sixth-grade student, Austin Browning, donated all…

A Pikeville man was arrested and faces several charges after evading arrest from Pikeville Police Officer Ricky Hodge on Tuesday, March 10, shortly after midnight. Officer Hodge stated a vehicle turned into the City Municipal Building parking lot and he turned behind him, following him. Hodge stated the vehicle, driven by Andrew “Drew” Smith, 35,…

Below are closings and changes in Bledsoe County taken by local governments and institutions to help slow the spread of the Coronavirus. This list will be updated as needed. Visit tn.gov/health or coronavirus.gov for more on how you can help slow the spread of the Coronavirus. UPDATE: Bledsoe County Community Food Bank is still open…

The Pikeville Municipal Building is conducting business through the drive-thru window only until further notice to help mitigate the spread of Coronavirus, per Pikeville Mayor Philip Cagle. Cagle explained residents can pay property taxes and water and gas bills using this method. For more, see the March 19 issue of The Bledsonian-Banner.

UPDATE: Bledsoe County Schools are closed until April 6, according to Director of Schools Jennifer Terry. Meals will be offered to students at the following locations and dates: March 17 – 20, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the following locations: Pikeville Elementary, Wheeler Elementary and Rigsby Elementary. March 23 – 27, Spring Break –…

With an abundance of caution and after extensive communication with state and local officials and considering the concerns related to COVID 19, Bledsoe County Schools will be closed for the week of March 16-20 2020. All Bledsoe County Schools will be on Spring break March 23 – 27, 2020. In a preemptive attempt to slow…

Effective immediately, Bledsoe County Nursing Home has halted all visitors, including immediate family members, of its residents at the advice of Dr. Scott Debrill, stated Steve Standefer, chairman of the Nursing Home Board. This mandate is due to increased warnings about the coronavirus from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Standefer said the change to visitation will last until…

Miss Tennessee Volunteer Kerri Arnold spent Wednesday, March 11, visiting all of Bledsoe County Schools. At Bledsoe’s elementary schools, Arnold spoke to students about what it means to be kind. For more on Miss Tennessee Volunteer’s visit, see the March 19 issue of The Bledsonian-Banner.