Area News

Brothers Karim and Rahim Sadruddin formally pleaded guilty to “large government fraud” in connection with the failed Textile Corporation of America venture in Pikeville in front of a federal judge in Chattanooga Wednesday morning, November 13. The Sadruddins each pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. The brothers…

Scores of people filled the Bledsoe County Courthouse Lawn to celebrate the service and sacrifice of local veterans on Monday, November 11. Claude Lewis was the keynote speaker this year. Lewis was drafted into the U.S. Army at 22-years-old in 1964. In August 1965, he headed out to Vietnam and in October he landed in…

Candidates for the office of Mayor for the City of Pikeville were interviewed recently by The Bledsonian-Banner reporter Chase Smith. Both candidates were asked the same four questions and asked to give brief responses. The interview answers are transcribed verbatim, including filler words, in the interest of transparency for voters. The election for Mayor and…

Late October’s rainfall totals for Bledsoe County made up for an extremely dry September, with 8.56 inches of rain falling last month compared to 1.05 inches in September, according to local Volunteer National Weather Service (NWS) Observer Roy Lee Standefer. For more see the November 7 issue of The Bledsonian Banner.

Bledsoe County will receive money to spark workforce development from the State of Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee announced. Bledsoe’s portion is $118,867 out of a total $3 million distributed statewide. The money specifically goes toward rural counties, with Distressed and At-Risk Counties receiving the majority ($2.1 million) of the money to “bolster workforce development efforts.”…

Bledsoe County Commissioners approved a resolution to allow the Industrial Development Board to offer a tax abatement plan for Aviagen’s planned $32 million expansion for a poultry feed mill at a joint meeting on Monday, November 4. The proposed project known as “Project Protein” would be on a 50-acre tract the City of Pikeville currently…

The $1.4 million, 56-bed expansion to the Bledsoe County Detention Center officially opened Friday, October 18, after passing inspection by the Tennessee Fire Marshal’s Office. The total occupancy for the jail has increased from 96 to 152, according to Jail Administrator Paula Peters. For more see the October 30 issue of The Bledsonian Banner.

UPDATE: The trial of accused ax murderer Robert Joe Whittenburg, 45, is rescheduled for June 2-4, 2020 after being set to begin this Wednesday, November 6, according to the Bledsoe County Circuit Court. No reason was given for why the trial was moved.

Daylight Saving Time will end this weekend so don’t forget to move the hour hand of your clock back one hour Saturday night.

Brothers Karim and Rahim Sadruddin have entered a plea agreement, admitting they are guilty of committing two counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to new documents filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.  The brothers admit in the plea agreement, signed September…