Area News

The City of Pikeville Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a resolution for the Main Street Corridor Plan at a meeting Monday night, September 9. The plan does not put anything in motion or make proposals binding, but allows the City to submit the plans along with grant applications in the future. Representatives from the…

A fugitive wanted on charges by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) evaded local and federal agents before eventually being caught in Rhea County on Friday, September 6, according to Bledsoe County Sgt. George Hodge.  Timothy (Tim) Edward Barnes, 52, of Jasper, Georgia, was spotted near 3-Way Market by federal agents before leading them on…

The Lady Warriors continue the season undefeated in district play, 5-0, with a 7-1 overall season record. They will play Coalfield tomorrow night, September 5, at home at 5:30 p.m. For more see the September 5 issue of The Bledsonian Banner.

Local truck drivers know better than to navigate a heavy 18-wheeler up or down Lowes Gap Road because of its hairpin turns and switchbacks. Truck drivers passing through the area using their GPS (global positioning system) devices or GPS apps on cell phones could easily be routed to take the road as a shortcut if they…

The passing of Labor Day means it is time for the 41st annual Mountaineer Folk Festival at Fall Creek Falls State Park. The event is Friday, September 6 through Sunday, September 8, and offers a weekend of traditional bluegrass music, country cooking, pioneer skill demonstrations, and roughly 100 craft booths featuring a varied array of…

A presentation by Puckett Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will be heard by the Bledsoe County Commission in a Special Called Meeting on Monday, September 16. Bledsoe County Mayor Gregg Ridley said the county commission will decide its next steps after hearing from Puckett, but an official contract proposal had not been written up. “It all…

The upstairs courtroom of the Bledsoe County Courthouse was ceremonially named after the late Judge Edward H. Sapp by friends, family, and current county officials at a meeting on Monday, August 26. Commissioners voted to name the courtroom after Judge Sapp last October. A resolution commemorating Sapp was passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and…

Results of 2019 TNReady assessments were released last week by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and show improvements at some Bledsoe County schools and struggles in others. Being labeled as the only Reward School in the county for 2018-2019, Mary V. Wheeler Elementary saw achievement and growth for all students and student groups. “We…

Carolyn Oakes was unanimously appointed to fill the vacant District 5 seat of the Bledsoe County Board of Education at a Special Called meeting of the County Commission on Monday evening, August 26. Oakes fills the seat of Vince Pendergrass, who resigned his position on the Board on August 6. For more on the appointment,…

United States Senator Marsha Blackburn [R-TN] made her first visit to Bledsoe County since taking office earlier this year, on Friday morning, August 23.  Sen. Blackburn stressed her focus on rural communities and legislative measures she has taken in the areas of rural broadband and rural healthcare in the meeting with local officials.  The local…