Area News

State officials knew last summer the reconstruction of the Inn at Fall Creek Falls State Park would cost much more than anticipated, a hearing of the State Building Commission (SBC) revealed last week. A groundbreaking was held in January for the reconstruction of the Inn, at which time the overages were not made public. At…

The Bledsoe County Beer Board denied Dollar General Corporation a beer permit for their new location being constructed on SR 30 East on Dayton Mountain, at a meeting of the Board on Monday, July 15. The Beer Board denied a permit for another Dollar General store on SR 30 West in July 2017. For more…

Discount store and pharmacy Fred’s is closing their Pikeville store, alongside a nationwide closing of an additional 129 stores this summer. For more see the July 18 issue of The Bledsonian Banner.

Bledsoe County taxpayers will not see a tax rate increase this year, after commissioners voted to leave the rate the same as the 2018-2019 budget year at the County Commission meeting on Monday, July 15. Commissioners Tim Campbell, Brent Griffith, Robert Reece, Tanya Roberson, Ronald Sapp, Junior Hankins, and Ruth Burton voted to keep the…

District Attorney Mike Taylor said he is reviewing information related to the ouster proceedings of Board of Education Member Vince Pendergrass and will make a decision on whether to proceed in the next few days. For more see the July 11 issue of The Bledsonian Banner.

A high speed chase by the Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Department led to damage to a police cruiser and a federal fugitive evading arrest. Timothy (Tim) Edward Barnes, 52, of Jasper, Georgia, fled police after crashing into the patrol car of Deputy Matt Brock during the incident on Wheeler Mountain. For more see the July 11…

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee [R] made his first official visit to Pikeville since taking office earlier this year on Tuesday, July 9, speaking with citizens about his priorities as Governor and answering a few questions on the steps of the Bledsoe County Courthouse. Joining Gov. Lee were State Senator Paul Bailey [R-Sparta] and State Representative…

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee [R] will visit Pikeville for an event Tuesday, July 9. Gov. Lee is joining State Senator Paul Bailey [R-Sparta] and State Representative Ron Travis [R-Dayton] at Ember’s Ice Cream Shoppe on Main Street at 11:00 a.m., according to Laine Arnold, Press Secretary for Gov. Lee. Lee will then make his way over…

Bledsoe County Commissioners will vote on whether or not county property owners will see a property tax increase of 18-cents per $100 dollars of assessed value. For someone with a $100,000 property assessment, that owner would pay an estimated $45 extra per year. This would make the rate $2.3860 per every $100 of assessed property…

An ultralight pilot remained in critical condition Tuesday, July 2, according to Erlanger Hospital Public Relations. George Sincell, 63, was flying an “ultralight” small aircraft around 7:40 p.m. on June 25 when it crashed into trees, according to the Van Buren County Emergency Management Agency. For more see the July 4 issue of The Bledsonian…