Area News

Although work has started on Lowes Gap Road in northern Bledsoe County, Road Supervisor Robby Roberson is advising residents the road is still unsafe to travel and closed until further notice. Roberson said there is still much work to be done including reinstalling pipe, stabilizing ditches, and essentially rebuilding the road bed where February flooding washed much…

Several Bledsoe County women decided to use their talents to raise money for the Historic Dr. James A. Ross House and are selling tickets to win a quilt or an afghan. For more see the March 28 issue of The Bledsonian Banner.

UPDATE: Gas has been shut off and the roads are being reopened, according to The Bledsoe County Rescue Squad. Crews are currently responding to a punctured gas line near Summer City Road and Highway 30 East on Dayton Mountain. Traffic is currently being rerouted until the area is deemed safe. Highway 30 East and Summer…

The Board of Education rejected a settlement offer by Board Member Vince Pendergrass in which he would have dismissed the lawsuit he filed against the Board in mid-January. Pendergrass’ settlement offer would have amended the public censure placed on him last fall by the Board and would have allowed him to “attend any and all…

Strong winds moving in from the midwest have prompted a Wind Advisory and Hazardous Weather Outlook for Bledsoe County from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Morristown. The agency warns of strong to severe thunderstorms tonight across the Cumberland Plateau, with damaging winds the primary threat and the possibility of “a tornado or two.” NWS…

John Patrick Fields, 47, of Bledsoe County, is charged with two counts of First Degree Murder and two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department. Fields is being held at the Cumberland County Jail on a $5 million bond and is expected to appear in court on Monday, March…

Pikeville and the Sequatchie Valley will be host to a new cycling event this Fall, bringing upwards of 300 riders to the area to experience the beautiful mountain and valley views of the area. ‘Cycle Sequatchie’ will be held on October 5, with riders taking off from Dunlap’s Valley Fest. Two short rides will stay…

Firefighters responded to two field fires within an hour of each other on Thursday evening, March 7. The first fire was on Griffith Road, with the second starting on Brock Hollow Road. The fires, both in fields, were contained quickly. Mt. Crest Volunteer Fire Department ran mutual aid with Griffith Volunteer Fire Department at the…

Authorities responded to reports of a sinkhole on Highway 30 East near the Dunlap Stone rock quarry after cracks were discovered in the road. The road is open at the time after being shortly blocked for Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) inspection. Officials say TDOT will continue to monitor the cracks.

Robby Ritchie has signed on to play college baseball at Roane State in Harriman. Ritchie said he has been playing baseball since he was three years old and Roane State was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. For more see the February 21 issue of The Bledsonian Banner.