Area News

A 16-year-old male faces additional charges after escaping custody following special juvenile court proceedings on Monday, February 27 at the Bledsoe County Courthouse, reports Pikeville Police Chief Ronald Byrd. The juvenile suffered multiple cuts when he escaped, crashed through a glass door on the front of the courthouse and fled on foot, the Chief described.…

BTC Fiber is the primary sponsor for BTC Fiber Valley Fest scheduled for May 6-7 in Dunlap. The BTC Fiber presented a $20,000 check to Sponsorship Committee members Jessica Austin and Annette Brown, BTC Fiber Communications Director and Sponsorship Committee Member Ethan Loyd, BTC Fiber CEO Charlie Boring, and Valley Fest Chairman Marlene Basham.

A total of six paraprofessionals (teacher’s aides) were terminated from their positions in a special needs class at Pikeville Elementary. Two of the six, Shelia Schmidt and Chloe Frizzell, were charged with child abuse. According to Detective Drake Brown’s arrest warrants on the two women, he reviewed a video of the incident which showed Frizzell…

“The Last Letter,” a song written by Blake Roberson of Pikeville has been chosen to move on to the next round of the Tennessee Songwriters competition. He recently performed the song he penned in Crossville at the Grinder House. He and one other individual from that stage were selected to move on to compete in…

Reaching academic heights for the Bledsoe County High School Class of 2023 are Valedictorian Tobey Moore Deatherage, Salutatorian Carly Danielle Mahan, Historian Cassidy Mae Newby, Lillie Cagle, Abby Daniel, Jacob Zimmery Johnson, Kelsey Slatton, Kevyn Edinger, Alicia Brown, and Kyle Oakes. They along with their classmates are eagerly awaiting Class Night on May 18 and…

UPDATE ON OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING Sequatchie County Sheriff Bill Phillips has released the name of the Correctional Officer and the inmate who was shot allegedly escaping after medical treatment at Erlanger Bledsoe in Pikeville on February10 that is being investigated by the TBI. The Sequatchie County Correctional Officer involved was Karen Line and the inmate/escapee involved…

Curious about electric vehicles (EV) and want to drive one? Now is your chance. On Saturday, February 11 from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. join Tennessee Tech for an interactive in-person ride and drive event. Participants can test drive an EV first hand. Visitors can talk with the students and faculty about the EV ecosystem and…

Hunter Clark is trading in his blue and gold football uniform for the red, white and blue uniform of the University of the Cumberlands. He is trading one “family” for another, leaving his Warrior family to become a member of the Patriot family. The University of the Cumberlands coach talked about the same bond and…

Bledsoe County Fair Board members, along with 2022 Fairest of the Fair Aloni Smith, represented the county at the 101st annual Tennessee Association of Fairs convention on January 19-21. The group brought home five ribbons plus a Merit Award. Smith competed against 47 girls from across the state. She represented  Bledsoe County with elegance and…

Four area fire departments are among 147 slated to receive grants for equipment and training from the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDIC) and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO). The volunteer fire departments will receive grants in 2023 as part of the historic $5 million Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant Program.…