Area News

Families and individuals receiving food assistance through the Southeast Tennessee Human Resources Agency (SETHRA), in a multi-county service area, will be aided by a $208,137 emergency health care grant from USDA Rural Development. “This grant will significantly increase SETHRA’s capacity to distribute food and meals to low-income, disabled, and elderly households in our rural service…

Earning his General Equivalency Diploma (GED) has been a 36-year dream of James “Jimmy” Hood, an inmate at Bledsoe County Detention Center. In July, he finally reached that dream. “I’m 54 years old, and I’ve been waiting 36 years to get my diploma,” Hood said. He said he completed 11th grade, and part of 12th…

The Random Act of Kindness “Bandit” needs your prayers. “That’s what we called him every time the front door of the Bledsonian-Banner office would open and a young boy – now a man – would quietly leave something on the front counter for us, not saying a word,” reminisces Sandy Dodson, publisher. “Sometimes it was…

The Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) has announced a total of $1 million in grants to be distributed to senior centers across 82 of the state’s 95 counties­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­–the most in the Commission’s history. Bledsoe County’s Senior Center is among those to receive funds in the amount of $8,000. For more see the August…

Spreading human waste on land in Bledsoe County drew more than flies Monday evening, August 21, at a special called session of the County Commission. The Bledsoe County courtroom was filled with a mixture of farmers in favor of allowing human waste to be spread on farm land and other individuals who were against the…

Two black men working together, distracted a clerk at the Family Dollar/Dollar Tree, activated and stole iTune gift cards, according to Assistant Police Chief David Decker with the Pikeville Police Department. The suspects got away with $1040 in gift cards, added Police Chief Ronald Byrd. If you have information on the suspects, contact the Pikeville…

It’s happening Friday night under the lights in Dunlap. The Bledsoe County High School vs. Sequatchie County High School rivalry football game and bragging rights to the Chief Roaring Eagle challenge trophy sponsored by First Farmers and Commercial Bank (FFCB) will take place on the football field. BCHS’s senior players set to lead their teammates…

Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee, presented in partnership with Fisk University’s John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library, opened at the Tennessee State Museum on Friday, June 16. The community-focused exhibition highlights the work of alumni, descendants, and organizations to preserve the legacies of Rosenwald Schools across the state.…

A grant for a new park in Pikeville is being sought. To accomplish this, the City of Pikeville is asking everyone to complete the BlueCross Healthy Places Community Survey. Everyone is encouraged to respond the survey found at https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7465165/Pikeville-BlueCross-Healthy-Places-Community-Survey. For more see the August 17 issue of The Bledsonian Banner.

Captain John Rains, an American Revolutionary War Patriot, was honored Saturday, August 5 by the Tennessee Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) John Sevier Chapter with many of his descendants present. A grave marker was placed at Collier Cemetery and a ceremony held. Rains was granted the property that has remained in the Rains…