Area News

A Spring City man was indicted on charges of arson and burglary by the Bledsoe County Grand Jury on Monday, July 27.  Jonathan Elmer McKee, 39, was indicted after an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Bomb and Arson Fire Investigators and Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Department identified him as being responsible for a fire…

A Chattanooga man was arrested this week after being indicted by the Bledsoe County Grand Jury on counts of rape of a child, criminal attempted child rape, especially aggravated exploitation of a minor, and 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.  Adam Ferguson, 35, was indicted after an investigation of the Tennessee Bureau of…

Officials took another step in building a new physicians building on the campus of Erlanger Bledsoe at a July 20 County Commission meeting. Commissioners approved the lease between Bledsoe County and Erlanger, which stipulates the County will build the 6,050 square-foot facility and lease it to Erlanger at “fair market value” to be determined after…

A resurfacing project begins this week on the U.S. 127 bypass from South of SR 30 to north of Old William Howard Taft Highway, according to Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Region 2 Spokeswoman Jennifer Flynn. For more see the July 30 issue of The Bledsonian Banner.

Tennessee is having two separate tax free holidays this year, with the first starting this week for general purchases such as school supplies, electronics, and clothing. The other, new this year, allows restaurant charges to be tax-free. Starting Friday, July 31 at 12:01 a.m. and continuing through Sunday, August 2, at 11:59 p.m., the tax…

The reopening of Bledsoe County Schools has been postponed to August 25, the Board of Education decided in a 6-1 vote on Tuesday, July 21. The official plan for the reopening of Bledsoe County Schools has not yet been formalized. Registration day is set for August 24. Student schedules will be staggered in the first…

The reopening of Bledsoe County Schools has been postponed to August 25, the Board of Education decided in a 6-1 vote on Tuesday, July 21.  Registration day is set for August 24. Student schedules will be staggered in the first week to acclimate students slowly to new changes, and more details regarding the staggered schedule…

Over 70 businesses in Bledsoe County received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans during the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Businesses received at least $3,274,464, retaining a total of 491 jobs, according to the data. Of those, 69 were categorized as less than $150,000,…

To bring car enthusiasts and boost local business, Pikeville City officials approved a new project for a burnout pad downtown. Their decision was made during their Monday, July 13 meeting. Aldermen Senia Anderson, Jane Humble, Jeania Lansing, and Dale Wheeler approved unanimously moving forward with the project to create a burnout pad for cars, essentially…

Lee Ann Morris has been named the new principal at Pikeville Elementary School (PES) by Director of Schools James Ellis. Ellis was the former PES principal before being chosen as Director last month. Morris has 15 years experience in Bledsoe County Schools and taught for two years elsewhere before joining the district. Morris has been…