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STATE OF TENNESSEE, DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES v. Audriana Downing and Antwan Kennedy McMinn County Juvenile Court Docket No.: 2024-JV-303 The State of Tennessee, Department of Children’s Services, has filed a petition for termination of parental rights in McMinn County Juvenile Court concerning Audriana Downing and Antwan Kennedy to the child, Nautica Kennedy, b. 08/30/2020. A trial in this case is set for August 13, 2024 at 1:30 pm in the Juvenile Court of McMinn County. Audriana Downing and Antwan Kennedy must appear before this Court on that date to determine whether their parental rights to the subject child should be terminated and forever ended. The Court is located at 1319 S. White Street, Athens, TN. If Audriana Downing and Antwan Kennedy do not come to the hearing, the State will ask the Court to allow it to proceed without contest. That means that the State will ask the Court to let it present proof without having any lawyer appear and defend Audriana Downing and Antwan Kennedy’s rights in Court. Any appeal of this Court’s final disposition of the complaint or petition for termination of parental rights will be governed by the provisions of Rule 8A, TRAP, which imposes special time limitations for the filing of the transcript or statement of evidence, the completion and transmission of the record on appeal, and the filing of briefs in the appellate court, as well as other special provisions for expediting the appeal. You may obtain a copy of the Petition and any subsequently filed legal documents or hearing dates in the Juvenile Clerk’s office located at 1319 S. White Street, Athens, TN. This will constitute appropriate service on them for all future filings in this case. Publication: July 13, 20, 27, August 3, 2024.

McMinn County Schools, in a move to pare down their excess resources, is currently hosting an auction of surplus vehicles which includes a fleet of full-size school buses amongst other items. Available for bidding until July 12 at 7 p.m., the sale provides a unique opportunity for potential buyers to own a piece of the educational transport history or simply repurpose the robust vehicular fleet for their own creative endeavors. Those interested can view and place their bids online; details and the link to the auction can be found on the WVLT website.

The TBI reports that Jack Ballard has now been found and is safe. An 87-year-old man from McMinn County is missing, and has a medical condition that may hamper his ability to get back where he belongs. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) issued a Silver Alert for Jack Ballard...

Janet Cantrell, Scholarship Chairman, and Karen Bauer, Society Governor, of the Tennessee Descendants of the Mayflower Society, which includes members from McMinn County, recently presented Cleveland High School Senior Caleb Cornett with the Roger L. Young $1,000 scholarship for winning a statewide essay contest. The scholarship application is open to all Tennessee high school seniors with a 3.5 GPA or better. The essay theme for 2024 was the Pilgrim-Wampanoag Treaty signed in March 1621. To become a member of the society, a person must be able to prove their direct lineage to one of the Mayflower passengers.

David Thomforde is running for the House seat in District 23 this November. Thomforde will face Mark Cochran in the fall election. Thomforde is an occupational therapist who worked at Woods Memorial Hospital in Etowah and Life Care Center of Athens before retiring, although he says his life’s mission has been helping people with disabilities in other countries. Currently, he volunteers with Table Grace, Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross, McMinn Neighbors/SOCM, various performing arts groups and Helping Hands Ministry, as well as being on...

MCMINN COUNTY, Tenn. — An auction is live for people to buy surplus vehicles from McMinn County Schools, including buses and maintenance trucks. The items are being sold on GovDeals, a liquidity services marketplace website. So far, there are 11 items from McMinn County Schools up for sale on the website.

MCMINN COUNTY, Tenn. — UPDATE (1:47 p.m.): The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said 87-year-old Jack Ballard was found safe Monday afternoon. The TBI initially issued a Silver Alert for Jack Ballard after he was last seen in the area of County Road 804 in Etowah. -- ORIGINAL. A Silver...

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has escalated its efforts to locate Jack Ballard, an 87-year-old man who has gone missing in McMinn County, by issuing a Silver Alert. The declaration was made on Monday, drawing urgent attention to Ballard's disappearance and his need for prompt assistance due to a medical condition.

ETOWAH, Tenn. (WATE) — A missing 87-year-old from McMinn County has been found after a Silver Alert was issued. Jack Ballard was found safe on July 8 after being last seen wearing blue plaid pajamas in the area of County Road 804 in Etowah according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. He is 5’9”, weighs […]

ETOWAH, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a Silver Alert for a man missing out of McMinn County. Authorities are looking for 87-year-old Jack Ballard. He is 5’9″, has brown eyes and weighs 175 pounds. He was last seen on County Road 804 in...

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -On Monday, the TBI issued a Silver Alert for 87-year-old Jack Ballard missing out of McMinn County. According to TBI, Ballard is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds. He is bald with brown eyes and was last seen wearing blue plaid pajamas in the area of Country Road 804 in Etowah.

The TBI said Jack Ballard was last seen in the area of County Road 804 in Etowah.