Greenback
Politics
How Blount County is helping more high school graduates enter the workforce
BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — A rising number of high school graduates are forgoing college and entering the workforce, according to Labor Department data released last month. The college enrollment rate for recent U.S. high school graduates fell to 61.4% in 2023, the lowest level in at least three decades. Recent high school graduates are […]
Maryville school board approves 5-year facilities plan
Maryville City Schools has developed half a decade’s worth of plans for the district’s facilities as its student population expands. Now, some of the costs and timelines for the school district’s priorities are solidifying. Maryville’s board of education Monday, May 20, approved a five-year facilities plan laying out preliminary timelines and cost estimates for a suite of projects. Those include a planned expansion of Maryville High School, a renovation of what’s now the Maryville Academy building and changes to athletic facilities. ...
New murder mystery book takes place in Tellico Village
Cheryl Peyton, a local author from Loudon County, recently published her newest murder mystery that takes place right in the heart of Tellico Village. The fictional book is titled “Murder in Tellico Village” and follows a continuing female lead — Alex Trotter — as she visits her Aunt Beth in the Village. During her short visit, it is revealed that a nearby neighbor is murdered. ...
Leaders urge caution as crews resurface part of 'The Dragon' in Blount County
BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — Every turn on the "Tail of the Dragon" is an adventure. Millions of people travel on Highway 129 every year, and several pass through the section of road known as "The Dragon" near the Tennessee and North Carolina state line. Now the Blount County Sheriff's...
Maryville school board OKs $73M budget with $50,750 starting pay for teachers
All Maryville City Schools employees could see their pay increase next year. The Maryville Board of Education on Monday, May 20, approved a $73.2 million general purpose budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year that puts new teachers’ starting salaries at $50,750. The $50,750 base pay for beginning teachers — those with bachelor’s degrees, but no experience — would represent about a 6% raise over the district’s current starting salary of $47,851. ...
Loudon City officials make managerial decisions
Loudon City Council and the Loudon Utility Board met last Monday, May 13, with the intent being to discuss manager candidates. However, in the end, they chose to invite two new candidates to interview in July. The meeting was the shortest to date while discussing the manager search at only 15 minutes. The manager search process began late last year and has averaged at least one special meeting a month since. ...
Tellico Village Singers and Tellico Voices holding annual patriotic concerts
The Tellico Village Singers (TVS) and the Tellico Voices (TV) are pleased to present their annual Fourth of July Patriotic Concerts. These concerts will be performed at the Community Church at Tellico Village on Sunday, June 30 (3 p.m.) and Tuesday, July 2 (7 p.m.). "The costs involved with preparations and performances keep going up," a press release stated. "As such, to recoup some of our cost, tickets for these...
Flagging on Sam Houston School Road
The city of Alcoa announced Tuesday, May 21 that upcoming flagging operations will affect traffic on Sam Houston School Road beginning this week. The project, which has already begun, is expected to last through July. Sam Houston School Road between Holliday Drive and the Alcoa Water Treatment Plant will have workers flagging the area from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for the month of May. This is in conjunction with the Eagleton Ballfield Project to implement a soil borrow pit on Sam Houston School Road. Staff are advising motorists to use caution when driving through the area, as workers will be present, and allow additional travel time when using this route.
Lawsuits filed as town and developers clash over proposed quarry in Greenback
GREENBACK, Tenn. (WATE) — A dispute is developing in Loudon County over a proposed rock quarry. The Town of Greenback and the Loudon County Regional Planning Commission filed a lawsuit against M&M Stone Farms and Tri-county Crushed Stone over their plan to build a rock quarry in the town. In response, the companies have filed […]
Environmental impact analysis completed for Loudon solar power project
A solar power project planned for Loudon County would have no significant impacts on considerations such as water quality, floodplains or human health, a government agency has determined. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service made the Finding of No Significant Impact for the Walking Horse Solar Project in March. The project, which would provide a renewable energy source for Loudon County and surrounding areas, is to be built on about 42 acres off Maremont Parkway. ...
Veterans available for Memorial Day, Veterans Day celebrations
A group of veterans in the community meets weekly at Vienna Coffee in Maryville as a way to reach out to one another and offer assistance. Veterans Coffee Fellowship meets from 2 to 4 p.m. each Wednesday at the local coffee shop, located at 212 College Street. There is no fee to attend or requirement of membership, said founder Vern Gardai, retired Army chaplain. All attendees pay for is their own beverages or food. ...
Blount County receives federal money for emergency food and shelter programs
MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Blount County has received federal funding for emergency food and shelter programs in the area. The Department of Homeland Security, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has allotted $35,502 to the county to be used to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
Blount County business employing people with disabilities tapped to do floral work at McGhee Tyson Airport
ALCOA, Tenn. — Many hands make for light work, and the hands of the employees of Special Growers are planting the flowers of East Tennessee for the world to see at McGhee Tyson Airport this week. The Maryville company hires adults with disabilities to do floral work and cut...
Alcoa Memorial Day schedule
Alcoa will make no adjustments to the collection of residential solid waste, residential recyclables, or commercial/industrial solid waste for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 27. Residential and commercial routes will run on schedule. Brush collection will resume regular pick-up on June 4. Questions concerning these services may be directed to the Alcoa Sanitation Division at 865-380-4800. The Alcoa/Maryville/Blount County Landfill will remain open on Memorial Day, with regular operating hours of 8:00 a.m. until 5:15 p.m. Please call 865-995-2892 for questions concerning landfill operations.
New playground, splashpad open at Houston Park in Madisonville
Local officials gathered at Houston Park in Madisonville Saturday morning to commemorate the opening of the park’s playground and splashpad. The ceremony for the grand opening of the park’s playground and splashpad took place at the park Saturday at 11 a.m. where Madisonville Mayor Gus Davis revealed the new park equipment. “This is a great day and a great time,” Davis said. “This is something that the City of Madisonville...
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