When the temperatures begin their gradual descent and the sun disappears by the time the dinner dishes are washed and put away, it’s time to choose one of two reasonable options: hibernate until the spring thaw or build a drey, like a squirrel, and surround yourself with every creature comfort. A glowing fireplace, a warm mug of tea or perhaps an old-fashioned, and my mother’s hand-knitted afghan go a long way toward helping me ward off the oncoming wintertime blues. There’s only one thing missing from this serene scene, and if you’re a drey-builder like me, you know what it...

Blount Memorial Hospital officials are aiming for a Nov. 30 closing date with Prisma Health while they wait for the last signatures needed on the facility’s new charter. The partnership will bring an almost $365 million infusion as the hospital continues to post profits. Jonathan Smith, CEO of the hospital, updated members of the Blount Memorial Hospital Board of Directors on the process during their meeting Tuesday, Oct. 22. The agreement, he said, is cautiously moving ahead. ...

There was some lengthy discussion over two notable resolutions at the Blount County Commission meeting last Thursday. The items which have been in ongoing debate were resolutions to update stormwater regulations and a suggestion for a law that would make it so that when an educator pleaded guilty to abuse of a child, they would automatically lose their educator license and forfeit their retirement. Stormwater regulations As previously reported by...

Residents along a section of Tesla Boulevard will be without electricity beginning the night of Thursday, Oct. 24 and continuing through the early morning of Friday, Oct. 25. The City of Alcoa announced on Wednesday that the planned outage is necessary for workers with the Alcoa Electric Department to safely complete upgrades to the underground electrical infrastructure, and that all affected customers have already been notified.

Maryville Police Department is investigating multiple reports of attempted candidate intimidation occurring at a Blount County early voting station with just under two weeks before the general election. Democratic candidate for House District 20 Karen Gertz said that she and assisting volunteers have been threatened and cursed at while set up outside the Blount County Public Library since as early as the party primaries in July. “We actually did have...

Maryville College’s homecoming celebration is just around the corner and the school has a variety of activities planned for students, alumni and members of the community. Homecoming kicks off on Friday, Oct. 25 and wraps up Sunday afternoon. Friday Coach Ben Fox will host a lunch for former MC football players at 11 a.m. in...

E. coli food poisoning linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states, including one person who died and 10 who were hospitalized, federal health officials said Tuesday. The death was reported in an older person in Colorado, and one child has been hospitalized with severe kidney complications, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Infections were reported between Sept. 27 and...

Alcoa students had the opportunity to get some insight into what life is like in Germany by hosting German exchange students. Student families hosted their new German friends in their homes for two weeks while the students attended school with their cohorts and went on several fun outings, including a trip to Dollywood and West Town Mall. The 16 German students participating in the program all came from the same...

Fall merriment was underway at Heritage High School during their “Fall on the Farm” event Friday afternoon. Usually, this annual event is only for visiting elementary school students, but this year, the students in the agricultural program decided to open it up to the public. HHS Agriculture Teacher Jon Waters said they’ve been putting on the event for about 15 years. The money raised from the event goes straight back...

Maryville Police Department announced a new supplier contract with firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson last Thursday, Oct. 17. Under the new agreement, MPD officers will be equipped with an M&P9 M2.0 primary duty pistol, a Shield Plus backup firearm and an M&P15T SBR primary patrol rifle. “As we welcome Smith & Wesson to our community, we are proud to transition our department to their state-of-the-art firearms,” said MPD Chief Tony Crisp in a press release. “This partnership not only enhances the safety and preparedness of our officers but also strengthens our connection to a company that shares our commitment to excellence and public safety.” The announcement comes a little over a year after Smith & Wesson’s new headquarters in Blount County officially opened. To read the full press release, visit Smith & Wesson’s official news and press releases page.

The vast majority of readers who responded to The Daily Times survey for the week ending Oct. 20 said that the tone of the campaign has been mostly negative The vast majority of respondents — 100 percent, in fact — said that the tone of the 2024 campaign has been mostly negative. This week’s question is “What kind of information do you think would influence your vote this year?” Responses will be taken until Monday, Oct. 28., and results will be published in the Oct. 28 edition. To access the survey, click here or scan the QR code.

The Daily Times Football Contest jackpot has increased to $200 as there were no first-place winners last week. Lindsey “Charli” Whaley took $50 for second place and Jim L. Snyder won the $25 for third place. The jackpot increases to $200. To take the first-place prize, entries must correctly pick all 13 games excluding any cancellations. If there are no first-place winners for the week, the jackpot grows by $100.

Handsome, a 60-pound bouncy boy, has a spring in his step and a flop in his ears. He was snuffling around the Walland Shopping Center parking lot looking for his love in life, rope toys, when a kind woman picked him up and brought him to the Blount County Animal Center. “This is where the rope toys are!” Handsome exclaimed with stars in his eyes. ...

They both grew up in this community, got married in Sevier County, raised two children and have four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Donna and Ronnie Inman live in the Hubbard Community and in the same house for the past 50 years. They are members of Laws Chapel Church. He retired from an engineering firm; she from Blount Memorial Hospital. This year will mark the very first time either one of...

Don’t panic. A lot of people in Blount County will receive letters next month warning them about potential lead in their water. Getting one doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in danger. The letters, which will go out Nov. 15, are the result of EPA regulations intended to cut down the amount of lead in drinking water nationwide. Lead, a heavy metal formerly popular in industrial and construction materials like paint and...

Teams of volunteers converged at six EZ Stops and four KenJo Markets across Blount County pumping gas and cleaning windows and tires to raise money for United Way of Blount County’s annual Stinnett Collision Gas Day on Friday. In addition to donations or “tips,” UWBC received five cents for every gallon of gas sold at participating locations. All proceeds from Gas Day 2024 will be used to help to promote health, education and self-sufficiency in the Blount County community through UWBC and its 26 partner...

Townsend staple Peaceful Side Brewery announced Monday that it had earned a gold medal at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival competition, hosted and presented by the Brewer’s Association. The brewery’s “First Release: Part 2” won gold in in the Brett beer-style category. The 2024 competition saw 1,869 breweries from all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. In the competition, beers and ciders spanning 107 categories and 175 different styles were judged meticulously by 285 judges over 7 days. ...

Halloween is in less than two weeks, and with it comes trick-or-treaters of all ages. For anyone who might be less comfortable with or unable to participate in the traditional version of going door-to-door, Blount County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a trunk-or-treat event called Operation Safe Halloween and Emergency Services Day. From 5-7 p.m. on Halloween, Oct. 31, first responders from Blount County, Maryville and Alcoa fire, police and emergency services will be set up at the Everett Recreation Center located at 318 Everett High Road, Maryville. ...

Maryville staff announced Friday, Oct. 18 that City Mayor Andy White had dedicated the city’s pedestrian bridge in honor of Joy Mahana Bishop — a community philanthropist whose 30 years of service were marked with accomplishments such as the Blount County Public Library. The bridge crosses the Greenbelt Lake connecting downtown Maryville to the library. According to a release from the city, White dedicated the bridge during the Community Long Table event held on the bridge Thursday evening. ...

In December 2020, a judge with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services overturned the 2019 case against former Blount County Schools teacher Joseph Michael Dalton. New documents obtained by The Daily Times show the evidence presented in Dalton’s appeal may not have been the complete picture. The former teacher even admitted to touching the student who reported him, but claimed the contact was an accident. Dalton pleaded guilty to multiple...