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The Daily Times
2024 U.S. Senate, Congressional primary candidates from Tennessee
The Aug. 1 election includes primaries for federal officials representing Blount County in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Incumbent Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn faces a primary challenger in Tres Wittum, and several Democrats are vying for the right to run against the GOP candidate in November. Rep. Tim Burchett, a Knox County Republican whose district encompasses Blount, is unopposed in his primary. Democratic challenger Jane George is likewise unopposed at the primary level. ...
Big Lots anticipates dozens of store closures
Big Lots executives in 2024 expect to close over 10 times as many stores as they plan to open. A Securities and Exchange Commission filing for the business quarter ending May 4 includes a note from Big Lots leadership that “we currently expect to open 3 stores and close 35 to 40 stores” this year. The filing did not indicate which stores could be subject to closure. There is one...
Maryville High School art students bring art to the community with new mural
Maryville High School National Art Honors Society students have finished painting a mural on the side of Get Fit Maryville, 911 E Broadway Ave, Maryville. The MHS society, which is in its infancy, focuses on using art as an act of service. MHS Art Teacher Raquel Roy said, “They are to use their gift of art in service to the community.” ...
2024 GOP state executive committeeman candidates
State Executive Committeeman, Senate District 2 The Republican state executive committeeman for Tennessee Senate District 2 represents members of the party from Blount Monroe, Polk and part of Bradley counties in the state Republican Party. Women in the party such office as state executive committeewomen. Incumbent officeholder Bill Russell, of Reliance, is competing with Blount County Planning Commission Chairman Darrell Tipton and Brandon M. Leitch, of Greenback, in the Aug....
2024 School Board county general and municipal primary candidates
Two seats are up for grabs in the Blount County Schools Board of Education race as Robbie Kirkland, District 4, and Vandy Kemp, District 2, step down. John Lowe and Don Jones will face off for the District 2 seat while Chris Pass, Sr. and Rob Spirko compete for the District 4 seat in the upcoming Aug. 1 county general elections. Phil Porter, District 6, is up for re-election and running uncontested. Maryville City School Board members Nick Black and Candy Morgan are up for...
The Daily Times Guide to the 2024 Townsend City Commissioner Election
Five people compete for two seats on the Townsend Board of Commissioners this year, with key issues mentioned in an July 11 candidate forum covering business development, housing opportunities and population numbers. Dave Hoque, Houston Oldham and Pat Jenkins are challenging returning Commissioners Becky Headrick and Ted Godfrey. The Daily Times attempted to contact all qualified candidates to answer a common set of questions. The responses received are printed below, with some trimming when candidates exceeded length limits. Candidates are arranged alphabetically by first name. ...
Rockford ceremony offers thanks, support for 'hero' officers
The Rockford City Commission had something special Thursday for its bimonthly public meeting. In addition to the usual budgetary, project updates and public input sections, this meeting devoted time to recognize two Blount County deputies who were injured in the line of duty. “We’re delighted with the turnout today,” said Mayor Carl Koella III to the more than 20 people gathered in Rockford Town Hall. “We hate the reason (for it). But we want to honor these officers.” ...
2024 Tennessee General Assembly primary candidates
Blount Countians who vote in the Aug. 1 election will make changes that shape the course of city, county, state and federal government for years. Races include primaries for seats on municipal boards of education and in the U.S. Senate, as well as general elections to some city and county offices and statewide political party positions. The Daily Times has attempted to contact all qualified candidates to answer common sets of questions. The responses provided below come from candidates running in primary races for election...
Townsend commission hopefuls talk economy, community in candidate forum
Community programs and controlled development took center stage in Townsend’s candidate forum Thursday evening, July 11. Five hopefuls vying for the pair of city commission seats up for election answered questions from the public and presented their visions for the future of the peaceful side of the smokies. Commissioners Ted Godfrey and Becky Headrick are seeking reelection. Challengers David Hoque, Houston Oldham and Pat Jenkins hope to unseat them. Taking...
Garbage kills: Three more cubs arrive at ABR after mother bear has to be euthanized
The three latest arrivals at Appalachian Bear Rescue have cute names — they are the Gatlinburgher triplets Patty, Pickles and Mac. These 6-month-old black bear cubs will get the months-long care they need at this black bear rehabilitation center in Townsend and then be offered a second chance in the wild. Behind the scene, however, this story is nothing short of tragic, said ABR Executive Director Dana Dodd. The triplets...
Christy Martin: Bill Lawrence an unforgettable hero
My dad was a prisoner of war in World War II. Through him I met many heroes. Some had stories that were unforgettable. I met Bill Lawrence in the 1980s. He was visiting my parents’ house following a trip to the Great Smokies. He was a tall, lanky man, well spoken with a strong handshake and a ready smile. Bill Lawrence grew up in Nashville. He was bright, athletic, and...
Tennessee Governor tours Maryville DENSO plant
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee toured DENSO Manufacturing’s facility on Middlesettlements Road Thursday, July 11, alongside local elected officials and members of the press. Company representatives walked him through the group’s production process and demonstrated technologies developed within the plant. Outside the factory floor, Lee said he valued DENSO’s effect on the local economy. Tennessee. He said, is starting to stand out in its skilled labor workforce. “The state with the...
Early voting opens for Blount's August elections
Two weeks of early voting and dozens of candidates mean Blount Countians have choices to make and some time to consider them before Election Day on Aug. 1. Early voting starts today, July 12, and runs through July 27. City, county, state and federal offices will be up for grabs in August primary and general elections. Blount County property assessor, three seats on the Blount County Board of Education and two positions each on the Townsend and Friendsville City Commission are among the offices on...
Scam letters targeting homeowners
Scam letters are reportedly going out to Blount County homeowners requesting $89 for copies of deeds. Representatives from the Blount County Register of Deeds said that the letters look like official correspondence — complete with an official looking seal The representative said that local offices have been inundated with calls concerning this letter and said that the office charges only 50 cents per page for a copy of a deed and that most deeds are only two pages. The representative said that the office offers a free service that homeowners can register for at MYLANDALERT.COM, which sends alerts about possible scams.
Aldi holds grand opening at Maryville location
The Aldi store located at 2235 U.S. 411 in front of Royal Oaks has officially opened, with a ribbon cutting taking place Thursday morning. To celebrate, the discount grocery chain gave out gift cards to the first 100 customers. One lucky customer walked away with one worth $100. Shoppers also received free reusable shopping bags, coupons and a key chain that conveniently holds a quarter. Shoppers at Aldi know it takes a quarter to unlock a shopping cart at the entrance to the store; it’s...
Alcoa City Schools and Blount County Schools receive $50,000 grants for CTE programs
Alcoa City Schools and Blount County Schools have both been awarded $50,000 each in Perkins Reserve Grants from the Tennessee Department of Education for their Career and Technical Education Programs in the 2024-2025 school year. Alcoa City Schools ACS is using the grant, paired with a $25,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division, to create a new program for 11th and 12th-grade students to begin training for...
Blount Pride says no festival at Jack Greene Park
Blount Pride will no longer seek Maryville’s Jack Greene Park as the location for its August 2024 festival after conversations surrounding safety and event content fell through, organizers said in a Wednesday, July 10 release. Board members did not list an alternative date or location for the festival. Representatives of the organization confirmed any pride celebration would not resemble 2023’s Blount Pride festival, which brought hundreds of participants alongside dozens of protestors. ...
Blount commissioners, mayor split with schools on budget cuts
Debate over what and how much to cut from the Blount County Schools general purpose budget showed a split between the schools and some Blount representatives Tuesday, July 9. Blount County commissioners opted after a lengthy conversation to vote next week on an amended schools budget proposal that would cut over $500,000 from the total, $127.7 million allocation county commissioners approved in June. Included in those cuts are several programs offering services directly to students. ...
Blount County Animal Center offers reduced adoption fees
Blount County Animal Center will offer reduced adoption fees starting July 10 and will run until July 31. Through their participation in Bissell's "Empty the Shelter" event, BCAC will be offering $20 adoption fee on all dogs. The adoption fee covers costs such as vaccinations, spay/neuter and housing. The goal is to find "loving homes for the animals in their care," a BCAC press release stated. The BCAC is located at 233 Currie Ave, Maryville and open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, residents can call BCAC at 865-980-6244 or visit their website, https://www.blounttn.gov/168/Adoption-Information.
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The Daily Times, an award-winning daily newspaper in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, has served Blount County, Tennessee, readers since 1883. The Daily Times is a family-owned newspaper based in Maryville, Tennessee, near Knoxville, providing quality news and information to the communities it serves, with an emphasis on local news in the Blount County area.
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