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The Daily Times
USPS moving Knox processing facility functions to Nashville
U.S. Postmaster General Louis Dejoy announced that the Knoxville Processing Facility functions will be moved to Nashville, but that the facility will remain and be modernized. The decision adjusted an Oct. 25 review proposal to shift the Knoxville services to Louisville, Kentucky. The final Mail Processing Facility Review released this week states that “The Knoxville facility is not closing and will remain open and be modernized as a Local Processing Center.” ...
Townsend brush fire 95% contained
A brush fire that erupted in Townsend Monday afternoon has been 95% contained, said Townsend Area Volunteer Fire Department Chief Don Stallions. Blount County Fire Protection District, Alcoa Fire Department, Friendsville Volunteer Fire Department and the Tennessee Division of Forestry worked together Monday to contain the fire and prevent it from damaging nearby structures. The fire, which rekindled around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, caused minor structure damage to one residence...
Blount County Schools dismissing earlier April 8 for eclipse
Blount County Schools now plans to dismiss students earlier than previously announced because of the solar eclipse Monday, April 8 BCS elementary schools will dismiss students at 11:30 a.m., followed by middle schools at noon and high schools at 12:15 p.m. Maryville and Alcoa city schools also previously announced early dismissal schedules for April 8.
Tenn. orders restriction on movement of dairy cattle
In response to the USDA confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle in four states, the Tennessee Veterinarian has ordered a movement restriction on dairy cattle coming to Tennessee from the affected premises. As of April 1, Texas, Kansas, Michigan, and New Mexico had confirmed cases of HPAI in dairy cattle and results for a presumptive positive test for a herd in Idaho are pending at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). NVSL confirmed that the strain is H5N1, which has been circulating in wild birds for the last several years and appears to have been introduced to these herds by wild birds. Although there have been no detections of HPAI in cattle in Tennessee, producers are reminded to practice strong biosecurity. Cattle owners should minimize animal movements and isolate sick cattle. New animals should be quarantined for a minimum of two weeks before introducing them to an established herd.
Lane closures on N. Cusick Street set for today
A section of North Cusick Street will be narrowed to two lanes today, April 3. Beginning at the Korean War Memorial Bridge and ending at Hannum Street, all traffic will be shifted to the north bound side of N. Cusick Street, with one lane in each direction. The main entrance to the Blount County Public Library off N. Cusick Street will be limited to a right turn only to enter and to exit. This lane shift is expected to be in effect for one day only while the City of Maryville Water and Sewer Department repairs a failing sewer pipe. For more information call the Engineering and Public Works Department or the Water and Sewer Department at 865-273-3300.
Folklore & Phenomena: An introduction
I spent my childhood in Johnson City, TN. With E.T.S.U. as its centerpiece and Jonesborough, what some might call the “storytelling capital of the world”, just a short drive away, I grew up fascinated by legends, tall tales, folklore and the mysteries of East Tennessee and Appalachia. Some of my fondest memories are of being regaled with ghost stories from local storytellers. My childhood house was a short drive to...
Fire threatens homes off Old Walland Highway
Smoke covered parts of Townsend Monday afternoon, April 1, as firefighters from multiple agencies fought to contain a brush fire that threatened multiple homes by the Little River. The blaze was about half contained by press time Monday. There were no injuries reported by press time. Townsend Area Volunteer Fire Department Chief Don Stallions said the fire covered about 50 acres at around 6:30 p.m. His department called in members...
Grand jury indicts DeHart charged with Deputy Greg McCowan's death
A Blount County Grand Jury has indicted the man charged with the death of Blount County Sheriff’s Deputy Greg McCowan. Although details about the indictment and the charges within were not available by press time Monday, Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr., 42, is scheduled to appear in Blount County Circuit Court at 9 a.m. Friday, April 5. Blount County District Attorney Ryan Desmond said the grand jury handed down the indictment Monday, but that he could not comment on its details until the indictment is served...
Check it out at the Blount County Public Library
We have a dynamo in the house. One who chases the cat to pet it. One who rearranges all the spices in the spice drawer. One who makes piles of stones in the gravel. One who swishes dead leaves all over the yard. One who likes to play in the dirt. One who sometimes needs a bath. Toddlers’ hands easily lose hold of slippery bars of soap, which disappear under the water and refuse to be found. The solution? Ivory Soap! Remember Procter and Gamble’s...
Maryville High School senior sells photo to National Geographic
Maryville High School senior Andrew Zappa sold his first photograph this year — to National Geographic. His shot of the northern lights was taken during his second National Geographic Student Travel experience, in late July 2023, and now is online at https://natgeostudenttravel.org/, the website promoting the program. “This is a dream of mine,” Andrew told The Daily Times last week during an interview at MHS. “I would like to be...
Blount County Volunteer Festival kicked off with sunshine and smiles
Organizations from all over Blount County came together Saturday, March 30, for the first ever Blount County Volunteer Festival, organized by Robert McClelland and Jamie Alexandria Bate. The weather couldn’t have been better as prospective volunteers walked around the parking lot of Rio East Church, chatting with different organizations about volunteer opportunities. Mayor Ed Mitchell made an appearance at the festival and issued a proclamation that March 30, 2024, be...
Tenn. National Guard unveils Women’s History Wall
Current and former members of the Tennessee National Guard, whom are featured on the new Women’s History Wall, pose in front of the memorial following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday at Nashville’s Joint Force Headquarters. The wall features 23 women who were the first in their respective positions, such as first female Blackhawk pilot, and first female general officer, of the Tennessee National Guard.
South Old Glory Road, Big Springs Road closing April 2
The Blount County Highway Department will close part of Big Springs Road and South Old Glory Road on Tuesday, April 2, to work on replacing cross drains. In a release highway department staff said that Big Springs Road will close from the intersection with William Blount Drive to its intersection with South Old Glory Road. South Old Glory will be shut to traffic from Big Springs to the Maryville city limits past Mary Blount Elementary School. Motorists seeking access to William Blount Drive are encouraged to use Merganser Lane, South Odell Road and County Farm Road as alternate routes.
Opioid settlements fuel expanded addiction treatment, transition campus in Blount County
A plan several years old to get a jail transition center off the ground in Blount County has a new lease on life, courtesy of money from opioid lawsuits and the state of Tennessee. Millions of dollars from the state and from legal settlements made with opioid sellers will help nonprofits and government offices in Blount County expand their drug use disorder and mental illness treatment and support services. A...
Patriots Legacies: Joseph Johnston soldier and successful plantation owner
Joseph Johnston was born on Feb. 28, 1745, in Dublin, Ireland. In 1767, at the age of 21, he immigrated to the American colonies, where he settled with his brothers in Virginia about 1770. In 1774, he appears on Virginia’s Colonial Military Soldiers list as being stationed at Fort Fincastle during Lord Dunmore’s War. Lord Dunmore’s War was a conflict in 1774 between British colonial Virginia and the Native American tribes of the Shawnee and Mingo. ...
Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell declares March 2024 Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell issued a proclamation to declare March 2024 Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The proclamation states that colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in Tennessee and second deadliest in the United States. Approximately 3,460 people are expected to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Tennessee and approximately 1,220 Tennesseans will die from the disease by the end of 2024, it read. The proclamation...
Maryville will start repaving around John Sevier on Monday
Contractors for the city of Maryville will be repaving several streets in the John Sevier area starting Monday, April 1. Repaving will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, weather permitting. The entire project is expected to last two weeks depending on weather. Residents and businesses in the area should not park on the street during the paving period. Streets to be repaved include Sequoyah Ave., Westfield Dr., Eckles Dr., Lenore Ln., Withers Dr., and Clyde Cir. Flagged traffic will be in place and no detours are expected. For more information call Engineering and Public Works at 273-3500.
TDOT lists Blount road projects
The Tennessee Department of Transportation included one Blount County road project in its construction report for Oct. 12-18. Louisville Road bridge over CSX Railroad: Motorists should be alert for workers present and possible temporary lane closures through this bridge repair project. Motorists should use extreme caution through this area.
Blount County Schools adds five to Educator Hall of Fame
Blount County Schools celebrated its legacy Thursday by adding five new members to its Educator Hall of Fame. BCS Director David Murrell called them "legends" and said, "The stories of each of these educators are woven into our history and make us Blount County Strong." As in previous years, the new inductees' stories were sometimes interwoven with other members of the Hall of Fame. The presenters told of the honorees'...
Officers treated to mobile massage event
Law enforcement officers were treated to a mobile massage therapy event held Thursday, March 28 at the Blount County Justice Center. Alums of Blount Leadership’s Class of 2010 organized the event. Kelly Forster, Leadership Blount class of 2010, said after the recent tragedy of the shooting death of Officer McCowan, their class started to talk about ways they could give back to law enforcement officers in the community. ...
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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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