EVENSVILLE - The Eagle's have a guaranteed spot in the playoffs after the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association denied Howard's appeal to make the Rhea County-Howard no-contest a forfeit win for Howard. The game was originally scheduled for Sept. 13 at Howard, but a string of school threats across East Tennessee - including at Howard - caused the game to be cancelled. The two teams both had open dates on Oct. 18, but could not come to an agreement to play each other. ...

The Spring City Chamber of Commerce named The Big Apple Market its October Member of the Month. “Congratulations to our October Member of the Month, Big Apple Market,” chamber officials said. “The Big Apple Market has been serving our community for many years. It’s businesses like them that are a big staple for our community. We appreciate your service and generosity you offer our locals and travelers. Stop by at the Big Apple Market and get you a fresh sandwich, ice cream, and some fuel for your journey!” The Big Apple Market is located at 5186, 1543 Wassom Memorial Highway, Spring City, TN, 37381. They are open Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

SPRING CITY — Boater Tanner Hadden of Appling, Georgia, caught a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 47 pounds even to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional on Watts Bar Lake Presented by recteq . The tournament, which was hosted by the Rhea County Department of Tourism — Fish Spring City, concluded Saturday. For his win, Hadden earned a prize package valued at $65,805, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, $10,000 and the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus. ...

October 17 Joseph Eugene Godsey was charged with contempt of court. Robert T. Jones was charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant and possession of a handgun while under the influence of an intoxicant. Daniel Kerns was charged with failure to appear in court. ...

The Rhea County Coalition and the Hamilton County Coalition, in conjunction with local law enforcement and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services participated in National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 26, in both Dayton and Spring City. The event allows residents to dispose of unused, unwanted and expired prescription and over-the-county medications.

6th grade STAR HONOR ROLL Mia Alday, Elle Brown, Jackson Claspell, Jamieflorabel Couch, Autumn Ferrell, Anabel Harrison, Graham Hughes, Lauren Igou, Elias Johnston, Aylin Lopez Bautista, Adlee Macon, Levi Mayotte, Abigail Millan, Lillian Millan, Leighton Parson, Lily Port, Bryson Pugh, Abriel Sanchez, Linda Shelby, Ean Sherrill, Calvin Simmons, Sunshine Sneed, Averie Valentine, Madison Wolfe, Maggie Wood HONOR ROLL ...

DAYTON — Bryan College is excited to announce the launch of its new Faith & Business Scholarship, providing financial assistance to incoming MBA students starting in January 2025. This scholarship is designed to make higher education more accessible for aspiring business leaders who meet specific academic criteria. Eligible students will receive a $2,500 discount on the total tuition for the MBA program. The scholarship aims to support academically strong students, helping them pursue a graduate education while alleviating some of the financial burden. ...

Traffic was slowed on Rhea County Highway near Lowe’s on Wednesday afternoon after a two-vehicle wreck at the intersection. According to first responders at the scene, one motorist suffered minor injuries. One injured in Wednesday wreck

NASHVILLE — Tennessee’s unemployment rate increased slightly last month but is still nearly 1 full percentage point below the national rate, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.2 percent in September, up one-tenth of a percentage point over the previous month. The state saw a record-low rate of 3 percent in May, June, and July. When...

RHEA COUNTY — A Rhea County man is behind bars after the Rhea County Grand Jury handed down two counts of sexual battery of a young girl, according to officials with the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department. David Lee Willis is facing the charges and is currently incarcerated at the Rhea County Jail, according to Rhea County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Rocky Potter. On Friday, Potter said that the investigation into Willis...

This is the story of Malik Cooper, a young man whose smile will light up a whole room, a young man who is bound for great success despite an incredibly difficult start and a young man who was helped by one woman and her family who forever altered Malik’s path. This is also the story of one woman with boundless love who intervened in a way that is a reminder to all of us that we can make a difference and a positive impact and...

RHEA COUNTY — The Rhea County Commission voted 7-0 on Tuesday to help fund an upcoming BFL Regional Fishing Tournament at the Piney Boat Ramp in Spring City. Commissioners unanimously voted, with commissioners Billy Thedford and Sandy Francisco absent from the meeting, to allocate $7,500 from the county’s hotel/motel tax revenue to help fund the tournament. Hotel/motel tax revenue is earmarked for economic development, and commissioners said that the $7,500 allocated for the tournament serves as 50 percent of the host fees. ...

EVENSVILLE — A routine traffic stop for a broken tail light landed a Rhea County woman behind bars and facing numerous drug-related charges, including charges for methamphetamine, according to an arrest report on file at the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department. Rhea County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jonathon Scott said he was on routine patrol on Rhea County Highway in Evensville when he notice a truck towing a trailer with no working tail lights and “dragging a cable down the road that extended approximately four feet behind...

DAYTON — The October 2024 Dayton Chamber of Commerce Member of the Month is Oren Wooden’s Apple House. Oren Wooden’s Apple House planted their first apple trees around 1950. All these years later, they grow about 22 varieties of apples with over 30,000 trees. Their 75 employees help with the farm, bakery and restaurant. They also grow peaches, tomatoes, corn, peppers, cabbage, pumpkins, melons and other items. ...

DECATUR, Tenn. — At the October 2024 VEC Customers Share Board meeting, local organizations in Rhea County were awarded $2,000 in grants. Organizations receiving funds were Rhea County Eagles Anglers Fishing Club ($1,000), Rhea of Hope Pantry ($500) and Grandview Community Center ($500). VEC Customers Share was founded in October 2001 and has donated more than $8 million to various community service organizations across VEC’s 17-county service area. VEC Customers Share is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization. ...

RHEA COUNTY — Early voting for the Graysville municipal election and state and federal general election began Wednesday, and according to officials with the Rhea County Election Commission, 1,620 have cast their ballots during the early voting period. “We’ve had a solid turnout so far,” Rhea County Administrator of Elections Felicia Goodman said. “You see this a lot with presidential elections; they always have the bigger turnout. We hope to see a good turnout right up through Election Day.” ...

October 3Blake Allen Devine was charged with domestic assault. Taylor Lamar Everett was charged with violation of probation and evading arrest. Christopher Nathan Hood was charged with failure to appear in court. Rebecca Maria Ann Wilson was charged with failure to appear in court. ...

RHEA COUNTY — Early voting for the Graysville municipal election and state and federal general election is now underway at the historic Rhea County Courthouse in downtown Dayton. Early voting for the November election began today, Wednesday, Oct. 16, and runs to Oct. 31. Early voting will be available at the historic Rhea County Courthouse during that time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and...

EVESNVILLE — It was a busy fall break for the RCHS JROTC Raider Teams. They first traveled to Grainger High School on Oct. 5 to compete in an Ironman running clock competition against 10 schools and 14 teams in the Male and Co-ed categories. Rhea County took four teams, two male teams and two co-ed teams. Team 1 took first place in the Co-ed Division while Teams 2 and 4 took second and third in the Male Category. This past Saturday, Oct. 12, the Raiders...

Question: Dear Master Gardeners, can you tell me what I should be doing in my garden right now for Fall to prepare for Winter and next Spring? Answer: Sure, we have a list of things to do. First, lets look at your lawn. If you have lots of leaves then rake them off so the buildup won’t hurt the grass leaves and kill roots. If you have a small number of leaves then these can be mowed, which creates smaller pieces that will create nutrient for the soil. Now is the time to reseed, seed or sod bare areas of...