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5-star OT Ty Haywood commits to Alabama
Alabama landed a commitment from a five-star 2025 prospect for the second straight day Sunday, with offensive tackle Ty Haywood set to play for the Crimson Tide. His commitment follows that of Caleb Cunningham, the No. 2 wide receiver in the class, per the 247Sports composite. From Choctaw County High School in Ackerman, Miss., Cunningham committed Saturday. Haywood is listed by the composite as the No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 11 overall player in 2025. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Haywood plays at Ryan High School in Denton, Texas. He made an official visit to Alabama on May 31, and followed with visits to Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Florida State. Alabama hasn't missed a step in recruiting in the transition from retired head coach Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer. The Tide are up to four five-star commits and their class is ranked No. 2 in the nation, closing the gap in recent days with No. 1 Ohio State. --Field Level Media
NCAA Football: Alabama at Mississippi State
Sep 30, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide cheerleaders cheer during the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Former NFL WR Jacoby Jones dies at 40
Former NFL wide receiver and special teams player Jacoby Jones has died, three days after his 40th birthday. No cause of death has been revealed. His passing was confirmed by the Beaumont Renegades, which hired Jones as head coach and offensive coordinator for the indoor football team that is to begin play in 2025. The NFL Players Association said Jones' family reported that he "passed away peacefully at his home in New Orleans." "The family, including his mother, Emily and his son, little Jacoby, are together and are asking for your prayers, privacy, and support as they navigate through this...
Trump says he is fine after being whisked off stage following apparent gunfire at rally
BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — Donald Trump's campaign said in a statement that he was "fine" after being whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd. "President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act," spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. "He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow." ...
White Pine couple open new antique shop
Owners Beverly and Aaron McGinnis are putting the finishing touches on their new store, Possum Creek Antiques and Primitives in White Pine. Located at 3203 Oak Street, the store celebrates its grand opening on Saturday, July 13 at 9 a.m. Refreshments will be served at the grand opening and door prizes given away. While the couple’s previous store on State Street in White Pine included vendors, this location does not...
City discusses Partnership agreement, makes board appointments
NEWPORT — The appointment of an alderman and an alderwoman to the Cocke County Partnership (CCP) board led to a discussion about the agreement with the CCP and the board makeup during the regular meeting of the Newport Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Tuesday evening. Mayor Roland A. “Trey” Dykes, III, appointed Alderman Mike Hansel and Alderwoman Louanna Ottinger to the board. One of them has the authority to appoint a local business person to the board as well. ...
Mathis to serve as convention delegate for Trump
Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis will be heading to the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to serve as a delegate during the nomination of former President Donald Trump as the Republican candidate for president. Mathis said he was contacted by the Trump campaign on Feb. 21 about running for a delegate position. They have three delegates and three alternates. Six people were approved by the Trump campaign to run for the delegate positions, but only five submitted qualifying petitions. Vote count determines who...
Cigarette, erratic driving lead to woman's arrest on drug charges
A car being driven erratically on Cosby Highway caught the attention of a patrolling Cocke County Sheriff Deputy and ended with the driver being arrested on drug charges. The driver may also wish to seriously consider giving up cigarettes. According to an incident report filed by Deputy Alex Reese, while on patrol he spotted a 2003 Honda Accord failing to maintain its lane of travel July 10 on Cosby Highway....
Motorcyclist arrested following pursuit, Taser deployment
A vehicle failing to stop for a stop sign led to a pursuit, Taser deployment, a few broken bones and an arrest on multiple charges Wednesday in Newport. According to a report filed by Newport Police Department Officer Eli Suggs, he was patrolling the area of Food City West in Newport on July 10 when he observed a motorcycle, driven by Luke Gibson, 31, fail to stop at the stop sign at Kirk Street. Suggs had previously ID’d Gibson while Gibson was parked at Food...
AAA: TN gas prices rise 6 cents
Gas prices across the state rose six cents, on average, ahead of Independence Day last week, before holding steady over the weekend. According to AAA, the Tennessee gas price average is now $3.16, which is 12 cents more expensive than one month ago and five cents more than one year ago. The average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline in Cocke County also increased according to AAA, going from $3.06 per gallon last week to a current average of $3.11 per gallon. ...
Pac-12 bowl game agreements to remain through 2025
Former members of the dissolved Pac-12 now playing in the Big 12 will keep their previous bowl game affiliations for the 2024 and 2025 college football seasons, organizers announced Friday. As an example, the Valero Alamo Bowl previously pitted Big 12 teams against Pac-12 squads. Now, all 12 teams formerly in the Pac-12 will be eligible for consideration to play in the Alamo Bowl. Washington State and Oregon State, as remaining members of the Pac-12 who will play a conference schedule affiliated with the Mountain West, will also be eligible for the Alamo Bowl. "We are thrilled to ensure Oregon...
NCAA Football: Washington State at California
Nov 11, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Jake Dickert stands on the field during the second quarter against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Early voting underway
The early voting period has started for the August state primary and Cocke County general election at Western Plaza in Newport. Early voting runs through July 27. The turnout Friday was light but steady on the first morning of early voting but that is likely to pick up during the early voting period if the most recent early voting period is an indicator. During the last round of early voting...
Ramsey out to start season for CCHS football
Over the past few years, Donovan Ramsey has made himself an invaluable piece of the Cocke County roster. Offense, defense — the Fighting Cocks have used him in both areas, with Ramsey even coming in as a possible starter at quarterback entering this season. But Ramsey’s impact on both sides will be missed for at least a good portion of this season, as he went down with an Achilles injury...
Cervellon becomes first to reach All-State status for CCHS soccer
NEWPORT — Against Sullivan East, Jefferson Cervellon accepted a pass near the goal. With a defender practically glued to his left side, he took a couple quick steps and fired a shot into the back of the net. That quick reaction summarized Cervellon’s timing and skillset, as those two aspects combined to earn him All-State honors from the Tennessee Sports Writers’ Association for the 2024 season. ...
Cole adds Knight, France to Cosby softball staff
COSBY — Kaylan Cole is self-aware enough to know that she can be a lot to handle. She summarized it as such during a recent interview, encapsulating her competitive, aggressive on-field approach with those same three words: “I’m a lot.” With that in mind, Cole came into her new role as the Cosby softball coach with a clear goal — to find the “ice,” or the contrast, to the fire...
Big Red Basketball Camp set for next week
NEWPORT — Next week, kids across Cocke County will have the opportunity to learn from Casey Ragan, Boddie Bible and their players, as the CCHS basketball programs host the Big Red Basketball Camp from July 17-18. This will be the second year hosting for second-year Lady Red coach Boddie Bible, and it will be the fourth consecutive camp for Fighting Cocks coach Casey Ragan, who said the camp did not happen his first year during the Covid-19 pandemic. ...
Indianapolis to host NIT, D2, D3 title games, Final Four in '26
Indianapolis, the capital of a basketball-crazed state, will become the center of the college hoops world in the spring of 2026. Already chosen to host the 2026 Final Four, Indianapolis will also be the site of the NIT semifinals and finals and the Division II and Division III national championship games that year, the NCAA said Thursday. Hinkle Fieldhouse, Butler's home arena, will host the NIT semifinals, while the finals will be played in another venue yet to be announced. Long a staple of Madison Square Garden in New York, the NIT semifinals and finals moved to Las Vegas in...
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