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While inspecting the facility beer board members (L-R) Raymond Jesse, Danny Alvis, and Jeff Barrett located three apparent security aids under the bar including a pipe, an aluminum baseball bat, and a wooden club, held by Alvis and engraved with the name “Bufford” — possibly named after famous Sheriff Bufford Pusser.
jbobo
Hawkins County Beer Board

Infamous Hawkins bar approved for beer permit under new management

While inspecting the facility beer board members Danny Alvis, Jeff Barrett and Raymond Jesse located three apparent security aids under the bar including a pipe, an aluminum baseball bat, and a wooden club engraved with the name “Bufford” — possibly named after famous Sheriff Bufford Pusser.

Dec 5, 2018 at 6:46 PM
The Tennessee Valley Authority donated 85 truckloads of large rock for the Laurel Run Park shoreline repair project, shown here Tuesday, which would have cost the county about $50,000 to purchase. But, the dry season has ended, the river level is now too high, and the ground near the bank is saturated and unsafe for heavy equipment. The county missed its weather window of opportunity to complete this project in 2018.
jbobo
laurel run park

Hawkins misses window of dry weather to begin Laurel Run Park shoreline repair

The park's 2,500-foot-long shoreline has eroded between six and 10 feet during the past eight years. Trees that were once 5-10 feet inland have either been washed away or are teetering on the bank of the Holston River, and the walking trail is only 3-5 feet from the bank in some places.

Dec 5, 2018 at 9:00 AM
Surgoinsville resident Teresa Greer, standing, explains to the Hawkins County Commission's Environmental Committee why she and other concerned citizens want the commission to adopt a Jackson Law resolution. Seated in the front row are Republic Services environmental manger Derek Bouchard, left, and operations manager Scott McConnelee, right.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Adoption of 'Jackson Law' in Hawkins wouldn't stop expansion at Carters Valley Landfill

County Attorney Jim Phillips told commissioners Monday that the Hawkins County Commission's contract signed with BFI in 2001 prohibits the county from imposing any restriction or regulations on the landfill operation beyond what is required by federal law.

Dec 4, 2018 at 9:15 AM
The wheel tax exemption resolution was introduced by Commissioner Syble Vaughan-Trent, shown here reading the resolution during Monday's County Commission meeting, affects disabled property owners 65 and older who are actively on the state's Tax Relief Program.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Exemption of $40 wheel tax for disabled seniors referred to Hawkins Budget Committee

The proposed wheel tax exemption would be a revenue decrease of $48,800 from wheel tax collections. Commissioner Valerie Goins expressed concern about cutting revenue from the 2018-19 budget which is already using about $95,000 in savings to balance.

Nov 29, 2018 at 10:15 AM
The Holston Valley Medical Center emergency room where its Level 1 Trauma Center is currently located.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Hawkins schedules Dec. 17 public hearing on Ballad trauma center downgrades

Hawkins County commissioners won't consider a resolution opposing Ballad Health's plan to downgrade Kingsport's Trauma Center until the public voices its opinion on the subject in the presence of Ballad officials next month.

Nov 27, 2018 at 5:30 PM
John Metz left was elected chairman of the Hawkins County Budget Committee this past weekend while Valerie Goins, center, was elected secretary and Charlie Thacker, right, was elected vice chairman.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Resolution would provide health insurance to family of Hawkins first responders who die on the job

Commissioner Jeff Barrett introduced the resolution which would give the wife and children of full time county employees who are also first responders (police, fire and rescue) health insurance for two years if the first responder is killed in the line of duty.

Nov 25, 2018 at 8:00 PM
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Hawkins officials concerned about patient transport times after Kingsport trauma center downgrade

"If we put all our time and resources into getting them to change plans they've already set in stone ... I don't want to look back and say we've had 8-10 months and we're not prepared for the transport of patients (to Johnson City).” — Commissioner John Metz

Nov 23, 2018 at 8:30 AM
The Hawkins County Commission's new Budget Committee met for the first time Monday since the newly elected commissioners and mayor took office Sept. 1. (L-R) John Metz was named chairman, Valerie Goins was named secretary, Charlie Thacker was named vice chairman, Raymond Jessee, Mike Herrell, Keith Gibson, and Rick Brewer
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Budget Committee members express concerns about new proposed wheel tax exemption

County Clerk Nancy Davis said that based on the 1,220 Hawkins County residents in this year's tax relief program, assuming each of those people has a vehicle to tag, would amount to $48,800 in lost revenue.

Nov 19, 2018 at 9:30 PM
The Hawkins County Commission voted 11-9 with one abstention Monday to begin its eight night meetings every year at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Hawkins commission approves earlier meeting start time despite heavy dissent

"A lot of people from the upper (eastern) end of the county work in Kingsport. I feel like, for the taxpayers, it would be hard for some of them to come to the meetings when the meeting start at 6 p.m. due to travel time and getting off work." — Commissioner Jeff Barrett

Oct 25, 2018 at 1:43 PM
District 4 Hawkins County Commissioner Hannah Speaks expressed her displeasure with Mayor Jim Lee's committee appointments Monday. Neither District 2 Commissioner Jeff Barrett, nor Speaks, shown here during Monday's commission meeting, were appointed to any of the nine main committees. Last month Speaks nominated Barrett to serve as chairman of the county commission, but Barrett was defeated following two close votes.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Hawkins committee appointments approved despite objections

Neither District 2 Commissioner Jeff Barrett nor District 4 Commissioner Hannah Speaks were appointed to any of the nine main committees. Last month, Speaks nominated Barrett to serve as chairman of the County Commission, but Barrett was defeated following two close votes.

Oct 23, 2018 at 5:30 PM
Hawkins County Mayor Jim Lee at the Spet. 24 County Commission meeting.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Hawkins mayor's committee appointments up for vote at Oct. 22 commission meeting

Hawkins County Mayor Jim Lee's county commission committee appointments were released Wednesday with the Oct. 22 commission meeting agenda, with one commissioner from each of the seven districts represented on nearly every committee.

Oct 10, 2018 at 9:00 PM
Newly appointed Hawkins County Commission chairman Mike Herrell and chairman pro tem John Metz.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Unified? Two votes needed to appoint Hawkins commission chairman

Prior to approving its chairman, however, the Hawkins County Commission voted 15-6 to place the power of appointing committees back in the hands of the county mayor, and not the chairman.

Sep 26, 2018 at 2:14 PM
Hawkins County Commissioners Mike Herrell, left, and Jeff Barrett, right, are both seeking the chairmanship of the Hawkins County Commission, which will be voted on by the commission at its Sept. 24 meeting.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Herrell, Barrett seeking chairmanship of Hawkins County commission

There’s more at stake than who gets to bang the gavel. The chairman, who until now has always been the county mayor, also gets to make appointments to all of the commission’s committees including the all important Budget Committee. 

Sep 19, 2018 at 8:46 AM
Hawkins County Mayor Jim Lee
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

New Hawkins Mayor Lee forgoes chairmanship of county commission

In light of Mayor Jim Lee's decision to forgo the chairmanship, newly elected Commissioner Mark DeWitte has submitted a resolution for the Sept. 27 Commission meeting nominating Commissioner Mike Herrell to serve as chairman of the commission.

Sep 12, 2018 at 6:00 PM
From left, Tennessee state Rep. Gary Hicks, state Sen. Frank Niceley, Mike Faulk's widow Holly and state Sen. Art Swann unveil a sign dedicating a section of Highway 11W in his honor.
hhayes
Judge Mike Faulk

Mike Faulk got a birthday present

On what would have been his 65th birthday, friends and state lawmakers dedicated a section of Highway 11-W in Hawkins County on Monday as the Judge Michael A. Faulk Memorial Highway. The segment honoring Faulk begins at the intersection of Netherland Inn Road and ends where the road crosses Goshen Valley Road.

Sep 10, 2018 at 6:00 PM
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