WTFM NEWS HEADLINES

Sep 29, 2009

ETSU STUDENT ACCUSED IN HARASSMENT CASE

An East Tennessee state university student accused of harassing one of her professors is behind bars. Shanda Sampson of Mount Carmel is charged with filing a false police report and harassment. She’s accused of writing a fake news report describing her killing and has admitted to writing the letter. She’s expected to appear in court soon.

WASHINGTON COUNTY TENNESSEE BUDGET

Washington County Tennessee commissioners have approved a 121 million dollar 2009-2010 fiscal year budget. In that spending plan, there will be no tax increases for residents. The property tax rate remains $1.91 per $100 of assessed value.

POLICE CONTINUE SEARCH FOR ACCUSED BANDIT

Bristol Tennessee police are continuing to search for a woman who attempted to rob a convenience store. Police said the bandit entered the roadrunner market on West State Street Friday, brandished a box cutter, and demanded money from the clerk. She’s described as a white female between 40 and 50 years old wearing a purple hoodie sweatshirt.

REMOVATIONS TO BCMA TO START SOON

Renovations to the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance’s heritage center project could begin as early as this year. It has taken five years and 10 million dollars for the non-profit alliance to establish a center in the vacant Cumberland Street building to celebrate the region’s musical heritage. Alliance leaders plan to meet tonight to discuss the project’s schedule. Hopes are for the center to be opened by August 2011.

SCOTT COUNTY RECIEVES GRANT

Scott County Virginia is receiving a grant for a feasibility study to possibly establish a data center in the county. 9th District Congressman Rick Boucher said the 80-thousand dollars will allow the Scott County economic development authority to look into converting a former limestone mine into an underground secure data center. The study will examine the stability of the mine which is between Duffield and natural tunnel. According to Boucher, a data center would bring high paying jobs to the area.

KINGSPORT AND SULLIVAN COUNTY LIBRARY MEETING SET

Kingsport and Sullivan County school system leaders will hold a joint meeting tonight. Sullivan county board of education chairman Ron Smith said the purpose of the collaboration is to establish open communications between the two boards as they work together to determine the best way to meet the needs of students. The meeting gets underway at 7pm in the Northeast State University community college library.

MORE JOBS BEING CUT IN JOHNSON CITY

More jobs are coming to a screeching halt next year in Johnson City. Bosch brake corporation has announced plans to close its manufacturing plant on twin oaks drive sometime next year, leaving approximately 140 workers jobless. Company spokeswoman Becky Macdonald said the closure is the result of restructuring brought on by a sharp decline in production volumes, highly competitive markets, and unsatisfactory earnings of the automotive brake business.

HAWKINS COUNTY COMPANY TO ADD MORE JOBS

A Hawkins County company has announced plans to expand and add as many as 100 new jobs. Contour industries in the Phipps Bend Industrial park has said it will build a new 57-thousand square foot facility for manufacturing glass products. Construction is expected to begin in January and be open by the middle of next year.

HAWKINS COUNTY RESIDENTS TO PAY MORE IN TAXES

Hawkins County residents will have to dig deeper into their pockets to pay their property taxes. County commissioners voted last night to up the current tax rate by 9 cents. The extra money will pay for 20 additional employees needed to run the new jail and justice center in Rogersville.