Whitney Steadman's kindergarten class at Johnson Elementary School recently posed in front of the "castle" playground, which was built in 1992 and will be demolished over holiday break to make way for a new community-built playground in March.

Time for selfie shots and photos at Johnson's 'Castle' playground

The old wooden playground at Johnson Elementary School will be torn down during the Christmas break, and folks who have used it are encouraged to take photos before it is replaced.

Yesterday at 6:00 PM

The Sullivan South High School Marching Rebel band represented the city of Kingsport in the 2018 Nashville Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 1.

St. Clair Elementary School Principal Mary Ann Davis recently received a $500 Tennessee Farm Bureau Outdoor Classroom grant from the Agriculture in the Classroom project. The check was presented by Hawkins County Farm Bureau officials. Pictured (from left) are: Brett Sivert, Mary Ann Davis, Bennie Davis, Matthew Ball, Jim Wells (president of the Hawkins County Farm Bureau), presenting the check, Judy Bowery (Farm Bureau's women's chairman), Elizabeth Price, Karlene Ely, Joe Couch and Bill Jenkins (members of the board of directors).

The Overmountain Chapter Trout Unlimited, a local conservation group, received two major awards at this year’s National Meeting of Trout Unlimited. Long-time chapter member, Gary Barrigar, was recognized by the national organization with the Distinguished Service in Conservation award. The Overmountain Chapter also received good news about the Embrace-A-Stream grant they requested for 2019/2020.

Claire Melton, a senior at John Battle, is the 2019 Distinguished Young Woman of Southwest Virginia. She earned a total of $1,400 in scholarships at the showcase held Nov. 17. Melton, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Melton, will move on to participate in the Distinguished Young Women of Virginia state finals program in February.

Sunday Stories

Times News Scrapbook Gallery: Week of Dec. 9

Our Scrapbook Gallery features your photos highlighting 'scrapbook' moments in your lives here in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Some of the photos also appear in print in our Sunday Stories section. To share your favorite scrapbook

Yesterday at 10:30 AM

Blountviille Middle School, one of three schools Sullivan County school officials may close in May. Closing it would save an estimated $654,500, and all three combined would save almost $1.4 million.

Blountville Middle School

Teacher: Option to close Blountville Middle a 'gut punch'

A veteran Sullivan County educator said her school’s teachers and other employees received a “gut punch” two weeks ago this Friday. That morning, they learned through a newspaper article that their school could close two years earlier than expected.

Dec 12, 2018 at 5:45 PM

L-R: Washington County, Tenn. Mayor Joe Grandy and Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable sign copies of a joint resolution approved during a historic first in October as the Sullivan County Commission and Washington County Commission held a joint meeting at Tri-Cities Airport. By voice votes, each commission approved the resolution to declare October 18 "Regional Cooperation Day."

Regionalism

Grandy and Venable continue push for regional cooperation

BLOUNTVILLE — Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable and Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy have appointed the “Blue Ribbon Committee on Regional Cooperation” to consider potential regional economic development strategies. “We must do all we can to position our region to compete and succeed in the highly technological future,” Venable said.

Dec 12, 2018 at 8:14 AM

Dobyns-Bennett High School

Wintry weather leads to postponement of Kingsport City Schools events

The Board of Education meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, Dec. 18, while the Dobyns-Bennett High School bands and orchestra concert was moved to Thursday, Dec. 13.

Updated Dec 11, 2018 at 9:00 PM

Of One Accord Ministry

Hawkins TCAT students pack 720 Christmas food boxes for Of One Accord ministry

It's not too late to sign up for a Christmas food box. Hawkins County residents can call Of One Accord at (423) 921-8044 to find out if they meet financial requirements.

Dec 9, 2018 at 8:30 PM

Regional Science and Technology Center

Officials tour Regional Science and Technology Center construction site

Superintendent Jeff Moorhouse said the timeline for construction completion is still for late May/early June, setting the stage for D-B to occupy the space in August of 2019 for to begin the 2019-20 school year.

Dec 9, 2018 at 12:00 PM

Daymian Westergard, right, and 2017-18 Roosevelt Elementary first grade classmate Kialee Britt read in early 2018. School counselor Alice Browder said Daymian grew to enjoy reading during the a summer Read to be Ready Camp. It will be at Lincoln Elementary this year.

Read to be Ready

Local schools among Read to be Ready grant winners

Tennessee Department of Education awarded $8.9 Million for 218 summer of 2019 programs to serve 8,910 students statewide.

Dec 7, 2018 at 1:55 PM

The Boy Scouts will be selling hand made Charlie Brown style Christmas Trees with one lone ornament, and will also be gift wrapping.

Rogersville Scouts

Rogersville American Legion hosts Christmas craft market fundraiser for local Scouts

Winter weather may paralyze the region Saturday night, but hopefully that won't impact Christmas events scheduled Saturday in Hawkins County including two parades and a Christmas market at the Rogersville American Legion.

Dec 6, 2018 at 7:30 PM

Money

Dental premium increase may prompt actuary study for Sullivan schools

The Board of Education voted 7-0 to increase retiree dental insurance premiums by $1 a month for individuals, $6 a month for two people and $25 a month for a family, the first increase since 2006. The rate hike was recommended by Blue Cross Blue Shield, which administers the system’s self-funded dental plan.

Dec 6, 2018 at 1:41 PM

Second annual LEGO robotics events headed to orbit, moon

KINGSPORT — The largest LEGO robotics competition in Tennessee is coming to the Model City on Saturday, when K-8 students will gather their crews for a space-themed clash at Sevier Middle School.

Dec 6, 2018 at 11:00 AM

Tennessee Report Card 2017-18

New Tennessee Report Card reveals local school systems' strengths and weaknesses

Four local systems, Sullivan County, Kingsport, Hawkins County and Rogersville, each had areas in which they excelled and areas that need improvement.

Dec 5, 2018 at 9:30 PM

Innovation Academy, a grades 6-8 school inside Holston Middle School, could be closed at an estimated annual savings of $294,000, one of three proposals that would save almost $1.4 million.

Sullivan County school closing options

Parents ask Sullivan BOE to spare Innovation Academy

BLOUNTVILLE — Students, parents and teachers of Innovation Academy of Northeast Tennessee spoke out against an option to close the STEM school at the end of this academic year as a cost-saving measure.

Dec 5, 2018 at 11:30 AM

Blountville Historic District

Tuesday Trivia: Historic site getting new life in Blountville

The public is invited to a ribbon-cutting at the "Old Sheriff's Home" in the Blountville Historic District. The event will include the unveiling of a new sign reflecting the building's soon-to-be new role as the "Heritage Tourism Information Center at Blountville."

Dec 4, 2018 at 3:00 PM

Sullivan County bus driver cited in crash

BLOUNTVILLE — A woman had to be extricated from her car following a Tuesday morning crash outside Sullivan Central High School, where a school bus driver allegedly pulled into her path to spur the collision.

Dec 4, 2018 at 11:59 AM