Breaking News

Tragedy Comes from Hwy 27 Crash By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] A tragic two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 27 in the Strunk community of McCreary County left devastation in its wake on February 13, 2026. According to the McCreary County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the scene along with McCreary County…

A Merry Ol’ Time at Shakespeare in Love By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] REVIEW – You may read my writings every week in SCN, but I’m certainly no William Shakespeare. The Plateau Players’ Shaun Hinds can’t quite make that claim. For the past two weeks, Hinds has worn the Elizabethan doublet and the…

Fatal Fungus Found in County By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] Concerns over white-nose syndrome have resurfaced in East Tennessee following confirmation that the fungus responsible for the disease has spread to another county. Biologists conducting winter bat surveys at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area recently identified the fungus in Scott…

Man Indicted on 13 Counts of Child Rape By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] A Roane County man has been indicted on 13 felony charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of a child, according to District Attorney General Russell Johnson. A grand jury returned an indictment charging 46-year-old Shaun Leif Hall with six…

Inmate Dies Following Fight at USP McCreary By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] An inmate died last Monday following an altercation at the United States Penitentiary McCreary, located in Pine Knot, Kentucky. The Federal Bureau of Prisons reported that the incident occurred at approximately 11:30AM on February 16, 2026, when prison staff responded to…

First Lawsuit Filed Against Roberta II Cumberland Clear says more to come ‘in near future” By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] Community reaction continues to intensify over the proposed Roberta II landfill project in North Scott County, with the undertaking being openly discussed in the McCreary County Fiscal Court meeting just last Thursday. That…

Shockley Enters County Mayor’s Race By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] The race for Scott County Mayor gained a new contender this week as Jennifer Shockley officially announced her candidacy. Shockley, who currently serves as President of Cumberland Clear, first became widely known to many residents during the aftermath of the Roberta II controversy.…

Rooted in the Past The Arts, Identity, and the Renewal of Scott County By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] Southern Appalachia has always been rich in the arts, shaped by generations of talented craftsmen and storytellers who have shared their works with visitors and neighbors alike, even before realizing its ultimate value. Like cities…

Water Doesn’t Stop at a Border McCreary County Votes Yes to stay in SMEC Coalition By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] The McCreary County Fiscal Court voted unanimously last Thursday to continue funding the Scott-McCreary Environmental Coalition (SMEC), reaffirming the county’s commitment to the multi-jurisdictional effort, despite rumors that some magistrates had reservations ahead…