Area News

A County in Prayer In Scott County, faith has long served as a unifying force during moments of uncertainty, grief, and crisis. Early last week, the community played witness to two widely attended prayer services demonstrating the community’s deep reliance on prayer for strength and clarity. On Monday, 150 citizens and multiple clergymen from several…

Local Leader Passes Unexpectedly By Shane Gilreath [email protected] Hal Leftwich, respected CEO of Big South Fork Medical Center in Oneida, passed away unexpectedly last week, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, compassion, and dedication to community healthcare. His work over the last seven years served to transform the hospital into a place of healing and…

McCreary Investigation highlights Tennessee, National Problem By Shane Gilreath [email protected] From the outside looking in, McCreary County has had a rough few weeks. With recent occurrences of a grisly Stearns murder, a former principal in federal prison, and a state police investigation into an alleged school hazing, when allegations broke of illegal activity at two…

Environmental Degradation: Part I Is the “Rape of Appalachia” still pertinent? By Shane Gilreath [email protected] The Appalachian region is often celebrated for its serene beauty and deep cultural resilience,  but it has equally been historically viewed as a sacrificial zone – a red-headed stepchild, to use a regional colloquialism – for industries long connected with environmental…

Winfield names Director of Safety and Health By Shane Gilreath [email protected] During the September meeting of the Winfield Mayor and Aldermen, the board took the final step to adopt an ordinance to amend the Occupational Safety and Health Program (OSH) plan and to provide the town with a director to oversee and implement the objective.…

Oneida introduces new ordinance after Recovery Ridge By Shane Gilreath [email protected] “My desire is to help the community,” Amy Montgomery told SCN last week. That has been her objective since news broke that she was opening Recovery Ridge Sober Living on Vine Avenue in Oneida. The backlash against the facility has been swift and widespread,…