Area News
BSFNRRA Welcome New United States Citizens
BSFNRRA Welcome New United States Citizens By Jason Duncan SCN Reporter/Sales Rep. [email protected] On Thursday, April 23rd, the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, along with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services hosted a naturalization ceremony. The ceremony, which was open to the public, began at 11 a.m. at Bandy Creek Visitor Center,…
Read MoreEarly Voting Takes Off
Early Voting Takes Off By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] Early voting for Tennessee’s May 5th state and county primary elections began on Wednesday, April 15th and will continue through April 30th, giving voters an opportunity to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day. Early voting is a process that allows registered voters to…
Read MoreDouble Blow for Roberta II
Double Blow for Roberta II TDEC Denies ARAP, Reclassifies Landfill as Major Modification By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] Despite what felt like legal gains in a Nashville courtroom, as lawyers for Roberta II and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) clouded legal definitions and fought to authenticate a 2010 letter by…
Read MoreSMEC Rears its Head
SMEC Rears its Head By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] Lisa Helton, the lawyer for the Scott-McCreary Environmental Coalition (SMEC), sat in a Chancery Court in Nashville last Friday. She was there, she told SCN, to represent the 5-member coalition and to support the suit filed by Rock Properties. It was a powerful sign,…
Read MoreBeaty Letter Looms Ominously Over Landfill Case
Beaty Letter Looms Ominously Over Landfill Case By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] When John Beaty was elected County Attorney in 2002, few would have predicted he would become a controversial figure more than two decades later. After all, he’s generally well thought of in the community, even now, but a letter Beaty…
Read MoreLocals Suspect Funny Business in McCreary Forest Fire
Locals Suspect Funny Business in McCreary Forest Fire By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] Fire crews from across the country have converged on McCreary County in an ongoing effort to contain a significant wildfire burning near Yahoo Falls, a popular tourist destination within the Daniel Boone National Forest. According to officials with the Big…
Read MoreHagerty Introduces “Freedom to Build Act” to Make Housing Affordable Again
Hagerty Introduces “Freedom to Build Act” to Make Housing Affordable Again WASHINGTON— United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, has introduced the Freedom to Build Act to incentivize deregulation, expand housing supply, and make new homes more affordable. The 2026 Economic Report of the President finds that a “bureaucrat…
Read MoreWeek 12 Legislative Update: Budget priorities, innovation, and protecting Tennessee’s future
Week 12 Legislative Update: Budget priorities, innovation, and protecting Tennessee’s future By State Senator Ken Yager As the Tennessee General Assembly nears adjournment, the pace of work in Nashville has reached its peak. Senate committees have now closed for the session, with the exception of Finance, Ways and Means, which is tasked with finalizing the…
Read MoreMinor Killed in Shooting
Minor Killed in Shooting By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] Scott County is grappling with yet another gun tragedy after a shooting in the Byrge’s Creek area claimed the life of a minor on Sunday. According to the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the scene, where the child was pronounced dead. Few…
Read MoreBlakley’s Life One of Service
Blakley’s Life One of Service By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] The life of Arvis Blakley left an impact on many. Blakley, who passed away on April 11, 2026, at the age of 96, lived a life that was defined by service, humility, and an unwavering belief in the power of education to uplift…
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