Area News
Locals 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…
Read MoreNational Park Conservation Group Steps into Landfill Fight
National Park Conservation Group Steps into Landfill Fight By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] Last Thursday, in between SMEC meetings on landfill litigation, representatives from the National Park Conservation Association (NPCA) met with a select group of concerned citizens across Scott and McCreary Counties over the proposed Roberta II landfill. Those meetings included members…
Read MoreFormer County Detective Indicted
Former County Detective Indicted By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] A former detective with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office was recently indicted following a TBI investigation into a suspicious vehicle fire that authorities say was set as part of an insurance fraud scheme. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, special agent fire investigators…
Read More“Where is Scott County?”
“Where is Scott County?” By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] “Where is Scott County?” That was the deafening question that echoed in a Davidson County Chancery Court, when Rock Properties and its proprietors Ralph and Michelle Trieschmann appeared before Chancellor I’Ashea Myles last Tuesday. The cry came from attorneys for Commissioner David Salyers and…
Read MoreCommissioner speaks out
Commissioner speaks out By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] The Scott-McCreary Environmental Coalition (SMEC) meeting last week was dominated largely by landfill updates after HB2202 failed to get out of committee in Nashville two weeks ago. “Legislation has stalled,” Oneida Mayor Lori Phillips-Jones, who chairs SMEC, told attendees. “We are grateful for everyone who…
Read MoreA Danger to Our Survival
A Danger to Our Survival By Shane Gilreath SCN Contributing Editor [email protected] At last Thursday’s meeting of the McCreary County Fiscal Court, attorney and investigative journalist Darlene Price delivered a passionate appeal to keep officials and residents both aware and active in opposing the Roberta II landfill. Price framed her remarks with a deep appreciation…
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