Sullivan County | featured news

CHURCH HILL — Two people were critically injured Tuesday afternoon when a four-door Dodge Stratus reportedly pulled out onto Highway 11-W into the path of an oncoming truck.
The crash occurred shortly before 1 p.m. at the busy Richmond Street intersection near First Community Bank and Pal’s.
The passenger of the Stratus was flown from the scene via helicopter rescue, and the driver was transported by Hawkins County EMS.
An eyewitness, Stacy Whitaker of Jefferson County, was at the intersection beside the Stratus when the accident occurred.

KINGSPORT - Jeffrey Bruce Morrison, 34, of Kingsport, passed away on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 after a decade-long struggle with facial nerve pain (atypical trigeminal neuralgia) and depression. 
Jeff grew up in Kingsport, and attended Dobyns-Bennett High School, where he was an exemplary student and   captain of the basketball team his senior year.  Jeff graduated with honors from Clemson University with a degree in biochemistry, and he then worked as a research assistant at the St.

Verlin “Bill” Ford, 85, went home with the Lord on August 22, 2019 in Johnson City, Tennessee after a short illness. 
He was born in Gray to Addie Price Ford and Stewart Ford. He was married to the love of his life and lifelong companion, Shirley Hall Ford for 66 years.
Mr.

July 12, 1938 – August 18, 2019
John D. Whiteside, 81, of Johnson City, Tennessee, peacefully passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2019. 
John was born in Sprigg, West Virginia on July 12, 1938.  He was the son of the late Reverend Clinton Thomas Hickman and Mable Alice Coleman.  His grandmother, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Whiteside was Irish and his grandfather, William Whiteside was Cherokee.

Editor’s note: Kingsport native Calvin Sneed’s 48-year broadcasting career began at WKPT AM-FM-TV, four months after WKPT-TV signed on the air in 1969. He was hired at the age of 15 to work part-time on-air shifts on the radio stations and to help out in the fledgling TV control room. Sneed is now retired from news anchoring at WTVC-TV, Chattanooga.
While getting ABC on the air in Kingsport had finally been accomplished, simultaneous work was continuing on converting the huge WKPT AM Studio A into a television studio.

ROGERSVILLE - Wanda Knox Jones, age 79, of Rogersville, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 22, 2019, in the comfort of her home.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Nancy Reeves Knox. 
Wanda was a member of Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church and spent 30 years as a dedicated employee of Dodge. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and loved by many.
Survivors include her loving husband of 60 years, J.R.

BLUFF CITY  — This summer Sullivan East High School senior John Martin Harbaugh got to see places and items he studied in Advanced Placement U.S. history his junior year first hand, from the nation’s capital to battlefields, from the blockades at historic Willliamsburg to the National Archives.
He also got to shake hands with late President George Washington, or at least a reasonable facsimile dressed in period clothing, and meet actor Robert Duval.

Eastside and Rye Cove are again the frontrunners in Cumberland District volleyball, but Thomas Walker made some noise last year and is expected to challenge again.
Here’s a look at the teams around the Cumberland District heading into the volleyball season.
EASTSIDE
Balance is the name of the game for the Lady Spartans after finishing 17-9 last season.
“I have 12 very athletic girls,” said Eastside coach Brianne Bailey said. “All 12 have talent. We just got to get out there and play.

KINGSPORT — Daniel Boone is committed to the run, and Sullivan South plans to lean on its offensive line.
It sounds like the front seven of each team’s defense will be tested for four quarters.
The Trailblazers and Rebels renew their close-community rivalry Friday night at 7:30 in the season opener for both teams at Matherly Stadium in Kingsport.
Also opening up is David Crockett, which plays host to Class 6A foe Ooltewah.
Trailblazers vs. Rebels
South head coach Justin Hilton said he knows what Boone is bringing.

Preston Patrick said he likes the idea of opening the football season against a county rival.
“It causes the kids to focus on preparation, and it’s non-conference so it doesn’t have the same pressure out of the gate,” said the Sullivan North coach.
Patrick’s Raiders will travel to Blountville on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against tSullivan Central’s Cougars in the season opener for both teams.