Sullivan County | featured news

BLOUNTVILLE — Twelve area teens recently experienced the thrill of aviation through orientation flights with the Civil Air Patrol.
The flights took place on Aug. 6 and 10 at Tri-Cities Airport with the cadets flying a combined 12 hours in Cessna 182s.
“It was awesome,” said Cadet Airman First Class Jacob Melvin. “I’ve always wanted to fly and today, for the first time, I got to handle the controls and see what flying is all about.”
The hourlong flights in a single-engine aircraft introduced the cadets to the science that makes flight possible.

JOHNSON CITY — Scouting Appalachian State is a little more difficult this year because of the uncertainties involved with facing a new coaching staff’s first game.
The Mountaineers have a new head coach in Eliah Drinkwitz and a new defensive coordinator in Ted Roof. Both came from North Carolina State after Scott Satterfield was lured away to Louisville after six seasons at Appalachian State in which he built a 51-24 record.
The Bucs have mostly been practicing against their own schemes while installing their offense and defense.

JOHNSON CITY — Most people retire to play golf and travel. Fred Warren has retired from golf and travel.
The legendary East Tennessee State golf coach is in the middle of his first summer of retirement, and so far the time off has suited Warren well.
“I think I was prepared for it because I was thinking about it for a while,” Warren said. “I appreciate having more free time. To coach full time requires a lot of time and energy.

Bridge, anyone? For several years now, a dedicated group of Kingsport women have hosted a unique fundraiser. The Kingsport Chapter V of the international P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) holds an annual Bridge Luncheon fundraiser to help raise funds for scholarships, grants and low-interest loans for women seeking to further their education. Not just any bridge game, this event helps to change women’s lives. Bridge players across the area can have a hand in helping to support this worthy cause at the upcoming fundraiser on Sept. 24.
This year, the two Kingsport P.E.O.

KINGSPORT - Patsy Charlene Gilley, 73, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday (August 23, 2019) following a brief illness surrounded by her loving family.
Charlene was born on October 15, 1945 in Big Stone Gap, VA to the late Charles Monroe & Clara Madeline (Hartsock) Kiser.
Charlene was the co-owner and operator of Tri-State Complete. She was a member of First Christian Church where she loved her Sunday School Class. She enjoyed being in her cabin in the mountains and was very devoted to her family, always putting them first.

KINGSPORT - William (Bill) Clevenger, 82, of Kingsport, went to be with the Lord on August 23, 2019 after a brief illness.
Born in Nashville, TN he resided in Kingsport most of his life. He was a graduate of Vanderbilt University and retired from Eastman Chemical Company in 1996 as a Chemical Engineer. He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Church Circle, Kingsport.
He is preceded in death by his parents, August Clevenger and Cory Wicks Clevenger.

JOHNSON CITY - Robert Franklin Davis, 85, of Johnson City, passed away on Friday, August 23, 2019, at Steadman Hill Assisted Living.
He was born in Anderson County Tennessee, a son of the late Frank and Mary Bearden Davis.
Robert served in the U.S. Army on the Military Police force and worked at Holston Defense. He was a big UT Vols fan and loved to ride his bike and spend time with his great granddaughters.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Davis, and brother, Roy Gene Davis.

FALL BRANCH - Mrs. Lawanda Light Dickerson, age 97, of Fall Branch, went to be with the Lord, Saturday, August 24, 2019, at her home.
Mrs. Dickerson was a lifelong native of Washington County and the daughter of the late William Barton & Myrtle Mae Light. She was the oldest of six children and was very close with all of her siblings. She attended Johnson City Business College after high school and she went on to work at Holston Defense, then Y-12 (in Oak Ridge), while her husband was in the Navy during WWII.

BLOUNTVILLE — A female inmate has died at the Sullivan County jail in Blountville.
Jenna Marie Sims, 32, was incarcerated for violation of probation. According to a statement from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, she died Saturday night.
As is protocol for inmate deaths, Sullivan County District Attorney General Barry Staubus has requested that the TBI investigate the incident. Autopsy results are pending.

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee cornerback Bryce Thompson was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic assault charge stemming from an argument with his girlfriend.
A woman told police the argument began Saturday night after she found another woman’s fake eyelashes in Thompson’s room. She said the argument began in Thompson’s dorm room, moved to a stairwell and continued for 10 to 20 minutes.
Thompson and the woman said they had been dating for four years.
Witnesses told police they heard Thompson threatening to slap a woman.