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SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING PERSON

SEARCH EFFORTS CONTINUE ON THE HOLSTON RIVER TO FIND A PERSON MISSING SINCE FEBRUARY. u00a0ITu2019S BELIEVED THE PERSON ENTERED THE NORTH FORK OF THE HOLSTON RIVER FEBRUARY 18 NEAR WEBER CITY VIRGINIA.u00a0 SEVERAL AGENCIES TODAY WILL SEARCH FROM THE NETHERLAND INN BRIDGE IN KINGSPORT TO THE JOHN SEVIER STEAM PLANT IN ROGERSVILLE.u00a0 THE KINGSPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ASKING RESIDENTS ALONG THE RIVER IN SULLIVAN AND HAWKINS COUNTIES TO BE AWARE OF THE SEARCH EFFORT TODAY, WHICH WILL USE BOATS, K-9, DRONES AND SHORELINE SEARCHES.

THIRD-GRADE RETENTION LAWu2014CHANGES

LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CHANGE TENNESSEEu2019S u201cTHIRD GRADE RETENTIONu201d LAW IS ADVANCING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.u00a0 THE BILL WOULD CREATE MORE CHANCES FOR THIRD-GRADERS WHO ARE CLOSE, BUT NOT QUITE THERE ON READING PROFICIENCYu2014ON A STATE TEST, WHICH IS GIVEN NEXT MONTH.u00a0 u00a0UNDER THE CURRENT LAW, THOSE WHO FALL SHORT CAN RETEST, AND SCORE BETTER OR ENROLL IN A SUMMER LEARNING CAMP OR TUTORING PROGRAM.

SULLIVAN SHERIFFu2014RECRUITING EVENT

THE SULLIVAN COUNTY SHERIFFu2019S OFFICE WILL HOLD A RECRUITING EVENT TODAY.u00a0 ITu2019LL RUN FROM 2 UNTIL 4 AT 140 BLOUNTVILLE BY-PASS AND PERSONNEL WILL BE ON HAND TO SHARE DETAILS ABOUT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE VARIOUS DIVISIONS OF THE AGENCY.u00a0 APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER PURSUIT

A WASHINGTON COUNTY MAN FACES CHARGES AFTER HE FLED A TRAFFIC STOP.u00a0 SHERIFFu2019S DEPUTIES TRIED TO STOP A VAN ON HIGHWAY 36 NEAR ED MARTIN ROAD.u00a0 THE DRIVER FLED AND LED OFFICERS ON A SHORT PURSUIT THAT ENDED ON BOONE DRIVE.u00a0 52-YEAR-OLD RICHARD NORRIS THEN RAN, BUT WAS ARRESTED AFTER DEPUTIES FOUND HIM HIDING IN SOME SHRUBBERY.u00a0 u00a0NORRIS IS CHARGED WITH SEVERAL COUNTS AND WILL BE ARRAIGNED TODAY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY SESSIONS COURT.

KINGSPORTu2014STATE SHARED MONEY

THE KINGSPORT BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN HAS APPROVED A RESOLUTION ASKING THE STATE TO RETURN A PORTION OF SHARED SALES TAXES.u00a0 IN 2002, TENNESSEEu2019S SALES TAX WAS RAISED FROM 6 TO 7-PERCENT, BUT THE PERCENTAGE OF SHARED TAX GIVEN TO MUNICIPALITIES DIDNu2019T INCREASEu2014AND STILL HASNu2019T AFTER 21 YEARS.u00a0 THE STATE RETURNS 4.6-PERCENT OF SALES TAX REVENUES TO MUNICIPALITIES.u00a0 THE TENNESSEE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE SAYS BIGGER CITIES WOULD BENEFIT MORE FROM THE STATE-SHARED TAX PERCENTAGE INCREASE.

NEW KINGSPORT FIRE ENGINES

THE KINGSPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS TWO NEW ENGINES.u00a0 CREWS HAVE BEEN BUSY INSTALLING NEEDED EQUIPMENT ON THE PIERCE VELOCITY ENGINES, INCLUDING HOSES AND AIR TANKS.u00a0 BOTH COST OVER $700-THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH AND OLDER VEHICLES WILL BE RETIRED.u00a0 ITu2019S HOPEFUL THE NEW ENGINES WILL BE IN SERVICE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

WASH CO ELECTION COMMISSION

CONSTRUCTION ON WASHINGTON COUNTYu2019S NEW ELECTION COMMISSION BUILDING IS MOVING FASTER THAN EXPECTED.u00a0 THE FORMER PRINCETON ARTS CENTER BUILDING IN JOHNSON CITY IS BEING RENOVATEDu2014AS THE COMMISSION NEEDS MORE SPACEu2014ESPECIALLY WITH NEW VOTING MACHINES ON THE WAY.u00a0 ITu2019S HOPED THE COMMISSION CAN MOVE IN APRIL OR MAY.u00a0 SEVERAL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS HAVE HELPED WITH THE WORK, INCLUDING THE SHERIFFu2019S OFFICE THROUGH THE INMATE WORK DETAIL PROGRAM.

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