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Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Lee cuts ribbon for Taylor Bridge reopening in Washington County
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee visited the region Friday to cut the ribbon on Washington County's Taylor Bridge. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) reopened the bridge Saturday, nearly 8 months after the rising waters of the Nolichucky River tore through it. Governor Lee was accompanied by TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley, representatives Rebecca Alexander, Tim Hicks, and Rusty Crowe, as well as Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy. The governor called it a 'redemptive day' and thanked everyone who worked tirelessly to open the bridge a month early. Cattle stolen from Glade Spring farm, reward offered 'It took a remarkable community to pull that off,' Lee said. 'The people of this part of the state came together in unprecedented ways to serve one another and to come alongside one officials, members of the General Assembly, the TDOT workers, the contractors. We had a job to do, and we knew it was urgent and had to be done quickly. This bridge is opening a month early to help alleviate just part of the struggle that this community has seen over the last eight months.' He said the push to get it done as soon as possible was in the community's best interest. 'The Commissioner said it earlier, but we are talking about steel and concrete and asphalt,' Lee said. 'But this is about people. It's about the people of Upper East Tennessee. The people of Washington County. This is about serving the people. And that is what the effort has been for eight months. And it'll continue to be going forward.' And thanked the Representatives who made it happen. 'They're advocates,' Lee explained. 'They represent the people in this community. And they knew that people were hurt in this community. So, yes, they called, they advocated, they pushed because it had to be done. And we responded to that because it had to be done. We have continued to build and continue to rebuild. And a lot of it is because of the work of the people in the community and those who represent them.' TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley said not only were they able to complete the Taylor Bridge project more than a month early, but also that 46 of the 49 roads closed due to Hurricane Helene are now reopened, and the last three are already under contract to be completed by next year. 'We're on the road to recovery here,' Eley said. 'And as the governor said, the asphalt and the steel and the concrete that we see here today do not represent the true community input that we have seen over the last eight months. Since this hurricane hit, it truly has been a community-wide, state-wide effort, including our federal partners. And as you see here today, our state legislature. So, we're close. We're close to the end from a TDOT standpoint, but there's still a lot of people who've been impacted, who are suffering and, the effort continues to go on to help those people as well.' Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy described the collaboration that had to take place between all parties involved. 'For us, it was it wasn't really hard because we worked together over all the projects,' Grandy said. 'And so, you know, we knew each other, we're friends, we're a team. And so everyone realized how the devastated this community was down here because of the flood. Obviously, people lost homes, and some lives were lost. People lost property and everything. But in addition to that, so much responsibility after we get the people straight, all there is to help build infrastructure. And so roads, bridges, our sanitary convenience center, our highway department, all those things, you know, that fall on local government and our team to put together and to rebuild.' Governor Lee and Mayor Grandy reflected on the day of the flood. Standing in the same place as they did on Friday, they once wondered how they would rebuild, believing it would take years. They then described the emotion of the day as the rebuild is complete, less than a year later. 'It's really hard to describe,' Grandy said. 'It is emotional because at that time, we weren't able to get supplies. We weren't able to get, safety equipment in there or ambulances or fire. And we had a whole community that was isolated. I explained how desperate I was. I was not sleeping. And these people came together and helped us make it happen.' Lee said that there was a time when he felt he had little to no hope. 'The first day I came here, into this community, we met with people whose family members had been lost, whose farms had been destroyed, whose homes had been washed away,' Lee said. 'And it was just a couple of days after the disaster that it felt very hopeless, because of the tragedy that had unfolded and was still unfolding right before us. There were people still missing. There were, you know, families unaccounted for. So in the midst of that tragedy, it felt at times hopeless.' He commented on the community's teamwork. 'But what happened is this community came together in remarkable ways. And redemption comes by people coming together and serving one another, by elected officials advocating, by TDOT workers, National Guardsmen, and local road officials coming together and putting their hands to the task. And this is an example of that redemption. What seemed hopeless at the moment seems incredibly hopeful for the years ahead for this community.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
WWII Veteran turns 100; shares about his time in the Army
GATE CITY, Va. (WJHL)- World War II veteran Hubert McClellan just turned 100 years old on Tuesday, May 27. 'I was in the infantry in the platoons. We carried the mortar weapons,' he said. McClellan spent most of his time in Rome after he was drafted into the Army. 'We were following a tank corps, and we were moving so fast that the German tank corps passed… They captured it,' he said. 'We used the same spring [as the Italians] for water. They'd fire shots. Nobody would fire at each other. They'd just shoot every once in a while… if you went to get water, they'd fire a couple of rounds over your head just to let you know that they were still there.' Sister of fallen Blountville soldier reminds people of true meaning behind Memorial Day He remembers the day he found out President Roosevelt died. 'They got everybody together and was telling them about that,' McClellan said. 'Then the Germans launched a few shells over and killed two or three at that.' McClellan ended up in the kitchen, on the advice of his friend. He mostly drew up rations. 'He signed us up [to be] cooks. I said, 'I can't boil water.' He said I can't neither,' McClellan recalled. 'But he said I thought it'd be safer, so that's where I spent my time in Rome.' The Army helped him get his education after he got out. He then landed a job at Eastman. He's also been involved in the Gate City community. 'About 63 years I've been in Civitan,' he said. 'It gives you a sense of helping people. And we help a lot of people and a lot of things, and all clubs do that.' Friends and family gathered at the Civitan Park to celebrate his milestone birthday. 'I just keep breathing, I don't know why I'm here. I don't think I've done anything different,' he said. 'They just haven't rung the bell yet.' News Channel 11 asked McClellan what he did to make it to this milestone. 'I tried to take care of myself, and if I have a sickness, I don't try to doctor myself,' he said. He also encouraged others to get involved in their community, whether it be a club or a church, because he fears volunteerism is dying out. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Abingdon PD responds after town placed on Homeland Security's ‘sanctuary jurisdictions' list
ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) — The Abingdon Police Department and Congressman Morgan Griffith are speaking out after the town was placed on the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) list of 'sanctuary jurisdictions.' DHS describes sanctuary jurisdictions on as 'cities, counties, and states that are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities.' Cattle stolen from Glade Spring farm, reward offered Sanctuary jurisdictions are detailed on the under its 'Making America Safe Again' campaign tab. The department claims that sanctuary cities and communities 'protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril.' The by state that is considered a sanctuary jurisdiction. Under Virginia, two cities in News Channel 11's viewing area are included: Abingdon and Duffield. Nearby Tazewell and all of Tazewell County are also on the list. The Abingdon Police Department to its inclusion on the list on Friday afternoon. According to the police department, the town was not notified or informed as to why it was classified as a sanctuary jurisdiction. 'Upon learning of the listing, we immediately contacted the Office of the U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith for assistance in correcting the error,' the post states. 'We also contacted our federal law enforcement partners and have been advised that Abingdon will be removed from the list.' The Abingdon Police Department stated that it has and will continue to fully comply with federal law and cooperate with all law enforcement agencies. Griffith issued his own statement in response to the inclusion of the Southwest Virginia communities on the list. The U.S. representative called the designation surprising and claimed that local law enforcement has always cooperated with the federal government, and he claimed the issue was likely due to paperwork problems. 'Ninth District law enforcement organizations and localities are very cooperative with the federal government in the handling and detainment of illegal aliens. 'It is a surprising development to see some of our localities listed as 'sanctuary jurisdictions' by DHS. My office has been in contact with our liaisons in the federal government for an explanation and solution. As of now, we do not have a definitive answer. However, it appears that there may be some paperwork anomalies related to federal detainers, particularly at some regional jails. 'I will continue to monitor the situation and hope I will have specific answers within the next week.' Congressman Morgan Griffith No towns or counties in Northeast Tennessee were included on the DHS list. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tennessee & Virginia announce free fishing days
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Fishing in Tennessee and Virginia typically requires a license issued by each state's respective wildlife agency. However, to kickstart fishing in the summer, free fishing days for everyone are set aside in both states. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) announced that the Volunteer State's free fishing day will take place on Saturday, June 7. Anyone can fish on the state's public waters without a license. The TWRA is also hosting numerous fishing events on June 7 to help introduce new anglers to the activity. A full list of free fishing day events can be found on the TWRA's website. While Tennessee sets free fishing aside for one day, Virginia allows free fishing for three days in June. Virginians can fish without a license on public waters from Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8. The free fishing applies to Virginia's trout-stocked waters as well. Other fishing regulations regarding size, season, catch limit and gear restrictions will remain in place during the free fishing days. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources fee fishing areas will still require a fee June 6-8. More information on Virginia's free fishing days can be found online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Judge sets phone hearing on settlement in JCPD sex assault investigations case
Note: This article includes attached video showing News Channel 11's Jeff Keeling and Anslee Daniel's discussion of the Johnson City lawsuit settlement. An audio version is at the end of this story. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A federal judge won't rule on a proposed $4.2 million settlement between Johnson City and women who reported sexual assaults to its police department from 2018-2022 until after a telephone hearing June 24. U.S. District Judge Travis McDonough made the ruling Thursday, 10 days after plaintiffs' attorneys filed their motion for approval of the class action settlement. Johnson City and the plaintiffs' attorneys have already agreed to an overall settlement amount of $28 million. The bulk of that money will go to the original plaintiffs, nine women who said they were victimized by now-convicted sex offender Sean Williams and that the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) didn't adequately investigate the downtown resident. That settlement doesn't require the judge's approval, but the $4.2 million one does. It relates to an added element to the original lawsuit that came following release of the 'Daigle Report' — an audit of JCPD's sexual assault investigations the city commissioned in 2022 after a completely separate lawsuit related to Sean Williams was filed. That report found that while a number of JCPD's investigations between 2018 and 2022 were adequate, the department had a number of 'certain investigative practices' that 'could negatively affect the quality and efficiency of their response to sexual assault cases.' JC's new 'transparency' webpage covers police lawsuits related to Sean Williams Daigle noted a common theme running through many of these weaknesses: 'JCPD's response to sexual assault was challenged based on gender-based stereotypes and bias.' The report, and the addition of a plaintiff whose reported assault did not involve Sean Williams, led to the filing of a class action that's now the subject of the settlement proposal. Johnson City has consistently denied all allegations in the lawsuits related to Williams and JCPD sexual assault investigations. The city also says JCPD has implemented the recommendations in Daigle's report and is following a new sexual assault protocol devised by First District Attorney General Steve Finney's office — an assertion Finney has confirmed. The class settlement would include both monetary relief — attorneys estimate about $7,000 to more than 350 people — and something called 'equitable relief.' Equitable relief would come in the form of plaintiffs' attorneys being provided audits of sexual assault investigations by JCPD every quarter for two years so they could review how well JCPD is complying with a new sexual crimes protocol it adopted in late 2023. The motion for settlement approval is complex, and McDonough wrote Thursday, 'a telephonic hearing will aid in the resolution of Plaintiffs' pending motion for preliminary approval.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
