Strawberry Plains News

Two months after the statewide guns-in-parks law took effect, Arlington Mayor Russell Wiseman says the town's Board of Mayor and Aldermen won't consider opting out of the legislation that allows handgun-carry permit holders to pack their guns in parks.

If A plan currently in front of Knox County Commission is approved, the county would no longer serve as the middle man between Rural/Metro and Forks of the River Industrial Park businesses.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. a ' A fire ripped through a Strawberry Plains trailer early Thursday afternoon.

Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, Rural/Metro Fire Department and John Valliant, an attorney for businesses in the Forks of the River Industrial District, have agreed to dissolve the fire protection district, the mayor's office said today.

Niceley and McCord discuss their environmental scores. Here's a really hilarious story to brighten your Monday morning: The legislature's many environmental Neanderthals are shocked and outraged because the Tennessee Conservation Voters gave them bad grades on their annual scorecard.

The trial of a foster father accused of applying a fatal choke hold on a teenager is making for some strange bedfellows.

A look at recent events in the news that pleased us... CONGRATULATIONS to the 125 people from 54 countries to gain U.S. citizenship at the naturalization proceeding last week.

" The Knoxville-Knox County, Tennessee Metropolitan Planning Commission met with the public at the University of Tennessee Law School on Tuesday evening to discus the future of the Midway Road interchange.

An official with Belgium-based Nyrstar NV, which is buying idled mining operations in Jefferson and Knox counties, said it is too early to say how many jobs will be created when the mines are reopened but noted that it has typically required a work force of about 400 for full production.

East Tennessee Zinc Co., which operated zinc mines in East Knox and Jefferson Counties and employed about 400 workers before being shut down late last year, is being sold to Belgium mining company Nyrstar NV for $126 million.

"This is a great place to stop," says Katie Boyle. The place is the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and the stoppers are hundreds, if not thousands, of ruby-throated hummingbirds that are in the midst of their fall migration from Canada to South and Central America.

Jefferson County authorities are investigating an attack on an off-duty Knox County deputy at his Jefferson County home.

Jefferson County authorities are investigating an attack on an off-duty Knox County deputy at his Jefferson County home.

Law enforcement agencies throughout East Tennessee are celebrating the opening of a multi-million dollar facility that could help solve crimes faster.

Terry Certain, of Murfreesboro, was named the best professional truck driver in Tennessee after winning the three axle competition and receiving the highest overall score in the nine competing categories at the 2009 Tennessee Truck Driving Championships.

" The Lee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday evening in the General District Courtroom located within the Lee County Courthouse.

A Rural/Metro fire truck crashed on the way to an emergency medical call Tuesday morning in East Knox County.

Ray Qualls doesn't have a lot of room for a garden. "And, I don't want to cut trees down to make room for it.

I read with interest about the intermodal yard Norfolk Southern plans to build in New Market.

Jack Kramer sold his farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and relocated to east Tennessee for a chance to raise cattle and restore a piece of New Market history.