KINGSPORT — A gunman entered a Colonial Heights dental office to murder his wife on Wednesday morning, according to police, and then was shot and detained by a patient who was legally carrying a firearm.
As of noon, the suspect was being treated at a local hospital.
"A concealed carry permit holder saw the threat, took action on the threat and stood by until officers arrived," said Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy. "We're calling him a hero today."
The incident was called in at David A. Guy Dentistry at 9:47 a.m. The first Sullivan County Sheriff's Office deputy arrived to the scene, 150 Clinic Drive, six minutes later. Kingsport police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol also responded, with dozens of officers soon on the scene.
Previously reported:
KINGSPORT — More than a dozen police officers have descended on a Colonial Heights medical office after a report of a Wednesday morning shooting.
The call came in before 10 a.m. from Clinic Drive. Thirty minutes later, investigators were gathering information on the incident to share with the media.
Check back here or with our media partners at the TimesNews.net for information as it becomes available.
↧
Update: Employee killed in Kingsport dental office shooting, gunman taken down by patient
↧
TDOT releases quarterly status report for District 7 road projects
The following is a quarterly status report from the Tennessee Department of Transportation listing highway projects under development or construction in Tennessee’s 7th House District, which covers Jonesborough and most of south Johnson City.
• State Route 93
Miscellaneous improvements from Morgan Lane to South of Baileyton Road in Sullivan County, 0.6 miles
The right-of-way and/or utility process is underway.
• Interstate 26
Modify Exit 18 intercharge, 0.8 miles
A contract for construction is scheduled to be let in the 1st Quarter of 2019.
• State Route 34 US-11E
Miscellaneous safety improvements from Big Limestone Road/McINturff Road to LM 2.02 (RSAR), 0.1 miles
The engineering is underway
• State Route 34 US-11E
Road safety audit review from Limestone Road to Culver Road, 0.5 miles
The engineering is underway
• State Route 36
Widening the road from State Route 75 in Washington County to Interstate 81 in Sullivan County, 3.5 miles
The engineering is scheduled to begin in the 2nd Quarter of 2019.
• State Route 93
Preliminary engineering from Interstate 81 to Lone Star Road, 5.4 miles
The right-of-way and/or utility process is underway
• State Route 93
Miscellaneous improvements from north of Davis Road to North of Fire Hall Road, 0.8 miles
The right-of-way and/or utility process is underway
• State Route 353
Bridge replacement over Little Limestone Creek (Old State Route 34)
The engineering is underway.
• State Route 354
Intersection improvements at Bugaboo Springs Road, 0.2 miles
The right-of-way and/or utility process is underway.
• State Route 381 US-321
Signalization at the intersection of Harris Drive
The right-of-way and/or utility process is underway.
• Industrial Access Road
Construction of a new access road serving Clinical Management Concepts, 525 N. State Of Franklin Rd, 0.4 miles.
The project is currently advertised for the February 8, 2019 bid letting.
• State Route 36
Miscellaneous safety improvements from near State Route 75 to the Sullivan County Line, 0.590 miles.
Construction underway with completion expected February 2019.
↧
↧
Geraldine R. Slemp
JOHNSON CITY - Geraldine R. Slemp, age 85, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on February 10, 2019 at Johnson City Medical Center.
Gerry was born in Dayton, Ohio and the daughter of the late George and Dorothy Cochran. She was also preceded in death by her husband, John B. Slemp, and daughter Theresa McIntosh.
Recently she attended religious services at Cornerstone Chapel.
Gerry was a retired realtor who practiced in Florida. She had a servant’s heart and volunteered with many organizations such as Mended Hearts, Alzheimer’s Association, and more.
Left to cherish her memory include daughter Cecilia McIntosh; granddaughter/daughter Cassandra McAllister and husband David; granddaughter Katrina Schweiker Hunzeker and husband John; granddaughter Rebecca Schweiker and fiancé Will Conley; great grandchildren Junius Fullard, Lily McAllister, James McAllister, McKayleigh Fullard, Maximilian Hunzeker, and Laila Hunzeker; and many cherished friends.
The family would like to extend heartfelt appreciation for the caring staff of Johnson City Medical Center Hospital wing 2200, Palliative Care, and Hospice.
Gerry was a strong proponent of education and in a very giving gesture made an anatomical gift to the ETSU Quillen College of Medicine. A Celebration of Life Service will be held February 23, 2019 1:00 pm at Our Savior Lutheran Church at 212 Sunset Drive in Johnson City. Internment will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to ETSU School of Graduate Studies Foundation, ESU School of Biological Sciences Foundation, or Karing Hearts Foundation (Johnson City).
Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home and Cremation Services are facilitating her ETSU Anatomical Donation.
↧
Johnson City police search for driver in fatal hit-and-run crash
Police were searching Wednesday for the driver in a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian near Johnson City Police Department headquarters last weekend.
About 9 p.m. Saturday, police found Brenda K. Maynor, 46, 611 Cranberry St., lying in the grass adjacent to the road at East Main and Bert Streets. She was taken to Johnson City Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries, police said in a news release.
Witnesses told police Maynor had been struck as she was attempting to cross the road.
The Johnson City Police Department’s Traffic Reconstruction Team responded and assumed the investigation. Police released an image of a vehicle seen in the area just before the crash.
Anyone with information that can assist in identifying the vehicle or driver was asked to contact the Johnson City Police Department at (423) 434-6125 and speak with either Lt. West, Sgt. Sparks or Sgt. Carney. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 434-6158. To send a confidential tip, text 423JCPD and the tip to 847411 (TIP411) or visit www.citizenobserver.com.
↧
Trump still coy on border deal, but expected to sign
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump isn’t showing his hand yet. But with little Washington appetite for another shutdown, he’s expected to grudgingly accept an agreement that would keep the government open but provide just a fraction of the money he’s been demanding for his Mexican border wall.
Addressing the deal at the White House Wednesday, Trump said he would be taking “a very serious look” at the text when the White House receives it from Congress. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill were still haggling over final details, but they appeared on track to finish soon.
“We’re going to look at the legislation when it comes and I’ll make a determination,” Trump said, telling reporters he’d be looking out for any “land mines.”
Still, he reiterated his aversion to another shutdown, the likely result if he rejects the agreement, saying one would be “a terrible thing.”
White House officials cautioned on Wednesday that they have yet to receive full legislative language. And Trump has a history of suddenly balking at deals after signaling he would sign them. But barring any major changes, he is nonetheless expected to acquiesce, according to two White House officials and other Republicans close to the White House who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.
Trump and his aides have also signaled that he is preparing to use executive action to try to secure additional funding for the wall by shifting federal dollars without congressional sign-off.
Accepting the deal, worked out by congressional negotiators from both parties, would be a disappointment for a president who has repeatedly insisted he needs $5.7 billion for a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border and painted the project as paramount for national security. Trump turned down a similar deal in December, forcing the 35-day partial shutdown that left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without paychecks and Republicans reeling.
Lawmakers tentatively agreed to a deal that would provide nearly $1.4 billion for border barriers and keep the government funded for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends on Sept. 30. Filling in the details has taken some time, as is typical, and aides reported Wednesday that the measure had hit some snags, though they doubted they would prove fatal.
Last-minute hang-ups include whether to include a simple extension of the Violence Against Women Act as Senate Republicans want or move a new, longer-term bill separately, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is pushing.
Democrats are also pressing to try to make sure employees of federal contractors receive back pay for wages lost during the last shutdown. The continued haggling means that a House vote can’t come before Thursday night, at the earliest.
Given the back-and-forth, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters the president was awaiting a final version before making a final call.
“We want to see the final piece of legislation, and we’ll make a determination at that point,” she said Wednesday.
Trump added that, no matter what, “The wall is being built as we speak.”
“We’re going to have a great wall. It’s going to be a great, powerful wall,” he said.
In conversations with allies, however, Trump has complained about the deal, calling the committee members poor negotiators, said a person familiar with the conversations who was not authorized to speak publicly. Trump has also made clear that he’d wanted more money for the wall and has expressed concern the plan is being spun as a defeat for him in the media.
Still, allies believe the president has little choice but to sign and move on.
The agreement would allow 55 miles (88 kilometers) of new fencing — constructed using existing designs such as metal slats— but far less than the 215 miles (345 kilometers) the White House demanded in December. The fencing would be built in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.
Full details were not expected to be released until later Wednesday as lawmakers worked to translate their verbal agreement into legislation. But Republicans have urged Trump to sign on.
“I hope he signs the bill,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who joined other GOP leaders in selling it as a necessary compromise that represented a major concession from Democrats.
Lawmakers need to pass some kind of funding bill to avoid another shutdown at midnight Friday and have worked to avoid turning to another short-term bill that would only prolong the border debate.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Trump said he wasn’t “thrilled” or happy with the plan, but needed more time to study it. He also made clear that, if he does sign the deal, he is strongly considering supplementing it by moving money from what he described as less important areas of government.
“We have a lot of money in this country and we’re using some of that money — a small percentage of that money — to build the wall, which we desperately need,” he said.
The White House has long been laying the groundwork for Trump to use executive action to bypass Congress and divert money into wall construction. He could declare a national emergency or invoke other executive authority to tap funds including money set aside for military construction, disaster relief and counterdrug efforts.
Previewing that strategy last week, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said, “We’ll take as much money as you can give us, and then we will go off and find the money someplace else — legally — in order to secure that southern barrier.” He said more than $5.7 billion in available funds had been identified.
McConnell, who had previously said he was troubled by the concept of declaring a national emergency, said Tuesday that Trump “ought to feel free to use whatever tools he can legally use to enhance his effort to secure the border.”
The framework now under consideration contains plenty to anger lawmakers on both the right and left — more border fencing than many Democrats would like and too little for conservative Republicans — but its authors praised it as a genuine compromise that would keep the government open and allow everyone to move on.
But the proposal was met with fury by some on the right, including Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity, a close friend of the president, who slammed it as a “garbage compromise.”
Conservative Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., a close ally of the president, said that if Trump does agrees to the deal he could be spared a “conservative uproar because everyone expects executive action to follow.”
↧
↧
Former Tennessee collegian pleads guilty to changing grades
MEMPHIS — A former student at a private Tennessee college has pleaded guilty to downloading exams and changing grades to preserve his scholarship.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Memphis said Tuesday that 20-year-old Michael Geddati has pleaded guilty to computer fraud.
Prosecutors say Geddati had a scholarship of $30,000 per semester at Rhodes College in Memphis. Continued use of the scholarship required him to maintain a certain grade point average.
Geddati obtained credentials and passwords for his teachers. He then accessed their accounts to download exams and exam keys. He also changed official grades.
Investigators said they traced an IP address to Geddati. He was later expelled.
Geddati faces up to five years in prison at his sentencing on May 24. He has agreed to pay back scholarship money to the college.
↧
Janet Marie Yates
JOHNSON CITY - Janet Marie Yates, 32, of Johnson City, Tn. passed away Monday, February 11, 2019 at her residence.
She was born April 5, 1986 in Wise Va. to Anthony and Carol Rasnick Yates. Janet attended the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and graduated from Northwest Missouri State in 2007 with a bachelors in Geology. She loved spending her time traveling with her family, looking at antiques, classic cars, and loving on her six dogs and cat. She also thoroughly enjoyed spending time fishing with her father.
Preceded in death are both maternal grandparents, Claude and June Rasnick; paternal grandfather, Avery Yates.
Survivors include, her loving husband, Zack Pearson; parents, Anthony and Carol Yates; three children, Kaedon, Ivy and Laurel Pearson; sister, Julie Yates Matlock and husband, Jason; three nephews, Nolan and Knox Matlock and Joshie Stone; niece Lively Stone; paternal grandmother, Marie Yates; mother and father in law, Jim and Debby Pearson; sister-in-law, Beth Pearson Stone and husband, Josh.
Visitation for friends and family will be held from 5 PM until 7 PM Friday, February 15, 2019 at Frost Funeral Home. A service will follow at 7 PM with David Matlock officiating. A committal will be held at 11 AM Saturday, February 16, 2019 at Rasnick/Kiser Family Cemetery with Dwaine Rasnick officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Kaedon Pearson, Jim Pearson, Jason Matlock, Luke Rasnick, Chris Rasnick and Brian Keith.
In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK, 73123 or a Humane Society of your choice.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.frostfuneralhome.com
Frost Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 250 E. Main Street, Abingdon, Va., is honored to serve the Pearson/Yates family.
↧
James Edward Wilcox
ELIZABETHTON - James Edward Wilcox, 76, Elizabethton, passed away Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at Ivy Hall Nursing Home.
A native of Elizabethton, he was a son of the late John D. & Eula Edens Wilcox. He was a retired Meat Cutter. He loved listening to Willie Nelson and Conway Twitty. Mr. Wilcox attended Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a step-son: Clifford Sanders, a sister: Ann Hodge and a brother: Bud Wilcox.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years: Cathy Burke Wilcox. His Children: Jonathan (Julie) Wilcox, Elizabethton, Diana (Dan) Newberry, Mebane, North Carolina and Debbie Arnold of Florida. A Step-Daughter: Tammy Stoots. 8 Grandchildren and 3 Great Grandchildren.
Memorial Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 16, 2019 in the Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church with the Rev. Randy Johnson officiating. The family will receive friends from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday prior to the service. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the following, the staff of, Johnson City Medical Center 4th floor, the staff of Sycamore Shoals, the staff of Ivy Hall Nursing Home, the staff of Caris Hospice and Junior McAninch. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in memory of Mr. Wilcox to the Shepherd Inn, % Paul Gabinet 610 West G Street, Elizabethton, Tn. 37643, The Wandell Foundation, % Kelly Geagley, 1116 Glenview Drive, Elizabethton, Tn. or the Food Bank, Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church, 1503 Riverview Road, Elizabethton, Tn. 37643. Condolences may be sent to the family at our web-site www.memorialfcelizabethton.com .
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Wilcox family
↧
Steven Wayne Miller
JOHNSON CITY - Steven Wayne Miller, 49, of Johnson City, passed away on Sunday, February 10, 2019, at the Johnson City Medical Center.
He was a native of Washington County, a son of Wilma Reed and the late Gary Miller
He was baptized into the Christian faith.
In addition to his father, he is preceded in death by: his step-father, Willie Reed; brother, Roger Whaley; and grandmother, Hazel Whaley.
He is survived by: his mother, two daughters, Sarah Miller and Audrey Miller; one son, Dustin Miller; five sisters, Cindy Holt (Keith), Susan Breeden (Jeff), Kerri Grindstaff (Jesse), Sharon Fletcher (Jonathan), and Sheila White; two brothers, Kenneth Whaley (Judy), and Jimmy Miller; loving grandmother, Violet Ricker; special aunt, Sarah Cornwell; two special grandchildren, Emmett and Payton; as well as several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
The Miller family will receive friends from 3:00-4:00 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at Eden United Methodist Church in Jonesborough (1620 Mill Springs Road). The memorial service will be held at 4:00 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at the church, with Pastor Roy Reed officiating.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family via www.morrisbaker.com.
Morris-Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2001 E. Oakland Ave., Johnson City, is serving the family. (423) 282-1521
↧
↧
Late-term abortion: Compassion over rhetoric
“Thursday, Feb. 7, Rebecca Horvath issued a call to action for the far right-wing Republican base in support of Micah Van Huss’s once again introduced “Heartbeat Bill” and to rally the troops to speak out against the New York legislation on late-term abortions.
Horvath’s rhetoric, “If you’re not horrified by this concept, you’re not paying attention,” is a clear message of either you agree with her or you don’t care. Her judgment condemning those who empathize with the women having to make impossible decisions only shows her lack of empathy and compassion for families, for women who are heartbroken and suffering.
I could dive into facts about how when abortion is legalized abortion rates go down — a fact Ms. Horvath clearly acknowledges and then dismisses by admitting abortion rates have decreased since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. I could cite how as a report from 2018 found maternal mortality rates are still on the rise in the United States and show how other developed nations are outpacing us when protecting the life of the mother. I could also include that infant mortality rates are on the rise in the United States as well (which isn’t a statistic that includes abortion rates). And yet somehow among all these facts, Ms. Horvath believes that an abortion could never save the life of the mother.
But the truth of it is, how we feel about abortion, the policies and politicians we support in terms of a candidate’s platform and the policies they later enact is rooted in emotion. Not facts.
No woman who has had a late-term abortion wanted to make that decision. Her heart is breaking. This was a wanted pregnancy. There was a name picked out, a crib bought, plans made, baby showers thrown, and hopes and dreams of what a life as being a parent would mean in watching her child grow up and change the world.
This plan, this life she wanted for herself and her family was dying with the news given to her from a doctor about the lungs developing on the outside of the body, about a congenital defect that would mean the baby would die an agonizing death as soon as it was born, or that the baby’s cells were attacking the mother’s and that the mother’s life would most likely be lost if the baby was carried to term.
For some women, this is their first pregnancy. For others, it’s their second, third or fourth. That mother’s life has value — because all mothers are more than just mothers. They are individuals, athletes, friends, family, have careers, are activists, leaders in the community. And their heart is breaking because while they know they have value, they wanted the baby inside of them to have that potential, too. But at what cost? To grow up without a mother? To grow up without herself as a role model? For the mothers who have children at home, should they have to grow up without a mother, too?
I have family members who have struggled to conceive, who have endured the heartbreak of miscarriage after miscarriage. I understand exactly how palpable a wanted pregnancy feels. I also understand heartbreak. I cannot have children due to medical reasons that are beyond my control. And I want kids more than I can articulate in a guest column for the Johnson City Press. Yes, there are options and when the time is right, I will explore them. I will one day be a parent.
My point here is none of this is without emotion. The lives changed because of necessary, heartbreaking decisions are ones we should find compassion for. Judgment has no place in a civil society.
Ms. Horvath quoted Edmund Burke, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
What does it say about us, what would it say about me, if I allowed a piece written with half-truths and fallacy to define a woman’s heartbreaking experience, something she wouldn’t wish on her worst enemy?
I agree with Ms. Horvath that a society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members. This is why I’m a Democrat. The Democratic Party platform includes a plank talking about human rights. Human rights that include my rights as a gay woman, human rights as a disabled woman. Equal rights for women. The platform calls out racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, transphobia, and works to put rungs back on the ladder for those looking to climb it in the professional arena and those working to climb out of poverty. A society is judged by how it treats the most vulnerable.
Matthew 25:40, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
“Do unto others as you’d have done unto you.” That’s the Golden Rule, a lesson we were all taught in kindergarten. In the divided world we live in now, it’s important that we develop a little more compassion for those around us and hope we may never know the heartbreak of lost dreams and lost hopes that fill these stories from women having to make impossible choices.
Kate Craig of Johnson City leads the Washington County Democratic Party.
↧
Scott Allen Storie
ELIZABETHTON - Scott Allen Storie, age 55, of Elizabethton, went home to be with his Lord on Monday, February 4, 2019 at his residence. Scott was born in Hammond, Indiana to June Carver Storie, of Nashville and the late Paul Allen Storie.
Scott was a 1981 graduate of Barboursville High School in Barboursville, West Virginia, afterwards he attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. He was a roofer by trade and had worked for Floyd Storie Roofing most of his life. He loved to ride his Harley motorcycle, play guitar, singing, playing in music venues, loved Nascar racing and loved his family. Scott also enjoyed attending concerts and being outdoors. Scott was very competitive and could pull sports statistics out of his head like it was nothing, he was fun loving but could be complicated. Scott loved sports and was of the Baptist faith.
Those left to cherish his memories include his mother, June Storie (Jim Stanley), of Nashville; a brother, Steve Storie, of Elizabethton; two sons, Dylan Storie and Logan Storie, both of Elizabethton; several grandchildren; nieces and nephews: Dalton, of Florida, Tristen, of Elizabethton and Skyler Pierce, of Butler; and a special friend, Jeff Pugh. Several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins also survive.
A service to celebrate the life of Scott Allen Storie will be conducted at 7:00 PM on Saturday, February 16, 2019 in the Riverside Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton with Matt Young, officiating. Music will be provided by Kenny Storie and Angie Hubbard. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM in the funeral home chapel, prior to the service on Saturday or at the residence of his brother, Steve Storie, 770 Rock Hill Road, Watauga, TN 37694, at any time.
The graveside service will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Sunday, February 17, 2019 at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Tristen Storie, Jeff Pugh, Kenny Storie, John Ed Holtsclaw, Arcos McKinney, Terry Arnold, Paul Brown and Billy Street. Honorary pallbearers will be David Renfro and Allen McCracken. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton at 10:30 AM on Sunday, to go in procession.
The family would like to especially thank those in the family who have visited and showed support during this difficult time.
“Them Storie Boys!”
Online condolences may be shared with the family on our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com
Scott and his family are in the care of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton. Office 423-542-2232, service information line, 423-543-4917.
↧
Skylar Blue Dugger
JOHNSON CITY - Skylar Blue Dugger, 28, Johnson City, passed away Sunday, February 10, 2019.
Skylar was a graduate of Happy Valley High School and was presently attending Tennessee Tech and was employed by Five Guys. Skylar loved his trips to Disney and the beach with his family. He was a member of Pleasant Beach Baptist Church. Skylar loved his Sunday School Teachers Bud & Liz Street. He was preceded in death by his Maternal Grandparents: R.J. & Peggy Williams
Survivors include his Parents: Len & Diane Dugger. His Daughter: Serenity Dugger and special daughter Isabella Peters and their mother Natasha Peters. His Paternal Grandparents: Len Sr. & Sylvia Dugger His Uncle & Aunts: Michael & Yodie Bailey and their children Caitlyn Caroline, Carissa, Lisa & Larry Miller. His cousins: Debbie Williams Croom, South Carolina and Heatherly Williams Styles, Knoxville.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 16, 2019 in Memorial Funeral Chapel with Pastor Mark Fowler, Mr. Eddie Carver and Pastor Bobby Stout officiating. Entombment will be in the Mausoleum of Faith, Happy Valley Memorial Park. Music will be provided by Tawana Holland, and Greg Rusten. Active Pallbearers will be: Bradley McVey, Daniel Wilson, Chris Mathes, Charles Peters, Jeff Peters, Jordan Meredith, Lance Reed and Elvin Brown. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Perry Perkins, Willie McVey, Eddie Carver, Richard Hyder, Dr. Robert Sams, Eddie Pless, Lynn Surratt, Frank Burkhart, Jeff Reed, Sam Crowder, George Heaton, Tony Jones, Jeff Guinn, Michael Bailey and Larry Miller and employees of Five Guys. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Skylar to a Trust Fund for Serenity Dugger at Elizabethton Federal. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday prior to the service. Friends may also visit with the family at the residence. Condolences may be sent to the family at our web-site www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Dugger family.
↧
Menzia Marie Clark
Menzia Marie Clark, 83, passed away Tuesday, February 12, 2019, at Lakebridge Healthcare in Johnson City.
Ms. Clark was born on June 13, 1935 in Sharondale, Kentucky.
Please contact Morris-Baker Funeral Home at (423)282-1521 for more information.
Morris-Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2001 E. Oakland Ave., Johnson City, TN 37601.
↧
↧
Heath Parlier
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” II Timothy 4:7
UNICOI - Heath Parlier, age 49, of Unicoi passed away on Monday, February 11, 2019. Heath is the son of Janet Rosenbaum, of Johnson City and Roy and Ellen Parlier, of Elizabethton. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ronald and Ada Robinson and James and Faye Parlier; and his older brother, Ronald James Parlier.
Heath worked at Mapes Piano String Company for most of his career, as well as Abrasive Technology and Crown Laboratories. Heath was of the Baptist faith and loved fishing, wrestling and old cars – he even owned a 1966 Chevelle that he loved.
Those left to cherish his memories include his wife of 24 years, Christy Parlier, of the home; their children consisted of their three dogs: Chloe, Anson and Jax – who loved their “Dad” immensely and are grieving his passing. Heath also has a half-sister, Jackie Whitson, of Elizabethton and a half-brother, Dustin Parlier, of Knoxville. Several nieces and nephews, as well as a special cousin, Ginger Robinson of Elizabethton, also survive. As well as his special family in Baltimore, Maryland.
A service to celebrate the life of Heath Parlier will be conducted at 7:00 PM on Saturday, February 16, 2019 in the Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton with Rev. Bill Greer, officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM in the funeral home chapel, prior to the service on Saturday.
The graveside service will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 17, 2019 in the Roselawn Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to meet at the cemetery at 1:50 PM on Sunday.
Online condolences may be shared with the family on our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Mr. Parlier and his family are in the care of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, office 423-542-2232, service line information 423-543-4917.
↧
Retool the classic pound cake to make it ultra-chocolatey
We love pound cake and we love chocolate, but the combination is often a disappointment. That's because most recipes simply add chocolate to a standard pound cake recipe, which mars its finely tuned texture and usually produces lackluster chocolate flavor.
We wanted to retool classic pound cake to make it ultra-chocolatey without compromising its hallmark velvety-soft crumb. For deep chocolate flavor we used mostly Dutch-processed cocoa powder, which incorporated seamlessly into the batter; a couple ounces of milk chocolate added richness without interfering with the cake's texture.
We bloomed both the cocoa and the bar chocolate in hot water to maximize their impact. For an accurate measurement of boiling water, bring a full kettle of water to a boil and then measure out the desired amount. The test kitchen's preferred loaf pan measures 8 1/2-by-4 1/2 inches; if you use a 9-by 5-inch loaf pan, start checking for doneness 5 minutes early.
CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE
Servings: 8
Start to finish: 1 hour, 45 minutes
1 cup (5 ounces) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (2 1/4 ounces) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
2 ounces milk chocolate, chopped fine
1/3 cup boiling water
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 16 pieces and softened
1 cup (7 ounces) granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed (1 3/4 ounces) light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
5 large eggs, room temperature
Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 325 F. Grease and flour 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan. Whisk flour and salt together in bowl.
Place cocoa and chocolate in bowl. Pour boiling water over cocoa mixture and stir until chocolate is melted and no dry streaks of cocoa remain. Let mixture cool for 5 minutes.
Using stand mixer fitted with paddle, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and cocoa mixture on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat until combined. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 additions, scraping down bowl as needed, until just combined (batter may look slightly curdled). Give batter final stir by hand.
Transfer batter to prepared pan and gently tap pan on counter to release air bubbles. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Let cake cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan and let cool completely on rack, about 2 hours. Serve. (Cake can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month; defrost cake at room temperature.)
___
Nutrition information per serving: 499 calories; 256 calories from fat; 29 g fat (17 g saturated; 1 g trans fats); 197 mg cholesterol; 343 mg sodium; 53 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 36 g sugar; 8 g protein.
___
For more recipes, cooking tips and ingredient and product reviews, visit https://www.americastestkitchen.com. Find more recipes like Chocolate Pound Cake in "The Perfect Cake."
___
America's Test Kitchen provided this article to The Associated Press.
↧
The perfect rich, meaty ragu achieved with baby back ribs
Ragu can be made from any meat or combination of meats, but the earthiness of a pure pork ragu is undeniably attractive_and great comfort food.
Most recipes for traditional pork ragu use pork shoulder and a hard-to-find, bony cut like neck, shank, or feet to give the sauce great body. We were determined to use just one: Quick-cooking pork sausage or lean pork loin were parched after braising.
We needed a collagen-rich cut of pork, which would have deep flavor and a melting texture after long cooking_and the bones included. Baby back ribs fit the bill perfectly. We tried using all baby back ribs and found the resulting ragu rich and meaty with perfect silkiness.
For a classic Italian flavor profile, fennel took the place of celery in the ragu's base and ground fennel rubbed into the ribs echoed the anise flavor. Simmering the garlic head whole right in the sauce yielded sweeter softened cloves that we squeezed back into the sauce when tender.
With fresh herbs and red wine, our ragu tasted balanced and far more complex than its simple preparation would suggest. This recipe makes enough sauce to coat 2 pounds of pasta. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese.
PORK RAGU
Servings: 8
Start to finish: 3 hours
2 (2 1/4-to-2 1/2 pound) racks baby back ribs, trimmed and each rack cut into quarters
2 teaspoons ground fennel
Kosher salt and pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped fine
1 large fennel bulb, stalks discarded, bulb halved, cored, and chopped fine
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped fine
1/4 cup minced fresh sage
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons dry red wine
1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, drained and crushed coarse
3 cups chicken broth
1 garlic head, outer papery skins removed and top quarter of head cut off and discarded
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 300 F. Sprinkle ribs with ground fennel and generously season with salt and pepper, pressing on spices to adhere. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add half of ribs, meat side down, and cook, without moving them, until meat is well browned, 6 to 8 minutes; transfer to plate. Repeat with remaining ribs; set aside.
Reduce heat to medium and add onion, fennel, carrots, 2 tablespoons sage, rosemary, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to now-empty pot. Cook, stirring occasionally and scraping up any browned bits, until vegetables are well browned and beginning to stick to pot bottom, 12 to 15 minutes.
Add 1 cup wine and cook until evaporated, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and broth and bring to simmer. Submerge garlic and ribs, meat side down, in liquid; add any accumulated juices from plate. Cover and transfer to oven. Cook until ribs are fork-tender, about 2 hours.
Remove pot from oven and transfer ribs and garlic to rimmed baking sheet. Using large spoon, skim any fat from surface of sauce. Once cool enough to handle, shred meat from bones; discard bones and gristle. Return meat to pot. Squeeze garlic from its skin into pot. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons sage and remaining 2 tablespoons wine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
___
Nutrition information per serving: 559 calories; 273 calories from fat; 30 g fat (10 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 168 mg cholesterol; 628 mg sodium; 11 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 56 g protein.
___
For more recipes, cooking tips and ingredient and product reviews, visit https://www.americastestkitchen.com. Find more recipes like Pork Ragu in "How to Braise Everything."
___
America's Test Kitchen provided this article to The Associated Press.
↧
Try this dimpled, chewy, herb-topped deep-dish focaccia
Centuries ago, focaccia began as a by-product: When bakers needed to gauge the heat of the wood-fired oven_focaccia stems from focolare and means "fireplace"_they would tear off a swatch of dough, flatten it, drizzle it with olive oil, and pop it into the hearth to bake as an edible oven thermometer.
From there evolved countless variations on the theme_the stuffed pizza-like focaccia in Puglia and Calabria, the ring-shaped focaccia in Naples, focaccia made from rich or lean doughs, and even sweet versions. That said, it's the dimpled, chewy, herb-topped deep-dish focaccia alla genovese that's most fundamental.
As is traditional, our recipe starts with a sponge_a mixture of flour, yeast, and water that ferments for at least 6 hours before it's added to the bulk dough. The sponge helped develop gluten (which gives breads structure and chew), depth of flavor, and a hint of tang.
Rather than knead the dough, we simply used a series of gentle folds, which developed the gluten structure further while also incorporating air for a tender interior crumb. (This method was also helpful because our dough was quite wet and therefore difficult to knead; the more hydrated a bread dough, the more open and bubbly its crumb_a characteristic we were looking for in focaccia_because steam bubbles form and expand more readily.)
Fruity olive oil is a requisite ingredient, but when we added it straight to the dough, it turned the bread dense and cakelike. Instead, we baked the bread in cake pans coated with a couple tablespoons of oil. Be sure to reduce the temperature immediately after putting the loaves in the oven.
ROSEMARY FOCACCIA
Servings: 12-16 (Makes two 9-inch round loaves)
Start to finish: 4 1/2 hours plus 6 hours fermenting time
Sponge:
1/2 cup (2 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup water, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon instant or rapid-rise yeast
Dough:
2 1/2 cups (12 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups water, room temperature
1 teaspoon instant or rapid-rise yeast
Kosher salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
For the sponge: Stir all ingredients in large bowl with wooden spoon until well combined. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature until sponge has risen and begins to collapse, about 6 hours (sponge can sit at room temperature for up to 24 hours).
For the dough: Stir flour, water, and yeast into sponge with wooden spoon until well combined. Cover bowl tightly with plastic and let dough rest for 15 minutes.
Stir 2 teaspoons salt into dough with wooden spoon until thoroughly incorporated, about 1 minute. Cover bowl tightly with plastic and let dough rest for 30 minutes.
Using greased bowl scraper (or rubber spatula), fold dough over itself by gently lifting and folding edge of dough toward middle. Turn bowl 45 degrees and fold dough again; repeat turning bowl and folding dough 6 more times (total of 8 folds). Cover tightly with plastic and let rise for 30 minutes. Repeat folding and rising. Fold dough again, then cover bowl tightly with plastic and let dough rise until nearly doubled in size, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
One hour before baking, adjust oven rack to upper-middle position, place baking stone on rack, and heat oven to 500 F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with 2 tablespoons oil each. Sprinkle each pan with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Transfer dough to lightly floured counter and dust top with flour. Divide dough in half and cover loosely with greased plastic. Working with 1 piece of dough at a time (keep remaining piece covered), shape into 5-inch round by gently tucking under edges.
Place dough rounds seam side up in prepared pans, coat bottoms and sides with oil, then flip rounds over. Cover loosely with greased plastic and let dough rest for 5 minutes.
Using your fingertips, gently press each dough round into corners of pan, taking care not to tear dough. (If dough resists stretching, let it relax for 5 to 10 minutes before trying to stretch it again.) Using fork, poke surface of dough 25 to 30 times, popping any large bubbles. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon rosemary evenly over top of each loaf, cover loosely with greased plastic, and let dough rest until slightly bubbly, about 10 minutes.
Place pans on baking stone and reduce oven temperature to 450 F. Bake until tops are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking. Let loaves cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove loaves from pans and transfer to wire rack. Brush tops with any oil remaining in pans and let cool for 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
___
Nutrition information per serving: 158 calories; 45 calories from fat; 5 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 81 mg sodium; 24 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 0 g sugar; 3 g protein.
___
For more recipes, cooking tips and ingredient and product reviews, visit https://www.americastestkitchen.com. Find more recipes like Rosemary Focaccia in "Tasting Italy ."
___
America's Test Kitchen provided this article to The Associated Press.
↧
↧
County property tax deadline approaches
The deadline to pay Washington County property tax bills for 2018 is Feb. 28. Beginning March 1, a 1.5 percent penalty will be attached to the tax bill until the full amount is paid.
Washington County Trustee Rick Storey said Tuesday a little more than 64 percent of the county’s tax bills have been paid as of early January. He expects to see a “steady flow” of tax payments coming into his office before the deadline next week.
“We had a big tray of mail come in yesterday,” Storey said. “We collected more than $200,000 in payments in just one day.
The trustee’s office sent out more than 63,000 tax notices in October. Those bills cover both commercial and residential properties.
County officials say property owners should keep in mind there is a difference between the appraised value of their homes and the amount that they are assessed for tax purposes. Residential property is taxed at 25 percent of its assessed value, while commercial property is taxed at 40 percent of assessed value.
The trustee said his office has seen an increase this year in the number of taxpayers paying their bills online. Storey said most residents still prefer to send their checks by mail, or make their payments in person at one of his office’s two locations in the Washington County Courthouse, Jonesborough, and the County Clerk/Trustee office at 378 Marketplace Blvd., Suite 1, Johnson City.
Office hours are weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 753-1601 for more information.
Checks should be mailed to Washington County Trustee, P.O. Box 215, Jonesborough, TN 37659. Taxpayers can pay online by going to washingtoncountytn.org/government/trustee.
The state provides property tax relief to elderly and disabled property owners. To qualify, a homeowner must be 65 years old, or be totally and permanently disabled as rated by the Social Security Administration or other qualified agency. Annual income for all property owners applying for tax relief must be less than $29,270.
The state will pay as much as $153.70 on a participant’s tax bill, with the county making a similar match.
Tennessee also offers property tax relief for veterans and their widows or widowers. Veterans must qualify through the state’s Department of Veterans Services to be eligible to receive up to $975.14 from the state for their property tax bills.
↧
$1.4 million in punitive damages assessed by jury to apartment complex owner after woman fell on ice
A Washington County jury sent a strong message — to the tune of $1.4 million in punitive damages — to an apartment complex owner that there must be steps taken to ensure the safety of residents during inclement weather.
“It’s very significant, especially the punitive damages part,” said Robert Bates, who tried the case with his law partner Tony Seaton. “It’s extremely rare to have a punitive damage,” in East Tennessee.
The slip and fall incident happened Feb. 20, 2015, in the parking lot of Beaver Hollow Apartments as Geneva Day and her son were walking from her car to their apartment. Day fell on snow and ice that had accumulated in the parking lot and was not cleared away by the complex management. Day had nearly slipped the day before, according to court documents, and was being cautious while walking as well as warning her son to watch his step due to the snow and ice.
“She messed up her knee pretty good,” Bates said. “She tore all the ligaments in her knee except one.”
After surgery and a lengthy healing process, Day was eventually was able to return, but as a result of the injury she must wear a knee brace now and has drop foot, a condition that affects the nerves and causes the foot to drop while taking a step.
Bates said Day’s career in advanced cosmetology kept her on her feet most of the day, but after the injury she was unable to continue that career. Fortunately, the business where she works found another position for her.
“You had an apartment complex that didn’t care, and it was made obvious to the jury,” Bates said. He’s sure that Olympia, which owns other complexes in Johnson City, will appeal the jury’s decision.
The case was tried in Jonesborough over three weeks late last year. The verdict determined that under Tennessee law, Day’s attorneys showed by “clear and convincing evidence” — the standard in civil cases — that Olympia Management “acted either intentionally or recklessly, thereby entitling the plaintiff to an award of punitive damages against Olympia Management,” Circuit Court Judge Jean Stanley wrote in her judgment order. Beaver Hollow was found to have not acted intentionally or recklessly, which protected the limited partnership from punitive damages.
Bates said two issues were proven with the jury’s verdict.
“One, the jury system still works .... that’s the biggest thing is the power of the jury. Second is it goes to show if you don’t care enough for the people who trust you ... eventually someone is going to have to send you a message.”
The jury did assign some fault to Day in its compensatory judgement of $1,251,396.17. The panel applied 1 percent fault to Beaver Hollow, 50 percent to Olympia and 49 percent to Day. That reduced the compensatory damages to $638,212.17.
With the certainty of an appeal, Bates said Day won’t receive any money awarded to her until the appellate process is complete.
↧
Bucs out to end losing streak with Citadel coming to town
Where do they go from here?
East Tennessee State enters its next game on a rare losing streak, and it’s something coach Steve Forbes wants to end right away.
The Bucs, who play host to The Citadel at 7 p.m. Thursday in a Southern Conference basketball game at Freedom Hall, are coming off losses to Wofford and Furman. Those results left them in a third-place tie with virtually no chance to win the league’s regular-season title.
“We turned one loss into two and I don’t want it to be three, like jumping off a ledge,” Forbes said.
After an emotional 78-76 overtime loss to SoCon-leading Wofford at home last Thursday, the Bucs went to Greenville, South Carolina, and laid an egg. Their 91-61 loss to Furman was their second-worst beating in Forbes’ four seasons at ETSU.
“It was a combination of a lot of things,” Forbes said. “Number one, Furman played really well. You have to give them credit. Every time we tried to get back in it, they answered the bell. Defensively, we didn’t play very well on the perimeter, especially. They got wide-open looks and they got confidence.
“The third thing, I do think there was probably a little hangover emotionally from Thursday. I didn’t feel that way. I didn’t see it. I thought they handled it pretty well, but talking to them after the game...”
The Bucs come into Thursday’s game 19-7 overall, 9-4 in the SoCon. The Citadel is 11-12, 3-9.
“We just have to play better,” Forbes said. “This time of year, it’s about winning. We have to win and put ourselves in position for March.”
NOT ‘DISGRACEFUL’
Forbes said he wished he had used a different word to describe his team’s performance in the emotional moments after the Furman game.
“I was unhappy and I said some things I wish I didn’t say,” he said. “I don’t think ‘disgraceful’ was the word I should have used. They’ve never done anything disgraceful. They didn’t play well, didn’t play up to standard, but disgraceful is a totally different word.
“I blew up. We’re over it. Now we’re back to the routine.”
LAST MEETING
ETSU beat the Bulldogs 98-73 in January as freshman point guard Daivien Williamson scored a career-high 24 points.
“I thought we played pretty well down there,” Forbes said. “We shot it well. I do think they’ll guard us different. They didn’t play any junk defense. I think we’ll see it this time. I think we’ll see box-and-one on Pat, triangle-and-two on Pat, Tray and Daivien. I think they’ll throw the kitchen sink at us that way.”
BUCS’ NUMBERS
Jeromy Rodriguez and Patrick Good are tied for the team scoring lead at 12.0 points per game. Tray Boyd III averages 11.5.
Rodriguez continues to lead the SoCon in rebounding at 11.3 per game. That’s sixth nationally. His 12 double-doubles are tied for 14th.
SCOUTING THE CITADEL
The Bulldogs have lost 10 of their last 12 games, but they’re coming off a 67-61 victory over Mercer.
Points should be available on Thursday night. No team in the country allows more than the Citadel. The Bulldogs’ opponents are averaging 85.1 points per game. There are 351 teams listed in the NCAA Division I basketball stats, and that ranks 350th.
The Bulldogs are led by graduate transfer guard Lew Stallworth, who averages 19.2 points per game. He previously played at UTEP and Texas Rio Grande.
Senior forward Zane Najdawi averages 13.2 points, and senior guard Matt Frierson averages 12.9. Frierson has made 87 shots from 3-point range this season, but went 0 for 5 in the previous meeting with ETSU.
Only one team, Savannah State, has attempted more 3-point shots than The Citadel’s 813.
VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL
With Thursday being Valentine’s Day, fans can purchase two tickets for $14 when using the promo code “Valentine” online at ETSUBucs.com.
↧