Sullivan County | featured news

NORTON — J.I. Burton football media day had a different look to it Friday.
For the first time in over two decades, Raiders coach Jim Adams was not in attendance, directing the team for photo shoots and giving interviews to media members.
In June, Adams had his coaching contract renewed by the Norton School Board. But in July, the school system suspended him with pay after hiring the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police to conduct a noncriminal investigation.
Also last month, the board appointed seven-year assistant coach Jacob Caudill as the program’s interim head coach.

It was the wrong thing for the right reasons.
In reversing its vote to bus two grades from Keplar Elementary this school year, the Hawkins County Board of Education compensates for failure to properly notify residents of a pending vote to bus the students. The board is to be commended for reversing itself, a tough decision given that it continues to waste scarce tax dollars. But it was necessary to restore confidence.

This weekend marks yet another 50th anniversary of headline events from 1969. It’s the one often cited as having “killed the Sixties.”
On the morning of Saturday, August 9, 1969 actress Sharon Tate’s housekeeper arrived for work and found the bloody, bludgeoned, stabbed and shot bodies of Tate (who was 8 and a half months pregnant), hairstylist Jay Sebring, socialite and social worker Abigail Folger, Folger’s boyfriend Wojciech (pronounced “Voytek” is most accounts) Frykowski, and Steven Parent ( a friend of the estate’s caretaker).

JOHNSON CITY — When the lights come on at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium on Saturday night, the East Tennessee State football team will be hitting for real.
The Bucs have their first intrasquad scrimmage of the preseason. The action starts at 7 p.m.
“It’s our first time going live,” said defensive end Nasir Player, the Southern Conference’s preseason defensive player of the year. “It should be fun.”
The team has been in pads since Tuesday, but for the most part the hitting has been controlled.

KINGSPORT – Don’t miss this! It’s going to be a night of exciting rasslin’ action in downtown Kingsport this Sunday.
Southern States Wrestling is holding a special event at the Model City Event Center (201 E. Center Street) on Sunday with all proceeds going to benefit Kingsport wrestling legend Don Wright and his family.
Fire completely destroyed the Wright’s Bristol, Tennessee home on July 4, leaving the couple and their five grandchildren (ages 4 to 14) homeless.

KINGSPORT — From the late 1940s to the early 1980s, cruising Broad Street — from the Train Station to Church Circle and back again, and again, and again — was a primary social activity for many of the Model City’s younger crowd.
It was the perfect place to show off your ride. It will be again on Saturday. From 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., car enthusiasts are invited to relive some of that attitude and atmosphere at the annual Broad Street Cruise-In. The event is sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police and the Downtown Kingsport Association.

STONEGA, VIRGINIA - Katherine Kobylareyk Owens, 74, passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at Bristol Regional Medical Center.
She was a member of the Temple of Faith Ministries & Outreach. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Mary Kobylareyk and brother, Joe Kobylareyk Jr.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Lucky J. Owens; daughter, Sandy Owens of Dallas, TX; brother, Mike Kobylareyk of Stonega, VA.
The Owens family will receive friends on Sunday, August 11, 2019, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Roy A. Green Funeral Home, Appalachia, Virginia.

SURGOINSVILLE - Joyce E. Stone, 81, of Surgoinsville, TN passed away Friday, August 9, 2019, at her residence surrounded by her loving family.
Arrangements will be announced by Oak Hill Funeral & Cremation Services.

KINGSPORT - Norman Wayne Wilson, Jr., 53, Kingsport, TN departed this life to be home with the Lord on August 7, 2019 at his residence.
Arrangements will be announced by Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport.

FT. BLACKMORE, VA - Bonnie Hillman Salling, 78, Ft. Blackmore, VA passed away, Friday, August 9, 2019 at her residence.
She was born in Scott County, VA on November 14, 1940 and was the daughter of the late James Ketron and Bonnie Corder Hillman.
In addition to her parents, her grandmother, “Mom” Kate Hillman and grandfather, “Dad” W.J. Hillman; sisters, Beulah Stewart, Shirley Cassel; brothers, Charles, Bill, John, Lee, Mont, Edgar Hillman, J.B. Quillen and Earl Cassel preceded her in death.
She is survived by her husband, Billy C.