Brandon Smith

4 days ago | johnsoncitypress.com | Brandon Smith

The Unicoi County Commission met to consider the county's operating budget for the fiscal year 2026 and to place it in a newspaper, approving the measure in a 9–0 vote Monday. The most notable change in the budget from the previous fiscal year is a significant drop of federal money in the general fund, with a decrease of $1,450,593 to $22,464, an expected difference in the wake of the Hurricane Helene flooding event of Sept. 27.

1 week ago | johnsoncitypress.com | Brandon Smith

A nationwide search for an artist — or team of artists — is underway. kAmy@9?D@? r:EJ :D 4FCC6?E=J 2446AE:?8 C6BF6DE 7@C BF2=:7:42E:@?D DF3>:DD:@?D 7@C E96 4@>>:DD:@? @7 2 D4F=AEFC2= 7@F?E2:? E92E H:== 36 A=2465 :? 2 C6E6?E:@? A@?5 H:E9:? E96 FA4@>:?8 r96C@<66 $E@C>H2E6C q2D:? A2C<]k^AmkAmpCE:DED @G6C E96 286 @7 `g C6D:5:?8 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D H:E9 AC6G:@FD AF3=:4 D4F=AEFC6 6IA6C:6?46 42? D6?5 E96:C BF2=:7:42E:@?D E@ E96 4:EJ 2?5 92G6 F?E:= yF?6 `b 2E c A]>] E@ 5@ D@]k^AmkAm%96 r96C@<66 $E@C>H2E6C q2D:?

1 week ago | timesnews.net | Brandon Smith

A nationwide search for an artist — or team of artists — is underway. Johnson City is currently accepting request for qualifications submissions for the commission of a sculptural fountain that will be placed in a retention pond within the upcoming Cherokee Stormwater Basin park. Artists over the age of 18 residing in the United States with previous public sculpture experience can send their qualifications to the city and have until June 13 at 4 p.m. to do so.

2 weeks ago | johnsoncitypress.com | Brandon Smith

A packed house voiced concerns to the Johnson City Commission late last week regarding the potential for data centers — specifically Bitcoin mining operations — in city limits. Dozens of people attended the meeting in opposition to a text amendment on the issue, telling commissioners that they were unhappy with zoning changes being made as it relates to industrial districts.

2 weeks ago | johnsoncitypress.com | Brandon Smith

The high school graduation ceremony for David Crockett High School has been postponed until 3 p.m. Sunday, Washington County School Board Member Gregg Huddlestone said. The ceremony, being held at East Tennessee State University, was to take place in the minidome on campus at 1 p.m. Saturday. A power outage hit the campus Saturday afternoon. Huddlestone said someone was “digging and cut into the main electrical line” at about 12 p.m.“We dismissed the students at 3:00.