Robert Houk

Tennessee

Editor at Johnson City Press

Johnson City Press in Johnson City, Tenn.

Articles

Washington County eyeing plan for convenience voting centers

6 days ago | johnsoncitypress.com | Robert Houk

Budget concerns could alter a plan by the Washington County Election Commission to implement countywide convenience voting centers (CVC) in the next fiscal year. kAm$96=:2 w2J6D[ H9@ :D D6CG:?8 2D E96 4@F?EJ’D :?E6C:> 25>:?:DEC2E@C @7 6=64E:@?D[ E@=5 4@F?EJ 4@>>:DD:@?6CD C646?E=J E92E E96 t=64E:@? r@>>:DD:@? 92D AC6A2C65 2 AC@A@D65 ?6H 3F586E E92E H@F=5 FE:=:K6 E96 r'r 4@?46AE H96? G@E6CD 8@ E@ E96 A@==D @? |2J e[ a_ae 7@C E96 DE2E6 2?5 4@F?EJ AC:>2CJ 6=64E:@?]k^AmkAm~?6 6=6>6?E @7 E96 A=2?
Washington County eyeing plan for convenience voting centers

1 week ago | timesnews.net | Robert Houk

Budget concerns could alter a plan by the Washington County Election Commission to implement countywide convenience voting centers (CVC) in the next fiscal year. Shelia Hayes, who is serving as the county’s interim administrator of elections, told county commissioners recently that the Election Commission has prepared a proposed new budget that would utilize the CVC concept when voters go to the polls on May 6, 2026 for the state and county primary election.
State and local officials dedicate new Taylor Bridge

1 week ago | timesnews.net | Robert Houk

Gov. Bill Lee described the noise from a motorcycle and other vehicles crossing the Alfred A. Taylor Bridge on Friday as “a sweet sound.”Lee joined state and local officials in dedicating the new Tenn. Highway 81 bridge over the Nolichucky River just eight months after it was demolished by deadly flooding from Hurricane Helene. ‘This is a redemptive day,” the governor told those attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Governor gets first look at processing facility in Telford

1 week ago | timesnews.net | Robert Houk

Gov. Bill Lee was given a tour of the Appalachian Producers Cooperative’s (APC) new meat processing center in Telford on Friday. Lee’s administration contributed $2 million in state agriculture grants for the $12.9 million project, which APC officials say is the first of its kind in Northeast Tennessee.
State and local officials dedicate new Taylor Bridge

1 week ago | johnsoncitypress.com | Robert Houk

Gov. Bill Lee described the noise from a motorcycle and other vehicles crossing the Alfred A. Taylor Bridge on Friday as “a sweet sound.”kAm{66 ;@:?65 DE2E6 2?5 =@42= @77:4:2=D :?
Governor gets first look at processing facility in Telford

1 week ago | johnsoncitypress.com | Robert Houk

Gov. Bill Lee was given a tour of the Appalachian Producers Cooperative’s (APC) new meat processing center in Telford on Friday. kAm{66’D 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 4@?EC:3FE65 Sa >:==:@? :? DE2E6 28C:4F=EFC6 8C2?ED 7@C E96 S`a]h >:==:@? AC@;64E[ H9:49 p!r @77:4:2=D D2J :D E96 7:CDE @7 :ED <:?5 :? }@CE962DE %6??6DD66]k^AmkAm%96 `e[h__\DBF2C6\7@@E >62E AC@46DD:?8 724:=:EJ :D 3F:=E @? 2 g\24C6 EC24E =@42E65 @77 &]$] w:89H2J ``t 25;246?E E@ E96 y@?6D3@C@F89 u=62 |2C<6E 2?5 ?62C E96 6?EC2?46 E@ E96 (2D9:?8E@?
County officials approve school budget with 'no new funds'

1 week ago | timesnews.net | Robert Houk

The Washington County Board of Education will get no help from the County Commission when it comes to erasing a $6.1 million deficit in the proposed new budget for schools. On Thursday, the county’s Budget Committee voted to approve a revised school budget that includes no additional funding from the county’s coffers.
Washington County officials set to name interim judge

1 week ago | johnsoncitypress.com | Robert Houk

Washington County commissioners are scheduled to name an interim next month to fill a vacancy on the Sessions Court bench created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Robert Lincoln. kAm%96 3@2C5 92D 28C665 E@ >2<6 E92E 2AA@:?E>6?E 2E E96:C C68F=2C >66E:?8 @? yF?6 ab] %96 :?E6C:> H:== D6CG6 @FE E96 C6>2:?56C @7 {:?4@=?’D F?6IA:C65 E6C> F?E:= (2D9:?8E@? r@F?EJ’D ?6IE D4965F=65 86?6C2= 6=64E:@? @? pF8] e[ a_ae]k^AmkAm{:?4@=? 2??@F?465 :? |2C49 96 H:== C6E:C6 7C@> E96 36?49 @? yF?6 b_] %96 #6AF3=:42?
Washington County officials set to name interim judge

1 week ago | timesnews.net | Robert Houk

Washington County commissioners are scheduled to name an interim next month to fill a vacancy on the Sessions Court bench created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Robert Lincoln. The board has agreed to make that appointment at their regular meeting on June 23. The interim will serve out the remainder of Lincoln’s unexpired term until Washington County’s next scheduled general election on Aug. 6, 2026. Lincoln announced in March he will retire from the bench on June 30.
Taylor Bridge in Washington County now open to traffic

1 week ago | johnsoncitypress.com | Robert Houk

The Alfred A. Taylor Bridge on Tenn. Highway 81 has opened a month ahead of schedule. Traffic is now crossing the new bridge over the Nolichucky River that was constructed eight months after historic flooding from Hurricane Helene destroyed it on Sept. 27. Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy said Tuesday the early opening of the bridge is “great news” to local residents and others who travel that busy stretch of state highway.