Thomas Sherrill, The Franklin Press Journalist Profile

Articles

One Elk Mills section of 321 could open soon, other still slated for Labor Day weekend

1 week ago | thetomahawk.com | Thomas Sherrill

A part of U.S. 321 could be opening in weeks while another is still on track for a Labor Day week reopening. Hurricane Helene in late September 2024 washed out two sections of U.S. 321 near Watauga Lake. One runs from Greggs Branch Road to Burningtown Road in Johnson County. The second closure is a few hundred yards down 321 from the Burningtown Road intersection, which includes the bridge that is being rebuilt in the Elk Mills community. This section of the road is in Carter County.
Sunflower Festival says "goodbye" to downtown, plans move to JCHS

1 week ago | thetomahawk.com | Lily Russell |Thomas Sherrill

After a month of dispute between the mid-summer Sunflower Festival and the Town of Mountain City, the Sunflower Festival's spokesperson announced at Tuesday night's Mountain City Council meeting they're leaving downtown. Renee Proffitt of the Mountain City Sunflower Festival briefly spoke to the council during a jam-packed council meeting, saying the festival will be at Johnson County High School, moving away from downtown Mountain City.
Severe weather delays '101 Dalmatians' finale

1 week ago | thetomahawk.com | Thomas Sherrill

Heavy rain late Friday led to minor flooding at Heritage Hall and the postponement of the final performance of a local play. The Saturday, May 3, finale of “101 Dalmatians,” put on by the Johnson County Young Artists, will take place this Friday, May 9. “We experienced some flooding that caused us to be concerned about safety,” Heritage Hall said in a statement provided to The Tomahawk. “The cause has been identified and is being fixed.
Mountain City, Johnson County residents meet to oppose proposed Bitcoin mine

1 week ago | thetomahawk.com | Thomas Sherrill

Around 100 people met the night of Monday, May 5, at Local's Deli to voice their opposition to a proposed Bitcoin mine. People filled up all the chairs, with many standings and crowding in as the 6 p.m. meeting began. Since the April 24 Mountain City Planning Commission meeting, Mountain City and Johnson County residents have vehemently campaigned against the proposal by Nevada-based CleanSpark to build a Bitcoin data center in Mountain City.
Sunflower Festival says "goodbye" to Mountain City, plans move to JCHS

1 week ago | thetomahawk.com | Lily Russell |Thomas Sherrill

After a month of dispute between the mid-summer Sunflower Festival and the Town of Mountain City, the Sunflower Festival's spokesperson announced at Tuesday night's Mountain City Council meeting they're leaving downtown. Renee Proffitt of the Mountain City Sunflower Festival briefly spoke to the council during a jam-packed council meeting, saying the festival will be at Johnson County High School, moving away from downtown Mountain City.
MC Planning Commission advances food truck fee proposal

1 week ago | thetomahawk.com | Thomas Sherrill

A proposed "temporary business" permit recommended by the Mountain City Planning Commission could mean food trucks and produce stands in town limits have to pay fees in order to operate. The planning board unanimously gave its recommendation to the ordinance, which now goes to the town council.
TBI: Deadly Shoun Street fire not suspicious

1 week ago | thetomahawk.com | Thomas Sherrill

A month after a house fire killed a 51-year-old man on Shoun Street, investigators have ruled out foul play in how it started. In various statements in recent weeks, the TBI told The Tomahawk that “foul play is not suspected”: and the fire “is not suspicious in nature.”The exact cause of the March 31 fire has not been determined, the TBI stated. The fire started in the 300 block of Shoun Street around 6:15 a.m. on March 31. Within minutes, the house was fully engulfed in flames.
New chess club draws young and old in Mountain City

2 weeks ago | thetomahawk.com | Thomas Sherrill

Every Tuesday, starting at 5 p.m., folks of a varied number of ages make their way to Local’s Deli in downtown Mountain City, chess boards and pieces in hand, to compete against each other. Charlie Lowman, a bass player for the Kody Norris show, started up the Mountain City Chess Club in February after finding the closest chess club was in Johnson City.
Street-closure fees to be hot topic at May 6 MC meeting

2 weeks ago | thetomahawk.com | Thomas Sherrill

Discussions and public comments on a proposed $200 an-hour street festival rate and other proposed recreation fees are expected at the upcoming g Tuesday, May 6, Mountain City Council meeting. The council will have a budget workshop at 4:30 p.m., followed by its regular meeting at 6 p.m.The recreation and facility rental fees were formally presented to the council at its April 1 workshop.
Town council recommends water meter replacements, water line work for 2025-26 budget

2 weeks ago | thetomahawk.com | Thomas Sherrill

A trio of capital projects were favored for the 2025-26 budget after discussion at an April 22 special called Mountain City Council meeting. The 3 p.m. meeting had council members review the future capital project list through June 2026, plus pending future capital projects and possible future capital projects.