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Meet the Locals ......................A2Education ...............................A3Court Report ...........................A4Community Calendar .............A5Sports ...............................A6,7,8Agriculture ..............................A8Faith .......................................A9

From Page One ..............A10Young at Heart ....B1,3,6,7,10Service Directory ...............B2Obituaries ..........................B4Health ................................B5Classifieds ......................B8,9

INSIDE:

THE TOMAHAWKMountain City, Tennessee 3768375 centsWednesday, September 25, 2019 Vol. 145 No. 39www.thetomahawk.com

423-928-1901 423-929-9101 2340 Knob Creek Rd., Johnson City, TN

We help you hear what you’ve been missing.

By Meg DickensFREELANCE WRITER

The Johnson County Commis-sioners unanimously passed a reso-lution to raise specific court costs during their Thursday, September 19 meeting. If the budget commit-tee approves this resolution, crimes that have a victim will have an ad-ditional $45 fee imposed on those who plead guilty, are found guilty, or plead nolo contendere to specific crimes to be determined by Circuit and General Sessions Court Clerk Melissa Hollaway.

“First of all, I am in full support of the Child Advocacy Center. It’s wonderful and does a lot of good for our children,” said Hollaway. “I would rather see the money go to someone helping the children.”

All but $3 of this charge goes directly to help children in the area

Court cost increase to help abused children

Longhorns put heart into Friday night’s victory

COUNTY COMMISSIONERSTENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

By Tamas MondovicsEDITOR

In a press release, State Sena-tor Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol) and Representative Timothy Hill (R-Blountville) announced last week that Johnson County was awarded

a $50,000 ThreeStar Grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD).

According to the release, ThreeS-tar programs focus on best practices in five key community areas, includ-ing jobs and economic development,

fiscal strength and efficient govern-ment, public safety, health, educa-tion, and workforce development.

“The health and quality of life of our residents are some of my main priorities,” said Sen. Lundberg. “I am very pleased that our Department of Economic and Community De-

velopment is supporting programs and initiatives that will improve outcomes within our local commu-nity. It was an honor to support our leaders in their efforts to secure this important funding, and I look for-ward to seeing the many ways this

County awared $50,000 ThreeStar Grant

Friday night’s game at West Greene High School in Greeneville was so much more than just a football game. The Longhorns were missing a member of the family and he was on everyone’s minds and in everyone’s hearts. Coach Randy Smith was killed Monday

night in a car accident, and the game at West Greene was the first one for the team since Smith’s death. The Longhorns pulled through at the very end with a 22-21 win. Smith’s funeral was held last Saturday. See story page A-6. Photo by Beth Cox.

By Jill PenleyFREELANCE WRITER

Since Doe Mountain Recreation Area officially opened in the fall of 2013, thousands of riders and visi-tors were welcomed to the beautiful mountains of East Tennessee, but according to some, the future of the 8,600-acre recreation site was in possible jeopardy when notification came a few weeks ago of a “sunset hearing” scheduled by the Joint Government Operations Commit-tee of the Tennessee Legislature. By nature, a sunset hearing is intended to streamline state government by determining the need for agencies, such as the 15-member board of di-rectors known as the Doe Mountain Recreation Authority, to continue to exist.

“Periodically, the state reviews

Doe Mountain Recreation Authority

extended for three more years

See ThreeStar Page A10

A Special edition for our senior adults and the friends and family who love and

care for them

Young at Heart!

In this week’s Tomahawk!

Shady Valley27th Annual

Cranberry Festival

Shady ValleyElementary

See The Tomahawk’s Cranberry Festival feature publishing

October 9.423.727.5800

or 423.739.2422FREE admission

& parking

Oct. 11-12

By Tamas MondovicsEDITOR

Four Johnson County High School students were involved in a car crash last Sunday evening after their vehicle reportedly lost control and ran off the road in Mountain City.

According to the preliminary report released by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, there were four 16-year-old girls in the car when the crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. on September 22nd, 2019 on Cold Springs Road near Huggins Road in Johnson County.

THP would not release the con-dition of the four girls, but troop-ers confirmed that a 16-year-old female driver lost control of her

Local students involved in a single-

vehicle crash

See Commissioners Page A2

See Doe Page A10

See Crash Page A2

By Tamas MondovicsEDITOR

Hailing from the northeastern mountains of Tennessee, local bluegrass recording artist and songwriter Kody Norris landed a pair of blessings last week, both of which are closely tied to his love for music, his fans, and his dream.

For starters, Norris was proud to receive recognition by his home-town of Mountain City, Tennessee, after his name was added to the city’s welcome sign.

“I am very flattered to see my name on such a sign,” Norris said. “I am very proud of my hometown and try to represent my community in a positive manner throughout the world. I feel very humbled to be honored in such a way.”

Mountain City Mayor, Kevin Parsons, joined Norris during the new sign revealing ceremony.

Of course, the most significant event in the young artist’s life came just a few yards north of the sign at his newly renovated home, while exchanging marriage vows with Mary Rachel Nalley, a seasoned musician, and performer of The Kody Norris Show.

Rachel is known as a skilled multi-instrumentalist, who has played the mandolin for The Kody Norris Show in previous years, but now fills the fulltime role as fiddler. Since Kody’s onstage proposal, Rachell is also known as “sweetie.”

The ceremony was held outside Kody’s home in Mountain City, which thanks to clear blue skies and the abundance of a bright yellow sunflower-décor, lacked no evi-dence of the newlywed’s musical heritage and love for the beauty of the region.

Now at age 31, Kody has played professionally since 2005 and has clearly reached a considerable measure of success. Today he and his band continue to be loved and supported by the community that had faith in him since he was a young boy.

Kody began his musical journey

at the age of nine singing in local churches, which led to his love for the sound of bluegrass. Family and friends stepped up to the plate to ensure keeping Kody on his musi-cal course.

Today, Kody and the band is

proud of its 15 albums recorded including nearly 70 songs written by him, many of which have been recorded by numerous artists.

“I am very anxious to see what God has in store for us in both our

Bluegrass recording artist Kody Norris strengthens hometown roots

Bluegrass recording artist Kody Norris, right, is joined by Mountain City, TN Mayor, Kevin Parsons while being honored with his name

added to the town’s welcome sign. Photo by Tia Thomas

See Norris Page A2