Sheriff Bill Davis said he was surprised last week when Channel 9 contacted him about complaints made by a former jailer.

A dispute between neighbors last Friday over 4-wheelers riding on Chestuee Road resulted in the shooting death of Steven Gargala and the arrest of Clayton Neal Pike, Jr. Pike has been charged with first degree murder.

A routine traffic stop for speeding led to three arrests, a brief foot chase and the discovery of a rolling meth lab just inside the Benton city limits last Wednesday.

Copper Basin Hospital District trustees and Copper Basin Community Hospital Inc. have taken steps that could avoid a lawsuit over the hospital lease.

A crowd of around twenty concerned residents from the Cookson Creek road area gathered at last week’s county planning meeting to discuss a proposal from the developers of Ocoee Mountain Club.

The county commission last week failed to second a motion to approve a required plan for continued participation in the state’s Three Star Program.

The county commission last week voiced displeasure with county attorney Denny Mobbs, argued with Sheriff Bill Davis over a budget amendment, increased the litigation tax and took other actions at its regular meeting.

The county commission voted 6-0 to join the effort by the Copper Basin Hospital district to amend the lease for operation of Copper Basin Medical Center by Copper Basin Community Hospital Inc.

A trout fisherman enjoys a beautiful Hiwassee River sunset near "Fox's Cabin"

According to Director of Schools James Jones, the $989,000 in BEP growth money this year turned out to be $80,000.

Revenue from state inmates at the new jail could triple the amount expected in the budget for this fiscal year.

According to Detective Dennis Waters of the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, evidence was collected at the home of Wilcoxon and the investigation is ongoing.

An investigation into the fraudulent use of a credit led to 29 counts of credit card fraud and the discovery of more than a thousand email accounts set up to use stolen credit card information.

A recent request for a variance by Ocoee Mountain Club developers to permit a development on Cookson Creek Road that included lots smaller than the minimum set in the regulations led to the discussion.

All local governments have had to add thousands of dollars to their budgets for fuel this year, and will have to keep the increase in place for the budgets that begin July 1, but it doesn’t stop there.

Tourism businesses are voicing concern about the impact of high gas prices on an important part of the county’s economy.

Harry Rymer of Old Fort is one of 17 area farmers accepted into the University of Tennessee switchgrass farmer incentive program.