FROM THE RADIO NEWS DEPARTMENT

A Hawkins County Man Accused Of Beating His Grandmother Has Been Arrested Again. In The Latest Incident, 20 Year Old Johnny Skeens Of Rogersville, Is Accused Of Assaulting A Man At The Final Lap, A Rogersville Bar On February 20th. He’s Charged With One Count Of Aggravated Assault, Punishable By Up To Six Years In Prison. Last Month Skeens Was Charged With Felony Willful Abuse Of An Adult For The Alleged Incident Involving His Grandmother. He Could Receive Up To Six Years In Prison On That Charge. Skeens Will Appear In Court Soon.

As U.S. Census Forms Begin Arriving In Mailboxes Across The Commonwealth, The Virginia State Police Wants To Make Sure Virginians Are Protected From Potential Census Scams. Police Said There Are Ways To Identify A Legitimate Census Taker. If You Have Any Doubt, Residents Should Ask To See Their Special Identificaton Badge; A Census Take Will Never Ask To Enter Your Home; And Census Takers Also Will Never Ask For Bank Account Or Credit Card Numbers Or Information.

A Hawkins County Plant Has Been Sold. The Nu-Energie Biodisel Facility In The Phipps Bend Industrial Park Was Auctioned Off Yesterday To A New York Businessman Who Basically Wanted The Equipment Inside. He Plans To Dismantle It And Ship It To New York And Vermont. Meanwhile, A Las Vegas Businessman’s High Bid For The Property Was Rejected. His Plans Were To Purchase The Equipment And Operate The Plant As An Ongoing Biodiesel Business In Its Current Location.

A Sullivan County Grand Jury Has Indicted A Kingsport Man For Allegedly Holding Up A City Convenience Store. 21 Year Old Devon Williams Is Charged With Aggravated Robbery And Attempted Aggravated Robbery. He’s Accused Of Robbing The Rock Springs Mart January 8th And Trying To Rob Fast Lane On Sullivan Garden’s Parkway The Same Night. Williams Is Expected To Appear In Sullivan County Criminal Court Soon For An Arraignment And Trial Date Set.

A Scott County Virginia Man Accused Of Killing His Infant Son Has Pled Guilty To Lesser Charges. 25 Year Old Michael Barton Pled Guilty To Manslaughter And Child Abuse After Originally Been Charged With Second Degree Murder In The March 2009 Death Of His Five Month Old Son. A Judge Has Ordered Barton To Spend 15 Years In Prison. The State Decided On The Reduced Charges After An Autopsy Could Not Conclude An Exact Cause Of Death.

The Sullivan County Commission’s Executive Committee Is Looking Further Into Allegations Against The County Highway Department. The Allegations Center Around A Trench That Was Dug Along Graybeal Road. Highway Commissioner Allen Pope Has Reportedly Said He Was Helping Out Bluff City By Having His Crews Dig The Ditch So They Could Install A Water Line To A 20 Acre Tract Of Land For The Development Of A Subdivision. County Attorney Dan Street Warned Against This Type Of Action. Pope Declined To Attend Last Night’s Meeting Saying He Will Address The Full Commission On The Matter. The Comittee Voted To Submit A Report To The Ethics Committee For Further Review.

Several Tri Cities People Have Been Arrested By Bristol Tennessee Police For The Sale And Distribution Of Controlled Substances. So Far, Five Of Seven Suspects Are Facing Charges. Captain Charlie Thomas Said More Arrests Are Anticipated.

A Suspected Knoxville Gang Member Wanted For Terrorizing His Girlfriend And Four Year Old With A Knife And Guns Is In Custody. Lt. B.J. Richardson Said 20 Year Old Jonathan Jessee Ryans Was Captured By The U.S. Marshal’s Office In Knoxville. Ryans Allegedly Attempted To Ram His Girlfriend’s Car With Another Vehicle During A Chase From Kingsport To Blountville. He’s Charged With Two Counts Each Of Aggravated Domestic Assault And Kidnapping, And One Count Of Felony Reckless Endangerment And Vandalism Over 500 Dollars. Richardson Said Ryans Is Being Returned To Sullivan County To Face The Charges.

The Name Of The Person Seriously Injured During A Shooting In Greene County Has Been Released By Police. 23 Year Old Kenyetta Fields, Jr., Suffered Gunshot Wounds To The Face During The Incident At Hidden Oaks Apartments On West Summer Street. Fields Is Currently Listed In Critical Condition At A Johnson City Hospital. Anyone With Information Regarding This Shooting Should Call Police.

A Local High School Football Standout And Dallas Cowboy Tight End Has Been Named The Honorary Starter For The Food City 500 Race At Bristol Motor Speedway Next Week. Jason Witten From Elizabethton Will Start The Race On Sunday, March 21st. Food City President And Ceo Steve Smith Said He’s Excited About Having Witten, Who Also Started At The University Of Tennessee For Three Years, Wave The Green Flag At The Race.