FROM THE RADIO NEWS DEPARTMENT

Elizabethton Will Be Searching For A New Police Chief. Matt Bailey Resigned On Friday Citing Health Reasons And Wanting To Spend More Time With Family. He Submitted His Resignation To The City Manager. His Last Day On The Job Will Be December 30th. Major Greg Workman Will Assume Bailey’s Duties At That Time Until A New Police Chief Can Be Hired.

The Kingsport Area Transit Service Has A New Name For Its ADA/Para-transit Service. Kats Is Now Offering The Service As “Dial-A-Ride”. The Service Provides Next-Day Transportation Service For Residents With A Disability Or Health-Related Condition That Prevents Them From Independently Boarding A Regular, Fixed-Route Bus. The Cost Of The Service Is Typically A $2 Per One-Way Trip. Dial-A-Ride Operates Monday Through Friday From 7:30am To 5:30pm And To Quality For The Service, A Completed Application Must Be Submitted. For More Information Visit Kingsport Transit Dot Org.

The Kingsport Mets Baseball Team Is Under New Management. The New York Mets Have Announced Plans To Directly Manage Its Rookie Appalachian League Team And Oversee The Facilities Operation At Hunter Wright Stadium Beginning In The 2013 Season. Jeff Wilpon, The Mets Chief Operating Officer, Said The Decision To Directly Assume Business And Facilities Operations For The K-Mets Reinforces The Mets Commitment To Kingsport And The Continued Belief In The Vitality Of The Franchise.

Three People Have Been Indicted By A U.S. District Court Grand Jury In Greeneville For Allegedly Scheming To Submit False Crop Insurance Claims To The Government. Glenn Martin Jr. Of Limestone, His Ex-Wife Janet Garland Of Unicoi And Her Brother Joseph Matchett Of Washington County Are Charged With Conspiracy And Submitting False Crop Insurance Claims. Martin Also Is Charged With Concealing Assets During Bankruptcy. Martin Allegedly Arranged For Garland And Matchett To Become Tobacco Producers In 2009 And Agreed To Finance All Of The Farm’s Expenses Including Obtaining Crop Loss Insurance. Prosecutors Allege The Defendants Made False Statements And Reports. All Three Will Appear In Court Soon.

Two Post Offices In Southwest Virginia Will Reduce Their Hours Of Operation To Remain Open. The Appalachia Post Office Window Will Be Open Six Hours Weekdays While The East Stone Gap Post Office Window Will Be Open Four Hours Weekdays. The Changes Will Likely Not Go Into Effect Until Late January. Nearly 45 People Attended Meetings Held For Both Post Office Locations. The Public Was More In Favor Of Reducing Hours Of Customer Service Than Losing Their Post Offices All Together. The Move Comes As The Postal Service Is Working To Keep It’s Head Above The Water Financially.

The Selection Has Been Narrowed Down To Four Candidates Vying For The Washington County/Johnson City Ems Executive Director Position. Those Finalists Include Brad Gerfin, Dan Wheeley, Allen Sims, And Mark English. Face-To-Face Interviews Will Now Be Conducted And A Recommendation Is Expected To Be Made To The Full Board In December.