FROM THE RADIO NEWS DEPARTMENT

Could Football Be Returning To East Tennessee State University? Committee For 125, A Group Formed To Help Etsu Plan For Its Future, Listened To Recommendations On Wednesday From Six Task Forces And One Of Those Included Football. The Athletic Task Force Recommended The Return Of The Sport. ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland Is Optimistic. Also On The Agenda Was A Performing Arts Center. Another Task Force Also Suggested Getting Details Of A Five Year Plan For A Dental School At Etsu.

The Tennessee Supreme Court Has Disbarred Another Northeast Tennessee Lawyer. The Board Of Professional Responsibility Filed A Petition For Discipline Against David Garrett Mullins Of Sullivan County. It Charges Him With Neglect, Failure To Communicate With Clients, Practicing Law While Suspended And Accepting Fees Then Abandoning Clients’ Cases. He Has Also Been Ordered To Pay Over 15-Thousand In Restitution.

Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey Is Working To Pass A Bill In The Next Legislative Session That Would Allow Handgun Carry Permit Holders To Keep Their Weapons Locked In Their Cars. Campus Police Chiefs And Others In Academia Have Opposed Previous Versions Of This Legislation. Similar Bills Have Not Passed In Recent Years.

The Oldest Living Person, Who Was An East Tennesee Statue University Graduate, Has Died In Georgia. 116-Year Old Besse Cooper Was Born In Sullivan County In 1896. She Graduated From ETSU Normal School In Johnson City Just Five Years After It Opened. Cooper Had Been In Failing Health In Recent Years And Resided In A Nursing Home.

Sullivan County Officials Have Made An Offer To Settle A Lawsuit Filed Against The County Sheriff’s Office. The County Commission’s Executive Committee Offered 85-Thousand Dollars To Attempt To Settle A 1.5 Million Dollar Lawsuit Filed By Margaret Spradlin And Her Daughter, Shirley Brewer In U.S. District Court In Greeneville. The Suit Stems From An Incident In April 2011 In Which Law Enforcement Officials Converged On Their Home Looking For Junior Spradlin Who Was Wanted For Murder In Virginia. A Tear Gas Canister Thrown Into The Home Sparked A Blaze Which Destroyed Everything They Owned.

Kingsport Police Are Investigating A Possible Murder-Suicide. Just Before Midnight On Tuesday, Officers Responded To A 911 Call From A Man On High Ridge Road Who Said His Wife Was Deceased. When Officers Arrived, They Found A Man And A Woman Dead From Apparent Gunshot Wounds. The Couple’s Been Identified As Norman And Mary Ann Hensley, Who Were Husband And Wife. Anyone With Any Information About The Incident Is Asked To Contact Kingsport Police At 423-229-9429.

The City Of Kingsport Is Once Again Working With Developer Stewart Taylor In Hopes Of Attracting A Major Retailer At The Proposed Heritage Point Complex At The Intersection Of Interstate 81 And 26. The Kingsport Economic Development Board Has Voted To Approve A Development Agreement With Taylor. As Part Of That Agreement, The Board Will Have An Options To Purchase About 17 Acres At Heritage Point For Just Over 5-Million Dollars. The Agreement Must Be Approved By The Kingsport Board Of Mayor And Alderman.

Health Officials Say This Is The Earliest Start To A Flu Season Since 2003 And They Believe It Could Be A Particularly Severe One. The Flu Vaccine Is Especially Important For People At High Risk For Serious Illness Or Death From Influenza Which Includes Young Children. Children Covered By Tenncare And Children Without Insurance That Covers The Flu Vaccine Can Get Vaccinated At County Health Department Clinics For A Small Adiministrative Fee.

The 2012 United Way Of Greene County Campaign Is Rolling On. The Agency Is Currently At Over 60-Percent Of Its Goal Of 650-Thousand Dollars. A Total Of 407-Thousand Dollars Has Been Pledged So Far. The Funds Raised Through The Annual Campaign Go To Serve 23 Community Service Organizations.

The Blue Plum Festival In Johnson City Has A New Director. The Friends Of Olde Downtowne Announced Brandi Woodall, Owner Of Positive Approach Events And Venue At The King Centre, Will Be The Director Of The 14th Annual Blue Plum Festival And First Friday. She Will Assume Her New Role At The Beginning Of January.

A Kingsport Man Is Facing Child Sex Abuse Charges Following An Investigation By The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office. 55 Year Old Larry Sumner Was Indicted On 31 Counts Each Of Rape, Statutory Rape By An Authority Figure, Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor And 11 Counts Of Contributing To The Delinquency Of A Minor. Evidence Indicated There Were Multiple Victims Involved Dating Back To The Early 90’s. As Of Right Now, Authorities Believe There Are At Least Nine Other Victims. Additional Charges Are Pending. Sumner Is Being Held Without Bond. Anyone Who Has Information Concerning A Potential Victim Is Being Asked To Contact The Sheriff’s Office.

The Next Leader Of The University Of Virginia’s College At Wise Is Expected To Be Named By The End Of The Week. The Virginia Board Of Visitors Will Meet Friday Morning At Ten O’clock In UVA-Wise’s Prior Convocation Center To Appoint The College’s 8th Chancellor. UVA President Teresa Sullivan Appointed A 15-Member Committee To Assist In Selecting The Next Chancellor As Well As A Search Firm To Assist In The Process. Former Chancellor David Prior Died In February Following A Brief Illness.

Washington County Tennessee Leaders Have Learned About Several Ways To Save On Solid Waste Costs. The County’s Solid Waste Committee Meeting This Week Gave Preliminary Calculations To Show The County Could Save Upwards Of Over 200-Thousand Dollars On Its Solid Waste Disposal Costs. The County Spends An Average Of 627-Thousand Dollars Yearly To Haul Waste From Its Five Convenience Centers To The City Owned Landfill. Switching To Another Landfill, Even With The County Paying The Hauling Cost, Would Save Just Over 212-Thousand Dollars Each Year. The County Is Going To Hear More Options And Discuss The Idea Further Before Making Any Changes.