FROM THE RADIO NEWS DEPARTMENT

A Tri Cities Holiday Tradition That Helps Less Fortunate Children Has Wrapped Up. In Conjunction With Food City, The 7th Annual Johnia Berry Holiday Toy Drive Accepted Toy Donations In Barrels Placed Inside Their Stores Through Wednesday. Berry, A Tri Cities Native, Was Murdered In Knoxville On December 6th, 2004. In Addition To The Many Toys That Were Given By Area Residents During The Event, Food City And Coca Cola Donated 10-Thousand Dollars To The Cause. The Toys Will Be Distributed To Area Children To Ensure They Have A Joyous Christmas.

A Johnson City Man Is Behind Bars Facing Felony Charges. 22 Year Old Joshua Burchfield Is Charged With Felony Reckless Endangerment. The Charge Stems From A Traffic Crash On Interstate 26 Near Old Stage Road. Burchfield Reportedly Struck Another Vehicle After He Had Been Driving Recklessly. He Was Booked Into The Washington County Detention Center Under A 10-Thousand Dollar Bond. Burchfield Will Appear In Washington County General Sessions Court Soon.

Johnson City Employees Could End Up Paying Lower Annual Membership Fees At The New Taxpayer-Financed Memorial Park Community Center. As Much As A 30 Percent Drop Could Come If City Leaders Approve A One Age Proposal Tonight By The Parks And Recreation Department. The 15-Million Dollar, 67-Thousand Square Foot Center Across From City Hall Is Being Funded By General Obligation Bonds Through The City’s General Fund.

Johnson City Authorities Have Released The Name Of A Man Who Died In A Home Fire On Monday. 57 Year Old Gary Schill’s Body Was Discovered Inside The Residence On East Watauga Avenue. His Body Was Located In The Living Room. The Fire Investigation Revealed The Blaze Began In The Area Of The Front Entrance Of The Residence, And Extended Into The Floor And Wall Beside The Front Door Before Spreading To The Carport. The Johnson City Police Department And The Tennessee State Bomb And Arson Section Are Working With The Johnson City Fire Department In Trying To Determine The Cause Of The Fire.

A Kingsport Based Chemical Company Is Increasing The Amount It Pays To Its Investors. The Board Of Directors Of Eastman Has Increased Its Quarterly Cash Dividend By Fifteen Cents To $0.30 Per Share On The Company’s Common Stock. The Dividend Is Payable On December 31st To Its Stockholders Of Record.

Changes Coming To Scott County Virginia’s Zoning Ordinance. The Board Of Supervisors Has Decided To Change The Rules On Setback Requirements For Residential Development Which Means, County Residents Can Use Property That Was Previously Blocked From Development. Board Chairman Danny Mann Reportedly Said He Belives The Change Will Make It Easier For People To Develop Residential Property Throughout The County. Meanwhile, The Board Also Voted To Rezone 44 Parcels In The Duffield-Highway 58 Corridor Along Duff=Patt Road For Commercial Use.

A Man Accused In A Shooting New Year’s Day At The Waffle House On East Stone Drive In Kingsport Has Made Another Court Appearance. Attorneys For Michael Bunche Want To Get Their Client’s Bond Reduced. Bunche Is Charged With Attempted First Degree Murder, Possession Of A Handgun By A Convicted Felon, And Theft Over 500 Dollars. The Victim, Kristen Smith, Sustained Numerous Gunshot Wounds. Customers Were Able To Disarm Bunche Before Police Arrived. Prosecutors Say They Might Try To Get Bond For Bunche Increased At A Hearing In January.

A Tractor Trailer/Train Collision In Glade Spring Virginia Has Left One Person Dead. It Happened Yesterday Afternoon At The Grace Street Crossing. Authorities Confirmed The Driver Of The Truck Was Killed But His Name Hasn’t Been Released At This Time. Representatives Of Norfolk Southern Were On Hand Yesterday To Make Sure Both The Train And The Tracks Were Safe. The Investigation Is Ongoing.

A Hawkins County Bus Driver Accused Of Leaving A Kindergarten Student On A Bus Has Resigned. The Little Boy Reportedly Didn’t Get Off The Bus With Other Students. Authorities Said He Managed To Find A Space In A Fence At The Schools Transportation Department And Make His Way Back To School Safely. School Officials Said A Safety Check Walk-Through On The Bus Was Not Completed. School Officials Are Working With School Bus Drivers To Make Sure This Doesn’t Happen Again.