FROM THE RADIO NEWS DEPARTMENT

State safety officials say they aren’t surprised that traffic fatalities were up statewide in 2012. Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons noted that 2011 had the lowest number of Tennessee traffic deaths in nearly a half-century. The preliminary death count for last year was 1,019 people. That was up from 937 traffic fatalities in 2011. Gibbons said that was the lowest death toll is 48 years and officials knew it would be difficult to replicate. Preliminary statistic show more than 24 percent of 2012 traffic deaths involved alcohol. More than half of those killed weren’t wearing seat belts.

The Southern States Washington County Cooperative In Abingdon Is Holding A Public Farm Meeting. Members Of The Usda Farm Service Agency, Rural Development And The Natural Resources Conservation Service Will Be In Attendance. The Meeting Will Take Place Thursday January 24th At 6:30 At The Southern States Cooperative On West Main Street In Abingdon.

Kingsport Is Gearing Up For The 13th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March. The Parade Will Be Held Monday From Noon To 1pm And Will Be Along East Center Street Ending On Shelby Street At The City Parking Lot. For More Information Or To Register To Participate, Call 423-956-0675

The Project Manager For The Washington County Tennessee Development Council Has Been Named Chairman Of The Tennessee Department Of Environment And Conservation Commissioner’s Council On Greenways And Trails. Dan Reese Has Worked With The Commissioner’s Council For The Past Six Years, But This Is The First Time He’s Ever Been Appointed Chairman. He Will Lead A 15-Member Council Of Representatives From Across The State How Funds Are Used For Greenways In Trails In Tennessee. He Assumes The Role February 1st.

Sullivan County Has Received A 225-Thousand Counter Offer To Settle A Lawsuit Filed By Two Women Over A Fire That Burned Their Home. It Was Made After The County Commission’s Executive Committee Offered 85-Thousand Dollars To Settle The Suit. Margaret Spradlin And Her Daughter, Shirley Brewer, Filed The 1.5-Million Dollar Lawsuit In U.S. District Court In Greeneville In April Naming The Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Wayne Anderson And 14 Deputies. The Suit Stems From An Incident That Took Place In April 2011 In Which Law Enforcement Officials Converged On The Home Looking For Junior Spradlin Who Was Wanted For Murder. A January 21st 2014 Trial Date Is Set For The Case In Federal Court.

Gate City Virginia Is Experiencing A Power Outage To One Of The Pump Stations That Supplies Water To One Of The Tanks In Town. Town Manager Jeremy Keller Says They’re In The Process Of Finding A Generator. Again, If You Are A Gate City Water Customer, Please Conserve Water Today.

Area Authorities Are Urging Motorists To Stay Off The Roads If Possible. But If You Do Have To Travel, Please Use Extreme Caution And Allow Yourself Extra Time To Get Where You’re Going. Roads Are Iced And Snow Covered In Northeast Tennessee And Southwest Virginia. Travel On Interstate 81 Towards Wytheville Is Not Recommended. Meanwhile, More Than 14-Thousand Appalachian Power Customers In Northeast Tennessee And 72-Thousand In Southwest Virginia Are Without Electricity This Morning. Crews Are Working To Restore Power. Dominion Power Reported No Significant Outages.