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Local News Stories from 92.9 WNPC
Set your clock; Change your batteries
As clocks move ahead this weekend for daylight saving time, Tennessee State Fire Marshal and Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Leslie A. Newman reminds Tennesseans to change their smoke alarm batteries, as well. “ Change your clock, change your battery’ is an easy phrase to remember and practice, when you update your clocks this weekend,” says Newman. “Smoke alarms, even those that are hard-wired, should have their batteries replaced regularly and be tested monthly to ensure you have the protection you need,” Newman says. A working smoke alarm will double your survival chances during a home fire by giving you the critical time needed to escape. Most home fires occur at night when people are sleeping. The smoke and toxic gases from a fire can cause you to sleep more deeply, diminishing the chances of survival. More than 90 percent of all American homes have smoke alarms, but as many as one-third of them don’t work – because of old or missing batteries.
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Gonzalez is sentenced on cocaine charges
A Cocke County man has been ordered to serve a 63 month federal prison term after he pleaded guilty to a federal cocaine offense. Joshua Gonzalez, 25, Castle Heights, Newport, was arrested last year by a Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force. In October of last year he pleaded guilty before Judge Ronnie Greer to a charge of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Federal investigators say on several occasions in August and September of last year, the defendant sold cocaine to an undercover agent after a meeting at the Time Out Truckstop on West Highway 25/70. On one occasion, Gonzalez said he could sell the agent two kilograms of cocaine for $18,000 to $19,000 per kilogram. The plea agreement says Gonzalez conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute, at least two kilos but not more than 3.5 kilos of cocaine, between August and September 8 of last year.
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Crabtree faces charges
A former employee of the Mapco convenience store on West Broadway in Newport, was taken into custody Wednesday on four counts of theft. Becky Crabtree, 40, Elena Lane, Newport, was allegedly observed on video, taking merchandise and allowing friends to take merchandise without paying for it, in October, 2009, according to Newport Detective Jason Ramsey. A store official also has alleged that the defendant took cash from the register to pay for drug transactions on several occasions and also offered sex to store customers in exchange for money.
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Bridge to be closed on March 17
The detour around the Interstate 40 rockslide in North Carolina, will itself experience a detour on March 17, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). Motorists using U.S. Highway 25/70 will be routed off the highway because TDOT bridge inspectors will close the bridge over the French Broad River in Bridgeport to perform a routine bridge inspection. As a result, the highway from Newport to the intersection with Highway 340, will be closed to through traffic from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on that day. Motorists will be detoured onto U.S. Highway 321 and State Route 340, so motorists using U.S.Highway 25/70, east of Newport, will need to take an alternate route. The U.S. Highway 25/70 bridge over the French Broad River is a steel truss bridge originally constructed in 1932. It is weight restricted to a maximum of 10 tons, so traffic cannot use the bridge during the inspection to allow for the weight of the inspection trucks. Since the massive rockslide closed Interstate 40 in North Carolina in October 2009, traffic except for large trucks, have used U.S Highway 25/70 as a detour. The interstate is expected to be re-opened to traffic in late April. “We realize this is an inconvenience for motorists, but we take the safety of the traveling public seriously and bridge inspections are a high priority for TDOT,” says Region One Director Steve Borden. “Under our bridge inspection program this weight restricted structure is required to be inspected every six months.” TDOT has a $6.2 million contract to replace the bridge in question. A new structure is currently under construction and is expected to open by this Fall.
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Friday, March 12, 2010
Set your clock; Change your batteries
Gonzalez is sentenced on cocaine charges
Crabtree faces charges
Bridge to be closed on March 17
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Ball faces federal charges
Stock gets six years followed by lifetime supervision
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Police Chief Shults graduates from SECLA
Newport City Council action
New bolting system for the I-40 mountainside
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Lakeway Central Volunteer Fire to get funding assistance
Monday, March 08, 2010
Teen injured in crash
Legislative breakfast
Firefighters respond to two home fires
Klezmer band to play on local campuses
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