Locally Owned, Locally Accountable.
As a three-time Tennessee Press Association honoree, I’ve spent years reporting on Blount County with a focus on clear facts, steady sourcing and the stories that shape everyday life. I’m equally at home with a notebook or a camera, and I try to bring the same straightforward approach to every assignment.
I spent my childhood in the Seattle area and started in journalism in 2019, writing for my college paper in Dayton, Tennessee, where I covered the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students. Since then, I’ve covered several beats in the Blount County area, writing about first responders, courts, businesses and governments at The Daily Times.
I’ve covered developing stories like the 2024 hunt for Deputy Greg McCowan’s killer as well as deep looks at the local justice system and even little-known medical issues affecting families right here in Blount County.
I see journalism as a public service. I ask precise questions, verify the record and make complex issues understandable. At Blount County Business News, my goal is to provide timely, useful coverage — informing you on the businesses and community institutions that keep this county moving.
Alcoa is updating its 2006 comprehensive plan in a $245,000 effort to guide housing, commercial growth and infrastructure over the next 20 years.
Blount County is weighing a data center moratorium with no projects proposed. Commissioners debate setbacks, legal limits and the economic stakes.
Louisville’s zoning ordinance leaves no land zoned for data centers or warehouses, an approach officials say protects the town’s small-town character.
Customers Describe Missing Work, Unanswered Calls A Blount County fencing contractor faces a 24-count felony indictment after a dozen customers accused him of taking more than $40,000 in advance payments for work they say was never completed. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office announced the charges against Thaddeus James “T.J.” Foster, 54, Maryville, Sept. 21 following an investigation that began in
What the Proposed Blount County Housing Moratorium Would Do Blount County commissioners are considering a yearlong pause on major residential developments while officials study whether local infrastructure can accommodate continued growth. The County Commission voted 18-2 Tuesday to send the proposed moratorium to the Planning Commission for review. The measure would temporarily restrict new major subdivisions, apartment complexes and multifamily
LOUISVILLE — McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base is advancing plans for a new main entrance along Louisville Road, a project expected to cost at least $25 million and tie into state road improvements already planned for the growing industrial corridor. Louisville’s mayor said the town supports the local military installation but is watching to see how the change affects
Townsend is considering new restrictions on short-term rentals that would prevent additional properties from entering the market in one of the city’s residential zoning districts. The proposed ordinance would prohibit new short-term rentals in the R-1 low-density residential district while allowing existing rentals to continue operating. Those properties could also keep their short-term rental status when sold, provided they maintain
BLOUNT COUNTY — In September, newly elected Blount County Mayor Jared Anderson addressed the county planning commission. He thanked commissioners for their service, welcomed the newest members and then made his stance clear: He would veto any proposal to reduce the county’s minimum lot sizes. Just a few minutes later, Barack Saltzman, a representative of national homebuilder D.R. Horton, presented
ALCOA — Alcoa is moving toward tighter location and design rules for auto-oriented businesses and self-storage facilities in several of the city’s major commercial growth areas — changes that could affect which parcels developers can use and how future projects are laid out. The Alcoa Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a public hearing and as of press time
ALCOA — The City of Alcoa joins potential fire truck antitrust litigation as cities face rising costs, delivery delays Alcoa has joined a growing group of local governments pursuing antitrust claims against major fire truck manufacturers, arguing that alleged anticompetitive conduct contributed to rising prices and increasingly long waits for critical public safety equipment. The move comes as the International
LOUISVILLE — A proposed mixed-use development near Louisville and Topside Road remains in the conceptual stage, but the project is highlighting a larger economic-development challenge for the town. Officials said some residents want more commercial activity, but Louisville lacks the sewer infrastructure needed to support larger projects. Mayor Jill Pugh said property owner Jesus Yanez has presented only a concept
BLOUNT COUNTY — Experts say that inventory has recovered, homes are taking longer to sell and buyers have more negotiating power. Yet Realtor.com data showed a median listing price of $499,000 in August 2026 — just 2.2% below the May 2023 peak. Comment end Inventory has recovered, homes take longer to sell and buyers have more negotiating power. Yet Realtor.com
TOWNSEND – Visitor traffic through Townsend has slipped thus far this year, but experts say the decline may say more about an unusually strong 2025 than a weakening local tourism market. Data collected by the National Park Service shows about 860,000 visits to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park through Townsend thus far in 2026, down from 885,000 at the
TOWNSEND — Kevin and Chelly Clayton have entered a long-term investment partnership with Nashville-based Streamside RV Resorts & Campgrounds involving four Townsend tourism businesses. The agreement, announced in a July 29 release, covers Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, Little Arrow Base Camp RV Park, River Rat Tubing & Rafting and Burger Master. Financial terms and ownership stakes were not disclosed. The
GSMNP — Great Smoky Mountains National Park has begun demolishing the recreation building at LeConte Lodge, launching a reconstruction project complicated by the lack of road access to one of the park’s busiest backcountry destinations. Once finished, the project will replace a major draw for several thousand of the park’s more than 10 million annual visitors. In April, National Geographic
Blount County, Alcoa and Maryville are prepared to spend about $20 million for control of the former Alcoa South Plant — and potentially more to determine what replaces it. The three governments have approved a cooperative agreement supporting a bid for the 162.5-acre industrial property. The agreement would also divide future development and operating costs among them, which could expose
Peaceful Side Brands is preparing to open Sharons’ Half Day Cafe, a new fast-casual breakfast and lunch restaurant in Townsend focused on Appalachian ingredients and local partnerships. The business is a partnership with Benton’s Bacon and Country Hams. The approximately 80-seat restaurant is expected to open Aug. 5 at 7955 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway. It will initially operate from 7
The Alcoa Regional/Municipal Planning Commission unanimously approved the company’s site plan July 16. The development will be located on Regal Drive and include an approximately 20,000-square-foot wholesale warehouse, an ancillary plumbing showroom and a fenced outdoor storage yard. Plans also show 56 parking spaces for employees and customers. Ferguson Waterworks is a national supplier to the stormwater management, sanitary sewer
Local governments across Blount County are preparing to spend millions of dollars on a highway that may not open for another decade. Supporters say the investment is about more than building the Pellissippi Parkway Extension. Together with the ongoing Alcoa Highway relocation project, they argue the construction will shape where the county grows, improve access for businesses, make the transportation
Alcoa’s first In-N-Out Burger has moved a step closer to reality. The Alcoa Municipal-Regional Planning Commission approved concept plans and a related subdivision plat for the restaurant development at Springbrook Farm June 18. A representative of In-N-Out Burger declined to comment on an anticipated construction schedule. The proposed restaurant would be located on Tesla Boulevard to the northwest of Super
Townsend formalized oversight of its short-term rental market through a permitting and inspection system during its regular Board of Commissioners meeting May 19. City staff said the changes are aimed at improving safety standards and giving the city better visibility into the industry. The new ordinance requires short-term rental operators to maintain a city-issued permit and a business license. They
Changes to Alcoa’s sign ordinances approved in May will mean an easier process that what has been in place for developers to find pertinent information — and potentially fewer billboards in town. The new ordinances will allow advertising companies to swap static billboards for their digital cousins as long as they meet a 16-point list of requirements. The process will
At the South Blount Utility District Water Treatment Facility, a team of 12 employees monitors pumps and filters, responds to alerts and conducts tests every few hours. For most of them, their work takes place in a control room above the plant, where they keep an eye on the system and fill out paperwork. The plant is mostly
When Plant People Botanical Boutique closed its doors in March 2025, local plant enthusiasts were left without a dedicated shop close to home. Chelsea Foster noticed — and decided to do something about it. Foster opened The Grotto at 357 Sanderson St. in Alcoa on May 15, bringing a curated houseplant shop back to Blount County. The business carries everything
On May 7, Kroger on Foothills Plaza Drive charged anywhere from $7 to $12 per pound for ground beef — averaging $9.50 per pound. Jessica Waters at local farm C&C Beef charges $9 if you pay cash. And she can probably show you a picture of the cow. Rising grocery prices have not necessarily made local food cheaper than chain-store
Championship Martial Arts owner David Church said the business will remain open without interruption as staff look for their next home. The property, located at 1906 W. Broadway Ave., Maryville, was sold to Knoxville-based Tailwater Properties on March 26. Tailwater, which offers development, brokerage and real estate investment, has listed the building for lease. In a statement, Church described the
The Maryville City Council approved a rezoning request May 5 by Prisma Health — the corporate owner of Blount Memorial Hospital — that would allow the company to build an outpatient facility on Golf View Drive. The land affected, totaling about 16 acres, sits alongside the Royal Oaks subdivision in Maryville. If completed, the facility would expand Prisma’s local reach
Alcoa officials have tentatively authorized a land purchase to replace a fire station in a growing service area, signaling continued investment in public safety infrastructure amid development. The purchase agreement, approved by city commissioners last month, is currently in the due diligence phase. The city would acquire land on Hawks Landing Drive to build a new Fire Station 3. Alcoa
Louisville is moving to fix a safety issue on Lowes Ferry Road as it works to protect access to one of its publicly-funded recreation assets. The town plans to install a series of low-cost safety measures within weeks at an S-curve near Poland Creek Campground, one of only two access points to the site. According to a town-funded study, at
Townsend officials are preparing to use a new community plan to guide decisions on short-term rentals, workforce housing and future development in the city’s tourism-driven economy. The Community Plan Advisory Committee delivered the plan to the city manager’s office March 17. City Manager Don Stallions said he expects the city to begin using it to inform planning and policy decisions
Blount County has maintained an annual 5-6% jump in visitor expenditures since the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, that growth may flatten. For Blount County, where visitors generated $610.9 million in direct spending in 2024, that kind of slowdown would typically raise concern. But on the ground, tourism operators are reading the shift differently. Local experts agree that a post-2020 visitor
When Maryville completed its Downtown Master Plan in 2024, the research painted a picture of the downtown business landscape. The business mix included mostly restaurants, government services and health care. Businesses in the study area numbered around 280, with 7,400 workers and only a few hundred residents. In other words, Maryville’s downtown was a source of work. Now, property owners,
Alcoa will accept vendor applications to join its annual Independence Day celebration, FreedomFest, until March 31. City staff said vendors will know whether they have been accepted by April 2. The event, scheduled for June 27, promises visitors music, entertainment and a professional fireworks show. Emily Assenmacher, public information officer and event coordinator for Alcoa, said a core group of
Louisville will spend $30,000 to create a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to unlock the potential for future infrastructure improvement grants ahead of anticipated regional growth. According to staff with the East Tennessee Development District, the plan would help town officials identify infrastructure in need of upgrades and repairs to improve local road safety. Chris Oelgotz, a planner for the East
A new version of Louisville’s zoning ordinances approved Jan. 13 will increase clarity for developers, according to city staff. The new document collects amendments to its outdated predecessor and consolidates the regulatory framework to streamline permitting and reference. Business owners, Louisville Building and Codes Official Barry Otinger said, can now expect “clarification of what the current ordinance is in one
Townsend staff said a proposed ordinance would shift special event permit approvals from a public vote by the Townsend Commission to an administrative review by city staff, a change officials say is intended to streamline the process without increasing the number of events. Under the new framework, applications would be reviewed administratively by the city manager, police chief and fire
Rush Hemp Farms owner Ryan Rush said his business will relocate some of its operations to North Carolina this year. The move is a response to passage of House Bill 1376 and Senate Bill 1413 which became law January 1. The law bans the sale of products with high levels of THCa, THCp, and other synthetic cannabinoids, defining hemp-derived products
If everything goes according to plan, Blount County will soon have a Costco Wholesale, three Walmart Supercenters and a BJ’s Wholesale Club — five big-box retailers, or a 66% increase from 2025. That growth has left many Blount County residents wondering why national retailers are showing such strong interest in the area. Blount County, along with the greater Knoxville metropolitan
Blaze Pizza closed its only Blount County location in December, with staff clearing equipment from the building as late as Dec. 30. The Hunters Crossing, Alcoa location opened in 2018. A statement issued by the company called the move “necessary” but did not go into detail on why the business closed its doors. The future of the space was not
Alcoa will pay $1.2 million for stormwater infrastructure off Faraday Street, setting the stage to open an interior section of the Springbrook Farm development. The scheduled work will begin immediately and allow construction on the Werner Avenue corridor to continue. It also enables installations like the anticipated Alcoa Costco location. “We’re going to put in this stormwater infrastructure and then
Public input and grant dollars are fueling Louisville’s park improvements, with several hundred thousand dollars set to enable work on the Poland Creek Campground and Recreation Area and Town Hall Playground. Town officials have also approved plans for a disc golf course near the town hall. The plans stem from consultation with citizens obtained while drafting the city’s parks and
Company Distilling in Townsend will play host to the annual Tennessee Winter Beer Fest Feb. 21, an event that has raised more than $266,000 to date for the New Hope Children’s Advocacy Center. The hoppy celebration promises all-you-can-drink access to at least 20 breweries and helps fill an expanding gap in the nonprofit’s funding. The festival’s success comes at a
Local coffee entrepreneurs find ways to stay profitable in light of increased coffee prices Julia Sayles has learned a lot about coffee prices this year. Her company, called Kindred Coffee, opened in August. She offers a mix of drinks from the back of a specially designed trailer – a business location chosen because of the lower overhead needed to break
Advertisements
Advertisements