My journey in the news business started back in 1987 at the Knoxville News Sentinel while I was still a student at Heritage High School. From there, I continued through UT’s Journalism program, working as a reporter and photojournalist for The Daily Beacon. Those early experiences set the stage for an adventurous career that’s taken me from the Pacific islands to Central America, Alaska, Montana, Missouri back to Tennessee — working as a photojournalist, reporter, editor, and publisher in both military and civilian settings.
Triple F, an athletic development facility that trains youth and adults using individualized testing and coaching, marked its grand opening Monday with a ribbon-cutting at its new location in Midland Plaza, 252 S. Calderwood St., Alcoa. The facility is the second for founder Lee Smith, a former NFL tight end, following his original location in Solway, near West Knoxville. Smith
LOUISVILLE – Sixteen Peaks Cattle Company has been named Grand Champion Overall at the inaugural American Akaushi Association Branded Beef Challenge, earning national recognition for the Blount County ranch’s Fullblood Akaushi beef program. The competition took place during the association’s National Convention in College Station, Texas. Sixteen Peaks first won the Fullblood Akaushi Division championship, then was selected as the
ROCKFORD — Siemens Healthineers is expanding its molecular imaging operation in Rockford, investing more than $43.6 million and creating over 90 new jobs at the company’s Dunavant Drive facility over the next five years, Gov. Bill Lee and state economic development officials announced Sept. 9. The investment will fund a newly renovated research and development center at the site, which
MARYVILLE — For Blount County parents weighing the cost of a college education against the value of the degree at the end of it, Maryville College is offering a chance to get both questions answered in one evening. The college’s annual Blount County College Fair and Financial Aid Night is set for Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the Clayton Center for
In this month’s recommended reading list, we find books to help you understand housing, workforce challenges and how to leverage the experience economy to build your business. “The Experience Economy” by B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore. A business classic arguing that experiences — not just goods and services — should now be seen as their own
MARYVILLE — Construction on a new single-story commercial building on Broadway in downtown Maryville is set to begin this month, according to developer James Tomiczek, a partner in the project. The building, which does not yet have an official name, will include five commercial spaces on a site that has sat vacant as a grassy lot. Vision Property Services, the
Smart Business Travel by Rick Hudolin, Travel Hounds Travel Advisors There’s a moment I love when traveling.The bags are packed. The out-of-office message is on. You’ve made it through the airport, boarded the ship, checked into the resort, or finally pulled away from home for that long-awaited road trip. For the first time in weeks, maybe months, you can exhale.That’s
GREENBACK — Austin Green built his first haunted house in a backyard in 2018, a five-minute setup for neighborhood trick-or-treaters. Eight years later, he manages a seasonal operation with 30 to 50 contract workers, multiple months of planning and strategy, a monthlong marketing push and a short Halloween season that runs on razor-thin margins. Green and his business partner, Michael
MARYVILLE — A new academic year is underway at Maryville College, but the Office of Admissions is already looking ahead to the students who will make College Hill their home in the fall of 2027. Those prospective Scots and their families will have an opportunity to experience the College firsthand during the first “Meet Maryville” event of the 2026-27 academic year, scheduled for
MARYVILLE — When Allegheny Petroleum Products bought McNutt Oil Co. at the end of last year, it wasn’t just acquiring nearly 6 acres of land and a loyal customer base built over more than 80 years. It was handing the site to a family with a similar story of its own. Barbara Kudis, president of the Monroeville, Pennsylvania-based company, was
Hotel/Motel Taxes (Gross) Total Blount County Tax Receipts YTD Received: $3,749,590 Source: Blount County Clerk’s Office (blounttn.org/309/County-Clerk) Great Smoky Mountains National Park Total Park Visitors 2026 Total Visitors: 9,817,6372025 Total Visitors: 11,527,939 Total Overnight Stays Source: National Park Service (irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSReports/Park%20Specific%20Reports/Park%20YTD%20Version%201?Park=GRSM)
Blount County Mortgage Rates 15 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage RATE 1-YR CHANGE 52-WK AVG 52-WK RANGE 6.04% 0.44% 5.64% 5.35% – 6.04% 30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage RATE 1-YR CHANGE 52-WK AVG 52-WK RANGE 6.71% 0.21% 6.32% 5.98% – 6.71% Source: Freddie Mac (freddiemac.com/pmms) as of 9/5/2026 New Home Construction in August 2026 < $200K $200-399K $400-699K +$700K 3 16
FUEL PRICES Knoxville Metro MONTH REGULAR DIESEL JAN $2.455 $3.240 FEB $2.427 $3.290 MAR $2.955 $3.290 APR $3.862 $5.456 MAY $4.226 $5.211 JUN $3.769 $4.945 JUL $3.269 $4.478 AUG $3.548 $4.977 SEP $3.745 5.585 YTD Avg $/Gal. $3.362 $4.497 Knoxville Metro Prices Over Time National Average This Month Regular $4.146/gallon Diesel $5.882/gallon Source: AAA (gasprices.aaa.com/?state=TN) CONSUMER PRICE INDEX 12-month Percentage
Labor Statistics Initial Unemployment Claims MONTH BLOUNT KNOX LOUDON JAN 313 5,551 582 FEB 168 4,110 393 MAR 173 3,744 353 APR 139 3,524 307 MAY 239 4,784 410 JUN 159 4,589 421 JUL 109 3,752 411 AUG MTD 401 1698 145 Total Unemployment Claims Blount County Initial Claims by Age Group Source: TN Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development
MARYVILLE — David and Annie Haslam Colquitt, the family that owns RT Lodge, have committed $1.5 million to Maryville College’s campaign to build the Alexander Institute for Conservation Leadership and the Sciences, the college announced this week. The gift will support the Natalie Leach Haslam Center for Environmental Education, a planned public-facing component of the Institute designed to connect visitors
See YTD Price Changes Apples, ground beef lead the pack in price increases While most people are focused on ground beef prices, Gala apples quietly rose to the top of the price increase list in most locations. Every month our team goes to six Blount County grocery stores to compare prices on common shopping cart items. There are seven tabs:
MARYVILLE – Maryville College is starting the 2026-27 academic year with 10 new faculty members, bringing the private liberal arts school’s total faculty count to 79, according to the college’s Division of Academic Affairs. The new hires include five visiting lecturers, three lecturers and two assistant professors across disciplines ranging from hospitality and tourism to computer science, sociology and English.
Labor Statistics Initial Unemployment Claims MONTH BLOUNT KNOX LOUDON JAN 313 5,551 582 FEB 168 4,110 393 MAR 173 3,744 353 APR 139 3,524 307 MAY 239 4,784 410 JUN 159 4,589 421 JUL 109 3,752 411 AUG MTD 401 1698 145 Total Unemployment Claims Blount County Initial Claims by Age Group Source: TN Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development
Hotel/Motel Taxes (Gross) Total Blount County Tax Receipts YTD Received: $3,749,590 Source: Blount County Clerk’s Office (blounttn.org/309/County-Clerk) Great Smoky Mountains National Park Total Park Visitors 2026 Total Visitors: 5,274,8922025 Total Visitors: 11,527,939 Total Overnight Stays Source: National Park Service (irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSReports/Park%20Specific%20Reports/Park%20YTD%20Version%201?Park=GRSM)
FUEL PRICES Knoxville Metro MONTH REGULAR DIESEL JAN $2.455 $3.240 FEB $2.427 $3.290 MAR $2.955 $3.290 APR $3.862 $5.456 MAY $4.226 $5.211 JUN $3.769 $4.945 JUL $3.269 $4.478 AUG $3.548 $4.977 SEP $3.745 5.585 YTD Avg $/Gal. $3.362 $4.497 Knoxville Metro Prices Over Time National Average This Month Regular $4.146/gallon Diesel $5.882/gallon Source: AAA (gasprices.aaa.com/?state=TN) CONSUMER PRICE INDEX 12-month Percentage
Charlie Wear locked the door at Dreaming Tree Alternative Wellness Solutions for the last time July 3, ending a nine-year run and adding a Blount County name to the list of Tennessee hemp retailers pushed out of business by the state’s new cannabinoid law. At first Wear opened the shop in the Mill Plaza shopping center on Sevierville Road in
Blount County Mortgage Rates 15 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage RATE 1-YR CHANGE 52-WK AVG 52-WK RANGE 6.01% 26.00% 5.62% 5.35% – 6.04% 30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage RATE 1-YR CHANGE 52-WK AVG 52-WK RANGE 6.69 0.06% 6.32% 5.98% – 6.69% Source: Freddie Mac (freddiemac.com/pmms) New Home Construction > $200K $200-399K $400-699K +$700K 1 13 13 9 Source: Blount County Development
ADJ Travel Company is putting down roots in downtown Maryville, opening its first brick-and-mortar office after four years of operating as a home-based agency. Owner Adrian Jones signed a lease effective Aug. 1 for a downtown storefront that most recently housed Cassio’s Tattoo Gallery at 223 W. Broadway. The deal came together fast after an earlier lease Jones had negotiated
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View Grocery Prices Every month our team goes to six Blount County grocery stores to compare prices on common shopping cart items. There are seven tabs: Summary – We show the percent change this month and this year Aldi – Alcoa near Hunters Crossing Food City – Springbrook Farm Food Lion – East Broadway near Pellissippi Place Kroger – Alcoa
East Tennessee-based executive coach Paul Boyles is hosting a second annual installment of Live2Lead, a national leadership simulcast, on Friday, Oct. 30, at the Hilton Knoxville Airport in Alcoa. Live2Lead is an annual one-day event created by Maxwell Leadership, the organization founded by author and speaker John C. Maxwell. Recorded keynote sessions are broadcast to hundreds of host sites nationwide
A 150-year-old Italianate home at 404 High Street is preparing to welcome its first guests this week, the culmination of a four-year restoration project that owner Carmyn Dunkin said nearly became more than she and her husband bargained for. The David Jones House, built in 1874 by prominent local brickmaker and builder David Jones, is listed on the
The legend goes that it started from the trunk of a car. In 1956, McGhee Tyson was still an active-duty Air Force base, Blount County was largely rural, and the airmen stationed there had few options when money ran short. So a handful of them did what servicemembers have always done — they improvised. They pooled their resources, handed out
LeConte Realty agent Troy Galyon earned the Certified Residential Specialist designation in June. Administered by the Residential Real Estate Council, CRS requires agents to complete either 60 transactions or $30 million in sales volume over five years, along with 30 hours of continuing education through the council. Galyon said the dual requirement sets CRS apart from many other industry certifications.
A Blount County-area entrepreneur has been selected for The Works, the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center’s premier startup accelerator for early-stage tech companies poised for rapid growth. Raymond Decker, founder of Raina Ventures, is one of six companies chosen for this year’s cohort, which runs nine weeks starting July 13 and concludes with a Sept. 9 demo day. Decker is paired with
Tennessee set an all-time record for new business filings in the first quarter of 2026, and Blount County’s own filing activity shows the same growth taking hold locally. New business filings in the first quarter of 2026 were the highest for a first quarter in the 33-year history of the data, according to the new Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators
The narrative has become as familiar as the gridlock on Alcoa Highway: those Californians are taking over Blount County. It plays well in political ads. It fills Facebook comment sections. It packs city council meetings with residents who describe their community as being overcrowded by outsiders. But a closer look at the data — drawn from federal agencies, university economists,
Clayton-Bradley Academy’s Board of Trustees unanimously selected Stephen “Steve” Nowack as the school’s next Head of School, effective June 10, succeeding founding director Pat Bradley, who is retiring. Board and Search Committee Chair Don Bruce announced the decision in a letter to the CBA community, saying the choice capped a global search that began in late 2025 with the help
Blount County is getting a major new fitness option. CR Fitness Holdings, the nation’s largest franchisee of Crunch Fitness, confirmed plans this week to open a 35,000-square-foot location at Foothills Mall where Farmers Home Furniture and Goody’s once operated — a $5 million investment that will bring about 70 jobs to the area when the facility opens sometime next year.
Cheyanne Marston spent more than 30 years as an occupational therapist before she ever set foot in a kayak. Now she is betting that Blount County residents and visitors will embrace the sport the same way she did — and she has launched Cool Cat Kayak Co. to make it as easy as possible for them to try. The business
StandardAero, the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based aerospace engine maintenance giant with a major facility in Maryville announced June 2 that Russell Ford is retiring as chief executive officer after 13 years leading the company. The company’s board of directors has appointed Paul McElhinney, currently a lead independent director, to succeed Ford as CEO effective Oct. 1. Ford will remain as
Jack Townsend wants The Possum to feel like “a pocket in time that doesn’t exist anywhere else.” The Maryville native and chef-owner is set to open his first restaurant this summer at 313 N. Houston St. The restaurant’s unlikely name traces back to a tattoo Townsend got around 2019 — a possum eating a slice of pizza — that was
A Long Island transplant who has called East Tennessee home for two decades has taken over Just Love Coffee Cafe’s two Alcoa locations — and she’s wasting no time putting her stamp on both. Lydia Donahue, who spent her career as a director of operations in the restaurant industry, acquired the Franck Street cafe and the Hunters Crossing Walmart location
The Town of Greenback is moving toward its first formal food truck regulations, a step town officials say is less about cracking down on vendors than getting ahead of anticipated growth before a problem arises. The topic is expected to come before the town board for discussion as soon as its next meeting, according to City Recorder April Lewellyn. No
MOJO Car Wash, one of the nation’s largest express car wash platforms, has relocated its corporate headquarters from Dallas to Alcoa, establishing its home base at the 3205 Alcoa Hwy. Pure Magic Car Wash location. The move, completed in March, brings the company’s central operations to a market where it already has an established footprint. MOJO — formerly known as
A new gift and home décor shop built on a decade of retail experience and a love of creative design is coming to Foothills Mall. Two Sisters Trading Co. is set to open July 1 next door to Bath & Body Works, the first brick-and-mortar venture for sibling co-owners Heather Raines and Wendy Giguere, who have sold home goods and
James Tomiczek, the developer behind The Greenway Village near Gamble Avenue, is preparing to construct an elevated Mexican food restaurant concept at 205 W. Broadway Ave. in downtown Maryville. Tentatively named “Tattooed Taco,” the restaurant will have a price point aimed at an accessible middle ground in downtown dining. “It’ll probably be more than your mom and pop Mexican kind
Elite Suites Salon Studios will open its first Blount County location at Foothills Mall in October, marking both the company’s third site and its first franchise location. Owner Kim Hennessy said the Maryville build-out will be the company’s largest yet, with more than 30 suites — outpacing the 28 at West Town Mall and 23 at the original Farragut location.
A sports card and collectibles shop that built a following at Foothills Mall has relocated to Alcoa’s fast-growing Springbrook Farm development, trading mall hours and rules for a community-focused storefront with room to grow. Collectibles and More, owned by Josh Elswick, 37, opened May 1 in the Shoppes at Springbrook Farm. His father, Chuck Elswick, manages the shop day-to-day. The
Alice Basler has always trusted her instincts. The Maryville real estate professional once closed on a house the same day she saw it. So when she drove past a vacant building at 114 E. Broadway one evening, called a friend to get inside, and walked out 20 minutes later ready to make an offer, nobody who knows her was particularly
When Mike Myers’ father and five friends leased a muddy limestone lot from a Blount County judge for $1 a year more than 60 years ago, the plan was simple: build their sons a ballpark. Maryville College provided the first bleachers. Willocks Brothers donated block for dugouts. South Central Bell contributed retired telephone poles for the outfield fence. The county
Little Arrow Outdoor Resort will open a new RV park next month, expanding its Townsend footprint with a separate 38-site concept built around the property’s walkable surroundings. Little Arrow Base Camp, at 8429 Tennessee Highway 73, is set to open by July 1 on the former Hollow campground site, General Manager Allie Jackson said. The property will accommodate up to
Update 6/11/2026 A team of fourth- and fifth-graders from Alcoa Intermediate School travelled to Washington, D.C., this month to win the national championship of the Presidential AI Challenge, a White House initiative aimed at building artificial intelligence skills in students nationwide. The team, which has worked together since January, advanced through state and regional rounds with a Google Gemini-based homework
A new Amoco station opened this week at 1805 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., the next step for an east Maryville convenience store that has been expanding steadily since opening in 2021. Owner Jay Patel said gas pumps were always part of the plan from the day his family acquired the property at auction in 2020. The site, which previously housed
A lifelong guitarist and guitar trader has brought a new shop to Louisville. David Thomas opened East Tennessee Guitars on April 1, offering pre-owned guitars at prices he says typically run $500 to $1,000 below Guitar Center retail. Thomas, a Louisville resident who spent 40 years as a salesman for a pump company before retiring, said he previously operated two
Frankie Kelley has spent the past several months feeding his family and friends a lot of tea. It is, he said, part of the research and development process for Summertime Sips, his loaded tea and specialty beverage shop scheduled to open July 1 in Foothills Mall. “Everyone that comes over (to our house) gets a tea,” Kelley said. “So we’ve
Nisus Corporation, the Rockford-based manufacturer of pest control and wood preservation products, completed its transition to a 100% employee-owned company April 30. The move, structured as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, transferred ownership of the company from founders Bud and Pat Dietrich — who built Nisus from the ground up starting in 1990 — to its workforce of more than
Constructed in 1921. Entered into the U.S. Department of the Interior National Register of Historic Places in 1989. Still standing with original equipment. Near junction of Hwy. 411 and Tail of the Dragon. Before mechanized agriculture and modern supply chains, local grist mills were essential infrastructure. Farmers had no practical way to process their grain harvests into usable flour, cornmeal
Tour Vision Promotions and Green Meadow Country Club will host the Smoky Mountain Championship presented by Food City women’s golf tournament in Alcoa, Aug. 3-8. The Epson Tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour, the world’s leading competitive destination for female professional golfers. Assistant Tournament Director Stan Norris said the tournament will bring 140 professional women golfers
Thirty-eight Blount County professionals completed Leadership Blount’s flagship program last week, capping a year of immersive community education and hands-on service projects that touched everything from suicide prevention to caregiver support to child advocacy. Founded in 1990 as a partnership between the Blount County Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Blount County, Leadership Blount has spent more than
The Townsend Riverwalk and Arboretum is preparing for a new phase of development, offering an asset that could draw more visitors and families to the area. Organizers said the volunteer project is shifting from reclamation to broader community programming. They have plans for a nature learning center, outdoor library and expanded educational opportunities. “We want the kids to be interactive,”
A Nashville-trained home cook with Sicilian roots has opened a scratch-made sandwich and artisan fudge shop to Foothills Mall. Tasha Florin and her husband Matthew opened Sandwiches and Stuff earlier this year, expanding what began as Fudge and Stuff Bakery, a vendor-event side business the couple operated at locations including the 407 Flea Market. When the opportunity arose to lease
After nearly five years of renovation, setbacks and unwavering faith, a Greenback man is preparing to open the Old Bank Brewhouse and Social — a coffee shop, candy store, community classroom and gathering space he describes less as a business than a ministry. Owner Jason Mingee, 52, signed the lease on the former bank building at 6705 Morganton Road, in
Chroma Energy completed a 1.8-megawatt solar installation on Mint Road in Maryville in April. The project is a partnership with Silicon Ranch and supplies energy to the Maryville electrical grid. Operators say the new panels will help the Maryville Electric Department meet growing demand for electricity in the burgeoning county. The solar array located at 3121 Mint Road is Chroma’s
A Blount County family is putting the finishing touches on a revamped miniature golf course in Townsend, with plans to open Cades Cove Golf in time for the Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games May 16-17. Tina and Jerry Simmerly, along with their sons Casey, 20, and Ryne, 24, have spent months renovating a course that sat largely dormant for
A popular Thai food truck has planted roots in Blount County with its first permanent location. A-Thai opened May 1 at the Food Lion Shopping Center on Old Knoxville Highway in Maryville, occupying the space previously held by John Henry’s Soup Company. Owners Onnicha and David Dickens initially launched the business through catering in 2022 before operating a food truck
The Arconic Foundation has awarded $625,000 in grants to 20 East Tennessee nonprofit organizations, with a significant share of the funding directed to programs spanning education, environmental sustainability and human needs. Chad Birge, Arconic Tennessee Operations Director of Manufacturing, called the 2026 allocation “possibly the largest in the history of the location,” noting that all three Blount County public school
Sylvia Davis did not set out to open a store 10 years ago. She and her husband Barry were driving past a strip center on Topside Road in Louisville one Saturday, noticed some home goods displayed out front and pulled in out of curiosity. The shop inside was rarely open and by chance she learned the unit next door was
Kaitlyn Brantley already knew the business worked. She had been doing it for three years. What she needed was a plan to grow it — and on May 7, she pitched that plan to a panel of judges, won first place, and walked away with a $3,000 check. Brantley’s company, Kaitlyn’s Kuddles, a pet and child care service, topped a
May 2026 These are the most recent statistics available. Numbers are delayed until FAA Audit is complete. Source: Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (flyknoxville.com/airport-authority/documents-statistics) AIR CARRIER FLIGHTS MONTH # OF FLIGHTS JAN 2,517 FEB 2,387 MAR 3,134 APR 3,249 MAY 3,631 YTD TOTAL 14,918 AIR TAXI FLIGHTS MONTH # OF FLIGHTS JAN 1,490 FEB 1,592 MAR 1,966 APR 1,891 MAY 1,812 YTD
Sisters Debra Dana and Amber McGraw reopened Twisted Sister Juice Bar and Indoor Farmers Market at the Huts Development on Highway 321 near Heritage Middle and High schools in February, where they offer healthy, organic juices, protein bowls, gelato and coffee. “We’re actually doing better here than we were doing before we left the store over next to Target,” Debra
Blount County is growing fast, and with this growth comes struggles. Realtors Brett Heppner and Eric Rice didn’t just understand that growth requires understanding — they launched a multiyear podcast project to help connect newcomers to the rich history and deep sense of community that many people cherish. Since launching the Let’s Be Blount Podcast in 2023, Heppner and Rice
Subs & Such will celebrate its 43rd year in business May 1 by challenging members of the community to help raise $43,000 to support Isaiah 117 House — a national nonprofit with a Blount County location that provides temporary shelter to foster children awaiting placement. In addition to donating 43 percent of the restaurant’s daily gross sales, restaurant owner Mike
A Maryville entrepreneur has launched Blount County’s sixth ambulance service, filling a gap in non-emergency medical transport as the county’s population continues to grow. Jim Caughron, owner of CTS Ambulance Service, spent three years navigating state licensing requirements before receiving his permit from the Tennessee Department of Health. The company operates as a private ground ambulance service focused on non-emergency
Tennessee high school seniors can now launch a real estate career before graduation — at no cost. Now in its third year, the Tennessee Real Estate Commission’s High School Senior Real Estate Licensing Program is accepting applications for this free path to earning the base education required to sit for Tennessee’s real estate pre-licensing exam. Selected students complete a 90-hour
Collin Chrisman is preparing to open Slice & Tap Pizza at Louisville and Hunt roads in the Green Meadow Plaza this summer. “I’ve always wanted to get into business for myself,” Chrisman said. “It’s a great location and we know the area really well, but then I also just love pizza.” Although the previous tenant in the shopping center also
By Charles Bingham, M.D. | Ascent Healthcare Construction remains one of the highest-risk industries for workplace injuries — but the majority of these injuries are preventable. From a physician’s standpoint, the most effective safety strategies are not just about compliance — they’re about building systems that support the body’s durability, recovery and function over time. Here are practical, high-impact steps
Blount County is growing fast, and with this growth comes struggles. Realtors Brett Heppner and Eric Rice didn’t just understand that growth requires understanding — they launched a multiyear podcast project to help connect newcomers to the rich history and deep sense of community that many people cherish. Since launching the Let’s Be Blount Podcast in 2023, Heppner and Rice
Dr. Barbara Johnson, the associate professor who built Maryville College’s Computer Science major from the ground up, will retire at the end of the 2025-26 academic year after more than two decades shaping the program and its students. Johnson joined the Maryville College faculty in 2001, shortly after earning her Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. Before academia, she worked
Maryville-based Tyler Brothers Farm Equipment, Inc. has been named a Blue Diamond Attachments Blue Chip Dealer, the highest dealer tier in Blue Diamond’s program, and will now carry the company’s full lineup of attachments, parts and accessories, with a flagship focus on brush cutters. The Blue Chip Dealer Program is reserved for top-tier dealers and provides enhanced customer service, warranty
Longtime Greenback resident Michelle Williams soft-launched Greenback Nutrition on April 7 in the former Greenback Museum space between the Greenback Diner and the new museum location on Morganton Road. “I’m working with the owner of Southern Twist, Christi Kawa, to provide our community with more options for healthy food,” Williams said. For the past 18 years, Williams worked as a
Maryville College is bringing its second regional AI summit to the Downtown Center May 12–13, expanding beyond last year’s focus on classroom applications to include business and nonprofit uses of artificial intelligence. The summit will gather professionals to discuss how AI is reshaping day-to-day work and its varied cultural and environmental implications, with sessions tied to the college’s broader AI
In an industry where business owners contend with widely swinging input costs, demand sensitivity and labor challenges, artificial intelligence is no longer just for the larger chain businesses. Local business owners are using accessible and affordable tools to decrease risk, improve profits and create better customer experiences. Who is using it and what are they using it for? Point of
Amy Fuentes and her husband, Bert, are working to renovate the former In and Out Pizza — later Rocky’s Jamaica Sunrise — building owned by George Ling on Cusick Street across from the Blount County Public Library to open Rustic Sunrise Restaurant this summer. “It’s going to be a full-service, homemade comfort food restaurant,” Fuentes said. Her husband’s Puerto Rican
It’s tricky to figure out how many food trucks are operating in Blount County. However, just the city of Maryville reports more than 35 are permitted to operate within city limits. There could be many more in the county. But in 2024, when AJ Jenkins started telling his wife, Cristie, sons Jayden, 17, Caleb, 18, and Isaiah, 25, that he
Southwest Airlines Flight 3534 from Nashville arrives at McGhee Tyson Airport at 12:23 p.m. on March 5, marking the airline’s inaugural flight and the start of regular service to Knoxville. Initial destinations will include Baltimore, Dallas, Nashville and Orlando, with Austin, Denver and Tampa expected to be added in the future. Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority President Patrick Wilson said flights
Rockford Elementary School officials, city leaders and area businesses have partnered to convert an underutilized central courtyard into an outdoor center focused on giving students a place to read, gain hands-on gardening experience and gather for small events. “We’re calling it our Reading and Exploration Center,” explained Principal Chad Tipton. The idea for the project began last year when school
The Friendsville Board of Mayor and Commissioners awarded a $340,246 contract to Oak Ridge-based Nitzschke Communications, Inc. at its March 5 meeting to complete a Tennessee Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant-funded project. Although the Tennessee Office of Outdoor Recreation Grants awarded the funds in 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project and increased material and labor costs requiring the
Local entrepreneur and recently retired U.S. Navy aviator Antonio Alemar is set to open his first Back Nine indoor golf facility next month in Springbrook Farm near Just Love Coffee Cafe. The Back Nine is an indoor golf simulator franchise that allows members to play golf year-round in a climate-controlled setting. The Alcoa location features four private simulator bays equipped
After almost 100 years of operation, Lowe’s Drug closed its East Broadway location last month to consolidate with City Drugs on Lamar Alexander Parkway. “There were a number of factors that came into play,” explained Mac’s Hometown Pharmacies CEO Morgan Hunnicutt. “One of the biggest factors was the battle against Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)” like Caremark, which owns CVS. Hunnicutt
Rocky Top Rage Room owners Brittany Willis and husband Tim Williamson expanded their Maryville business in February by opening Franken Dogs at 1811 W. Broadway Ave. Franken Dogs operates next door to the rage room and serves customizable hot dogs and specials, along with canned and bottled beverages. About 95% of the menu centers on hot dogs. First opened in
Maryville College graduate Alex Willard has been promoted to partner at Le Conte Wealth, where he will serve as director of Purpose-Built Planning and client advisor. “Alex has earned this through his passion for helping clients, embracing our team-first culture, and developing into a leader in both internal and community endeavors,” said Kevin Painter, managing partner.” He joined the company
After four years of planning and construction, Alyssa and Brendan Nickle will host their first event at Ayoka Ranch in April. The event center sits on 58 acres near the Tail of the Dragon and includes a 10,000-square-foot event barn, groom’s lounge, bridal suite and plans for 19 onsite rental cabins. “We’re wrapping up construction and we’ve been getting bookings,”
Multi-brand restaurant company Inspire Brands will open its 134th Arby’s store this month at 2107 U.S. Highway 411 South, near the Waffle House and where Secure Self Storage is under construction, according to District Manager Rebecca Clark. Clark said she is seeking management staff and that construction on the building should begin this month. The store will be owned and
Charles “Charlie” Sellars has been named superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after more than a year as acting superintendent, park spokesperson Katie Liming announced in late February. Raised in Clyde, North Carolina, Sellars became acting superintendent in January 2025 after former superintendent Cassius Cash resigned to become CEO and president of the Yosemite Conservancy in San Francisco.
Maryville College has launched a public-facing alumni business directory to promote Scot-to-Scot support after graduation. The free listing service offers alumni-owned businesses the opportunity to connect and display branding at their workplaces. “We’ve been working to make sure alumni are connected with students, connected with the Career Center to offer mentorship, internships, job opportunities and all of those different ways
Leading German multinational technology conglomerate Siemens AG has begun construction of an 82,000-square-foot medical device research, development and manufacturing facility at Pellissippi Place, according to Jeff Muir, communications director for the Blount Partnership. Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete. Founded in 1847, Siemens employs more than 318,000 people worldwide, but estimates for how many employees will work
Townsend family restaurant Waylon’s Place reopened March 1 under new general management, according to owners Keith and Shawna Freant. Missy Loveday has worked in the restaurant business for more than a decade and brings experience from Riverstone Family Restaurant, Good Vibes & More in Townsend, as well as several restaurants in Gulf Shores, Alabama. “I believe in what this restaurant
A new state employment incentive program launched in November 2025 seeks to make it easier for employers to access business incentives, tax credits and fund talent pipeline development. “Basically, TNWorks creates a no-wrong-door approach to workforce development for any size business,” explained Tyler Asher, assistant commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Asher believes the new program
Maryville Housing Development Corporation announced it will break ground this month on a $3 million, 11-unit housing complex near the Blount County Health Department on McNabb Place. The development will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments. The project is part of a broader effort to improve existing properties and expand affordable housing options in Blount County, said Julie
The National Park System remained open and funded thanks to federal appropriations approved Jan. 23, despite a partial government shutdown in early February. The Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act ensured $2.88 billion in funding for the country’s national parks through the end of FY2026 – a figure mostly steady with last year’s appropriations. The appropriations
December 2025 0 January 2026 0 YTD 0 Source: Blount County Clerk’s Office Minimal License = $3,000 – $99,999 Gross Receipts Regular License = $100,000+ Gross Receipts Alcoa (9) A Team Carpentry Remodeling LLC | 1796 Dalton St., Alcoa, TN 37701 | Austin A Ayers | Regular DJD Trucking LLC | 135 Andy Carr Ave, Alcoa, TN 37701 |
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development released the 2026 Vacation Guide heavily focused on Dolly Parton’s impact on the state’s tourism industry. The 150-page magazine, produced by Franklin-based Journal Communications, Inc., is distributed to an estimated 500,000 visitors annually and helps boost local tourism by serving as a how-to travel guide for visitors, said TDTD Commissioner Mark Ezell in a
Restrooms in the Heritage High School commons area will be updated, and security vestibules will be constructed at seven county schools after the Blount County Board of Education approved funding for the projects. Planning for a new elementary school in Walland, however, was put on hold at the Feb. 5 meeting to allow board members more time to further evaluate
Greenback business owners William and April Lewellyn purchased the building at 6700 Morganton Rd. near the caution light where they are making improvements in preparation to move three dimensional printing operations for CADform 3D. “The majority of what we manufacture are industrial parts that companies cannot find on the market anymore,” April said. For example, they use Computer Aided Design
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