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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.
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
New Businesses & License Renewals YTD 04/01/2026 thru 04/30/2026 Source: Blount County Clerk’s Office Minimal License = $3,000 – $99,999 Gross Receipts Regular License = $100,000+ Gross Receipts Alcoa (12) Canuto Architecture & Design PLLC | 837 Ford St., Alcoa, TN 37701 | Canuto Deloen* | Regular Code 3 Mobile Detailing | 1782 Kettering Rd., Alcoa, TN 37701 |
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
New Businesses & License Renewals YTD 03/01/2026 thru 03/31/2026 Source: Blount County Clerk’s Office Minimal License = $3,000 – $99,999 Gross Receipts Regular License = $100,000+ Gross Receipts Alcoa (11) Ayo-Kei | 1524 Aberdeen Dr., Alcoa, TN 37701 | Michael C Rohrer | Minimal Baudy Lawncare LLC | 881 Gilbert St., Alcoa, TN 37701 | Jacob Baudy | Minimal
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
New Businesses & License Renewals YTD 02/01/2026 thru 02/28/2026 Source: Blount County Clerk’s Office Minimal License = $3,000 – $99,999 Gross Receipts Regular License = $100,000+ Gross Receipts Alcoa (8) Blunt Smokeshop LLC | 209 N. Calderwood St., Alcoa, TN 37701 | Hapep A Abuzahra | Regular Elux Blanc Nail Bar | 1143 Franck St., Unit 102, Alcoa, TN
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
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
Crews began working to open the Wildflower Garden Center on Old Knoxville Highway where Innovative Garden Center was located before moving to the Midland Plaza. “We’re going to open just after Spring because obviously the building has been sitting there for so long and nothing is really up to code,” said owner Amber Houser. While most of the original pergola
Cheryl Van Metre, founder of the Van Metre School of Dance and the Appalachian Ballet Company passed away January 9. She was born in Maryville, Nov. 23, 1940, and pursued training in performance and instruction with the Chicago Ballet, the National Ballet of Mexico, England’s Royal Ballet Company, and the Kirov Ballet in the former Union of Soviet Socalist Republics.
Blount County school districts outperformed the statewide average in the latest Tennessee Department of Education School Report Card, released in late January. But the scores are calculated using a formula that requires context to fully understand, said Maryville City Schools Director Mike Winstead. The results also carry economic implications for Blount County, said Jessica Belitz, director of workforce development for
December 2025 0 January 2026 0 YTD 0 01/01/2026 thru 01/31/2026 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,
The former James Upholstry Building underwent extensive renovation and code compliance updates in December to create three storefronts across from the new Eagleton Baseball Fields on East Broadway. “Our objective is to attract tenants who will benefit from the enhanced facilities and contribute to this vibrant location,” said Pete Dedes, Commercial Realtor with The Real Estate Firm in Knoxville. “I
After suffering a major setback this year when the building where they launched both businesses was sold and began undergoing major renovations, Angela and Charlie Lambert moved both Southern Pies & Bake Shop Cafe and Flooring Solutions to their new location at 1116 and 1118 E. Broadway, Maryville. “We were already outgrowing our downtown space,” explained Angela. Initially, she was
The former James Upholstry Building underwent extensive renovation and code compliance updates in December to create three storefronts across from the new Eagleton Baseball Fields on East Broadway. “Our objective is to attract tenants who will benefit from the enhanced facilities and contribute to this vibrant location,” said Pete Dedes, Commercial Realtor with The Real Estate Firm in Knoxville. “I
Longtime friends and business partners Stefan Wilson and Drew Miles purchased the historic Bank of Maryville building originally built in 1915 at the corner of Cusick and Broadway, Downtown Maryville. Allevia Technology began vacating two locations on East Broadway to establish its new headquarters in the bottom floor of the building in December. “I have literally prayed for years to
After more than 20 years as the General Manager of Oldham Hospitality’s RT Lodge, Gary Doyle passed the reins to Kelley Harris at the end of 2025. Doyle began his hospitality career at the first Ruby Tuesday restaurant opened in Knoxville in 1972. He became the innkeeper and manager at Blackberry Farm in 1980 where he worked for the
Source: Blount County Clerk’s Office Minimal License = $3,000 – $99,999 Gross Receipts Regular License = $100,000+ Gross Receipts ARN Gallery & School LLC,3904 Poplar Grove Rd, Maryville TN 37804 – Alejandro Rodriguez Bledsoe Heritage Works,325 Agate Circle, Maryville TN 37804 – Chip Bledsoe Blood Stripe Brewing,355 Gill St Ste 110, Alcoa TN 37701 – Richard Deibler C&J Aviation LLC,1855
After suffering a major setback this year when the building where they launched both businesses was sold and began undergoing major renovations, Angela and Charlie Lambert moved both Southern Pies & Bake Shop Cafe and Flooring Solutions to their new location at 1116 and 1118 E. Broadway, Maryville. “We were already outgrowing our downtown space,” explained Angela. Initially, she was
Shane Hawkins is a successful entrepreneur, but he got there on the hardest pathway. “Well, I didn’t know any better back then, and I was just trying to get through life the best I could,” Hawkins said while sitting in the middle of a brightly painted room where a wall mural of dog pictures and the musky smell of dogs
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