Bledsoe County News covers breaking stories, schools, sports, traffic, government, and community updates in Pikeville and Bledsoe County, Tennessee and surrounding communities.
All but four Tennessee counties recorded unemployment rates below 5% in December, according to new data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Ninety-one counties reported unemployment rates below 5%, while the other four counties had rates of 5% or greater, with the highest rate at 5.7%. Unemployment rates decreased from November to …
Following the recent ice and snow events in the southeast, several electric companies are seeking assistance to restore power for their customers. Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative is providing support to Middle Tennessee Electric, deploying a team of SVEC line workers on Monday afternoon to Nashville and surrounding areas to assist with ongoing power outages. The …
FEMA has announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Tennessee to supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from a severe winter storm beginning on January 22, 2026, and continuing. The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency …
The Sequatchie Valley Mutual Aid Association has announced the selection of Pikeville Fire Department Chief Garrett Angel as its new President. Chief Angel succeeds longtime Association President Paul Swafford, who has led the organization since 2003. The Sequatchie Valley Mutual Aid Association is comprised of nine fire departments across Bledsoe, Sequatchie, and Marion counties. The …
Youth Villages, a nonprofit supporting children with emotional and behavioral challenges, is seeking more foster parents in Polk, Grundy, and Bledsoe. Their Chattanooga office serves 12 regional counties and has helped over 196,000 young people in Tennessee. The agency will host virtual information sessions in January for families to learn about fostering and address common …
According to Tennessee health officials, flu activity is increasing significantly in the region, with certain areas reporting some of the highest rates statewide. Marion, Grundy, Sequatchie, Bradley, Meigs, Rhea, Bledsoe, McMinn, and Polk counties are currently classified as “very high” for influenza activity by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These counties have flu …
Tennessee recorded a significant decline in traffic fatalities in 2025, with 147 fewer roadway deaths than the previous year, according to year end data released by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. The Tennessee Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows 1,045 traffic fatalities statewide in 2025, down from 1,194 in 2024, a reduction of …
The Tennessee Arts Commission has awarded $175,000 in grant funding for the inaugural Tennessee Arts & Rural Health Initiative, a pilot program supporting arts-based projects designed to improve health and wellness outcomes in rural Tennessee hospitals. A collaboration between the TN Arts Commission and the Tennessee Hospital Association, this initiative supports 10 hospitals—four in West …
Tennessee residents are invited to reserve native trees to plant at their homes, farms, and in their communities during the 12th annual Tennessee Tree Day event, taking place on March 21, 2026. Online tree reservations are open to the public now through March 1, 2026, and residents are encouraged to reserve trees as soon as …
The Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Office announces the completion of Operation Rural Reset, a several months-long narcotics investigations targeting fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution throughout Bledsoe County. This operation was initiated in response to increased drug trafficking activity affecting multiple communities throughout the county. Throughout the investigation, detectives executed multiple search warrants, conducted surveillance operations, narcotics purchases, …
