The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) proudly announce the recipients of the volunteer fire departments 2026 funding. This year a record $20 million will be distributed. The $20 million appropriation for 2026 is the program’s single largest allocation since its inception in 2020. Area departments …
Category: Pikeville
Pikeville/Bledsoe news
Unemployment Rates Drop in Most Tennessee Counties
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 …
SVEC Sends Linemen to Middle Tennessee
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 …
Foster Parents Needed
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 …
Flu Activity On The Rise
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 Arts Commission Awards Arts and Health Funds to Select Rural Hospitals Including Bledsoe
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 2024-25 School Letter Grades Released
The Tennessee Department of Education (department) released the 2024-25 State Report Card, including the 2024-25 School Letter Grades, for families and users to learn more about how districts and schools are performing across the state. The State Report Card provides families, education leaders, elected officials, and the public with a variety of interactive displays to inform tailored strategies and investments to support students and schools. 355 schools received an overall A …
Tennessee residents urged to plant native trees on 12th Annual Tree Day
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 …
Operation Rural Reset in Bledsoe County
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, …



