MCT 8-22-24

Jasper • Kimball • Monteagle • New Hope • Orme • Powells Crossroads • South Pittsburg • Whitwell T ribune MARION August 22, 2024 Volume 2 - No. 4 $1.00 T MARION Lakeway Publishers Inc. 2023 c Support Local Community Journalism! $35 00 Charter Subscriber Offer arichards@mariontribune.com 100 Betsy Pack Dr. Suite 204, Jasper 423-590-6397 $37 –Photo courtesy of Brittany Garrett Marion County Chamber of Commerce honors top businesses and citizens at annual banquet Randy Kiles Band LACIE SILVA Editor T he Marion County Chamber of Com- merce (MCCOC) held its annual banquet at The Hooch, bringing together key community fi gures to celebrate and support lo- cal businesses and indi- viduals. The event, themed “A Night in Italy,” featured a silent auction, door priz- es, and delicious desserts from The Mobile Bakery and Alessandro’s Italian Artisan Bakery, with din- ner catered by Strawberry Moon Catering. Enter- tainment was provided by the Randy Kiles Band. During the banquet, the Chamber presented its Year in Review, high- lighting 156 members across fi ve cities, numer- Domestic Disturbance leads to the discovery of a methamphetamine lab and explosives A uthorities discover a meth lab, explo- sives, and fi rearms at the residence of suspect, Dwight Daniel Stock- well, following a pursuit by law enforcement. On August 16, Agents from the 12th Judicial Drug Task Force (DTF) assisted Marion County Sheri ff ’s O ffi ce Depu- ties and Detectives in the search for Stock- well, who had fl ed the previous night at 496 Mountain Cove Road in Whitwell. During the search of the wooded area where Stockwell had escaped, authorities discovered a backpack and a large metal pipe containing components of a red phosphorus methamphetamine lab, along with fi rearms and ammunition. Following this dis- covery, DTF Agents secured a search war- rant for Stockwell’s resi- dence, where they found additional chemicals Marion County’s Human Traf fi cking Operation results in several arrests SUSAN NILAND Contributor A n undercover op- eration by special agents with the TBI’s Human Tra ffi cking Unit, the Marion County Sheri ff ’s O ffi ce, and the 12th Judicial District Drug Task Force result- ed in arrests, with two individuals accepting treatment. Over a two-day pe- riod starting August 7, as part of an undercover operation aimed at ad- dressing human tra ffi ck- ing in the East Tennes- The Tennessee At- torney General’s O ffi ce is warning consumers about two recently re- ported government im- poster scams: • Jury Duty Scam: Scammers may pose as court o ffi cials or law en- forcement o ffi cers claim- ing that you’ve missed jury duty and are now subject to fi nes or arrest unless a fee is paid im- mediately. To further de- ceive consumers, scam- mers may use spoo fi ng technology to show the name and number of a legitimate government agency on your phone’s caller ID. They often use threatening language to keep you on the phone and may even provide personal information such as your birthday or current/former address- es. The con artists insist on payment through pre- paid cards or may direct Feasibility study for water service LACIE SILVA Editor A t the Marion County Commissioner Board meeting, the discussion for a feasibility study for extending water service to the Highway 156/Nic- kajack Landing area was denied due to lack of re- sources and funding. Mayor Jackson in- troduced the proposal, outlining a lump sum cost of $10,000 for the study, with an additional $2,000 for extra services, bringing the total poten- tial cost to $12,000. The study aimed to cover the blu ff s and extend water service along Highway 156 to the last house in the Nickajack Landing area. Commissioner Ruric Brandt noted that the submitted packet fo- cused only on the area Spears Road to be repaved by MCHD LACIE SILVA Editor A t the recent Kimball Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, the board discussed and ap- proved the agenda item to pave Spears Road in col- laboration with theMarion County Highway Depart- ment. Mayor Rex Pesnell explained that he had ini- tially received a quote of $24,000 from Cory Pick- ett, Superintendent at Marion County Highway Department, back in April for the work on Spears Road. Due to scheduling con fl icts, the work couldn’t be completed within last year’s budget. Mayor Pesnell advised that he recently con fi rmed with Pickett that the quoted price was still valid. It was noted that this paving proj- ect would only cover about half of Spears Road, as the other half was deemed to be in good condition. The board unanimous- ly approved the project for future construction. Dwight Daniel Stockwell See Arrests, Page 10A See Banquet, Page 10A See Water, Page 10A See Meth, Page 10A See Scam, Page 10A Attorney General issues scam alert