Dr. Gene Couch Jr., the president of Virginia Highlands Community College, announced Monday that he will retire, effective June 30, 2019. Couch will remain at the college through the end of the fall semester but transition to a special assignment at the beginning of 2019. Couch, whose community college career has spanned more than 35 years, has presided over the college since the summer of 2014. “Serving as ...

Workers begin the process of installing the EMERGENCY sign at the new hospital, which will open its doors Oct. 23. Photos by Scott Robertson In November 2013, when Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System were offering competing offers to take over Unicoi County’s then-50-plus-year-old hospital, many in the community were skeptical either organization would ever build a new facility to rep ...

Federal, state and local elected officials Monday joined leaders from Strategic Behavioral Health (SBH) in Kingsport to celebrate the grand opening of Creekside Behavioral Health, a 72-bed inpatient hospital that will serve children, adolescents, adults, and seniors facing mental health and substance abuse challenges. Kingsport Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Miles Burdine hosted a ribbon-cutting cere ...

Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable and Washington County, Tenn. Mayor Joe Grandy Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable today sent county commissioners an email formally announcing a called work session in conjunction with Washington County, Tenn., Mayor Joe Grandy and the Washington County Commission. The session is slated to be held Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. at TRI-Cities Airport. The text of Venable’s message ...

Milligan College President Dr. Bill Greer and Northeast State Community College President Dr. James King renewed an agreement today giving Northeast State students who plan to transfer to Milligan’s bachelor's degree in nursing program the option to co-enroll in courses at Milligan. L-R: Dr. Sam Rowell, vice president for academic affairs; Northeast State Community College President Dr. James King; Milligan ...

Melissa Sanders (standing) and Sue Attebery Photo courtesy Downtown Kingsport Association by Dave Ongie Change will be in the air when the Downtown Kingsport Association presents its largest fundraiser of the year on Oct. 13. Traditionally held in August, the fourth annual Kingsport Wine and Brew Festival has been moved to the fall in hopes of cooler weather. The event will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the ...

Representatives of the Tri≠Cities Airport Authority; the Cities of Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City; and Sullivan County and Washington County; as well as State of Tennessee officials, celebrate the next phase of development for Aerospace Park. Photo by Randy Gentry, Fresh Air Photographics, courtesy Tri-Cities Airport Community leaders were in attendance and construction vehicles were on display Oct. 4 ...

Leaders from the business, government and not-for-profit sectors gathered Sept. 26 in Abingdon to hear about efforts to bridge the gap between the worlds of education and the workforce. “Operation Tomorrow’s Workforce: The Leaders Breakfast” was hosted by the United Way of Southwest Virginia. Travis Staton, president and CEO of United Way of Southwest Virginia recapped successes and announced additions to t ...

President Donald Trump will make a midterm campaign appearance on behalf of the Marsha Blackburn US Senate campaign. The President will speak at an event scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 1 at the civic center on the campus of Liberty Bell Middle School in Johnson City. A release issues by Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., said, “This is the sixth rally that President Trump has held in Tennessee and the ...

Alan Levine, executive chairman, president and CEO of Ballad Health, testifited before the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement of the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Tuesday. Below are his prepared remarks. 
Chairman Enzi, Chairman Alexander, Ranking Member Sanders, Ranking Member Murray, and members of the committee, thank you for the invitation and opportunity to app ...