By Scott Robertson Where there is no vision, the people perish… - Proverbs 29:18 A little over a year ago, while some were still bemoaning the death of American manufacturing, Gerald O’Connor, founder of Impact Plastics in Unicoi County, Tenn., announced plans to expand his local operations to the tune of $1.3 million. That expansion, O’Connor said at the time, would result in the creation of 83 new jobs an ...

In introducing a new department this month, we decided to hone in on some data that is certain to be in the sights of at least three other entities – the finalists for alignment in Wellmont Health System’s strategic options process. Wellmont leaders have said recently they hope to announce a decision about an alignment by sometime late this year. The system provides quarterly and annual financial informatio ...

Agriculture's role in economy bigger than many realize Story and photos by Jeff Keeling I love to watch stuff grow. When things are going good, there's just nothing like it. I couldn't see myself doing anything else other than what I'm doing.           Wesley Squibb I love what I do. I love working the land. Nothing makes me happier than to climb on a tractor for 12 or 14 hours a day.          Jeff Aiken As ...

City provides letter after breaking several scheduled interviews By Scott Robertson and Tammy Childress Note: Shortly after this story went to press, Bristol ,Va. officials sent the Business Journal a letter from Cabela's Steven Krajewski, Cabela's real estate director, dated Nov. 10. The letter states that Cabela's plans to build an 82,003-square-foot store in Bristol. That is smaller than the size repeate ...