CARYVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- On Saturday, July 4, from 1-7pm at Cove Lake State Park at Caryville, there will be a 4th of July “250” Event presented by the Campbell County Historical Society in conjunction with the Campbell County Commission.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- A couple of folks were shaken up, and an infant boy was cleared by medical personnel with Campbell EMS following a two vehicle wreck at the Woodson’s Mall stop light.

NASHVILLE, TN  (SPECIAL TO WLAF)– As extreme heat grips Campbell County and Tennessee, AAA warns of a sharp increase in heat-related dangers, including deadly conditions for children and pets in hot cars, and a higher risk of roadside breakdowns.

On hot summer days, the inside of a parked car can quickly heat up like an oven. Temperatures inside a vehicle can rise by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. More than 1,000 children have died in hot cars since 1998, according to this website, with an average of 37 deaths each year.

CARYVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- On Saturday, July 4, a Veterans Appreciation Picnic at Cove Lake State Park is happening in place of the usual first  Saturday of the month Veterans Breakfast. 

NASHVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)— The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is informing off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders on North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA) of important updates taking effect July 1, 2026, following the enactment of Public Chapter No. 1120, an amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 9, related to OHV use on NCWMA.

By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETE, TN (WLAF)- The Rotary Club gavel was passed on Tuesday at the club’s weekly luncheon held at the LaFollette Methodist Church. Outgoing president Sharon Wilson with Roane State Community College handed the gavel to the Campbell County Children’s Center’s Tracie Davis (top photo).

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Tennessee Highway Patrol Troopers are concentrating their efforts on vehicles being operated by drivers who are driving impaired/driving under the influence in the State of Tennessee. The July THP Sobriety Checkpoints will be held in Campbell County on July 3 and 24.

LAFOLLETTE, TN. (WLAF)- Divorces are public record.

They are public because divorces have an effect on a number of legal affairs. Property ownership, debts, taxes, etc. can all be affected when a couple divorces.

In its continuing effort to provide news that has implications on the community, WLAF publishes divorces each Wednesday.

NASHVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is once again participating in Operation Dry Water (ODW), a year-round boating under the influence (BUI) and enforcement campaign. ODW’s heightened awareness and enforcement annually takes place around the July 4^th holiday, and this year is July 3-5 (Friday-Sunday).

By Charlotte Underwood

NEWCOMB, TN (WLAF)- Kids were getting to be kids on a hot summer day, splashing in water pools, slip and slides, water balloon fights, watermelon and cookies and more thanks to the Mountain Arts Camp held at the Crazy Quilt Appalachian Outreach Center in Newcomb. The camp is an annual day camp run by the Crazy Quilt, which is operated by Catholic Charities of East Tennessee. The camp started on Monday, June 22nd and wrapped up on Thursday, June 25th with a “fun day” that involved lots of “water games”.

TOP PHOTO: The Annual Mountain Arts Camp was held at the Crazy Quilt Appalachian Outreach Center in Newcomb from June 22 through June 25^th and ended with a fun day full of water games, cookies, watermelon and more!

MARYVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee today announced a $32,000 grant from the Morgan Stanley Foundation to help expand efforts to reach children and families facing hunger across the East Tennessee region.

Support from this grant will go toward the School Pantry program, where Second Harvest partners with local schools like Jellico Elementary School to provide groceries through on-site school food distributions. Through the School Pantry program, students and their families can select food to bring home once a month, year-round, helping ensure consistent access to nutritious groceries.

Agenda

7/6/26- 6:00- Planning Commission – As set by Planning

7/13/26- 6:00- Workshop- Set agenda for Commission meeting

7/14/26 5:00- BOE- Agenda set by BOE

7/26/26- 6:00- Commission meeting- As set at Workshop

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-07/01/2026-6AM)

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- On June 15, 2026, U.S. Marshals arrested fugitive Alejandro Mancera Canchola. He was wanted for attempted first-degree murder stemming from an incident on December 17, 2024, in LaFollette. The Marshals Service apprehended Canchola at Indianapolis, and temporarily housed him at the Marion County, Indiana, Jail.

By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The LaFollette Utility Board met Monday evening, passing a $75 million dollar budget, including a 3-percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for employees.

The utility board just recently underwent an overhaul, with three new board members being sworn in on Monday before approving the budget, including Mike Malicote, Mike Milton and Brian Younce.

A large number of employees attended Monday’s meeting, nearly packing the conference room.

TOP PHOTO: Multiple LaFollette Utility employees attended Monday’s meeting to see what Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) would be passed by the board with the 2027 budget. A 4-percent COLA had been on approved by the previous board, however that was rescinded at Monday’s meeting, and a 3-percent COLA was approved instead, with the option/possibility to add the one percent back in at a later date.