A Campbell County man died in an early morning fire on Monday

HABERSHAM, TN (WLAF)- Long before daybreak Monday, firefighters were battling two separate fires across Campbell County; one in La Follette, the other at Habersham.

Serving our communities; a productive start to Legislative Session

By State Senator Ken Yager

NASHVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- The Tennessee General Assembly has now completed its fourth week of session. Despite losing valuable time due to severe winter weather across our state, we are back up to speed and fully engaged in the important work Tennesseans sent us here to do.

The deadline to file legislation has now passed, and the Senate’s nine standing committees are beginning the careful process of reviewing bills. In the Senate, a bill must pass a committee before it can be considered by the full Senate. That makes committee action one of the most important steps in the legislative process. I encourage citizens to follow legislation as it moves through committees and calendars. You can find this information on the General Assembly’s website.

ETHRA owes Campbell County $150,000 in back rent, according to county officials

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- The Campbell County Commission is scheduled to meet in its regular monthly meeting Tuesday at six pm at the Campbell County Courthouse. Among the items expected to be on the agenda is back rent from ETHRA.

ETHRA owes the county $150,000 in back rent, according to county officials. The past rent is from renting the county’s Career Center building that is shared with the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism office.

Below is the original account from last week’s workshop concerning the back rent. (WL AF NEWS PUBLISHED-02/17/2026-6AM)

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- At Monday’s County Commission workshop, commissioners discussed the East Tennessee Resource Agency (ETHRA) saying the entity owed the county backpay on rent for leasing a county building, which ETHRA vacated in November. There was also the question as to whether or not the county could rent the space out since the lease was possibly still active. The building is the Career Center, next to the Health Department, shared with the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism office.

After about 20 minutes of discussion, the commission decided to add it to the agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting to have a vote to “accept ETHRA’s letter stating it had vacated the building, as well as to ask for back pay owed to the county and to ask for an official termination of the lease agreement.”

County Commissioner Beverly Hall brought the topic up on Monday evening, asking county attorney Joe Coker if he had “the opportunity to research the rent that ETHRA owes the county.”

‘Number one cause a teen experiments with drugs is in medicine cabinets; locking up meds is key’- Kristi Beeler

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Campbell United, Campbell County’s anti-drug coalition, met at TCAT on Thursday at noon for its February meeting, with members receiving overdose training and learning how to administer Naloxone, also known as Narcan, in the case of an overdose.

Kristi Beeler, Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist with the TN Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, led the training session.

According to Beeler, she is one of about 25 overdose prevention specialists “scattered across the state.”

“We are unashamedly trying to keep people alive,” Beeler said.

Both first round games tip off at 7:30pm, Cougars on Wed., Lady Cougars on Thu.

Brackets courtesy of WLAF’s Clayton Carroll.

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- The District 3-AAAA Tournament will be played at Halls this season, and it opens on Tuesday. The Cougars first game is Wed., Feb. 18, and the Lady Cougars first game is Thu., Feb 19. Both of these first round games tip off at 7:30pm, and WLAF will send you the live broadcast.

There are more than 85 individuals listed on today’s docket

JACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- Below is today’s general sessions court docket.

Construction of new TCAT facilities moving right along

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- At 11:30am today, TCAT President Dr. Debbie Petree and staff welcome you to the “Topping Out” ceremony on the TCAT campus.

Checkpoint begins after sunset

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting Sobriety Checkpoints around the region during the month of February, and a checkpoint is scheduled for Campbell County, namely La Follette, this Friday, February 20, around dusk.

Local primary election is Tue., May 5, local general election & state primary is Thu., Aug. 6, 2026

JACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- There are two and a half days left to request a petition and to file a petition for public office. If you are planning to seek a local office here in Campbell County, regardless of your party affiliation and whether you are running in the May or August elections, your qualifying deadline is this Thursday, February 19, 2026, at noon.

Since December 22, the first day of being able to pick up a petition to run for office in a 2026 Campbell County Election, May 5 or August 6, 70 petitions have been requested. Of those 70 petitions, 42 have been returned to the Campbell County Election Commission Office.

Activity on Friday at the Election Commission office includes the filing of petitions from Devin Oakes for County Commissioner-4th District, Katrena Reynolds for County Commission-5th District. Oakes and Reynolds will run as Independents, and also turning in petitions are Emily Gaylor for School Board District 2 and Wayne Barton for Sheriff; each is running as a Republican.

Qualifying deadline for both local elections is Thursday, February 19, 2026, at noon.

Early voting for the May Primary election runs from Wednesday, April 15 through Thursday, April 30, 2026.

LAFOLLETTE, TN. (WLAF)- The Ridgeview Mobile Health Clinic is providing services on Tuesdays in Campbell County. However, there are some key things to know:

CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN. (WLAF)-CLICK HERE to view today’s legal notices.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 02/17/2026- 6AM- IMAGE FROM ar.inspiredpencil.com)

Noah Smith, a First Officer for a Delta Air Lines Regional Carrier, Eagle Scout, and lifelong resident of Jacksboro, recently visited Wynn Habersham Elementary School. Invited by Marsha Bruce, who organizes the before-school Bible Connections Groups, Smith spoke to students about his career as an airline pilot and shared a message about his Christian faith.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 2/17/2026-6AM)

By MICHAEL YATES

OAK RIDGE, TN. (WLAF)- Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services is proud to announce the launch of ROADs to Recovery (aka ROADs), a comprehensive substance use and opioid use disorder treatment initiative designed to expand access to evidence-based care and recovery services across the region.

Mac Fritts and Cayden Wright are back on the water this weekend competing at Chickamauga Lake

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Campbell County Cougars Mac Fritts and Cayden Wright of the CCHS Fishing Team won the TN Bass Federation Tournament last weekend at Melton Hill. The boys won with a weight of 14.05 pounds. There were 30 boats in total that participated in the tournament.

The portion of Melton Hill Lake where they competed is located in Loudon County. According to CCHS Fishing Coach Gabe Keen, “Melton Hill is typically a tough lake.”