By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- General Cardiologist Dr. James Gubitosa from Tennova LaFollette Medical Center guest spoke at Tuesday’s Campbell County Rotary Club luncheon held at the LaFollette United Methodist Church.

Dr. Gubitosa came on board at the medical center here in LaFollette around six months ago in August of 2025. Before coming to Tennessee, Dr. Gubitosa was in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for his Cardiology Fellowship. Before that he completed his residency in New Jersey.

He went over some exciting things happening in the cardiac world at Tennova LaFollette, specifically touching on heart health and some of the new tests that the medical center can utilize for heart tests and how the hospital and its services have been growing.

‘My job is to get to the truth, provide this documentation as the backup’- architect Jake Thomas

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Disagreements and discussion continue to plague the Jacksboro Elementary School Gym project, with the Board of Education members hearing once again from the project’s architect Jake Thomas with Lewis Group and project contractor representative Emily Gaylor with GCE at Tuesday’s meeting. It was on the agenda to discuss and take any action on proposed change order number 10 and on a pay order 9 on the project. This change order was requesting more days be added to the project. After about a 45-minute discussion, as well as hearing from both sides, the board voted not to approve the change order granting the additional days and also voted not to approve the pay order of $150,000.  Both of these decisions were on the recommendation of the architect and on BOE attorney Dail Cantrell.

Cougars and Lady Cougars are in the midst of a stretch of five games over nine days

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- On Tuesday night on Brown Court, Campbell lost a couple of tough basketball games to the Powell Panthers. However, Powell left town knowing it definitely had been challenged.

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee’s Mobile Pantry was at the Church of God

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The final count was 1,200. That’s 320 families, 1,200 individuals, who were served, blessed at the monthly Second Harvest Food Bank food drive on Tuesday hosted by the La Follette Church of God. The big Mobile Food Pantry rolled onto the church campus early Tuesday morning.

CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN. (WLAF)-  If you are a candidate running in 2026, May, August or November, WLAF is treating you to breakfast. It’ll be a grab and go breakfast so you’ll be able to keep moving or, if you like, take a few minutes and sit down and eat.

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 will publish divorces each Wednesday.

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

JACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- There are six and a half days left to request a petition and to file a petition. 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 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, 65 petitions have been requested. Of those 65 petitions, 36 have been returned to the Campbell County Election Commission Office.

Activity on Tuesday at the Election Commission Office included two petition filings. Lance Wilson, running as a Republican candidate for County Clerk and Scott Stanfield, seeking the office of County Commissioner, District 4, as an Independent, filed their petitions.

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.

Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office expands free lifesaving “Get Alarmed, Tennessee!”

NASHVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)– The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) announce the expansion of the lifesaving “Get Alarmed, Tennessee!” free smoke alarm program to include carbon monoxide  detectors.   

Lots of activities are planned for Friday, Saturday and beyond. See details below.

By Matthew Moore

CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN (WLAF) – There’s always something fun or interesting going on in Campbell County, and you can learn about it all right here!

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

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 02/11/2026- 6AM- IMAGE FROM ar.inspiredpencil.com)

Ruthie Simpson-Ivey continues to lead in life just like she did on the basketball court

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- In her time of playing basketball, from Jacksboro to Campbell High to Walters State to LMU, Ruthie Simpson was never outworked nor outhustled. Today she is Ruthie Simpson-Ivey, and she continues to work, hustle and impress as the Food Rescue Manager for Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.

Open from 10am until 6pm, Monday through Friday, on the four lane between JR’s Tires and Sonic

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Nancy, Tiffany, Heather and Violet at The Doorway Gourmet have delicious creations for you just in time for Valentine’s Day. The Doorway Gourmet is open from 10am until 6pm, Monday through Friday, on the four lane between JR’s Tires and Sonic. The telephone number is 423.494.3391.

Here are some of the tasty delights you’ll find today at the Doorway Gourmet.

CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF)- The Town of Caryville has a new town attorney. Last night at the monthly meeting, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to hire Elizabeth Burrell (above) as the town’s new attorney replacing Adam Bullock who has moved into the judge’s position for the town.

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

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.”