News

Brian Joseph Martell

Brian Joseph Martell

Martell to spend 15 years in jail for dealing drugs

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Brian Joseph Martell will spend the next 15 years in prison and the following 10 years on supervised probation as  the result of a negotiated plea agreement. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney B.
Fannin County Animal Control volunteers Jaime Pittman, left, and Donna Turek braved the cold and rain Friday morning, February 26, to walk and play with the dogs at the facility.

Fannin County Animal Control volunteers Jaime Pittman, left, and Donna Turek braved the cold and rain Friday morning, February 26, to walk and play with the dogs at the facility.

Animal Control changes include goals, new hours

Mollie Morrow
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Fannin County Animal Control has already seen several changes this year in order to improve the overall operations, and more are expected to come. “It’s always nice to continue and improve and grow and be safer,” Animal Control Manager John Drullinger said.
The News Observer

The News Observer

Fannin ISO class improves, benefits still months away

Sydney Criteser
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Following a re-evalution of Fannin County’s fire protection, the Insurance Service Office (ISO) found that the department’s Public Protection Classification has improved, however, the publication of the new classification and its going into effect could take several months.
West Fannin Elementary School students Caroline Cole, Abby Pickard and Londyn Hobson are shown, from left, using their chromebooks to complete classroom assignments.

West Fannin Elementary School students Caroline Cole, Abby Pickard and Londyn Hobson are shown, from left, using their chromebooks to complete classroom assignments.

Fannin students, teachers set blistering pace with technology

Sydney Criteser
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Fannin County School System students and teachers used district implemented technology to create 3,338 Google documents, 80 spreadsheets, and 434 presentations in just one day. They had also joined 22,000 individual Nearpod sessions and created 1,700 videos using screencastify in the last year.
Army veteran Paul Hunter stands with a tank he worked on during the Vietnam War, which bears the inscription, “Executioner.” While Hunter worked on tanks, he also spent six and half months in an infantry unit.

Army veteran Paul Hunter stands with a tank he worked on during the Vietnam War, which bears the inscription, “Executioner.” While Hunter worked on tanks, he also spent six and half months in an infantry unit.

Paul Hunter: Continuing to serve

Sydney Criteser
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
“I didn’t ask for any of them, but I’m going to tell ya, I earned every one of them,” Army veteran Paul Hunter said in regards to the medals he has received due to his service in the Vietnam War.
You need help and have called 911. Even if you have poor cell phone service or can't talk for some reason, the Fannin County E-911 center can still get help on the way. These screen shots show what you'll see. An automatic message is sent to every cell phone call placed. Using a smartphone, these screens appear in sequence, showing how to allow the phone to be used for an exact location, the camera so your situation can be viewed, and the screen allowing a text message.

You need help and have called 911. Even if you have poor cell phone service or can't talk for some reason, the Fannin County E-911 center can still get help on the way. These screen shots show what you'll see. An automatic message is sent to every cell phone call placed. Using a smartphone, these screens appear in sequence, showing how to allow the phone to be used for an exact location, the camera so your situation can be viewed, and the screen allowing a text message.

Need help? Here's how improved 911 works

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Imagine you’re hiking deep in the forests of Fannin County and become lost. You have your cell phone, but the signal is weak to say the least. You fear the worst – help will never find you. But you dial 911 and the call reaches Fannin County’s E-911 center.
The News Observer

The News Observer

Newman arrested at fire site, freed on bond

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Graylon Jerome Newman is free on a $7,000 bond after being arrested the same day the Copperhill house he was living in burned. Newman, 54, of 193 West Tennessee Avenue, was arrested by Polk County Deputy Sheriff Tyler Nelms Friday, February 5, at 7:19 p.m.