Daily editionThursday, April 23rd, 2026
Good morning, Johnson City.
The Daily Johnson City Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 23rd of April.
Community
The second annual Southwest Virginia Fallen Heroes Golf Tournament will take place on May 9 at Tri Cities Golf Club.
The event will honor 85 fallen officers and raise money for law enforcement training & resources, with sponsors and teams still being accepted.
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Business
Red Ginger Buffet in Elizabethton is set to reopen today — after months of closure it thanks the community for their patience and support.
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Culture
Carter Family Fold said its executive director Rita Forrester is stepping down to focus on family and health matters + she led fundraising efforts to secure state grant funding for new seating to accommodate growing audiences.
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Economy
Local schools and businesses face rising gas costs; Unicoi County Schools reported a 37% jump in bus fuel prices and a local lawn care operator said his fuel expenses increased $200–$300 weekly.
Budget shifts may be needed if prices stay high.
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Education
Local single dad Joey Campbell started a memorial scholarship in honor of his late fiancée Tausha Hobbs for high school seniors studying design or marketing.
The scholarship is open to students in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia until July 14th.
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The Boone Dam recreation area will be closed on April 30 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a TVA field trip hosting 100 elementary students from four local schools, with posted signs marking the closure at the dam entrance and along State Route 75.
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Government
Johnson City's plan to turn two lanes on West State of Franklin into parking + reopen a garage for 350 vehicles was first announced on April 15 and is now pending review at the June 9 planning commission meeting, with work expected to finish in October.
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