John Gullion

John Gullion

Public safety leaders express disappointment at budget changes

Public safety is a difficult thing to budget for — here is a tension between providing the best service possible for voters and finding the revenue to make it possible and the Hamblen County Commission is trying to find the right balance but the recent budget committee meeting exposed growing concerns that staffing shortages, employee turnover and funding pressures are affecting agencies ranging from the Sheriff’s Office and E-911 to volunteer fire departments.

Sarah M (Sarie Jane) Hopkins Smith

Sarah M (Sarie Jane) Hopkins Smith age 89 passed away peacefully at home on June 9, 2026, with her daughters by her side. She was saved at the age of 16 at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church and was a Charter Member of Sartain Springs Missionary Baptist Church.