Eastman Budget Cuts

Eastman has released plans to reduce their budget for 2009. They will do so in the following ways:

- Eliminate salary increases.
- Permanently reducing vacation carry-over
- Eliminating overtime when possible
- Reduction in use of contractors and part-time workers
- Reduction of management staff

All of this will save Eastman up to $100 million and will take effect in 2009.

Couple Hit by Box Springs

Burgess and Aliene Shelton were almost hit by mattress parts that fell off a truck in Erwin last Saturday. Shelton says that when he saw the mattress come off he commented about it to his wife then the next thing he knew the box springs came off and shattered on the hood of his car. A board came through their windshield, and if it had fallen just a foot to either side it could have injured Shelton or his wife. Both are just fine this evening.

Damaged Walkway Coverings at High School

The coverings on the walkways at Elizabethton High School may be removed. The canopies at the school are deteriorating from ice and rain says Superintendent Ed Alexander. Loose pieces were removed after a section fell down on Monday. No one was hurt in that incident.