Johnson City Press Christmas Box

A local ministry is getting a head start on their annual Christmas food program. They need your help to raise money to feed the needy in our community. Each year, the Johnson City Press Christmas Box provides food boxes for over 900 families as well as a $35 gift certificate for seniors in Carter County. Becky Brumitt of Hale Community Ministries told us there were twenty-one food items in the boxes last year including a ham and a turkey. "We found out that seniors are on special diets," says Martha Laws who represents Carter County at the Johnson City Press Food Box. She sites this as the reason for offering seniors certificates. It is an immense struggle to raise the funds to purchase the food. Laws says that the committee in charge of Carter County's food box has had to raise money each year for the program. This year, they hope to get a head start and gain recurring donors. The program needs help from individuals like you as the costs for the program total more than $30,000. Becky Brumitt is working with Watauga Baptist churches to raise money for the food. Volunteers are also needed to help pack and distribute the boxes. "The most rewarding thing of distribution is the family that comes in, and they see that box as if it's a box of gold," says Candy Craig, a volunteer for the program. To donate to the Christmas Box contact Hale Community Ministries at 423-547-2560. To volunteer call Martha Laws at 423-282-5756.

Belize Mission Trip

Each summer, children all across the United States enjoy participating in the excitement of Vacation Bible School, but what about the rest of the world? A mission team from Calvary Baptist Church in Elizabethton recently helped to provide the spirit of VBS to children in the small villages of Roaring Creek and Camelote, Belize during their recent mission trip. They started off the week with two fun days with kids from nearby villages. The fun days truly were fun including Bible stories, music, face painting, crafts, balloon animals, t-shirt making, water balloon fights, and the best of all ice cream. During the rest of their stay, the team evangelized to the nearby village of Camelote while distributing much needed food as well as solar powered lights. At least one person came to know Christ during their visit. Calvary’s pastor, Joe Sorah was also busy throughout the week equipping Belizean pastors to lead their congregations, and their music director, Elmer Sams, repaired over 60 bicycles during the trip. While in Belize, the mission team joined the people of Camelote for some very lively church services.

Repairing the Washington Monument

Repair work has begun on the Washington Monument after it was damaged by an earthquake in August of 2011. The quake left many cracks, some large enough to let in water and sunlight. Engineers have been inspecting the monument ever since the earthquake to check each stone for damage. They will be repairing the monument with rock from its original quarry in Maryland. The park service hopes to reopen the monument next spring.

Bill Could End Primary Elections

A new bill proposed in the Tennessee state senate would change the way US senators are elected. The new bill would put state legislators in charge of nominating candidates for the position. Currently nominations are made by voters during a primary election. Supporters of the bill say that it is aimed at returning to a system closer to what was in place prior to 1913, when the 17th Amendment moved the senate election from the states to the people. If the bill is passed, it will take place after the next election.

Update on Range Backpack Program

Last December we told you about a program that helps to provide weekend food for students in the Tri-Cities. In order to help the students of Range Elementary, the report was sent out to churches near Range. Several people responded by donating to the program. An estimated total of more than $3100 has been raised for Range in the Backpack Program.

Possible Closing of Range Elementary

Parents of Range Elementary students fought for their children at a school board workshop last week. The workshop allowed the public to express their concerns over a plan to close Range and move its ninety-four students to Central Elementary. The school board proposed the idea to help save about one-third of their expected $1 million budget shortfall for next year.

Landmark Store Closes

A Jonesborough landmark closed its doors yesterday to make room for a new roundabout. The Five Points grocery has been doing business since the 1940s at its location at the intersection of Depot Street and State Routes 81 and 353. TDOT will be demolishing the property to make way for the new intersection.

Hostage Situation Comes to an End

The five-year-old boy held hostage in an underground bunker since last Tuesday was finally rescued yesterday. Police say the child was abducted from a school bus in Midland City, AL after his kidnapper, Jimmy Lee Dykes, shot and killed the bus driver. Police had made contact with Dykes and had been lowering toys, food, and medication for the boy through a ventilation pipe. Police entered the bunker yesterday fearing that Dykes was going to hurt the boy. Dykes is now dead, and the boy is now safe.

Three Injured in Car Wreck

Three people are injured following a car wreck on Highway 19E in Carter County. According to police a GMC Sierra truck crossed the median into oncoming traffic hitting a Chevrolet 1500 head on. All three persons involved in the crash are in the Johnson City Medical Center. Alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

First Quadruple Amputee

A soldier in the US Army has become the first person to ever survive the amputation of all four of his limbs. Brendan Marrocco was returning to base in the early morning when an Explosive Fired Projectile entered his vehicle. Brendan lost both his arms and legs. He has received prosthetics and is recovering at the Walter Reed Medical Center. You can read more about Brendan at http://brendanmarrocco.org/.