VORP Thrift Store

VORP Thrift Store
Click the photo to visit the VORP Store on Facebook.

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Hazardous Weather Outlook as remnants of Hurricane Harvey pass through Tennessee.

This Afternoon and Tonight

A Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for most of Middle Tennessee.
Locations across the higher elevations of the Upper Cumberland
Region, southern portions of the Cumberland Plateau Region, and
far southern counties across central and eastern portions of the
mid state are not within this watch area currently.
There is a slight risk of severe storms for counties near the Tennessee/Alabama border this afternoon through early this evening. There is a marginal risk of severe storms for locations around the I-40 corridor and southward up to the above mentioned slight risk area for this afternoon through early this evening. With any severe storms that do occur, the formation of isolated tornadoes will be the primary threat. DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Heavy rain will persist through Friday as Tropical Depression Harvey moves across Middle Tennessee. Forecast rainfall amounts from today through Friday afternoon range from up to 1 inch along the Cumberland Plateau, to 3 to 5 inches across the Nashville Metro Area, to 6 to 8 inches around Clarksville and Land-between- the-Lakes.

Crossville Cumberland Co officials held a Civil Defense meeting in 1971 about emergency preparedness.

From the 1960s and into the 1980s Civil Defense was something that became a part of life for many people in the United States. With Cold War tensions a big part of the relationship between the US and what was then the USSR (Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic) the protection of citizens in the event of an atomic attack was an important part of government and most locations had Fallout Shelters to protect citizens from the after-effects of an atomic attack.

Crossville was no different and there were a number of public buildings that could be used as fallout shelters to protect citizens that luckily never had to be used. A batch of documents has come to light from a Civil Defense Emergency Preparedness Conference held at the Cumberland County Courthouse on March 11, 1971.
Program from the March 1971 Civil Defense
Public Officials Conference 

The three-hour evening meeting was put on by Tennessee Division of Civil Defense and the University of Tennessee (UT) Division of Continuing Education and moderated by Harry V. Price who was the director of the Civil Defense Extension Program for UT. Local government officials, business and civic leaders, educators and community leaders were given an open invitation to the meeting.
Cover from the Civil Defense
Emergency Preparedness Conference
in 1971

Local participants in the program included Charles F. Walker, director of the Crossville-Cumberland Co. office of Civil Defense; County Judge (mayor) J. T. Horn; Crossville Mayor Edd Brandon and Roy T. Hall, director of the Crossville Cumberland Co. Chamber of Commerce.

Presentations were made by Winchester Tennessee County Judge Roy T. Crownover and John H. Keese, Jr. the area coordinator of the state office of Civil Defense who had his office in Winchester city hall. A 30-minute movie called “In Time of Emergency” was shown.

Judge Crownover spoke about the responsibility of local government for emergency preparedness and Mr. Keese gave information about Civil Defense programs in area two.

The final part of the meeting was a panel discussion on where the community was at the time and what the next steps should be.


Along with the meeting documents was a stack of reports on the various fallout shelters in Cumberland county including several downtown buildings, local schools and incredibly the Franklin Limestone mine near Crab Orchard that would shelter an estimated 17,658 people.

Other shelters and capacities include:
  • Cumberland Co High School would shelter 355 people
  • Crossville Elementary School would shelter  10 people
  • CCHS Stadium would shelter 75 people
  • Crossville Medical Group would shelter 235 people
  • Cumberland Medical Center would shelter 490 people
  • Pleasant Hill Elementary School would shelter 295 people
  • Homestead Elementary School would shelter 50 people
  • Woody School would shelter 100 people
  • Hills Department Store would shelter 350 people
  • Lays 5 and 10 Store would shelter 30 people
  • Wards Department Store would shelter 115 people
  • The US Post Office (on Main St.) would shelter 385 people
  • Cumberland Elementary School (old high school) would shelter 1380 people
  • La Frances Building would shelter 1365 people
  • Luvernia Building would shelter 925 people
Original Fallout Shelter Sign 
from the La Frances Building in Crossville

Documents showing fallout shelter capacity for the
now torn down La Frances building





Sunday, August 27, 2017

Cumberland Co Fair schedule for the week's events.

The Cumberland County Fair runs from August 25 to September 2 at the Cumberland Co. Fairgrounds with the theme Cowboys, Crops and Carnivals and a Whole Lotta Happy.   This is the 70th consecutive year the fair has been held.  All Exhibit Buildings Open Daily 10:00 am - 10:00 pm.  Wood Carving Daily in the Adult Building and Cumberland Artisans for Creative Expression and Genealogy exhibits each day too.


Monday, August 28th

10 am - 10 pm                Exhibit Buildings Open
5:00 pm                          Midway Opens
6:30 pm                          Sheep/Goat Show (Counties touching CumberlandCounty)
6:00 -8:00 pm                 Live Demonstrations: Wool Knitting (Sue Duncan)
7:30 pm                          Phil Dirt and the Dozers

Tuesday, August 29th

9:00 am- 3 pm            Special Needs Day
10:00 am - 10:00 pm  Exhibit Buildings Open
5:00 pm                      Midway Opens
6:00 pm                      Live Demonstrations
                                   Open Beef Show (British and Continental Breeds)
6:00 pm                      Fair Idol Contest
7:30 pm                      Music City Quartet


Wednesday, August 30th

10:00 am - 10:00 pm Exhibit Buildings Open
9:00 am - 3:00 pm     SENIOR CITIZEN DAY
5:00 pm                     Midway Opens
6:00 pm                     Pet Show
6:00 - 8:00 pm           Live Demonstration: Milling, by Lindell Agee and Charlie Orme
7:30 pm                     Local Gospel Entertainment


Thursday, August, 31st

10:00 am - 10:00 pm       Exhibit Buildings Open
5:00 pm                            Midway Opens
6:00-8:00 pm                   Live Demonstration Working Dogs (Chad Collins)
6:30 pm                            Open Beef Show (Brahma/Brahma Inf./Brangus)/Limousin)
7:00 pm                            TRUCK PULL

Friday, September 1st

10:00 am - 10:00 pm        Exhibit Buildings Open
5:00 pm                            Midway Opens
6:00 pm                            Live Demonstration: Plateau Ice Cream Maker
7:00 pm                            Cumberland County Fair Horse & Mule Show
7:00 pm                           Jr. Market Lamb Show
                                        Jr. Market Swine Show starts approx. 30 min after Jr. Mkt. Lamb Show)

Saturday, September 2nd

9:00 am                       Jr. Market Goat Show
10:00 am                     Jr. Market Beef Show
10:00 am - 10:00 pm   Exhibit Buildings Open
10:00 am                      Family Farm Olympics
12:00 Noon-                Midway Opens - FAMILY DAY
1:00 pm                       4-H Chick Chain Show & Sale
6:00 pm                       Youth Market Livestock Sale
6:00 pm                       Live Demonstration: Plateau Ice Cream Maker
8:00 pm                       Confederate Railroad Band

Sunday, September 3rd

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm       Exhibit Building Open for Removal of Exhibits
2:00 pm                        Carnival Opens 2 pm Until Closing


August Cruise In brought out cool cars and many lookers

Two more Crusie Ins left this year. If all the upcoming dates are as nice as August, the crowds will be fine.  The monthly event is held on the 4th Saturday of each month.  There are always a variety of cars to see. 
Old cars with older buildings.

A Checker Cab-who needs a lift?

Cars on the Courthouse Square.

Check out our sponsor!

 
VW Bug

A Chevy in Big Orange colors catches a young man's eye.

Families check out some cars.

Strolling down the middle of Main Street.

A bit more strolling.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Regular Chamber agenda item removal hits a snag but expected to pass eventually

Efforts to remove the Chamber of Commerce report from the Crossville city council's monthly agenda hit a snag when one council member was a few minutes late to a short special called meeting.

Because changing the order of business on the council agenda requires an ordinance, it must be approved by council three times. The first reading of the change came during the regular August meeting and was approved by a 3 to 2 vote. Often called meetings will include the second or third readings of previously approved ordinances to move the process along.
Chamber of Commerce Office on Main St.

When the item came up as the first item on the called meeting agenda only four members of council were present as councilman J. H. Graham was delayed at the dentist's office. The motion to approve the ordinance on second reading came from council member Danny Wyatt with a second by member Pamala Harris. Harris and Wyatt voted in favor while member Scot Shanks and Mayor James Mayberry voted against as they did on the first reading. A motion fails when the vote ends in a tie and the the action can be brought back before council again but must start over back at the first reading at that time.

During the regular council meeting councilman Wyatt brought the issue forward saying that he felt the Chamber needed to go through the city manager with issues that arise, reports to make or items that need to be acted upon. The item was added to the agenda last year that allowed a report from either the County government or the Chamber or both. The Chamber has used the spot every month but the council has rarely heard from the county.

During the regular meeting Mayor Mayberry described the Chamber as a vital partner in the promotion of Crossville and Cumberland County and he felt the communication they brought to the council was important enough to take the time to hear.


Councilman Wyatt said he felt the Chamber should go through the city manager who he added was doing a good job of keeping the council informed of items needing their attention. Councilman Shanks wanted to make sure that if the Chamber needed to speak before the council they could but was still opposed to removing the item from the agenda.  

Friday, August 25, 2017

Three Charged in Bluff City Election Investigation by TBI

TBI Press Release:
JOHNSON CITY – An investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in three Bluff City residents being charged with violating an election law.

On June 19th, at the request of 2nd District Attorney General Barry Staubus, TBI Special Agents began investigating reports of election law violations that occurred during the May 2017 municipal election in Bluff City. During the course of the investigation, Agents determined that John R. Harrison (DOB 9/30/62), Sherry Grubb (DOB 7/14/59), and Brooke Morrell (DOB 11/6/87) entered a polling place during voting hours for reasons other than casting a vote or assisting another voter.
This week, a criminal summons was issued charging Harrison, Grubb, and Morrell with one count of Election Law Violation. Today, all three individuals were served on those charges.
News reports indicate Harrison is a Bluff City alderman and Grubb is a County Commissioner for Sullivan Co. The charges are related to the May 2017 Bluff City election.



Central Communications Committee to hold special called meeting Monday August 28 on personnel and insurance

PUBLIC NOTICE OF SPECIAL CALLED MEETING
OF THE CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE (CCC)
FOR CUMBERLAND COUNTY, TENNESSEE


Notice is hereby given that the Central Communications Committee (“CCC”) for Cumberland County, Tennessee will meet in special session on Monday, August 28, 2017, at 1:00 p.m., local time in Conference Room 317 at Crossville City Hall, 392 Main St., Crossville, Tennessee. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss personnel matters and insurance.

The committee oversees the consolidated Dispatch/911 Center serving all areas of Cumberland County, Tennessee and the Cities of Crossville, Pleasant Hill, and Crab Orchard. Dispatchers perform emergency and routine dispatch operations for all emergency response agencies in the County, as well as responding to all local land line and wireless 911 calls.


Committee members include:
Chairman: Cumberland Co. Mayor Kenneth Carey Jr.
Vice Chairman: City Manager: Greg Wood
EMA Director Keith Garrison
Crossville Police Chief David Beaty
Crossville Fire Chief Mike Turner
Cumberland County Sheriff Casey Cox
Cumberland Co. Fire Chief Trevor Kerley
EMS Director Chris Miller
Cumberland Co. Board Chairman Everett Bolin

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Solar Eclipse attracts well over 100 planes to the Crossville Airport.

Monday's solar eclipse brought well over 100 planes to the Crossville Memorial Airport including several from outside of the United States. 

Crossville Memorial Airport Terminal

Crossville city manager Greg Wood told the Crossville city council about the visitors at the end of their special called meeting.  According to Wood, at least 127 planes were on the ground at the airport including a couple very expensive planes worth $20 million each.  Wood estimated that there were over $100 million of aircraft value at the airport for the eclipse. 

Planes came to Crossville from Canada and Puerto Rico.  

Monday, August 21, 2017

Photos of the eclipse from Crossville August 21, 2017

The total eclipse has come and gone now, but it was spectacular and made a vast majority of folks stop and watch a shared experience that for many they may only get to see once in their lifetime.

The following series of photos shows the early partial period moving to totality and the diamond ring effect that is the very flashy part of the eclipse for most folks.  Many cheered as the eclipse went total with the sun completely hidden behind the moon allowing the sun's corona to be seen and the darkness to come at the odd time of day.

All photos copyright 2017 Jim Young.

Near the start of the eclipse

The moon covering about 1/2 the sun

Note the crescent shadow effect under the trees.

Clouds passed over the eclipse from time to time

The sun is almost completely covered.


Totality, showing the sun's corona

More of the sun's corona during totality. 

The sun starts to shine through the mountains 
on the moon

The full diamond ring effect

There will be another eclipse in 2024 and it will be partial for Crossville and total to the west of us. 





Sunday, August 20, 2017

AMBER ALERT--TBI Issues BOLO for Memphis 4 year old.

AMBER Alert: Memphis police are looking for 4 y/o Zion Byrd, who was taken by his non-custodial father Dominique Nichols. If you know where Zion or Dominique Nichols may be, call 1-800-TBI-FIND.


Friday, August 18, 2017

Crossville city council sets special called meeting on water plant work contracts and telecommunications rules

The Crossville city council has set a special called meeting on Wednesday, August 23 at noon at Crossville city hall.

The meeting agenda includes the expected approval of bids for the improvements at Meadow Park and Holiday Lake water treatment plants. Engineers J. R. Wauford recommends the low bidder of W & O Construction of Livingston with a bid of $1,291,600. The project includes a new chemical building and other work at the two plants.
Crossville City Hall

Council will consider the first reading of an ordinance on telecommunications after previously approving a moratorium on permitting new telecommunications construction in the city through October 1. A committee has been working on a draft ordinance and a final version will be provided before the final reading.

Council will also receive a recommendation between 6 engineering firms that have responded to a request for proposals to engineer the Fourth Street and West Avenue traffic signal and intersection upgrade.


Additional agenda items include the second reading of removing the chamber report from the council's regular agenda and a contract extension for J. R. Wauford service on a project that has been delayed due to time overruns by a contractor. The additional work is priced at $19,810.60.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Area schools closed on eclipse day. Some businesses, government offices closed between 1 and 2 PM for eclipse peak.

Local officials are making plans for an influx of visitors on Monday, August 21 for the Total Eclipse of the sun and traffic could be heavy.


With Crossville being very close to the center line of totality a large influx of visitors is possible with most all hotel rooms locally already reserved but many others could just drive in for the day.

Everything you need to know about the eclipse.

After several weeks of holding the line, the Cumberland County school system announced they would close for the day of the eclipse on Wednesday evening. All schools and central offices will be closed for the day. Crossville private schools will also be closed, Crossville Christian School and Christian Academy of the Cumberlands. Other area schools that will be closed include Morgan, Fentress, Putnam, Roane and Rhea Counties.


In addition, the Crossville city hall and city offices will be closed between 1 and 2 PM at the height of the eclipse. Also closed for that peak eclipse hour is the Progressive Bank, Highland Federal Savings & Loan, Cumberland Co. Bank, First Bank, and the Upper Cumberland Federal Credit Union.  


TBI Top 10 Most Wanted in Custody in Indiana, Alleged member of Vice Lords-wanted for Heroin distribution

TBI announces arrest
NASHVILLE – A man who was added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Top 10 Most Wanted list in July is now in custody, after being arrested today in Indiana.
Bradford (DOB 3-19-79) had been wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to face a charge of Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Heroin. Bradford is a known member of the Vice Lords with ties to Chicago and the Middle Tennessee area.
Brandon Bradford

Brandon Bradford was taken into custody today at a hotel on Eastern Boulevard in Clarksville, Indiana. He had barricaded himself in a room there for about an hour before surrendering. Bradford was taken into custody by the FBI, with assistance from TBI, the Metro Nashville Police Department, and officers with the Jeffersonville (IN) Police Department, the Clarksville (IN) Police Department, the Clark County (IN) Sheriff’s Department, the New Albany (IN) Police Department, and the Floyd County (IN) Sheriff’s Office.
Bradford is currently being held in the Floyd County Jail in Indiana.
This continues to be an active and ongoing investigation

Cumberland Co man among those arrested in Upper Cumberland Meth distribution sweep.

TBI Press Release:
Partner law enforcement agencies from across the Upper Cumberland region have worked together to secure charges for 12 individuals in connection with an eight-month investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in several counties.
Authorities from the Cookeville Police Department, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Crossville Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Overton County Sheriff’s Department, the Pickett County Sheriff’s Office, the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Department, the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the office of 13th District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, began investigating the operation in September 2016. During the course of the investigation, authorities developed information about 12 individuals connected to a multi-county methamphetamine distribution operation.

At the time of this release, nine of the individuals had been arrested and booked into the Putnam County Jail:
  • Ronnie Edward Argo, Jr., DOB 6-19-88, of Gainesboro
    • Conspiracy to Distribute Over 300 Grams of Methamphetamine, $75,000 bond
  • Joseph Israel Neely, DOB 3-8-81, of Smithville
    • Conspiracy to Distribute Over 300 Grams of Methamphetamine, $250,000 bond
  • Kristan Nicole Harville, DOB 5-23-87, of Baxter
    • Conspiracy to Distribute Over 300 Grams of Methamphetamine, $250,000 bond
  • Darby Dee Brunson, DOB 5-10-88, of Cookeville
    • Conspiracy to Distribute Over 300 Grams of Methamphetamine, $250,000 bond
  • Lindsey L. Goad, DOB 4-28-95, of Gainesboro
    • Conspiracy to Distribute Over 300 Grams of Methamphetamine, $75,000 bond
  • Megan Alissa Fuller, DOB 1-18-81, of Gainesboro
    • Conspiracy to Distribute Over 300 Grams of Methamphetamine, $75,000 bond
  • Ryan Lee Underwood, DOB 5-5-82, of Cookeville
    • Conspiracy to Distribute Over 300 Grams of Methamphetamine, $75,000 bond
  • Nathaniel Harrison Payne, DOB 4-28-81, of Crossville
    • Conspiracy to Distribute Over 300 Grams of Methamphetamine, $75,000 bond
  • James Preston Cumby, DOB 10-20-66, of Cookeville
    • Conspiracy to Distribute Over 300 Grams of Methamphetamine, $75,000 bond
The arrest of the additional three individuals implicated in this investigation is pending.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Crossville council waiting on Chamber approval of contract changes, removes chamber report from agenda


A majority of the Crossville city council agreed to remove the regular monthly report by the Chamber of Commerce from the council's agenda but the chamber could still speak at the council meeting if needed.

The council also briefly discussed the contract for services with the chamber after some proposed changes suggested by the city are under consideration by the chamber's board. The council also approved the chamber report card to be used to report to the city.
Chamber President Brad Allamong, right, addresses the Council.

The chamber report has followed the city's marketing report where a slot for Cumberland County government or the Chamber could report to the council. The county government has not taken advantage of the opportunity but the chamber director/president Brad Allamong has.

At that point in the agenda, Mayor James Mayberry called for the chamber report but council member J. H. Graham said the next item on the agenda was a discussion of the chamber's contract. Allamong took the podium to present the chamber's new scorecard that will be used to report to the city on activities and progress toward goals. Allamong also presented council with copies of the new Lifestyles magazine that he said the Chamber uses to raise funds making about $14,000 from the publication. Copies of the magazine are sent to those inquiries about visiting, retirement and moving to the area and industrial prospects.

Allamong pointed out some numbers from the report card including 412,000 website hits for the month. The chamber has several contacts in progress with potential new businesses prospects.

The chamber board will discuss the city proposed changes to the contract and will get back to the city at a future date. The council unanimously approved accepting the chamber report card to be used for reporting to the city.

Councilman Danny Wyatt addressed the monthly chamber report saying that the report card needed to go through the city manager who would provide information he thought important to the council members. Councilman Scot Shanks sought clarification to make sure that the council could still speak before the council if they needed to.
Council discussion on Chamber part 1

Council discussion on Chamber part 2

Wyatt said that the manager was doing a good job of keeping the council informed and as the CEO of the city, he needs to be in the loop to know what information needs to be sent along to the council.

Mr. Wyatt moved that the item be removed from the council agenda on the first reading of an ordinance the council must approve three times to make the change. The motion, seconded by Mr. Graham, was approved with three votes in favor from Wyatt, Graham and Pamala Harris. Mayor Mayberry and Mr. Shanks voted no.


Graham returned the discussion to the contract requesting that a clause be added to inform the city manager of the details of any prospective industrial prospect. Ms. Harris also clarified that the contract would not automatically renew each year but come back before council.  

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

11 Men Facing Felony Charges as a Result of Kingsport Human Trafficking Operation




JOHNSON CITY – A youth leader, a coach, and a volunteer firefighter are among nearly a dozen men facing felony charges as part of a four-day human trafficking operation in Kingsport.
Someone Like MeSpecial Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation along with the Kingsport Police Department, 2ndJudicial District Drug Task Force, Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the undercover operation to identify potential victims of trafficking and arrest those seeking to purchase illicit sex from a juvenile. The Kingsport anti-trafficking operation, called “Operation Someone Like Me”, is the 10th of its kind in the state between the TBI and partner agencies to help identify, investigate, and prosecute trafficking.
“Many still think this is something that just happens in big cities. The results of this operation prove that’s not the case,” says TBI Director Mark Gwyn. “We want our message to be very clear: Law enforcement officers across the state are watching, and we are working together to stop those trying to buy and sell our children for sex.”
The operation took place July 31st- August 3rd with the first three days focusing entirely on targeting those attempting to purchase illicit sex from minors. Over the three-day period, undercover Special Agents posing as juvenile girls posted ads on Backpage.com. As a result, Agents received numerous texts and phone calls from men across Tennessee and in surrounding states. A total of eleven men responded and paid to have sex with an underage female. Those arrested include a local coach, a church youth leader, an emergency medical technician, and an Uber driver.
“We have no tolerance for those who would victimize the most vulnerable in our society,” says TBI Deputy Director Jason Locke. “We will continue to conduct these operations across the state and do whatever it takes to bring those trafficking women and children, as well as those supplying the demand, to justice.”
"Human trafficking is a growing problem in our nation, and in the State of Tennessee. East Tennessee is no exception,” says Kingsport Police Chief David Quillin. “It is our hope that through partnerships with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement entities, the Kingsport Police Department can help bring those individuals who engage in this unspeakable crime to justice."
With the assistance of the nonprofit agency Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking, the fourth day of the operation focused on identifying potential victims of trafficking. One woman was cited and offered services, including housing and counseling. She took advantage of those services and has been placed in transitional housing.
Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally visited the operation and was able to witness some of the transactions. "I would like to commend the TBI and its partnering law enforcement agencies for their outstanding work on this operation,” says Lt. Governor Randy McNally. "Operations like these make clear that Tennessee is committed to ending human trafficking and sex slavery within our borders. The message to those participating in this scourge is unequivocal: You will be found. You will be caught. And you will be prosecuted."
In 2015, Governor Bill Haslam signed legislation into law giving TBI original jurisdiction over human trafficking investigations. Additionally, the General Assembly approved funding for four Special Agents, who work exclusively to investigate human trafficking cases and train law enforcement statewide on recognizing and combating this type of crime. These four Special Agents, who have now completed their tenth operation across the state, have arrested or cited more than 200 individuals during that time.
ASAC Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigation’s operations in Tennessee says, “HSI Tennessee is proud to once again partner with TBI as we jointly combat human trafficking in Tennessee.  These operations target those looking to prey on the community’s youth, but it also serves to get the victims of human trafficking off the street so they can receive the services and protections which they are entitled to. HSI will continue to apply our immigration authority to maximize the effectiveness of these operations.”
Earlier this year, as part of its commitment to address this issue, the TBI began the second phase of the public awareness campaign “ITHasToStop,” which includes awareness billboards, online resources, public service announcements, and contact information for nonprofits who work with survivors of human trafficking. Visit www.ITHasToStop.com for additional details.
KINGSPORT “OPERATION SOMEONE LIKE ME” STATS
Since “Operation Someone Like Me” began in May 2015, there have been over 200 arrests/ citations.
The investigation was conducted in Brentwood, Clarksville, Jackson, Chattanooga (twice, once in conjunction with Georgia Bureau of Investigation), Knoxville, Nashville, Morristown, Memphis, Dyersburg, and Kingsport.
As a result of “Operation Someone Like Me” in Kingsport, 12 individuals were charged, including 11 men and 1 woman.
Those arrested during the operation are below. One individual indicted as part of the investigation has not yet been arrested.
Greg Hart
*Gregory W. Hart, DOB 12/21/55, Johnson City, TN - Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (A Felony). $100,000 bond.
Bradley Laws
*Bradley C. Laws, DOB 1/10/75, Green Mountain, NC – Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (A Felony) and Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (B Felony). $100,000 bond.
Samuel McMurry
*Samuel Adam McMurry, DOB 9/20/94, Johnson City, TN - Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (A Felony) and Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (B Felony). $100,000 bond.
Brandon Summey
*Brandon R. Summey, (DOB 8/3/85), Kingsport, TN - Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (B Felony). $75,000 bond.
Jose Rivero
*Jose Alejandro Rivero, DOB 11/22/97, Elizabethton, TN - Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (B Felony). $75,000 bond.
Joseph Miller 1
*Joseph D. Miller, DOB 5/12/80, Bristol, TN - Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (A Felony) and Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (B Felony). $100,000 bond.
Israel Morales
*Israel Cueva Morales, DOB 8/8/95, Johnson City, TN - Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (A Felony). $100,000 bond.
Matthew Still
*Matthew S. Still, DOB 12/4/86, Jonesborough, TN - Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (A Felony), Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (B Felony), and Sexual Battery. $125,000 bond.
Christopher Ginley
*Christopher K. Ginley, DOB 4/5/96, Jonesborough, TN - Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (A Felony) and Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (B Felony). $100,000 bond.
Kevin White
*Kevin J. White, DOB 4/21/73, Kingsport, TN - Trafficking a Person for a Commercial Sex Act (B Felony). $10,000 bond.
*Maegen J. Manis, DOB 9/22/87, Kingsport, TN – Prostitution. This individual was cited and will have her booking photo taken at the time she is processed.