Sample Ballot for August 1st State Primary and County General Election

 Early voting is underway and continues through July 27 at noon. Early voting is held at the Cumberland County Election Commission office located at 83 Northside Lane.  House are 8 AM to 4 PM Weekdays and 8 AM to Noon on Saturday. 

Election Day voting takes place at various locations on Thursday, August 1. Voting locations list is below the sample Ballot.

TN Cumberland Co. Republican Primary

 

TN Cumberland Co. Democratic Primary

Cumberland Co. General Election Ballot

Cumberland Co. General Ballot continued.

Judicial Supreme Court questions

Polling Locations for Election Day

City of Crossville and Employees Sued in Federal Court over Village Inn Evictions from July of 2022

By Jim Young

A lawsuit has been filed in federal court against the City of Crossville and numerous city employees over the closing of the Village inn in July of 2022 and the eviction of all residents. A request to make the case a class action suit has also been made in the filing.

The suit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages against all defendants, in amounts to be proven at trial, Recovery of costs, including reasonable attorney fees, and all other relief to which they may be entitled.

In addition to the City, others named in the lawsuit are Police Chief Jessie Brooks, Fire Chief Chris South along with city employees Koby Wilson, Zach Young, John Doe 1-10 who are officers with the Crossville police department, Danny Thurman, Casey Worsham, Thomas Smith, Terry L. Poter, and Jeremy Mangas.

Village Inn (file photo by Jim Young)

The lawsuit alleges that those defendants unlawfully seized the plaintiffs' apartments, evicting them from their apartments and depriving them of possession without any due process. Plaintiffs allege that in a very coordinated effort, employees of the City of Crossville, Tennessee systematically wrongfully seized plaintiff’s apartments wrongfully evicting them from their apartments without any notice or court order. Working in concert, Defendants forced the Plaintiffs to vacate the apartments that they rented, without cause or notice or judicial order, despite the fact that City had attempted to evict the residents several times in the last few years only to be denied an order signed by judge; this time, the City employees came to the apartment complex forcibly evicting all residents of the complex with no notice or court order. The Plaintiffs claim that these officers' conduct violated clearly established rights protected by the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Tennessee law and without any objectively reasonable grounds for doing so.

During the course of a narcotics investigation, conditions of the building and safety concerns were found which required Fire Safety inspections and codes compliance checks. The result of the inspection led to the power to the entire facility to be pulled and an immediate habitation ban to be issued. Immediately noticed were areas of overhead walkway concrete deterioration and missing/falling concrete were observed. Handrails and support posts were found broken, loose and hanging. Water standing in the floor of an occupied unit, required residents to walk on boards to stay out of the potentially hazardous water.

The lawsuit against the city has been filed by Livingston Attorney John Nisbet who represented numerous victims of former County solid waste director Mark Harvel in a suit against Cumberland County that netted some $1.1 Million.

Village Inn residents listed as plaintiffs in the suit include Christopher Duff, Starlene Gilbert, Boyd Alan Kearley, Jackie Laesch. John Lewis, Domenica Palmer, Weldon Bruce Palmer II, Wanda Rupe, Brandy Nicole Story and Sharon Williams, on behalf of themselves and those similarly situated.

Early this year the City bought the Village Inn and appears to have plans to tear down the building.

Crossville City Attorney Randy York was unavailable for comment when his office was contacted. We will report any comments if they are received.

Harvel Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison

Convicted of sex abuse, kidnaping and civil rights violations, former Solid Waste Director for Cumberland County Mike Harvel received a 17 year sentence. 

Harvel will receive credit for the 2 years he has already served and must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before he can be considered for parole.  Another 5 years of parole will be required if he is released.

The Federal Judge required that neither Harvel or any of his friends contact any of the victims. 

An appeal is expected to be filed on Harvel's behalf by a public defender.

Several friends and family members testified on Harvel's behalf and 9 of his victims gave victim impact statements. 

Mike Harvel to be Sentenced Thursday April 20

The Sentencing for Former Cumberland County Solid Waste Director and former County Commissioner Mike Harvel is set for Thursday April 20 in a Federal Court in Nashville.

In December 2022 Harvel was convicted by a federal jury of 9 counts of civil rights violations, including kidnapping and sexual assault.

The Department of Justice is seeking life in prison for Harvel as outlined in a Sentencing Memorandum filed with the court Monday.

The defense has filed a motion asking that Harvel be sentenced to 120 months (Ten years). The defense outlines the reasons including Harvel had no previous record and a his myriad of medical problems. Harvel is 61 years old.

State charges in connection with the incidents leading to his federal convictions remain pending.

In 2021, a sexual harassment lawsuit against Cumberland County was settled for $1.1 million. The lawsuit alleged, among other things, that Cumberland County failed to take adequate precautions to prevent Harvel, as the director of the county’s Solid Waste Department, from sexually harassing women he supervised. According to the complaint, Harvel regularly subjected the women to unwanted sexual contact, including kissing and groping, and to unwelcome sexual advances.

Mike Harvel State Arrest Mug Shot

Former Central Communications Director who sued Cumberland County has died.

We have word from South Carolina that former Cumberland Co. Central Communications director Mike Blackwood has died at 63. 

In 2018, Blackwood, a US Marine veteran sued Cumberland County along with former County mayor Kenneth Carey and others over First Amendment issues and harrasment claims. The suit was later settled.

A book he wrote about growing up in the south "Over Easy" was published last year and Blackwood was working on another book as well. 

Blackwood also worked with the Cumberland Co. Young Marines program when it was first formed.

May Primary Early Voting April 13 through 28 (Sample Ballot Here)

May 3rd Primary election will include County offices, 13th Judicial district elections for judges, District Attorney and Public Defender.  

Election day is May 3rd and Early voting will be held April 13 through 28.  With the new census, a number of voting districts and voting locations have changed.  Voters should have received a new card if any of these locations have changed for them.  

Early voting will be held in a new location as well because the Election Commission offices have moved to Northside Lane. Early voting will not be held at the old post office on Main Street any longer. 

Election Commission Office 83 Northside Ln

Sample Ballots for the Republican and Democratic Primary follow.  There is no General election on this ballot.

Neighbor Charged in Fairfield Glade shooting death.

TBI Press Release 

FAIRFIELD GLADE – A joint investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Fairfield Glade Police Department, and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the arrest of a Fairfield Glade man, charged with killing a neighbor and injuring two others.

Tony Davenport

At the request of 13^th District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, on March 18^th, TBI special agents responded to a residence in the 20 block of Grouse Court in Fairfield Glade, where three individuals had been shot.  Jacob Lewis (DOB: 1/1/98) was pronounced deceased at the scene.  Two other wounded individuals were transported to an area hospital for treatment.  During the course of the investigation, agents and investigators developed information that identified a neighbor, Tony Davenport, as the individual responsible.

Davenport (DOB: 2/26/65) has been booked into the Cumberland County Jail on one count of First Degree Murder and two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder.  He is currently being held without bond.

Greenbriar Subdivision House Fire believed to be caused by Kerosene Heater.

An early morning Tuesday residential fire on Village Way in the Greenbriar subdivision may have been caused by use of a kerosene heater as auxiliary heat causing three residents to be treated for smoke inhalation.  

House appearance when fire department

first arrived on the scene.

According to Crossville Fire Chief Chris South the fire started in a sunroom at the rear of the home.  Three residents were transported to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.  Two of the homes residents were elderly and were in the area where the fire started. 

The fire is believed to have originated in

a sun room at the rear of the home.

Chief South said the call came in at about 8:30 and he was the first on the scene and he said the rapid response time and quick work of the department members allowed them to knock the fire down quickly saving at least part of the structure though the fire had a big head start on the fire department. 

Chief South stated that the outcome could have been worse had the house not had smoke detectors that alerted residents of the home about the fire. 

Some 25 firefighters were at the scene including an assist from the Cumberland Co. Fire Department. No fire personnel were injured in fighting the fire. 

The damage to the structure and contents was estimated at $300,000 by CHief South. 

Front of house.

TBI Investigating Cumberland Co. Deputy involved shooting from Friday night on I-40.

TBI press release:

At the request of 13^th District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, TBI special agents are investigating the circumstances that led to the shooting of a man during an altercation with a deputy of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department Friday night.

Preliminary information indicates that around 9 p.m. Friday, dispatchers received a report of a pick-up truck traveling eastbound in the westbound lane of I-40 near mile marker 311. A Cumberland County deputy responding to the area found the vehicle unoccupied, on the shoulder of the interstate. Another deputy located the driver standing on the outside lane of the interstate, and told him to show his hands. Initial information from the scene indicates the man brandished a handgun and ran towards the deputy. The deputy fired at the man, striking him. The individual was pronounced deceased at the scene. No officers were injured in the incident. The identity of the man who was shot is being withheld at this time pending notification of relatives. The Tennessee Highway Patrol Critical Response Team provided assistance during this incident.

TBI agents are working to independently determine the set of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the district attorney general for his further review and consideration.

The TBI acts as facts-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the district attorney general requesting TBI's involvement

Former Co. Employee/Commissioner Mike Harvel faces 11 new Federal indictments handed down by a Grand Jury

Already facing a series of charges related to allegations of sexual misconduct with employees under his control when he was director of the Cumberland County Solid Waste Department, Mike Harvel is now facing additional charges related to the previous charges.  The allegations are stated to have occurred between 2014 and 2018.

Mike Harvel mug shot following

his arrest on state charges.

Harvel remains held in Federal custody after having a request for release on bond turned down by a judge earlier this year. The original charges were set to be heard September this year but Harvel's attorneys requested additional time to prepare and the case was reset for April 2022.

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The new document, known as a superseding indictment was filed on November 15 and restates the original charges against Harvel and added additional charges including more accusations of kidnapping, deprivation of liberty without due process of law, which includes the right to bodily integrity. aggravated sexual abuse, rape and sexual assault, all while acting under the color of law. 

The Wednesday Storm Damaged 7 homes, 2 heavily. October-December are active storm months says EMA.

 

Cumberland Co. Emergency Management Agency has released photos and information on Wednesday night's storm damage and reminds residents that October to December is the second most active storm season of the year.

Families are encouraged to have two ways of receiving emergency notifications and a plan to take cover in the event of an emergency. 

According to radar, the October 6 storm traveled south to north over Lake Tansi and the CIty of Crossville. Damage was reported on Rye Woody Rd., Lawson Rd. and Tabor Loop before traveling on to Woody and Rinnie then into Fentress Co. 

No injuries were reported to citizens or responders. Seven homes sustained damage with two heavily damaged. Photos and information has been submitted to the National Weather Service in Nashville to determine the type and intensity of the storm. 

Over 1000 Volunteer Electric customers were without power after the storm knocked down lines and trees in the area but most power was restored by Thursday morning. 

Suspect shot by THP Trooper and Cumberland Co. Deputy Injured in Saturday Pursuit Incident at Crab Orchard

TBI Press Release: 

At the request of 13th District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, TBI special agents are investigating the circumstances leading to the shooting of a man during an interaction with authorities in Cumberland County Saturday afternoon.

At approximately 2:30 p.m., troopers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol attempted to stop an individual traveling along Interstate 40 in Cumberland County who was the subject of a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) out of Kentucky. The man refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued. The subject took Exit 329 and entered a nearby field. He reportedly returned to the roadway and attempted to get back on the interstate. In the process, he struck a Cumberland County deputy's vehicle head-on, injuring the deputy. The subject's vehicle left the roadway and traveled down an embankment. As troopers and deputies approached the vehicle, the situation escalated, and for reasons still under investigation, a trooper fired shots, striking the subject. He was airlifted to a local hospital for treatment. The Cumberland County deputy who was injured during the crash was also airlifted to a local hospital for treatment.

The deputy sheriff has been identified as Sergeant Kevin Davis who is in stable condition in the hospital.  

TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for his further review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI's involvement.

Mike Harvel Trial Date Moved to April 2022 for Defense to Review Substantial Volume of Evidence and Investigate

 The trial date on the Federal Charges against Mike Harvel has been moved to next year because of the volume of evidence that the defense has not yet been able to review.

Mike Harvel Mug Shot courtesy CCSD

Originally set for September 28, the trial has now been pushed to April 26, 2022 for the former Cumberland County Solid Waste director and former county commissioner. Harvel is accused of sexual assault and kidnapping and could face up to life in prison.

The request for continuance filed by Harvel's defense attorneys Patrick McNally and Walter Justin Adams states that the volume of evidence can not be reviewed prior to the deadline for pretrial motions. The evidence, according to the filing includes 23.4 gigabytes of data, 429 total files, 6.5 hours of video surveillance, 223 PDF documents with 1740 pages, and 23 video audio or audiovisual files estimated at 20 hours.

In addition, the filing states that counsel anticipates significant defense investigation is necessary independent of review of the Government’s discovery. The allegations are four to six years ago by several women accusing Mr. Harvel of sexual assaults. The investigations cannot be completed in time for counsel to utilize the information in their defense before the September 28th trial date.

Harvel also signed a waiver of his rights to a speedy trial that has been filed with the court.

Harvel remains in federal custody pending the trial.

Federal Trial Date for Mike Harvel scheduled for September 21

 A trial date of September 21, 2021 has been set in the case of federal charges against Mike Harvel, former Solid Waste director and Cumberland Co. Commissioner.

The trial will be a jury trial and the scheduling order issued by US District Judge William Campbell says that any plea agreement must be completed by August 16.

Mike Harvel mug shot from his arrest in 2018

Harvel was indited by a federal grand jury on numerous charges. The indictment alleges that between 2015-2018, Harvel sexually assaulted seven women under his supervision. Specific allegations include that he kidnapped and sexually assaulted two women and forcibly raped one of them on two separate occasions.

During one incident in July 2017, Harvel confined a woman in a locked room at a county facility, physically pushed her onto a table and sexually assaulted her. In another incident in November 2015, Harvel approached another woman in a dark office, physically pushed her onto a desk and raped her. In December 2015, Harvel drove this same woman to an isolated landfill and raped her again.

The indictment alleges several other incidents of sexual assault, including fondling the breasts and genitals of other women under his supervision and against their will.

Harvel faces up to life in prison and a maximum of $1.5 million in fines.

State Charges against Harvel remain pending in Tennessee Criminal Court. 

A previous EEOC Complaint filed by employees of the Solid Waste Department was settled with Cumberland County for $1.1 million. Link to story

Former Co Solid Waste Director Mike Harvel Ordered to Remain Locked Up Pending Trial

 Former Cumberland Co. Commissioner and director of the solid waste department Mike Harvel who is facing federal Civil Rights charges including kidnapping and rape will remain in federal detention pending a trial according to an order by Federal Magistrate Alistair Newbern.

Mug Shot of Mike Harvel from his 2018 arrest

A hearing Wednesday July 21 presented evidence by federal prosecutors as well as several local residents who spoke on behalf of Harvel (see previous story) but the magistrate ordered Harvel to remain locked up. The reasons for the continuing detention include “clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community.”

In addition the order stated that “the weight of evidence against the defendant (Harvel) is strong” and if convicted he would be “subject to a lengthy period of incarceration.”

Magistrate Newbern also gave Harvel a public defender though a notice of appearance was also filed by Nashville attorney Patrick NcNally who represented Harvel at the detention hearing. 

A trial date has not been set.

State Charges against Harvel are also pending in Criminal Court. 

A previous EEOC Complaint filed by employees of the Solid Waste Department was settled with Cumberland County for $1.1 million. Link to story

Decision on Mike Harvel's Release from Federal Detention Expected on Thursday Afternoon.

 Former Cumberland County solid waste director and former county commissioner Mike Harvel remains in Federal detention pending a decision by a federal Magistrate expected Thursday afternoon.

A hearing was held via Zoom on Wednesday with numerous witnesses including County residents who supported Harvel's release from detention pending a trial. Harvel is being defended by attorney Patrick McNally of Nashville.

Harvel's current employer, Jeff Proffitt of Proffitt Trucking described Harvel as polite on the job and offered to adjust schedules so Harvel would be home each night.

Several family members spoke for Harvel describing his 40 year marriage and that his father in law lives with the family.

Mike Harvel mug shot from state charges

Former County Commissioner and E-911 board member Tom Isham served on both boards with Harvel said he was proud to call Harvel his friend. Another former County Commissioner who served with Harvel, David Hassler also supported Harvel as a character witness.

Former County Road Superintendent Wendell Houston employed Harvel on the County Road Department and described him as a hard worker.

Assistant US Attorney Sara Beth Myers represented the prosecution and spelled out the indictment counts and the victims fear of Harvel. Myers pointed out the nature of the crimes adding that the only worse crime was murder. The number of similar stories were striking according to Myers and his conduct was similar with multiple victims and his use of his position of power to exploit the women.

The FBI continues their investigation into the matter and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact them.

Click to read the complete indictment.

Former Co. Solid Waste Director Mike Harvel Arrested by FBI for Kidnapping and Rape--Faces possible Life in Prison

Department of Justice Press Release: 

NASHVILLE – A nine-count indictment was unsealed Friday charging the former Cumberland County, Tennessee Solid Waste Director with civil rights violations, including kidnapping and sexually assaulting women that he supervised, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee.  A federal grand jury in Nashville on Monday indicted Michael Harvel, 59, of Crossville, Tennessee.  FBI agents arrested Harvel at his home Friday morning and he will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge later today.

Mike Harvel mug shot from his arrest on state charges.

Those charges remain pending. Cumberland Co. settled 

a Civil Case for $1.1 Million earlier this year.

Link to previous settlement story

According to the indictment, Harvel was the Director of Solid Waste for Cumberland County with an office located in the Cumberland County Recycling Center.  Harvel’s official duties included supervising workers at the recycling center and at other satellite locations and county landfills where he supervised dozens of women who served their community service time or worked as paid employees.

The indictment alleges that between 2015-2018, Harvel sexually assaulted seven women under his supervision.  Specific allegations include that he kidnapped and sexually assaulted two women and forcibly raped one of them on two separate occasions. 

During one incident in July 2017, Harvel confined a woman in a locked room at a county facility, physically pushed her onto a table and sexually assaulted her.  In another incident in November 2015, Harvel approached another woman in a dark office, physically pushed her onto a desk and raped her.  In December 2015, Harvel drove this same woman to an isolated landfill and raped her again.

The indictment alleges several other incidents of sexual assault, including fondling the breasts and genitals of other women under his supervision and against their will.

If convicted, Harvel faces up to life in prison.

This case is being investigated by the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Beth Myers and Trial Attorney Michael Songer of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. 

An indictment is merely an accusation.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

High Tech Company Whisper Areo comes quietly to Crossville.

A startup called Whisper Aero, which is disclosing its plans for the first time, thinks it may be well on its way to solving this noise problem. The company was founded in mid-2020 by Mark Moore, a former National Aeronautics and Space Administration engineer turned executive within Uber Technologies Inc.’s once bustling flying vehicle division. While declining to reveal what he has come up with in full detail out of intellectual property protection concerns, Moore is convinced that Whisper has hit on a new “thruster” design that will result in consumer drones right on up to large passenger vehicles blending into the background noise of a city as they fly.  Read more at the link.

Bloomberg Article on Whisper Aero

Storms and Rain Possible for the Remainder of the week.

Hazardous Weather Outlook for Wednesday June 30

Showers and thunderstorms will develop through the afternoon with some storms being strong and able to produce some gusty winds and heavy rainfall. 

Additional showers and thunderstorms will move in Thursday through the early morning hours Friday, with some strong storms possible during the afternoon Thursday afternoon and evening. 

Gusty winds and heavy rain will be the main threats. Any area that sees multiple rounds of heavy rain today through Friday could see some minor flooding.

Fatal Plane Crash located after multi-hour search.

Press release from Cumberland Co. Sheriff's Dept.  

On May 25, 2021 at approximately 7:52 a.m. (CST) First responders were alerted to a possible single engine plane crash by Roane County 911.     Multiple agencies responded to assist in the search.  

Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office

Cumberland County Fire Department

Crossville Fire Department

Cumberland County Rescue Squad 

Crossville/Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency

Tennessee Highway Patrol Special Ops

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

UT Lifestar

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency

Cumberland County EMS

Roane County EMA

Tennessee Wildlife Agency

Roane County Sheriff’s Office

Photo of crash site provided by 

Cumberland Co. Sheriff's Office

It was determined that no known flight plan was filed and the reason of the crash is unknown at this time.  Cumberland County Sheriff’s Deputies secured the crash site until FAA Investigators  arrived to conduct an investigation into the cause of the crash. 

The plane was piloted by Vasile Ghelan, 35 of  Knoxville.   The single engine plane #N26889 was based out of Knoxville Downtown Island Home Airport and was a private plane with a flight school.   Mr. Ghelan was found deceased at the crash site.  Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends.