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.