More Than a Thank You: Johnson County Honors Its Veterans at Heritage Hall
Veterans Day program celebrates service, sacrifice, community and the importance of looking after those who have served. There were plenty of thank-yous shared at Heritage Hall Theatre Wednesday morning as Johnson County gathered to honor our veterans. And rightly so. But woven throughout the November 11 ceremony was another message that deserves a little more…
Why the Data Center Rezoning Is Back on the Agenda
The December 1 Town of Mountain City public hearing announced yesterday is part of the established rezoning process, not an effort to overturn the Planning Commission’s recommendation.
A Quiet Meeting for the Johnson County Planning Commission
Subdivision approval tabled, training requirements discussed, and a right-of-way question raised at the November 9 Planning Commission Meeting.
Joint ECD Board Discusses Tourism, Industrial Development and Infrastructure
New industry, airport expansion, and the need for a tourism director dominated the discussion at the November 9 meeting of the Joint Economic and Development Committee meeting.
New Jobs Offer Hope Amid Tsubaki Nakashima Closure
The impending closure of the Tsubaki Nakashima ball bearing plant in Mountain City is a blow but the expansion of Phoenix Medical Products and the planned 2027 opening of the European American Armory (EAA) assembly plant may help soften it.
Reading Between the Party Lines:
A look at Johnson County’s voting history reveals shifting party loyalties, changing demographics, and the importance of individual candidates.
Election 2026: Local and Tennessee Results.
With nearly half the votes cast early and 43.89% voter turnout, Johnson County voters made some important decisions for the town, the state, and the country.
Mountain City Council: Data Center Questions, $3.1 Million Street Project, Parks Plan and More
There was plenty to talk about at Tuesday evening’s Mountain City Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, from questions about the proposed modular AI data center to more than $3 million in street and sidewalk improvements, plans for parks and recreation, and concerns about dropping water levels at Silver Lake. And there were a few…
Sheriff Brown Answers Questions About July Johnson County Homicide, Delayed Public Announcement
One suspect was in custody within two days, another was arrested in August, and the sheriff explains why the public is just now learning the details. When news broke this week that two men had been arrested in connection with a July homicide on Slabtown Road, it left quite a few Johnson County residents scratching…
Mountain City Planning Commission Says No to Proposed AI Data Center Rezoning
Residents turn out in opposition as BluSky AI makes its case. Mayor Jordan says he hears the community’s concerns. October 22, 2026 — Mountain City residents made their feelings known this afternoon at Town Hall, and the Planning Commission agreed. Following a lengthy meeting that included public comments, a presentation from BluSky AI representatives, and…
Your Voice Matters: Help Shape a Healthier Johnson County Before October 31
Community Health Assessment seeks local input as Johnson County Health Department also offers free flu shots October 20 What does a healthier Johnson County look like to you? Is it easier access to doctors and specialists? More mental health resources? Better transportation for seniors? More opportunities for families to stay active? Or perhaps it’s simply…
County Clarifies Planning Commission Term Limits
Mayor’s Office and County Attorney answer questions about new Planning Commission limits.
Commission Reverses Grindstaff Decision, Tables Mosier Agreement
Two issues previously reported by The Johnson County Line returned to the Johnson County Commission Thursday night, resulting in one reversal and one postponed decision.
Mosier Building Rental Agreements Up for Approval Thursday — But Are They Ready?
The County Commission is being asked to consider and approve rental agreements for the Mosier event hall. But a page of review notes raises questions about whether the agreements are ready for a vote. The Johnson County Commission has a full agenda for Thursday, October 15. But as we reviewed the agenda packet, one item…
Two Seats, Three Candidates, One Town’s Future
The Johnson County Line interviews Ray Dowell, Jason Panganiban, and Amelia Lopez-Saltarelli about infrastructure, downtown revitalization, development, government accountability, and Mountain City’s future as they compete for two alderman seats.
Mountain City Fiddlers’ Convention Celebrates Music, Competition and a Tradition That Keeps Growing
Mountain City once again became a gathering place for musicians, families and traditional music fans October 2–3 as the Mountain City Fiddlers’ Convention returned for another memorable weekend of old-time and bluegrass music. More than 700 people attended or participated during the two-day event, which featured Friday night concerts, Saturday youth and adult competition, and…
Today is World Heart Day: We Have to Do Better
Today is World Heart Day. For me, that’s personal. Fourteen years ago, at the age of 50, I learned the hard way that heart disease doesn’t always give you a warning—or at least not one you recognize. I survived a major cardiac event, and much of the work I’ve done since then has centered around…
Safe Haven: A Place to Turn
Domestic violence happens in Johnson County more often than many realize. Keith Burchette believes survivors need somewhere to turn—and on November 1, he plans to give them one.
Grindstaff Vote Raises Questions About Planning Commission Role, Compensation and County Insurance
What exactly did the Johnson County Commission approve for former Commissioner Jerry Grindstaff—and what will it cost taxpayers? The $200-a-month arrangement was reportedly approved unanimously, but key questions about procedure, authority and possible health-insurance benefits remain unanswered. The Johnson County Line is seeking the records to find out, and asking you what you think.
A Trail to Somewhere
Johnson County Trails Association sees an interconnected trail system as more than recreation—it could generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in new revenue and create opportunities for locally owned businesses.
The Storm Is Past. The Recovery Is Now.
The Johnson County Long Term Recovery Group is still helping families recover and rebuild from Hurricane Helene. They want the county to know the work is far from finished, and help is needed.
Questions Mount as Johnson County 911 Audit Trail Remains Incomplete
Editor’s Note — Updated September 10, 2026: This article has been updated to clarify the insurance status of an E-911 employee facing a serious illness. The employee has not yet lost her primary medical coverage. She says that coverage was threatened with termination at the end of August but was extended through September while she…
50,000 Pounds and Counting: Watauga Lake Cleanup Returns
Put on those mud boots, grab a bag, and join your friends and neighbors for the 16th Annual Watauga Lake Cleanup on Saturday, September 19. Sponsored by the Watauga Watershed Alliance, Keep Carter County Beautiful, and Boots Off Hostel and Campground, this annual event has removed 50,000 pounds of trash from Watauga Lake over the…
Bigger Than the Storm: A Home, a Blessing and a New Beginning
The dedication of the first home rebuilt by the Amish volunteers in Johnson County blessed everyone who attended.
She sings like a bird and she writes like a poet.
This morning dawns a little differently than yesterday. It’s the first day in a world without Dolly Parton, and as crazy as those words are staring back at me from the page, I can’t help but think it’s actually, really, a thing. I came in from mowing yesterday, and that’s when I heard the news.…
They Came Because We Needed Them: Come Meet the Amish Volunteers Helping to Rebuild Johnson County.
The Amish volunteers rebuilding homes in Johnson County, need a home for themselves.
Who Gets a Slice of Ribfest?
Barbecue, live music, community, and firefighters? What could go wrong? Chad Greever takes a deep dive into the controversy surrounding the upcoming Ribfest at Chamber Park.
Raising Awareness of the Dangers of Drug Overdoses Is the Focus of A.C.T.I.O.N. Coalition Event at Ralph Stout Park on Friday, August 21
Driven largely by the spread of illicit fentanyl into the drug supply, overdose deaths surged in Tennessee beginning in 2020, rising from 2,089 deaths in 2019 to more than 3,800 in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, Tennessee recorded more than 3,600 overdose deaths, with fentanyl involved in more than 75% of them. Since then, the…
