One dead, one injured in crash in Meigs County
DECATUR, Tenn. - One man is dead and another is hospitalized in a single-vehicle accident overnight on Lamontville Road near Highway 58 in Meigs County.
Tennessee Highway Patrol officials said 24-year-old James M. Headrick of Decatur, Tenn., was killed when the 1999 Honda CRV he was driving west on Lamontville Road around 4:40 a.m. Tuesday ran off the right side of the road, struck a fire hydrant, ran up an embankment and through a barbed-wire fence before striking a tree and spinning to a stop.
Headrick was pronounced dead at the scene, and passenger William L. Millaway, 26, of Georgetown, Tenn., was hospitalized for injuries he received in the wreck, THP officials said.
THP officials said alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash and neither Headrick nor Millaway were wearing seat belts.
There was no word on Millaway's condition or the severity of his injuries, officials said.
Olympic training set at ETSU
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Officials at East Tennessee State University say the school has been designated as an official U.S. Olympic training site for canoeing and kayaking.
Administration and athletic officials told the Johnson City Press that means the national slalom team members will visit the Johnson City campus at least twice this year for strength and conditioning training.
Former Olympian Meg Stone, who is the director of the Olympic training site at ETSU, says new opportunities are opening for the college with the expansion of its national athletic program.
"This partnership with U.S. Canoe/Kayak, which is the national governing body of this sport, has allowed new doors to open," Stone said at a news conference Monday to promote the designation. "It makes 'What if? opportunities" possible.
The newspaper reported that while the whitewater slalom team will remain based in Charlotte, N.C., members will travel to Johnson City where sports science professionals will administer testing and conditioning. Casey Eichfeld, who competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics in canoe events, said he's excited about the opportunity to take advantage of the college's knowledgeable staff.
"It's good to have the technical experience we need to further our training," he said. "I think it's going to work out well and make us more competitive for the upcoming competitions."
Bill allows gifts to state workers
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The state Senate wants to allow public employees to be able to receive unsolicited gifts for exemplary public service.
Republican Sen. Greg Reed of Jasper got the Senate to vote 29-0 Tuesday for his bill allowing the gifts. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
Reed says the bill is the result of a Gulf Shores resort wanting to offer free lodging to Birmingham area school employees who took care of students stranded in the schools during a snow and ice storm in January. The offer was scratched because of legal questions.
Reed said his bill would allow third parties to provide unsolicited gifts for exemplary performance, but gifts worth more than $250 would have to be approved by the State Ethics Commission.