SHS Choral Director Jean Burkhart and Madie Shehan celebrate the scholarship announcement. (The Herald/ Submitted Photo)

Seymour- Seymour High School graduate School Madie Shehan was announced as the recipient of The Ann Montgomery Vocal-Music Scholarship for 2012.

This scholarship is presented to a graduating senior at SHS who has been a member of the SHS Choir and has enrolled in a college with the intention to major in vocal music.  Madie auditioned for and was accepted into the music program at Carson-Newman College where she will start in the fall.

Anne Montgomery, for whom the scholarship is named, founded the scholarship because she has valued and appreciated the importance of vocal music.  During the years of her involvement with the program, Montgomery has given her time and money as a long-time advocate of the choral program at Seymour High School.  In recognition that the SHS music program depends heavily on its faithful supporters, this scholarship was established in her honor.

Shehan has been an active member of the choral program for four years.  She was selected as a member of both the prestigious All-East and All-State Choir.

The land for the two tenet shopping center is currently being developed. (The Herald/ Joe King)

Seymour- Just weeks after the news that the controlled burning in the lot across from Kroger on Chapman Hwy. is the first step in the creation of a new commerce plaza, another development project was discovered in the area.

As with the controlled burning lot, Barry Shular, owner of Heartland Development, is heading the second project, which is in a lot on Chapman Hwy. next to Auto Zone.

“It’s going to be a 14,000 square foot retail building,” he said. “There will be two tenets. One of them is Family Dollar; I can’t disclose the other at this time.”

Live IT CEO Paul Danis and Executive Director Terri Danis stand out the ministry’s new location. (The Herald/ Joe King)

Seymour- A well-known charity that has been heading projects in Sevier County has launched plans to open a second location and move their headquarters to Seymour.

Live It Co-founders Paul and Terri Danis said they chose to expand their business because of an influx of donations. The new location will be the old Floor Works building located at 11935 Chapman Hwy.

“We have been blessed with donations, but we have more than we can house,” said Chief Example Officer Paul Danis. “We needed a facility that would function as a warehouse and store, not only for storage, but also for processing and storage.”

Berry Smith. (The Herald/ KSCD)

Knox County- Two owners of a horse farm located just north of Seymour in Knox County were taken into custody for violating a probation related to previous animal cruelty charges May 22.

Linda Cowell, 59, and Barry Smith, 58, are being held in the Knox County Detention Facility with each under a $2,200 bond for the offense.

Knox County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officers responded to the farm located at 2837 Voltz Ln. after the couple was taken into custody.  A veterinarian accompanied them and evaluated the horses.  Six were removed from the property because of injuries and poor conditions. The horses were taken to the U.T. Animal Hospital for treatment.

Knox County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Hillary Coward said four of the horses that were found underweight from neglect and two un-weaned foals will be taken to Horse Haven after treatment. Horse Haven is a non-profit organization that takes in abused and neglected horses.

(The Herald/ Archived Photo)

Blount County- A free community block party designed with a focus on wellness will be held June 2 at Maryville Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

The event will feature a health screenings, blood tests, body fat analysts, chair massages, as well as blood pressure tests.

As part of the event there will be a bounce house, games, snacks, crafts, and prizes.

(The Herald/ Archived Photo)

The Knoxville Chapter of the Tennessee Firearms Association will have its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. June 4, at the Gondolier Restaurant in front of Lowe’s, on Chapman Hwy. in South Knoxville.

The group will gather at 6 p.m. for an optional dinner.

A special guest speaker from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will also attend the event.

The Tennessee Firearms Association is a Tennessee not-for-profit corporation formed to promote the right to keep and bear arms and to educate the citizenry on the responsible use, ownership and carrying of firearms.

(The Herald/ Archived Photo)

Knoxville- At approximately 10:28 p.m. May 21, Knoxville Police Officers responded to a report of a robbery at the Subway located at 3317 Sutherland Ave., near South Knoxville.

According to the employees, two suspects entered the business and demanded money from the register.  One of the suspects was armed with a small handgun.  The employees complied with the demand and the suspects fled the store with a small amount of cash.  Nobody was injured during the robbery.

The first suspect was described as 5’ 7” black male weighing approximately 140 pounds and mostly likely in a his early twenties. The suspect wore a backpack and a blue hoody and there is a possibility the suspect may be a female.

The second suspect is a 6’ 1” to 6’ 3” black male in his late teens to early twenties. During the robbery he wore a long black t-shirt with a white design.

From left to right: Tommy White; JC Green; Ricky Ray; Matt Henderson at the safety seminar in Nashville. (The Herald/ Submitted Photo)

Sevierville- The City of Sevierville Fire Department recently announced a free safety program is now available to the public.

Fire safety and prevention in the home are major concerns of community fire departments. Tennessee has the third highest fire death rate nationally. The purpose of the SFD Smoke Alarm Safety Program is to help ensure all homes in Sevierville are equipped with working smoke alarms.

Qualified SFD Firefighters will install a properly located, battery operated smoke alarm for any elderly, handicapped or otherwise impaired resident. They will also check existing smoke alarms to ensure they are properly located and in working order.

Residents who are renting a home or apartment where smoke alarms do not work or are not present are advised to call the SFD Fire Prevention Office at 865-868-1708. The SFD Fire Marshall will assist to ensure that alarms are present and working in accordance with the State of Tennessee Fire Code.

Gasoline prices have been on an increase as summer approaches. (The Herald/ Submitted Photo)

Knox/Sevier/Blount- Local residents, like the rest of the country, have felt the crush of rising gas prices.

The national average price of gasoline has increased nine and a half cents a gallon just this past week to $3.68. Casual observers are quick to blame Memorial Weekend and the holiday’s expected uptick in demand as the culprit, but that is not the case.

This year, despite tepid consumer demand coast to coast, gas prices are rising rapidly in the nation’s heartland due to refinery problems that have severely reduced supply from four refineries to the mid-continent and Great Lakes region.

With refinery issues curtailing fuel production in Oklahoma, Kansas, Indiana and Illinois, it is the middle of the county that is experiencing the nation’s worst price volatility, so much so that Minnesota now has the highest priced gas in the continental U.S. as opposed to states typically known for this such as California, Illinois and New York.

(The Herald/ Archived Photo)

Seymour- The 2013 Seymour High School class will be honored during a ceremony May 28 at Thompson Boling Arena.

The event begin at 5:30 p.m. and nearly 280 students will be handed their diplomas.

A total of 37 students will be graduating with honors.

“I am so proud of our graduating seniors and their amazing achievements,” said SHS Principal Kristy Wallen. “It is truly an honor to work with and represent such a group of successful young adults. I am excited about their unlimited opportunities and cannot wait to hear about all of their future achievements.”