Johnson City now has a home for its new visitors center.
City commissioners voted Thursday to purchase the two-story portion of the old Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railway train depot at 300 Buffalo St. for $750,000 from Beacon Financial Credit Union.
The single-story section, which used to be home to Tupelo Honey Cafe before it closed in 2018, is not part of this deal.
âThe potential for the visitors center is very profound,â Convention and Visitors Bureau Board Chair Andy Marquart told commissioners Thursday.
Marquart said the location makes sense, particularly in light of the nearby development on West Walnut Street and the buildingâs proximity to East Tennessee State University and downtown.
South Carolina Fire Chief Resigns Due To Racist Facebook Post About Black Neighborhoods And Police Share
After issuing an apology, Francis Ghent quit.
Published 3 weeks ago
Written by Giana Levy
A South Carolina fire chief resigned after causing controversy with an offensive Facebook post saying police should stop responding to Black neighborhoods.
According to the
Associated Press, Lancaster County administrator Steve Willis told
The Statenewspaper that Francis “Butch” Ghent quit on Friday as chief of the McDonald Green Volunteer Fire Department.
Following an internal investigation, Ghent had been suspended since making the post on April 22.
The post said police should stop responding to calls in Black neighborhoods and read, “They will eventually kill each other and the fake news won’t have a story.”
Fire chief quits, apologizes after Black neighborhoods post Follow Us
Question of the Day
By - Associated Press - Monday, May 3, 2021
LANCASTER, S.C. (AP) - A South Carolina fire chief has resigned after igniting controversy with a Facebook post saying police should stop responding to Black neighborhoods.
The Lancaster County administrator, Steve Willis told The State newspaper that Francis “Butch” Ghent quit as chief of the McDonald Green Volunteer Fire Department on Friday.
Ghent had been suspended for the April 22 post. The post said police should stop responding to calls in Black neighborhoods and added, “They will eventually kill each other and the fake news won’t have a story.”
Johnson City commissioners are preparing to make perhaps the most consequential decision of their tenure.
After about 15 years in the position, City Manager Pete Peterson is planning to retire at the end of 2021. As commissioners gear up to pick his replacement, the body interviewed four national search firms over the span of two hours last Thursday.
The four recruiting agencies â Baker Tilley, Strategic Government Resources, Slavin Management Consultants and Colin Baenziger & Associates â were whittled down from an initial list of 10 that responded to the cityâs recent request for proposals.
To narrow down the candidates, Human Resources Director Steve Willis evaluated each firmâs public sector experience, their number of placements and what percentage of their placements were city managers versus other positions. Mayor Joe Wise also received all 10 proposals.
/ Facebook
The Lancaster County administrator tells The State newspaper that Francis “Butch” Ghent quit as chief of the McDonald Green Volunteer Fire Department on Friday amid backlash over a racist social media post.
A South Carolina fire chief has resigned after igniting controversy with a Facebook post saying police should stop responding to Black neighborhoods.
The Lancaster County administrator, Steve Willis told The State newspaper that Francis “Butch” Ghent quit as chief of the McDonald Green Volunteer Fire Department on Friday. Lancaster is about 45 miles south of Charlotte.
Ghent had been suspended for the April 22 post. The post said police should stop responding to calls in Black neighborhoods and added, “They will eventually kill each other and the fake news won’t have a story.”