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Mountain City, Tennessee 37683Your Community Newspaper, Established 1874 75 centsVol. 146 No. 38

www.thetomahawk.com

THE TOMAHAWKWednesday, September 16, 2020

Community Calendar ...........A2Education .............................A3Public Safety ........................A4Obituaries .............................A5Sports ...................................A6Faith .....................................A7From Page One ...................A8

Jr. Horns Sports Feature ......B1,3,6,8Community Matters .........B4Agriculture .......................B5Service Directory ..........B4,5Classifieds .......................B7

INSIDE:

By Jill PenleyFREELANCE WRITER

Results from the latest round of targeted testing for CO-VID-19 at state correctional facilities show 80 percent of all inmates received negative test results. Since the beginning of the month, 2,688 inmates at 13

facilities have been tested for COVID-19.

Negative results were re-turned for 1,620 inmates, while 388 tested positive. Another 667 test results are pending. ( as of the time of writing this article).

Two TDOC facilities, in-cluding Morgan County Cor-

rectional Complex and Turney Center Industrial Complex, had zero positive cases during the latest round of testing.

Three other facilities had less than three cases.

The majority of the posi-tive cases were asymptomatic and detected at five facilities: Bledsoe County Correctional

Complex, DeBerry Special Needs Facility, Debra Johnson Rehabilitation Center, Mark Luttrell Transition Center, Morgan County Correctional Complex, Northwest Correc-tional Complex, Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, Turney Center Industrial Com-

NECX confirms 73 COVID-19 active cases

By Meg DickensSTAFF WRITER

The Johnson County School Board discussed extending paid leave related to COVID-19 expo-sure during its September 10 board

meet ing. Cur-rently, exposed employees under quarantine receive compensation for the first 10 days, two workweeks, through the Unit-ed States Depart-ment of Labor’s Families First Coronavirus Re-

sponse Act (FFCRA). COVID-19 exposure guidelines through the state of Tennessee now require 24 total days of isolation, which amounts to about three-and-a-half

Officials secure fair COVID leave

for employeesBy Meg DickensSTAFF WRITER

Vanessa Main, age 34, seems to be the definition of hardworking. Main is a mother, an excellent stu-dent, and a full-time worker. She plans to use her expe-rience in behavioral health and education to go into a career in social work. Her chil-dren and the children she has seen in need motivate her to keep pushing forward.

“I cried so much,” Main described her reaction to making the Dean’s list. “I was so happy with my-self. I never thought I could do something like this. I was over-whelmed with emo-tion.”

Main grew up in Pleasant Valley here in Johnson County but currently lives in Trade, TN. Her previous work at Mountain Youth Academy, a youth mental health clinic in Mountain City, triggered Main’s path to social work. She is cur-rently enrolled at King University and about to start the Social Work

program. Main is already certi-fied as a QPR Gatekeeper, which is a program meant for many professions, including health care that focuses on reducing suicidal behaviors and suicide prevention.

“The kids I worked with had horrible pasts,” Main explained. “I really want to focus on find-ing a career where I can help these kids. I’m very passionate about helping kids.”

One thing Main wishes she could im-prove is her schedule. Between her job at High Country Recov-ery in Boone and pur-suance of a Bachelors Degree at King, she does not have a lot of time to spend with her family. Main has a 13-year-old daugh-ter, 2-year-old twin sons, and a 1-year-old son. She works the

opposite shift to her fiancé, who watches the children while she is at work. The current pandemic and public schools’ jump to distance learning has been another obstacle.

“I have to remember that I’m do-

Mother of four makes University Dean’s list

Vanessa Main and her fiancé find time to spend time together around her busy schedule. Submitted photo.

I cried so much, I was so happy with myself.

I never thought I could do something

like this. I was overwhelmed

with emotion.”

Vanessa Main described her reaction to making

the King University Dean’s list

By Meg DickensSTAFF WRITER

Johnson County took center stage

on talk show Daytime Tri-Cities’s Real Estate Today segment on Sep-tember 9, thanks to Mountain City

native and real es-tate agent Jessica Harkness. Hark-ness and inter-viewer Amy Lynn visited a property in Butler, Tennes-see, to discuss the benefits of living in the mountains and developing areas.

“It’s great being in the moun-tains,” Harkness said while explain-ing how her perspective changed after seeing her home through a friend’s eyes. “It wasn’t until then that it really hit me that I live in this gorgeous part of the country, and

Jo. Co. featured on Daytime Tri-Cities

Johnson County Senior Center First Responders Appreciation Breakfast

By Meg DickensSTAFF WRITER

During its September meet-ing, the Johnson County School Board voted to commence John-

s o n C o u n t y School System Reopening Plan Option Three, on Wednesday, September 16.

Option Three is a full reopen plan and starts in-person class-es on school premises while

offering virtual options. The main hurdle surrounding

reopening at 100 percent was how to make the safest learning environment possible. Faculty

Johnson County Schools open for

in-person learning

SCHOOL BOARD COVID-19 UPDATE

SCHOOL BOARD

On-duty members of Johnson County EMS pause for a photo while receiving breakfast from the Johnson County Senior Center last Friday. The treat was part of the center’s effort to observe 9/11 and hosting an appreciation breakfast for First Responders of Johnson

County. All members of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, Mountain City Police Department, Johnson County EMS, and all Volunteer Fire Departments were invited to enjoy the drive-through country breakfast. More than 120 country-style meals were served along with delivery to those on duty. The Johnson County Senior Center staff and volunteers wanted to express their appreciation for

all those who spend countless hours working to protect the county’s citizens. Photo submitted

Simcox

Carlton

Harkness

Parker

See Schools Page A3

See Leave Page A3

See Tri-Cities Page A8

See NECX Page A8

See Dean’s List Page A8

In this week’s edition!Jr. Horns Sports

SEE PAGES B1, B3, B6, & B8.