The march to victory in 2026 for a Campbell County office began on December 22

JACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- On Friday, here are the individuals who requested a petition to be on the ballot in the 2026 Campbell County election.

They are: Marvin T. Rutherford, School Board, 2nd District, Democrat, Jacob Perkins, School Board, 3rd District, Republican, Crystal Creekmore, School Board, 5th District, Independent, Joshua A. Etters- County Commission, 1st District- Republican, Jerry Brown- County Commission, 2nd District- Republican, Lawrence Rusty Orick- County Commission, 3rd District- Independent, Don E. Farmer- Constable, 2nd District- Independent. Creekmore and Orick are incumbents. Through the three days of being able to pick up a petition, zero candidates have turned their petitions back in to the election commission.

Listen for the Cougars and Gibbs Eagles Saturday at 10:30am over WLAF

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Campbell High’s Cougars are on Christmas break and are preparing for the Carter Christmas Tournament that begins Saturday at Carter High.

Wreaths Across America

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- “Until December 31, you can buy a wreath for $17 and get one free wreath. Of course, one can be for their own deceased veteran or friend, and they could donate the free one to our project for Campbell County’s Wreaths Across America,” said Captain Vivian Loudy, U.S. Army Nurse.

“We have a bank account at Community Trust Bank for the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1148 Wreaths project. I just need their name, the deceased veteran’s name and a phone number. Later, they can pick up the wreath to place on their grave even if it’s not at the cemetery where we are placing wreaths,” said Captain Loudy. For more information, call 423.907.3620.

Each day, December 26 through January 2, WLAF features stories that made headlines in 2025

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-12/26/2025-6AM-IMAGE COURTESY OF WLAF’S MATTHEW MOORE)

You are invited to come out and celebrate this impressive milestone

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- This story is from January 24, 2025-E.E. Hill & Son Insurance marks its 100^th year in business in 2025.  As part of its celebration, Hill Insurance is hosting a “ribbon tying” event on Friday, January 24, at 11:30am.

La Follette Fire Department first responders use ladder truck to fetch an injured man from a roof

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- This story is from January 11, 2025- With snow falling and temperatures of 27-degrees, first responders with the La Follette Fire Department rescued an injured man from the roof on top of the Lowe’s building Friday afternoon.

Caryville native and movie star Bill Byrge is remembered

The interview features Bill Byrge and WLAF’s Bill Waddell during the summer of 1993.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- This story is from January 17, 2025- There was a time or two over the years when Caryville native, William Bill Byrge, known as Billy to us here at WLAF, would pay a visit to the radio station. “You know, Billy never drove, and when he would come back for a visit, he would sometimes get someone to bring him by to see us. Billy walked or took a cab or a bus to get around Nashville,” said Bill Waddell of WLAF, a long time friend of Byrge.

Demory Road was closed for the better part of 90-minutes early Friday

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- This story is from January 3, 2025-At 3:31am Friday is when the call of a single-vehicle wreck hitting a power pole came in to Central Dispatch. That wreck closed Demory Road, just south of Cedar Hill Baptist Church, and knocked out power to LUB customers in the immediate area.

The suspect, shot multiple times, was airlifted and is now housed in the Anderson County Jail

ANDERSON COUNTY, TN. (WLAF)- This story is from January 2, 2025- A Helenwood man, Dylan Phillips, (in top photo) has been arrested and charged for the crimes he allegedly committed on I-75 the day after Christmas.

Hardin Valley 50 Campbell County 44

By Clayton Carroll

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- This story is from February 28, 2025- You know what they say “all good things must come to an end, and unfortunately, that statement was true for the Lady Cougars” basketball season on Friday.

Campbell’s 17 win season the most wins in eight seasons

By Clayton Carroll

KNOXVILLE, TN (WLAF)- This story is from March 1, 2025- It was a tough end to a successful season for the Orange-and-Blue. Ernie Mac Clawson’s Cougars finished with 17 wins, their most since the Clawsons have walked the sidelines at Campbell High. Campbell’s Cougars also made it to a region tournament game for the first time since 2021-2022. However, they ran into a buzz saw in the form of the Bearden Bulldogs, potential state title contenders.

‘District schools above 80% attendance rate that serves as a marker-‘ Jennifer Fields, DOS

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- This story is from February 4, 2025- It’s the heart of the cold and flu season, and Campbell County students, teachers and staff are holding their own. “We have one school that has a high absentee rate, Jacksboro Elementary School,” said Campbell Director of Schools Jennifer Fields.

Local club has donated thousands of dollars in recent years

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- This story is from February 6, 2025- The Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) of Jacksboro is closing in on an enrollment of 500 students, nearly 250 through dual enrollment and 200 fulltime students. Those types of numbers make Wednesday’s $2,000 donation from the Lions Club all the more critical.

Arrested twice in two days in two different counties

By SUSAN SHARP

CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN. (WLAF)- This story is from February 6, 2025-Another Campbell County Sheriff’s Department employee has been arrested and terminated.

Joshua Jeffers, a night shift supervisor, was arrested on Feb. 4 in Oak Ridge. He was charged with domestic assault. He was terminated the same day, according to Campbell County Chief Deputy Cody Chapman.