LAFOLLETTE, TN. (WLAF)- Former LaFollette Police Chief Ben Baird’s processional began at 11am. As it made its way to Fincastle Cemetery, 629 Old Middlesboro Highway, LaFollette a large American Flag hung over the road.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 5/29/2026-11:15AM)

‘You (GCE) don’t know how to build an industrial building’- Dail Cantrell, School Board Attorney

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- The Campbell County Board of Education met on Thursday afternoon to once again discuss the Jacksboro Elementary School Gym project and its lack of completion. The contractor GCE is saying the project is 98 percent complete, while the architect with Lewis Group says it is 80 to 85 percent complete.

Other issues brought up at the meeting include mortar that does not match on the outside of the building, gaps under doors, doorknobs left off doors and bleachers not being installed yet.

Disagreements, delays and change orders have followed the Jacksboro Gym project since it began in the summer of 2024.

 After around 40 minutes of discussion on Thursday, Board Chairman Jeffrey Miller made a motion to table the issue until GCE Construction provides formal orders regarding a prompt pay act letter the company had sent, as well as a work stoppage letter.

JACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- April Vinsant has pleaded guilty in a June 2023 wreck that resulted in the other driver being airlifted.

Following the accident, she was charged with vehicular assault, reckless aggravated assault, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, third offense DUI, driving while license revoked due to conviction of DUI and simple possession of a schedule VI.  

A great outpouring of law enforcement, others expected for Chief Ben Baird’s Friday event

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- You have to figure after spending decades teaching school and with La Follette Police, Ben Baird touched countless lives. Baird, who passed away Monday morning at his home, will be honored and remembered on Friday with a law enforcement led procession from Walters Funeral Home to the Fincastle Cemetery at 629 Old Middlesboro Highway.

‘We have the great fortune of having a world class team of professionals’- Jeffrey Willis, CEO

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Ahead of Thursday’s United Rare Earths (URE) meeting of key personnel, CEO Jeffrey Willis expressed he’s very pleased with the project as URE transitions into the next phase. The phase is more focused on getting the actual construction underway on the site at the Erschell Collins Industrial Park, off I-75 Exit 141, the Huntsville-Oneida Exit.

You are invited to stop by for grilled food and a tour of what just might be your future home

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Clayton Homes at Jacksboro is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary and kicking off summer with some hot sales, offering lot-wide savings on its vast selection of homes.

You are invited to stop by Saturday for grilled food and a tour of what just might be your future home. That’s from 10am until 4pm.

WLAF’s Charlie Hutson shares his photo gallery HERE.

CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- “Our next stop on our annual Chamber Marina Tour is Shanghai Resort. We will meet at the marina at 11:30am today,” said Missy Tackett, Executive Director of the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.

Saturday, May 30, 6pm, on North Tennessee Avenue is the next Cruize-In of the season

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The LA Cruizers next Cruize-In of 2026 is this coming Saturday. Cruizers will gather along North Tennessee Avenue at 6pm.

Hosted by Campbell County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- You are invited to next week’s chamber ribbon cutting ceremony with Campbell County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism member Mortgage Investors Group-Michelle Osborne.

JACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- Porter vs. Porter

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 5/29/2026-6AM-PAID)

Lots of activities are planned for Friday, Saturday and beyond. See details below.

By Matthew Moore

CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN (WLAF) – There’s always something fun or interesting going on in Campbell County, and you can learn about it all right here!

The original auditorium still stands along with a few portions of the original structure

By Charlie Hutson

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Looking back 74 years, this is a picture of the construction going on for the new Lafollette High School during the summer of 1952.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- At 4:30 Tuesday afternoon, a white Mazda pick-up truck allegedly failed to stop at the stop sign where Sugar Hollow and Long Hollow Roads meet in south La Follette. Nearby deputies saw the violation and followed the truck up Long Hollow Road. They performed a traffic stop at the corner of Coolidge Road in the 100 block.

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Educators make a difference in students’ lives every day. For many students, having a school employee who cares and goes that extra mile can be the difference in a successful education and graduation. We’ve all had that teacher, or school employee who inspired us or helped in some way. That’s why WLAF and Eagle Tire Pros salute all of our hardworking educators with a weekly feature.

Tom Campbell is Eagle Tire Pros Educator of the Week. He teaches Personal Finance and U.S. Government at Campbell County High School, where he is also an assistant baseball coach.