News Around Our Area

Knoxville Motorcycles Invade Knoxville The “Honda Hoot” rolled into town last week bringing nearly 20,000 riders and lots of $$$$ for the economy. The annual motorcycle meet has been a regular event in the Knoxville area and is held each year the middle of June. Sevier County Murderers sentence changed Circuit Court Judge Duane Slone signed an order altering Edward Leroy Harris’s death penalty conviction to three consecutive life sentences. Harris, known as “Tattoo Eddie,” was sentenced to death by electrocution by a jury May 13, 1988 for the murders of Troy Dale Valentine, 37, and Melissa Hill, 21. The two had been working in Gatlinburg at the Rocky Top Village Inn at the time of the murderers. Harris’s attorney Tom Dillard of Knoxville filed the motion to re-open his post-conviction case. A recent state Supreme Court ruling made it possible for Harris’s death penalty conviction to be overturned. The ruling states that executing mentally retarded inmates is cruel and unusual punishment. Kingsport State Representative Found Dead State Rep. Keith Westmoreland, 55, who last week was charged with seven counts of exposing himself in Florida, was found dead in his home last Wednesday, authorities said. Westmoreland apparently took his own life. According to Police Chief Mark Addington, Westmoreland was found in a bathroom with a gunshot wound to the chest. A note to his family was found at the scene. Maryville Ruby Tuesday’s Expanding For the fourth time, Ruby Tuesday, whose headquarters are in downtown Maryville, is expanding. Plans are to add a 25,000-square-foot, four-story building between the corporate headquarters and the Condry building (which Ruby’s also occupies). The expansion should take place within the next six to twelve months. Maryville Principal Gets Probation Former Maryville High School Principal David Messer, 54, received a one year supervised probation for stealing concession funds. He was also ordered to pay $1,205 in restitution. Messer also received an 11-month, 29-day, suspended sentence. Blount County United Way receives donation The United Way of Blount County plans to build a new headquarters in the Five Point area with a $200,000 donated that they recently received. The site is located at the corner of East Broadway Avenue and the Fairpark Shopping Center. The donator, who wished to remain anonymous, said the donation was contingent on United Way building on the property and not selling it.