East Ridge voters have elected Brian Williams as its new mayor. Williams, who has served on the City Council for two years, defeated Jim Bethune by a two-to-one margin. Bethune was … [Read More...]
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Recent News Articles
City Grants Hampton Inn a Beer License
The East Ridge Beer Board granted an on-premises beer license to the operators of the Hampton Inn inside the Jordan Crossing development, Monday during its regularly scheduled meeting. Manager … [Read More...]
TWF’s ‘Hunters for the Hungry’ Program in Full Swing
Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Hunters for the Hungry program is in full swing for the 2018 deer season. More than 80 processors throughout the state are now accepting donations of whole deer to help … [Read More...]
Election Day 2018
Election Day 2018 is upon us. Polls in Hamilton County will open at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, November 6. The polls will close at 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. There are four voting precincts in East … [Read More...]
Council Adopts Ordinance Creating Assistant City Manager Title
In a 10-minute special called meeting on Friday, the East Ridge City Council adopted an ordinance on second reading that creates the position of Assistant City Manager. The title of Assistant City … [Read More...]
Municipal Election Roundup
Editor's Note: Candidates Jim Bethune, Jacky Cagle and Denny Manning chose not to participate for this article. Early voting for the East Ridge Municipal Election begins on Wednesday, … [Read More...]
Most Recent Posts
ERPD Arrests Oct. 29-Nov. 4
According to booking reports from the Hamilton County Jail, the following people were arrested by the East Ridge Police Department from Oct. 29-Nov. 4. An arrest does not mean that a person has been convicted of a crime. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. BERRY, AKEYLLYA BREONNA 1515 NW MOHAWK COURT 1 CLEVELAND, 37311 Age at Arrest: 26 years old Arresting Agency: East Ridge Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) BRANNON, CHANITY BROOKE 17 … [Read More...]
Pope: Williams the Only Responsible Choice for Mayor
Spring forward, fall back! As we set back our clocks, let's not set back our City as well. Election day for Mayor of East Ridge is on us. For those of us who have been watching the happenings in East Ridge over the years see only one clear choice. Brian Williams has two years under his belt now as a council member. He has faced a lot of criticism for the city establishing the East Ridge Housing and Redevelopment Authority. I hope the critics also give credit to Brian for leading the charge … [Read More...]
Crossing the ‘Party Line’
While I align myself with the Republican party, I will be supporting Joda Thongnopnua instead of Esther Helton in the race for State House of Representatives District 30. His willingness to communicate with his constituents is what our district needs, considering the diversified socio-economic make up in our district. I am confident, if elected, Joda will continue to make himself available without requiring us to pay to be heard. His opponent refused the opportunities to debate, even labeling … [Read More...]
Mathis Muses on Elections, Future of City
I think the East Ridge City Council meetings might need to say the "Serenity Prayer" before the meetings: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference. " The City Manager has confirmed what many of us have been talking about for a while. In a recent council meeting, City Manager Miller discussed the fact that the city has borrowed all the money that we can afford to borrow without serious … [Read More...]
Municipal Court Docket Nov. 5
The following people are scheduled to appear in East Ridge Municipal Court on Monday, Nov. 5. Municipal court is held at City Hall on Tombra Avenue and begins at 5 p.m. Officials said court is being held on Monday this week as a result of the election being held on Tuesday, the day court normally is in session. In addition, the docket this week is short, as only cases of people who are in police custody will be heard. Douglas Gass - Criminal Impersonation. Joseph Grime - Theft of Services, … [Read More...]
Bobby Earnhardt Set to Tackle Texas Motor Speedway
NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Bobby Dale Earnhardt will be behind the wheel of the No. 66 Copeland Insurance Toyota for MBM Motorsports this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The running of the My Bariatric Solutions 300 is set for Saturday afternoon and comes on the heals of what started as an impressive day at Kansas for the MBM team. It will be the second start for the driver in the Xfinity Series this season with eyes of running the remaining two races in 2018. Earnhardt, who’s run in the … [Read More...]
Hung Jury in Boyd Case
After two days of testimony a jury was unable to come to a decision in the extortion case of Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd, Thursday in Criminal Court. Judge Andrew Freiberg had ruled earlier in the day on a motion from defense attorney Lee Davis to dismiss the charge of extortion. He charged the jury with considering the charge of attempted extortion. After five hours of deliberation the jury deadlocked. A new trial date could be set in early 2019. Boyd was indicted by the Hamilton … [Read More...]
Return to Ruin or Forward to the Future?
This election reminds me of a famous poem by Robert Frost called "The road not taken." Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; This election we have a clear cut choice, two distinct paths. We can elect names we know, Jim Bethune for Mayor and Denny Manning for council, or go with Bryan Williams for Mayor and possibly a candidate for council. Do we … [Read More...]
Special Called Meeting Nov. 2
The East Ridge City Council will hold a special called meeting on Friday, officials said. The purpose of the meeting is to have a second reading of Ordinance 1084 which regards general administration. The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. at City Hall on Tombras Avenue. In part, Ordinance 1084 will create the title of Assistant City Manager tied to the existing position of Director of City Services. Kenny Custer is the Director of City Services and has been groomed by City Manager Scott Miller … [Read More...]
Boyd Extortion Trial Underway
A jury was selected and heard opening arguments in the extortion trial of Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd, Wednesday in Criminal Court. In his opening argument before the jury, Boyd's defense attorney, Lee Davis, said the secretly taped telephone conversations between Boyd and East Ridge Mayor Brent Lambert was "a calculated political strategy" employed by Lambert in his bid to wrangle the Republican nomination away from the two-term incumbent. Boyd was charged with one count of … [Read More...]
Williams: ‘I Knew What I Voted For’
Ms. Grant, I respect your right to voice your opinion and to cast your vote as you choose. That is what makes this country great. However, I have explained my reasons on numerous occasions and knew what I voted for and I had a clear intent for this authority. Please see my previous response on social media below. My participation in the creation of the East Ridge Housing Redevelopment Authority was to solely provide a mechanism to remove blighted vacant homes and commercial buildings ONLY. … [Read More...]
Why Joda?
Something I have noticed in my many years of being a voter is this: how a candidate in any race runs his or her campaign speaks volumes about how that candidate intends to conduct themselves once elected. When a candidate has little of value to offer citizens besides party affiliation, the candidate and his or her supporters tend to spend most of their time either engaging only those they know will immediately support them based on that party affiliation; or attempting to discredit (or even … [Read More...]
Thongnopnua Meets with Voters in East Ridge
Editor's Note: Dick Cook, the publisher/editor of East Ridge News Online was a co-moderator of the event along with Pastor Matt Busby, an Anglican priest. Joda Thongnopnua, the Democratic nominee for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 30, held a "debate" Monday evening at the East Ridge Community Center. This was the second debate that his campaign scheduled with his Republican opponent Esther Helton. Like the previous debates that the Thongnopnua campaign has held, Helton did not … [Read More...]
Thongnopnua Not a Common-Sense Candidate
The people of East Ridge have pretty simple needs from our government, when it comes right down to it. We want low taxes, good schools, and to be left alone. Joda Thongnopnua will run roughshod over these simple needs if elected as District 30’s state representative. Let’s start with his platform, annotated: "I will fight to expand Medicaid." Remember what happened last time we tried this, several years ago? A bunch of adults got on TennCare and spending went through the roof. Phil Bredesen … [Read More...]
‘I Didn’t Know What I Voted For’
IF that's the case, do I want you as Mayor? IF that's the case, do I want you as my State Rep? We all remember April 2018 in East Ridge, TN. The infamous letters arrived in our mailboxes. With lightening quick reaction, a true grassroots effort effectively dissolved the threat of eminent domain. TWO members of the council (Brian Williams and Esther Helton) who endorsed the establishment of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) now seek higher office. They faced constituents and … [Read More...]