Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInJONESBOROUGH (WVLT) - A body found along the Nolichucky River on Thursday has been identified as a man who went missing from flooding caused by Helene The body was found Thursday afternoon in the 2000 block of Highway 107 near Jonesborough according to Washington County Sheriff Keith Sexton Previous Coverage: Body found near Nolichucky could be flood-related, Washington County sheriff says Sexton said the remains were identified to be Steven Cloyd one of the two people still missing from flooding caused by Helene “Crews clearing debris located the remains and our investigators worked with the medical examiner to identify Steve,” said Sexton “WCSO continues to pray for the Cloyd family and we hope this brings them some closure.” The last remaining person missing from the floods in Washington County is Nancy Tucker the festival caught tailwinds from a national storytelling revival that was tied to the counterculture's 1970s shift away from politics toward spirituality and personal growth.  The festival is hosted by the International Storytelling Center, which operates during regular hours throughout the week. Although the festival is clearly the center's premier event, it hosts storytelling events throughout the year. “Our most popular storytellers are Appalachian, but we bring people a lot of other storytellers who tell African-American stories, or Anne Shimojima, who talks about her family's incarceration in Japanese camps in the United States,” says Angela White, a spokeswoman for the center. “There's room for everyone on that spectrum of storytelling, so we have the stereotypical Appalachian, but we also have a little bit of everything else.” Baltasar Bachero became a hero after he saved the lives of two children nearly run over by an out-of-control mule-drawn carriage. A unique tribute to the chocolatey past that helped shape one British city. At this privately owned collection, conflicts are humanized through soldiers’ personal belongings. According to Japanese mythology, the first rice paddy in history was created here many aeons ago. Dedicated to the history and culture of Japanese fishcake, this museum invites you to take part in its kamaboko-making workshop. Two of Manchester’s oldest buildings were moved twice. A Victorian synagogue-turned-museum chronicles centuries of Jewish life. The tabby ruin is Savannah’s oldest surviving structure. Spotty storms possible today. Rain & scattered storms likely this evening until midnight. A few could be severe with downpours & high winds. Maps & GraphicsPower Outage InfoJonesborough woman facing weapon and drug charges (WCYB) — A Jonesborough woman is facing multiple charges Deputies arrested 40-year-old Amy Michelle Carder on April 24 and charged her with two counts unlawful possession of a weapon manufacture/delivery/sell/possession of methamphetamine unlawful drug paraphernalia and introduction of contraband into a penal facility deputies noticed a suspicious vehicle in the 600 block of Old State Route 34 Carder also made deputies aware of a baggie containing 28 grams of meth and suspected Suboxone pills She also had two syringes inside her purse Deputies took her to the Washington County Detention Center Authorities said once she entered the facility detention staff discovered she had 1.5 grams of meth in her pocket and a dollar bill also containing meth on her person (WCYB) — A Jonesborough man has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison following a fentanyl overdose death that happened in 2021 Christopher Brian Jones was sentenced earlier this month after he was found guilty in January 2025 of second-degree murder by fentanyl overdose possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to sell/deliver and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony offense according to District Attorney General Steve Finney Jones was charged in connection with the death of Isaiah Beatty A search warrant was executed at Jones' residence where officers found fentanyl Jones was sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison and must serve at least 26 of them Tennessee Schools released a statement that former Jonesborough Elementary principal Matthew Combs was suspended without pay starting Monday Officials said once an investigation is complete It was also added that Combs is not currently serving as the principal of Jonesborough Elementary an interim principal has been in place since November 4 Tennessee Schools officials asking why there was an interim principal _______________________________________________________________________________________________ The former Jonesborough Elementary principal was arrested over the weekend for inhaling nitrous oxide A deputy said that they responded to a call on Saturday regarding a possible incident on Tom Pate Road he said he spoke with a woman who said Matthew Combs had driven away after inhaling aerosol to become intoxicated Combs is currently listed as the principal of Jonesborough Elementary School on the school's website News 5 has reached out to the school district about Combs She told police she followed Combs in her vehicle to ensure he did not crash due to his impaired state She also told deputies that Matthew eventually turned his vehicle around and returned The deputy said that he found Combs sitting in the driver's seat of his vehicle inhaling from a blue and gold bottle labeled "GoldWhip," which is food-grade nitrous oxide they said Combs claimed he had not left his driveway and admitted to inhaling "nitrous oxide." It was also said he also acknowledged he was not in a proper state of mind to drive — Jonesborough officials want your thoughts on a proposal to build a trail from the town to Johnson City with the eventual goal of connecting to the Tweetsie Trail They're calling it the “First Frontier Trail," a proposal for a nearly two-mile walking and bicycling trail Parks and recreation director Chris Kudera said it would start at a new park behind the old Jonesborough Middle School “This would be the trailhead,” Kudera said as he pointed to different parts of the proposed park we would have an entrance off of Forest Drive as well as ADA-accessible parking bike racks and other amenities such as a skills park for kids.” The trail would follow East Main Street out of town and continue to the Johnson City line The plan is for an 8-feet-wide sidewalk in the right of way READ MORE | Jonesborough Town Website “We think that with the construction of this trail it will give people a safer option for travelling to Johnson City and also to enjoy the recreation spaces of Jonesborough,” said project manager Rachel Conger with Community Development Partners Jonesborough and Washington County are jointly applying for a state grant to pay for construction They hope Johnson City will join in to connect the other end to the Tweetsie Trail Carter County is studying the feasibility of an extension from Elizabethton to Hampton there could be road races that come about in the future because that is a very scenic route from Hampton all the way into Jonesborough but we're excited to see where the future takes us,” Kudera said Town leaders are planning an information meeting March 21 at 6 p.m WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather (WJHL) — Northeast Tennessee's cycling trail network will soon get a long-desired link creating a safe journey from Johnson City to Jonesborough thanks to a $5 million state budget appropriation (WJHL) — Northeast Tennessee's cycling trail network will soon get a long-desired link creating a safe journey from Johnson City to Jonesborough thanks to a $5 million state budget appropriation Rangers to recall Evan Carter from Triple-A Blue Devils surge in district tournament action Vols' Doyle suspended two games for Auburn altercation Lions Volunteer Blind Industries closes Johnson City location Chronic Absenteeism in Northeast Tennessee Schools Bucs Savage discusses graduated players and new recruits on the Hawk's Nest podcast Gate City native McClung continues to patiently awaits is chance in the NBA UH and Chuckey-Doak are district baseball champs ETSU softball splits with UTC on Senior Day Greene Devils take district titles on the diamond Reinhardt rallies past Milligan for walk-off win Texas A&M tops Lady Vols on soggy Senior Day The Jonesborough Tourism Department is hosting a free short-term rental workshop on May 1 from 6-9 p.m An artists’ reception will be held Thursday © East Tennessee State University — All Rights Reserved. The small business recovery center located at Cherry Grove Baptist Church in Jonesborough is set to close Saturday at 2 p.m. (WCYB photo) JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WCYB) — Helene recovery is moving forward. The small business recovery center located at Cherry Grove Baptist Church in Jonesborough is set to close Saturday at 2 p.m. Those looking for assistance from the Small Business Administration can contact the SBA customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WCYB) — Steve Cloyd was a devoted husband to Keli Cloyd, father to his two sons, Matt and Cameron and grandfather to Victor and Levi with a grand baby on the way. And this Christmas marks the first holiday without Steve. Steve and Keli’s journey in Tennessee began 3 years ago when they moved from Illinois to Jonesborough after falling in love with a family members property. And nearly 3 months ago, everything changed for the Cloyd Family. As the day went on, Steve was the only one at home with their dog Orion, when more rain kept coming down. Keli told me she wanted to come to get them, but Steve told her there was no way in. And as the water kept rising, it did not leave Steve with many options. Once Steve got into the jeep with Orion, he told Keli. Steve’s last text to Keli was at 2:48 pm and said, ‘on the move’. After this tragedy occurred, the Cloyd’s were told emergency crews tried to find Steve and Orion but had no luck. And on September 29, Keli told me she received a text. Steve and Keli’s two sons, Matt and Cameron immediately drove to Tennessee to start looking for their father and on September 30, 2024. Now that Orion and the jeep were found, the search was on to find Steve, which she said was challenging. Keli said for more than 2 months, search crews tried reaching out to the Washington County TN EMA about getting permission to come in and help with search efforts, but still no answers. However, Keli told us that Washington County Tennessee EMA did spend two days during the Thanksgiving week searching for Steve. Keli said the Washington County, TN Sheriff's Department and private individuals have been a big help in trying to find Steve, especially family friend, Vicki Devito. Just last week, Keli told me Washington County TN EMA gave permission for outside search efforts. As the search for Steve continues– the Cloyd Family wanting closure for their loved one. It is the first Cloyd Christmas without Steve, but Keli said she’s going to try her best to stay strong. Keli said she is so thankful for her army of angels who have helped throughout the past few months. Maps & GraphicsPower Outage InfoJonesborough man convicted of murder following overdose deathby WCYB Christopher Brian Jones was found guilty of second-degree murder by fentanyl overdose (WCYB) — A Jonesborough man has been convicted of second-degree murder following a fentanyl overdose death that happened in 2021 A Washington County jury found Jones guilty on January 16 (WCYB) — The town of Jonesborough is mourning the loss of its former mayor with a dedication ceremony for a public bench to be displayed in the plaza of the International Storytelling Center who was the founder and president emeritus of the Storytelling Center previously served as mayor and played a pivotal role in bringing the Storytelling Festival to the town Town leaders expressed that Smith left a lasting impression on the community and all who knew him "I often use him as an example of a visionary because he not only had the vision he made so many people believe in his vision that he could get it done You've got to have the ability to have people believe in you and he certainly did that," said Jonesborough Alderman Terry Countermine "Some of my fondest memories of Jimmy Neil are sitting down whether it be on the steps or in his office and just taking a minute to share a story So what I hope is that this bench we'll dedicate today will be a place where a lot of stories are shared and remembered in the future." The town is inviting people to send in stories and memories about Smith. For those interested in contributing, click this link. Patrick's Day weekend in Jonesborough calls for festive activities a chance to dress in your best green outfit and of course the St The Jonesborough community gathered to celebrate the luck of the irish Owner of the Historic Eureka Inn & Event Center Carol Johnston told me she is looking forward to the celebration and representing her business And Assistant Manager of the Historic Eureka Inn & Event Center Linda Anderson is thrilled to participate in the parade Moxie and Maple Uphoff are pumped for the day of irish themed fun The town of Jonesborough is well known for festive holiday celebrations For more information on the towns next event, click here. Chocolate Fest returning to Jonesborough for 10th year Members of the Washington County School Board were asked to consider a new purpose for part of the old Jonesborough Elementary School Tuesday Officials from the First Tennessee Development District approached the Washington County School Board Tuesday with a childcare facility proposal Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Members of the Washington County School Board took a detailed look at the property of the old Jonesborough Elementary School Tuesday night Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WCYB) — A Jonesborough man accused of bringing an improvised explosive device to jail has been charged, according to the Washington County, Tennessee Sheriff's Office. James Thomas Clay, 29, was arrested by the Johnson City Police Department on January 11 for various charges. Authorities said while being booked into the Washington County Detention Center, deputies discovered a small, homemade device believed to be an improvised explosive device (IED) in Clay’s personal belongings. The arresting Johnson City officer took the device into custody for mitigation by the JCPD Bomb Squad, according to authorities. Authorities said the explosive threat was removed without incident and no officers were harmed. Clay is being held on a $66,000 bond and is due in court on January 27. President Donald Trump holds a cabinet meeting at the White House. WATCH LIVEFEMA and TEMA at resource centers in Elizabethton and Jonesborough to help residentsby WCYB (WCYB) — Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) are at multi-agency resource centers (MARC) in Elizabethton and Jonesborough to help residents impacted by Helene Representatives from several other agencies are also at the centers For more information, click here. there is a crisis cleanup hotline that can be reached at by calling 1-844-965-1386 (WCYB) — A Jonesborough woman accused of setting a bed on fire before choking the victim has been charged and was charged with aggravated arson and aggravated assault on Saturday Deputies responded to the 100 block of Cedar Ridge Road on Saturday evening Authorities said the victim heard a loud pop and Hammett told them that she had set a bed on fire in the basement Authorities added the victim tried to call 911 Authorities said the victim then ran to a neighbor’s house to call 911 Deputies and volunteer firefighters extinguished the fire quickly Deputies quickly found Hammett at a residence in the 700 block of Conklin Road Authorities said she admitted to using a torch to set the bed on fire and had the torch in her possession and told investigators where she had disposed of the victim’s cellphone Hammett was arrested and taken to the Washington County Detention Center Her bond was set at $100,000 and she is due in court on Monday Jonesborough is the Tennessee town where your story is waiting to be written Whitney Williams / Jonesborough Tourism Department Jonesborough Water Department prepares for upcoming frigid temperatures The old Jonesborough cemetery is shown surrounded in springs colors during a recent visit to explore and document who was killed in a boating accident at the Naval Academy on April 14 and now rests in the Old Jonesborough City Cemetery On William Cox’s gravestone are engraved the words “Thus He Perished,” and an overturned boat was carved just below the words was covered a bit in the Jonesborough Herald & Tribune Even the monument on his grave received a write-up in the Nov “Around the top of the head-stone is carved a magnificent wreath of rich and rare flowers and immediately under it are the words ‘Thus he Perished,’” the paper wrote “Under this is a concave containing a military cap and a broken ore tossing on the wild waves and a little distance away can be seen only the hands reaching upward producing a perfect picture of the scene at the time the noble young man was drowned which fills the heart of every friend with sadness We think a more appropriate inscription cold not have been made The rock is of the best Italian Marble and the work was executed by Mr A group of monuments seen during Ned Jilton II’s recent trip to the old Jonesborough City Cemetery obelisks and statues with snippets of family history stories and sayings giving you a peek into someone’s life from the past There was a time when city and county cemeteries were considered parks and even open spaces for picnics and maybe a gazebo for music or ceremonies It was a far cry from today’s cemeteries with the uniform graves for ease of maintenance No statues or monuments with sayings — just names and maybe a Bible verse that you can go look up I was wondering through the old Jonesborough City Cemetery looking for the graves of the soldiers of Company B of the 19th Tennessee from the Civil War when I noticed a large gravestone next to a tree In fact it is about to be swallowed by the tree In big letters across the top of the stone were engraved the words according to the words near the bottom of the stone He and his father lived with his grandfather Charles Byers as did their uncle Also living in the same house was grandfather Charles’ second wife William’s father and uncle worked as merchants in Jonesborough it seems that some of the family moved to Massachusetts during the Civil War to avoid the fighting and then returned home when it was over Tragedy had followed William from his early days with the deaths of his mother and siblings When William was accepted into the Naval Academy uncle John came with him to Annapolis when he enrolled in September 1874 William got his fair share of demerits during his first year at the academy inspection,” “dangling feet out of window during study hours” and “throwing an apple core at another cadet.” Stuff that a young adult who is still a teenager would do He was also very popular among the other cadets and he became a member of the Class Boat Club He and three other cadets would regularly go out rowing Uncle John was the one who got the telegram was drowned this morning by the upsetting of the shell of his Boat Club.” C.R.P The telegram was published in the Jonesborough Herald & Tribune I managed to find a little information in the Naval Academy Register “William was part of the fourth year’s ‘green’ crew They went out early the morning of April 14 and William was holding on to one end and finally climbed back on it Classmate Edward Lloyd told him to wait there and all efforts to save him were fruitless It was unclear if William could not swim or if he suffered a cramp in the water His body was discovered at 4 p.m.,” the Register said (powerTag.Init = window.powerTag.Init || []).push(function () { powerAPITag.display("pw_17806") })“William’s funeral was held on April 16 at the Naval Academy chapel His body was then escorted by the Academy band playing a funeral march to the train depot for shipment to Tennessee,” the Register added not necessarily of the accident — but of the person himself the second of the four kids of grandfather Byers and a schoolteacher in Massachusetts and was in the habit of going out to take a short row before breakfast the others who were in the boat came very near going down too as the water was very cold and having all their clothes on were not able to swim much “Willie was a universal favorite among his classmates and I would venture to say that there is no one in the class whose loss will be felt more than his and so full of health that I can hardly realize that he is gone and have often thought of friends and have sympathized with them a great deal as I know it would nearly kill my father and mother if anything should happen to me so far from home “I have roomed with him ever since the second week of the year and I never became so attached to a person in such a comparatively short time and I am sure I would not feel a brother’s loss more “This loss is felt very much by all the class “He has often spoken of his friends in Tennessee and Massachusetts so that I feel almost as well acquainted with you all as if I had seen you The photographer has preserved the negatives as a number of our class wished his picture The last ones he had taken were the best and I can get you any number of them you wish I am from Boston and as Willie used to tell me about his living in Springfield during the war I felt an interest in him from the first time we met If there is anything which I am able to do for you “Believe me ever as your Willie’s best friend.” The death of William Cox was covered a bit in the Jonesborough Herald & Tribune We think a more appropriate inscription could not have been made In his short 19 years (he was six months from his 20th birthday) he had suffered through the death of his mother Now he rests in the old Jonesborough City Cemetery If you are ever in Jonesborough and want to say hello to William just walk up the big hill on the east end of Main Street There among the generals and politicians you will find his resting place on the downtown side of the cemetery in a nice spot under a tree Ned Jilton II is a photographer, history lover and columnist. You can contact him at ndjphoto@aol.com Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account The historic Jackson Theatre in Jonesborough has reopened after a decade-long renovation project (WCYB) — The historic Jackson Theatre in Jonesborough has reopened after a decade-long renovation project Originally a silent movie theater in the 1920s it became the Jackson Theatre in the 1960s The theater can now hold 300 people.The project cost between $7 million and $9 million and was paid for with grant money and town financing "I feel like between the Storytelling Center with the McKinney Center and Storytime Radio Show we give lots of reasons for people to come to Jonesborough and we just want to help people make a day out of it," Amber Crumley "We already have wonderful events and so I think adding those entertainment aspects in is something that we've done well over the years and I'm excited to carry it on here at our stage." The Jackson Theatre will celebrate its reopening with a three-day grand opening event featuring music and storytelling the theater plans to offer family entertainment for the holidays For more information, click here.