City of Bristol TN

09/05/2026

Discover the vibrant community, enriching programs, and welcoming spaces at Slater Community Center - designed especially for those 50 and older - as the City of Bristol celebrates National Senior Center Month throughout September!

09/04/2026

Great work happens when we work together. We’re proud of the strong partnership we share with our neighbors at the BRISTOL VIRGINIA POLICE DEPARTMENT every day as we work as a team to keep both Bristols safe.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Joint Efforts of Bristol Virginia and Bristol Tennessee Police Lead to Arrest

BRISTOL, VA – September 3, 2026 – A South Carolina man is facing multiple felony charges,
including Attempted Aggravated Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer, following a stolen vehicle
investigation conducted by the Bristol Virginia Police Department. Warrants were obtained for Peyton Jack Finch, age 18, of Gaffney, South Carolina, charging him with Felony Attempted Aggravated Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer and Felony Grand Larceny of a Motor Vehicle.

On September 3, 2026, Bristol Virginia Police Patrol Officers responded to a report of a stolen 2017
Jaguar XE from the 400 block of Carter Street. During the course of the investigation, officers located the stolen vehicle at the Travel Inn on Euclid Avenue. Officers reviewed surveillance footage and
conducted interviews with several individuals believed to be connected to the vehicle theft. Through investigative efforts, Finch was identified as a suspect in connection with the stolen vehicle.

As Investigators and Patrol Officers continued attempting to locate Finch, a Bristol Virginia Police
detective encountered a red Ford Focus believed to be associated with the investigation. The detective
identified himself as a law enforcement officer and issued commands for the driver to stop and exit the
vehicle. The driver accelerated the vehicle toward the detective, forcing the detective to move out of the vehicle's path to avoid being struck before the vehicle fled the area. Finch was later identified as the
driver.

Bristol Tennessee Police Department officers responded around noon to the area of 17th Street and West State Street to assist Bristol Virginia Police with locating the vehicle that had fled from BVPD during the investigation. During the search, officers discovered two vehicles on the Tennessee side of the 900 block of West State Street that had been struck by the suspect vehicle, which had left the scene. A short time later, officers located the abandoned suspect vehicle in the 800 block of Williams Street in Bristol, Tennessee. Working together, BVPD and BTPD quickly established a perimeter around the area. Drone operators from both the Bristol Virginia Police Department and Bristol Tennessee Police Department provided aerial support during the search, while BTPD also deployed a K-9 team to assist in locating the
suspect. Officers from both agencies coordinated search efforts. The suspect was subsequently located and apprehended after fleeing on foot.

The search concluded when Bristol Tennessee Police Department CID Captain Dillard apprehended
Finch following a brief foot pursuit, bringing the incident to a safe conclusion. The arrest was the result of a coordinated effort between officers from both agencies.

In addition to the Virginia charges, Finch has been charged in Tennessee with leaving the scene of an
accident, evading arrest, reckless driving, and driving while license suspended or revoked. He is also being held as a fugitive from justice pending extradition proceedings in Virginia.

This incident serves as an example of the partnership between the Bristol Virginia Police Department and the Bristol Tennessee Police Department. From the initial stolen vehicle investigation and identification of the suspect to the coordinated search efforts and eventual apprehension, officers from both agencies worked seamlessly across state lines, sharing information and utilizing combined resources to ensure the suspect was safely taken into custody. The successful resolution of this incident highlights the unique relationship between the two departments and their shared commitment to protecting the Bristol community.

“Our officers did an outstanding job developing the information that identified the suspect, and when the incident moved into Tennessee, Bristol Tennessee Police responded immediately with personnel and resources. The teamwork between our agencies resulted in the successful apprehension of the suspect and helped bring this incident to a safe conclusion,” stated Chief D. Byron Ashbrook.

The Bristol Virginia Police Department would like to thank the Bristol Tennessee Police Department for
their outstanding assistance during this investigation. The efforts of patrol officers, Criminal
Investigations Division personnel, drone operators, and K-9 resources were instrumental in bringing this
incident to a safe conclusion. The exceptional teamwork displayed throughout this investigation reflects the strength of the partnership between both agencies and their continued commitment to public safety.

The Investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.

09/04/2026

A three-day weekend is the perfect time to snag an award-winning photo! Head out to Steele Creek Park, soak in the stunning scenery, capture a photo that truly showcases the natural beauty, then enter the Wildlife Weekend Amateur Photo Contest sponsored by Friends of Steele Creek Nature Center and Park. Both adult and youth categories are included, and winners will receive a cash prize plus the honor of having their photo displayed at The Nature Center for an entire year. Grab your camera, get creative, and let’s see your best shot! The deadline to enter is Sept. 16.

Complete contest rules and entry guidelines are available at https://ow.ly/4HbJ50ZJjfk

09/04/2026

This dog was found at the Broad Street Recycling Center on Thursday, Sept. 3.

09/03/2026

Because of hot, dry and humid conditions, the Bristol Tennessee Fire Department has issued a burn ban within the City limits until further notice. While the ban remains in effect, no Burn Permits will be issued.

Questions? Please contact Assistant Fire Chief David McGlamery at (423) 989-5701 or [email protected].

09/03/2026

The City of Bristol is currently accepting applications for employees to assist with seasonal leaf collection efforts between October 2026 and January 2027. Please go to www.bristoltn.gov/jobs to access the complete job description and an online application.

09/03/2026

Most City offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, for Labor Day. Trash normally collected on Mondays will be picked up on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Please note this change and help spread the word to your neighbors!

For additional schedule changes, please visit https://ow.ly/CE0H50ZINk2

09/02/2026

Don't forget! Consultants from Kimley-Horn and representatives from the Bristol MPO are available TODAY until 3PM at the State Street Farmer's Market at Downtown Center (just look for the red tent) and from 4 to 6 PM at Birthplace of Country Music Museum to answer questions and gather input about the proposed route for Bristol Trolley Service. It's a great way to share feedback and learn more about this project that has garnered much excitement throughout our community!

If you can't make it to either of these sessions, you can share your input through the online survey that is available through Sept. 21 at https://ow.ly/LjXV50ZIqab. Your feedback will directly guide the next steps!

09/02/2026

For Eddie Keen, few things in life are better than a refreshing drink of water straight from the tap.

Each sparkling drop fills him with a renewed sense of pride on behalf of the 40,000 individuals who rely on Bristol Tennessee’s water system every day — a system Eddie has dedicated much of his career to maintaining and improving.

“I spent 18 years in maintenance at the plant and really enjoyed it because I never knew what I’d be doing from day to day,” Eddie said. “It was really a great opportunity to learn on the job about how this plant works and what it takes to keep it running smoothly.”

A Bristol native, Eddie graduated from Sullivan East High School before earning a degree in Electrical Technology from Northeast State Community College. He spent some time working for a local electrical contractor, gaining the hands-on experience and technical knowledge that would eventually make him the perfect fit for a maintenance position at the water plant when he joined the City in 2006.

But what began as a job quickly became something much more meaningful. Eddie’s natural curiosity, passion for learning and pride in doing things the right way led him to immerse himself in every aspect of the plant’s operation. Over the years, he earned Grade 4 Water Operator Certification – the highest certification for his profession – and developed an impressive depth of knowledge about the equipment, the treatment process, and the countless behind-the-scenes details that go into delivering clean, safe water to the community.

And there’s a lot more to that process than you might imagine.

Once fresh water is pulled from the South Holston River, it goes through a carefully orchestrated treatment process involving chemicals, filtration, and extensive testing before it ever reaches a customer’s faucet. Ask Eddie to explain how it works, and he’ll happily dive into the details, sprinkling his explanation with decimals, chemical formulas, and words like turbidity and flocculation. He can even produce sprawling charts and thick reports to further explain the process he and his team of 10 use to ensure every drop of water leaving the plant meets or exceeds state and federal standards.

“I have a lot of passion for this job,” he said. “My goal is to try to make things better than they were when I got here.”

That goal comes with plenty of challenges.

One of the biggest is scheduling. With the water plant operating around the clock, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, Eddie has to make sure there are enough trained employees on hand to keep things running smoothly — whether it’s Tuesday afternoon, Saturday night or Christmas morning.

Then there’s Mother Nature.

Storms can dramatically affect the quality of water that enters the plant and cause power outages, while periods of extreme cold can cause waterline breaks that impact pressure and allow contaminants to enter the water system. Whatever the weather brings, the expectation remains the same: Keep the plant running and keep the water flowing.

“One of the hardest days I’ve ever had on the job was when Hurricane Helene came through,” he said.

When he’s not making sure Bristol’s water system is running smoothly, Eddie enjoys relaxing at home, often with his wife and his two dogs, and settling in for a good movie — particularly anything involving outer space, fantasy or some other temporary escape from reality. It’s a simple reward for a job well done.

Shout out to Eddie Keen, Bristol Tennessee Water Plant Superintendent, for skillfully using science, math, and a seemingly endless supply of knowledge to transform raw river water into something essential to every business and household in Bristol. He’s another great example of Bristol at Work.

09/02/2026

Let's keep the celebration going with a heartfelt THANK YOU to the Bristol Tennessee City Council for officially proclaiming September as Senior Center Month. This special recognition encourages everyone to honor the invaluable contributions of older adults and to applaud the dedicated staff, volunteers, community partners, and participants at the Slater Community Center who make a real difference every day.

The proclamation was presented by Councilman Kelly Graham on Tuesday to Mike Ratliff, Denise Bourne, and Becky Olinger of our Department of Parks & Recreation, who champion the needs of seniors and enrich their lives with programs that keep them active, connected, and engaged.

Learn how you can get involved at https://ow.ly/7mVC50ZIer0