Government

The state of Tennessee experienced an unprecedented spike in new initial unemployment claims according to data released this morning by the United States Department of Labor. For the week ending March 21, 2020, Tennesseans filed 39,096 initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits. The week prior, the state received 2,702 new unemployment claims. The latest figure represents a nearly 20-fold increase ...

The mayors of Sevier County and Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Pittman Center, and Sevierville on Thursday declared a State of Local Emergency for Sevier County, Tennessee. This declaration is executed by political subdivisions of government, both City and County, to comply with Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s request to open the Sevier County Emergency Operations Center, to allow cities and the county ...

Citizens who need to file an unemployment application, but lack a computer or internet service, may visit certain Sevier County Library branches to file their application. Sevier County citizens who have been laid off due to the coronavirus, COVID-19, can file for unemployment. The easiest way to file is to access www.jobs4TN.gov, from home by using a computer, tablet or ...

The Sevier County School System announced that the current school closure will be extended for another month to slow the spread of COVID-19 cases. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, recommended all public schools remain closed until April 24. The Sevier County School System confirmed on Wednesday that it would comply with the request, instead of resuming ...

Pigeon Forge officials on Monday told residents to stay home, except for essential needs, to slow the spread of COVID-19. Pigeon Forge COVID-19 advisory on Monday, March 23, 2020: To Our Pigeon Forge Residents After much consideration and input from our local, state and national health care officials, the Pigeon Forge City Mayor and City Commission have issued a Safe ...

Local officials are calling for all non-essential businesses and services in Sevier County to close in the interest of public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The mayors and city managers of Sevier County, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Pittman Center, and Sevierville are requesting and strongly urging non-essential businesses and services in Sevier County to temporarily close to the public due to ...

Stopping short of ordering certain businesses to close, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Sunday ordered restaurants, bars, gyms and nursing homes to modify the way they do business for the next few weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Bill Lee signed Executive Order 17 calling for businesses across the state to utilize alternative business models beginning at midnight CDT ...

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is addressing Coronavirus-related delays in state firearms background checks. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation would like to explain the reasons for delays customers and firearms dealers may have experienced this week while securing a firearms background check or appeal in the state, and the steps being taken to ...

Local officials asked state health regulators to order closure of bars and limit occupancy for dine-in restaurants in Sevier County. Sevier County and the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Pittman Center issued a joint press release on Thursday asking individuals and local businesses to limit the spread of the coronavirus by following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control ...

While Sevier County Schools are closed due to the Coronavirus, grab-and-go meals will be provided for students at schools and certain bus stops. Sevier County Schools Child Nutrition Program will provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to any child 18 years and younger. The meals will be a grab and go breakfast and lunch and may be picked up ...