July 4, 2026
News
Timeframe given property owners to begin fire debris cleanup
City officials said cleanup from the five-alarm fire that destroyed four buildings and five businesses on Market Street East is no further along 100 days later than the day after the fire. Containing the fire and preventing smoldering resulted in debris from the four buildings becoming one big pile measuring 16-feet high in places and containing asbestos. A property cleanup coordination See Fire, Page 4A ^ meeting was held Thursday which resulted in property owners being given 60 days to file the required cleanup applications.
SCHRA is offering free summer meals for eligible kids
N o child should ever go hungry!
BOMA to issue bond to finance a $2.35 million fire truck
T he Fayetteville Board of Mayor and Alderman approved the issuance of a general obligation bond to provide funds to finance purchasing a fire truck at last week’s regular monthly meeting.
Weeklong celebration for the nation’s 250th birthday underway
T he 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States will be here soon. Lincoln County and Fayetteville City officials have said the county has a unique opportunity to “come together in celebration of our nation’s history, our shared vision and the strong community spirit that defi nes the county.”
Mary Grace Newman announces candidacy for District 2 commissioner
Editor’s note: The Elk Valley Times will publish candidate announcements and photos as we receive them and as space allows before the July 29, 2026, edition. The election is on Aug. 6, 2026. Announcements should be no longer than 700 words and emailed to lscripps@elkvalleytimes.com. They may be edited for length, grammar, style and content.
Building a bridge
Crews pour concrete on the bridge deck or riding surface at the new Elk River Bridge in Fayetteville. Construction is actively underway on the new 1,235 foot, two-lane bridge over the Elk River meant to connect Molino Road to the U.S. 64 bypass at Bearden Mill Road. Jones Bros, contractors is in charge of construction through the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Jones Bros. Division Manager Chris Harwell said through TDOT the company has until November to finish the project, but they are currently “ahead of schedule.” Harwell said they hope to have the road open before school starts back in August. Lincoln Paving will handle the asphalt paving, according to Harwell, who estimates about 100 workers have helped build the bridge so far. “Everybody’s done a good job and it has went well,” Harwell said. “We’ve had a drier spring than normal so that’s helped us get ahead.” Harwell said it’s a big project for the community and it will ultimately provide another access over the Elk River. — Paul Henry photo
High school students recognized as DAR Good Citizens
Dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism — these are the qualities of a DAR Good Citizen.
Student Utility Board learns about water and wastewater treatment
Fayetteville Public Utilities’ (FPU) Student Utility Board (SUB) recently met to tour the water treatment plant and learned about the process of turning water from the Elk River into clean, safe drinking water.
Market Street property owner offers fire damaged vacant lots to City
Three months after fire destroyed five businesses on the south side of the Fayetteville square, the street is still fenced off and a large pile of debris waits to be cleaned up. Property owners said they verbally agreed they would have one company give a quote to remove the debris since it had been combined to smolder the fire following the Feb. 8 five alarm fire.