Tension was high during the regular Middlesboro City Council meeting on Tuesday after resident Angela Jackson requested the removal of Middlesboro Police Chief Jeff Sharpe.

Jackson stood before the council wearing a T-shirt that she had used a marker on to openly display obscenities and suggestions of violence.

Random reasons were then stated, with her biggest complaint concerning the lack of community events.

Jackson told council Middlesboro’s crime and drug problems might not be as bad if they would find a new person for the police chief’s job. She pointed out Sharpe had back pain or an injured leg and wouldn’t be able to keep up with his job assignments.

Sharpe was granted an opportunity to react to the complaints made against him.

“I don’t feel the need to defend myself, but I will speak in defense of my force,” said Sharpe. “Our officers are also being called into question, as if they aren’t doing their job.”

Sharpe pointed out that the news agencies regularly report arrests local police are making.

He also addressed the question of his health, citing that his “time-clock hours” are available for review.

Sharpe affirmed he had served in law enforcement for more than 40 years. Sharpe said he has gladly served Middlesboro and declared that he has plenty more to give to this city.

“I’ve been shot at, cut, spat on, beat up, cussed and threatened, but this hurts as bad as any of that,” Sharpe said. “For someone to come in before an open council and belittle me in front of all of these people is hard to take.”

Sharpe recognized Jackson and acknowledged that she had wanted him gone for a long time. After both sides had said their peace, the meeting was quickly adjourned.

Prior to the Jackson incident, there were some questions raised by councilman Gary Mills. Mills had previously asked for more information on a particular matter and wanted it noted that he still hadn’t received the requested information.

Mayor Bill Kelley informed him that the information had been brought to the last meeting, but Mills wasn’t present to receive it. Mills extended his complaint, leading to several minutes of discussion. Kelley tried to determine what exactly Mills needed and eventually the meeting continued.

As the meeting continued, a request to go into executive session was brought forth and acted on. All members exited, apparently to privately discuss the importance and necessity of department heads and council members attending the meetings.

This meeting was in no way reactionary toward Mills’ previous absence. Mills was assumed to have a legitimate reason and rarely misses meetings. Members returned after a few minutes, announcing that no action would happen at this time as a result of the closed door meeting.

After the meeting’s agenda was worked through, council allowed the public to make comments or requests. A few different people had business matters to discuss.

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Reina P. Cunningham

Staff Writer

Just before 8 p.m. on Wednesday night a call came was received by Claiborne County 911 that a semi truck had overturned on an exit ramp on U.S. 25E South.

Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department (CCSD), Claiborne County EMS and the Cumberland Gap Park Service all responded to the scene.

According to CCSD Officer William Roark, the unidentified driver of the truck stated his “load shifted” as he came up the ramp leading to Cumberland Gap, Tenn., and to Virginia and he believed that is what caused the semi to flip over on its side. The truck was hauling metal pipe.

The driver declined medical treatment from EMS.

The right southbound lane of the tunnel was closed for a short time to prevent traffic congestion around the accident site.

An additional call to the 911 center came in from CCSD at around 8:40 p.m. saying the overturned rig was leaking fluid into the grass. Just prior to 9 p.m., a haz-mat team was called in to help clean up the spilled fluid.

Reach Reina P. Cunningham at 606-248-1010, ext. 205, rpcunningham@civitasmedia.com.