Newport (Morristown, Greeneville, Sevierville: schools, subdivision, living in)

[daniellefort]

Any input on Newport TN? I just purchased some property just Northeast of Newport about 5 miles out of town in a relatively nice new subdivision with large parcels. Yes i've already done my research on the whole area before i purchased but just like to hear feedback from others.

[mbmouse]

Hi Daniellefort,
You already know how I feel about Newport, I don't like it at all. However I think you are in an ok spot because with adding only a few minutes to travel time, you can do most of your shopping and such in either Dandridge or Sevierville which are both very nice, clean, friendly and have most of what one would need or want

[daniellefort]

I'll be first to say that through our travels throughout that area anything on the south side of Newport and further down is the pits which is probably why Cocke county doesn't get a very good rap but i think we found the one place that's out there worth living in. We're happy where we bought as it seems like a nice clean, quiet area. We also wanted to stay within travel time to Morristown too so the north side was also another good reason.

[sewood]

I would be curious to know what it is about Newport that you don't like. I am looking at a property on the northside (on Smithwood Ave). My wife and I are considering moving out of the city, but it the town is not attractive and friendly, well, that certainly is not what we are looking for.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by sewood

I would be curious to know what it is about Newport that you don't like. I am looking at a property on the northside (on Smithwood Ave). My wife and I are considering moving out of the city, but it the town is not attractive and friendly, well, that certainly is not what we are looking for.

I don't know that the people there are unfriendly, but the town is definitely a dump (in my opinioni). And just last week the state cops busted a huge, and I mean HUGE still in Cocke County. Hard to believe those things still happen. Cocke County also has a reputation of being a hotbed of meth labs and pot growers. Its schools are pretty lousy.

Cocke County has all the ingredients to be a wonderful tourist destination or popular place for weekend getaways: beautiful (and I do mean beautiful) mountains, a nice river through downtown (just like Gatlinburg), and it's all right on an interstate. But yet nothing happened. There's got to be a reason why Newport hasn't grown much in 40 years even though it has advantages that other towns would love to have.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by JMT

I don't know that the people there are unfriendly, but the town is definitely a dump (in my opinioni). And just last week the state cops busted a huge, and I mean HUGE still in Cocke County. Hard to believe those things still happen. Cocke County also has a reputation of being a hotbed of meth labs and pot growers. Its schools are pretty lousy.

Cocke County has all the ingredients to be a wonderful tourist destination or popular place for weekend getaways: beautiful (and I do mean beautiful) mountains, a nice river through downtown (just like Gatlinburg), and it's all right on an interstate. But yet nothing happened. There's got to be a reason why Newport hasn't grown much in 40 years even though it has advantages that other towns would love to have.

Again? I must have been in the hospital when that happened!

You would think they would learn by now. For crying out loud, they busted half the town, including local law enforcement, yet they just don't quit. Don't they realize that the ATF and the DEA sit in the woods just waiting to pounce?

[sewood]

Thanks so much for the reply. I do remember reading about the drug busts in the paper. I had forgotten about that. We so many lovely small towns in Tennessee to chose from, it sounds like Newport is one to skip. I am getting too old to wait for it to get its act together.

[daniellefort]

well at least they are getting busted instead of turning an eye the other way. Funny, i live here in FL now and just this week they busted a cocke fighting ring. I didn't even know they existed in my little town. You just don't always know whats going on sometimes. Pot? oh that's everywhere. on the other hand, i read in the newport paper online last week that Newport was just awarded access to the state funds to clean up the area and allow new business to come in and get it together and this week a 2 year survery says that 85% of residents who live in Newport are happy and feel safe living there.

[hiknapster]

Yup. Those sort of things go on in Florida, too.

The problem is, they don't usually arrest 143 people, and half of them are "pillars" of the community, including law enforcement. It made national news.

And the issue is that it was nothing new. The feds have been busting them for decades.

I really wish they would do something.

Maybe a grant that brings new blood in will change things.

[jabogitlu]

Newport's ill effects even affect counties around it. The Greeneville area that is fairly close to Del Rio is just about as bad!