March 2, 2020. The Monroe County Buzz published the following article.
“Old General Sessions Court Building Eyed for Vet’s In an item discussed at the February county commission meeting on Thursday, County Mayor Mitch Ingram revealed that plans were underway to renovate the old now unoccupied Witt courtroom annex on Hickory and Tellico streets and upgrade its function as a new veteran’s center.
The building was the former structure of Monroe County General Sessions and Juvenile Courts, both of which moved with Judge Dwaine Thomas into the new Highway 68 justice center last month.
In a letter to Ingram dated February 18, Thomas said he met with veteran Bob Hatley of Vet to Vet Tennessee, an “invaluable resource” to the county. Vet to Vet Tennessee provides service at no charge and no obligation to the county, Thomas said, and in his and Hatley’s opinion the building should be reassigned as a “Veteran Community Services Building.” Thomas recommended placing the county’s veteran services officer Andy Boyd, Vet to Vet Tennessee, and Helen Ross McNabb Center within the building as a “one stop shop” for veterans and their families, effectively using the place for obtaining benefits and services that included counseling and treatment.
“This would benefit our citizens immensely,” Thomas said, explaining that treatment and counseling for veterans required out of country trips to Johnson City.
Ingram told the county commissioners on Thursday he supported the concept and said there was also available space within the building that could be used for other county functions, including archives.”
On March 4th another article appeared in The Advocate and Democrat newspaper.
Three years ago Judge Thomas, Helen Ross McNabb and Vet to Vet Tennessee discussed the possibility of converting the Justice Center into a Vet Center after the new Monroe County Justice Center was built. The new Justice Center was completed in January 2020! The new Veterans Community Services Building will be operational by the end of March 2020.
We are grateful to Judge Thomas, Mayor Ingram, Monroe County Commissioners and the citizens of Monroe County for their continued support and dedication to our veteran/military community. We are truly blessed.
