J. Robert Carrell from Newport was elected to receive the Thirty-Third degree, the highest degree in Freemasonry, at the Supreme Council Session held in Washington, DC in October 2009. The honor is given in recognition of outstanding service to the fraternity and the community. The degree was conferred in Nashville, TN on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Mr. Carrell is a member and Past Master of Newport Lodge No. 234 and is currently serving as Chaplin. He is a member of Kerbela Shrine Temple and service at the Childrens Transportation Chairman for the Cocke County Shrine Club.

He is a member of Allen's Missionary Baptist Church. He and his wife Deanie have three sons and two daughters.

Also Dr. Richard M. LeBeau, from Newport was elected to receive the Knights Commander of the Court of Honor. The honor was presented Sunday, November 8 in Knoxville.

Scottish Rite Masonry is a fraternal organization that uses drama to teach ethics, moral, basic religious philosophy and the American system of constitutional government.

Community service projects of the fraternity are the fitting and distribution of shoes to needy school age children, providing hearing and speech therapy for pre-school age children, loaning sick room equipment to the needy and offering college scholarship to qualified students.