NEWPORT-Members of the Cocke County Partnership's Executive Committee heard reports from various groups during their meeting on Thursday at the Community Center.

Partnership President Don Hurst reported his office "continues to work with three manufacturing companies" who have expressed an interest in locating in Cocke County. "We hope to have positive news in the near future," Hurst said.

He also reported on the recent Governor's Conference in Nashville, which he and members of this staff attended.

At the conference, plans for Tennessee's new Three Star Program were unveiled, which both simplified and expanded the earlier program.

For more details, please see the weekend edition of the Newport Plain Talk.