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Knoxville News Sentinel

The Tennessee county-by-county report brings you news from each of the Volunteer State’s 95 counties every Sunday. Items are compiled by reporters and editors from across the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

ANDERSON COUNTY: The playground at Highland View Park will receive upgrades that will accommodate kids of all abilities, including those in wheelchairs, the Oak Ridger reports. The renovated park will feature a We-go-swing. It will be one of the first installed in a public playground area in Tennessee.

BEDFORD COUNTY: A unanimous Shelbyville City Council recently approved using a state grant to fund a $50,000 contract with Retail Strategies to help businesses through training, including for digital marketing, the Bedford County Post reports.

BENTON COUNTY: The new outdoor classroom at Big Sandy School provides an attractive and refreshing learning environment for students. It is a valuable resource for teachers to enhance their lessons and engage their students in meaningful outdoor activities.

BLEDSOE COUNTY: An investigation was conducted by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office on Luminaryfrostbite Volunteer Fire Department, the Bledsonian Banner reports. The department failed to exercise its rights as a chartered nonprofit and maintain an nonprofit status with the Tennessee Secretary of State.

BLOUNT COUNTY: New Outdoor Channel show ‘Life of Fire’ highlights Maryville chef Trevor Stockton of RT Lodge, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. ‘Life of Fire’ is on the Outdoor Channel and the episode with Stockton originally aired on May 20 and is available on select streaming services.

BRADLEY COUNTY: City planners reviewed feasibility studies that examine the economic benefits of constructing an indoor sports facility in Downtown Cleveland, the Cleveland Banner reports. Cleveland City Manager Joe Fivas said the project would be a $40 million investment in Cleveland’s downtown.

CAMPBELL COUNTY: Campbell County High School welding students earned top spots at the Top Wrench Competition at The Crown College in Powell, the Lafollette Press reports. Welding instructor Chris Ralston and his students were honored and recognized by school board members for their achievements.

CANNON COUNTY: Cannon County had a 2.6% unemployment rate in March, which is the same rate recorded in the February 2024 and March 2023, the state reports.

CARROLL COUNTY: A new headquarters for the Carroll County Emergency Communications District (commonly known as the 911 district) is moving forward after the board of directors voted to proceed with the design of a new 5,422 square-foot facility on Dillahunty Lane in Huntingdon.

CARTER COUNTY: The Elizabethton Walmart Supercenter received the Helen R. Walton Excellence in Community Leadership Award, the Elizabethton Star reports. The store has raised more than $23,500 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and donated hundreds of filled backpacks for Stuff the Bus and Boys and Girls Club.

CHEATHAM COUNTY: Ryan Babcock, 32, who was arrested in April for aggravated assault after allegedly shooting at an 18-year-old Domino’s Pizza delivery driver, now faces new and upgraded charges including second-degree attempted murder and three counts of reckless endangerment, the Cheatham County Exchange reports.

CHESTER COUNTY: Students selected queen and king from attendees at prom at Chester County High School. Prom Queen Cordaisha Reddick and Prom King Jace Barnes were selected.

CLAIBORNE COUNTY: Walters State Community College plans summer camps for Claiborne County campus, the Claiborne Progress reports. Rising sixth through eighth graders can learn first aid and CPR, operate a

HAM radio or build and program underwater robots through Walters State Community College Youth Camps.

CLAY COUNTY: Clay County High School’s 2024 valedictorian is Brooklyn Becker and the salutatorian is Carley Kendall. Seventy-three seniors graduated in May.

COCKE COUNTY: Cocke County Emergency Management’s Swift Water Rescue Team rescued a river guide from his vehicle on the Pigeon River, the Newport Plain Talk reports. The guide and his dog were safely removed from the vehicle by emergency personnel after his Suburban became stuck from heavy rain.

COFFEE COUNTY: The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued a moratorium against the city of Manchester for any new connections to the wastewater system amid ongoing overflow issues, the Manchester Times reports. The city must submit an engineering report and construction plans for correction.

CROCKETT COUNTY: The Crockett County Sheriff’s Department said Theodore Powell was located safe the morning of May 14. Powell was reported missing after family reported they had not seen or heard from him in days.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY: Preparations are underway for the Fairfield Glade Lions Club 2024 Reverse Raffle, the Glade Sun reports. The fundraising drawing is on Aug. 6 at The Center. Tickets will be sold for $50 each and the top cash prizes of $6,000, $2,000 and $1,000 will be awarded.

DAVIDSON COUNTY: Nashville Mayor Freddie O’connell delivered his first State of Metro Address using the time to share his plan to overhaul transportation services, The Tennessean reports. The plan includes raising sales tax to pay for miles of sidewalks, an improved bus system and smart traffic technology.

DECATUR COUNTY: The Decatur County Fair Association held its annual dinner April 19. The Roy N. Mcpeak Award was presented to Jenny Martindale by board members Amy Blackstock and Tina Gardner. The Mcpeak Award is presented each year to an Outstanding Fair Worker.

DEKALB COUNTY: The Dekalb County Commission Budget Committee recently voted 4-2 to deny a proposal recommending the full commission authorizing bond funding up to $65 million for a judicial center once a new tax levy is established, WJLE radio station reports.

DICKSON COUNTY: Dickson County High Schools will soon have vape sensors in all school bathrooms, reports WRKN. The sensors will have an alert system to discourage destruction by students, and any tampering will be strictly dealt with by administrators.

DYER COUNTY: Doorbell footage captured Sunday night in Dyersburg shows a Tennessee Highway patrolman tasing a suspect in the back while he has his hands up. The incident that led to the tasing involved three different law enforcement agencies.

FAYETTE COUNTY: The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency says people have seen a 7-foot alligator in West Tennessee! Officers in Fayette County were called to looked at the animal. They didn’t move it because it wasn’t posing a threat to humans. The TWRA says there are a handful of alligators in West Tennessee.

FENTRESS COUNTY: Allardt Elementary named its for 2023-24 teachers of the year: Karen Beaty as the school’s for grades Pre-k through fourth and Kellye Stone for grades 5-8.

FRANKLIN COUNTY: After five

months without a city administrator, Decherd City has announced Rob Bennett will fill the position. The position has been vacant since December 2023 when Mary Aveni left after two months of filling the vacancy that the city was without for 16 months.

GIBSON COUNTY: Ten people were arrested by the West Tennessee Drug Task Force in Humboldt over the weekend. Task force agents patrolled southern Gibson County during the annual Strawberry Festival in Humboldt. Five weapons were seized, and agents pursued and caught a violent wanted felon.

GILES COUNTY: County Executive Graham Stowe told the Property Committee this month that the Tennessee Department of Health and Regional Healthcare Coalition has offered a $750,000 grant to build a “big-top” fabric structure to house trailers, trucks and first-responder equipment and supplies for emergency readiness, reports the Pulaski Citizen. Space not used for equipment storage would be available for the county to use. The proposed location is county-owned property adjacent to Abernathy Field Airport on Highway 11.

GRAINGER COUNTY: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Grainger County Sheriff’s Department are asking for the public’s help to identify a man who was found in Norris Lake, the Grainger Today reports. The man is approximately 40-50 years old and 5’8” tall. He wore plaid pajama pants, socks, two Figaro chain necklaces and a Timex watch.

GREENE COUNTY: The Greene County 911 board agreed to install a Safe Haven “baby box” at the agency’s offices on Union Street in Greeneville, the Greeneville Sun reports. Baby boxes allow someone who does not want to keep a baby to drop off the infant anonymously and safely.

GRUNDY COUNTY: The Grundy County Library Board is looking for stable footing amid inconsistent governing between the county and cities in which each library is located, the Grundy County Herald reports. Both the county and cities provide funding, making it unclear who is responsible for them.

HAMBLEN COUNTY: HOLA Lakeway, a nonprofit dedicated to facilitating the integration of immigrant families into the Lakeway community, announces its 10th Anniversary Fiesta, the Citizen Tribune reports. The celebratory and fundraising event is 6:30 p.m.

May 31 at the HOLA Lakeway Sankofa Center.

HAMILTON COUNTY: Food Works restaurant in North Chattanooga is closing after 18 years of operation, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. The popular North Shore eatery at the Signal Knitting Mill opened in the spring of 2006, serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunches, and hosting many events.

HANCOCK COUNTY: Sneedville FFA held its chapter banquet to award members for their yearly accomplishments. Among the awards, six members were recognized for their outstanding achievements. Sarah Antrican, Piper Dean, Shiane Gibson, Ezekiel Howerton, Mckynzie Roberts, and Matthew Smith were honored.

HARDEMAN COUNTY: Aluminum door and window manufacturer Wall Innovations will invest $6.4 million dollars to relocate its U.S. manufacturing and distribution base to Bolivar, reports WBBJ. The project is expected to create 72 jobs over the next five years at an 18,500-squarefeet facility.

HARDIN COUNTY: Firefighters “were busy” after fighting multiple fires within 24 hours. On May 7, the county fire department responded to a small shed and camper fire on Glendale Road. The department says a lightning strike cause the fire. The next day a mobile home fire occurred on Old Union Road.

HAWKINS COUNTY: Volunteer Speedway ushers in 50th anniversary season, the Rogersville Review reports. Volunteer Speedway will host a $50,000-to-win, 50-lap Super Late Model main event on June 29, to celebrate 50 years of racing. The anniversary celebration will include three days of racing.

HAYWOOD COUNTY: Ford’s Blueoval City will start hiring hourly employees for its facility in Haywood County next year. This projected timing will help make sure that electric trucks are being rolled off the assembly line by 2026.

HENDERSON COUNTY: The American Legion Post 77 hosted its 17th annual Henderson County Folk Festival and the Legion’s Classic Open Car and Truck show May 18 in the Lexington Court Square. Vendors, music, food, and lots of classic cars and trucks were on the scene.

HENRY COUNTY: The top scholars at Henry County High School were praised during the 66th annual Top Ten Academic Scholarship Program. The Top Ten students in each class were honored for their academic accomplishments and the top seven graduating students received scholarships.

HICKMAN COUNTY: A 6.7-acre expansion to the county’s Class 3 and 4 landfill has been approved by state and federal entities, reports the Hickman County Times. The expansion is projected to accommodate any construction debris from the county for the next 27 years.

HOUSTON COUNTY: A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held prior to the 40th annual Houston County 4-H Beef Show in celebration of the grand opening of the Bobby and Sue Pitts Livestock Pavilion at the Traditions First Bank Fairground on West Front Street in Erin in April, the Houston County Herald reports.

HUMPHREYS COUNTY: Camden and Mcewen have recently been selected to participate in the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s two-year Tennessee Downtowns program, complete with a $15,000 downtown improvement project grant, the News Democrat reports.

JACKSON COUNTY: Matthew Otte and Brady Buck were each awarded the Poke Sallet Foundation’s inaugural $1,000 Blue Collar Scholars scholarship for Jackson County High

School seniors planning to attend a trade school. Students applied for the scholarship. Leadership, volunteerism and academics were considered.

JEFFERSON COUNTY: Two Sheriff’s Department officers retired with honors – and treats and toys – recently. Officer Nitro, a German shepherd specializing in explosives detection, and Officer Cooper, a bloodhound with skills in rescue and tracking, together had more than 10 years of service, the Standard Banner reports.

JOHNSON COUNTY: The Johnson County Center for the Arts announced the expansion of its summer arts camp program for rising second through 10th graders. The camps will run for three weeks during July. Added this year is a week of traditional Appalachian arts for sixth to 10th graders, The Tomahawk reports.

KNOX COUNTY: The Tennessee Theatre handed out its first Marquee Awards on May 11, celebrating high school musical theater. Ten high schools participated. Bearden, Carter, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Knoxville Catholic and South-doyle had winners in categories from acting to production.

LAKE COUNTY: A 3.8 magnitude earthquake shook northwest Tennessee early May 16. The quake happened at 3:19 a.m., approximately 4 miles south of Ridgely, according to the United States Geological Survey. It originated 4.5 miles below the earth’s surface. That level of magnitude is considered minor.

LAUDERDALE COUNTY: A public hearing was held during the regular meeting of the Oakland Board of Mayor and Aldermen on May 16. Discussed was Ordinance 24-06 to amend the adopted fiscal year 2024 budget for the town of Oakland sewer fund.

LAWRENCE COUNTY: The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-0 tornado caused damage to multiple outbuildings and trees blown down near Ethridge on May 14. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

LEWIS COUNTY: Lifelong Lewis County residents Wylie and Bettie Carroll were honored with a bridge dedicated to them on Arkansas Road. Wylie is known for his work at the Lewis County Highway Commission Department and Transfer Station while Bettie is recognized for her compassion in health care.

LINCOLN COUNTY: Nearly three years after he was named assistant chief and six months since being named the interim chief following the resignation of former chief Tony Kimbrough, Davy Bergman Jr. has recently been named chief of the Fayetteville Fire Department, the Elk Valley Times reports.

LOUDON COUNTY: A local veteran is bringing a program to Loudon County that helps military families heal from service-related mental trauma, the News-herald reports. REBOOT Recovery offers 12-week free courses for first responders, military and everyone else who has experienced trauma.

MACON COUNTY: Macon County had a 2.5% unemployment rate in March, well under the statewide rate of 3.2% for the month, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development. Macon County’s unemployment rate in February was 2.3%.

MADISON COUNTY: Ten people were arrested by the West Tennessee Drug Task Force in Humboldt over the weekend. Task force agents patrolled southern Gibson County during the annual Strawberry Festival in Humboldt. Five weapons were seized, and agents pursued and caught a violent wanted felon.

MARION COUNTY: People magazine has named Top of the Rock Restaurant on Jasper Mountain as the most beautiful restaurant in Tennessee, the Sequatchie Valley Now reports. The restaurant is 5 years old and is located at the entrance of Jasper Highlands, just above the Town of Kimball.

MARSHALL COUNTY: Young Professionals of Marshall County is preparing for its first Fun Friday of 2024. Local businesses, vendors food trucks, live music, family-friendly activities and more will be at Lewisburg Square on June 7, June 21 and July 12.

MAURY COUNTY: Maury Regional Medical Center CEO Dr. Martin Chaney

told a Maury County committee that the construction of a new hospital in Spring Hill by Tristar Health would duplicate services and could increase patient costs, reports Main Street Maury. Tristar Health is proposing construction of a $250 million, full-service hospital in the city, one of the fastest growing in Tennessee.

MCMINN COUNTY: Dooley Tractor celebrates 85 years in business, the Daily Post Athenian reports. Leslie Dooley started the company in 1939 in Downtown Athens. In 1952, E.B. “Bo” Bohannon Jr. bought the business. Around 1974, E.B “Eddie” Bohannon III came on board and became president in the early 1990s.

MCNAIRY COUNTY: Mcnairy County’s unemployment rate in December was 4.1%, ninth-highest out of 95 counties in the state. The unemployment rate in Mcnairy County is 0.4 percentage points above the national level, and 0.6 percentage points above the state level, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

MEIGS COUNTY: Meigs County is considering installing more tornado sirens, the Daily Post Athenian reports. The discussion of tornado sirens was raised during a Meigs County Commission workshop. County Emergency Management Agency Director Tony Finnell noted a new emergency broadcast system is in the works.

MONROE COUNTY: Events announced for the city of Sweetwater’s 150-year celebration next year, the Advocate and Democrat reports. Throughout 2025, there will be various events, including a candlelight kickoff in January 2025, music concerts, tours, historical moment videos, road races, veteran recognition and parades.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY: Detectives of the Clarksville Police Department’s Special Operation Homicide Unit recently announced the arrests of four suspects, charged with two counts of homicide, in connection with a double homicide shooting on Martin Street in April, the Leaf Chronicle reports.

MOORE COUNTY: The Moore County Metro Council recently met to discuss a $450,000 property bid on Fayetteville Highway that could be converted into a new courthouse. Council members requested more information about the building, the Moore County News reported.

MORGAN COUNTY: Wartburg’s Jonathan Dagley earned his first career win at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League event at Douglas Lake, the Morgan County News reports. Dagley caught a five-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 9 ounces to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League, presented by T-H Marine on Douglas Lake.

OBION COUNTY: Fire protection is getting more expensive for Obion County because the Union City Fire Department is raising its annual subscription fee for people who live just outside city limits. It’s a jump from $75 to $100 a year. It goes into effect the next renewal period Aug. 1.

OVERTON COUNTY: Livingston has a city election on June 4. Lori Elder Burnett, Nathan Carr, Nathan Dale and Robert Jolley are running for mayor. Four candidates are running for three aldermanic seats – Rex Dale, Jeramie Reeder, Lance Ruble Arno Proctor. Early voting is underway through May 30.

PERRY COUNTY: The University of Tennessee, in partnership with North Carolina State and Virginia Tech universities, is offering booths for its trade show at a the Aug. 1 Tri-state Beef Conference. The conference will focus on cow-calf and stocker operators. Booth registration costs $25 before July 19 and $30 after. Register online at knoxne.ws/tristatebeef.

PICKETT COUNTY: Pickett County recorded a 3.7% unemployment rate in March, a drop from 4.2% in February according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

POLK COUNTY: Polk County Schools announced its top of class, the Polk County News reports. Kaden Trew is the valedictorian and Catherine Speights is the salutatorian for Polk County High School. Madelynn Cribbs is the valedictorian and Jessie Baliles is the salutatorian for Copper Basin High School.

PUTNAM COUNTY: Cookeville High School ranked 83rd and Upperman High was 100th by U.S. News & World Report in Tennessee. There were 305 high schools ranked based on college readiness, state assessment proficiency and performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum and graduation rates.

RHEA COUNTY: Groups will offer “Trauma and the Addicted Mind Training” May 30 at the Rhea County Welcome Center, the Herald-news reports. Training will consist of learning why do people use, abuse and become addicted and how substance use impacts decision-making and self-control.

ROANE COUNTY: Environmental groups are welcoming federal rules that require the Tennesssee Valley Authority to clean up old coal ash dumps, the Claiborne Progress reports. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued new rules to force power plants to clean up lingering deposits of coal ash.

ROBERTSON COUNTY: Despite violent weather across Middle Tennessee, the 83rd annual Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival returned to downtown Portland with a jampacked schedule that included headliner Ultimate Garth Brooks Tribute, Strawberry Jam Concert and Fireworks and main festival day, the Tennessean reports.

RUTHERFORD COUNTY: The Murfreesboro City Council offered the next city manager job to Assistant City Manager Darren Gore, The Daily News Journal reports.

SCOTT COUNTY: Mcdonald’s of Oneida raised more than $5,000 for local schools with its Mcteacher’s Night events, the Independent Herald reports. Schools received a portion of the store’s proceeds on the nights teachers served as Mcdonald’s workers for a shift.

SEQUATCHIE COUNTY: The SETHRACASA World Championship Rodeo is set to take place in Dunlap on May 28. Tickets are now on sale starting at $15.

SEVIER COUNTY: The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has issued a director’s order against the East Sevier County Utility District over violations dating back to 2017, the Mountain Press reports. The order calls for the utility district to pay up to $20,480 in fines for multiple violations.

SHELBY COUNTY: The annual Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest kicked off May 15 at the Fairgrounds at Liberty Park with its ceremonial grill lighting, followed by the curiously entertaining sauce wrestling.

SMITH COUNTY: The Women in Ag Summit for women involved in agriculture will be held at 9 a.m.-3 p.m., May 30, at Bilbrey’s Crossing in Rickman, reports the Smith County Insider. The Upper Cumberland Extension Team is hosting the summit. Cost is $20. Lunch provided. Call 615-735-2900 to register.

STEWART COUNTY: The Cumberland City Council unanimously approved its 2024-2025 fiscal year budget in a first reading, including a rate increase in the city’s insurance policy along with water and sewer rate increases of 10% that are expected to take effect July 1, the Stewart County Standard reports.

SUMNER COUNTY: Sumner County sheriff’s officials recently set the record straight after information about a possible sighting of Sebastian Rogers, the missing teen at the center of a statewide Amber Alert, after a photograph circulated online out of North Carolina earlier this month, The Tennessean reports.

SULLIVAN COUNTY: The outdoor water park at Kingsport Aquatic Center is now open, the Times News reports. The outdoor water park will be open throughout the Summer until Sept. 2. Season passes are available for purchase and allows access to the indoor pools and outdoor water park during the summer season.

TIPTON COUNTY: The world’s oldest BBQ festival, the Covington BBQ Festival, celebrates 52 years on May 31-June 1 in Cobb Parr Park. There will be BBQ contests, vendors, a demolition derby and a truck and tractor pull. Admission for the demolition derby and the truck and tractor pull is $15.

TROUSDALE COUNTY: Dalton Malmin of Trousdale County High School was first in the Supply Chain Management division of the Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference. The school’s Devan Walford finished fourth in Securities & Investments and Jacob Wilson was fifth in Impromptu Speaking.

UNICOI COUNTY: The Erwin Chapter of FFA is offering a varied selection of flowers, ornamental plants, ferns and vegetable plants for sale, the Erwin Record reports. The greenhouse is open Monday-wednesday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

UNION COUNTY: The Tennessee Department of Education recognized Union County Schools’ 8th grade ELA teacher Heather Wallace as a peernominated spotlight in the Year of Tennessee Teachers program. Wallace was nominated by her peers for the passion and commitment she shows her students every day.

VAN BUREN COUNTY: The 2024 Basketball Shoutout Camp is open to girls and boys from first to sixth grade. The camp takes place from May 30-31st and costs $40 per person. It will take place at Van Buren High School’s gym.

WASHINGTON COUNTY: Knob Creek mill will be incorporated into Opry design, the Johnson City Press reports. The Boones Creek Historical Trust announced plans to use materials and features from the soon-tobe-dismantled Bashor-denney Mill and in the construction of its new barn at the Boones Creek Opry.

WAYNE COUNTY: The Collinwood American Legion Post 254 Honor Guard were welcomed to the Nashville Predators hockey playoff game in April at the Bridgestone Arena to present the colors and meet country music vocal group Little Big Town, which performed the national anthem, the Wayne County News reports.

WARREN COUNTY: The Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry received an $100,000 contribution to their Warren Worx project from the county commissioners, reports the Times Observer. The project hopes to develop a central brand for the county with the hope of uniting existing organizations.

WEAKLEY COUNTY: In observance of National Prevention Week May 12-18, efforts between the Weakley County Prevention Coalition and Weakley County Schools were in the spotlight. The coalition led the charge with innovative programs and initiatives to empower students and families to make healthy choices.

WHITE COUNTY: Practices begin May 27 for the White County YMCA youth volleyball camp. The camp is open to children ages 8-13, and the first game is set for June 8.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY: For its 20th year, the Williamson County Fair will debut a new website that connects users with ticket pricing and additional information. The fair runs from Aug. 2-10.

WILSON COUNTY: Green Hill High School’s Sarah Elgin finished first in the Business Law division of the Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference.