NASHVILLE — The Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN), managed by Battelle, supported the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Bicentennial Volunteers Inc. (BVI), a TVA retiree organization, in providing $1.5 in STEM classroom grants across the Tennessee Valley. STEM classroom grants are key catalysts in opening doors of opportunity by providing access to resources, enabling innovative teaching practices, and expanding STEM curricula. Teachers can implement cutting-edge teaching methods and technologies, fostering an environment that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning experiences. more

PARIS (December 18) — On Monday, Henry County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway announced TDOT has given the county the green light on the five-lane expansion of HWY 614 from the state line to Puryear. He said the five-lane has been approved and is in the 10-year plan for Henry County. “Everyone knows how hard we worked for this and now we’re finally on the way,” he said. more

On Wednesday, December 28, 2023, former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis and Carroll County native was announced as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024. more

January Deep Freeze Closed 2022 Year Some Tennessee residents received the white Christmas they had in their letters to Santa. Freezing temperatures along with snow and ice put a damper on the holiday as TVA and local electric municipalities participated in scheduling rolling blackouts. Carroll County was to be included but the blackouts were short lived in the county. more

The Carroll County Commission meets Monday, January 8 with the following items on the agenda: more

NASHVILLE — As 2023 turns into 2024, some new laws will take effect in Tennessee at the start of the new year. New laws such as the gun safety course law, Abrial’s Law and more will take effect on Jan. 1. Some of the new laws include: more

CEDAR GROVE (December 25) — An early morning fire at the Dollar General in Cedar Grove, Highway 70, destroyed the business on Christmas morning. more

I quit doing New Year Resolutions after I incorrectly predicted in 1958, 1959, and 1960 that the old rickety, run-down, falling in, dilapidated, ramshackle bridge across the Middle Fork of the Obion River just north of Gleason would fall into the muddy water before the first December snow. more

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Brenda Lee being #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and naturally, after I wrote it I got to thinking about her recording career. I Googled a few songs to see who wrote what and then noticed that Owen Bradley was her main producer once upon a time. That then led to another rabbit hole where I started reading about Bradley and the Nashville Sound. So for the next couple of weeks, and yes, that means I’m going to drag the readers down the rabbit hole on various tangents about country music. I hope you enjoy and fasten your seatbelts because it might get a little bumpy. more

My journey continues in the news business, despite the speculation that I retired. Yes, it is true, I sold the newspaper and printing business to my daughter, Brittany and her husband, Jason R. Martin. That was October 1, 2023. They operate the only home-owned media company in Carroll County. I continue as the news editor and publisher emeritus. more

Time keeps marching on. As we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, there’s a palpable sense of anticipation in the air. The ticking clock symbolizes not just the passage of time but the chance for a fresh start, a canvas waiting to be painted with the vibrant hues of new adventures and new memories. more

McKENZIE — Willie Huffman is retiring after a three-year stint as the president of Tennessee College of Applied Technology at both McKenzie and Paris. His retirement is April 30, 2024. more

NASHVILLE (Dec. 20, 2023) — Three finalists have been selected for the next president of Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Henry/Carroll. All three will participate in public interviews on the campus in Paris, TN, on Jan. 9, 2024, the next step in the selection process. more

McKENZIE/Henry County (December 21) — Kansas-based steel fabricator to invest $6.5 million in Northwest Tennessee, create nearly 20 new jobs in McKenzie. more

HUNTINGDON (December 22) — The Carroll County Emergency Communications District met Friday, December 22 with Jeff Eakes, Senior Architect with A2H Engineers, Architects, and Planners to review a contract for engineering services to construct a new district headquarters on Dillahunty Lane, Huntingdon. more

McKENZIE (December 19) — Fans at the McKenzie-Milan prep basketball game on Tuesday, December 19 at the McKenzie High School Gymnasium, witnessed history when Savannah Davis, a McKenzie senior and Middle Tennessee State University signee, set a new state scoring record for the number of 3-point goals in a single game while she also matched the MHS high-scoring record for a single game. more

McKENZIE (December 21) — Approximately 25 children in the McKenzie community will have a merry Christmas, thanks to the efforts of the McKenzie Police Department and McKenzie Fire/Rescue Department. more

NASHVILLE (December 20) — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter recently approved $36.6 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), which will assist communities with infrastructure improvements, housing rehabilitations and health and safety initiatives. more

GLEASON (December 22) — After 50 years of service with the Bank of Gleason, Martha Arnold will step aside as president and serve in a consulting role. December 31, 2023, will be her last day as president and Preston Frazier will move into the role. Martha has served in this role since 2011, when at that time she became the first female President of the Bank of Gleason. more

MAYFIELD (December 18) — After 24 years, the remains of a man found in Lake Barkley have been identified as Roger Dale Parham, a fugitive wanted for rape in Arkansas. In May 1999, fishermen on Kentucky Lake dredged a man’s remains. According to officials with the Kentucky State Police, the body was “wrapped in heavy tire chains and anchored with a hydraulic jack.” more