News | The Mckenzie Banner

LOOKING SOUTH — A drone photograph taken southward shows roadwork on the first leg of the U.S. Hwy 79 (S.R. 76) widening project. The 4.8 mile stretch of roadway starts at Cades-Atwood Road in Gibson County and runs to the east of State Route 77 in Carroll County is scheduled to be completed in May of 2025.

First Leg of U.S. 79 Widening Project Progressing

The first leg of the U.S. Hwy 79 (S.R. 76) road widening project is progressing, said Nichole Lawrence, Tennessee Department of Transportation Community Relations Officer. more

By Victor Parkins
(Milan) Mirror-Exchange | 11/29/22

Seth Fields with his World Championship Duck Calling Trophy following his victory in Arkansas.

Local Wins World Duck Calling Competition

STUTTGART, Arkansas (November 26) — Huntingdon High School and Bethel University alumnus Seth Fields won the World Duck Calling Competition Saturday afternoon. more

By Jason Martin
jmartin@mckenziebanner.com | 11/29/22

McKenzie Rebels Headed to Championship Friday

McKenzie Rebels, 14-0, punched their ticket to the championship game after a resounding defeat of Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering in the semi-final contest on Friday, November 25. After earning a two-point victory one week earlier against Fayetteville, the 34-0 victory over MASE seemed as a cake walk to the Rebels. more

By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com | 11/29/22

Representative Curtis Halford (right) addresses members of the Carroll County Commission following the presentation of a plaque and proclamation from County Mayor Joseph Butler (left).

Carroll County Civic Center to Hire New Manager

HUNTINGDON (November 14) — On Monday’s meeting of the Carroll County Commission, members of the Civic Center Board learned of the resignation of the center’s current manager, Ben Canovan, at the end of the year. more

By Jason Martin
jmartin@mckenziebanner.com | 11/22/22

Lee Lawrence, principal at Gleason Schools, presented a plaque honoring Edgar Floyd for a 37-year teaching career. The Agriculture Shop at the school is now named in Floyd’s honor. Floyd’s family joined in the celebration.

Edgar Floyd Honored for 37-Year Teaching Career

GLEASON (November 17) — Edgar Floyd was honored Thursday, November 17 for 37 years of teaching agriculture at Gleason School. more

11/22/22

A rural Weakley County home on Blooming Grove Road-South was destroyed Sunday.

Weakley County Home Destroyed by Fire

McKENZIE (November 20) — A rural McKenzie home was destroyed by fire on Sunday, November 20. more

11/22/22

Huntingdon Hosts Veterans Day Program

HUNTINGDON (November 11) — Huntingdon High School held its annual Veterans Day program in the high school library because of audio issues in the gym. more

By Jim Potts
jpotts@mckenziebanner.com | 11/15/22

Bottom Row: Mark Schultz, Jacquelyn Padilla, Skyelor DeLoach, Brett Toombs, Taniyah Diggs, Carlton Townes, Olivia Lane and Gracie Aird. Top Row: Allie Mansfield, Payton Ognibene, Lilly Sumrok, Tate Surber and Ally Rayburn. The featured speaker, Cheryl Mosley stands in the middle of the students.

McKenzie High Hosts Annual Veterans Day Program

McKENZIE (November 11) — Continuing a long-standing tradition, McKenzie High School hosted area veterans and presented a program to honor their service to America. The 10 a.m. ceremony on Veterans Day is conducted annually by the Student Government Association and features student presenters, the MHS Band and a featured speaker who served in the military. more

11/15/22

Petals Azola Now Open

McKENZIE (November 11) — McKenzie’s newest florist, Petals Azola, owned by Angela Diller, held a ribbon cutting Friday. more

11/15/22

Brock Martin Wins State Representative District 79

HUNTINGDON (November 11) — On Tuesday, Dr. Brock Martin (R), won in the general election to serve in the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 79. Dr. Martin easily defeated the Democratic challenger Thomas Jefferson by taking in over 81% of the vote. He is replacing retired representative Curtis Halford. more

By Jason Martin
jmartin@mckenziebanner.com | 11/15/22

Mayor-Elect Ryan Griffin Outlines Goals for McKenzie

McKENZIE — Mayor-elect Ryan Griffin is eager to move McKenzie forward with an emphasis on consistent branding, downtown historic murals, improved recreation parks, additional street paving and improved relations with Bethel University. more

By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com | 11/15/22

Colonel Harding and his wife, Barbara stand under the new sign in honor of the colonel.

Huntingdon Highway Bypass Named in Honor of Colonel James C. Harding

HUNTINGDON (November 11) — Veterans Day, an appropriate day to unveil the sign along a portion of Veterans Drive in Huntingdon named in honor of retired Air Force Colonel James C. Harding of Huntingdon. more

By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com | 11/15/22

Pictured (L to R): John Sanders begins his 25th year, Kelly Eubanks begins her second 4-year term, Will Atkins begins his first full term after being appointed to Tim Tucker’s unexpired term, and Andrew Maddox begins his second 4-year term. Not pictured is Lori Nolen, who will take the oath soon to begin her first full four-year term. She is filling the unexpired term of Nina Smothers, who is now mayor following the death of Mayor Dale Kelley.

Huntingdon Council Administered Oath of Office

HUNTINGDON (November 14) — Recently elected members of the Huntingdon Town Council were administered the oath of office by City Judge Marsha Johns on Monday at 10 a.m. at City Hall. more

11/15/22

West Carroll School Board Renews Director’s Contract

ATWOOD — West Carroll’s School Board met in regular session on Thursday, November 3 in the cafeteria of the Jr. High/Sr. High School. more

By Jim Potts
jpotts@mckenziebanner.com | 11/8/22

Miss Bethel University 2021 Gracelyn Eaves.

Miss Bethel, Miss Carroll County Pageants Held on November 19

McKENZIE — Bethel University is hosting the annual Miss Bethel University Volunteer and the Miss Carroll County Volunteer pageant on November 19, at 6 p.m. in the Dickey Fine Arts Building on Bethel’s campus. This combined pageant acts as a preliminary for the Miss Tennessee Volunteer Scholarship pageant held each July in Jackson. Deadline for application is Tuesday, November 15. more

11/8/22

Jackson Cassidy Nominated for Mr. Football

NASHVILLE — For the second year in a row, a McKenzie Rebel has been nominated for Class A’s Mr. Football Award. Last year, it was junior running back Marquez Taylor and this year it is senior quarterback Jackson Cassidy. more

11/8/22

Ronnie Cooper Construction razed the Polar Bar building. Tim Sullivan operated the excavator that destroyed the building in just minutes.

Iconic Polar Bar Razed After 65-Year History

McKENZIE (November 2022) — The Polar Bar! Ask anyone who resided in McKenzie in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, and you will hear a favorite memory of the burger and ice cream shop. It was the hangout for high school students in the late 1950s and 60s before the chain restaurants and fast food restaurants. It was the place to get a whopper burger, fries, and ice cream and shakes. more

By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com | 11/8/22

Monica Heath, executive director of the McKenzie Industrial Board, and Jonathan Gaskins, paramedic with Baptist Ambulance Service, inside the totally renovated ambulance headquarters in McKenzie. The Industrial Board owns the building and recently expanded and renovated the facility.

Ambulance Service Headquarters Renovated by Industrial Board

McKENZIE (October 27) — Hospital Drive in McKenzie no longer includes a hospital, but there are still medical facilities, a new high-tech company, and a newly renovated headquarters for Carroll County Emergency Medical Services (EMS). more

By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com | 11/1/22

Celebrating the new signage are city and university representatives — Jennifer Waldrup, Caleb Burns, Monica Heath, Garrett Burns, Kimberly Martin, Mayor Jill Holland, Bethel President Walter Butler, Bobby Young, Josafina Batton and Anne Hames. Waldrup, Heath, G. Burns, Holland, Young and Batton represented the city, and C. Burns and G. Burns, Martin, Butler and Hames represented Bethel.

Bethel University, City Sign Erected

McKENZIE — A new welcome sign was erected last week in a partnership with the City of McKenzie and Bethel University. more

11/1/22

Twin Oaks Buildings Hosts Grand Opening

McKENZIE — Twin Oaks Buildings in McKenzie hosted a grand opening of the new business on Thursday, October 27 at 25335 Highway 22, across from Haven Steel, in the Henry County portion of McKenzie. more

11/1/22