Latest Good News

Letter From the Editor: A Breath of Fresh Air
NOTHING EXCITES me more than the idea of autumn. The trees are beautiful and never fail to take your breath away and then give it back to you. The perfect Saturday is a cool breeze coming in from...

In Other News
Refreshing Lemonade Stand Serves Double Purpose for Foster Care Fundraising Visitors and staff at Franklin County Courthouse enjoyed a refreshing lemonade stand that served a dual purpose: to raise...

Recipes: Fall Brings Sweet Treats and Savory Favorites
AUTUMN BRINGS a bounty of delicious foods to enjoy as the weather cools down. From sweet to savory, there are plenty of flavors to savor during the fall season. Nothing quite beats a warm apple...

Barbecue Contest and Craft Fair Highlight High on the Hog Festival
WHEN THE summer weather rolls into Franklin County, it brings with it the annual High on the Hog festival. This year was the 36th year that our Kiwanis Club hosted this celebration to raise money...

Letter From the Editor: Chasing Dreams, Creating Legends
OUR HOMETOWN sports is not simply a spectacle of athletic prowess; it is a celebration of the human spirit — an embodiment of the unwavering bond that emerges when we come together to support our...

Dotson’s Produce and Greenhouse – Explore the Picturesque Hanging Flower Baskets That Brighten up the Market.
DOTSON’S PRODUCE and Greenhouse has been a part of this community for a long time. So long, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when it put down roots in Franklin County. “A few years ago, the paper did a...

How Kelly Master Built a Thriving Salon Business
"BE THE person you’d want to see if you were looking through someone else’s eyes,” said Kelly Master, the local entrepreneurial inspiration who owns Hair Candy and Simply Be Youtiful. Hair Candy is...

Navigate Your Way to Adventure – TimsFord411 Is Your Insider’s Guide.
EVERYONE IN Franklin County loves our area for different reasons. Some people love the opportunities to get involved with their neighbors, some enjoy the beautiful places that bring us outdoors, and...

“In Other News”
Artisan Depot becomes pollinator garden MAYOR MARK Ledbetter announced that the Artisan Depot Gallery’s pollinator garden, featuring Karen Ingle’s mural, is now a certified Monarch Way Station....

Recipes: Touchdown Favorites
IT’S THAT time of year again when friends gather, jerseys are donned, and anticipation fills the air. Whether you’re an avid sports fan or simply enjoy the camaraderie, there’s one thing that can...

Letter From the Editor: Savoring the Summer Delights
AS THE sun casts its golden glow upon our world, we find ourselves awakening to the delights of summer – the vibrant colors, the warm breezes, and the echoes of laughter and togetherness. With the...

Food Truck Fridays Event Is Back on the Scene.
AS THE workweek ends in Franklin County, residents eagerly anticipate Food Truck Fridays, a beloved culinary event that unites the community. This weekly extravaganza, which features a rotating...

Joy Stovall Dominates the Gymnastics Scene All Over the U.S.
BORN IN Chicago, Joy Stovall grew up about 90 miles northwest of Rockford, Illinois. There, she discovered her love for springboard diving and found herself competing at just 5 years old. At age 10,...

Uncovering the Hidden Gems in Our Community and Embracing a Brand-New Culinary Experience.
FRANKLIN COUNTY has long been known for its natural beauty and Southern charm, from the rolling hills to the picturesque lakes. But in recent years, there’s been a surge of new restaurants quickly...

Local Businesses Thrive at Franklin County’s Inclusive Networking Event.
FRANKLIN COUNTY has become a hub for community engagement and business growth. One event that continues to significantly impact the local scene is the 5 O'Dock Somewhere social networking event....

Recipes: Fresh From the Farmers Market
AS THE lazy days of summer drift into the warm embrace of August, our taste buds welcome the vibrant flavors offered by nature. The richness of the harvest season arrives as farmers markets brim...

Faith: Discovering Your Unique Purpose Through the Lens of Faith
AS A member of a group of people that only make up about 14% of the country’s population, and as a woman, I have faced unique challenges and experiences that have shaped my identity and journey of...

Faith: The Power of Perspective
WE SAW the sky but little else through the window in the room where we sat. The gray and white clouds marched briskly by as blues and grays traded places. She was convinced the clouds would...

Recipes: Savor Summer’s Easy Living
AS SUMMER heats up, so do our grills and smokers, giving our kitchens a well-deserved break. Casual worknight dinners, weekend celebrations, and holiday parties bring together families for good food...

Letter From the Editor: The Future Is Bright
WHEN I think of the next generation, I feel excitement. I want this issue of Good News to be a joyous celebration of the young adults who will be the leaders of tomorrow, carrying the torch of...

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Prepares for the 21st Annual Youth Leadership Program.
THE FRANKLIN County Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for this year’s annual junior leadership program. The adult program is in its 26th year, and the youth program is in its 21st year. The program...

Mountain View Strives to Create a Successful Workplace Through Core Values and Employee Growth.
IF YOU ask Norman Eicher what makes his family-owned company different, he’ll tell you it’s simple: Mountain View is driven by its people and values. According to their shared purpose statement, the...

Brent and Lisa Poole – Retired Firefighter and Wife Establish Residential Childcare.
WHEN BRENT and Lisa Poole set out to find a place to call “home,” they knew they wanted a place where they could share in the community’s journey. Brent, originally from the vibrant state of...

The Sound Event at First Baptist Church in Estill Springs
THE SOUND of music fills the air as the audience closes their eyes and lifts their hands, lost in the moment. Christian music concerts offer an unparalleled experience that touches the soul and...

Letter From The Editor – Your Local Summer Guide
THE AIR is thick and heavy, like a woolen blanket draped over the landscape. The sun blazes down, casting a golden glow over the world below. The grass is tall and green, swaying in the breeze like...

Foster Grandparent Program Sends Seniors Back to School.
AH, RETIREMENT! We dream about it, save for it, and imagine how we’ll fill our days. While many seniors and retirees find countless ways to spend their time, others discover extra time on their...

Recipes: Flavor the Day With Backyard Grilling.
THE BREEZE carries a hickory-smoked aroma from the nearby grill throughout the backyard as the family laughs and catches up in the early summer sunshine. It’s Dad’s day, but any excuse to get...

Faith: “I Got You, Girl.”
IT IS the best of times; it is (sometimes) the worst of times. I have three children, ages 16, 12, and 5. It’s not lost on me how fast they grow. Now, with a child who is nearing 18, it really does...

Coordinator Pippa Browne Discusses Upcoming Events at the Artisan Depot.
ART INVITES us into a space of creativity, purpose, self-expression, and fulfillment. Step into a world of originality, wonder, and diversity at the Franklin County Arts Guild’s exhibition space,...

Sunset Boat Tours and Tims Ford State Park Activities Heat up for Summer.
THE DESIRE to connect with nature remains strong amidst a world dominated by technology. Visitors flock to Tims Ford State Park in search of a unique outdoor experience full of rich history and...

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Is Gearing Up for This Year’s Annual Poker Run on the Lake.
IT IS that time of the year again when the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and hundreds of community members prepare for another Poker Run event on Tims Ford Lake, scheduled for June 10....

Recipes – Nothing Tastes Like Mama’s Cooking.
EVER CATCH the aroma of a memory? You know the one — your mama’s Sunday pot roast, fried onions and potatoes, chocolate chip cookies, or cinnamon rolls? We do our best to recreate them for our...

Letter From the Editor – The Impact of ‘Shop Local’
THE ECONOMIC Policy Institute reports that for every dollar spent at a locally owned business, 68 cents of it stays in the local economy. Compare this to 32 cents staying in a local community when...

Faith – Dare to Finish the Race
STAR OLYMPIAN Usain Bolt is known as the fastest man in the world, and his reputation was cemented when he won the gold medal in the 100-meter race at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London...

Lynch-Rigsby’s Expert Agents Offer Insights and Advice to Help With All Your Real Estate Needs.
LYNCH-RIGSBY REALTY & Auction is not just any ordinary real estate company. It’s a team of seasoned experts who strive to make their clients’ real estate journey successful from beginning to...

The Franklin County Farmers Market Gears up for the Summer
Farmers markets are a place where community, food, and culture unite. They offer a unique experience that transports you from the hustle and bustle of daily life to a place where time moves slower,...

Marketplace Consignment’s 29th Annual Pop-up Sale
YOU CAN find pop-up consignment sales everywhere, but sales that double as community builders are hard to come by. Gina Moore’s 29th annual spring/summer pop-up shop was held March 4-11 at Monterey...

Life With Autism Spectrum Disorder Is Beautifully Different.
Sometimes life just isn’t what it seems. There are situations where we view each other through the fishbowl of life. We watch from outside, sure of what we’re seeing. Meanwhile, inside, life is its...

Letter From the Editor – Education in Bloom
I THINK OF education the same way I think of the spring season. In that time of year, out of season and lifeless-looking trees begin to bloom and become like new. The new nutrients, new water, and...

Dan Williams Is on the Hunt for the “Unknown Soldier” in Franklin County.
DAN WILLIAMS found a photo of an unknown soldier while walking past Glenn Grant’s picture frame shop in Winchester. Grant was retiring at the time, and Williams stepped inside to congratulate him on...

How Coach Kermit Reed Makes a Difference at Huntland Schools by Demonstrating Loyalty and Longevity.
HUNTLAND HIGH School’s head football coach, Kermit Reed, has demonstrated a remarkable ability to create togetherness for the Huntland Hornets through longevity, improving, and rebuilding Huntland’s...

4-H Extension Agent Hunter Isbell Discusses the Importance of the 4-H Youth Program.
IF YOU ask a parent how important their child’s academic, physical, mental, and emotional development is, they would probably reply, “extremely important.” You would then direct them to a program...

Faith – When It’s Hard to See
WE FEEL the most comfortable when we know where we’re going. Knowing our destination, all the familiar landmarks along the way, and where we’ll settle in once we’ve arrived gives us a sense of...

The Rain Teen Center Provides a Place of Support to the Community’s Youth.
IN THE story “The Star Thrower” by Loren Eiseley, a man approaches a boy throwing starfish back into the ocean. The boy is in a hurry but is taking care of putting them back into the ocean. The man...

After-School Snack Time Issues Are Solved With These Delicious and Nutritious Recipes.
KIDS ARE barreling through the door after school, complaining that they are starving! It’s the age-old gripe of children, no matter how old. We all know that kiddos often get hungry between meals....

National Library Week Is on the Way: April 23-29
MEMORIES OF books, card catalogs, and hushing librarians come to mind when we recall the libraries of our childhood. We can almost smell that perfect mixture of paper, dust, and nostalgia. Those...

Letter From the Editor – The women of Franklin County
THE TEST of history has proven that women have been foundational, like a sturdy rock that can withstand a storm. They overcame obstacles century after century, constantly adapting to the needs of...

Women of Franklin
JUST OVER 100 years ago, women finally received what other Americans, but not all, already had — the right to vote. Now, we have the opportunity to lift up and celebrate the groundbreaking women...

Faith – Carrying the torch for Mimi
IT’S THE curse of getting older — you know — being told that we are acting like our parents by taking on their traits, actions, and beliefs. And it’s true. Now, at 39, I find it happening to me,...

Mackenzie Caldwell Makes History at the Winchester Fire Department.
AT ONLY 20 years old, Mackenzie Caldwell has made Winchester history as the first full-time female firefighter at the Winchester Fire Department. While she’s incredibly humble about the...

Brittney Graves – “Do Your Best” Echoes Throughout the Halls of Clark Memorial
THE SCHOOL motto, “Do your best,” not only echoes throughout the festive halls and colorfully decorated classrooms of Clark Memorial in Winchester, but it’s also demonstrated by one of their newest...

Katie Sherman – Local Pork Producer Credits Success to Her Village of Women
AS A highly dedicated wife, mother, and beloved co-worker, Katie Sherman is a woman who deserves to be recognized. When Sherman began working for one of the country’s top 25 pork producers, Tosh...

Recipes – Spread the love
MARCH 1 is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day — a day to celebrate the rich, gooey goodness of a pantry staple. What better way to start the day than with a batch of special pancakes? Then, keep up...

“Beauties in Business” – Local Networking Organization Branches Into Neighboring Counties
ACROSS THE area, women meet each month to lift each other, support each other, share ideas, and give advice. With gatherings now taking place in Winchester, Tullahoma, and Manchester, the meetings...

From the heart
IMAGINE LIFE is a car, and our goal is to make it from one side of the country to the other. The only way to do that is by having a full tank of gas. What is the gas in our lives, as humans, that...

Recipes – Surprise and Delight Your Loved One With Valentine’s Day Treats.
ROSES ARE red, violets are blue, treat your loved one to a treat that is made by you! Whether you’re celebrating the beginnings of a new relationship, or spending the day with your longtime...

Faith – Leave them better than you found them.
I DON’T KNOW a stranger. Call it a hazard of my job as a writer, but I genuinely enjoy meeting people, and it is even better if I can turn them into friends. There’s a great quote by Maya Angelou...

Lisa Crabtree – Longtime Teacher Accepts a New Position at Huntland School.
THIS QUOTE from the late and legendary women’s basketball coach, Pat Summitt, speaks about how one should approach a new situation or challenge. You must have the right attitude and belief in...

Kent Turner finds joy in serving others.
ALTRUISM IS the unselfish concern for other people—doing things simply out of a desire to help, not because of obligation, but because it is just who they are. It is how they operate and what brings...

New Life TN brings life to residents
NEW LIFE is creating a healthy quality of life for individuals in Franklin County. Since 1979, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit has worked to bring awareness, change, and hope to individuals with mental and...

Father-Daughter Dance Offers a Night of Fun and Celebration.
Daughters, nieces, and granddaughters enjoy an evening with their favorite men in their life for the annual Father-Daughter Dance. Hosted by the United Way of Franklin County, the event will take...

History over and over again
I AM IN the middle of my third decade of life, and within the last two years, I’ve discovered something I always ignored: music from the midcentury. Life does not seem to be slowing down. Our...

A Nostalgic Look Back at Our Community
OUR COMMUNITY has a rich history. Businesses, people, and locations have created the foundation of who we are today. Each decade is a building block to our identity, creating a beautiful masterpiece...

Palliative Care and Hospice Put More Life Into Last Days When Started as Early as Possible.
TWO WORDS strike fear and dread in our hearts. Cancer is number two. While number one is associated with it, it is no longer exclusive to it. Any number of conditions can lead to a call for it; the...

Faith – ‘Just as you are’
FOR OVER 30 years, children’s television host Mister Rogers came into the homes of millions via our television sets and told each of us one of the most important things a person could say to us. “I...

Watson-North Funeral Home joins the Life Celebration Community
AFTER YEARS of partnership and friendships, Moore-Cortner Funeral Home and Watson- North Funeral Home are joining together to serve the Winchester community and provide the best grieving and healing...

Christine Hopkins Sees the Good in Everyone.
THERE MIGHT not be a better person in your corner than Christine Hopkins. She is hope encased in human form and is determined to leave each person she encounters better than when she found them. Her...

Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller Strives for a Legacy of Truth.
THEY SAY honesty is the best policy. For Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller, it is the bottom line and at the core of his beliefs as a lawman, father, and human. Fuller was recently elected for his...

The Oldham Theater Offers the Magical Movie Experience of Long Ago.
THE MOVIE theater can be a magical place. One of my fondest cinematic memories is being 8 years old and going to see the Rocketeer in 1991. The theater was packed with no seats left, and my sister...

Townsend Drum Corps Made a Name for Themselves by Being Themselves.
THE 1960S was a decade filled with transition and turbulent times. Overseas, the Vietnam War was raging. War protests were taking place across the country. Martin Luther King Jr. led peaceful...

Artisan Depot Celebrates Craft Week With a Month Full of Creative Workshops.
CELEBRATING THE community and all things art was the Artisan Depot. The Depot held a month-long series of workshops to bring out the creativity in everyone from the novice to the master. The series...

Tis the season
ALL I want for Christmas iiiiiiis…yoooooOOooooOOoouuuUUUuuu.” Can you hear it already? It’s that time of year once again. A time of year when a heated blanket feels like a hug. Every inch of the...

The phase of change
THE MOON goes through several different phases... eight to be exact. During the new moon phase, it’s almost completely dark due to the illuminated side facing away from Earth. During the full moon,...

Testing the limits
THEY SAY you can take the man out of the small town, but you can’t take the small town out of the man. This would seem to be the case for Franklin County native Eric Taylor. In 2001, Taylor...

A chorus of community
WHAT DO you get when you bring a group of Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Nazarenes, and Mennonites together to sing? A breathtaking group of voices singing songs of inspiration for all to...

A kickoff to Christmas
IT’S AN annual event that’s circled on calendars. Plans are put on hold or moved to another day. Phone calls are made for carpool arrangements, and getting a good seat is of the utmost importance....

Go straight to the best
TAKE A deep breath and smell the aroma of lunch cooking in the kitchen. It was a very important meal. Jesus and the 12 stopped in to visit the home of Martha and Mary, in Bethany. Through the...

Life’s short; eat dessert
WE DUST off the artificial pumpkin decorations and pull orange and purple wreaths from storage. We pull out rakes and sweaters as the weather drops like the leaves do. The weather feels therapeutic...

Thrive Youth Conference
YOUTH AMBASSADOR for the Franklin County Prevention Coalition Jadon Vanzant earned bragging rights this summer. Vanzant, a grad student at Middle Tennessee State University, working toward a degree...

Let’s Make a Note
SEWING, CRAFTING, learning to play a musical instrument, voice lessons, art, painting… whatever your passion — you can find it at Let’s Make a Note Music, Art, and Enrichment Center in Winchester....

Finding hope at HorsePlay
AS A toddler, 7-year-old Hope Smith babbled like others her age, then, on the autism spectrum disorder, and became non-verbal. When Hope and her adopted sister Allie, who has cerebral palsy, began...

What’s in your truck?
IN AUGUST OF 2020, when local elections were in full swing, a local business owner called Franklin County Mayor David Alexander to see if he could set up a food truck in the parking lot while people...

Walking the Walk & Talking the Talk
THE FAMOUSLY KIND and good-hearted television host, Mister Rogers, often spoke about the importance of helping each other. For over 30 decades he came into our homes each day through his show...

Someone Has Your Back
WHEN THE SMELL of warm caramel coffee lingers in the air of your vehicle on the way to work, you don’t have to think about watching your back. While not every driver on the road is aware of their...

Literacy along the lake
RECENTLY UNVEILING a unique reading experience for children and readers of all ages was the Franklin County Library with their latest project, the Stand Tall Trail Tale, that opened to the public in...

Love, you are not alone
ON A rainy Wednesday in August, over 200 people packed into the quaint Christ Church in Monteagle. They sat shoulder to shoulder in pews and stood elbow to elbow alongside the walls. Each was there...

Helping students of Franklin County
FOR THE past 23 years, Chris Hawkersmith has been working tirelessly to help his students be the best that they can be, both mentally and physically. Now he is getting the opportunity to continue...

A roundtable of knowledge
ONCE A month Franklin County’s industries, manufacturers, and local educators come together to observe how they help each other, learn more about each other, and assist each other in the continued...

Remembering Mollie and Abbie
EACH YEAR, the Franklin County community comes together for a weekend of fun, playing softball while raising money for local athletes and remembering two of their own. Their gathering is for the...

Urgent in Caring
EACH MONDAY, Heather Jolley gets her two children ready for school and drops them off. She makes sure to tell them she loves them and how proud she is of each of them. A kiss for her husband, David,...

Lettuce Shop!
THE SUN shines bright, encouraging all that it touches to get moving and start the day. It’s a nice morning, for the middle of August. The cooler air is a reminder that summer is on its way out, and...

With care and appreciation
WHEN TRAGEDY and hardship strike, we want to help. We demonstrate our love and care in various ways, but feeding those hit hard meets a basic need and fuels them to manage their situations. Few...

Choreographing success
FRIDAY NIGHT football is composed of many layers. It’s a quilt of school colors, students, players, coaches, band members, and more. But cheerleaders are the thread binding it all and creating...

Franklin County receives Best for All funding
THE FRANKLIN County School District was recently recognized by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) in the Best for All Districts for strategic spending on student achievement. Franklin...

Tennessee Valley Authority invests in Franklin County’s workforce
TENNESSEE VALLEY Authority (TVA) Economic Development is investing in Franklin County and its workforce. Recently, TVA Economic Development created Workforce Invest, a grant-matching program, to...

Game Day Party Recipes
THE ELECTRIFYING atmosphere under Friday night lights is majorly fueled by loyal fans scattered across stadium seats. Young children with painted faces, parents with cushioned seats, and...

Downtown Winchester looks to grow with new director
THE CITY of Winchester recently welcomed Liz Ausdenmoore as the executive director for the Winchester Downtown Program (WDTP). Ausdenmoore is no stranger to Winchester, having been a frequent...

Mainstreet gets a makeover
BIG CHANGES are coming to the city of Decherd. The city was among 10 communities recently chosen to participate in the Tennessee Downtowns program. Other communities chosen included Alexandria,...

A ‘Humbling’ Honor
HUNTLAND HIGH School senior Ashtyn Danley was recently named the 2021-22 Gatorade Tennessee Softball Player of the Year. In addition to the honor, Danley is also the first to be chosen from Huntland...

It’s Good To Be Back!
It’s finally here! Although the outside temperature argues for summer, your school spirit knows it’s fall. Tonight you’ve chosen shorts and flip-flops, but soon it will be flannel shirts, pants, and...

Carrying the Torch Back
VROOM, VROOM. He raced forward without thinking of his surroundings, not into oncoming traffic but into the view of the Tennessee/LSU game. A quick swat on his young behind sent him driving away...

Enjoy a night of music under the stars
SUMMERTIME IS the perfect time for many things. Barbecuing, swimming, fireworks, ice cream, just to name a few. It’s also the perfect time for outdoor music. Grabbing a couple of chairs or a blanket...

Classrooms made of steel
THE CLASSROOM is like railroad tracks. Hard workers spent years, decades—centuries even—laying the groundwork for the trains to run smoothly from coast to coast. They’re strong. And they last for...

Prepping for Back to School
IT MIGHT be one of the most exciting yet stressful times of the year, rivaling that of Christmas. It requires preparation, planning, logistics, time, and money. I’m almost sure there are military...

But, God
WITH THE first cup of steaming coffee in my hand and the stiffness still in my joints, I gently ease into my spot on the couch. A fresh, new day offers a blank page, although the to-do list in my...

Classroom Approved
THE WORDS “back to school” can stir up many different emotions. Some young parents hear “school” and are instantly filled with dread and anxiety. Leaving their wide eyed babes for the first time can...

So much more than teaching
DEFINING THE meaning of teacher requires more than Merriam-Webster; it takes a deeper look and a second glance. More than a job with a summer-long vacation, teachers are motivated by their love for...

Like a rock tossed into the water
SURROUNDED BY a sea of classmates, a student filled with potential may feel invisible or wish he could disappear. Another student’s highest aim might be to coast through school until graduation. One...

Welcome to the farm
JUST OFF the winding asphalt of Lynchburg Road in the Broadview community, sits the picturesque scene of the quaint and friendly farm, Morris Acres, where the sounds of children laughing and sheep...

Embrace the Flora and Fauna
INVITING NATURE lovers of all ages and types is the quaint and friendly Meadow Trail at the South Cumberland State Park. Conveniently located at the park’s welcome and information center, just off...

From Student to Principal
CONFETTI, APPLAUSE, and the cheers of hundreds of students were heard when Megan Geer was named principal for Decherd Elementary. The unveiling of her new position took place the morning before the...

Turning the wheel of progress
KELLI RILEY is a busy person. Whether it is bringing new industry to Franklin County as the director for the Industrial Development Board, coordinating with the high schools to facilitate a smooth...

Signing on to a bright future
FRANKLIN COUNTY High School (FCHS) is sending a group of student athletes off to what they hope will be both a successful collegiate and athletic experience. Eight students of the high school were...

A mountain alive with music
The sounds of Sondheim, Strauss, Adams, Rimsky-Korsakov, and more could be heard among the trees, wildlife, and Gothic architecture of the University of the South for the 65th Annual Sewanee Summer...

The Sound of Trumpets
IF YOU took a snapshot of any 10 years in our country’s history, there is a hurt we were trying to heal. The same is true today. It’s our independence that lets us correct that, to heal, and to...

More than fireworks & cookouts
Here are fun facts to challenge your players: DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: John Hancock’s was the first and only one on July Fourth. The remaining signatures were added over time,...

The Dream Maker
WHEN VIKTOR Makela arrived in America from Finland, the Statue of Liberty welcomed him. He brought more than a few material possessions with him; he arrived with a heart filled with dreams. Makela...

Food, Fireworks & Fun
WE WELCOME a summer celebration more than ever, and Independence Day is the perfect time to gather for food, fun, fireworks, and flag-waving. There’s an event near you, so there’s no excuse for...

On the grill: cooking up the good stuff
HMMM AAAHH. It smells like the weekend. Those grilled pineapple burgers will be lip-smacking, mouthwatering, and juicy down to the last bite. However, what lies on the grill is much more than your...

Freedom of fire
WHEN I was a young buck, I decided if there was a rule, I was going to break it. There have been many distinct times in my life when I have felt suffocated by others’ control, expectations, or...

Educating students about realities of alcohol
Franklin County High School (FCHS) recently held a mock prom disaster in the school’s parking lot. The event was scheduled before events such as prom and graduation, to educate students on the...

A Job Well Done
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER Week was recently observed April 17-23. To further mark the importance of the week, President Joe Biden declared it National Volunteer Week in a presidential proclamation to...

A Silver Celebration of Hard Work
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS in designing a flier for a friend’s business have led to a quarter century of business for Catherine Murray. Known affectionately by the community as “Cat,” she is the sole owner...

Industry and education: a winning combination
WHAT HAPPENS when local industry and a high school team up? They create an endless amount of opportunities for students to find employment in their own hometown, post-graduation, and they offer...

Keep it fun
SENIOR YEAR for a high school student can be lots of things. It’s a time of wrapping up your secondary education, spending as much time as possible with your friends before graduation, and making...

Festival Season has Begun
THE ANNUAL High on the Hog Festival welcomed the summer festival season. For the past 35 years the festival has been welcoming locals and visitors alike with seven days worth of events that all do...

Tims Ford Lake Inviting Water Recreation
Tims Ford Reservoir is 10,600 acres in South Central Tennessee, a major portion of which is located in Franklin County. The lake is considered one of the most picturesque in Tennessee. It’s regarded...

Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.
It’s hard to want to eat a large meal after a long day working or playing out in the blistering heat. You know you need something substantial to sustain you, yet you’re so worn out. Those hearty...

The Elk River Trout Are Calling.
Located below Tims Ford Dam, the Elk River is popular for panfish and trout fishing. The tailwaters below the dam are about 50 feet wide with gravel bars and intermittent deep pools. For...

Floating Vacations on Local Water
Whether it’s relaxation or adventure you’re seeking, you don’t have to look far to find it. Middle Tennessee’s waterways will refresh and restore you. A lazy float with nature’s soundtrack of...

Faith – Life Lessons on the Lawn
HAVE YOU ever given something away and later felt regret settle in? Last summer, I was push-mowing our grass. I thoroughly enjoy breaking a sweat and getting a little exercise while doing yard work....

A Duck River Float Will Carry You Away.
According to nature.org, the Duck River is one of the state’s most scenic waterways and North America’s most biologically diverse freshwater river. It is located entirely within the state of...

Have You Seen What’s in the Backyard?
Right in our own backyard, we have access to one of the most di- verse ecosystems in the world. Henry Horton State Park (HHSP) neighbors the peaceful Duck River and is waiting to be explored. The...

Letter From the Editor – Every Weekend Can Be a Vacation
TENNESSEE MAY not have sandy shores. We may not have Buckingham Palace sitting in our backyard. Vacation spots all around the world, from Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower, attract tourists from far and...

Tims Ford State Park Home to More Than 20 Miles of Trails
MOUNTAINEER, JOHN Muir, stated that "in every walk with nature, one receives far more that he seeks." Tims Ford State Park offers several trails that awaken the soul and leaves its travelers with a...

Huntland Schools Is Awarded the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) STEM Grant.
HELPING TO increase student in- terest in the growing field of Sci- ence, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), Huntland Schools was recently awarded a grant from the Tennessee Val- ley...

A Recount of General James Winchester
CAN YOU imagine showing up to what is now the Winchester public square only to find rolling hills, trees, and ferocious wild animals? You would have likely walked for months or rode horseback if you...

Artisan Depot Springs Into Art
THE QUAINT city of Cowan has welcomed the spring season with colorful and meaningful art exhibits that can be enjoyed by all at the town’s local art hub, The Artisan Depot. The gallery premiered its...

Local Industries Donate to County Schools.
Local industry is helping students further their interests and knowledge of technology with grants and donations recently made from Nissan, Harbor Freights Tools and Southern Tennessee Rural Health...

Fchs Girls Soccer Team Celebrates a Winning Season.
WHILE THE season is over for the Franklin County High School girls soccer team, the team is still celebrating a season of success and lessons learned. The team, headed up by coach Kent Bean,...

Circle E Guest Ranch Is a Perfect Escape.
Sometimes you have to get away. All you can think about is the gentle rocking of your favorite horse as he carries you over fallen logs through rippling creeks. You can see the hills and hollows...

Decherd Potato Festival
WHAT ARE the marks of a fun and vibrant community? It’s both the community’s willingness and ability to gather together to celebrate just about anything and everything. You shouldn’t wait for a...

Manchester Arts Center
MANCHESTER IS full of wonderful businesses and wonderful opportunities. One such opportunity available for the community is the Manchester Arts Center, supported and run by the Manchester Municipal...

Selfless
THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER dictionary defines the word selfless as “someone who has no concern for self, or unselfish.” As the world keeps turning, it may feel like selfless people are few and far between....

In the spirit of selflessness
WEBSTER MAY define selflessness as having no concern for self, but givers in our community give the world and our lives deeper meaning. They take to heart the well-being and care of others and place...

How Friendly Competition and Hard Work Turned Into a Dream Fulfilled.
SQUARING UP for a jump shot, a basketball player takes an elbow to the face. His opponent does everything in his power to challenge his offense, even by utilizing excessive force. This is gritty...

Good News in Franklin County Deserves to Be Shared
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Tennessee, is a place like no other. It provides a time of peace and relaxation to thousands of guests from all over the country. While its lakes, nature, things to do, and...

Do bunnies lay eggs?
Easter parades may have passed on by, but its many other traditions are alive and well. Even though the internet has changed how we watch movies, families still watch “The Ten Commandments” every...

When empty is full
AS MORNING’S first light nudged the last of the darkness, Mary Magdalene walked with heavy heart and feet along the dirt road. The garden’s birdsong and fragrant blossoms, usually welcomed,...

Resources for New and Existing Businesses Are a Reality.
THE DREAM never ultimately left Kyle. Night after night, he faithfully clocked into his job at the auto manufacturing plant. There were weeks it didn’t once cross his mind. There were weeks it was...

Latest Census Data Offers Encouraging Data for the Area.
Natural disasters, economic turndown, a global pandemic, political upheaval, and other gloom and doom headlines scream at us from the media. Shortages, both real and rumored, have become common. The...

Winchester Christian Academy Adds a Ninth-Grade Class.
WHAT STARTED out as a Mother’s Day Out (MDO) program for children ages 2 and 3, in 2007, has steadily grown into a trusted and dependable school for children of all ages. After the first two years...

East Moon Property Wastewater Approved by County.
THE FUTURE of Franklin County’s 136 acres, the East Moon Property, is looking brighter. The property located on Highway 64 has remained undeveloped and unappealing to developers due to the lack of...

Ways to Make the Community a Better Place… and Boost Your Mental Health.
FEW PATHS to positive personal growth are more noble than resolving to help others through increased acts of generosity and kindness. According to Psychology Today, doing good for others—no matter...

Prepare a Mouth-Watering Easter Sunday Dinner.
LONG BEFORE the sun rises over the horizon, Mama is up putting dishes in the oven and ironing everyone’s Sunday best. Then, it’s a hurried push out the door and into the car. Pulling into the church...

Community Outreach in Franklin County
HAVE YOU ever experienced the kindness of a stranger at just the right time? Barely hanging on, something as simple as a genuine compliment could send tears streaming down your face in an instance....