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...
From the heart
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Good News Franklin County
Latest Good News
A special treat for someone sweet!
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...
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...
Crabtree accepts new role as principal.
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...
Standing the Test of Time
SETTING ATOP a hill just off Lynchburg Highway in Winchester is a white beacon of history. Surrounding it is the changing times with new construction, a bustling highway, and electrical lines. But...
From parking Horses to hosting weddings
IT’S THE early 1900s. You and your family are heading into town to shop for essentials like groceries. Everyone piles into the carriage, and you make the trek into town. Once you arrive, there is...
A Ride that Changed their Lives
LOVE IS both a funny and mysterious thing. One minute you are entirely normal and making your way along in life; the next, you are head over heels for someone you just met. This would be the case...
Sports, Love, Marriage
THEY SAY teamwork makes the dream work. For Linda and Roland (better known as Tippy) Tipps of Winchester, it has made the dream work and been the key to 61 successful years of marriage. Their...
All Things Brights and Beautiful
MARY PRIESTLEY is a nature lover or an “appreciator,” as she calls herself. She enjoys its wonders discovered in the hills, behind the trees, and along the trails. There is always something to be...
A dance to remember
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...
Care Comes Home
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...
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...
If I can dream
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...
‘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...
More than 1,700 lives impacted
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...
‘Truth never damages a cause that is just.’
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...
Holding the title of kindness
DO YOU remember that most important Sunday school teacher or maybe a favorite waitress who always made you smile when your family went to a particular restaurant? Perhaps you had a kind librarian...
Serving up a full tank of nostalgia
IT’S ONE of the most identifiable signs of Americana. A five-pointed red star with a green “T” drawn in the middle of it, along with the word “Texaco” written across it. In 1903, a 19-year-old...
A prescription for success
WHEN MOST of us think of a pharmacy by today’s standards, we think of running in, grabbing our prescriptions, and running out. There might be the odd occasion where we need toilet paper or some...
Capturing the magic of the past
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...
They Marched on
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...
Create to Celebrate
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...
More than toys, school supplies, and hygiene products
As you put on your next new pair of shoes, hold that empty box a few minutes longer. Look inside at what it holds. What do you see? Packing paper? Cardboard? Look again. That empty box has 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...
Legacy in Motion
LEGACY. A term that has many definitions. It can be one’s money or assets, faith or values, or reputation. While it can mean so many things, what is important to remember about a person’s legacy is...
Giving the gift of lights
JASON DAUGHERTY is a lover of Christmas. He enjoys the time of year when the family gets together and shares gifts and fellowship, along with the birth of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He not...
Songs for the Season
OVER A century ago, the Festival of Lessons and Carols was introduced by the King’s College Chapel In Cambridge, England. According to the college’s website, the event was introduced in 1918 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....
The school that helped to build a community
ONE MILE south of the square, along South Shepherd Street in Winchester, stands one of the most historic buildings in the county. What is known to many as Townsend School was first constructed in...
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...
Dogs on Wheels! Catch us if you can!
CORTNEY WOOD, co-owner of C&J Dogs & More, is a naturally shy person. But when she’s in her food truck, she’s in her happy place. "When I’m in my little second home here, I’m comfortable and...
Bringing the Local Butcher Back
JEFF EBNER was riding his motorcycle on a hot Florida day when he stopped at a stoplight and noticed his shoe was stuck to the road. “I checked my shoe thinking I had stepped on a piece of chewing...
Brewing up The Best
THERE ARE those that say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The magic of coffee could be why it’s so important. For some, it is the life fuel that starts the engine of the day. It...
A recipe for a lifetime of success
YOU SMELL the aromas of both sweet and savory as soon as your feet hit the pavement. Friendly flowers blooming along the walkway and carved into the cheerful red shutters offer a welcoming sight to...
Come Gather Here
CHEERS, THE Central Perk, Paddy’s Pub, MacLaren’s, and Monk’s Cafe. What do they all have in common? They are all iconic gathering places. Places that came into our lives each week, via our...
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...
The art of Preserving History
PAINTERS CREATE with oils, pastels and watercolor. Sculptures work with clay, stone, and wood, and musicians experiment with melody, harmony, rhythm, and form. Each of these types of artists work...
Trusting the journey, not the destination
IT HAS been said by some of the wisest that it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. For 28-year-old Hannah McDonald, that could not be more true. Wise beyond her years, McDonald had...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
After-school program with a Mission
LOOKING FOR something extra for your elementary school student to do after school this year? The Good News Club may be the answer! The Good News Club, a program of the nondenominational ministry...
The beauty of supporting each other
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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...
Backbone, Bonds, and the band
THE AIR is charged with chatter, a unique language of melody and scales. As the scoreboard clock counts down, they run through the Star-Spangled Banner and pep tunes, more tradition than technique....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
The good stuff takes time.
MARTHA CAROL Luttrell, more commonly referred to as MC Luttrell, has played a foundational role in organizing a community outreach event in Franklin County over the last several years. Her tireless...
Remembering those who served
MY GRANDFATHER was a World War II veteran. He served as a staff sergeant for the United States military. He woke each morning and raised the American Flag, displaying it proudly from a front yard...
Teaching teamwork through relationships
IT’S NEVER too early to open young minds to their futures. It’s essential to encourage students to dream big, but big dreams don’t always take you away from home. Our community is rich with...
Equipping students to flourish after graduation
NOW, MORE than ever, students have endless opportunities to dream, have new experiences, change their minds, and yet still achieve all they have set in their hearts. These opportunities and...
A heart and smile that’s bigger than words
ACAREER IN the classroom was not what DeEdra Vanzant first imagined. She enjoyed helping, not leading. But a word from a friend majoring in education helped refocus her future path. “He told me they...
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...
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...
Digital Edition
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We wish we could publish all the photos we have, but we have too many! Browse our online gallery for free or purchase photos to be mailed to your home.
All proceeds from photos go to local nonprofits.