Nominate your loved ones for a story:

Nominate your loved ones:

Good News in Franklin County Deserves to Be Shared

by | May 2022

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 businesses make this county fun, it’s the people who make it memorable. The Good News inside our county is worth sharing.

Decherd: 86 miles from Nashville, Tennessee, sits Decherd of Franklin County. The population is just over 2,400 people in the town. It’s a perfect middle point resting in the triangle of Nashville; Chattanooga; and Huntsville, Alabama. The three main employers help keep the local economy alive: Nissan Powertrain Assembly, Kroger, and Henley Supply & Millworks. The two city parks provide a great place for a family picnic, walking trail, and playgrounds to enjoy.

Estill Springs: Join a little league baseball team and visit the monthly horse shows. There’s also pee wee football and many other events throughout the year. It’s the good times like these that make it easy to call Estill home. The natural drinking water has generations of history. The water whispers tales from centuries before. 

Huntland: You won’t find a better sunset than on your drive through Huntland, Tennessee. As a part of Franklin County, it is one of the most untouched areas with a population just under 900 people. Our town was able to recently improve the local park and playgrounds with almost a million dollars in grants from BlueCross BlueShield. The town was established in the early 1900s by Clinton Armstrong Hunt. Take in the good views and the hometown feel. 

Sherwood: Technically an unincorporated community, Sherwood rests at the north end of Crow Creek Valley in Franklin County. It is just 13 miles southeast of Winchester, Tennessee. Generations of people have happy memories of family, friends, and baseball here in Sherwood. The Crow Creek, which flows from Lost Cove Cave, offers a local and natural swimming environment. Other notable locations in Sherwood include Posey Field, Sinking Cove, and the Crow Creek Valley Volunteer Fire Department and Station. 

Find the thing that makes your heart happy. And like always, share joy with your neighbors. -GN 

More Good News

Letter From The Editor

Letter From The Editor

SHE FLASHES her lights and pushes the gas pedal a little harder. The walkie-talkie is too quiet, so she spins the dial and makes her bulletproof vest a little more comfortable. She worked hard to...

read more
Walnut Hill Coffee Company

Walnut Hill Coffee Company

AS I sit here enjoying some of my favorite breakfast tacos at Walnut Hill Coffee Company, I can’t help but marvel at the ambiance. I think to myself, “How could one coffee shop change the entire...

read more
Two Generations, One Mission

Two Generations, One Mission

VERONICA LEECH spent over 30 years erasing and rewriting equations on dry-erase boards in school systems. Her distinctive handwriting, and even more so her zeal for learning, are well remembered by...

read more
Letter From the Editor

Letter From the Editor

OUR FOOD nourishes us, from the soil beneath our feet to the table where we gather with family and friends. The hot sun beams from the sky into the field of sprouting seeds. Farmers rise early,...

read more
Sunrise: The Breakfast Place

Sunrise: The Breakfast Place

I’M A morning person. I love a good sunrise — not just watching it but also going to Sunrise (The Breakfast Place) in Decherd. So, for my adventure this month, I decided I wanted breakfast....

read more
Celebrating Local Bounty

Celebrating Local Bounty

THERE WAS a time in our history when farm-to-table was a daily affair. Back then, families gathered around the table to enjoy hot chicken, biscuits, corn, and fresh apple pies. Neighbors would swap...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

Tailgate Like a Champion

WHEN THE stadium lights blaze and the roar of the crowd echoes, true fans know the game-day experience begins in the parking lot. Celebrate your team’s spirit with these tailgating recipes, which...

read more
Filo’s Tavern

Filo’s Tavern

YOU WILL come across something unique and special on the square in downtown Winchester. Filo’s Tavern is a made-from-scratch kitchen that uses the best locally sourced ingredients, even partnering...

read more
Alyssa Archer: No Limits

Alyssa Archer: No Limits

ALYSSA ARCHER’S phone buzzed with scholarship offers after she placed fifth at state this year, rising up from last year’s sixth-place win. But her journey to the top of the wrestling mat wasn’t...

read more
Paw Paw’s Country Cookin

Paw Paw’s Country Cookin

SINCE INDEPENDENCE Day is this month, I decided to drive to Cowan and eat at Paw Paw’s Country Cookin. Mrs. “Paw Paw” is an Army veteran, so what better time to try a new restaurant and thank her...

read more
Savor Summer’s Bounty

Savor Summer’s Bounty

AS THE warm summer sun shines high in the Southern sky, it’s time to embrace the vibrant flavors of the season. Our July recipes showcase the best of summer’s produce, from juicy peaches and crisp...

read more
Make Time for Memories: Recipes

Make Time for Memories: Recipes

THE FIRST dogwood blooms unfurl while other trees wake up from their long winter nap. Images of Easter, spring break, and picnics flood our feeds and keep us daydreaming of the warmer days ahead....

read more
In Other News

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...

read more
In Other News

“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....

read more
Recipes: Touchdown Favorites

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...

read more
Faith: The Power of Perspective

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...

read more
Faith: “I Got You, Girl.”

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...

read more
Faith – When It’s Hard to See

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
From the heart

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...

read more
History over and over again

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
History over and over again

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...

read more
The phase of change

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,...

read more
Testing the limits

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...

read more
A chorus of community

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...

read more
A kickoff to Christmas

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....

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
History over and over again

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...

read more
Thrive Youth Conference

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...

read more
Let’s Make a Note

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....

read more
Finding hope at HorsePlay

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...

read more
What’s in your truck?

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Literacy along the lake

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...

read more
Love, you are not alone

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...

read more
A roundtable of knowledge

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...

read more
Remembering Mollie and Abbie

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...

read more
Urgent in Caring

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,...

read more
Lettuce Shop!

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...

read more
With care and appreciation

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...

read more
Choreographing success

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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,...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Carrying the Torch Back

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...

read more
Letter From the Editor – The women of Franklin County

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
From Student to Principal

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...

read more
Turning the wheel of progress

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...

read more
Signing on to a bright future

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...

read more
A mountain alive with music

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...

read more
Letter From the Editor – The women of Franklin County

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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,...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
A Job Well Done

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...

read more
A Silver Celebration of Hard Work

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...

read more
Keep it fun

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...

read more
Festival Season has Begun

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Artisan Depot Springs Into Art

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Manchester Arts Center

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...

read more
Letter From the Editor: Savoring the Summer Delights

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....

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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...

read more
Tailgate Like a Champion

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,...

read more