VINCENT PEPPERS enjoyed every minute of consulting with the committee selected to distribute the $115,143.07 grant from the Healing Trust Foundation. The fiscal agent for the grant was the Community Clinic of Shelbyville and Bedford County, Inc. and the grant administrator was Fredia Lusk. Peppers felt the committee truly understood the weight of responsibility to be good stewards of those funds and create a lasting impact on the residents of Bedford County.
The ten-person committee was selected by Peppers for their connection to Bedford County and to represent the diversity of the population. These were stipulations of the grant which was designed to meet the needs of the com- munity while embracing the diversity of the area. During their first meeting, the committee members narrowed their focus on youth, food insecurity, and homelessness.
The committee members sought out non-profits already working on these initiatives in Bedford County to determine which groups could benefit from a financial boost. The organizations they approached submitted proposals of what they would like to do with grant funds. Working through a consensus process, Peppers made sure that all committee members were in agreement with the amount of funds given to each initiative and which organiza- tions received funds.
Ultimately, 15 organizations received funds for 17 different projects. Funds granted ranged from $2,000 to $8,000. One initiative was for a youth athletic clinic called M&M in honor of coaches Will P. Martin and Lendell Massengale Sr., two long-time coaches of football, basketball, and track at Bedford County Training School (BCTS). BCTS was a segregated all- black school until it integrated with Shelbyville Cen- tral High School in 1967. There were also trips to local universities with children from different grades including engaging field trips in the Nashville area. Support was given for mental health services and raised bed vegetable gardens in a housing project. There were also funds provided for food pantries, improving cross-cultural youth relationships, and holiday meal provisions.
Bringing light to some unsung heroes in Bedford County was one of the joys of serving on the committee. Another joy was seeing the connections made between committee members and participating firsthand in some of the services provided by the non-profit recipients.
New Emergency Management Director
Scott Johnson recently retired after 17 years of service as the Bedford County Emergency Management Agency (BCE- MA) director. He originally planned to retire a year ago but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Bedford County in March 2020, County Mayor Chad Graham asked him to head up the COVID-19 task force. “I couldn’t run from what I saw was developing into one of the most significant professional and community challenges in my generation’s lifetime,” said Johnson who spent 23 years in the U.S. Air Force before working at BCEMA.
Johnson plans to continue to serve the public in retirement by serving on boards and as a volunteer patrol deputy sheriff with Bedford County Sheriff ’s Office. He is looking forward to traveling with his wife and spending more time with his children and grandchildren. His retirement was celebrated on July 30 at the BCEMA offices.
Stepping in as the new BCEMA director is David Kitchens. He is a resident of Shelbyville and has been a district coordinator for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) since 2018, serving a five-county area including Bedford County. Before TEMA, he was a 26-year veteran of the Metro Nashville Police Department with diverse experience in Special Operations including the Emergency Contingency Section.
County Mayor Chad Graham praised his background. “We were fortunate to find a candidate with his experience and background. I know he’ll be able to continue the high standard of emergency preparedness and response that was set by Scott Johnson.”
Welcome David Kitchens to his new role!
Accessing the 231 business park
The Bedford County Commissioners have voted to purchase 33 acres of land bordering 231 and the business park. This parcel is extremely important to creating a more desirable business environment by linking direct access to 231.
One goal in this investment is attracting new companies to see the benefit of growing in Bedford County. The proximity to the greater-Nashville area and the small-town quality of life available in Bedford County make it an ideal location. As more businesses expand into Bedford County, the people who live in this area will have easier access to high-paying jobs that are close to home.
County Fair exhibit hall improvement
The new concrete floor at the exhibit hall at the county fairgrounds provided a much more pleasant environment than the former gravel floor. Grant funds provided this much-needed upgrade. -GN
