Good Thursday evening! This is The Weekender, a final look at this week’s news from the Independent Herald. The Daybreaker (Monday) and The Weekender (Thursday evening) are our two news-first newsletters. We publish several other newsletters throughout the week, as well as our regular E-Edition on Thursday and our Varsity E-Edition on Sunday (during sports season). If you’d like to adjust your subscription to include (or exclude) any of these newsletters, do so here. If you haven’t subscribed, please consider doing so!

Today’s newsletter is sponsored by Buckeye Home Medical Equipment. Serving Scott County and several other communities in the Upper Cumberland region, Buckeye is a full-line DME providing home health equipment to its patients.

Jeffers awarded for history work

HUNTSVILLE | At Monday’s meeting of Scott County Commission, state Rep. Kelly Keisling (R-Byrdstown) presented Scott County Historical Society President David Jeffers with a resolution adopted by the Tennessee House of Representatives and an award from the East Tennessee Historical Society for his work to preserve the history of Scott County.

Jeffers represents Scott County’s 1st Civil District on County Commission, and successfully authored a grant to erect a Revolutionary War veterans memorial at the John John Yancey Memorial Park in Huntsville.

Photo: Amy Jeffers.

Huntsville Post-Acute & Rehabilitation Center offers short-term or long-term care … on your terms. Learn more. (Sponsored content.)

Scouts elect leaders

ONEIDA | At Tuesday’s meeting, Scott County Boy Scout Troop 333 elected new leaders. Among them: Peyton St. John was elected Junior Assistant Scoutmaster; Landon Phillips was elected Senior Patrol Leader; Nate Ullmaan was elected Assistant Senior Patrol Leader; and Eli Nicely was elected Patrol Leader.

Scout Troop 333 and Crew 333 meet at the War Memorial Building on Alberta Street in Oneida, next-door to First National Bank, eac Tuesday at 6 p.m. Anyone with an interest in Scouts is invited to attend.

Mountain People’s Health Councils offers general practice dentistry for all ages, using the latest technology for dental imagery and digital scanning. Sliding scale fees apply! Learn more. (Sponsored.)

Telepage announces scholarship recipients

HELENWOOD | Tele-Page announced its 2026 scholarship recipients this week: Rilen King from Scott High School, and Kamryn Stiltner from Oneida High Scool. Each received a $500 scholarship from the communications company, which provides internet service to Scott County.

ICYMI

Threads of Life: This week’s Threads of Life newsletter is in remembrance of Charles Jeffers and Charles Lowe. » Read It

Echoes in Time: This week’s Echoes in Time newsletter takes a look back at the “Helenwood Devil” that was created by Crusie Sexton in the 1920s. » Read It

The Weekend

⛈️ Weather: Rain and thunderstorms will impact our region at times throughout the holiday weekend. There is an 80% chance of rain each day, with temperatures ranging from the upper 70s to around 80°. Check out our daily Eye to the Sky updates on our Facebook page— published each morning at 7 a.m. on the dot.

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⛪︎ Featured Church

Five Black Gums
Denomination: Baptist
Pastor: Marty Lowe
Address: Church Road, Huntsville

Services
Sunday Morning: 10 a.m.
Sunday Evening: 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 7 p.m.

» See the complete Church Directory, and thank you to our sponsors of the Church Directory.

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📅 Community Calendar

• Saturday: The U.S.S. Tennessee Battleship Memorial Museum will be open on Saturday, May 23, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The focus area is the U.S.S. Tennessee is Born. Admission is free. The museum is located on the campus of Scott High School.

• Saturday: Fourth Saturday night worship services will be held at Straight Fork Baptist Church (7 p.m.), and Antioch Baptist Church (6:30 p.m.). For more information, see our Church Directory at indherald.com.

• Saturday: Narcotics Anonymous will meet at 7 p.m. at the Highway 27 Unity Club (17737 S. Alberta Street, Oneida).

• Sunday: Celebrate Recovery, a 12-step program designed to help with addiction, co-dependency and domestic abuse, will be hosted by Fire & Purpose Ministries from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 27192 Scott Highway in Winfield. There will be food, fellowship, praise and worship. Childcare is provided.

The Community Calendar is presented weekly by Citizens Gas Utility District. You can help prevent pipeline damage and leaks by calling 811 before doing any excavating or demolition and submitting a utility locate request. Visit citizensgastn.com.

Scenic Sale!

This week’s sale items at Scenic Foods in Huntsville! The sale continues through Tuesday. Sponsored content.

Thank you for reading. Our next newsletter will be Friday Features. If you’d like to update your subscription to add or subtract any of our newsletters, do so here. If you haven’t yet subscribed, it’s as simple as adding your email address!

◼️ About the IH • IH Sports Network • The Encyclopedia of Scott County
◼️ Subscribe • Sponsor • Manage Your Account
◼️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, YouTube

Our Newsletters:
• Monday morning: The Daybreaker (news & the week ahead)
• Tuesday: Echoes from the Past (stories of our history)
• Wednesday: Threads of Life (obituaries)
• Thursday evening: The Weekender (news & the weekend)
• Friday: Friday Features (beyond the news)
• Sunday: Varsity (a weekly sports recap)

Subscribe now

Good Monday morning! Welcome to a brand new week. This is The Daybreaker, the first of several newsletters that will be published this week by the Independent Herald. The Daybreaker (Monday morning) and The Weekender (Thursday evening) are our two news-first newsletters. We publish several other newsletters throughout the week, as well as our regular E-Edition on Thursday and our Varsity E-Edition on Sunday (during sports season). If you’d like to adjust your subscription to include (or exclude) this or any of our other newsletters, please do so here. If you need to subscribe, it’s as simple as entering your email address:

Subscribe now

Open your account online — anytime, anywhere! First National Bank makes it easier than ever to bank with us. You can open an account online, from the comfort of your home or on the go. Start now. (Sponsored content.)

Foster elected to PEC board

ONEIDA | Bryon Foster, a retired lineman at Plateau Electric Cooperative, has been elected to the cooperative’s board of directors.

Foster won a three-way race by a wide margin on Saturday, receiving 567 votes to 137 for Logan Strunk and 123 for Wendell Dobbs.

He replaces Mark Kline, who did not seek re-election to the board.

Running unopposed in Scott County was Craig Chambers, who was re-elected with 453 votes.

Need a good rate on your auto insurance? Contact your local State Farm agent, Roger Baldwin. (Sponsored content.)

Drought relief could be seen this week

A wet-weather pattern appears to be taking shape that could bring much-needed drought relief to the parched Southeastern United States.

Rain will become likely across Scott County on Wednesday, and remain likely each day through the weekend. Constant rain isn’t expected, but at least a little rain is likely each day from Wednesday through Sunday. As much as two inches of rain could accumulate by the end of the day Sunday.

Rain is expected to remain likely through at least part of next week. The bulk of the rainfall is expected to be across the lower Mississippi River Valley and points west, from Louisiana and eastern Texas north to the Ozarks. But substantial rainfall is also possible across much of Tennessee, including the northern Cumberland Plateau. Early indications are that potential rainfall amounts of five to six inches are possible in parts of Tennessee between Wednesday and the end of next week.

Most of the state is currently in a severe to extreme drought.

The Growth Chart

On Mondays, we present The Growth Chart, a look at recent and ongoing growth throughout Scott County. Already-completed projects will shift to the bottom of this list, before eventually falling off the list.

Hammer’s: A poorly-kept secret was made official earlier this month, when Hammer’s — best-known locally for its store in Clinton, though it also has a store in Wartburg and in several other locations throughout the region — announced that it will soon be opening a new store in Huntsville. It will be located in the former Napa Auto Parts building, which is owned by Oneida-based Brewco and is currently being remodeled. Hammer’s is not new to Oneida; the company has a warehouse in the Tibbals Industrial Park in Oneida.

Parkside Villas: Stanley Building General Contractors has begun construction on a new condominium unit near Oneida City Park. Parkside Villas will be located next-door to the Scott County Ambulance Service headquarters off Paint Rock Road and Buffalo Road, and will consist of four units with two-bedrooms and two baths that will be offered for sale once completed. There will be a monthly HOA. Amy Martin, Oneida realtor and Stanley Building representative, called it “a new style of housing here in the county. Home ownership and someone else does the maintenance.”

O&W Road: The O&W Road into the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area is slated to re-open before the end of this month, following completion of a bridge over Pine Creek near the intersection with Toomey Road just outside the national park.

Niggs Creek Road: Construction of a new railroad overpass at High Point has begun, with the demolition of the existing bridge — which has been condemned by TDOT — beginning in late April and nearing completion.

Alberta Street resurfacing: The resurfacing of Alberta Street through Oneida is nearing completion. Rogers Group is laying down new asphalt along a stretch of highway from near the Boys & Girls Club on the south end to near Bear Creek Road on the north end. The lanes of travel have been completed, with only some shoulder and intersection work needed to complete the project.

Long John Silver’s: A Long John Silver’s fast food seafood restaurant is being constructed at Oneida Plaza, on the south side of McDonald’s. The targeted opening date is August 2026.

Zaxby’s: Zaxby’s, the fast food chicken restaurant chain, has purchased 1.3 acres of property on Alberta Street, just north of the Oneida Municipal Services Building, and continues to prepare it for the start of construction.

Dairy Queen: Nick Patel, who owns several other businesses in Scott County, is planning to purchase a DQ franchise that will be located in Oneida. Patel told the Independent Herald in March that the property for the new store has not yet been finalized.

Dollar General: Following a failed attempt to place a store near the intersection of Coopertown Road and Cooper Lake Road in Oneida, Dollar General is in the process of constructing a store at the intersection of Coopertown Road and Smith Road in the Coopertown community, across from New Haven Baptist Church. The building began going up last week and is already under roof. The new DG will join other stores in Oneida, Huntsville, Robbins, and Winfield, and is likely not the last DG location in Scott County.

Polo’s Italian Restaurant: Polo’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza, which will be located in Oneida Plaza (up the sidewalk from Walmart), announced on April 3 that its new store will open soon. A grand opening has not yet been announced.

Package Stores: The Town of Oneida began accepting applications for certificates of compliance for liquor stores in May, following November 2024 referendums approved by voters of both the town and the county. Two package stores have since been permitted and are slated to open in the coming months. Lisa Meadows announced on Facebook on Dec. 2 that applications for employment are currently being accepted at one of those stores, which will be located in Oneida Plaza.

Huntsville Store: Huntsville, too, will soon have a package store. Signage for that store went up at the site of the old Hickory Mill on S.R. 63 last month. A convenience store and “fast food” are also planned for the location.

Veterans Memorial: Work continues on a grant-funding Revolutionary War veterans memorial at the John John Yancey Memorial Park in Huntsville, as part of America’s 250th celebration. The memorial is being constructed adjacent to the parking lot off Glass House Road and will honor the Revolutionary War militia fighters who later moved to present-day Scott County.

New Flea Market: The 63/27 Flea Market recently opened at the former mobile home retail lot on U.S. Highway 27 just south of the S.R. 63 intersection in Huntsville. Tina Reed — who most folks will recognize from Perdue’s Shell Kitchen in Huntsville — is the face behind the new flea market, which rents spaces for $25 per day.

TCAT: The Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville has opened both its new buildings on the Oneida campus, which represents a $17 million investment. The back building houses the college’s diesel and power line programs, while the front building houses industrial maintenance, building construction, and a new program that will launch soon: aviation maintenance. The existing buildings on the Oneida campus have been painted to match the new buildings. The only thing that remains incomplete is the final paving of the parking lots. Gov. Bill Lee visited Scott County to officially open the new buildings on May 12.

Casey’s: The Casey’s pizza and convenience store chain has opened a store on Alberta Street in Oneida, located “on the corner” at the site of the former 4WD Performance, which was the home of Marcum’s Parts before that.

Mountain People’s Health Councils: Mountain People’s recently debuted its new, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging center at its Oneida campus, located on Industrial Lane.

University of Tennessee Medical Clinic: University of Tennessee Medical Center has opened a new medical facility next-door to the Scott County Food Court in south Oneida that is currently accepting patients for University Midwives and UT Rheumatology Associates, as well as cardiology.

More to Come: Something to add? Email newsroom@ihoneida.com.

Words of Wisdom

Each week, Preacher Johnny Polk and the Oneida Church of Christ present Words of Wisdom, short devotionals that are archived on our website. Here is the current Words of Wisdom. (Sponsored content.)

🌦️ Weather: It’ll be dry and warm today, with temperatures topping out in the upper 80s. Tomorrow will be much the same. Both days will feature breezy conditions. Rain will become likely late Tuesday night, and remain likely each day through the weekend. Check out our daily Eye to the Sky updates on our Facebook page — published each morning at 7 a.m. on the dot — or always available at indherald.com.

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📅 Community Calendar

Monday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center (Monticello Pike, Huntsville) offers a walking program, puzzles and games, and massage chairs every week day (Monday-Friday) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Additionally, Bingo will be offered today at 1 p.m. and Golden Grooves Exercise at 2 p.m.

Monday: Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services’ Mobile Health Clinic will be in the Walmart parking lot in Oneida from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering integrated primary care and behavioral health. No insurance is not a problem. Call (866) 599-0466 for more information.

Monday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for dine-in or carry-out. Phone: (423) 569-5972.

Monday: Scott County Commission will meet in regular session at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville, beginning at 5 p.m.

Tuesday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Tuesday: Pinnacle Resource Center’s food pantry (1513 Jeffers Road, Huntsville) will be open beginning at 10 a.m. There are no income guidelines; however, a photo ID and a piece of mail with a Scott County address are required.

Tuesday: Boy Scout Troop #333 will meet at the Oneida War Memorial Building on Alberta Street in Oneida beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Wall Builders will meet from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church (1611 Glass House Road, Helenwood) for those struggling with addiction or striving to keep off drugs. There will be preaching, teaching, food, fellowship and personal counseling.

Tuesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 7 p.m. at the Highway 27 Unity Club (17737 S. Alberta Street, Oneida).

Wednesday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for dine-in or carry-out.

Wednesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 12 p.m. at the Highway 27 Unity Club (17737 S. Alberta Street, Oneida).

Wednesday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center in Huntsville will host Golden Grooves Exercise at 1 p.m.

Thursday: The Gerry McDonald Mission House, located on Church Avenue, directly behind First United Methodist Church, is open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. You are eligible to receive food once per month. 569-8828.

Thursday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Thursday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center in Huntsville will host Crafts at 1 p.m.

Thursday: The Town of Oneida Board of Mayor & Aldermen will meet at the Oneida Municipal Services Building, beginning at 6 p.m.

Thursday: The Town of Huntsville Board of Mayor & Aldermen will meet at the Huntsville Municipal Building, beginning at 6 p.m.

The Community Calendar is presented weekly by Citizens Gas Utility District. Citizens Gas Utility District pipelines are generally safe. They can be damaged by things such as excavation, natural forces, and automobile accidents. These can potentially cause a leak.Visit citizensgastn.com.

Thank you for reading. Our next newsletter will be Echoes From the Past tomorrow. If you’d like to update your subscription to add or subtract any of our newsletters, do so here. If you haven’t yet subscribed, it’s as simple as adding your email address!

◼️ About the IH • IH Sports Network • The Encyclopedia of Scott County
◼️ Subscribe • Sponsor • Manage Your Account
◼️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, YouTube

Our Newsletters:
• Monday morning: The Daybreaker (news & the week ahead)
• Tuesday: Echoes from the Past (stories of our history)
• Wednesday: Threads of Life (obituaries)
• Thursday evening: The Weekender (news & the weekend)
• Friday: Friday Features (beyond the news)
• Sunday: Varsity (a weekly sports recap)

Subscribe now

Good Thursday evening! This is The Weekender, a final look at this week’s news from the Independent Herald. The Daybreaker (Monday) and The Weekender (Thursday evening) are our two news-first newsletters. We publish several other newsletters throughout the week, as well as our regular E-Edition on Thursday and our Varsity E-Edition on Sunday (during sports season). If you’d like to adjust your subscription to include (or exclude) any of these newsletters, do so here. If you haven’t subscribed, please consider doing so!

Today’s newsletter is sponsored by Buckeye Home Medical Equipment. Serving Scott County and several other communities in the Upper Cumberland region, Buckeye is a full-line DME providing home health equipment to its patients.

Burchfield School celebrates 100 years

ONEIDA | At a ceremony Friday night, Burchfield School celebrated 100 years of education in the West Oneida community.

Dating back to 1926, the school is as old as the era of eight-month education in Scott County. It opened as a three-room, frame building with three teachers, replacing the nearby Cotton Creek School, which had ballooned to 65 students but had room for only one class and one teacher.

J.B. Carson, H.C. Smith and Hezekiah Burchfield were the people responsible for locating a tract of property for the new school. The county’s superintendent of schools that year was Oliver Etheridge Jeffers. The school was built on four acres of property donated by Hezekiah Burchfield, and the school was named in his honor.

As time passed, the school grew. In the mid 1940s, the school grew to six teachers and a cafeteria was added in the basement. In addition to six teachers, there was a janitor and two cooks on staff. The enrollment was 280 in 1948, the year the new building was completed.

The school’s first full-time principal was Duane Limburg. The longest-tenured principal was Randy Shelton, who served 23 years in that capacity. The current principal is Emily Brooks.

At Friday’s ceremony, two former principals were in attendance: John Watson and Tonja Bond. Shelton and Limburg were unable to attend. Other principals through the years have included Lonnie Keeton, Hoyal Jeffers, William “Champ” West, Oscar Cotton, Charlie Allen, and Bobby Lee Smith.

Several awards were presented at Friday’s ceremony. Three-year-old Pre-K student Maverick Pemberton was recognized as the school’s youngest student. Natalie Lloyd, a New York Times best-selling children’s author, was recognized as the school’s “Student of the Century.” Verlie Webb was recognized as the “Volunteer of the Century.” John Roy Thompson, 99, was recognized as the oldest living former student. Ruth Whittenburg — the daughter of former principal Oscar Cotton _ was recognized as the school’s oldest living former employee. Doug Sharp was recognized as the “Coach of the Century.” Carol Burke and John Watson were recognized as the “Teachers of the Century.”

Huntsville Post-Acute & Rehabilitation Center offers short-term or long-term care … on your terms. Learn more. (Sponsored content.)

Federal agency declines to extend railroad NITU, as firms say agreement is reached

The federal Surface Transportation Board has denied a request from conservation non-profit Trust for Public Land (TPL) to extend a Notice of Interim Trail Use (NITU) for the former Tennessee Railroad corridor between Oneida and Devonia, as the organization says it has reached an agreement with RJ Corman to acquire the old railroad grade.

In a decision handed down March 24, the STB declined to issue a sixth extension of the NITU that was originally granted to Oak Ridge-based Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning in 2020. The agency had said in Spring 2025, when it issued a fifth extension of the NITU, that it would be the last barring “extraordinary circumstances.”

TPL had argued earlier in March that there are, in fact, “extraordinary circumstances.” The firm said it reached an agreement with RJ Corman in December to acquire the railroad corridor, with an anticipated closing date of January 2027. It added that it has completed some of its due diligence on the property, including title work and an appraisal, but needs more time to complete other steps, including an environmental site assessment and boundary survey.

Corman, which purchased the railroad from National Coal Company and later filed for abandonment, removing the rails and timbers from the railroad bed, filed a letter stating that it did not object to the extension.

However, the STB disagreed, saying that the work TPL has in front of it to acquire the property is not extraordinary.

Additionally, the STB said that while TPL and Corman “indicate that some sort of agreement has been reached,” they “offer competing descriptions.” The agency added that a joint filing by TPL and Corman would be needed to constitute a notice of a trail use agreement.

Echoes of the Tennessee Railroad Foundation, a group of Scott Countians supportive of the proposed recreation trail, said on May 1 that Corman and Trust for Public Land have reached that trail use agreement. A representative from TPL has not responded to a request for comment.

TPL added significant muscle to the proposal to establish a 41-mile recreational trail between Oneida and Devonia when it signed on as a sponsor last year. That move cast national weight into what had previously been a regional fight.

The proposed trail — which would be open to bicyclists and hikers but not motorized vehicles — has pitted tourism promoters and cycling enthusiasts against landowners whose property neighbors the rail grade. The latter have argued that abandonment of the railroad should cause the right-of-way to revert to the neighboring landowners. The former counter that most of the railroad corridor was purchased fee simple when the railroad was built in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Regardless, the NITU was granted under federal law and Supreme Court precedent that requires abandoned railroads to be preserved for potential future use with an interim use as a recreational trail.

As negotiations have continued, supporters of the rail-trail have purchased and installed barriers at many access points along the railroad corridor in an effort to stop ATV trespassing and ease landowners’ concerns. When TPL submitted its request to extend the NITU in March, it included several resolutions of support from local governments. However, only one of those resolutions — from the Town of Oneida — was from a town that is located on the railroad corridor. Other letters were received from the towns of Wartburg, Oak Ridge, Clinton, and Norris. Both Scott County and the Town of Huntsville have gone on record in opposition to the proposed trail.

Mountain People’s Health Councils offers general practice dentistry for all ages, using the latest technology for dental imagery and digital scanning. Sliding scale fees apply! Learn more. (Sponsored.)

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Story

ICYMI

Threads of Life: This week’s Threads of Life newsletter is in remembrance of Rella Burchfield, Barbara Bond, Rondon Hutson, and Wyatt Lowe. » Read It

Echoes in Time: This week’s Echoes in Time newsletter takes a look back at the 1935 dynamite blast that destroyed much of the town of Helenwood. » Read It

The Weekend

☀️ Weather: A warm, dry weekend is on tap. We’ll approach 80° on Friday with sunny skies, push into the 80s on Saturday, and approach 90° by Sunday afternoon. Check out our daily Eye to the Sky updates on our Facebook page— published each morning at 7 a.m. on the dot.

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⛪︎ Featured Church

Fairview Missionary Baptist Church
Denomination: Baptist (Missionary)
Pastor: Charles Lowe
Address: 8939 Baker Highway, Huntsville

Services
Sunday Morning: 10 a.m.
Sunday Evening: 6:30 p.m.

» See the complete Church Directory, and thank you to our sponsors of the Church Directory.

Scenic Sale!

This week’s sale items at Scenic Foods in Huntsville! The sale continues through Tuesday. Sponsored content.

Thank you for reading. Our next newsletter will be Friday Features. If you’d like to update your subscription to add or subtract any of our newsletters, do so here. If you haven’t yet subscribed, it’s as simple as adding your email address!

◼️ About the IH • IH Sports Network • The Encyclopedia of Scott County
◼️ Subscribe • Sponsor • Manage Your Account
◼️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, YouTube

Our Newsletters:
• Monday morning: The Daybreaker (news & the week ahead)
• Tuesday: Echoes from the Past (stories of our history)
• Wednesday: Threads of Life (obituaries)
• Thursday evening: The Weekender (news & the weekend)
• Friday: Friday Features (beyond the news)
• Sunday: Varsity (a weekly sports recap)

Subscribe now

Good Monday morning! Welcome to a brand new week. This is The Daybreaker, the first of several newsletters that will be published this week by the Independent Herald. The Daybreaker (Monday morning) and The Weekender (Thursday evening) are our two news-first newsletters. We publish several other newsletters throughout the week, as well as our regular E-Edition on Thursday and our Varsity E-Edition on Sunday (during sports season). If you’d like to adjust your subscription to include (or exclude) this or any of our other newsletters, please do so here. If you need to subscribe, it’s as simple as entering your email address:

Subscribe now

Open your account online — anytime, anywhere! First National Bank makes it easier than ever to bank with us. You can open an account online, from the comfort of your home or on the go. Start now. (Sponsored content.)

Record-low streamflows as drought worsens

After some modest relief near the end of April, dry conditions have again gripped the northern Cumberland Plateau region, and local rivers have once again dipped to record low streamflows for this time of year as the risk of an abnormally hot summer begins to increase.

The Big South Fork River was flowing at about 220 cubic feet per second (cfs) late Sunday, shattering the existing record for the date, which was set in 1986. The streamflow at Leatherwood Ford west of Oneida is usually over 1,000 cfs in early May, and the river typically doesn’t dip to its current level until mid-to-late summer. Further upstream, where U.S. Geological Survey records from its Burnt Mill gauge date back further, Clear Fork wasn’t quite at a record low Sunday, but it was at levels not seen in early May since the mid 1930s. There, the streamflow had dropped to 60 cfs.

Although rain was expected Sunday night and early Monday, only slight increases in streamflows were expected, and the upcoming week looks mostly dry, with summer-like heat expected by the weekend. The National Weather Service is currently calling for temperatures in the 80s by Saturday, perhaps rising to near 90° by Sunday.

The local area has had six consecutive months of below-average rainfall, and appears to be on its way to seven consecutive months if trends don’t change over the next couple of weeks. Since January 1, the National Weather Service has recorded just 14.3 inches of rain in Oneida. That doesn’t quite beat 1986 for the driest start to a year on record in Scott County, but it’s well below the norm of 22.7 inches of rain that has fallen by this point in an average year.

As a result, the entire region is in a moderate-to-severe drought, as classified by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Scott County is rated as “severe drought,” with “extreme drought” pushing up the southern Cumberland Plateau into parts of Cumberland and Morgan counties.

With soil moisture low, chances are increasing for a hotter-than-average summer. The upcoming weekend may be a taste of that, and the Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a “slight risk” of hazardous temperatures for the region next week. The CPC is also forecasting hotter-than-average conditions throughout the remainder of May and into June. Some long-term forecasters have drawn parallels to 2012, which saw record-setting heat in Scott County in late June and early July. The temperature in Oneida hit 103° on July 1, 2012, and again on July 2, 2012 — the hottest temperatures on record in Scott County, and two of just six days that temperatures of 100° or greater have been recorded here dating back to the 1950s. June 2012 was extremely dry, with less than half an inch of rain.

As summer progresses, long-range forecasts are calling for a record-setting El Niño to develop in the Pacific. It’s unclear how that will impact the weather in this part of the country.

Need a good rate on your auto insurance? Contact your local State Farm agent, Roger Baldwin. (Sponsored content.)

Scott County returns to a single congressional district

NASHVILLE | Scott County will return to a single congressional district, losing the representation of U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Chattanooga, in the process.

Fleischmann, who represents Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District, has been Scott County’s voice in Washington since 2012, when the redistricting process that followed the 2010 census shifted Scott County from the 4th District represented by Scott DesJarlais to the 3rd District.

However, the 2022 redistricting process split Scott County between the 3rd District and the 6th District, as Tennessee Republicans radically shifted district boundaries to eliminate the Nashville congressional seat that had long been held by Democrats. That shifted the northern half of Scott County into the district represented by John Rose, R-Cookeville.

The state legislature met in special session last week at the behest of President Donald Trump to again redraw the congressional district boundaries, in the process eliminating the Memphis congressional seat that is the last in the state to be held by a Democrat. The new map splits Memphis into three congressional districts, making it likely that a Republican wins the seat currently held by Steve Cohen, D-Memphis.

The move comes amid a redistricting arms race that has consumed the nation’s political conscience so far in 2026. Texas Republicans jump-started the unusual mid-cycle redistricting by redrawing its congressional boundaries to potentially give the GOP five more seats in the Lonestar State. That prompted California to retaliate with Proposition 50, which was approved by voters to potentially net Democrats five more seats in the Golden State. Virginia followed suit, with voters narrowly approving a measure last month that could potentially net Democrats four more seats there.

In response to Virginia’s vote, Florida has redrawn its map to potentially give Republicans four more seats in the Sunshine State, and several other Republican-controlled Southern states have called special legislative sessions to consider new maps of their own. In the midst of it all, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on April 29 that a provision of the 1960s-era Voting Rights Act requiring districts to be drawn to give minority voters a chance to elect representatives of their choosing is unconstitutional. Then, the Virginia Supreme Court last week struck down the recent redistricting election there, which seems likely to touch off even more state-by-state battles across the country.

In Tennessee, the redistricting war is over — barring a court’s action to declare the new boundaries unlawful, which more than one lawsuit has already been filed to do. The entirety of Scott County will be represented by Rose, although Campbell County will remain split between two congressional districts. The southern half of Campbell County will shift to District 6 with Scott County, as will Morgan County.

Rose is not seeking re-election this fall, choosing instead to run for governor. He is currently mounting a long-shot bid against U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn for the Republican nomination. Leading candidates to replace him include former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary, who serves as Rose’s chief of staff, and state Rep. Johnny Garrett.

The Growth Chart

On Mondays, we present The Growth Chart, a look at recent and ongoing growth throughout Scott County. Already-completed projects will shift to the bottom of this list, before eventually falling off the list.

Hammer’s: A poorly-kept secret was made official last week, when Hammer’s — best-known locally for its store in Clinton, though it also has a store in Wartburg and in several other locations throughout the region — announced that it will soon be opening a new store in Huntsville. It will be located in the former Napa Auto Parts building, which is owned by Oneida-based Brewco and is currently being remodeled. Hammer’s is not new to Oneida; the company has a warehouse in the Tibbals Industrial Park in Oneida.

Parkside Villas: Stanley Building General Contractors has begun construction on a new condominium unit near Oneida City Park. Parkside Villas will be located next-door to the Scott County Ambulance Service headquarters off Paint Rock Road and Buffalo Road, and will consist of four units with two-bedrooms and two baths that will be offered for sale once completed. There will be a monthly HOA. Amy Martin, Oneida realtor and Stanley Building representative, called it “a new style of housing here in the county. Home ownership and someone else does the maintenance.”

O&W Road: The O&W Road into the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area is slated to re-open before the end of this month, following completion of a bridge over Pine Creek near the intersection with Toomey Road just outside the national park.

Niggs Creek Road: Construction of a new railroad overpass at High Point has begun, with the demolition of the existing bridge — which has been condemned by TDOT — beginning in late April and nearing completion.

Alberta Street resurfacing: The resurfacing of Alberta Street through Oneida is currently underway. Rogers Group is laying down new asphalt along a stretch of highway from near the Boys & Girls Club on the south end to near Bear Creek Road on the north end.

Long John Silver’s: A Long John Silver’s fast food seafood restaurant is being constructed at Oneida Plaza, on the south side of McDonald’s. The targeted opening date is August 2026.

Zaxby’s: Zaxby’s, the fast food chicken restaurant chain, has purchased 1.3 acres of property on Alberta Street, just north of the Oneida Municipal Services Building, and continues to prepare it for the start of construction.

Dairy Queen: Nick Patel, who owns several other businesses in Scott County, is planning to purchase a DQ franchise that will be located in Oneida. Patel told the Independent Herald in March that the property for the new store has not yet been finalized.

Swan Hollow Brew Project: Oneida will soon have its second brewery. The father-and-son team of Jeff and Chris Swanson are planning Swan Hallow at 281 Underpass Drive in Oneida (former site of the Coffey Medical Center), according to the Scott County Chamber of Commerce. It will offer craft beer brewed on site, as well as food and entertainment. It will be Oneida’s second brewery. Big South Fork Brewing opened in the former First Trust & Savings Bank building on South Main Street earlier this year.

Dollar General: Following a failed attempt to place a store near the intersection of Coopertown Road and Cooper Lake Road in Oneida, Dollar General is in the process of constructing a store at the intersection of Coopertown Road and Smith Road in the Coopertown community, across from New Haven Baptist Church. The building began going up last week and is already under roof. The new DG will join other stores in Oneida, Huntsville, Robbins, and Winfield, and is likely not the last DG location in Scott County.

Polo’s Italian Restaurant: Polo’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza, which will be located in Oneida Plaza (up the sidewalk from Walmart), announced on April 3 that its new store will open soon. A grand opening has not yet been announced.

Package Stores: The Town of Oneida began accepting applications for certificates of compliance for liquor stores in May, following November 2024 referendums approved by voters of both the town and the county. Two package stores have since been permitted and are slated to open in the coming months. Lisa Meadows announced on Facebook on Dec. 2 that applications for employment are currently being accepted at one of those stores, which will be located in Oneida Plaza.

Huntsville Store: Huntsville, too, will soon have a package store. Signage for that store went up at the site of the old Hickory Mill on S.R. 63 last month. A convenience store and “fast food” are also planned for the location.

Veterans Memorial: Work continues on a grant-funding Revolutionary War veterans memorial at the John John Yancey Memorial Park in Huntsville, as part of America’s 250th celebration. The memorial is being constructed adjacent to the parking lot off Glass House Road and will honor the Revolutionary War militia fighters who later moved to present-day Scott County.

New Flea Market: The 63/27 Flea Market recently opened at the former mobile home retail lot on U.S. Highway 27 just south of the S.R. 63 intersection in Huntsville. Tina Reed — who most folks will recognize from Perdue’s Shell Kitchen in Huntsville — is the face behind the new flea market, which rents spaces for $25 per day.

TCAT: The Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville has opened both its new buildings on the Oneida campus, which represents a $17 million investment. The back building houses the college’s diesel and power line programs, while the front building houses industrial maintenance, building construction, and a new program that will launch soon: aviation maintenance. The existing buildings on the Oneida campus have been painted to match the new buildings. The only thing that remains incomplete is the final paving of the parking lots.

Casey’s: The Casey’s pizza and convenience store chain has opened a store on Alberta Street in Oneida, located “on the corner” at the site of the former 4WD Performance, which was the home of Marcum’s Parts before that.

Mountain People’s Health Councils: Mountain People’s recently debuted its new, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging center at its Oneida campus, located on Industrial Lane.

University of Tennessee Medical Clinic: University of Tennessee Medical Center has opened a new medical facility next-door to the Scott County Food Court in south Oneida that is currently accepting patients for University Midwives and UT Rheumatology Associates. Scott County Mayor Jerried Jeffers said in January that cardiology and high-risk pregnancy will be added later.

More to Come: Something to add? Email newsroom@ihoneida.com.

Words of Wisdom

Each week, Preacher Johnny Polk and the Oneida Church of Christ present Words of Wisdom, short devotionals that are archived on our website. Here is the current Words of Wisdom. (Sponsored content.)

🌦️ Weather: Rain this morning will give way to clouds and then to sunshine, and we’ll top out around 70° with a light northeast breeze. Sunny days are likely the rest of the week, although there’s a slight chance of rain on Wednesday as a moisture-starved cold front swings through the region. Much warmer temperatures are on the way for the weekend. Check out our daily Eye to the Sky updates on our Facebook page — published each morning at 7 a.m. on the dot — or always available at indherald.com.

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📅 Community Calendar

Monday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center (Monticello Pike, Huntsville) offers a walking program, puzzles and games, and massage chairs every week day (Monday-Friday) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Additionally, Golden Grooves Exercise will be offered today at 2 p.m.

Monday: Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services’ Mobile Health Clinic will be in the Walmart parking lot in Oneida from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering integrated primary care and behavioral health. No insurance is not a problem. Call (866) 599-0466 for more information.

Monday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for dine-in or carry-out. Phone: (423) 569-5972.

Monday: The Scott County Finance Committee will meet at the Scott County Mayor’s Office in Huntsville, beginning at 5 p.m.

Monday: The Winfield Board of Mayor & Aldermen will meet at the Winfield Municipal Building, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Tuesday: Pinnacle Resource Center’s food pantry (1513 Jeffers Road, Huntsville) will be open beginning at 10 a.m. There are no income guidelines; however, a photo ID and a piece of mail with a Scott County address are required.

Tuesday: Boy Scout Troop #333 will meet at the Oneida War Memorial Building on Alberta Street in Oneida beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Wall Builders will meet from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church (1611 Glass House Road, Helenwood) for those struggling with addiction or striving to keep off drugs. There will be preaching, teaching, food, fellowship and personal counseling.

Tuesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 7 p.m. at the Highway 27 Unity Club (17737 S. Alberta Street, Oneida).

Wednesday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for dine-in or carry-out.

Wednesday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center in Huntsville will host Senior Meal Connect.

Wednesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 12 p.m. at the Highway 27 Unity Club (17737 S. Alberta Street, Oneida).

Thursday: The Gerry McDonald Mission House, located on Church Avenue, directly behind First United Methodist Church, is open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. You are eligible to receive food once per month. 569-8828.

Thursday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Thursday: The Town of Oneida Board of Mayor & Aldermen will meet at the Oneida Municipal Services Building, beginning at 6 p.m.

Thursday: The Town of Huntsville Board of Mayor & Aldermen will meet at the Huntsville Municipal Building, beginning at 6 p.m.

The Community Calendar is presented weekly by Citizens Gas Utility District. Citizens Gas Utility District pipelines are generally safe. They can be damaged by things such as excavation, natural forces, and automobile accidents. These can potentially cause a leak.Visit citizensgastn.com.

Thank you for reading. Our next newsletter will be Echoes From the Past tomorrow. If you’d like to update your subscription to add or subtract any of our newsletters, do so here. If you haven’t yet subscribed, it’s as simple as adding your email address!

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Our Newsletters:
• Monday morning: The Daybreaker (news & the week ahead)
• Tuesday: Echoes from the Past (stories of our history)
• Wednesday: Threads of Life (obituaries)
• Thursday evening: The Weekender (news & the weekend)
• Friday: Friday Features (beyond the news)
• Sunday: Varsity (a weekly sports recap)

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NASHVILLE | If a proposed redistricting map becomes law in Tennessee — and it is expected to — Scott County will be returned to a single congressional district.

Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly on Tuesday unveiled their proposed redistricting map, which is being considered during a special session in Nashville this week. Gov. Bill Lee called the legislature into special session at the behest of President Donald Trump to consider a new congressional map. The end goal is to eliminate the 9th District, which consists of the city of Memphis and is currently held by Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat.

The redistricting is based on a recent Supreme Court ruling that majority-minority congressional districts constitute racial gerrymandering in some instances. While the ruling involved the State of Louisiana, it has opened the door for redistricting efforts in other Republican-led states. The effort is part of a broader response to the Virginia legislature — which is led by Democrats — to redraw congressional districts to eliminate Republican-held seats there, which, in turn, was a response to a similar move by the Republican-led Texas legislature.

Tennessee has nine congressional seats, which is based on the state’s population size. Federal law requires that congressional districts be drawn so that each of the nine districts contains the same number of residents. Traditionally, redistricting occurs after the federal census every 10 years.

As recently as 2008, Democrats held a majority of the congressional seats in Tennessee — five of nine. However, the “red wave” election of 2010 resulted in Republicans ousting the incumbents in three of those districts, leaving Democrat representatives in just two districts: Nashville and Memphis. Following the 2020 census, the legislature redrew the Nashville district, eliminating one of those Democrat-held seats.

As result of that redistricting prior to the 2022 election, Scott County was split into two congressional districts for the first time ever. The southern part of the county, roughly south of S.R. 63, continued to be represented by Chuck Fleischmann, R-Chattanooga, as part of the 3rd Congressional District, while the northern part of the county, roughly north of S.R. 63, was switched to the 6th Congressional District, represented by John Rose, R-Cookeville.

The 6th District also includes part of Nashville, which was divided into several different congressional districts as a result of that redistricting effort.

The new map that has been proposed in Tennessee would divide the city of Memphis into three different congressional districts. The 9th District is currently held by Steve Cohen, a Democrat who has been in office since replacing Harold Ford Jr. in the 2006 election, and who last won re-election in 2024 by better than 20 percentage points. He’s facing a primary challenge this year from state Rep. Justin Pearson.

Not only will the new map make it unlikely that a Democrat will continue to hold Cohen’s seat, based on current demographics, but it also reshapes the 5th District — currently held by embattled Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Culleoka — to ostensibly give him an easier route to re-election. He is the only member of Tennessee’s congressional delegation who had a relatively close race in his last election bid, winning by eight percentage points. The Democratic National Committee has identified the seat as a potential flip opportunity in the 2026 election.

Under the proposed new district boundaries, Campbell County would still be divided into two separate congressional districts. The southern half would shift to District 6 with Scott County, while the northern half would remain in District 2. Morgan County will shift from District 3 to District 6 with Scott County, as well.

Rose is not a candidate for re-election in 2026. He is instead seeking the Republican nomination for governor of Tennessee. Seeking the Republican nomination to replace him are former congressman Van Hilleary — who serves as Rose’s chief of staff — and state Rep. Johnny Garrett.

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HUNTSVILLE | A poorly-kept secret was made official by regional retail chain Hammer’s on Tuesday, as the company announced that it is opening a new store in Huntsville.

“So the rumors in Scott County are true,” Hammer’s said in a Facebook post, adding that the new store will open in fall 2026.

The company will locate in the former Napa Auto Parts building on Baker Highway in Huntsville, near the entrance to Roane State Community College. The building is owned by Brewco, which is currently completing renovations to the facility.

Hammer’s got its start in Guntersville, Ala., in 1941, but is best known locally for its store in Clinton, Tenn.

In its early days, A.B. Hammer rented an empty building and began selling salvage stock. The family-owned business has remained true to its original mission of being a bargain-hunter’s paradise, and currently has stores in Clinton, Knoxville, Sevierville, Wartburg, and New Tazewell. It also has a warehouse in Oneida, at the former Tibbals site.

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HUNTSVILLE | A Scott County man awaits sentencing after being convicted by a jury Friday of reckless homicide in connection with the October 2021 shooting death of Crystal Chambers in the Ditney Trail area east of Huntsville.

Harley D. Holicki, 40, was convicted of reckless homicide on Friday, following a four-day trial in Scott County Criminal Court. He was implicated in the death of his ex-girlfriend, Crystal Chambers, in October 2021.

Chambers, who was 35 at the time of her death, was a mother of three children. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, she died after being shot during an exchange of gunfire between her father, Larry Chambers, and her ex-boyfriend, Holicki, at a Ditney Trail residence on Oct. 25, 2021.

The TBI sought and obtained indictments against both men in March 2022, charging each of them with reckless homicide.

Representing the state at last week’s trial were assistant district attorneys Apryl Bradshaw and Graham Wilson.

Following the guilty verdict, Judge Zachary Walden ordered a pre-sentence investigation report and set the case for sentencing on Aug. 10, 2026.

In Tennessee, reckless homicide is a Class D felony that is punishable by two to 12 years in prison.

Chambers was survived by her children, Kaydence Reign, Dominick Kaceton, and Killian McKinley.

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Good Monday morning! Welcome to a brand new week. This is The Daybreaker, the first of several newsletters that will be published this week by the Independent Herald. The Daybreaker (Monday morning) and The Weekender (Thursday evening) are our two news-first newsletters. We publish several other newsletters throughout the week, as well as our regular E-Edition on Thursday and our Varsity E-Edition on Sunday (during sports season). If you’d like to adjust your subscription to include (or exclude) this or any of our other newsletters, please do so here. If you need to subscribe, it’s as simple as entering your email address:

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Highway 27 Unity Club announces new chapter

ONEIDA | Highway 27 Unity Club has announced what it calls a “meaningful new chapter in its journey of serving the recovery community.”

The club, located on Alberta Street in Oneida, has officially acquired its building, securing a safe and welcoming place that will “continue to be available for individuals for as long as they need it.”

As previously reported, Oneida’s Jerry and Diane Slaven — the faces behind JDS Technologies in Oneida and Winfield — acquired the Highway 27 Unity Club property from a court-ordered auction and provided lifetime use of it to the club.

The club’s Amy Montgomery — who is also the owner of Recovery Ridge sober living home in Oneida — said the stability of acquiring the property “allows us to better fulfill our mission — helping people from all walks of life find support, healing, and a path toward rebuilding their lives.”

“We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jerry and Diane Slaven for this incredible gift,” Montgomery said. “Their generosity has made it possible for us to continue serving the community in a bigger and more meaningful way. Their belief in recovery and in people has truly changed lives.”

Montgomery called the club’s meeting space more than just a building.

“It’s a lifeline,” she said. “Every day, individuals come through our doors seeking connection, understanding, and the tools necessary to overcome addiction and life’s challenges. The impact has been powerful, with many finding hope and purpose again.”

Highway 27 Unity Club has also added a meeting. Alcoholics Anonymous now meets at the club at noon on Wednesdays, in addition to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. Narcotics Anonymous meets at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays.

“This ensures that more individuals have access to recovery support at times that fit their daily lives,” Montgomery said.

The contributions the Slavens have made toward recovery, meanwhile, don’t stop with the meeting space. They have also provided employment opportunities to members of the recovery community.

“These jobs are more than just work. They represent dignity, responsibility, and a renewed sense of purpose,” Montgomery said. “For many, this has been a crucial step in reclaiming their lives and building a stable future.

“The Highway 27 Unity Club continues to stand as a beacon of hope, unity, and transformation,” Montgomery said. “With the support of compassionate individuals like Jerry and Diane Slaven, we are able to make a lasting difference, one life at a time.”

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The growth chart

On Mondays, we present The Growth Chart, a look at recent and ongoing growth throughout Scott County.

Parkside Villas: Stanley Building General Contractors has begun construction on a new condominium unit near Oneida City Park. Parkside Villas will be located next-door to the Scott County Ambulance Service headquarters off Paint Rock Road and Buffalo Road, and will consist of four units with two-bedrooms and two baths that will be offered for sale once completed. There will be a monthly HOA. Amy Martin, Oneida realtor and Stanley Building representative, called it “a new style of housing here in the county. Home ownership and someone else does the maintenance.”

O&W Road: The O&W Road into the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area is slated to re-open in weeks, following completion of a bridge over Pine Creek near the intersection with Toomey Road just outside the national park.

Niggs Creek Road: Construction of a new railroad overpass at High Point has begun, with the demolition of the existing bridge — which has been condemned by TDOT — beginning in late April.

Alberta Street resurfacing: The resurfacing of Alberta Street through Oneida is currently underway. Rogers Group is simultaneously milling the existing pavement, and laying down new asphalt along a stretch of highway from near the Boys & Girls Club on the south end to near Bear Creek Road on the north end.

Swan Hollow Brew Project: Oneida will soon have its second brewery. The father-and-son team of Jeff and Chris Swanson are planning Swan Hallow at 281 Underpass Drive in Oneida (former site of the Coffey Medical Center), according to the Scott County Chamber of Commerce. It will offer craft beer brewed on site, as well as food and entertainment. It will be Oneida’s second brewery. Big South Fork Brewing opened in the former First Trust & Savings Bank building on South Main Street earlier this year.

Long John Silver’s: A Long John Silver’s fast food seafood restaurant is being constructed at Oneida Plaza, on the south side of McDonald’s. The targeted opening date is August 2026.

Zaxby’s: Zaxby’s, the fast food chicken restaurant chain, has purchased 1.3 acres of property on Alberta Street, just north of the Oneida Municipal Services Building, and continues to prepare it for the start of construction.

Dairy Queen: Nick Patel, who owns several other businesses in Scott County, is planning to purchase a DQ franchise that will be located in Oneida. Patel told the Independent Herald in March that the property for the new store has not yet been finalized.

Polo’s Italian Restaurant: Polo’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza, which will be located in Oneida Plaza (up the sidewalk from Walmart), announced on April 3 that its new store will open soon. A grand opening has not yet been announced.

Huntsville property: Although mum remains the word — at least officially — on the potential tenant for the former Napa Auto Parts building on Baker Highway in Huntsville, Oneida-based Brewco, which owns the property, continues to make significant renovations to the building. The pending tenant is a poorly-kept secret, but the owner of the business has said he is not ready to make a formal announcement.

Dollar General: Following a failed attempt to place a store near the intersection of Coopertown Road and Cooper Lake Road in Oneida, Dollar General is in the process of constructing a store at the intersection of Coopertown Road and Smith Road in the Coopertown community, across from New Haven Baptist Church. The floor has been poured and parking lot paving is set to begin. The new DG will join other stores in Oneida, Huntsville, Robbins, and Winfield, and is likely not the last DG location in Scott County.

New Flea Market: The 63/27 Flea Market recently opened at the former mobile home retail lot on U.S. Highway 27 just south of the S.R. 63 intersection in Huntsville. Tina Reed — who most folks will recognize from Perdue’s Shell Kitchen in Huntsville — is the face behind the new flea market, which rents spaces for $25 per day.

TCAT: The Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville has opened both its new buildings on the Oneida campus, which represents a $17 million investment. The back building houses the college’s diesel and power line programs, while the front building houses industrial maintenance, building construction, and a new program that will launch soon: aviation maintenance. The existing buildings on the Oneida campus have been painted to match the new buildings. The only thing that remains incomplete is the final paving of the parking lots.

Package Stores: The Town of Oneida began accepting applications for certificates of compliance for liquor stores in May, following November 2024 referendums approved by voters of both the town and the county. Two package stores have since been permitted and are slated to open in the coming months. Lisa Meadows announced on Facebook on Dec. 2 that applications for employment are currently being accepted at one of those stores, which will be located in Oneida Plaza. Huntsville, too, will soon have a package store. Signage for that store went up at the site of the old Hickory Mill on S.R. 63 last month. A convenience store and “fast food” are also planned for the location.

Casey’s: The Casey’s pizza and convenience store chain has opened a store on Alberta Street in Oneida, located “on the corner” at the site of the former 4WD Performance, which was the home of Marcum’s Parts before that.

Mountain People’s Health Councils: Mountain People’s recently debuted its new, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging center at its Oneida campus, located on Industrial Lane.

University of Tennessee Medical Clinic: University of Tennessee Medical Center has opened a new medical facility next-door to the Scott County Food Court in south Oneida that is currently accepting patients for University Midwives and UT Rheumatology Associates. Scott County Mayor Jerried Jeffers said in January that cardiology and high-risk pregnancy will be added later.

More to Come: There are several other businesses that are in the preliminary or planning stages, including some in Huntsville. No official announcements have yet been made, but could be forthcoming shortly. Something to add? Email newsroom@ihoneida.com.

Words of Wisdom

Each week, Preacher Johnny Polk and the Oneida Church of Christ present Words of Wisdom, short devotionals that are archived on our website. Here is the current Words of Wisdom. (Sponsored content.)

☀️ Weather: Today will be nice, but it won’t stay that way all week. We’ll be sunny and 77° this afternoon, but rain returns to the forecast tomorrow afternoon, with slight rain chances at first, and then rain will become likely tomorrow night and remain likely through Thursday. Check out our daily Eye to the Sky updates on our Facebook page — published each morning at 7 a.m. on the dot — or always available at indherald.com.

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📅 Community Calendar

Monday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center (Monticello Pike, Huntsville) offers a walking program, puzzles and games, and massage chairs every week day (Monday-Friday) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Additionally, Bingo will be offered today at 1 p.m and Golden Grooves Exercise at 2 p.m.

Monday: Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services’ Mobile Health Clinic will be in the Walmart parking lot in Oneida from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering integrated primary care and behavioral health. No insurance is not a problem. Call (866) 599-0466 for more information.

Monday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for dine-in or carry-out. Phone: (423) 569-5972.

Monday: Scott County Commission will meet at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville, beginning at 5 p.m.

Tuesday: Primary elections will be held for the August general election today across Tennessee. Polls will be open in Scott County from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Tuesday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Tuesday: Pinnacle Resource Center’s food pantry (1513 Jeffers Road, Huntsville) will be open beginning at 10 a.m. There are no income guidelines; however, a photo ID and a piece of mail with a Scott County address are required.

Tuesday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center in Huntsville will host Tai Chi at 11 a.m.

Tuesday: Boy Scout Troop #333 will meet at the Oneida War Memorial Building on Alberta Street in Oneida beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Wall Builders will meet from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church (1611 Glass House Road, Helenwood) for those struggling with addiction or striving to keep off drugs. There will be preaching, teaching, food, fellowship and personal counseling.

Tuesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 7 p.m. at the Highway 27 Unity Club (17737 S. Alberta Street, Oneida).

Wednesday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for dine-in or carry-out.

Wednesday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center in Huntsville will host Golden Grooves Exercise at 1 p.m.

Thursday: The Gerry McDonald Mission House, located on Church Avenue, directly behind First United Methodist Church, is open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. You are eligible to receive food once per month. 569-8828.

Thursday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Thursday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center in Huntsville will host Crafts at 1 p.m.

Thursday: The Oneida Special School District Board of Education will meet in regular session at the Central Office Training Center, beginning at 6 p.m.

The Community Calendar is presented weekly by Citizens Gas Utility District. Citizens Gas Utility District pipelines are generally safe. They can be damaged by things such as excavation, natural forces, and automobile accidents. These can potentially cause a leak.Visit citizensgastn.com.

Thank you for reading. Our next newsletter will be Echoes From the Past tomorrow. If you’d like to update your subscription to add or subtract any of our newsletters, do so here. If you haven’t yet subscribed, it’s as simple as adding your email address!

◼️ About the IH • IH Sports Network • The Encyclopedia of Scott County
◼️ Subscribe • Sponsor • Manage Your Account
◼️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, YouTube

Our Newsletters:
• Monday morning: The Daybreaker (news & the week ahead)
• Tuesday: Echoes from the Past (stories of our history)
• Wednesday: Threads of Life (obituaries)
• Thursday evening: The Weekender (news & the weekend)
• Friday: Friday Features (beyond the news)
• Sunday: Varsity (a weekly sports recap)

Subscribe now

Good Thursday evening! This is The Weekender, a final look at this week’s news from the Independent Herald. The Daybreaker (Monday) and The Weekender (Thursday evening) are our two news-first newsletters. We publish several other newsletters throughout the week, as well as our regular E-Edition on Thursday and our Varsity E-Edition on Sunday (during sports season). If you’d like to adjust your subscription to include (or exclude) any of these newsletters, do so here. If you haven’t subscribed, please consider doing so!

Today’s newsletter is sponsored by Buckeye Home Medical Equipment. Serving Scott County and several other communities in the Upper Cumberland region, Buckeye is a full-line DME providing home health equipment to its patients.

Tim Smith appointed President of TCAT Oneida/Huntsville

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 | Tim Smith has been recommended to be the next president of Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville, Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings announced Tuesday.

Tydings, who also recommended Dr. John M. Davis as the next president at Cleveland State Community College, said that her recommendations follow “deliberative search processes at both institutions.”

The Board of Regents will consider the chancellor’s recommendations during a special called meeting Thursday. It will be publicly livestreamed, beginning at 10 a.m.

Smith is currently TCAT Oneida/Huntsville’s vice president and has served in the TBR system since 2007. He earned Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education, both at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Davis has been vice president of administrative services at Germanna Community College in Virginia since 2017 and an administrator there since 2008. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership from the College of William and Mary, a Master of Science in Higher Education and a Bachelor of Science in Criminology, both from Florida State University, and an Associate of Arts from Gulf Coast Community College.

Smith was one of two finalists for the presidential appointment at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville. The other was Noah Duncan, who is also an Oneida native and is currently vice president of TCAT Knoxville. He has served in the TBR system since 2017.

The finalists were selected by search advisory committees at each college, which spent months reviewing and interviewing candidates. The TCAT Oneida/Huntsville finalists were announced April 3, and participated in campus visits and public interviews, with opportunities for public and campus community feedback. The chancellor selected Smith — and Davis at Cleveland State — after carefully reviewing the feedback and more interviews with the finalists.

Both search committees were composed of board members and representatives of the colleges’ faculty, staff, students, and civic leaders from their communities.

Current TCAT Oneida/Huntsville President Dwight Murphy is retiring in June after a distinguished 20-year tenure. He was appointed to the role in late 2005 while holding the office of Scott County Mayor. He took over his duties at TCAT on Jan. 1, 2006, replacing Arvis Blakley as the fourth president in the school’s history.

Huntsville Post-Acute & Rehabilitation Center offers short-term or long-term care … on your terms. Learn more. (Sponsored content.)

School Board picks Marc Taylor for director of schools post

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | By a 5-2 vote on first ballot, the Scott County Board of Education on Wednesday selected current Scott High Principal Marc Taylor as Scott County’s next director of schools.

Taylor will become the 33rd person to serve in the capacity of the school system’s chief executive officer, and the fourth person who will serve in that role after being appointed by the Board of Education. The position was elected by the public from 1924 to 2000, and appointed by County Court — a forerunner to today’s County Commission — prior to that.

Taylor was one of six candidates to apply for the position, a number that was reduced to five after Fairview School Principal Scott Cash withdrew his name from consideration prior to interviews.

At Wednesday’s special called meeting, Taylor initially received the votes of 1st District Board Member Tommy Silcox, 4th District Board Member Kim Kidd, 5th District Board Member Angie King, and 7th District Board Member Dr. Tressa Murphy. That was enough to earn him the position, which prompted 6th District Board Member Llew Stanley to switch his vote from Keith Shannon to Taylor in a show of confidence.

Second District Board Member Diane Smith and 3rd District Board Member Chris Shelton voted for Kenny Chadwell.

Chadwell is currently the principal at LaFollette Elementary School and represents Scott County’s 4th District on County Commission.

Shannon is a former principal at Robbins School and is currently the director of the Morgan County Career & Technical Center in Wartburg.

Also in the running were Campbell County principal and Scott High alumnus Daniel Sexton, and former Texas school superintendent Jerry Gibson.

Taylor was viewed by many members of the public as a long shot at the beginning of the process. Despite spending many years as a coach and administrator at McCreary Central High School in nearby Stearns, Ky., the Williamsburg, Ky. native was relatively unknown locally prior to taking the role of principal at Scott High School this school year when Jeremy Hamby moved to Central Office to replace Shannon.

However, Taylor impressed many in the community — as well as on the school board — with his interview. Educators at Scott High School have also expressed confidence in his ability to make the move to Central Office, with many privately citing his firm but fair approach to school administration.

Taylor will replace Bill Hall, who retires in June as the longest-tenured director of schools in Scott County’s history — a distinction he shares with John Lee West, who served for 15 years in the 1930s and 1940s. Taylor will assume his duties on July 1, pending ratification of his contract with the school board.

Mountain People’s Health Councils offers general practice dentistry for all ages, using the latest technology for dental imagery and digital scanning. Sliding scale fees apply! Learn more. (Sponsored.)

Oneida High School names honor graduates

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 | Six co-valedictorians, five co-salutatorians, and a total of 14 students have been named top academic achievers in Oneida High School’s Class of 2026, Principal Stacy Love announced Tuesday.

Named the class’s valedictorians, with a GPA of 4.10714, are Isabella Bullar, Brady Burke, Kobie Kidd, Mason Laftery, Kamryn Stiltner, and Mariana Wright. Named the class’s salutatorians, with a GPA of 4.07143, are Anne Cross, Jolie Duncan, Hannah Foster, Jonathan Marcum, and Ethan Shockley. Rounding out this year’s honor graduates are Maggie Hamilton, with a GPA of 4.03571, and Allie Elmore and Miley Vanhook, with a GPA of 4.0.

» Complete story

ICYMI

Threads of Life: This week’s Threads of Life newsletter is in remembrance of Bud Keeton, Eddie Howard Jr., Lourene Jeffers, Pamela Jeffers, Tina Stampler, and Kenneth West. » Read It

Echoes in Time: This week’s Echoes in Time newsletter examines the question: Is there a fourth forgotten Revolutionary War veteran from Scott County? » Read It

The Weekend

🌥️ Weather: A cool weekend is on tap for the first of May. We’ll top out around 67° with mostly sunny skies tomorrow, then a low pressure system will slide to our south on Saturday. We’ll only see a 20% chance of rain here on the northern Cumberland Plateau, but some cooler temperatures will follow. We’ll struggle to get out of the 50s on Saturday, and drop to 35° Saturday night, which will likely lead to some patchy frost. Sunday will be sunny with a high of 65°. Check out our daily Eye to the Sky updates on our Facebook page— published each morning at 7 a.m. on the dot.

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⛪︎ Featured Church

Fairview Missionary Baptist Church

Denomination: Baptist (Missionary)
Pastor: Charles Lowe
Address: 8939 Baker Highway, Huntsville

Services
Sunday Morning: 10 a.m.
Sunday Evening: 6:30 p.m.

» See the complete Church Directory, and thank you to our sponsors of the Church Directory.

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📅 Community Calendar

• Saturday: First Saturday night services will be held at Capital Hill Missionary Baptist Church (6:30 p.m.), East Robbins Missionary Baptist Church (6 p.m.), Norma Missionary Baptist Church (6 p.m.), and Black Creek Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church (7 p.m.). For more information, see our Church Directory at indherald.com.

• Sunday: Celebrate Recovery, a 12-step program designed to help with addiction, co-dependency and domestic abuse, will be hosted by Fire & Purpose Ministries from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 27192 Scott Highway in Winfield. There will be food, fellowship, praise and worship. Childcare is provided.

The Community Calendar is presented weekly by Citizens Gas Utility District. You can help prevent pipeline damage and leaks by calling 811 before doing any excavating or demolition and submitting a utility locate request. Visit citizensgastn.com.

Scenic Sale!

This week’s sale items at Scenic Foods in Huntsville! The sale continues through Tuesday. Sponsored content.

Thank you for reading. Our next newsletter will be Friday Features. If you’d like to update your subscription to add or subtract any of our newsletters, do so here. If you haven’t yet subscribed, it’s as simple as adding your email address!

◼️ About the IH • IH Sports Network • The Encyclopedia of Scott County
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Our Newsletters:
• Monday morning: The Daybreaker (news & the week ahead)
• Tuesday: Echoes from the Past (stories of our history)
• Wednesday: Threads of Life (obituaries)
• Thursday evening: The Weekender (news & the weekend)
• Friday: Friday Features (beyond the news)
• Sunday: Varsity (a weekly sports recap)

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HUNTSVILLE | By a 5-2 vote on first ballot, the Scott County Board of Education on Wednesday selected current Scott High Principal Marc Taylor as Scott County’s next director of schools.

Taylor will become the 33rd person to serve in the capacity of the school system’s chief executive officer, and the fourth person who will serve in that role after being appointed by the Board of Education. The position was elected by the public from 1924 to 2000, and appointed by County Court — a forerunner to today’s County Commission — prior to that.

Taylor was one of six candidates to apply for the position, a number that was reduced to five after Fairview School Principal Scott Cash withdrew his name from consideration prior to interviews.

At Wednesday’s special called meeting, Taylor initially received the votes of 1st District Board Member Tommy Silcox, 4th District Board Member Kim Kidd, 5th District Board Member Angie King, and 7th District Board Member Dr. Tressa Murphy. That was enough to earn him the position, which prompted 6th District Board Member Llew Stanley to switch his vote from Keith Shannon to Taylor in a show of confidence.

Second District Board Member Diane Smith and 3rd District Board Member Chris Shelton voted for Kenny Chadwell.

Chadwell is currently the principal at LaFollette Elementary School and represents Scott County’s 4th District on County Commission.

Shannon is a former principal at Robbins School and is currently the director of the Morgan County Career & Technical Center in Wartburg.

Also in the running were Campbell County principal and Scott High alumnus Daniel Sexton, and former Texas school superintendent Jerry Gibson.

Taylor was viewed by many members of the public as a long shot at the beginning of the process. Despite spending many years as a coach and administrator at McCreary Central High School in nearby Stearns, Ky., the Williamsburg, Ky. native was relatively unknown locally prior to taking the role of principal at Scott High School this school year when Jeremy Hamby moved to Central Office to replace Shannon.

However, Taylor impressed many in the community — as well as on the school board — with his interview. Educators at Scott High School have also expressed confidence in his ability to make the move to Central Office, with many privately citing his firm but fair approach to school administration.

Taylor will replace Bill Hall, who retires in June as the longest-tenured director of schools in Scott County’s history — a distinction he shares with John Lee West, who served for 15 years in the 1930s and 1940s. Taylor will assume his duties on July 1, pending ratification of his contract with the school board.

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HUNTSVILLE | Tim Smith has been recommended to be the next president of Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville, Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings announced Tuesday.

Tydings, who also recommended Dr. John M. Davis as the next president at Cleveland State Community College, said that her recommendations follow “deliberative search processes at both institutions.”

The Board of Regents will consider the chancellor’s recommendations during a special called meeting Thursday. It will be publicly livestreamed, beginning at 10 a.m.

Smith is currently TCAT Oneida/Huntsville’s vice president and has served in the TBR system since 2007. He earned Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education, both at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Davis has been vice president of administrative services at Germanna Community College in Virginia since 2017 and an administrator there since 2008. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership from the College of William and Mary, a Master of Science in Higher Education and a Bachelor of Science in Criminology, both from Florida State University, and an Associate of Arts from Gulf Coast Community College.

Smith was one of two finalists for the presidential appointment at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville. The other was Noah Duncan, who is also an Oneida native and is currently vice president of TCAT Knoxville. He has served in the TBR system since 2017.

The finalists were selected by search advisory committees at each college, which spent months reviewing and interviewing candidates. The TCAT Oneida/Huntsville finalists were announced April 3, and participated in campus visits and public interviews, with opportunities for public and campus community feedback. The chancellor selected Smith — and Davis at Cleveland State — after carefully reviewing the feedback and more interviews with the finalists.

Both search committees were composed of board members and representatives of the colleges’ faculty, staff, students, and civic leaders from their communities.

Current TCAT Oneida/Huntsville President Dwight Murphy is retiring in June after a distinguished 20-year tenure. He was appointed to the role in late 2005 while holding the office of Scott County Mayor. He took over his duties at TCAT on Jan. 1, 2006, replacing Arvis Blakley as the fourth president in the school’s history.

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ONEIDA | Six co-valedictorians, five co-salutatorians, and a total of 14 students have been named top academic achievers in Oneida High School’s Class of 2026, Principal Stacy Love announced Tuesday.

Named the class’s valedictorians, with a GPA of 4.10714, are Isabella Bullar, Brady Burke, Kobie Kidd, Mason Laftery, Kamryn Stiltner, and Mariana Wright. Named the class’s salutatorians, with a GPA of 4.07143, are Anne Cross, Jolie Duncan, Hannah Foster, Jonathan Marcum, and Ethan Shockley. Rounding out this year’s honor graduates are Maggie Hamilton, with a GPA of 4.03571, and Allie Elmore and Miley Vanhook, with a GPA of 4.0.

Isabella Bullard is the daughter of Eilen Slaven and Stanley Bullard and stepdaughter of Barry Slaven. She is involved in Beta Club, National Honor Society, Band, Drama, and is the School Board Student Representative.

Brady Burke is the son of Melissa and Monty Burke. He is a two year member of National Honor Society, one year member of the Beta Club, and four year member of the football team. He earned All-Region Awards three times in his high school football career and received All-Academic Team honors twice. After graduation, Brady plans to attend Tennessee Tech and major in engineering.

Kobie Kidd is the daughter of Collin and Jade Kidd. She is a three year member of Beta Club, a two year member of National Honors, and has completed over 30 credit hours of dual enrollment courses. She plans to attend college and become a Radiologic Technologist.

Mason Lafferty is the son of Chris and Christina Tucker, and the late Mark Lafferty. He is a three year member of Beta Club and a two year member of the National Honor Society. He is deeply honored to receive the Valedictorian title in recognition of his hard work over the past four years. After graduation, Mason plans to attend a four year university to pursue a degree in engineering.

Kamryn Stiltner is the daughter of Leisha and David Lowe, and Matt Stiltner. She is a four year member of the OHS Lady Indians soccer and basketball teams. Kamryn has remained active in Best Buddies, Beta Club, National Honor Society, and serving as class vice president. She has also challenged herself through dual enrollment courses. Kamryn has been accepted to East Tennessee State University where she will be majoring in nursing. She credits her achievements to hard work, perseverance, and giving all glory to the Lord.

Mari Wright is the daughter of Melisa Wright and Darek Wright. She serves as the secretary for Beta Club and as the historian for the National Honor Society. Mari is also a four year member of the OHS cheer squad and has participated in Best Buddies for three years. In addition, she is active with the youth of Little Charity Church. Following graduation, Mari plans to attend the University of the Cumberlands to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant.

Anne Cross is the daughter of Rick and Kendra Cross. She is a proud member of the BETA Club, National Honor Society, Best Buddies, and Imprints of Honor Club. She plans to attend Tennessee Tech University after graduation and major in Zoology.

Jolie Duncan is the daughter of Will and Amanda Duncan. She is a three year member of the Beta Club and a two year member of Best Buddies and a four year member of the Softball team. After high school, Jolie is furthering her education at Tennessee Tech, where she will major in agribusiness and management.

Hannah Foster is the daughter of Paul and Chasity Foster. She is a three year member of the Beta Club, secretary of National Honor Society, president of the STAND YSLI Youth Coalition Board, three year member of Best Buddies, and she has over 500 service hours. She plans to attend college and pursue graduate studies to become a juvenile court advocate dedicated to supporting youth within the justice system. She was also the recipient of the Distinguished Tennessean Award from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Jonathan Marcum has been at Oneida High School since his Kindergarten year. He has always valued hard work and strived to do his best in whatever he does. He is honored to receive this title as a result of his hard work and dedication he has put in these last four years. Go Indians!

Ethan Shockley, the son of John and Jennifer Shockley, is a four year member of FFA, as well as a member of the Beta Club and the National Honor Society. He is a dedicated and hardworking student who always strives to be empathetic toward others. He will be attending the University of Tennessee in the Chancellor’s Honors Program, where he is enrolled in a Pre-Med program. He hopes to one day work in the field of Oncology as a Molecular Pathologist.

Maggie Hamilton is the daughter of Trace and Chris Hamilton. She is a three year member of Beta Club and Best Buddies, as well as a two year member of the National Honor Society. After high school, Maggie plans to further her education at Roane State Community College where she will study to become a radiologic technologist.

Allie Elmore is involved in several clubs including Beta Club and National Honors. She has participated in Best Buddies. She have maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout my academic career, and I now have Honor Graduate status. She plans to attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville this fall to pursue a career as a forensic psychologist.

Miley (Olivia) Van Hook is the daughter of Jason Van Hook and Miley Michelle Van Hook. She has been involved in band, drama, Beta Club, and National Honor Society.

HUNTSVILLE | Two announcements impacting the future of education in Scott County are expected this week.

The Scott County Board of Education will meet in special session at 10 a.m. Wednesday to choose its next director of schools. The board interviewed five candidates earlier this month: Kenny Chadwell, Keith Shannon, Daniel Sexton, Marc Taylor, and Jerry Gibson. One of those five will replace Bill Hall, who is retiring in June after 15 years as Scott County’s director of schools.

Separately, the Tennessee Board of Regents is expected to hear Chancellor Flora Tydings’ selection as president of Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville when it meets in special called session on Thursday. Earlier this month, two finalists were announced for the position: the school’s current vice president, Tim Smith, and Noah Duncan, who is currently a vice president of TCAT Knoxville. The two interviewed before a community panel on April 9. One of them will replace Dwight Murphy, who is retiring in June after 20 years as TCAT Oneida/Huntsville’s president.

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Good Monday morning! Welcome to a brand new week. This is The Daybreaker, the first of several newsletters that will be published this week by the Independent Herald. The Daybreaker (Monday morning) and The Weekender (Thursday evening) are our two news-first newsletters. We publish several other newsletters throughout the week, as well as our regular E-Edition on Thursday and our Varsity E-Edition on Sunday (during sports season). If you’d like to adjust your subscription to include (or exclude) this or any of our other newsletters, please do so here. If you need to subscribe, it’s as simple as entering your email address:

Subscribe now

Open your account online — anytime, anywhere! First National Bank makes it easier than ever to bank with us. You can open an account online, from the comfort of your home or on the go. Start now. (Sponsored content.)

Construction begins on High Point bridge replacement

Construction is slated to begin today on a new bridge at High Point, according to Scott County Road Superintendent Kelvin King.

The Niggs Creek Road overpass of Norfolk-Southern Railroad has been closed since spring 2024, when the bridge was condemned by the TN Dept. of Transportation. On Monday, Cookeville-based King General Contracting will begin a project to replace the bridge.

King General Contracting is the same firm that is currently completing the O&W Road bridge over Pine Creek. That project is in its final stages. In September 2025, it was awarded the Niggs Creek Road project after submitting a $1.9 million bid for the job. The only other bid received by the Scott County Finance Department was from Southern Construction in Knoxville, for more than $3.5 million.

The new bridge will be similar in size to the existing bridge, which was originally built in the 1940s and was heavily repaired in the 1970s after being damaged by a train. Road Superintendent Kelvin King said there will be some minor adjustments in height and width due to requirements of Norfolk-Southern.

The start of construction on a new bridge has been a long time coming because it overpasses the railroad, involving a separate entity — besides just Scott County and TDOT — in each step of the engineering process. The most recent hold-up was getting final approval for the removal of the existing bridge.

Need a good rate on your auto insurance? Contact your local State Farm agent, Roger Baldwin. (Sponsored content.)

Alum fire brought under control

STEARNS, Ky. | The 1,100-acre Alum Fire in the Daniel Boone National Forest near here was listed at 93% containment as of Friday evening, and the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area provided its last update on the fire by announcing that a section of the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail that had been closed was being reopened.

The fire, burning mostly on the Daniel Boone National Forest, crossed onto the Big South Fork NRRA to threaten both the Alum Ford and Yahoo Falls areas.

A temporary ban on open fires in the Big South Fork NRRA backcountry remains in effect.

Announcements expected this week on director of schools, TCAT president

Two announcements impacting the future of education in Scott County are expected this week.

The Scott County Board of Education will meet in special session at 10 a.m. Wednesday to choose its next director of schools. The board interviewed five candidates earlier this month: Kenny Chadwell, Keith Shannon, Daniel Sexton, Marc Taylor, and Jerry Gibson. One of those five will replace Bill Hall, who is retiring in June after 15 years as Scott County’s director of schools.

Separately, the Tennessee Board of Regents is expected to hear Chancellor Flora Tydings’ selection as president of Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville when it meets in special called session on Thursday. Earlier this month, two finalists were announced for the position: the school’s current vice president, Tim Smith, and Noah Duncan, who is currently a vice president of TCAT Knoxville. The two interviewed before a community panel on April 9. One of them will replace Dwight Murphy, who is retiring in June after 20 years as TCAT Oneida/Huntsville’s president.

Words of Wisdom

Each week, Preacher Johnny Polk and the Oneida Church of Christ present Words of Wisdom, short devotionals that are archived on our website. Here is the current Words of Wisdom. (Sponsored content.)

⛈️ Weather: Today will be nice, but thunderstorms are expected tonight. Our area is under a “Marginal Risk” for severe weather tonight. Another round of storms is likely tomorrow night, when we’re under a “Slight Risk” for severe weather. Sunshine and cooler temperatures return on Thursday. Check out our daily Eye to the Sky updates on our Facebook page — published each morning at 7 a.m. on the dot — or always available at indherald.com.

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📅 Community Calendar

Monday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center (Monticello Pike, Huntsville) offers a walking program, puzzles and games, and massage chairs every weekday (Monday-Friday) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Additionally, Bingo will be today at 1 p.m.

Monday: Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services’ Mobile Health Clinic will be in the Walmart parking lot in Oneida from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering integrated primary care and behavioral health. No insurance is not a problem. Call (866) 599-0466 for more information.

Monday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for dine-in or carry-out. Phone: (423) 569-5972.

Monday: The Scott County Airport Authority will meet at Scott County Airport in Oneida, beginning at 5 p.m.

Tuesday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Tuesday: Pinnacle Resource Center’s food pantry (1513 Jeffers Road, Huntsville) will be open beginning at 10 a.m. There are no income guidelines; however, a photo ID and a piece of mail with a Scott County address are required.

Tuesday: Boy Scout Troop #333 will meet at the Oneida War Memorial Building on Alberta Street in Oneida beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Wall Builders will meet from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church (1611 Glass House Road, Helenwood) for those struggling with addiction or striving to keep off drugs. There will be preaching, teaching, food, fellowship and personal counseling.

Tuesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 7 p.m. at the Highway 27 Unity Club (17737 S. Alberta Street, Oneida).

Wednesday: The Scott County Board of Education will meet in special session at the Central Office in Huntsville, beginning at 10 a.m., for the purpose of selecting the next director of schools.

Wednesday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for dine-in or carry-out.

Wednesday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center in Huntsville will host Golden Grooves Exercise at 1 p.m.

Thursday: The Gerry McDonald Mission House, located on Church Avenue, directly behind First United Methodist Church, is open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. You are eligible to receive food once per month. 569-8828.

Thursday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

The Community Calendar is presented weekly by Citizens Gas Utility District. You can help prevent pipeline damage and leaks by calling 811 before doing any excavating or demolition and submitting a utility locate request. Visit citizensgastn.com.

Thank you for reading. Our next newsletter will be Echoes From the Past tomorrow. If you’d like to update your subscription to add or subtract any of our newsletters, do so here. If you haven’t yet subscribed, it’s as simple as adding your email address!

◼️ About the IH • IH Sports Network • The Encyclopedia of Scott County
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Our Newsletters:
• Monday morning: The Daybreaker (news & the week ahead)
• Tuesday: Echoes from the Past (stories of our history)
• Wednesday: Threads of Life (obituaries)
• Thursday evening: The Weekender (news & the weekend)
• Friday: Friday Features (beyond the news)
• Sunday: Varsity (a weekly sports recap)

Subscribe now

Since 1904, First National Bank has been a part of Scott County. First National is local people — just like you. Visit fnboneida.com or call (423) 569-8586. (Sponsored content.)

Construction is slated to begin Monday on a new bridge at High Point, according to Scott County Road Superintendent Kelvin King.

The Niggs Creek Road overpass of Norfolk-Southern Railroad has been closed since spring 2024, when the bridge was condemned by the TN Dept. of Transportation. On Monday, Cookeville-based King General Contracting will begin a project to replace the bridge.

King General Contracting is the same firm that is currently completing the O&W Road bridge over Pine Creek. That project is in its final stages. In September 2025, it was awarded the Niggs Creek Road project after submitting a $1.9 million bid for the job. The only other bid received by the Scott County Finance Department was from Southern Construction in Knoxville, for more than $3.5 million.

The new bridge will be similar in size to the existing bridge, which was originally built in the 1940s and was heavily repaired in the 1970s after being damaged by a train. Road Superintendent Kelvin King said there will be some minor adjustments in height and width due to requirements of Norfolk-Southern.

The start of construction on a new bridge has been a long time coming because it overpasses the railroad, involving a separate entity — besides just Scott County and TDOT — in each step of the engineering process. The most recent hold-up was getting final approval for the removal of the existing bridge.

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HUNTSVILLE | The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is probing the death of a 16-year-old Scott High School student, who died of a gunshot wound early Sunday afternoon.

Gage King, 16, a junior at Scott High School, was fatally wounded in the shooting incident, which occurred in the Byrges Creek community south of Huntsville.

Scott County Sheriff Brian Keeton said Sunday evening that the TBI is leading the investigation. It is the second shooting incident that the TBI is currently investigating in Scott County. Xavier Burum, 24, of Oak Ridge, was shot and killed at a Stanley Creek residence on March 23.

While the TBI has released no information about Sunday’s shooting incident in the Byrges Creek community, early reports from the scene indicated that the shooting was believed to have been accidental. Authorities have not said how the 16-year-old was shot, nor have they released any other details surrounding the incident.

Counselors were on hand at Scott High School Monday to offer grief support as students returned to class.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been started to raise money for funeral expenses. It had raised half of its $2,800 goal as of Monday afternoon.

Angela Brummett, King’s grandmother who started the GoFundMe effort, said: “Losing someone so young and dear is something no family can ever truly prepare for, and our hearts are broken as we try to come to terms with this loss. Gage brought so much joy and love to everyone around him, and his absence leaves a void that can never be filled.”

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Good Monday morning! Welcome to a brand new week. This is The Daybreaker, the first of several newsletters that will be published this week by the Independent Herald. The Daybreaker (Monday morning) and The Weekender (Thursday evening) are our two news-first newsletters. We publish several other newsletters throughout the week, as well as our regular E-Edition on Thursday and our Varsity E-Edition on Sunday (during sports season). If you’d like to adjust your subscription to include (or exclude) this or any of our other newsletters, please do so here. If you need to subscribe, it’s as simple as entering your email address:

Subscribe now

Open your account online — anytime, anywhere! First National Bank makes it easier than ever to bank with us. You can open an account online, from the comfort of your home or on the go. Start now. (Sponsored content.)

Paving project to commence in Oneida

ONEIDA | A much-needed resurfacing of U.S. Highway 27 (Alberta Street) through Oneida is expected to begin this week.

Contractors for the TN Dept. of Transportation will complete the paving project from near Underpass Drive on the south end of town to near Bear Creek Road on the north end of town.

The placement of signage and other preliminary work has already been completed. The existing top layer of pavement is expected to be milled beginning this week.

The Oneida project is one of three paving projects in Scott County listed by TDOT for 2026. The others include S.R. 456 (Paint Rock Road) from Leamon Lane in the Pentecost area to Alberta Street., and S.R. 52 from the Morgan County line to its intersection with U.S. 27 in Elgin. That project will continue to the bridge over Clear Fork in Morgan County.

Meanwhile, TDOT last week awarded the uncompleted truck climbing lane project on S.R. 63 in western Campbell County to Rogers Group. The 12-foot-wide truck climbing lane extends seven-tenths of a mile west of the Stinking Creek Road intersection. The project also includes the construction of a turn lane at the S.R. 297 intersection near the Pioneer Post Office.

Need a good rate on your auto insurance? Contact your local State Farm agent, Roger Baldwin. (Sponsored content.)

Honor roll students announced

Honor roll and perfect attendance students have been named for several Scott County schools for the third nine-week grading period, including Fairview, Huntsville Middle, and Winfield.

Fairview

Kindergarten

Perfect Attendance: Hadley Cook, Layla Duncan, Adelyne Lawson, Azeria Lowe, Ryan Mills and Sunny Morrow.

1st Grade

First Honor Roll: James Yancey, Clayton Lowe, Ella Goad, Robert Boocher, Joe Chambers and Harper Stephens.

Second Honor Roll: Tyson Byrd, Fennic Crowley, Ayla Bond and Jayden Jeffers.

Perfect Attendance: Jasmine Adkins, Jeffery Adkins, Braylee Blevins and Myla Haase.

2nd Grade

First Honor Roll: Emma Greene, Ava Lawson, Levi Potter, Levi Newport and Riley Young.

Second Honor Roll: Dillon Gagne, Harper Hembree, Airistyn Jones, Bella Winnie, Keaton Barnes, Allie Byrge, Maylee Douglas, Nayome Jones, Jolie Lowe, Kade Newport and Grady Watson.

Perfect Attendance: Keaton Barnes, Ava Lawson and Kade Newport.

3rd Grade

First Honor Roll: Arielle Ranta.

Second Honor Roll: Gabby Botts, Brentley Goodman, Jayden Lowe, Sadie Massengale, Kendrick Phillips, Gannon Shepherd and Athena Yaden.

Perfect Attendance: Gabby Botts, Jaxon Byrge, Kayson Harness, Peyton Jeffers, Aubree Laxton and Gabe Strunk.

4th Grade

First Honor Roll: Patience Jeffers and Zane Shepherd.

Second Honor Roll: Jansen Adkins, Teddy Goad and Anna Young.

Perfect Attendance: Jax Boshears, Bailee Daugherty, Bree Haynes, Aaliyah Jones and Ethan Mason.

5th Grade

First Honor Roll: Kamden Strunk.

Second Honor Roll: Luke Lloyd, Bentlee Cash and Kember Phillips.

Perfect Attendance: Troy Caldwell, Darrell Houseman, Tymber Jeffers, Dayson King, Brynlee Lloyd, Sawyer Mason and Piper Morrow.

6th Grade

First Honor Roll: Makinlee Carson, Mackenzie Crowley, Josie Duncan, Emily Young and Isabelle Young.

Second Honor Roll: Levi Hatfield, Kaydence Holicki, Neveah Jeffers, Jayden Lloyd, Kylie Shepherd and Bethany Young.

Perfect Attendance: Dominic Bowling.

7th Grade

First Honor Roll: Ava Fitzgerald, Harley Hembree, Brantley Jeffers and Cooper Urann.

Second Honor Roll: Jacob Boutcher, Atlas Bruce, Hannah Massengale, Jaxon Cummins and Emma Lowe.

Perfect Attendance: Wyatt Bell, Jacob Boutcher and Bradley Mason.

8th Grade

First Honor Roll: Ariana Archer, Addie Botts, Ethyn Brooks, Analeigh Hatfield, Korbin Litton and Drew Walker.

Second Honor Roll: Jaxon Bertram, Shalynn Pickard, Gage Rectenwal and Wesley Smithers.

Perfect Attendance: Kaeley Adkins, Ariana Archer, Jaxon Bertram, Ethyn Brooks, Bella Daugherty and Shalynn Pickard.

Huntsville Middle

5th Grade

First Honor Roll: Emma Bass, Gabriel Butts, Amara Chambers, Addilyn Lowe, Gianni Mezo and Westen Winchester.

Second Honor Roll: Hunner Crowley, Easton Daughtery, Penelope De La Cruz, Bailey Emmons, Isaiah Freitag, Paisley Goodin, Jaxston Hicks, Destiny Holter, Rebecca Horne, Ava Huling, Destinee Lay, Maddox Lay, Kali Love, Dylan Lowe, Zechariah Sexton, Jace Smith, Emma Strunk, Hadlee West and Lily Yancey.

6th Grade

First Honor Roll: Emma Anderson, Canton Flowers, Emma Hughett, Addison Kennedy, Koleson Krahn, Ana Guzman Ramirez and Annalisa West.

Second Honor Roll: Khloe Bond, Kolton Boshears, Chase Boyatt, Mikensley Byrge, Luke Caldwell, Dagen Chambers, Teagan Ellis, William Freitag, Jayden Gansore, Suri Griffith, Raidyn Howard, Ryker Jeffers, Abigail Kennedy, Jaylene Key, Briella Lawson, Nixon Lay, Emery McConnell, Korbin Roberts, Rydel Rodgers, Brynn Shirley, Kallen Stephens, Kiona Yazzie and Roman Yazzie.

7th Grade

First Honor Roll: Caleb Adkins, Elizabeth Beam, Sydney Bertram, Destiny Byrd, Zoe Chambers, Mason Ellis, Liberty Hughett, Markaylynn Humphrey, Victoria Hutson, Lily Lawson, Hayden Perkins and Hunter Wagaman.

Second Honor Roll: Praylee Bowling, Anakin Casey, Aubree Cole, Tyson Davidson, Brady Duncan, Levi Hawn, Makayla Hutson, Kaydence Lay, McKinley Lowe, Kolton McKamey, Kase McMahan, Railey Montgomery, Briland Norris, JB Perkins, Nicolas Phillips, Krisha Prajapati, David Seaton, Lukas Smith, Remy Terry and Bella Thrower.

8th Grade

First Honor Roll: Addison Anderson, Sophia Smith and Sophia West.

Second Honor Roll: Cage Austin, Ava Bass, Olivia Daggs, Kinley Dick, Pazelynn Jeffers, Gracie Kennedy, Titus Kidd, Hailey Meadors, Kendra Newport, Jacee Pike and Adelynn Rivera.

Winfield

Pre-K

Perfect Attendance: Paisleigh Brown.

Kindergarten

Perfect Attendance: Myron Harness.

1st Grade

First Honor Roll: Jalen Lowe, Thomas Dempsey, Shayleigh Harris, Cora King and Praylinn Wagaman.

Second Honor Roll: Mason Botts, Carter Edwards, Arnessa Mulligan, Dalary Silva, Paisleigh Smith, Zoey Surig, Raylan Crabtree, Harper Foster, Ryker Gibson, Connor Strunk and Lillie Trosper.

Perfect Attendance: Bailee Cochran and Dalary Silva.

2nd Grade

First Honor Roll: Danielle Grant, Isabella Mantooth, Payton Marlow, Walker Phillips, Elliot Stewart, Brayden Crabtree, Kinsley Strunk and Cole Wilson.

Second Honor Roll: Matalyn Cowan, Lennox Dayson and Gabriel Nelson.

Perfect Attendance: Arabella Garland.

3rd Grade

Second Honor Roll: Amanda Baird, Alexandrea Fry, Jaxon Kidd, Blakelynn Stephens and Collin Surig.

4th Grade

First Honor Roll: Violet Shockley.

Second Honor Roll: Liam Roysdon and Justin Trammell.

Perfect Attendance: Rylee Cochran, Michael Jenkins, Elizabeth McDonough and Grayson Whitehead.

5th Grade

Second Honor Roll: Collin Adkins.

Perfect Attendance: Rachel Cross and Zander Terry.

6th Grade

Second Honor Roll: Preston Lay.

7th Grade

Second Honor Roll: Levi Shockley, Liam Roysdon, Tylah McDonough and Johnathan Grant.

Perfect Attendance: Eli Nicely, Corey Roche, Levi Shockley and Callyn Wilson.

8th Grade

First Honor Roll: Bristol Partin, Asher Stephens and Coby Wilson.

Second Honor Roll: Jackson Crabtree, Hayden Dykes, Tiffany Grant, Zoey Phillips and Luke Watters.

Perfect Attendance: Tafton Grant and Coby Wilson.

Words of Wisdom

Each week, Preacher Johnny Polk and the Oneida Church of Christ present Words of Wisdom, short devotionals that are archived on our website. Here is the current Words of Wisdom. (Sponsored content.)

The Week Ahead

☀️ Weather: Another beautiful stretch of weather is ahead, with dry, sunny days and warming temperatures. We’ll only be in the low 60s today, but a nice warming trend will kick in tomorrow, with temperatures pushing into the mid 70s. We’ll be in the lower 80s by Thursday. Check out our daily Eye to the Sky updates on our Facebook page — published each morning at 7 a.m. on the dot — or always available at indherald.com.

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📅 Community Calendar

Monday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center (Monticello Pike, Huntsville) offers a walking program, puzzles and games, and massage chairs every week day (Monday-Friday) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Monday: Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services’ Mobile Health Clinic will be in the Walmart parking lot in Oneida from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering integrated primary care and behavioral health. No insurance is not a problem. Call (866) 599-0466 for more information.

Monday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for dine-in or carry-out. Phone: (423) 569-5972.

Monday: Scott County Commission will meet at 5 p.m. at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville.

Tuesday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Tuesday: Pinnacle Resource Center’s food pantry (1513 Jeffers Road, Huntsville) will be open beginning at 10 a.m. There are no income guidelines; however, a photo ID and a piece of mail with a Scott County address are required.

Tuesday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center in Huntsville will host Tai Chi at 11 a.m.

Tuesday: Boy Scout Troop #333 will meet at the Oneida War Memorial Building on Alberta Street in Oneida beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Wall Builders will meet from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church (1611 Glass House Road, Helenwood) for those struggling with addiction or striving to keep off drugs. There will be preaching, teaching, food, fellowship and personal counseling.

Tuesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 7 p.m. at the Highway 27 Unity Club (17737 S. Alberta Street, Oneida).

Wednesday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for dine-in or carry-out.

Wednesday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center in Huntsville will host Golden Grooves Exercise at 1 p.m.

Thursday: The Gerry McDonald Mission House, located on Church Avenue, directly behind First United Methodist Church, is open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. You are eligible to receive food once per month. 569-8828.

Thursday: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Thursday: The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center in Huntsville will host Tai Chi at 11 a.m. and Crafts at 1 p.m.

The Community Calendar is presented weekly by Citizens Gas Utility District. Citizens Gas Utility District pipelines reliably distribute natural gas to customers across the service area in Scott and Morgan counties.Visit citizensgastn.com.

Thank you for reading. Our next newsletter will be Echoes From the Past tomorrow. If you’d like to update your subscription to add or subtract any of our newsletters, do so here. If you haven’t yet subscribed, it’s as simple as adding your email address!

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Our Newsletters:
• Monday morning: The Daybreaker (news & the week ahead)
• Tuesday: Echoes from the Past (stories of our history)
• Wednesday: Threads of Life (obituaries)
• Thursday evening: The Weekender (news & the weekend)
• Friday: Friday Features (beyond the news)
• Sunday: Varsity (a weekly sports recap)

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Honor roll and perfect attendance students have been named for several Scott County schools for the third nine-week grading period, including Fairview, Huntsville Middle, and Winfield.

Tired of heel pain? Give Dr. Nate Brennan a call. Seeing a podiatrist doesn’t require a drive to Knoxville. Dr. Brennan offers regular office hours in both Oneida and Jamestown. (800) 930-7435

Fairview

Kindergarten

Perfect Attendance: Hadley Cook, Layla Duncan, Adelyne Lawson, Azeria Lowe, Ryan Mills and Sunny Morrow.

1st Grade

First Honor Roll: James Yancey, Clayton Lowe, Ella Goad, Robert Boocher, Joe Chambers and Harper Stephens.

Second Honor Roll: Tyson Byrd, Fennic Crowley, Ayla Bond and Jayden Jeffers.

Perfect Attendance: Jasmine Adkins, Jeffery Adkins, Braylee Blevins and Myla Haase.

2nd Grade

First Honor Roll: Emma Greene, Ava Lawson, Levi Potter, Levi Newport and Riley Young.

Second Honor Roll: Dillon Gagne, Harper Hembree, Airistyn Jones, Bella Winnie, Keaton Barnes, Allie Byrge, Maylee Douglas, Nayome Jones, Jolie Lowe, Kade Newport and Grady Watson.

Perfect Attendance: Keaton Barnes, Ava Lawson and Kade Newport.

3rd Grade

First Honor Roll: Arielle Ranta.

Second Honor Roll: Gabby Botts, Brentley Goodman, Jayden Lowe, Sadie Massengale, Kendrick Phillips, Gannon Shepherd and Athena Yaden.

Perfect Attendance: Gabby Botts, Jaxon Byrge, Kayson Harness, Peyton Jeffers, Aubree Laxton and Gabe Strunk.

4th Grade

First Honor Roll: Patience Jeffers and Zane Shepherd.

Second Honor Roll: Jansen Adkins, Teddy Goad and Anna Young.

Perfect Attendance: Jax Boshears, Bailee Daugherty, Bree Haynes, Aaliyah Jones and Ethan Mason.

5th Grade

First Honor Roll: Kamden Strunk.

Second Honor Roll: Luke Lloyd, Bentlee Cash and Kember Phillips.

Perfect Attendance: Troy Caldwell, Darrell Houseman, Tymber Jeffers, Dayson King, Brynlee Lloyd, Sawyer Mason and Piper Morrow.

6th Grade

First Honor Roll: Makinlee Carson, Mackenzie Crowley, Josie Duncan, Emily Young and Isabelle Young.

Second Honor Roll: Levi Hatfield, Kaydence Holicki, Neveah Jeffers, Jayden Lloyd, Kylie Shepherd and Bethany Young.

Perfect Attendance: Dominic Bowling.

7th Grade

First Honor Roll: Ava Fitzgerald, Harley Hembree, Brantley Jeffers and Cooper Urann.

Second Honor Roll: Jacob Boutcher, Atlas Bruce, Hannah Massengale, Jaxon Cummins and Emma Lowe.

Perfect Attendance: Wyatt Bell, Jacob Boutcher and Bradley Mason.

8th Grade

First Honor Roll: Ariana Archer, Addie Botts, Ethyn Brooks, Analeigh Hatfield, Korbin Litton and Drew Walker.

Second Honor Roll: Jaxon Bertram, Shalynn Pickard, Gage Rectenwal and Wesley Smithers.

Perfect Attendance: Kaeley Adkins, Ariana Archer, Jaxon Bertram, Ethyn Brooks, Bella Daugherty and Shalynn Pickard.

Huntsville Middle

5th Grade

First Honor Roll: Emma Bass, Gabriel Butts, Amara Chambers, Addilyn Lowe, Gianni Mezo and Westen Winchester.

Second Honor Roll: Hunner Crowley, Easton Daughtery, Penelope De La Cruz, Bailey Emmons, Isaiah Freitag, Paisley Goodin, Jaxston Hicks, Destiny Holter, Rebecca Horne, Ava Huling, Destinee Lay, Maddox Lay, Kali Love, Dylan Lowe, Zechariah Sexton, Jace Smith, Emma Strunk, Hadlee West and Lily Yancey.

6th Grade

First Honor Roll: Emma Anderson, Canton Flowers, Emma Hughett, Addison Kennedy, Koleson Krahn, Ana Guzman Ramirez and Annalisa West.

Second Honor Roll: Khloe Bond, Kolton Boshears, Chase Boyatt, Mikensley Byrge, Luke Caldwell, Dagen Chambers, Teagan Ellis, William Freitag, Jayden Gansore, Suri Griffith, Raidyn Howard, Ryker Jeffers, Abigail Kennedy, Jaylene Key, Briella Lawson, Nixon Lay, Emery McConnell, Korbin Roberts, Rydel Rodgers, Brynn Shirley, Kallen Stephens, Kiona Yazzie and Roman Yazzie.

7th Grade

First Honor Roll: Caleb Adkins, Elizabeth Beam, Sydney Bertram, Destiny Byrd, Zoe Chambers, Mason Ellis, Liberty Hughett, Markaylynn Humphrey, Victoria Hutson, Lily Lawson, Hayden Perkins and Hunter Wagaman.

Second Honor Roll: Praylee Bowling, Anakin Casey, Aubree Cole, Tyson Davidson, Brady Duncan, Levi Hawn, Makayla Hutson, Kaydence Lay, McKinley Lowe, Kolton McKamey, Kase McMahan, Railey Montgomery, Briland Norris, JB Perkins, Nicolas Phillips, Krisha Prajapati, David Seaton, Lukas Smith, Remy Terry and Bella Thrower.

8th Grade

First Honor Roll: Addison Anderson, Sophia Smith and Sophia West.

Second Honor Roll: Cage Austin, Ava Bass, Olivia Daggs, Kinley Dick, Pazelynn Jeffers, Gracie Kennedy, Titus Kidd, Hailey Meadors, Kendra Newport, Jacee Pike and Adelynn Rivera.

Winfield

Pre-K

Perfect Attendance: Paisleigh Brown.

Kindergarten

Perfect Attendance: Myron Harness.

1st Grade

First Honor Roll: Jalen Lowe, Thomas Dempsey, Shayleigh Harris, Cora King and Praylinn Wagaman.

Second Honor Roll: Mason Botts, Carter Edwards, Arnessa Mulligan, Dalary Silva, Paisleigh Smith, Zoey Surig, Raylan Crabtree, Harper Foster, Ryker Gibson, Connor Strunk and Lillie Trosper.

Perfect Attendance: Bailee Cochran and Dalary Silva.

2nd Grade

First Honor Roll: Danielle Grant, Isabella Mantooth, Payton Marlow, Walker Phillips, Elliot Stewart, Brayden Crabtree, Kinsley Strunk and Cole Wilson.

Second Honor Roll: Matalyn Cowan, Lennox Dayson and Gabriel Nelson.

Perfect Attendance: Arabella Garland.

3rd Grade

Second Honor Roll: Amanda Baird, Alexandrea Fry, Jaxon Kidd, Blakelynn Stephens and Collin Surig.

4th Grade

First Honor Roll: Violet Shockley.

Second Honor Roll: Liam Roysdon and Justin Trammell.

Perfect Attendance: Rylee Cochran, Michael Jenkins, Elizabeth McDonough and Grayson Whitehead.

5th Grade

Second Honor Roll: Collin Adkins.

Perfect Attendance: Rachel Cross and Zander Terry.

6th Grade

Second Honor Roll: Preston Lay.

7th Grade

Second Honor Roll: Levi Shockley, Liam Roysdon, Tylah McDonough and Johnathan Grant.

Perfect Attendance: Eli Nicely, Corey Roche, Levi Shockley and Callyn Wilson.

8th Grade

First Honor Roll: Bristol Partin, Asher Stephens and Coby Wilson.

Second Honor Roll: Jackson Crabtree, Hayden Dykes, Tiffany Grant, Zoey Phillips and Luke Watters.

Perfect Attendance: Tafton Grant and Coby Wilson.

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HUNTSVILLE | An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a former Scott County detective on charges related to insurance fraud.

In January 2025, TBI special agent fire investigators began investigating the circumstances surrounding a vehicle fire that occurred in Scott County in December 2024. During the course of the investigation, agents determined the fire had been intentionally set. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle’s owner, Daniel Garrett (DOB: 12/26/82), was the individual responsible for starting the fire. At the time of the incident, Garrett was employed as a detective with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.

Today, the Scott County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Daniel Garrett with one count of Setting Fire to Personal Property and one count of False or Fraudulent Insurance Claim. He was arrested and booked into the Scott County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

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HUNTSVILLE | The interviews of five candidates for Scott County Director of Schools are available to stream on-demand.

The videos were made available by the Scott County School System. They have been published by South Fork Networks to YouTube.

• Kenny Chadwell interviewed at 1 p.m. Wednesday. He is the current principal at LaFollette Elementary School and represents the 4th District on Scott County Commission. He is a 25-year veteran of public education, and worked in the Scott County School System as a teacher and coach before moving to the Campbell County School System.

• Keith Shannon interviewed at 2 p.m. Wednesday. He is the current director of the Morgan County Career & Technical Center. He is a 30-year veteran of public education and worked in the Scott County School System for 22 years as a teacher, coach, principal, and CTE director.

• Daniel Sexton interviewed at 3 p.m. Wednesday. He is the current principal at East LaFollette Learning Academy. He is a 23-year veteran of public education, serving as a teacher and coach at Anderson County High School before moving into an assistant principal role at Clinton High School in 2021.

• Marc Taylor interviewed at 2 p.m. Thursday. He is the current principal at Scott High School. He is a 29-year veteran of public education, beginning as a teacher and coach at McCreary Central High School before moving into an administrative role there and at Williamsburg.

• Jerry Gibson interviewed at 3 p.m. Thursday. He is a current education consultant with Systems That Work in Texas, and is a former director of schools at multiple school systems in the Longhorn State. He has 17 years of experience in administrative roles.

The Scott County Board of Education is scheduled to meet in special session on April 29 at 10 a.m. to decide on the next director.

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