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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Ava Claire Byrd is new Miss Scott County

ONEIDA (08.15.2026) | Ava Claire Byrd was crowned Miss Scott County Fairest of the Fair at the 100th Scott County Fair Saturday evening.

Ava Claire, a senior at Oneida High School, is the daughter of Amanda and Daniel West, and Casey Byrd. She was crowned from a field of 14 contestants that the judges first trimmed to nine finalists before making their final decision.

First runner-up was Lauren Taylor Reynolds, daughter of Brandon and Jennifer Reynolds and a senior at Scott High School. Second runner-up was Briley Duncan, daughter of Darren and Kristin Duncan and a 2026 graduate of Oneida High School.

Prior to making their winning selections, the judges announced a top eight — which wound up being a top nine after it was realized that Lauren Reynolds had been accidentally omitted from the group. Among the finalists were Raelynne Blevins, Shayleigh Gray, Sierra Johnson, Jaeda Newport, Miracle Silcox, and Emmerson Swenson.

In addition to being named the pageant’s winner, Ava Claire Byrd was also named the photogenic winner, chosen by the judges before the start of the pageant based on photos submitted by each contestant, and Miss Congeniality, an award chosen by her peers in the pageant.

Sierra Johnson, daughter of Daniel and Kenya Lorang and the late Phillip Johnson, was named the fan favorite, based on the audience’s monetary donations.

Emmerson Swenson was named by the judges as the best interview winner. She is the daughter of Stephanie Swenson.

The complete list of 2026 Scott County Fairest of the Fair winners:

Miss Scott County: Ava Claire Byrd
Miss Teen: Seleia Anderson
Miss Pre-Teen: Karsyn Billingsley
Little Miss: Blakelynn Stephens
Little Miss Jr.: Chandler Lambert
Little Miss Tiny Tot: Laeleigh Spradlin
Little Miss Tiny Tot Jr.: Graylee Marlow
Little Miss Petite: Laynie Terry
Miss Sunshine: Rebekah West
Little Miss Sunshine: Amiri Harmon

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IH Opinion: Brylee Rector represented Scott County with grace and dignity

08.14.2026 | The title of Miss Scott County is about more than winning a pageant. The young woman who wears the crown becomes, for a 12-month period, not just an ambassador for the fair but also for the community and the people who call it home.

The reigning Miss Scott County, Brylee Rector, carried that title and that responsibility well tonight. As part of the 100th Scott County Fair, the Fairest of the Fair Committee added a new Miss Sunshine pageant for special needs contestants. Tonight was all about the contestants, of course. (See our posts from earlier this evening announcing the winners.) But if you were watching at home, you might not have noticed the moments that played out just off camera, since the cameras were focused on the contestants (as they should’ve been).

Throughout the pageant, Brylee was there with the contestants — helping when needed, offering encouragement, and making sure each contestant had her moment. It wasn’t something that seemed rehearsed or done for attention. It was simply a young lady understanding the role she had been given and carrying it out well.

Those moments might not be the ones that come with trophies or applause, but they say a lot about the person wearing the crown. Brylee represented our community with grace, kindness and maturity tonight. And, not to be forgotten, a newly-crowned pageant winner, Karsyn Billingsley (who won the Miss Pre-Teen pageant earlier this week) was right there beside Brylee, also assisting tonight’s contestants. It isn’t hard to imagine her sliding into that same role as the community’s ambassador in a few years.

Yes, tonight was about the contestants. They had their moment in the spotlight, and hats off to the Scott County Fair and the Fairest of the Fair Committee for giving them that opportunity. But Brylee (and Karsyn) deserve their own shoutout on this night. If the biggest responsibility of winning a fairest of the fair crown is representing the community, these two did it very well tonight!

Griffith wins HUD seat

HUNTSVILLE (08.15.2026) | In Saturday’s Huntsville Utility District directors' election, Clyde Griffith was the victor. He received 275 votes (87%). He was facing off against Danny Keeton.

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: It’s going to continue to be hot today and for much of the week. We’ll have a heat index near 100 degrees today, with a 50/50 chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. The rest of the week will feature very typical summer weather, with daily chances for thunderstorms improving by the end of the week. 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, Golden Grooves Exercise will be offered 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: Scott County Commission will meet in regular session at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville, beginning at 5 p.m. This will be the final session of the current term.

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 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.

Thursday: Middle school football will feature Oneida vs. Scott at Highlander Stadium in Huntsville (7 p.m.). The game will be broadcast live on the IH Sports Network.

Friday: The Big South Fork Pool at Bandy Creek will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 ($2 for children).

Friday: The high school football season begins with Oneida traveling to Rockwood (7:30 p.m.) and Scott High traveling to McCreary Central (7:30 p.m.). Both games will be broadcast live on the IH Sports Network.

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)

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.

S.T.A.N.D.’s Coffey lands White House gig

WASHINGTON, D.C. (8.12.2026) | Scott County’s Trent Coffey has been appointed by President Donald Trump as the Assistant Deputy Director of Use & Prevention Grants in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

After months of preliminary matters, including interviews and a vetting process, Coffey accepted the White House’s formal offer earlier this week, and will begin his new role in Washington on Aug. 31.

Coffey has served as the executive director of S.T.A.N.D. — Schools Together Allowing No Drugs — since its inception in Scott County, and has become a recognizable figure on the national drug-prevention scene. He is no stranger to the White House, landing an invitation to join Trump for a round-table discussion on drug prevention during the president’s first term in 2017.

The Deputy Director of Use & Prevention Grants is a newly-created position, and will oversee the distribution of hundreds of millions of dollars in drug prevention grant funding to coalitions like S.T.A.N.D. across the country.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is a behemoth agency that coordinates across 19 federal agencies and oversees a $44 billion budget. When the position of Assistant Deputy Director of Use & Prevention Grants was created, leaders within the agency reached out to Coffey. He first declined, then reconsidered.

“I know the connections I’m going to make, and with what we’ve already done and what we have the potential to do, I can bring more back to Scott County and the State of Tennessee through this position,” Coffey told the Independent Herald Wednesday. “The dividends from that will pay for years. That’s one of the main reasons I’m doing it.”

Coffey said he has no interest in making the transition to Washington his last.

“I told them when I interviewed that this is not a career move for me,” he said. “I’ve built my career and I’m happy where I am. I’m doing this to impart knowledge on what Scott County has gotten recognition on and to help other communities across the country.”

Coffey will take a 30-month leave of absence from S.T.A.N.D. Dale Owens — a 21-year veteran of the organization — will serve as S.T.A.N.D.’s interim executive director, and Jagger Coffey — Trent’s son — will be promoted to assistant executive director.

Coffey has already secured an apartment in Washington, and his wife, Robin, will soon join him in the nation’s capital.

In a letter to the citizens of Scott County, Coffey called the decision to temporarily step away from S.T.A.N.D. “one of the most difficult decisions a person will ever make.” He called it “one of the greatest professional honors of my life” to be recruited for the newly created position at the White House.

“Throughout my career, I have believed that the most effective solutions to our nation’s challenges are built one community at a time,” he wrote. “It is deeply humbling to know that the work accomplished here in Scott County helped create an opportunity to contribute to those efforts on a national level.”

Coffey added that Scott County has become “a national example of what is possible when a community chooses unity over division, service over self-interest, and action over excuses.”

Calling Scott County home, Coffey said he is not leaving the local community behind, but that he’s taking it with him to Washington. Meanwhile, he said, Scott County will remain his home — even as he spends significant time in the nation’s capital — and that he will return to S.T.A.N.D. once his time in Washington is complete.

“My commitment to S.T.A.N.D., to the citizens of Scott County, and to the mission we have shared for more than 25 years remains as strong today as it has ever been,” he said, adding that he is confident that the foundation that has been built will be carried on in the meantime by S.T.A.N.D.’s staff and board of directors.

The move to the White House has been a long time coming for Coffey. While S.T.A.N.D.’s work — carried out at its modest facilities on Sheppard Road in Oneida — have been somewhat out-of-sight and out-of-mind at times locally over the past 25 years, the organization has served as a model for similar programs in other rural communities and has set a standard that Washington has used in its approach to drug-free communities policy.

“Because of our program, both S.T.A.N.D. and the Youth Service Learning Initiative, our relationship with the community, and the Correctional Careers Pathways initiative, we’ve gained national recognition,” Coffey said. “That’s why the drug czar came to Scott County. She had just started her position and she wanted to learn more about coalitions. So she came here. We’ve been good stewards with their dollars and we’ve trained people across the country.”

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Karsyn Billingsley crowned Miss Pre-Teen Scott County

ONEIDA (8.12.2026) | Karsyn McKenna Billingsley was crowned Scott County’s Miss Pre-Teen Fairest of the Fair Tuesday evening, as the 100th Scott County Fair hit full stride with the opening of the midway and a pre-pageant celebration marking the fair’s centennial occasion.

Karsyn, the daughter of Jacob and Ashley Billingsley, was crowned from a field of 18 contestants that judges first whittled to 12 and then to six before making their final selections.

Karsyn was also chosen as the fan favorite, based on the audience’s monetary donations.

The first runner-up was Audrey Rose Abbott, daughter of Tyler and Hailey Carson.

The second runner-up was Mia Shea Blevins, daughter of Eric and Nicolette Blevins. She was also chosen as the pageant’s photogenic winner, selected by the judges before the event began based on photos submitted by each contestant.

Also finishing among the six finalists were Paisley Faith Yancey, Aniston Blake Morgan, and Charlee Grace Burke.

Finishing among the top 12 after the judges’ first cut were Piper Watters, Shealee Zaria Hodges, Sawyer Grace Jeffers, Emma Strunk, Carley Jade Hicks, and Avery Blou King.

Prior to the start of the pageant, resolutions from state and local governments were presented to the Scott County Fair Committee in a ceremony recognizing the fair’s 100th year. Scott County is just the 22nd county in Tennessee to have a fair that is 100 years old. Resolutions were presented by state Rep. Kelly Keisling, Huntsville Mayor Dennis Jeffers, and Virginia Bruce, representing the Town of Oneida.

Pageants will continue Thursday with the Miss Teen Fairest of the Fair. The Miss Sunshine pageant will be Friday, and the 2026 Miss Scott County will be crowned on Saturday.

It was announced Tuesday that gate admission will be free for all both Wednesday and Thursday, with admission costs sponsored by the Town of Oneida on Wednesday and Takahata on Thursday. Gates open at 6 p.m. daily. One-price ride bands are $20. Parking donations are accepted by the Scott County Rescue Squad.

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Blakelynn Stephens is Little Miss Fairest of the Fair

ONEIDA (8.11.2026) | Blakelynn Kori Stephens was crowned Scott County’s Little Miss Fairest of the Fair at the 100th Scott County Fair Monday evening.

As the midway was being constructed in the background — scheduled to open Tuesday evening — 18 girls ages seven to nine competed in the Little Miss pageant in the Fairest of the Fair pavilion. A panel of three judges first trimmed the field to 10 and then to six before choosing the winners.

Blakelynn Stephens is the 9-year-old daughter of Kelsey and Dakota Baker.

First runner-up in Monday’s pageant was Ellie Sage Strunk, the daughter of Logan and Chloe Strunk.

Second runner-up was Jaida Maelynn Roysdon. The daughter of Alex and Destiny Roysdon, she was also chosen by the judges as the photogenic winner, based on photos submitted prior to the pageant.

The fan favorite, based on the audience’s monetary donations, was Adelyn Grace Rector, the daughter of Seth and Tristin Rector.

Monday’s winners joined four winners who had been crowned on Saturday, including Chandler Lambert as Little Miss Jr., Laleigh Spradlin as Miss Tiny Tot, Graylee Jo Marlow as Miss Tiny Tot Jr., and Laynie Terry as Little Miss Petite.

The fair will continue on Tuesday, when the midway opens for the first time. Gates will open at 6 p.m., and the Miss Pre-Teen Fairest of the Fair pageant will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $4, or $1 for children, and one-price ride bands are $20.

The midway will also be open Wednesday through Saturday, with gates opening at 6 p.m. each evening, at the same prices. Additionally, the midway will be open Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. with free admission and $15 ride bands.

Additional pageants include the Miss Teen pageant on Thursday at 7 p.m., the Miss Sunshine pageant on Friday at 6 p.m., and the Miss Scott County Fairest of the Fair pageant on Saturday at 7 p.m. All pageants are broadcast live by the Independent Herald on Facebook, YouTube, and Highland Media Channel 191.

ICYMI

Threads of Life: This week’s Threads of Life newsletter is in remembrance of Crystal Byrd, Pearl Kidd, Judy Lazader, and Marlanea Rhoden. » Read It

Echoes in Time: This week’s Echoes in Time newsletter takes a look back at the last time Scott Countians voted for a Democrat for president. » Read It

The Weekend

🥵 Weather: It’s gonna be hot in Scott County this weekend! There are very slight chances of afternoon thunderstorms both Friday and Saturday, but the bigger story will be the temperatures. We’ll be in the low 90s each day. Not unusual for this time of year — but certainly uncomfortable! 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

Faith of God

Denomination: Non-denominational
Pastor: Shane R. Phillips
Address: 1435 Tunnel Hill Road, Helenwood

Services
Sunday Morning: 10 a.m.
Sunday Evening: 6 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 Big South Fork Pool at Bandy Creek will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children.

• Saturday: The midway will be open at the Scott County Fair from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. One-price ride bands are $15. Gates will re-open at 6 p.m. for the final session of the fair, and the Miss Scott County Fairest of the Fair pageant will begin at 7 p.m.

• Saturday: Third Saturday night worship services will be held at Lone Mountain Baptist Church (6p.m.), Capital Hill Missionary Baptist Church (6:30 p.m.), Black Creek Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church (7 p.m.), High Point United Baptist Church (7 p.m.), and House of the Lord (7 p.m.). For more information, see our Church Directory at indherald.com.

• Sunday: The Big South Fork Pool at Bandy Creek will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children.

• 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

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Early voting drops to 28-year low

HUNTSVILLE | Early voting ahead of Scott County’s Aug. 6 general election dropped to a level not seen in almost 30 years.

With the close of polls Saturday, the final day of the two-week early voting period, a total of 3,694 voters in Scott County had cast their ballots ahead of the Aug. 6 general election and state primary. The last time that few people voted in the early voting period on the four-year cycle was 1998 — an election that saw Dwight Murphy elected to a second tenure as Scott County Executive and Don Sundquist win the Republican nomination for re-election as Tennessee Governor.

The numbers do not include Scott County’s “off-year” elections, which see only one county-wide race and a limited number of school board races and constable races on the ballot.

In 2022, the last election on the major four-year cycle, a total of 4,326 votes were cast during the early voting period, either in person or by mail. That was down somewhat from 2018, when a total of 4,810 votes were cast during the early voting period, a record that still stands in Scott County on the four-year cycle (early voting ahead of presidential elections has been higher).

Early voting in Tennessee began in 1994. That year 2,141 persons voted early in Scott County. The number climbed to 2,957 in 1998 and topped 4,000 in 2002. It had been above 4,000 every year on the four-year cycle since then, until this year.

Total in-person turnout (without absentee votes) during the early voting period on the four-year cycle looks like this:

• 1994: 1,920

• 1998: 2,657

• 2002: 3,858

• 2006: 4,336

• 2010: 4,035

• 2014: 3,989

• 2018: 4,457

• 2022: 3,955

• 2026: 3,501

The disparity is greater when considering the increase in registered voters. This year, a record 13,859 Scott Countians are registered to vote, according to Administrator of Elections Gabe Krahn. That means 26.7% of Scott County’s registered voters cast ballots during the 15-day early voting period, either in-person or by absentee ballot.

The percentage of registered voters — again, not including absentee voters — who have taken advantage of the early voting process on this election cycle through the years looks like this:

• 1994: 16.3%

• 1998: 21.5%

• 2002: 30.9%

• 2006: 31.2%

• 2010: 27.1%

• 2014: 29.4%

• 2018: 32.6%

• 2022: 29.8%

• 2026: 25.3%

Traditionally, more voters cast ballots during the early voting period than on Election Day. That has been the case in every election in Scott County since 2002, when nearly 52% of those who voted did so during the 15-day early voting period. Here are the numbers through the years:

• 1994: 26.3%

• 1998: 36.0%

• 2002: 51.7%

• 2006: 54.5%

• 2010: 58.1%

• 2014: 61.3%

• 2018: 65.3%

• 2022: 61.5%

Voter turnout has been declining in recent elections. In 2022, the last election on this four-year cycle, a total of 52% of registered voters cast ballots. Here are the percentages of total voter turnout since 1994:

• 1994: 69.2%

• 1998: 66.3%

• 2002: 63.1%

• 2006: 60.2%

• 2010: 50.1%

• 2014: 52.4%

• 2018: 53.9%

• 2022: 52.3%

It is impossible to draw conclusions from who a lower voter turnout favors. Traditionally, conventional wisdom in the U.S. assumes that lower voter turnout favors incumbent candidates. However, that logic applies to national elections — not local elections, where trends are more difficult to draw conclusions from.

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Anderson is Vice President at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville

HUNTSVILLE | Scott County native Misty Anderson has been named the new Vice President at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville, President Tim Smith announced Friday.

Anderson, who has more than 20 years of experience in higher education, is a Scott County native and former dual enrollment coordinator at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville who is returning home after a 12-year stint at TCAT Knoxville. She has served as Vice President of Human Resources & Compliance at TCAT Knoxville since July 2024.

“This is a homecoming in every sense of the word, and I could not be more excited,” Anderson said. “TCAT Oneida/Huntsville is where my career in technical education began, and its students are the reason I got into this work. I’m honored to return home to serve them — helping every student find a clear path to an education and a rewarding career that can change their family’s future, while providing our local industries with the skilled workforce they need.

“When our students succeed, Scott County grows stronger — one graduate, one family at a time,” Anderson added. “I’m grateful for every opportunity the College System of Tennessee has given me, and I can’t wait to bring everything I’ve learned back to the place where it all began.”

A graduate of Scott High School, Anderson earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and her master’s degree from Western Governors University. She began her career in higher education as an adjunct instructor in workforce development and special industry at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville, and later served as Dual Enrollment coordinator before leaving for a position at TCAT Knoxville in 2014. There, she ascended to the position of Student Services Coordinator, and also served as Financial Aid Coordinator and Coordinator of Human Resources, giving her experience in all aspects of a TCAT institution. As vice president at TCAT Knoxville, she was in charge of human resources and compliance.

“This is a big win for TCAT Oneida/Huntsville,” Smith said. “Misty brings a wealth of knowledge and diverse experience to the table, which will enable her to serve our student population well. She has worked in all aspects of administration, and has also been in the classroom, so she understands TCAT and the TBR system inside and out.”

Anderson replaces Smith, who was named the college’s president earlier this year. He replaced Dwight Murphy, who retired after more than 20 years at the helm.

Today, TCAT Oneida/Huntsville offers nearly two dozen programs across three counties — Scott, Fentress and Morgan. The college celebrated the completion of two new buildings on its Oneida satellite campus earlier this year, and will celebrate the grand opening of a new satellite campus in Fentress County next month. It also offers post-secondary classes at York Institute, Clarkrange High School, the Morgan County Career & Technical Center, and Morgan County Correctional Complex. Additionally, TCAT Oneida/Huntsville dual enrolls students at high schools throughout the region, including schools in Scott County, Fentress County, Morgan County, Campbell County, Anderson County, and Union County.

In addition to its long-standing programs, TCAT Oneida/Huntsville recently added an Allied Health and Medical Assisting program in Huntsville and an Earthmoving Equipment Operator program in Oneida. New programs set to begin this fall include Aviation Maintenance Technology in Oneida, and Telecommunications and Underground Construction Technology in Fentress County.

For more information on any of the programs offered by TCAT, visit tcatoneida.edu. For financial aid inquiries, call (423) 663-4900 ext. 109.

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: There’s a 50% chance of thunderstorms today. Otherwise, we’ll see a mix of clouds and sun, with a high temperature near 80 degrees. The rest of the week will feature continuing thunderstorm chances and rising temperatures. We’ll generally be in the mid 80s each day with at least a 50/50 chance of scattered thunderstorms daily. 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 independentherald.net.

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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 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: Scott County Commission will meet in work session at the Scott County Office Building, 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 9:45 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 the Highway 27 Unity Club in Oneida, beginning at 12 p.m.

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

Thursday: Polls will be open for Election Day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Independent Herald will have live coverage of results beginning at 8 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 Oneida Special School District Board of Education will meet in regular session at the Central Office Training Center, beginning at 6 p.m.

Thursday: Narcotics Anonymous will meet at the Highway 27 Unity Club in Oneida, beginning at 7 p.m.

Friday: The Big South Fork swimming pool at Bandy Creek will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 ($2 for ages 6-12).

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
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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)

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.

Dunlap is new president of Tennessee Pharmacists Association

NASHVILLE | Brent Dunlap, of Oneida, was inaugurated as the next president of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association during the association’s summer meeting in Florence, Ala., earlier this month.

As president, Dunlap will help lead TPA’s efforts to advance the profession of pharmacy, advocate for patient access to pharmacy services, and support pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians throughout Tennessee. His installation marks the beginning of a next chapter of Board leadership for the Association as it continues its mission to promote safe and effective medication use and improve health outcomes across the state.

Dunlap has long been recognized for his commitment to the pharmacy profession and to serving patients and communities throughout Tennessee. During his term, he will work closely with TPA members, volunteer leaders, and staff to address opportunities and challenges facing the profession while advancing initiatives that strengthen pharmacy’s role in healthcare.

“Brent is a respected leader whose passion for pharmacy and dedication to patient care make him exceptionally well suited to serve as TPA president,” said Anthony Pudlo, CEO of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association. “We look forward to working alongside him as we continue advocating for the profession and expanding the impact pharmacists have on the health of Tennesseans.”

In accepting the office, Dunlap expressed his appreciation for the trust placed in him by the membership and his commitment to serving the profession during a pivotal time for healthcare and pharmacy practice. The installation ceremony was held as part of the TPA Summer Meeting, which brings together pharmacy professionals and industry partners for education, networking, and leadership development.

In his installation address, Dunlap acknowledged his father, the late Bill Dunlap.

“When the opportunity to seek this office first came up, I wasn’t sure if I was ready,” Dunlap said. “Dad looked at me and simply said, ‘You need to do it.’”

Bill Dunlap, who owned Plateau DrugCenter and worked alongside his sons in the profession, died in January at age 76. He was also a member of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association.

This story first appeared here.

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

Billingsley selected to national fellowship

ONEIDA | Oneida Elementary School Principal Ashley Billingsley has been named a member of the 2027 National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s Teacher Leader Fellows cohort, the organization announced Tuesday.

Billingsley was one of 12 educators selected from a pool of applicants from across the country. She is in her first full year as principal at OES after previously serving as assistant principal at the school for four years.

“I am proud to welcome Ashley Billingsley into the 2027 NIET Teacher Leader Fellows cohort,” said NIET chief executive officer Dr. Joshua Barnett. “This fellowship reflects NIET’s commitment to build educator excellence and empower outstanding teacher leaders who are strengthening instruction and accelerating student success.”

Billingsley comes from a family of educators, and believes strong schools are built through teamwork, consistency, and willingness to keep learning and improving.

“I’m so excited to be a part of this program,” she said. “I believe leadership is about building people, not just managing a school. The best schools grow when teachers feel supported, trusted, and challenged to lead in ways that positively impact students beyond their own classroom. As a leader, I want to create a culture where we continuously reflect on our practices, learn from student evidence, and work together to make sure every decision is centered around what is best for kids.”

The NIET Teacher Leader Fellows Program was created with educator effectiveness in mind, bringing together teacher leaders from partner schools nationwide who demonstrate exceptional implementation of NIET’s principles, emphasizing educator excellence and advancing student success.

“Ashley’s leadership has helped build a culture centered on collaboration, reflection, and student achievement at Oneida Elementary School,” said Oneida Special School District interim director Kelly Chitwood. “We are thrilled to see her recognized as a NIET Teacher Leader Fellow and know she will bring valuable learning back to our district.”

The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching is a national nonprofit based in Phoenix, Ariz., that serves states and districts nationwide.

This story first appeared here.

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.)

ICYMI

Threads of Life: This week’s Threads of Life newsletter is in remembrance of Faye Phillips, Joel Newport, Keisha Robbins, and Jenny Duncan. » Read It

Echoes in Time: This week’s Echoes in Time newsletter takes a look back at the man who plotted Huntsville, Wayne Whitecotton. » Read It

The Weekend

🌥️ Weather: The weekend will start nice, with dry conditions and temperatures in the low 80s Friday. Rain will return to the forecast Saturday, but Sunday should be dry (although warmer, with temperatures pushing into the mid to upper 80s). 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

Calvary Missionary Baptist Church

Denomination: Baptist (Missionary)
Pastor: Bobby Williams
Address: 1467 Annadell Road, Pioneer

Services
Sunday School: 10 a.m.
Sunday Morning: 11 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 Scott County Farmers & Crafters Market on Scott High Drive will be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine.

• Saturday: The Huntsville Municipal Pool will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ($3). The Big South Fork Pool at Bandy Creek will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ($3, or $2 for ages 6-12). The Oneida City Park Splashpad will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting (free).

• 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 independentherald.net.

• Sunday: The Huntsville Municipal Pool will be open 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. ($3). The Big South Fork Pool at Bandy Creek will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ($3, or $2 for ages 6-12). The Oneida City Park Splashpad will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting (free).

• 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.)

Hundreds take advantage of first two days of early voting

HUNTSVILLE | Early voting in Scott County is running slightly ahead of where it stood at the same point four years ago, according to figures released by the Scott County Election Commission.

After the first two days of early voting for the Aug. 6 state primary and county general election, 441 ballots have been cast. At the same point in the 2022 election cycle, 421 ballots had been cast.

That represents an increase of 20 votes, or about 4.8%, compared to the first two days of early voting in 2022.

Despite the increase in ballots cast, voter participation as a percentage of registered voters is virtually unchanged because Scott County has added voters to its registration rolls over the past four years.

The county now has approximately 13,710 registered voters (13,706 as of May), compared to 13,287 at the same point in 2022. As a result, both elections have seen about 3.2% of registered voters cast ballots through the first two days of early voting.

Party participation has shifted slightly toward Republican voters.

Among party primary ballots cast so far this year, 92.3% have been Republican ballots, while 7.7% have been Democratic ballots. In 2022, 90.3% of party primary ballots were Republican and 9.7% were Democratic. That could be slightly noteworthy because, unlike 2022, there is a Scott Countian on the Democratic ballot. Seth McMillan, a Robbins native, is seeking the state representative seat in the 38th District. While the early breakdown suggests more Scott Countians are not requesting a Democratic ballot to vote for the local candidate, it should also be pointed out that McMillan is running unopposed, and the focus in the state primary is overwhelmingly on the Republican gubernatorial race, where current U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is trying to hold off a challenge from U.S. Rep. John Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritz. The real race in the 38th District will come in November, when McMillan faces off against Republican Kelly Keisling, the incumbent who is also unopposed in the primary.

Early voting began Friday and will continue through Saturday, Aug. 1. The Election Day voting will be held Thursday, Aug. 6.

Historically, the majority of voters cast their ballots during the two-week early voting period. In 2022, total voter turnout was just over 52%. Of those who cast ballots, fewer than four in 10 did so on Election Day; better than 60% of the ballots were cast during the early voting period. Because of the disparity, races tend to be won or lost during the early voting window. Only the tightest of races see Election Day totals swing the outcome.

See Also: A complete list of candidates and the office they are seeking

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

Cross named GM of LaFollette Utilities

LAFOLLETTE, Tenn. | Dave Cross, the former chief executive officer of Plateau Electric Cooperative, has been named to the same post at LaFollette Utilities Board, WLAF was the first to report Friday.

Cross, a Robbins resident, spent 15 years in the chief executive’s office at Plateau Electric before retiring in September 2023. He spent 22 years in finance at PEC before that, for a total career of 37 years with the utility district that provides electricity in Scott and Morgan counties.

Almost immediately after leaving PEC, Cross accepted a job as the city of Oak Ridge’s electric department manager, a post he has held since December 2023.

The Clarkrange native is a graduate of Tennessee Tech University. He and his wife, Cheryl, have six children.

According to WLAF, Cross’s appointment as LUB’s general manager came during a special called meeting Friday afternoon.

TWRA’s ‘baiting privilege license’ available this week

The new Deer Bait Privilege License will be available on GoOutdoorsTennessee.com and in the TWRA On the Go App, starting July 22, 2026. The cost will be $50 for a resident of Tennessee and $100 for a non-resident. Public Chapter No. 444, allowing hunting over bait for white-tailed deer, was initiated by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee in the 2025 Legislative Session.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is informing the public that all hunters wishing to hunt white-tailed deer over bait, are required to purchase this license regardless of exemptions, lifetime licenses, and age. It is valid only on private property (owned or leased), across all private properties the hunter may have access to and is valid for 365 days from the date of purchase.

Under the new law, deer baiting is not allowed on Wildlife Management Areas, in the CWD Management Zone, or any CWD-positive county. For a list of counties in the CWD Management Zone and other positive counties, visit the website here. There are specific types and amounts of bait that are authorized and other bait site rules that are in effect. A full list of the regulations for hunting over bait are listed on the website here.

Feeding and baiting wildlife are regulated to protect both wildlife populations and the public. Concentrating animals increases the risk of spreading serious diseases such as CWD, bovine tuberculosis, and brucellosis, which can affect wildlife, livestock, and pets. Poor‑quality or improperly stored grains may contain aflatoxins that are highly toxic to species like turkeys and quail. Grain overload, or acidosis, can occur with sudden shifts to carbohydrate-rich diets (like corn) during winter, creating a disruption in normal digestive processes, sometimes resulting in fatal outcomes.

Additionally, feed/bait can unintentionally attract raccoons, feral hogs, and growing black bear populations, increasing the likelihood of predation, nuisance issues, and habitat and property damage. Hunters should consider these issues when placing and leaving bait on the landscape.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving fish and wildlife species for the benefit of Tennesseans and visitors. The Agency also maintains public safety through law enforcement and safety education on waterways.

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: Warm temperatures and occasional thunderstorms will greet the week, as we push into the mid to upper 80s Monday and Tuesday with chances of storms. The best chance of thunderstorms will come Tuesday and Tuesday night, as a cold front arrives. There’s a slight risk of severe weather during that time frame. We’ll be a little “cooler” after Wednesday, with drier conditions to end the week. 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.

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: Early voting will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville and the Oneida Municipal Services Building. Registered Scott County voters must provide an eligible photo ID to vote.

Monday: The Huntsville Municipal Pool is open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. each week day. Admission is $3. The Oneida City Park Splash Pad is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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: Early voting will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville and the Oneida Municipal Services Building. Registered Scott County voters must provide an eligible photo ID to vote.

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 9:45 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: Early voting will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville and the Oneida Municipal Services Building. Registered Scott County voters must provide an eligible photo ID to vote.

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).

Thursday: The Gerry McDonald Mission House, located on Church Avenue, directly behind First United Methodist Church, is closed today.

Thursday: Early voting will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville and the Oneida Municipal Services Building. Registered Scott County voters must provide an eligible photo ID to vote.

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

Friday: Early voting will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville and the Oneida Municipal Services Building. Registered Scott County voters must provide an eligible photo ID to vote.

Friday: The Big South Fork swimming pool at Bandy Creek is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $3 for ages 13 and up, or $2 for ages 6-12.

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 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

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Early voting starts later this week

HUNTSVILLE | Scott County voters will get their first opportunity to cast ballots Friday as early voting begins for the Aug. 6 county general election and Tennessee’s state and federal primary elections.

Early voting will be conducted at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville, as well as the Oneida Municipal Services Building in Oneida. The early voting period continues through Saturday, Aug. 1, giving voters more than two weeks to cast their ballots before Election Day.

For many voters, earl voting is the most convenient way to participate in the election. Unlike Election Day, when voters must report to their assigned precinct, any registered Scott County voter can cast an early ballot at the County Office Building or the Oneida Municipal Building. If this year’s election follows modern trends, more people will cast ballots during the early voting period than on Election Day.

What to expect

Tennessee law requires voters to present a valid federal or Tennessee-issued photo ID before receiving a ballot. Acceptable forms of identification include a Tennessee driver’s license, a TN Dept. of Safety photo ID, a U.S. passport, military photo ID, Tennessee handgun carry permit, or other government-issued photo identification that meets state requirements. College student IDs and most employer-issued identification cards are not accepted.

Election officials recommend allowing a few extra minutes for first-time voters or anyone who has recently changed addresses or names. First-time voters who registered by mail or online whose photo ID is expired must also present either a current utility bill, a bank statement, a government check, a paycheck, or another government document that shows their name and address.

The process is simple. Upon arrival, you’ll check in with a poll worker, presenting your ID and providing your signature. You’ll notify the registration assistants whether you want to vote in the Republican primary, the Democrat primary, or neither. You’ll then be given a print-out, which you hand to poll workers who are manning each voting machine. Your votes are made electronically and privately, with several pages of options to select from before you push the final button to cast your ballot.

What will be on the ballot?

Scott County voters will receive a county general election ballot featuring local offices and, depending on which party primary they choose to participate in, either a Republican or Democrat primary ballot for state and federal offices.

County-wide offices that are on the ballot include county mayor, sheriff, road superintendent, county attorney, trustee, county clerk, register of deeds, and circuit court clerk. Every voter will also select two representatives from their district for County Commission. Depending on which district you’re registered in, you may also have a school board race on your ballot. The school board races that are on this year’s ballot include the 1st District, 4th District, 5th District, 7th District, and three seats in the Oneida Special School District.

The county mayor’s race features incumbent Jerried Jeffers running against Republican nominee Dennis Jeffers and independent challengers Trent Cross and Jennifer Shockley.

The sheriff’s race features incumbent Brian Keeton, the Republican nominee, running against independent challengers Dennis Chambers and Kris Lewallen.

The road superintendent’s race features incumbent Kelvin King, the Republican nominee, running unopposed.

The county attorney’s race features incumbent John Beaty running unopposed.

The county clerk’s race features incumbent Felicia Bilbrey running against the Republican nominee, Amanda Chambers Sexton, and independent candidate Christina Kay Cross.

The circuit court clerk’s race features incumbent Donnie Phillips, the Republican nominee, running unopposed.

The trustee’s race features incumbent Rena Erwin running unopposed.

The register of deeds race features incumbent Ashley Newport Riseden, the Republican nominee, running unopposed.

In the County Commission races:

The 1st District finds incumbents David Jeffers and David “Blue” Day running against Allen Phillips and Elaine Lowe.

The 2nd District finds incumbents Taylor Buttram Stephens and Joyce Potter Keeton running against Adam King.

The 3rd District finds four candidates on the ballot: Mike Keeton, Ronald Keeton, Daniel Murley, and Dacy Williams.

The 4th District finds incumbents Kenny Chadwell and Shonda Gray running unopposed.

The 5th District finds incumbent Kelly Posey-Chitwood joined by challengers Zack Strunk and Ralph Trieschmann.

The 6th District finds incumbent Colby Burke joined by challengers Jason Perry and Torrey Slaven.

The 7th District finds incumbents Jared Burke and Tom Payne running against challengers Kris Byrd and Anthony Carson.

Among school board races:

The 1st District finds incumbent Tommy Silcox running against challenger Rhonda Marlow Davis.

The 4th District finds incumbent Kimberly Kidd running unopposed.

The 5th District finds incumbent Angela Anderson King running against challenger Roger Douglas.

The 7th District finds incumbent Tressa Murphy running against challenger B. Matthew Stiltner.

The Oneida Special School District finds incumbents Kevin Byrd and Mark Matthews joined by challengers Stuart Jones and Benji Jacobs in a three-way race.

There are also judicial questions on this year’s ballot, including retention questions for the Court of Appeals Eastern and Western Divisions, the Court of Criminal Appeals Eastern Division, and state Supreme Court.

On the Republican primary ballot:

The race for the U.S. House of Representatives, where incumbent John Rose is not seeking re-election as he chooses instead to seek the Republican nomination for governor, finds four candidates on the ballot: Natisha Brooks, Johnny Garrett, Jon Henry, and Van Hilleary.

The race for governor features three candidates: Marsha Blackburn, Monty Fritts, and John Rose.

The race for U.S. Senate finds incumbent Bill Hagerty running unopposed.

The state House of Representatives finds incumbent Kelly Keisling running unopposed.

On the Democrat primary ballot:

The race for U.S. House of Representatives features five candidates, including Lore Bergman, Mike Croley, Christopher Martin Finley, Miriam Leibowitz, and Chaney Mosley.

The race for governor features five candidates, including Carnita Atwater, Tim Cyr, Jerri Green, Adam Kurtz, and Kevin Lee McCants.

The race for U.S. Senate also features five candidates, including Marquita Bradshaw, Maria Brewer, Kevin Lee McCants, Civil Miller-Watkins, and Diana Onye-Jiaka.

The race for state House of Representatives finds Seth McMillan running unopposed.

There are also state committee candidates on each primary ballot.

What are the early voting hours?

Early voting hours at both the Oneida Municipal Services Building and the Scott County Office Building are:

Friday, July 17: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 18: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Monday, July 20: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tuesday, July 21: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 22: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Thursday, July 23: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, July 24: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 25: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Monday, July 27: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 29: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Thursday, July 30: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, July 31: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 1: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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

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.

Dollar General: The new Dollar General on Coopertown Road in West Oneida opened Friday. Following a failed attempt to place a store near the intersection of Coopertown Road and Cooper Lake Road in Oneida, the Goodlettesville, Tenn.-based corporation secured property at the intersection of Coopertown Road and Smith Road in the Coopertown community, across from New Haven Baptist Church. The new DG will join other stores in Oneida, Huntsville, Robbins, and Winfield, and is likely not the last DG location in Scott County.

Veterans Memorial: A dedication ceremony was held Saturday morning to officially mark the opening of the American Revolutionary Veterans Memorial The memorial pays tribute to the Revolutionary War veterans who later moved to present-day Scott County.

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. The store announced last week that it is currently hiring.

Hammer’s: Signage is now in place for the forthcoming Hammer’s 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. The signage reflects the chain’s recent branding as Hammer’s Dry Goods. Hammer’s is not new to Scott County; 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.”

Niggs Creek Road: After the condemned railroad overpass at High Point was demolished in late April, Cookeville-based contractors have begun construction of the new bridge that will eventually result in the reopening of Niggs Creek Road.

The Oak & Ash: Scott County’s newest restaurant is the Oak & Ash, which opened last week in Winfield. It is located in the building that has formerly housed Moose’s Sports Bar & Grill, Murf’s Gearbox Grill, and Boo’s Roadhouse. The restaurant is open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. It is closed Tuesdays.

The Florist: A new flower shop has opened in Oneida. The Florist is located in Northtown Plaza, 20435 Alberta Street, and is owned by Tony Litton. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

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.

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. Mayor Dennis Jeffers says the fast food portion of the business will not be a recognizable chain, but will instead be a store kitchen.

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.

University of Tennessee Medical Clinic: University of Tennessee Medical Center has added cardiology and neurology to the list of services it is offering at its new clinic, located adjacent to the Scott County Food Court on U.S. Highway 27 in south Oneida.

27/63 Site Prep: Excavating work has been ongoing at a commercial lot located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 27 and S.R. 63 in Huntsville, and a home that was located on the property has been demolished. According to Huntsville Mayor Dennis Jeffers, there is no construction slated for the site. Dirt removed from the property is being used for the new convenience store across the road, while the property itself remains for sale through Ayers Auction & Real Estate.

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.)

The week ahead

🌦️ Weather: There’s a 70% chance of thunderstorms in the forecast this afternoon. Otherwise, we’ll top out around 81 degrees today. Storm chances will diminish the rest of the week. 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 independentherald.net.

—

📅 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: 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 9:45 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).

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!

◼️ 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.)

Scott County man killed in collision with train

HELENWOOD | A Scott County father and grandfather was killed in an ATV tragedy at the railroad crossing here Saturday evening.

Ronnie Lloyd, 52, was identified by the Tennessee Highway Patrol as the driver and sole occupant of a 2020 Honda four-wheeler that collided with a train on the Norfolk-Southern Railroad.

The accident occurred on Helenwood Main Street just before 5 p.m. Saturday, Independence Day. The Tennessee Highway Patrol’s preliminary report included few details about the accident, except to say that Lloyd was west-bound on Main Street when he traveled through the stop bars at the railroad crossing and struck a moving train.

A large response from emergency personnel was received, and the crossing was closed for some time as the accident was investigated and cleared. The ATV involved in the crash came to rest on the tracks, and the train remained stopped at the crossing for a period of time.

View the original story…

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

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.

Dollar General: The new Dollar General on Coopertown Road in West Oneida opened Friday. Following a failed attempt to place a store near the intersection of Coopertown Road and Cooper Lake Road in Oneida, the Goodlettesville, Tenn.-based corporation secured property at the intersection of Coopertown Road and Smith Road in the Coopertown community, across from New Haven Baptist Church. The new DG will join other stores in Oneida, Huntsville, Robbins, and Winfield, and is likely not the last DG location in Scott County.

Veterans Memorial: A dedication ceremony was held Saturday morning to officially mark the opening of the American Revolutionary Veterans Memorial The memorial pays tribute to the Revolutionary War veterans who later moved to present-day Scott County.

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. The store announced last week that it is currently hiring.

Hammer’s: Signage is now in place for the forthcoming Hammer’s 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. The signage reflects the chain’s recent branding as Hammer’s Dry Goods. Hammer’s is not new to Scott County; 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.”

Niggs Creek Road: After the condemned railroad overpass at High Point was demolished in late April, Cookeville-based contractors have begun construction of the new bridge that will eventually result in the reopening of Niggs Creek Road.

The Oak & Ash: Scott County’s newest restaurant is the Oak & Ash, which opened last week in Winfield. It is located in the building that has formerly housed Moose’s Sports Bar & Grill, Murf’s Gearbox Grill, and Boo’s Roadhouse. The restaurant is open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. It is closed Tuesdays.

The Florist: A new flower shop has opened in Oneida. The Florist is located in Northtown Plaza, 20435 Alberta Street, and is owned by Tony Litton. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

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.

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. Mayor Dennis Jeffers says the fast food portion of the business will not be a recognizable chain, but will instead be a store kitchen.

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.

University of Tennessee Medical Clinic: University of Tennessee Medical Center has added cardiology and neurology to the list of services it is offering at its new clinic, located adjacent to the Scott County Food Court on U.S. Highway 27 in south Oneida.

27/63 Site Prep: Excavating work has been ongoing at a commercial lot located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 27 and S.R. 63 in Huntsville, and a home that was located on the property has been demolished. According to Huntsville Mayor Dennis Jeffers, there is no construction slated for the site. Dirt removed from the property is being used for the new convenience store across the road, while the property itself remains for sale through Ayers Auction & Real Estate.

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.)

The Week Ahead

🌦️ Weather: Thunderstorms are likely again today as shortwave action continues to rotate through the region. There’s a 70% chance of thunderstorms, mostly during the afternoon hours. Otherwise, it’ll be muggy and warm, with temperatures in the upper 80s. We’ll see similar temperatures each day this week with a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms each day. 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.

—

📅 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 Huntsville Municipal Pool is open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. each week day. Admission is $3. The Oneida City Park Splash Pad is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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 work 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).

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

Friday: The Big South Fork swimming pool at Bandy Creek is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $3 for ages 13 and up, or $2 for ages 6-12.

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

And, from earlier in the evening, here is video from the annual Independence Day Parade at the Firemen’s Fourth:

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.)

Minor damages left behind from Sunday flooding

Flood waters receded across Scott County Sunday afternoon, but left several damaged roads, flooded basements, and other minor damage in their wake.

The Scott County Road Department worked throughout the day Sunday to reopen roads that were temporarily closed by the flooding, but some damage remained as the sun went down. Bull Creek United Baptist Church, south of Huntsville, canceled Sunday evening services after part of the road near the church began to slide away.

At one point Sunday, several roads were closed. Flood-prone roads like O&W Road in Oneida were closed, and also closed were roads with tree damage due to the heavy rains and soft grounds. S.R. 297 through the Big South Fork River gorge was temporarily closed by the National Park Service due to downed trees.

Additionally, widespread power outages occurred throughout Scott County Sunday morning, some due to transformers being struck by lightning, and others due to trees that uprooted in the soggy ground. At one point, more than 5,000 homes and businesses were without power throughout Scott County.

More than six inches of rain fell in places over a 12-hour period beginning just before midnight Saturday night. The National Weather Service had issued a Flood Watch for Scott County and surrounding areas at 8 p.m. Saturday evening, after indications began to grow that thunderstorms might train over the area during the overnight hours. That is exactly what transpired, especially during the last hours before dawn Sunday morning. A Flash Flood Warning was issued and remained in effect until 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

At the Scott County Airport in Oneida, 6.12 inches of rain fell over the 12-hour period from midnight to noon. Added to lighter rain that fell earlier Saturday, more than 6.5 inches of rain fell over a 24-hour period.

To put the magnitude of the rainfall into perspective, more rain fell in a 12-hour period Sunday morning that had fallen during the entire months of May and June combined up to that point.

The Big South Fork River was nearing a crest at 24.7 feet near sunset Sunday evening, up almost 20 feet in a 15-hour period. The streamflow of 36,100 cubic feet per second (cfs) smashed the record for the date of June 28, and was the highest streamflow on the BSF River in 3.5 years, dating back to January 2023.

Further upstream, New River was nearing a crest at 22,800 cfs, and Clear Fork crested at 5,770 cfs, as measured at New River Bridge and Burnt Mill Bridge, respectively. Both sites broke single-day streamflow records for the date that were set in 2018.

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

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. There are no major updates this week.

Toomey Road: Contractors for the Scott County Road Department earlier this month completed a paving project on Toomey Road in the Coopertown area west of Oneida. Toomey Road serves as the entrance for the rapidly-growing Toomey Falls subdivision that extends into Black Oak, and is the entrance to the O&W area of the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. This parks the first time the road has ever been paved with “hot mix” asphalt.

Dollar General: Although an official opening date has not been announced, construction of the new Dollar General on Coopertown Road in West Oneida is complete, and the store is being stocked. Following a failed attempt to place a store near the intersection of Coopertown Road and Cooper Lake Road in Oneida, the Goodlettesville, Tenn.-based corporation secured property at the intersection of Coopertown Road and Smith Road in the Coopertown community, across from New Haven Baptist Church. The new location is currently hiring. More information can be found at www.dollargeneral.com. The new DG will join other stores in Oneida, Huntsville, Robbins, and Winfield, and is likely not the last DG location in Scott County.

Hammer’s: Signage is now in place for the forthcoming Hammer’s 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. The signage reflects the chain’s recent branding as Hammer’s Dry Goods. Hammer’s is not new to Scott County; 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.”

Niggs Creek Road: After the condemned railroad overpass at High Point was demolished in late April, Cookeville-based contractors have begun construction of the new bridge that will eventually result in the reopening of Niggs Creek Road.

The Oak & Ash: Scott County’s newest restaurant is the Oak & Ash, which opened last week in Winfield. It is located in the building that has formerly housed Moose’s Sports Bar & Grill, Murf’s Gearbox Grill, and Boo’s Roadhouse. The restaurant is open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. It is closed Tuesdays.

The Florist: A new flower shop has opened in Oneida. The Florist is located in Northtown Plaza, 20435 Alberta Street, and is owned by Tony Litton. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

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.

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. Mayor Dennis Jeffers says the fast food portion of the business will not be a recognizable chain, but will instead be a store kitchen.

Veterans Memorial: Although not officially open, work has been completed on the new Revolutionary veterans memorial, which is located at the John John Yancey Memorial Park in Huntsville. The memorial pays tribute to the Revolutionary War veterans 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.

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

Alberta Street resurfacing: Rogers Group has completed its resurfacing of U.S. Highway 27 through Oneida.

University of Tennessee Medical Clinic: University of Tennessee Medical Center has added cardiology and neurology to the list of services it is offering at its new clinic, located adjacent to the Scott County Food Court on U.S. Highway 27 in south Oneida.

27/63 Site Prep: Excavating work has been ongoing at a commercial lot located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 27 and S.R. 63 in Huntsville, and a home that was located on the property has been demolished. According to Huntsville Mayor Dennis Jeffers, there is no construction slated for the site. Dirt removed from the property is being used for the new convenience store across the road, while the property itself remains for sale through Ayers Auction & Real Estate.

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: The rain is behind us, and this week is going to be hot and dry. Temperatures will be in the low 90s each day this week, with heat indices reaching 100 degrees or greater at times. Nighttime temperatures won’t offer much relief, as we’ll be stuck in the low 70s at night. It’ll be very muggy. There’ll be slight chances of thunderstorms beginning Wednesday night and continuing through the 4th of July holiday 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.

—

📅 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 Huntsville Municipal Pool is open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. each week day. Admission is $3. The Oneida City Park Splash Pad is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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.

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 9:45 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).

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.

Friday: The Big South Fork swimming pool at Bandy Creek is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $3 for ages 13 and up, or $2 for ages 6-12.

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)

The hottest temperatures of summer — at least to this point — are likely on the way next week, with triple-digit heat indices possible across much of Tennessee.

An Extreme Heat Watch has been hoisted by the National Weather Service for much of Middle Tennessee, west of the Cumberland Plateau, where the agency says the heat index could reach 110 degrees.

Somewhat milder temperatures are likely, as usual, on the Cumberland Plateau. However, widespread temperatures in the 90s are likely even here on the higher elevations of the plateau, and the heat index here could reach 100 degrees at times.

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The heat wave will begin in earnest on Monday, with temperatures expected to top out in the 90s each weekday next week, and pushing close to 90 degrees on the Independence Day holiday, which is Saturday. Slight chances of thunderstorms will return to the forecast near the end of the week, but the first half of the week looks very dry.

Officially, the National Weather Service’s Morristown weather forecast office, which covers Scott County, is forecasting temperatures between 90 and 92 degrees in the Oneida area each day next week. The last time the Oneida area saw temperatures of 90 degrees or greater was Aug. 21, 2025, which concluded four consecutive days of temperatures in the 90s, with a high of 93 degrees on Aug. 20. The hottest temperature so far this summer has been 89 degrees, earlier this month.

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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.

New county budget includes pay increase for county employees

HUNTSVILLE | Meeting in special called session Monday evening, Scott County Commission gave its final approval to the budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which includes no new taxes and a 6.5% raise for county employees — those employed by county government offices, as well as EMTs and paramedics, sheriff’s department law enforcement officers, and corrections officers.

Incremental pay raises for county employees has become an annual goal of County Commission as a way to bring local government salaries closer to those in neighboring counties, and have been lobbied for by office-holders that include County Mayor Jerried Jeffers and Sheriff Brian Keeton.

According to Jeffers, county employees have now seen their salaries increase 23% over the past four years, while employees with 10 or more years on the job have seen pay increases exceeding 23%, due to longevity pay increases.

The budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which begins July 1, will leave the county’s property rate unchanged at $1.60 per $100 assessed value for property owners outside the Oneida Special School District. Inside the OSSD, the property tax is $1.96 per $100 assessed value. The special school district tax was approved by voters on referendum in the late 1980s for the purpose of funding new school buildings. The tax levy was approved by commissioners on June 15.

The proposed budget for FY 2026-2027 includes estimated revenues of $11.55 million for the general fund, and total expenditures of $11.48 million. The road department’s budget is $2.47 million, as proposed. The school system’s budget is $26.84 million.

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TCAT launches search for new vice president

HUNTSVILLE | Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville announced this week that it has launched a search for a new vice president.

The school’s former vice president, Tim Smith, was promoted to president on June 16, following the retirement of Dwight Murphy, who had served as the school’s president since 2006.

TCAT Oneida/Huntsville has a main campus in Huntsville, satellite campuses in Oneida and Jamestown, and also offers programs in Wartburg and Clarkrange, in addition to the Morgan County Correctional Complex.

TCAT is also searching for a campus coordinator for the Jamestown campus, which is a shared space with Roane State Community College and is slated to open in September.

The application period will close July 17.

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ICYMI

Threads of Life: This week’s Threads of Life newsletter is in remembrance of Betty Robbins, Deborah Cross, Nova Jones, Connie Owens, Marty Shoemaker, Donna Tipton, and Keith Wilson. » Read It

Echoes in Time: This week’s Echoes in Time newsletter looks back at the Paint Rock Coal & Coke Company, which was founded in 1889 as one of Scott County’s first industries and helped transform the community. » Read It

The Weekend

🌧️ Weather: Rain will become likely for a while this weekend. After a slight (30%) chance of thunderstorms on Friday, there’s an 80% chance of rain Saturday and Saturday night. Sunday will see a return of mostly sunny skies, but there’s still about a 50/50 chance of scattered thunderstorms. 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

Denomination: Baptist
Pastor: Carlie Duncan
Address: 5126 Norma Road, Huntsville

Services

Sunday Morning: 10 a.m.
Sunday School: 11 a.m.
Sunday Evening: 6:30 p.m.
4th Saturday: 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: The Scott County Farmers & Crafters Market (Scott High Drive, Huntsville) will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with fresh produce, baked goods, and handmade crafts.

• Saturday: The Big South Fork swimming pool at Bandy Creek will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 ($2 for ages 6-12; free for 5 and under). The Huntsville Municipal Pool will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3.

• Saturday: The U.S.S. Tennessee Battleship Memorial Museum will be open on Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. 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: The Big South Fork swimming pool at Bandy Creek will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 ($2 for ages 6-12; free for 5 and under). The Huntsville Municipal Pool will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3.

• 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
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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 | Meeting in special called session Monday evening, Scott County Commission gave its final approval to the budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which includes no new taxes and a 6.5% raise for county employees — those employed by county government offices, as well as EMTs and paramedics, sheriff’s department law enforcement officers, and corrections officers.

Incremental pay raises for county employees has become an annual goal of County Commission as a way to bring local government salaries closer to those in neighboring counties, and have been lobbied for by office-holders that include County Mayor Jerried Jeffers and Sheriff Brian Keeton.

According to Jeffers, county employees have now seen their salaries increase 23% over the past four years, while employees with 10 or more years on the job have seen pay increases exceeding 23%, due to longevity pay increases.

The budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which begins July 1, will leave the county’s property rate unchanged at $1.60 per $100 assessed value for property owners outside the Oneida Special School District. Inside the OSSD, the property tax is $1.96 per $100 assessed value. The special school district tax was approved by voters on referendum in the late 1980s for the purpose of funding new school buildings. The tax levy was approved by commissioners on June 15.

The proposed budget for FY 2026-2027 includes estimated revenues of $11.55 million for the general fund, and total expenditures of $11.48 million. The road department’s budget is $2.47 million, as proposed. The school system’s budget is $26.84 million.

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HUNTSVILLE | Jaclyn Hamby has been promoted to the role of principal at Scott High School.

Hamby, who served as an assistant principal at the school this past year, will replace Marc Taylor, who assumes his new role as Scott County Director of Schools on July 1, after one year as Scott High School’s principal.

Hamby was among several applicants who interviewed for the position.

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If the name sounds familiar, she is a cousin-in-law to Jeremy Hamby, who served as the school’s principal before leaving that post to become the school system’s CTE director last year. She is married to Matt Hamby of Robbins and has three children. She’s the daughter of Jack Sproles of Huntsville. She is a 2003 graduate of Scott High School.

Taylor moves to the Central Office to replace Bill Hall, who is retiring June 30 after 15 years at the helm of the Scott County School System. He is a native of Kentucky who worked in both the McCreary County and Williamsburg school districts before moving to Scott High School a year ago.

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HUNTSVILLE | The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will provide law enforcement assistance to Scott County at the New River boat ramp below the U.S. Highway 27 bridge.

By unanimous vote at Monday’s County Commission meeting, commissioners approved an agreement with TWRA and the TN Dept. of Transportation.

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Scott County Mayor Jerried Jeffers said after the meeting that the state agency has law enforcement powers that the local sheriff’s department does not have, which will allow better control of vagrancy that has recently become an issue near the boat ramp.

In other business Monday, commissioners:

• Approved the renaming of a bridge in the 4800 block of Wolf Creek Road near Glenmary the Elvin & Evelyn Shannon Memorial Bridge, after Elvin Franklin Shannon and his wife, Stella Evelyn Muse, who lived in the Wolf Creek community.

• Approved an annual grant agreement that provides funding to the Scott County Health Department.

• Approved application for a Healthy Active Rural Tennessee (HART) grant, which could provide Scott County with up to $150,000 in match-free dollars for improvements at county-owned recreational facilities.

• Approved new terms for the Scott County Library Board, including the addition of Jo Ann Polk.

• Voted to approve the minutes of the Scott Solid Waste Board’s most recent meeting.

Commissioners also approved the property tax levy for fiscal year 2026-2027 and will meet in special session on Monday, June 22, to finalize the budget.

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HUNTSVILLE | Scott County Commission this evening took the first step towards approving a no-new-taxes budget for the new fiscal year, adopting both the property tax levy and department appropriations.

The budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which begins July 1, will leave the county’s property rate unchanged at $1.60 per $100 assessed value for property owners outside the Oneida Special School District. Inside the OSSD, the property tax is $1.96 per $100 assessed value. The special school district tax was approved by voters on referendum in the late 1980s for the purpose of funding new school buildings.

The proposed budget for FY 2026-2027 includes estimated revenues of $11.55 million for the general fund, and total expenditures of $11.48 million. The road department’s budget is $2.47 million, as proposed. The school system’s budget is $26.84 million.

See Also: Scott County’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-2027

In Tennessee, property is assessed at one-fourth of its appraised value. To determine your property tax, use the following formula: Appraised value/4/100x$1.60 = Property tax owed.

For example, if your home is valued at $200,000: $200,000/4 = $50,000/100 = $500x$1.60 = $800 taxes owed for fiscal year 2026-2027.

Scott County’s last property tax rate increase came in 2017.

The county’s current tax rate ranks 42nd among Tennessee counties, meaning there are 41 counties with lower tax rates and 53 counties with higher tax rates.

However, Scott County’s median tax — which is calculated using the average home price in the county — ranks 7th in the state, meaning only six counties have a lower median tax and 87 have a higher median tax.

County Commission will finalize the budget during a special called meeting on Monday, June 22. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville.

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WINFIELD | A Scott County woman is recovering at a Knoxville-area hospital after being shot during an altercation here Monday.

The woman was airlifted with what was said to be a non-life-threatening injury after being shot in the leg by another woman with a small-caliber firearm.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

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ONEIDA | Dr. Jeanny Phillips has stepped down as Oneida Special School District’s director of schools, after a 10-year tenure in that role.

By a 5-0 vote at a special called meeting Monday, the OSSD Board of Education voted to approve a proposal shifting Phillips’ employment from the director of schools position to principal of the school system’s new virtual academy.

Kelly Posey Chitwood, a former principal at Oneida Middle School who currently serves in the central office as the director of the school system’s coordinated school health program, has been named the interim director of schools.

Phillips is a 27-year veteran of the OSSD. She began her career as a kindergarten teacher in 1999, and quickly ascended through the ranks of administration from 2010 until she was appointed director of schools in 2016, first serving as testing coordinator, then instructional supervisor.

Phillips succeeded Ann Sexton as Oneida’s director of schools. She is married to former Scott County Sheriff Ronnie Phillips.

Chitwood transitioned to the Central Office after serving as principal of Oneida Middle School. She also represents the 5th District on Scott County Commission.

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Good Monday morning! Welcome to a brand-new week — a short one for everyone fortunate enough to have Friday (Juneteenth) off work. 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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Early voting is quickly approaching

HUNTSVILLE | Fireworks tents beginning to pop up around Scott County is a reminder that the 4th of July is less than two weeks away — when candidates will migrate to the courthouse mall in Huntsville for the town’s annual Firemen’s Fourth festival and court votes from the thousands of Independence Day revelers who’ll be on hand. And after that, it’ll be less than two weeks until early voting starts.

The start of Tennessee’s early voting period for the August 6 county general election and state primary is now just about a month away. The early voting period begins on Friday, July 17, and continues through Saturday, August 1. Anyone registered voter can cast ballots during that two-week period, either at the Scott County Office Building in Huntsville or the Oneida Municipal Services Building.

For a big election year, this year’s campaign has been relatively subdued. Changing times — and changing modes of communicating — have made modern elections an evolving process. Gone are the 1980s, when full-page ads for county-wide offices dominated the pages of local newspapers, with spirited battles between the likes of Dwight Murphy and the late Clarence “Denny” Lowe for county executive, or the late J.D. “Headin” Lay and the late Ray Hatfield for road superintendent. Gone, too, are the television infomercials of the ‘90s and early 2000s. Both of those trends went the same way as the stump speeches of the early 20th century, and the door-to-door knock-and-talk campaigns of the 1960s and 1970s.

But even by modern standards, this year’s election has seemed — well, quiet. Races have flared up briefly at times. There was the battle for the Republican nomination for sheriff last month, and the Oneida school board race is the current plat du jour. For the most part, though, it seems like everyone is quietly biding their time as Election Day slowly draws nearer.

Scott County’s biggest elections are on an eight-year cycle. That’s when judicial races are thrown in with county races. Eighth Judicial District officials — judges, prosecutors, and public defenders — are on eight-year terms, and they’ll next be up for election in 2030. But the four-year cycle that falls this year is also a big one, with most county-wide officials — aside from property assessor — and all 14 seats on county commission on the ballot, along with a few school board races.

One big reason for the subdued campaign season is the dearth of contested races. Road Superintendent Kelvin King, County Attorney John Beaty, Circuit Court Clerk Donnie Phillips, Trustee Rena Erwin, and Register of Deeds Ashley Newport Riseden are all running for re-election unopposed.

That leaves just a handful of contested county-wide races: The four-way race for county mayor, the three-way race for sheriff, and the three-way race for county clerk.

In the mayor’s race, first-term incumbent Jerried Jeffers is opposed by Huntsville Mayor Dennis Jeffers, Cumberland Clear president Jennifer Shockley, and former county commissioner Dr. Trent Cross.

In the sheriff’s race, first-term incumbent Brian Keeton — who won a tightly-contested Republican primary race against former sheriff Ronnie Phillips in May — is opposed by veteran lawmen Kris Lewallen and Dennis Chambers.

In the clerk’s race, two-term incumbent Felicia Bilbrey is opposed by her 2022 opponent, Amanda Chambers Sexton, and by Christina Kay Cross.

Most of the 14 seats on County Commission are being contested, though there are exceptions. In the 4th District (Helenwood), incumbents Kenny Chadwell and Shonda Gray will be re-elected without opposition. There is limited opposition in the 2nd District (Robbins), where incumbents Taylor Buttram Stephens and Joyce Keeton are being opposed by challenger Adam King. Both the 5th District (Winfield) and the 6th District (Oneida) feature three-person races with one incumbent and one open seat in the mix. In the 5th District, where incumbent Robyn McBroom is not seeking re-election, the ballot includes incumbent Kelly Posey-Chitwood and challengers Zach Strunk and Ralph Trieschman. In the 6th District, where incumbent Shon Terry is not running, incumbent Colby Burke is on the ballot along with challengers Jason Perry and Torrey Slaven.

Elsewhere, incumbents David “Blue” Day and David Jeffers are opposed by Elaine R. Lowe and Allen Phillips in the 1st District (Fairview), and incumbents Jared Burke and Tom Payne are opposed by Kris Byrd and Anthony Carson in the 7th District (West Oneida). The most crowded race for commissioner is in the 3rd District (Huntsville), where there are two open seats up for grabs with both Amy Jeffers and Sheila Buttram choosing not to run. On the ballot are Mike Keeton, Ron Keeton, Kenny Morrow, Daniel Murley, and Dacy Williams.

The school board races feature incumbent Tommy Silcox and challenger Rhonda Marlow Davis in the 1st District; incumbent Angela Anderson King and challenger Roger Douglas in the 5th District; and incumbent Dr. Tressa Murphy and challenger Matt Stiltner in the 7th District. In the 4th District, incumbent Kimberly Kidd is unopposed.

The Oneida Special School District, which will elect three board members with incumbent Dorothy Watson not seeking re-election, features four candidates: incumbents Kevin Byrd and Mark Matthews, along with challengers Benji Jacobs and Stuart Jones.

The deadline to register to vote in the August general election is July 7, ten days before the start of the early voting period.

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Train derailment impacts Obed Wild & Scenic River visitation

WARTBURG | A portion of the Obed Wild & Scenic River near here has been placed off-limits to visitors as clean-up continues in the aftermath of a train derailment that occurred last week.

The National Park Service announced Friday that the Nemo Picnic Area has been temporarily closed, and the waters around the Rock Creek Campground and Nemo Picnic Area have been temporarily closed to swimming and fishing.

A train carrying ethanol derailed on the Norfolk-Southern line near Lancing in Morgan County on Thursday. The derailment sparked a fire, and there were concerns that contaminants might leak into the Emory River, which flows through the Obed Wild & Scenic River.

The Obed is a sister park to the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, which is not impacted by the derailment cleanup process.

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.

Toomey Road: Contractors for the Scott County Road Department last week completed a paving project on Toomey Road in the Coopertown area west of Oneida. Toomey Road serves as the entrance for the rapidly-growing Toomey Falls subdivision that extends into Black Oak, and is the entrance to the O&W area of the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. This parks the first time the road has ever been paved with “hot mix” asphalt.

Dollar General: Although an official opening date has not been announced, the new Dollar General on Coopertown Road in West Oneida is nearing completion. Following a failed attempt to place a store near the intersection of Coopertown Road and Cooper Lake Road in Oneida, the Goodlettesville, Tenn.-based corporation secured property at the intersection of Coopertown Road and Smith Road in the Coopertown community, across from New Haven Baptist Church. The new location is currently hiring. More information can be found at www.dollargeneral.com. The new DG will join other stores in Oneida, Huntsville, Robbins, and Winfield, and is likely not the last DG location in Scott County.

Hammer’s: Signage is now in place for the forthcoming Hammer’s 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. The signage reflects the chain’s recent branding as Hammer’s Dry Goods. Hammer’s is not new to Scott County; 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.”

Niggs Creek Road: After the condemned railroad overpass at High Point was demolished in late April, Cookeville-based contractors have begun construction of the new bridge that will eventually result in the reopening of Niggs Creek Road.

The Oak & Ash: Scott County’s newest restaurant is the Oak & Ash, which opened last week in Winfield. It is located in the building that has formerly housed Moose’s Sports Bar & Grill, Murf’s Gearbox Grill, and Boo’s Roadhouse. The restaurant is open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. It is closed Tuesdays.

The Florist: A new flower shop has opened in Oneida. The Florist is located in Northtown Plaza, 20435 Alberta Street, and is owned by Tony Litton. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

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.

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. Mayor Dennis Jeffers says the fast food portion of the business will not be a recognizable chain, but will instead be a store kitchen.

Veterans Memorial: Although not officially open, work has been completed on the new Revolutionary veterans memorial, which is located at the John John Yancey Memorial Park in Huntsville. The memorial pays tribute to the Revolutionary War veterans 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.

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

Alberta Street resurfacing: Rogers Group has completed its resurfacing of U.S. Highway 27 through Oneida.

University of Tennessee Medical Clinic: University of Tennessee Medical Center has added cardiology and neurology to the list of services it is offering at its new clinic, located adjacent to the Scott County Food Court on U.S. Highway 27 in south Oneida.

27/63 Site Prep: Excavating work has been ongoing at a commercial lot located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 27 and S.R. 63 in Huntsville, and a home that was located on the property has been demolished. According to Huntsville Mayor Dennis Jeffers, there is no construction slated for the site. Dirt removed from the property is being used for the new convenience store across the road, while the property itself remains for sale through Ayers Auction & Real Estate.

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: We’re going to see a couple of days of really nice weather to start this week. Both Monday and Tuesday will feature plenty of sunshine, with a high of only 76 degrees on Monday and 79 degrees on Tuesday. Temperatures will push back into the mid 80s with a slight chance of thunderstorms on Wednesday, then rain will become likely Thursday and Friday. 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 Huntsville Municipal Pool is open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. each week day. Admission is $3. The Oneida City Park Splash Pad is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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: 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).

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.

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.

Friday: The Big South Fork swimming pool at Bandy Creek is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $3 for ages 13 and up, or $2 for ages 6-12.

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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• 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 | A Scott County grand jury has indicted a 19-year-old in the death of Scott High student Gage King, 16, which occurred in April.

Cole Heltoff, 19, has been indicted on charges of aggravated assault and reckless homicide. He turned himself in Thursday and was booked into the Scott County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

King died after being shot in the Byrges Creek community south of Huntsville on a Sunday afternoon. His grandmother, Angela Brummett, said at the time: “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.”

Grand jury indictments are criminal accusations and do not represent evidence of wrongdoing. Indicted persons are presumed innocent until convicted in court.

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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!

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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.

Fire destroys home in Strawberry Flats area

ONEIDA | A four-alarm fire in the Strawberry Flats neighborhood east of Oneida completely destroyed a resident Tuesday evening.

Paint Rock Volunteer Fire Department was first on the scene, with the first tone sounded at 7:22 p.m. Tuesday. The first arriving firefighters found the mobile home aflame and already partially collapsed. Subsequent tones were sounded for Pine Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Huntsville Fire Department, and East 63 Volunteer Fire Department, as crews aggressively battled the flames to prevent further spread. Oneida Fire Department was also dispatched, but later canceled.

The fire occurred on Walnut Lane, off Strawberry Flats Road. Firefighters remained on the scene for more than four hours, battling the fire until nearly midnight.

No injuries were reported, according to Paint Rock VFD.

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

Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken to close after 43 years

ONEIDA | Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken is closing, the Jeffers family announced Wednesday.

The restaurant will first move to an abbreviated schedule, closing at 2 p.m. daily after serving breakfast and lunch, beginning today. It will continue to accept catering orders. The restaurant will “close for good in the next month or so,” it said.

Opened in 1983 as Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuits, the restaurant is Oneida’s oldest fast-food establishment, pre-dating the arrival of McDonald’s. It has remained a staple in Scott County for 43 years, especially for breakfast and on Sundays. In addition to fried chicken, a fan favorite has long remained the super cinnamon swirls, a holdover from the Mrs. Winner’s days. It has been known as Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken since 2000.

Located in front of the Capitol 3 Theatre that the Jeffers family also owns, the restaurant was established by Oneida business owner Jan Jeffers. Jeffers has owned many businesses through the years, starting with the old Goodyear store, and was one of the original stockholders of the Independent Herald.

“I have determined that the time has come when I should reduce the stress and needs of a fast-paced business,” the 87-year-old Jeffers said, “with my age and a couple of medical issues being the determining factors.”

While several other fast-food restaurants have recently crowded the Oneida market, including the pending construction of a Zaxby’s that will also create competition in the fried chicken niche, Jeffers said Lee’s sales remain strong, which makes the decision to close difficult.

“We want to end our 43-year run on our own terms, at a high point, and with only good thoughts and memories for our guests,” he said.

Jeffers said Lee’s has been “a great company to work with, going far above what was necessary and expected.”

Lee’s has been managed for several years by Louise Phillips, who Jeffers said has been “the heartbeat of the business for years.”

The Jeffers family has been prominent on the Oneida business scene for years. Jan’s sister, Joan Williamson, owns Dilly Dilly Lavender Farm. His nephew, Leif Jeffers, is the 8th Judicial District’s Public Defender. His sister, Judy Davis, established the Horace M. Jeffers Scholarship Fund in their father’s memory to help Oneida High School students attend Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville.

“We have had hundreds of the local population pass through our doors as workers, and are happy to have aided with their transition to adulthood and hopefully contributed to others in raising their families. The thousands of Scott County and Kentucky residents who have literally carried us on their backs throughout the 43-year span should be recognized and thanked for their support as well,” Jeffers said.

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.)

Severe weather is possible Friday

There’s a chance of severe weather on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

The NWS’s Storm Prediction Center has the entire area under a “slight risk” for severe weather Friday afternoon, primarily for damaging winds. A slight risk means there is at least a 15% chance of severe weather occurring, and is the second step on the SPC’s five-step severe weather threat assessment scale.

The NWS weather forecast office in Morristown, which covers Scott County, said Thursday afternoon that isolated thunderstorms will quickly develop Friday afternoon, bringing damaging wind and hail to some areas. The storms are expected to persist through sunset.

Locally, there is a 60% chance of thunderstorms Friday. Greater chances of storms exist further east, including in the Knoxville area.

Rain will be possible again Saturday night and Sunday, as a cold front approaches the region.

ICYMI

Threads of Life: This week’s Threads of Life newsletter is in remembrance of Regina Allen, Katrina Bertram, Anna Fairchild, Nathan Hill, and Faye McDonald. » Read It

Echoes in Time: This week’s Echoes in Time newsletter remembers H. Clay James, who was quickly becoming a very prominent attorney in Scott County in the early 1900s before his life was cut short by illness. » Read It

Spring Hiking Challenge: Hike #13 of 14 takes us to Gentlemen’s Swimming Hole in the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, near the historic Victorian English village of Rugby. » Read It

The Weekend

🌦️ Weather: There’s a 60% chance of thunderstorms this afternoon, and severe storms are possible. Temperatures will top out around 86 degrees. Tomorrow will be dry and sunny, again topping out around 86 degrees. Rain will become likely on Sunday, as a cold front approaches the region. 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

First Baptist Church of Robbins

Denomination: Baptist
Pastor: Mike Smithers
Address: 251 Sims Road, Robbins

Services
Sunday School: 10 a.m.
Sunday Morning: 11 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 Scott County Farmers & Crafters Market will be at the Scott County Visitor Center in Helenwood (12025 Scott Highway) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with fresh produce, baked goods, and handmade crafts.

• Saturday: The Big South Fork swimming pool at Bandy Creek will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 ($2 for ages 6-12; free for 5 and under). The Huntsville Municipal Pool will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3.

• Saturday: The U.S.S. Tennessee Battleship Memorial Museum will be open on Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is located on the campus of Scott High School.

• Saturday: Second Saturday night service will be held at Jake’s Branch United Baptist Church at 6 p.m. For more information, see our Church Directory at indherald.com.

• Sunday: The Big South Fork swimming pool at Bandy Creek will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 ($2 for ages 6-12; free for 5 and under). The Huntsville Municipal Pool will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3.

• 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