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