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.
Scott County’s unemployment rate falls to 4.4%
Scott County’s unemployment rate declined for the second consecutive month in August, falling three-tenths of a percentage point to 4.4 percent.
According to data released last week by the TN Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development, Scott County’s jobless rate dropped from 4.7 percent in July to 4.4 percent in August. The unemployment rate has now fallen six-tenths of a percentage point since standing at 5.0 percent in June.
The August unemployment rate was based on an estimated local work force of 8,795, of which 8,411 were employed and 384 were unemployed. Both employment and the size of the work force declined from July. The estimated work force decreased by 86 people, while the number of employed Scott Countians declined by 54 and the number of unemployed workers declined by 32.
Scott County’s unemployment rate remained higher than it was a year ago. The county’s jobless rate stood at 4.1 percent in August 2025.
Tennessee’s highest unemployment rates in August were found in Hancock and Perry counties, at 5.5 percent each. They were followed by Pickett County at 5.2 percent, Hardeman County at 5.1 percent, and Meigs and Shelby counties at 5.0 percent. Greene County had an unemployment rate of 4.9 percent, while Lake and Lauderdale counties were at 4.8 percent. Benton, Decatur and Weakley counties each had unemployment rates of 4.7 percent.
The state’s lowest unemployment rates in August were found in Cheatham and Sevier counties, at 2.9 percent. Dickson, Macon, Robertson, Williamson and Wilson counties each had unemployment rates of 3.0 percent.
Among neighboring counties, Anderson and Fentress counties each had unemployment rates of 3.5 percent, while Campbell County’s jobless rate was 3.8 percent and Morgan County’s unemployment rate was 4.2 percent.
Among the state’s major metropolitan areas, Nashville showed the way at 3.1 percent, followed by Knoxville at 3.2 percent, Chattanooga at 3.4 percent and Memphis at 4.6 percent.
The unemployment rate increased in 45 of Tennessee’s 95 counties during August, declined in 22 counties and remained unchanged in 28 counties. The statewide unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, while the national unemployment rate was 4.1 percent.
Huntsville Post-Acute & Rehabilitation Center offers short-term or long-term care … on your terms. Learn more. (Sponsored content.)
Sen. Yager announces $71,000 in grant funding for senior services in Scott County
NASHVILLE, Tenn. | State Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, announced this week that the Scott County Senior Citizens Center and Scott Appalachian Industries are among five senior citizen programs in District 12 that have been awarded grants by the TN Dept. of Disability & Aging.
The grants are part of a $5 million investment in senior centers approved by the Tennessee General Assembly in this year’s state budget.
Scott Appalachian Industries was awarded $23,000 for its senior citizens programs, while the Scott County Senior Citizens Center in Oneida was awarded $48,000.
Other grants awarded in District 12, which Yager represents, included $50,000 to the Clay County Senior Citizens Center, $50,000 to the Overton County Senior Activity Center, and $40,000 to the Senior Citizens Center of Campbell County.
A total of 122 grants were awarded throughout the state.
The Scott County Senior Citizens Center offers several programs for seniors, including exercise on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., along with meals on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., along with various other programs.
The Scott Appalachian Industries Senior Center also offers a wide variety of programs, including a walking program, games, and massage chairs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each weekday, along with congregate meals that are free for ages 60 and over at 12 p.m. each weekday, and various other special programs that are announced by month.
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 Betty Boles, Alma DeBord, Linda King, Gail Shoopman, and Martha Kidd. » Read It
Echoes in Time: This week’s Echoes in Time newsletter takes a look at the Buffalo community through the years. » Read It
The Weekend
🌧️ Weather: Rain will be likely this weekend, beginning Friday afternoon and continuing through Sunday. Exact amounts are uncertain, but there will be strong probabilities of rain each day. Temperatures will range from the mid 80s on Friday to the low 70s by Sunday. 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
Bible Believers
Denomination: Baptist
Pastor: Joey Zachary
Address: 120 Cooper Lake Road, Oneida
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: First Saturday night services will be held at Capitol Hill Missionary Baptist Church (6:30 p.m.), East Robbins Missionary Baptist Church (6 p.m.), Norma Missionary Baptist Church (6 p.m.), and Black Creek Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church (7 p.m.). For more information, see our Church Directory at www.independentherald.net.
• 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.
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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)