Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
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By Katelin Carroll, Reporter In January of 2021, Tennessee senators passed a law that would require third grade students to score a certain proficiency level on the English Language Arts portion of their TNReady test before they can move onto fourth grade. The controversial law will require kids who score below "proficient" to be held back. It is aimed at improving the state's low reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This test is like a national report card...
By Katelin Carroll, Reporter We are so proud to announce that The Lewis County Herald was awarded with three Tennessee Press Association Awards, and it’s all because of you, the community. This year we were awarded First Place for Public Service due to our coverage of our community’s fight against drugs. This award would not have been possible if it wasn’t for Hope Center Ministries who led the charge with a march for the history books. Nearly 1,500 people turned out to march down the streets of Hohenwald with the hopes of taking their city...
By Katelin Carroll, Staff Reporter The Governor's Early Literacy Foundation announced on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, that Lewis County Director of Schools Dr. Tracy McAbee has been appointed to the 2022-2023 Educator Advisory Council. The foundation's press release stated that 28 educators out of 60 applicants were selected to serve on the council, making Dr. McAbee's appointment something to celebrate. Out of 19 Districts represented, Lewis County will be one! Their purpose is to "serve as a c...
By Katelin Carroll, Staff Reporter This year's Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Awards were given out during a banquet held on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. Nominees are made by Chamber members and winners are selected by the Chamber Board. Best Supporting Volunteer Kevin Baker Sr. was presented this year's Best Supporting Volunteer award for his selfless service to our community. Sandra Thompson, presenting the award to Baker, talked of how he has served our community for years now with Second...
Lewis County Schools are on the up and up! The Tennessee Department of Education announced this year's school designations earned for each school district's performance and improvement for the 2021-2022 school year. Out of a total 92 school districts statewide, Lewis County Schools were designated Exemplary. Out of 427 schools statewide, Lewis County Middle School was deemed a Reward School! "Of course, I wasn't here for the previous academic year but I can say that the dedication I've seen from...
The Lewis County Board of Commissioners met Monday, August 22, 2022, for their regularly scheduled meeting. County Mayor Jonah Keltner and Commissioner Kyle Bobo were absent. In lieu of Mayor Keltner’s absence, Commissioner Brian Peery conducted the meeting. Don Barber spoke during Public Input to give his update on Memorial Park as he was unable to do so last month. “We’ve got a lot going on at the park,” said Barber, “We have quotes on the shade screens that look like triangles that’ll go up on steel posts to shade the playground....
Local non-profit, Davis House Child Advocacy Center hosted a fundraising event on July 16, 2022, where some local and all beloved performers volunteered their talents for the organization. Our local Davis House Child Advocacy Center is an important resource for the children and families of Lewis, Hickman, Perry and Williamson Counties. They provide investigative, advocacy, family support and therapeutic services to children, and their families, who have experienced sexual or significant abuse,...
Tensions had been brewing for quite some time between the locals and the Mormon missionaries since their arrival in 1878. Mormon elders had passed through the area years prior to settling in Cane Creek, and not long after they settled rumors started. "After consulting many sources, this writer feels satisfied that the following information elicits the main reasons for the intensified antagonism felt toward the Mormons.. The belief that Mormon elders had entered the head waters of Cane Creek for...
On Friday, July 22, 2022, Hope Hohenwald hosted their second annual Cops and Kids Whiffle Ball Match where kids play a game of whiffle ball against HPD Officers, Sheriff Deputies and even a Tennessee Highway Patrolman. The first year they played, a few law enforcement officers showed up, but this year they wanted more. So the kids took to social media and posted a video challenging the cops to meet them on the diamond. While "Separate Ways" by Journey played in the background, the kids could be...
The County Commission met on Monday, July 25, 2022, to discuss quarterly reports from other county departments and budgets/appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year. During the alloted time for public input, Commissioner Brian Peery called upon Brian Johnson, Republican candidate for State Representative, to speak as he was in attendance for the meeting. The hopeful State Representative thanked Commissioner Peery and introduced himself to the Commission, saying he would love to represent Hohenwald and its surrounding counties. 2022-2023...
The gun smoke cleared, and there were no mirrors, Lewis County has some of the best sharp shooters in the nation! The Lewis County Shooting Sports team traveled up to Marengo, Ohio, last week to compete in the SCTP National Championship. The kids that went this year were Mercie Ashmore, Clay Bean, K.C. Braun, Daniel Burcham, Chase Carroll, Spencer Clark, Zoie Clark, Grabriel Shook and Xavier Shook. The competition lasted from Monday, July 11, to Saturday, July 16, 2022, each day was a different...
Talk and debate has spread across our community as of late, concerning whether or not to increase our local option sales tax from 2.5 percent to 2.75 percent in order to help with the building of a new high school. What is the local option sales tax? A local option sales tax is typically used as a means to raise funds for a number of local projects, especially for rural counties who receive less funding, and Lewis County would be no different. Currently, Tennessee's sales tax is 7 percent and...
A resolution came before the County Commission which read, “Whereas, State of Tennessee Public Chapter No. 1016 (Senate Bill 2489), authorizes the County Commission, by resolution, to increase the threshold over which public advertisement and sealed competitive bids or proposals are required to an amount not to exceed $25,000, but greater than $10,000, for non-emergency, nonproprietary purchases; “Whereas, the county legislative body of Lewis County has determined that the cost and time savings associated with such an increase of the bid...
The County Commission met on Monday night to discuss budget amendments, giving donations to Hope Hohenwald and the Lewis County Senior Citizens Center, a new solution to recycle more effectively and the plans for the new high school put on pause. During the alloted time for public input, Steve Hewlett, president and CEO of Hewlett-Spencer, LLC, the construction company hired to build the new school, came before the Commission to personally apologize. In his apology, Mr. Hewlett said he was incredibly sorry but the guaranteed maximum price would...
More than 3,500 show-worthy cars came cruising down Highway 412 on Tuesday, June 14, after kicking off their thousand mile journey in Memphis for the 28th annual Hot Rod Power Tour. The parade of classic cars and hot rods were on their way to the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, the second city out of their five-city tour of the south. Their day-three destination was the Hoover Met Complex, Hoover, Alabama. Day four was Pensacola Fairgrounds in Pensacola, Florida, before ending their tour...
The first annual Summerfest was a success that left this year's vendors excited to come back next year, said event organizer and Chamber member Mike Ricketts. If you were redirected from downtown Hohenwald on Saturday, it was due to Summerfest! Arts and craft vendors lined the street with food trucks, a kid zone and a music stage that resembled Oktoberfest. Ricketts said they had a great turnout with a steady crowd. He estimated that anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people showed up for the event thro...
At this month’s City Council meeting, held on Tuesday, June 7, the City Mayor and Councilmen spoke about potentially raising fees in the future. Before discussing business, Councilman Cody Mitchell asked if the council should talk about raising fees with the way the economy is going. He then added that he was only bringing the subject up because if there needed to be an increase, it should be gradual and not a big amount all at once. Mayor Danny McKnight said they would probably have to in the future but did not want to presently. Vice Mayor D...
The Lewis County Trap Team have proven themselves a force to be reckoned at the Nashville Gun Club during the SCTP Regional Competition last weekend. Not only did Lewis County place in the top five in nearly every Trap division, but several of the individual shooters placed as well. Some waited until 9:30 and 11:00 at night in hopes to win a shoot-off against others who scored the same. The first image that comes to mind after hearing about a sporting clay event is most likely trap. Trap is wher...
There could not have been a prettier day for a Memorial Day Parade than Monday, May 30, 2022, when veterans, their families and Lewis County citizens gathered together in remembrance of the men and women lost in battle. "For many Americans, Memorial Day marks the start of summer. It is a well-earned day off, a day to spend precious time with family and friends, and maybe fire up the grill. It is a privilege we, in this country, enjoy thanks to the sacrifice of so many generations of men and...
Continuation of May 16 meeting A resolution came before the Commission seeking to authorize a donation of $3,800 from the American Rescue Plan Act Grant to the Lewis County Reserve Deputies, who are not funded by any governing entity. The donation would be used to help cover their expenses during the 2022 and 2023 calendar year. One reserve deputy, Lt. John Husaim, was present for the meeting and educated the Commissioners and audience members on what the reserve deputies do and how they are funded. “Reserve deputies are commissioned law enforc...
The Lewis County Board of Commissioners met on Monday, May 16, 2022, at the courthouse to discuss approval of loans for the new high school, giving a one-time bonus to county employees who were left out of the previous bonuses and increasing the weekly allowance of pit material at the dump. All commissioners were present except for Aren Ragsdale. During the alloted time for public input, Angela Leigh spoke to give the commissioners and audience an idea of why they should support and approve of the loans for a new high school. “Prior to w...
In a unanimous decision by the Lewis County Board of Education, Dr. Tracy McAbee was officially declared Lewis County's preferred candidate for Director of Schools. The decision was announced in an unanimous roll call vote during last week's School Board meeting and the decision became official on Wednesday morning, May 18, 2022, when Dr. McAbee signed his contract with Lewis County Schools. During last week's meeting, two concerned citizens asked the board to consider a two-year contract...
The Lewis County School Board met in a special called meeting last Tuesday, May 3, where they interviewed three local candidates. The new director will be announced Tuesday, May 10. An update will be posted on the Herald’s Facebook page and website.. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Qualls announced he had been contacted by the board’s attorney for a list of open records. “I told him I would absolutely comply with his request.. to provide the requested documents related to the search.. So I am giving a copy of those documents to your chair...
Although Hohenwald is a great place to call home, when it comes to substance abuse and misuse, it falls in line with other rural communities that are being ravaged by drugs. The Tennessee Department of Health reported rural communities tend to be more adversely affected by drug abuse, and it continues to worsen each year across the state. In 2019, 2,000 Tennesseans were lost to an overdose. In 2021, the TDH reported Lewis County had a total of 31 non-fatal overdoses and 7 fatal. Although the...
The Board of Education met on Friday, April 29, 2022, at the Middle School Auditorium. All members were present and they were met with an auditorium full of citizens and teachers, waiting to hear from the final four candidates. Shortly after last month’s meeting minutes were approved, the meeting started off with a bang. School Board member for District Seven Johnny Clayton began by saying he believed the board had unintentionally violated the Sunshine Law which states no governing board may hold a meeting in secret in which they take a vote o...
