Lewis County Herald - Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898

January 2023

Fire Department responds to structure fire

The Lewis County Fire Department was dispatched to 208 Lakeview Drive on December 28 at 2:55 p.m. to the home of Suzanne and Kevin Richardson. The fire department arrived on scene at 3:00 p.m. The fire was believed to have started on the back porch, stated Fire Chief Steve Vineyard. The back of the house was a total loss and the front of the house received smoke and water damage. There were no injuries reported.

Local athletes named to All State teams

Lewis County High School football players Dyer Barnes, Lincoln Brewer, Ethan Ray and Brycen McDonald were recognized for their outstanding achievements statewide. The Tennesseean released its All Mid-State small class football teams from the 2022 Tennessee High School season. The small class teams are comprised of players from Class 1A-3A and Division II-A.

Kerry Cagle takes office as interim Highway Commissioner

On January 1, 2023, Kerry Cagle officially began serving as the interim Highway Commissioner for Lewis County.

Mr. Cagle took office as a result of the recent retirement of former Lewis County Highway Commissioner Joyce Holt, effective December 31, 2022.

Lewis County receives $630,000

Community Development Block Grant

Lewis County Government was recently awarded a $630,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Community and Economic Development. The county will partner with the City of Hohenwald and use these funds to improve the water infrastructure and sewer system here in our community.

Celebrating Tootsie

Tennessee Music Pathways honor ed the life of Hattie Louise “Tootsie” Bess with the dedication of a Music Pathways Marker for her on Wednesday, January 25 in Hohenwald at the corner of Maple Street and Main Street.

Three day long manhunt ends in arrest

A suspect fled from deputies in a blue Nissan Sentra January 12 with a female in the vehicle. Law enforcement pursued but were unable to catch the man at that time. The suspect was charged with evading arrest, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, interference with emergency calls, and domestic assault after being apprehended January 14.

SCAF Queen placed in top ten

Katie Lee Morris represented the South Central Area Fair in the Tennessee State Fairest of the Fair Competition where she placed in the top 10 out of the other 49 fair queens across the state.

February 2023

LCMS boys win area championship

The Lewis County Middle School Panthers traveled to Columbia and E.A. Cox Middle School for the TMSAA 2A Area 9 Tournament Championship game on Tuesday, January 24th. Lewis County took the win in the Area Championship 43-32 over the E.O. Coffman Panthers.

LCHS Football head coach Derek Rang leaving

News spread fast after a report in the Knoxville News Sentinel Tuesday, January 24, that Lewis County Football Head Coach Derek Rang was hired as the new head coach for the Oak Ridge Wildcats. Reporter Toyloy Brown III of the Knoxville News Sentinel said Oak Ridge athletics director Joe Gaddis described the search process for the school’s next football coach as exhaustive. The position received over 50 applicants.

False robbery report leads to school lockdown

On January 24th, businesses and schools in Hohenwald went on lockdown. The reason? A report of a robbery had just occurred. At 8:26 a.m., the Hohenwald Police Department received a call from the Family Dollar Manager stating she had just been robbed of the store’s deposit, accounting for $5372.84, by a male wearing all black.

At the end of the investigation, the manager admitted to taking a total of $6356 over 10 months, in the form of $5800 cash, approximately $400 in products, as well as committing refund fraud. She was charged with Filing a False Report as well as Theft Over $2500. “Filing a false report, says Kelsey, “is a very serious charge. The resources wasted during that time could have been vital to another situation. It’s the part that bothers me the most.”

County and Maury Regional leaders meet to discuss emergency health care

Leaders from Lewis County Government and Maury Regional Center recently met to discuss the feasibility of a 24-hour emergency care facility in Lewis County. They also discussed Lewis County’s ambulance service and its current contract with Maury Regional, who provides that emergency service.

Community mourns loss of Pineapple Barber

Tony “Pineapple” Barber, a resident of Hohenwald passed from this life on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at the age of 56.

Commission debates garbage pickup

The County Commission was torn on Resolution 211-23 at their regular monthly meeting regarding the elimination of garbage pickup at Ridgetop/Cathey’s Creek. A survey conducted by the county over the last four weeks shows the trash pickup average as two cars and six bags of garbage. “Eliminating this county garbage pickup site,” said Mayor Keltner, “will save the county approximately $2,600 in fuel and maintenance, as well as free up the worker who has to drive out there every Wednesday.” Several commissioners voiced concern. Commissioner Peery, speaking from experience on the matter, asked for the commission to at least alert the public on the matter before stopping service. Ragsdale agreed and added his concern about the potential for a growing litter problem if the county continues to eliminate garbage pickup sites. Another voiced concern and proposed the idea of reworking garbage pickup areas so that the county could utilize funds better, yet still provide service to its citizens. The board was torn with one commissioner abstaining, and three voting no. The resolution did pass, with the majority five yes votes.

March 2023

Yeiser named new head football coach at LCHS

Lewis County Schools is excited to announce Ronnie Yeiser as the new Head Football Coach for the Lewis County Panthers. Coach Yeiser has been a math teacher and assistant football coach at Lewis County High School since 2015. He was the offensive coordinator for the Panthers this past season and has served in a variety of roles for the past eight seasons.

County awarded $957,850 grant to implement criminal rehabilitation programs.

The State of Tennessee recently awarded Lewis County Government a $957,850 “Evidence Based Programming” grant, which is designed to help reduce recidivism and increase the likelihood of an inmate’s success following their release from incarceration.

Storm damage covers county

March 3, 2023 brought nearly a foot of snow in some parts of the country, downed power lines, tornado watches, flooding rains and school closings. Most notable was the wind. More than 70 mile an hour winds were recorded, and proof was in the proverbial pudding via blackouts, missing roofs and unwanted gifts of twisted up trampolines from your neighbors a mile down the road.

Kevin Carroll appointed Chief of Police after Kip Kelsey resigns from position

Kip Kelsey, who had served as Hohenwald Chief of Police since 2019, resigned his position and Kevin Carroll, who served as Assistant Chief of Police, was selected to fill the position of Chief of Police.

continued in next week’s edition