On May 6, 2023, the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame added eight new members to the HOF at the annual banquet at the Carroll County Civic Center. The inductees were from the five areas of the county. McKenzie inducted Jerry Escue and Derek Carr. Huntingdon inducted Bill Ezell, Ray Crossno, and Danny Woodard. Hollow Rock – Bruceton inducted Jared Edwards; Clarksburg inducted Erica Yarbrough Sills; and West Carroll inducted David Hale. more

McKENZIE (May 6) — Bethel University held its Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 6 in the Crisp Arena on the McKenzie campus. The students were seated at floor level and qued to the elevated platform, where they walked across to receive their diplomas from President Walter Butler. more

ATWOOD (May 4) — West Carroll Junior/Senior High School will be part of the state’s Innovative School Model schools during the 2023-24 school year. more

McKENZIE (MAY 2) — McKenzie Special School District is participating in a state initiative to better prepare students for careers and college through the Innovative Schools Model and a $1,500,000 grant to support the initiative. more

HUNTINGDON (May 8) — U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn was at The Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center on Monday, May 8 to address select high school students from Central, Clarksburg, Huntingdon and McKenzie. more

HUNTINGDON (April 27) — Carroll County Electric Department Board of Directors had a short agenda for their monthly meeting on April 27. However, Ryan Drewry, general manager, said the department has some long-term needs to consider. more

McKENZIE (April 25) — In a special called meeting, the City of McKenzie Board of Mayor and Council unanimously decided to notify the State of Tennessee that the municipality plans to leave the state insurance plan. Not present for the meeting were Vice-Mayor Jesse Townes and Councilperson Josefina Batton. more

McKENZIE —Bethel University’s spring commencement ceremony is Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m. in Crisp Arena located inside the Vera Low Center for Student Enrichment on the McKenzie campus. more

McKENZIE (April 28) — The driver of a small pickup truck was transported by Baptist EMS following a single vehicle accident at 8:52 a.m. Friday. more

McKenzie Special School District introduces Dr. Justin Barden, director-elect of the McKenzie Special School District. MSSD officials are announcing a meet and greet for Dr. Barden and his family.The … more

Working in newspaper business and political area, you come across a huge assortment of folks. The longer you’re in the business you see multiple generations of folks have a tendency to follow in their forefather’s footsteps. In the April 25, 2023 edition of The Banner, local students bore witness to The Tennessee Civil Court of Appeals. One of the justices on the panel was Frank Clement, Jr. son of former Tennessee Governor Frank G. Clement. A few years back while I was a member of the McKenzie City Council, I had the privilege to welcome the former governor’s other son, Bob Clement, to town. more

McKENZIE (April 18) — Dr. Justin Barden was selected as the new director of schools for the McKenzie Special School District. Barden, a native of Jackson, received five votes out of seven during a special-called meeting to choose the next director of schools. more

McKENZIE — The first of several downtown murals is complete. Allison Bowers of Gleason was commissioned to paint the mural based on the history of the 154-year old city. more

HUNTINGDON (April 20) — Competitive wages and the rising cost of care at the county jail have once again broached the possibility of a lawsuit in budget talks between the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the County Commission. Sheriff Andy Dickson stated, after years of giving into budget negotiations, he now feels as if he has been backed into a corner. He explained that since 2018, he has requested pay increases of 7% each year (except for 2020) for his employees and received only 3% in response. more

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 21) — The new Crooked Creek Wildlife Refuge in Carroll County is named in memory of Sergeant Lee Russell, who died in August 2022 while serving in the in the aviation division of the Tennessee Highway Patrol where he assisted with search and rescue, warrant execution, air cover, and more. more

McKENZIE (April 18) — Dr. Justin Barden is the new director of schools for the McKenzie Special School District. Barden is a Jackson native and Jackson Central Merry graduate (1999). more

McKENZIE (APRIL 20) — The Tennessee Civil Court of Appeals convened at Bethel University’s Crisp Arena on Thursday, April 20. The three-judge panel heard arguments in three cases as approximately 250 students from McKenzie, Gleason, Henry County, Huntingdon, Clarksburg, Hollow Rock-Bruceton, Bethel University and Tennessee College of Applied Technology. more

McKENZIE (April 13) — The April monthly meeting of the City of McKenzie Board of Mayor and Council had a light agenda. Parks and Recreation Director Billy Hollowell stated the City’s pickleball court is moving closer to completion. The surface has been poured along with the necessary striping. By mid-May, the court should have had enough time to cure and then netting will be installed. more

McKENZIE — A serious two vehicle accident on April 12 included no injuries. more

HUNTINGDON (April 14) — There are lots of good things happening in the State of Tennessee, said State Representative Brock Martin (R-Huntingdon), the speaker at the third and final Capitol Talk, hosted by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce on Friday, April 14. more