Tag Archives: Jackson County

The case of two Dodson Branch Elementary School staffers accused in an October paddling incident is set for trial in November. 15th District Attorney General Jason Lawson said the defendants, Assistant Principal Tena Lynn and Teacher Jackson Patterson appeared at their first court date earlier this week. Lawson said the defendants entered a plea of “Not Guilty.” “The Grandy Jury, ... Read More »

The Jackson County Industrial Development Board ratified a purchase-to-sale agreement Tuesday for an industrial building on North Grundy Quarles Highway. The county will pay $100,000 in earnest fees, and close the $1.1 million purchase within 45 days after due diligence. Jackson County Mayor Randy Heady said he hopes to lease the space to an employer that can bring 50-75 jobs ... Read More »

Jackson County Commissioners voted Monday night to purchase a new $225,000 ambulance for the county. County Executive Randy Heady said Ambulance Service Director Keith Bean came upon the ambulance at a EMS conference two weeks ago. A company offered one of three brand new chassis with a remounted box in good shape. “You just don’t see this happen every day,” ... Read More »

Gainesboro’s new Small Business Collective wants to unite local businesses and facilitate economic growth in Jackson County. Local Business Owner Kara Smith said the organization will operate parallel to the Gainesboro/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. She said the collective will facilitate short-term tourist rentals, advertise for businesses, and build a cohesive network between all Gainesboro businesses. “It’s very, very important ... Read More »

The Jackson County Schools taking steps to improve emergency preparedness and better understand crisis prevention. Director of Schools Jason Hardy said Gainesboro Elementary School, Jackson County Middle School, and Dodson Branch School all attended the state’s Threat Assessment event in February. He said teachers and administrators learned how to assess the different levels of issues within a school and how ... Read More »

17 Upper Cumberland schools recognized as Reward Schools for outstanding performance and/or improvement in performance during the last school year. The list includes six Putnam County Schools, three in Overton County, two each in Cumberland, Jackson and White Counties, and one each in Dekalb and Van Buren Counties. Some 400 schools statewide received the honor from the State Board of ... Read More »

Gainesboro’s Charles Ralph Holland Memorial Library will host an open house Friday to showoff the facility. Director Melissa Gregory said the entire library has been rearranged since she began working there. Gregory said she hopes the event will encourage locals who are unfamiliar with the library to visit. “This month is the anniversary of my first year as the director,” ... Read More »

The rebirth of Gainesboro’s downtown a result, in part, in the change of mindset that followed the COVID shutdown. That according to Jackson County Chamber Of Commerce Director Hope Vargas. The news of a possible boutique hotel last month follows the opening of new restaurants and shops on the once vacant square. “I think people really started thinking a little ... Read More »

The Jackson County Board of Education will apply for the system’s first electric bus through a new grant. Director of Schools Jason Hardy said the application would essentially enter them into a lottery for the grant. “We’re going to put our name in the hat and we may not even get picked,” Hardy said. “But if we don’t at least ... Read More »

The Jackson County Commission Monday night approved the purchase of a new backhoe to replace one that was totaled. Road Superintendent Daniel Garrison said the old backhoe declared a total loss because of an accident. Garrison said the lowest bid he received for a replacement of the same horsepower would cost just over $132,000. “Went through the insurance process,” Garrison ... Read More »