Jason Martin

McKENZIE (November 14) — During the regular monthly meeting of the City of McKenzie Board of Mayor and Council, Mayor Ryan Griffin recognized outgoing Councilwoman Josefina Batton. After four years on the council, Batton chose not to run for re-election.

HUNTINGDON (November 12) — On Tuesday, Carroll County announced its new EMA Director, Steven “Trevor” Foster. County Mayor Joseph Butler said, “After a thorough search and vetting of a number of very qualified candidates, I am excited to inform you that I have offered the EMA Director position to Steven ‘Trevor’ Foster, and he has accepted the position.”

HUNTINGDON (November 11) — The Carroll County Commission met Monday with three resolutions on the agenda. Before regular business, Boy Scout Troop 73 presented the colors for the Commission meeting. Dwayne Tordsen of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office was recognized for his work in the jail’s re-entry program. Tordsen was recently named top facilitator of the year by the Tennessee Corrections Institute.

HUNTINGDON (November 19, 21) – After months of back-and-forth discussions, it appears that the Carroll County Government has decided to move towards creating a standardized county-wide rural fire department. On Tuesday, the Rural Fire Committee and the Budget Committee met jointly to discuss the immediate financial needs of the rural fire department. The Fire Committee provided a list of needs/wants roughly estimated at $466,000.

Family members, students and supporters came out to Southeast Bulloch High School Monday night to celebrate the flag football team returning from Atlanta .

HUNTINGDON (December 9) — After several months of debate, Carroll County officially has a standardized county-wide fire department. On Monday, December 9, the Carroll County Commission voted 19-1 to create the department. The one vote against its creation came from Commissioner Daniel Willman who wanted a more thorough plan moving forward.

McKENZIE (December 12) — Investigator Kyle Beauchamp was recognized in Thursday’s City Council meeting by McKenzie Mayor Ryan Griffin and Police Chief Ryan White for his work to seize an unspecified dollar amount through a money laundering ring. The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office will award the McKenzie Police Department with what is unofficially estimated at over $500,000.

McKENZIE (January 7) — Local officials and the TBI are investigating a Tuesday night, Wednesday morning fire at Old West Steakhouse that resulted in a multiple fire department response.

HUNTINGDON (January 7) — McKenzie’s Jonathan Gaskins has been named Chief of the Carroll County Rural Fire Department. Following Tuesday's interviews conducted by the Carroll County Rural Fire Committee, Gaskins was selected to lead the county’s fire service.

At the end of every presidency, it’s common for the outgoing President of the United States to grant a few interesting and often controversial pardons.