Michelle Russell

I will say it again, here in Grundy County we hold two births close to our hearts – the birth of our Savior and the birth of our great nation. The love of freedom runs deep in our veins. Our ancestors fought for liberty in 1776, and when the dust settled, they ventured into the wilderness to carve out a life in the beautiful mountains we now call home. Generation after generation, the men and women of Grundy County have stood up to serve our country, many making the ultimate sacrifice. We owe them a debt that can never be repaid, but we can remember. That is what that flag means. This Independence Day, as the fireworks light up the sky and the music stirs our hearts, let’s celebrate with pride, joy, and deep gratitude. Let Freedom Ring!

Whew. What a week! Kudos to every single community, the businesses, the churches, and especially the leadership who made it all happen. You did not disappoint. It sure feels good to live in a place that values community. Be putting on your thinking and dreaming hats on for a cool project that will celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday next year. The TN250 committee is awarding $25,000 to the best ones. I know we can make it happen! Next year is also a big election year. We have an open Governor’s seat and two open county seats, which is a rarity in Grundy. We will also have school board, county commission, and municipal elections, as well as all the courthouse seats except for the Assessor of Property, with the Sheriff's race already heating up. In August, the Grundy Republican and Democrat parties will decide whether to hold a primary in May 2026. In recent years, there has only been a Republican primary, but this year may be different. Stay tuned. The first day to pick up papers for all county offices will be Dec. 22, 2025, and the qualifying deadline is Feb. 19, 2026, at noon. The primary election will be held May 5, 2026. The qualifying deadline for both primary and independent candidates is the same, with the county general election scheduled for Aug. 6, 2026, which also coincides with the state and federal primary elections. For municipal elections, the first day to pick up petitions is June 22, 2026, and the qualifying deadline is August 20, 2026. This nonpartisan election will be held on Nov. 3, along with the state and federal general election.

As hard as it is to think about, the start of the 25-26 school year is almost upon us. Several events and classes are popping up to help get us ready. The Grundy Back to School Bash is July 22, 9 a.m. to noon at GCHS. This will once again be a drive-thru event, giving out backpacks and school items while supplies last. There will be a Substitute Teacher training on July 24, at 9 a.m., at the GCHS Cafeteria. All current and interested teachers need to attend. There are a few steps to qualify, but once those are accomplished, you can receive $75-$100 per day, depending on qualifications. Contact Central Office for more information. On Sunday, Aug. 3, Jessica Honeycutt & Local Small Business Baddies will present AB CD Back in Class Community Wide Celebration at Monteagle Pavilion from 1-5 p.m. There will be free kids' haircuts, craft vendors, food trucks, and local business info. There will also be a school supply swap, donations welcome. Also, consider donating to the United for Literacy program at participating schools.

Another big end-of-summer weekend is upon us. Saturday is the 51st annual Swiss Celebration from 10-4, at the historic Stoker-Stampfli farm and museum in Gruetli-Laager. You don’t want to miss this yearly pilgrimage to taste some of the best wine and cheese around, so bring your lawn chairs to sit and visit for a spell while listening to the sounds of authentic Swiss music. $10 per person over 12. Speaking of History, the Beersheba Spring Historical Society is hosting its monthly program this Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Grace Chapel, located across from the Beersheba Springs Community Center. Yours truly will be a presenter along with Joe Gray, president of the South Cumberland Partnership. The topic will be “History and Future of the South Cumberland,” with a reception to follow. Another granddaddy event this weekend is the 66th annual Monteagle Mountain Market, featuring over 100 vendors. Hours are Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also on Saturday is the second annual Cluck Em Up Classic, hosted by the Grundy County Saddle Club at the Tracy Show Arena. Fun starts at 4 p.m. On Friday, Signature Healthcare of Monteagle is hosting the Charlie Allen Band for a fun Community Event from 5-9 p.m. They will be giving out a ton of stuff all night, and Charlie Allen is an amazing talent, so you won’t be disappointed. Bring a lawn chair! Also on Friday, Roll’n 7’s will be playing at Sewanee Angel Park starting at 7 p.m. More rolling thunder is here this weekend at the Hogfest Bike Rally at the Taylor Farm in Pelham. For those who enjoy rodeos, Ketner’s Mill Arena is hosting one on both Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. Find everyone on Facebook for more information on all these events. Lastly, a heads up: the SoundHaven Festival at Jaceland is back again this year, from July 31 to Aug. 4. If you live near Greentown or anywhere surrounding Jaceland, get your earplugs ready!

What a weekend! Sometimes I wish there were two or three of me. The Swiss Celebration was a huge success. I was thrilled to see all the old and new visitors, including the one and only Jack Baggenstoss, 90 years young. There were a ton of new vendors, too. I saw Ky walking out with six boxes of cookies, with his wife loading him up with even more. I scored an uber-cool necklace with a piece of Palmer coal embedded in a heart pendant and picked up shirts from Britni and Charisse, both Swiss girls born and bred. The Gruetli Laager Fire Department did a fabulous job with the car parking, and Marvin had a big smile on his face when I left, so I know the door proceeds met or exceeded his expectations. Jackie was exhausted but still beaming, and Brenda had the best Swiss shirt of the day. The wine and cheese lines were always full, and the Hey Y'all folks got to experience authentic German polka music and even got in on the dancing fun. Dale’s wagon rides are always a big hit, as are the tours of the Stoker-Stampfli farm museum with Brenda. Afterwards, I headed to Beersheba for my first Masonic funeral, which was pretty darn profound and sad at the same time, and then to Grace Chapel for the Beersheba Springs Historical Society event, where we had a full house for our presentation on the past, present, and future of tourism in South Cumberland. Matt’s video made me cry, and I was overwhelmed by the wonderful reception. I can’t express enough my appreciation for Beersheba's history. They were the first ‘tourist destination’ on the mountain before we were even a county, and the second such place in the state of Tennessee behind Montvale Springs. Pretty darn cool when you think about it. The final stop was at Trackside’s grand opening fun in Tracy City. I caught the tail end of Shane Worley and Jeremy Stone’s set and got to hear some good tall tales from Tommy Flury and Dean Gipson, which is a treat in itself. I figure I can sleep when I die.

Something meaningful is coming through our community on Wednesday, Aug. 13, and I hope you’ll be part of it. The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall—an impressive 3/5-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.—is heading to Winchester City Park, where it will be on display for public viewing from Aug. 14-18. But before it arrives, there’s a special opportunity to help welcome it in a way that’s truly unforgettable. The last time it was here was in May 2015, over a decade ago!

If you get the Grundy County Herald in the mail or at a local business, last week they had the Coffee County Fair Book in it. I didn’t realize it was the third-oldest in the state, founded in 1857. The other two oldest are the Wilson County Fair, which started in 1853, and the Gibson County Fair in 1856. Back then, there was a significant movement to form agricultural societies and hold county-level fairs. They would provide prize money or recognition for county fair winners, promote agricultural education, and introduce new farming technology. They also used fairs as a way to boost local economies and community life. Currently, there are 67 county fairs in Tennessee. Sadly, Grundy County is not one of them anymore. According to sources, one of the biggest challenges they had was coordinating a good carnival with the Grundy harvest season. It also takes a bunch of dedicated individuals who love hard work with no compensation but the smiles on people's faces. I counted over 20 committee chairs on the Coffee County Fair Board; that is impressive. I can’t help but think of our own Grundy County Fair and the days gone by. What a big time everyone had back then; the stories are heartwarming and hilarious. Maybe we can find a way to try again. In the meantime, Sequatchie County Fair Aug. 14–16, the Wilson County Fair / Tennessee State Fair Aug. 14-23. Don’t forget to stop by the Grundy County booth in the Farm Bureau building. Cumberland County Fair Aug. 18-23, and the Fentress County Fair Aug. 18-23 as well.

Hey neighbors!

Hey neighbors!

October is hopping, and Friday night lights are where it’s at these days. Our GCHS Yellow Jackets head into the big Marion County matchup this week with a history-making 7–0 season. It’s an away game, just down the rock, so wear your purple and gold big and bold! There will be a lineup between GCHS and the 56 Junction at 4 p.m. Friday to cheer on the team as they roll out. The team bus will have a police escort to the county line via Tracy City to Jasper, so line the streets along the way and show your support. Go Grundy!