People

After a 50-year career, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally has announced he will not seek re-election this fall.  

McNally, who represents Tennessee Senate District 5, cited health concerns as the primary reason for his decision. McNally underwent emergency heart surgery in February 2023 where a pacemaker was...

Robbie Franks has been selected as the new fire chief for the city of Millington. Franks has more than 27 years of fire service experience, including several leadership roles with the Memphis Fire Department. He most recently served as the deputy chief of emergency operations with Memphis Fire since...

Marc Coulon, former police chief of Ashland City, died March 4, 2026, at the age of 80. A native of France, Coulon joined the U.S. Army in July 1965 and was stationed at Fort Campbell, later deploying to Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division. After being wounded in action in 1968, he received...

Brent Ham has been selected as the new assistant chief of the Dickson Fire Department. A 21-year veteran firefighter, Ham has taken over the position following the retirement of longtime Assistant Chief Kane Sesler. Ham began his career as a volunteer firefighter with the department in 2003 and...

Don Wright, former Gallatin mayor and state lawmaker, died Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, at the age of 87. A native of Louisville, Ky., Wright graduated from Goodlettsville High School in 1968 and then served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman from 1962 to 1964. After his military service, he worked...

Tony Buchanan has been selected as the new chief of police by the Erwin Board of Mayor and Alderman. Buchanan has been serving as the interim chief of the Erwin Police Department since June 2025. He served for four years in the U.S. Air Force before joining the Erwin Police Department in 2001. He...

Kane Sesler has retired as assistant chief for the Dickson Fire Department after 31 years with the department. Sesler began working with the Dickson Fire Department in 1995, working his way up through the ranks to assistant chief in 2017. During his tenure, Sesler received the distinguished service...

Bryson Masters has been selected to fill a vacancy on the Red Boiling Springs City Council. A lifelong city resident and 2022 graduate of Red Boiling Springs High School, Masters has served for the past four years with the Red Boiling Springs Fire Department, including taking on a leadership role as...

Bobby Jarnagin, vice mayor of Surgoinsville, died Feb. 4, 2026, at the age of 78. Jarnagin was first elected as an alderman for Surgoinsville in 2016 and served as vice mayor of the town since 2017. Prior to joining the board of mayor and alderman, he spent many years in public service including as...

Julie Brackenbury, former member of the Gallatin City Council and longtime community journalist, died Feb. 14, 2026, at the age of 58. She served on the Gallatin City Council as an at-large member from 2013 to 2017. Additionally, Brackenbury was well-known for her work in local media and community...

Eric Claunch has been chosen by the Clarksville City Council to fill the Ward 2 vacancy created by former Councilwoman Deanna McLaughlin resigning her position to work for newly elected U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps. Claunch will fill the Ward 2 seat until the next Clarksville municipal election. Claunch...

William Barner has retired as public works director of Greeneville after 44 years of service to the town. Barner’s initial employment with the department was for three months in 1972 when he took a summer job as a high school student. After graduating high school, he joined the Marine Corps for...