People

Andrew Ellard, assistant city manager for Morristown, has become an ICMA credentialed manager, joining 16 other Tennessee managers and 1,500 local government management professionals who participate in the ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program. To receive ICMA credentials, a member must have...

Chris Bates has been named the new chief of the Cleveland Fire Department. Bates has been in emergency services since 1995 when he was hired by the city of Cleveland Police Department and has most recently served as fire marshal for the city. He has worked with the Cleveland Fire Department since...

Frank Buck, longtime former Tennessee House Judiciary Committee chair, died at the age of 80 on Jan. 24, 2024 in Smithville. A native of Dowelltown, Buck served for 36 years in the Legislature representing District 40, which was composed of DeKalb, Smith, and Macon counties. He retired in 2008...

Nichole Dusché, a local attorney and city court judge for Spring Hill, was recently named Brentwood’s new city judge. Dusché takes over the position from Laurie Jewett, who retired last year, and will oversee cases involving traffic violations and other Municipal Code violations. A graduate of...

Chris McDonald has been elected to fill the vacant position on the Fairview City Commission following a special election in January. McDonald won the seat by 186 votes to fellow challenger Jeff Page’s 167. McDonald has served as the city planning commission chairman for Fairview, serves as a...

Cpt. Christopher Ellwood has retired after 20 years in the Atoka Police Department. Initially joining the Atoka Reserve Police Force, he officially joined the Atoka Police Department in 2002. He became an investigator in 2005 and then captain in 2020. Since then, he has assisted in propelling Atoka...

Cpt. Kelly Owen has retired after 30 years in the Dickson Police Department. Owen began his career at the department in 1994, graduating from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy that same year. He served as a patrol officer for six years then was promoted to patrol corporal in 2000. He...

Oliver Springs Mayor Jason Stiltner joined the town’s five street workers to help clear streets following recent snowfall. Stiltner logged 36 hours of work in his own personal skid steerer to help make roadways more passable in the community. Stiltner cited his love for serving his community as why...

Lt. Stephen Hale with the Nolensville Police Department has been selected to participate in the 289th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. Over a 10-week period, Hale will participate in physical tests and attend classes similar to those required for FBI agents. Approximately 250...

Margaret “Missy” Sullivan has retired as municipal court clerk for the city of Dickson after nearly 38 years of service. At the time of her retirement, Sullivan was the longest-serving employee of the city of Dickson. Sullivan began her career with the city as a records clerk for the Dickson Police...

Sami Kincaid has been named the new public information officer for the city of Mt. Juliet and will serve alongside Communications Director Justin Beasley. Kincaid will help with communications for the city’s police, fire, and other departments as well as building the city’s social media presence...

Mike Mains has been selected as the director of parks and recreation for the city of Bristol. Mains comes to Bristol from Elizabethton, where he has served as parks and recreation director, director of the Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Center, and with the Elizabethton/Carter County Boys and...