People

Kendall Mayfield has retired as chief of the McMinnville Fire Department after 40 years of service to the city. Mayfield served as chief for 10 years, appointed to the position in 2014, and prior to that had 30 years of experience with the department. He joined the McMinnville Fire Department in...

Barrett Jones, former city manager for Columbia and Cookeville, died Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the age of 92. A native of Sioux Falls, N.D., Jones earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota and then a master’s in governmental administration from the Wharton School at the...

Joe Rape has been selected as the new chief of emergency services for the Collierville Fire Department. Rape has more than two decades of service and is the third generation in his family to serve as a firefighter in the local area. His grandfather founded the Forest Hill Volunteer Fire Department...

Jerry DeBerry has been selected as the new chief of the Kingsport Fire Department, taking over from Scott Boyd who retired on April 28 after 36 years with the department. DeBerry brings with him more than two decades of experience and leadership in fire service, having served with the Atlanta Fire...

Kelly McKinley has joined the Tennessee Municipal League as the new assistant director of communications and digital communications specialist. 

Originally from South Georgia and a longtime Gallatin resident, McKinley brings a strong background in digital strategy, public affairs, and nonprofit...

George Killebrew, former mayor of Milan, died April 6, 2025, after a brief illness. Killebrew served as mayor of Milan from 1998 to 2007. A native of Milan, Killebrew became the first mayor of the city to serve a four-year term instead of a two year-term when he was re-elected in 1990. During his...

Shanon Irwin, chief of the Centerville Police Department, died March 19, 2025, after a battle with pancreatic and liver cancer at the age of 50. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard, Irwin spent 27 years with the Centerville Police Department. He had served as chief of CPD...

April Sanford has been selected as the new finance director for the city of Springfield. Sanford brings years of experience in financial management and a strong commitment to transparency and community growth. In her new role, she’ll be overseeing the city’s financial operations and working to...

Carolyn Durham has been selected as the new community development director for Springfield. Durham has more than a decade of experience in land development planning in the private sector with an extensive background in the land development process in all its phases. She earned her bachelor's degree...

After 63 years of service to her hometown, Pigeon Forge City Manager Earlene Teaster has announced plans to retire on June 30 after serving as city manager for 44 years.  

Teaster’s career includes the distinction of being the Volunteer State’s first female city manager.   

Teaster was named Pigeon...

Patrick Smith has been appointed to fill the municipal judge vacancy in Ashland City following the death of longtime city Judge Bill Stinnett Jr, who died in January. Smith is an Ashland City native who holds degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and the Nashville School of Law. He is the...