People

Merritt Piper has been selected as the new special event and program coordinator for the Farragut Parks and Recreation Department. Piper comes to the town after serving as an extension assistant with the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She previously served for nine months as a park assistant...

Andrew Ellard has been selected as the new assistant city administrator for Morristown.  He comes to Morristown from Hattiesburg, Miss., where he has served as the director of urban development since 2017. Ellard had previously worked for the city of Hattiesburg in the department of federal and...

Robin Chance has been hired as they new recycling coordinator for the city of Jackson. Before coming to the city, Chance served as the chair of Keep Jackson Beautiful. She also has experience in sales, marketing, and logistics from previous positions in the private sector. Chance holds a bachelor’s...

Butch Helton, director of special events for the city of Pigeon Forge, has retired after more than 20 years of service to the community. Helton has been with the city’s events department since 2000, working his way up from an events coordinator to events manager before becoming the director of the...

Don Pulley, retired fire captain with the Springfield Fire Department, died Jan. 20, 2022, at the age of 64. Pulley served for 36 years with the Springfield Fire Department including as a fire engineer, firefighter II, and fire lieutenant before finally retiring as a fire captain. In 1993, Pulley...

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper has announced he will not seek reelection in 2022.

Cooper has served as the Democratic Congressman representing Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District from 1983 to 1995 and its 5th Congressional District since 2003.

Cooper cited the state legislature's controversial move to...

Brentwood Police Chief Jeff Hughes will retire on Friday, February 25, 2022, after a 36-year career with the city.  The third police chief since the city’s police department was established in 1969, Hughes has been with the department since 1986. Before coming to Brentwood, he served as a 911...

Patricia Oldham has been named executive director of the Johnson City Development Authority (JCDA) Board of Directors. A certified planner, Oldham has a long history of civic and volunteer service in the community and is a native of Johnson City. She spent six years as director of community...

Tyson Morris has been selected as the new chief information officer for the city of Chattanooga. Morris comes to the city from Atlanta where he serves as a high-ranking executive for the Coca-Cola company. Morris has more than 15 years of experience in the IT field and works as the global head of...

Steve Eaton has been hired as the general manager to lead the day-to-day operations of Morristown Landing, a new premium recreation sports and events center spearheaded by the city and Sports Facilities Companies (SFC). Eaton has served in various roles in the hospitality and event management...

Jake Hubbell has been selected as the new municipal judge for the city of Columbia. Hubbell has been serving as the city’s interim judge since August following the retirement of previous municipal Judge Tom DuBoise after more than 20 years of service. Hubbell began his law practice in Columbia in...

John Allman, technology director for the city of Brentwood, has retired after a 35 year career with the city. Allman began working for the city of Brentwood as a firefighter in 1986, earning two promotions and eventually serving as a captain with Brentwood Fire and Rescue. In 1996, he began...