People

Marvin Flatt, alderman representing Martin’s Ward 2, died July 15, 2025, at the Henry County Medical Center in Paris at age 71. Flatt was first elected to the Martin Board of Aldermen in 2016 and had been elected to his third term in 2024. A native of Lawrenceburg, Flatt earned a bachelor’s degree...

Rick Woods, longtime director of Leisure Services for the city of Cookeville, will retire from his position on Oct. 3, 2025. Woods began working for the city of Cookeville in 1985 when he worked at a local nonprofit that operated out of the Drama Center, now the Cookeville Performing Arts Center...

Terry Knowles has been selected as the new fire chief for Chattanooga. Knowles has served as the department’s assistant chief of special operations since 2022 and will replace retiring Chief Phil Hyman, who stepped down in July. Knowles joined the Chattanooga Fire Department in 2005, serving as a...

Longterm TML member and Dyersburg Alderman Bob Kirk died peacefully on July 16, 2025, at the age of 87 after years of service to his community and Tennessee. 

Kirk was first elected to the Dyerbsurg Borad of Mayor and Aldermen in 1967, a position he held for 51 years until his retirement in 2018. He...

Tracy Harness has retired after 25 years of service in the city of Franklin’s human resources department. Harness was first hired by the city in 2000 as an administrative secretary. She was promoted to human resources generalist in 2011 and in 2019 was reclassified as a benefits specialist. She then...

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts has been re-elected as chair the Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC), which serves as the regional council of local governments for 13 counties in Middle Tennessee. Pitts was unanimously re-elected by the 93-member council body composed of mayors, county executives...

Clark Taylor has retired as chief after 42 years with the Morristown Fire Department. Taylor began his career with the department in 1983 and worked his way through the ranks to being named chief in 2020. Under his tenure, the department launched its First Responder Medical Program and oversaw the...

Carter Napier has been selected as the new city administrator for Spring Hill following a nationwide search. Napier comes to Spring Hill from Casper, Wyo., where he has served as city manager since 2017. Previously, Napier served as city administrator for Gillette, Wyo., from 2011-2017 and city...

Kingsport Mayor Paul W. Montgomery has been selected to participate in Leadership Tennessee’s 12th Signature Program, joining professionals from business, government, education, and nonprofit sectors. Montgomery will participate in the cohort over the course of 10 months, working on a statewide...

The city of Goodlettsville has announced organizational restructuring as part of a large effort to improve operational effectiveness and efficiency.  

 “The mission of the City of Goodlettsville is to operate with efficiency and integrity in all we do, as we strive to enhance the quality of life for...

Michelle Pence has been promoted to director of administrative services for the town of Farragut. Pence has been serving as the town's human resources director, joining the town in 2021 after working in the private sector. In her new role, she will oversee the finance, human resources, information...