by Sabrina Bates
MVP Regional Writer
Losses, gains, new faces and progress set the tone of news articles impacting Carroll County during 2022. The community said goodbye to a handful of familiar faces while ushering in a new slate of leaders across the county and judicial district.
Carroll County saw its share of tragedy when the front pages of this newspaper for three straight weeks reported the deaths of well-known public servants.
Three-decade Huntingdon Mayor Dale Kelley died Aug. 20 at his home after battling a long illness. He was 82. The graduate of Huntingdon High School and Bethel University left his mark on the community in the years following his education. Kelley was also a veteran of the United States Air Force.
His public service included serving as the county’s Assessor of Property, Carroll County Commissioner and as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for three terms. The former basketball player was a local officiate and was inducted into numerous Halls of Fame, including the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Kelley is credited with the creation of the Carroll County Watershed Authority in 1984, which was responsible for the creation of what was known as the Carroll County 1,000 Acre Recreational Lake in Huntingdon. He also owned K & K Real Estate and Rental Properties.
Huntingdon Vice Mayor Nina Smothers was chosen as Kelley’s replacement to serve out the remaining two years of his term.
The following week, members of the law enforcement community grieved the loss of two of their own when an East Tennessee helicopter crash claimed their lives while on patrol near Chattanooga. Tennessee Highway Patrol Sgt. Lee Russell, 35, of McKenzie was one of the crash victims. Russell was a member of the THP Special Ops Aviation Division. Marion County Sheriff’s Department Det. Matt Blansett, 40, was the second person involved in the crash.
The pair were conducting a search for a missing man as well as looking for illicit marijuana plants when their helicopter struck some power lines Aug. 23.
Russell began his 12-year career with the THP in 2010, serving Hickman and Dickson counties. Prior to graduating THP cadet school, Russell served as a sheriff’s deputy for the Henry County Sheriff’s Department. He was a graduate of McKenzie High School and the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Russell followed in his father Steve’s footsteps. Steve Russell also served with the Henry County Sheriff’s Department and was a lieutenant in the THP.
The following week, the News-Leader reported the death of Huntingdon resident, long-time judge John Everett Williams. He was on a trip out west when he reportedly died of a sudden heart attack on Sept. 2. Williams was 68.
Williams was a graduate of Huntingdon High School, UT Martin, the Cumberland School of Law and Samford University where he earned his doctorate. In 1981, he opened a law practice with his father, Williams & Williams, for 17 years. In 1998, Williams was appointed to serve as the judge for Tennessee’s Western District Criminal Court of Appeals, a position he held until his death.
Williams was well-known as a magician and thespian, often portraying Mark Twain, with The Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Williams received the Pinnacle of Excellence Award, one of the highest bestowed by the Town of Huntingdon.
A replacement judge for the Western District has not been named by Gov. Bill Lee.
Three elections held last year brought new faces to elected offices, as some retired and others were replaced by a vote of their peers.
Long-time State Rep. Curtis Halford opted to not seek re-election. Brock Martin was chosen by Republicans during the May primary for the position of District 79 state representative. Gordon Wildridge also sought the district seat. In August, Martin was elected to the position. District 79 comprises portions of Carroll, Gibson and Henderson counties.
The August election brought newcomer Michael King, a Huntingdon attorney, to the position of Carroll County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge. King defeated 41-year judge and Republican Larry Logan.
August also served as the election for Carroll County Commission members. Of the 21-member legislative body, 10 opted not to seek re-election and one incumbent was defeated, bringing 11 new faces to the county board.
The 24th Judicial District welcomed newcomer Bruce Griffey to the position of Circuit Court Judge and Neil Thompson as District Attorney General. Thompson defeated incumbent Matt Stowe during the May 2022 primary election and faced no opposition in the August election.
Municipal elections held in November also brought new faces in leadership positions, with the City of Atwood making history. Fridie Algee Jr. was elected to the mayoral position. He is the first black mayor elected in Atwood. He picked up 111 votes against contenders Mike Tolley, who received 106 votes, and Taylor Coulter, who received 67 votes.
The City of McKenzie said goodbye to former 12-year mayor Jill Holland as she was defeated by newcomer Ryan Griffin. Holland picked up 543 votes to Griffin’s 599 votes.
Hollow Rock also welcomed a new mayor as Rob Woods opted not to seek re-election. Bobby Brotherton was elected mayor and faced no opposition in the November election.
The global pandemic known as COVID-19 that reared its head in Spring 2020 still lingers, although the first part of last year had people still masking up as school systems periodically closed to help lessen the spread.
As restrictions eased throughout the year, the Extension Office warned of a potentially-worse flu season than in the years that followed COVID. It was right as Tennessee saw a quick spike in flu-like illnesses at the onset of the flu season and the Centers for Disease Control reported Tennessee as among the highest number of cases across the United States for nearly three months. Local physicians are still issuing warnings for respiratory illnesses spreading in the communities.
Mother Nature made her mark a couple of times in 2022. The year started off with snowfall as a dusting covered Carroll County Jan. 2. The next week, the region saw 3-5 inches of snow. More snow was delivered, along with plunging temperatures, for the 2022 Christmas holiday. The year came to a close with typical Tennessee temperatures as New Year’s Eve brought springlike weather with rain, a few thunderstorms and 60-plus degrees.
Huntingdon residents spent the first week in April cleaning up after an EF1 tornado hit March 31. The tornado was 4.5 miles in length and 200 yards in width. It impacted 70 homes and two businesses and left 11,400 residents without electricity for a brief period.
Last year also brought good news for Carroll County as TWRA took over the 1,000 Acre Lake in Huntingdon and the note was paid off. There is some ongoing contention concerning the General Assembly’s recommended name change of the lake as a resolution passed last year to rename the recreational area after former State Rep. Curtis Halford. Although Halford served Carroll County as its state representative for many years, he is not a resident of the county. The towns across Carroll County have sent resolutions to the state legislature to reconsider the renaming of the site.
The Carroll County Airport is seeing improvements as a result of a $496,000 project to upgrade the runway with a 90-degree turn for safety reasons.
The Town of Huntingdon spent each month in 2022 offering a celebration in observance of the city’s bicentennial, where it celebrated 200 years.
McKenzie was given good news when the state bestowed the Small City Progress Award to the town, out of 340 other cities in Tennessee.
A group of parents approached Huntingdon leaders requesting an inclusion park that would include equipment for handicapped children. A site was chosen at the Kelley Sports Complex and fundraising is under way for the project. A “Come Together” gala is set for March 25. For more information, contact fundraising chair Wendy Jones at 731-695-2644.
