Area News

First held in 1956, the Independence Day street dance returns to downtown Dunlap on Friday, July 3 with live music, fun, and fellowship. Last’s year event, the first in nearly 14 years, was a big success with many positive responses, organizers said. The holiday weekend kickoff, now known as the Freedom Street Dance, features free…

In 1966, Curtis Smith was announced as valedictorian of Sequatchie County High School, and in 1995 his son, Nathan Smith earned the same honor. Thirty-one years later, his grandson Harrison Smith continued the tradition as the SCHS valedictorian for the Class of 2026. “This is not something you see everyday,” said SCHS Principal Amy Land.…

A two-vehicle wreck on May 30 required one driver to be extracted, according to reports from the Dunlap Police Department (DPD) and Dunlap Fire Department (DVFD). The 10:35 a.m. incident took place on Highway 111 at the Tram Trail intersection near the foot of Cagle Mountain. DPD stated Irelynd Craig, 19, was driving a 2013…

A portion of East Valley Road in Sequatchie County will be closed while the bridge at Barker Branch can be replaced, reports Road Superintendent Eric Higgins. The bridge is being replaced for safety reasons and for widening, noted the superintendent. The replacement bridge is being funded by a Tennessee Department of Transportation grant, he explained…

The Sequatchie County Grand Jury did not find sufficient evidence to indict Holly Condra, a former Griffith Elementary School employee accused of striking a student in a classroom early in the 2025-26 school year. Jurors did indict several other defendants last week. Condra had been bound on March 20 by Sequatchie County General Sessions Judge…

Pamela Reitz, 39, is accused of numerous driving offenses following a wreck on Highway 28 and John Burch Road on May 11. A report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) termed the incident a hit-and-run. The THP report stated a patrolman was dispatched to the busy intersection at 3:28 p.m. The Trooper observed a grey…

Family members and classmates of the Sequatchie County High School Class of 2026 gathered at the school stadium May 15, congratulating and supporting 103 graduates for completing 13 years of education. This year’s Valedictorian, Harrison Smith, said he would make his speech short and sweet. Smith said he originally wanted to focus on the many…

May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, and for the Snider family in Dunlap, awareness is not just a ribbon or a social media post. It is a way of life that begins before breakfast every single morning. Hallie Elizabeth Snider was born on August 21, 2025, to Denver and Abbie McGowan Snider. “Within just eight…

A truck driver from New York left the scene with what were termed minor injuries after his vehicle overturned on Cagle Mountain, according to a report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP). On May 14 at 5:29, Yunus Zeydan, 27, was driving south on Highway 111 on the mountain, THP reported. He failed to negotiate…

With memorable hits recorded as both a solo artists and as the leading singer of two different groups, John Waite will be performing in at Harris Park in Dunlap for the Independence Day holiday. Waite is the feature act for the City of Dunlap music festival, set for Saturday, July 4. There is no charge…