Celebrate the 'Dream Team' and Rachel Gregory Ribbon Cutting

The Dream Team with Crye Leike, Rachel Gregory celebrated in Sparta with a Chamber Red Ribbon Ceremony Sept. 26, 2014

First Families of White County - Ceremony Recognizes more than 125 families

First Families of White County
Sparta, White County, Tennessee celebrates history and heritage of the First Settlers with a First Family Certification Program with more than 125 recognized at the Sept. 2014 Ceremony

Click Here for a Slideshow of More Photos

Highlands Region gets boost with Academy Sports & Outdoors announcement

Governor Haslam, Commissioner Hagerty Announce Academy Sports + Outdoors to Create 700 New Jobs in Cookeville

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty along with Academy Sports + Outdoors officials announced today the company will build a new 1.6 million square foot distribution center on more than 200 acres in Cookeville to support continued company growth. The premier sports, outdoors and lifestyle retailer will invest $100 million and create approximately 700 new jobs in Putnam County over the next five years.

“I want to thank Academy Sports + Outdoors for its investment in Tennessee and the hundreds of new

Let YOUR Voice be heard . . . .

Let YOUR voice be heard . . .

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ASKING FOR INPUT FOR 25-YEAR TRANSPORTATION PLAN

SPARTA, Tenn. –   Your help is needed. The Sparta – White County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to bring a public survey forum to White County in an effort to gather data for the Tennessee Long-Range Transportation Plan.

The event will be held at 8:30 a.m., Friday, August 15, 2014, in the third floor courtroom at the White County Courthouse, 1 E. Bockman Way.

Retire To Sparta TN -

Retire To Sparta - White County Tennessee

Thanks to Ed and Mary Baldwin -

This is Sparta TN, White County "A Great Place to Live"

I can make Chocolate Waffles (and if I can, so can you - and they are amazing!!!)

Chocolate Waffles - (or choose your favorite flavor)
If you have a Belgian Waffle maker, simply buy whatever cake mix flavor you desire, mix as directed and pour into the waffle maker. Follow directions for making waffle.

Summer fun - don't heat up the house - and you can have your cake!

They are beautiful and tasty.

We had chocolate ones, topped with whipped cream and fresh raspberries. Yum

Leadership White County 2014 - County Government Day

Following a morning of sessions with White County officials, we enjoyed a great lunch with Caney Fork Electric Cooperative at their Customer Appreciation Day, toured the Upper Cumberland Regional Industrial Park and the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport.

We met up with a few celebrities during our tours . . . Caney Fork Lightening and Aaron Tippin.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus Peony

2014 Sparta Sock Hop & Cruise In

Great day for the 2014 Sparta Sock Hop and Cruise In

https://www.flickr.com/photos/spartatennesseechamber/sets/72157644309150500

Click on the photo to view slideshow from event

2014 Relay For Life Sparta White County Tennessee

This Is Sparta Tennessee!

Here is the slide show for 2014 

2014 Relay For Life slideshow

Bus carrying White County students goes up in flames - WKRN News 2

Thankful for the quick action, caring and intelligent staff and teachers in the White County School system.





Bus carrying White County students goes up in flames - WKRN News 2

1 Timothy 1:15 - Iris

"The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." ~ 1 Timothy 1:5

2014 Leadership White County - City Day

2014 Leadership White County - City Day

Click on photo to see more pictures from the day

History Tour

Fifth Grade students across White County were submerged in local history in the Spring 2014. They toured museums, learned more about notable natives, discovered the history and heritage of Sparta and White County.

I was honored to be asked to help with this event and spoke to the students about five interesting people throughout White County history from John White, one of White County's first settlers, to Gen. George Dibrell, Confederate General and TN Statesman, to Earl Webb, who still holds the MLB record for most doubles in a season, to Annelle Hickey, the first female sheriff elected in White County (and Tennessee!) to Kelly Jolly, basketball great .

Jody Patrick Sliger, timeline of White County History with five of the county's most interesting people through the years.

White County GFWC Annual Essay Contest - 2014

"The Most Interesting Person in White County"

The Sparta - White County GFWC - Greater Federation of Women's Clubs recently hosted their third annual Essay Contest.

Sparta White County GFWC Essay Contest 2014

Students at White County Middle School and White County High School were challenged to participate in the contest and write an essay about the "Most Interesting Person in White County" - the criteria was slightly different for WCMS - WCHS, including varying number of words required.

Hoyte Jones, Sparta City Alderman, Joe Casey, former educator, and Jody Sliger, Chamber of Commerce, acted as judges for the contest.

GFWC President Sherry Hickey, coordinated the event held at the WC Middle School, where the winning students read their entries and were presented their monetary awards. The audience also was able to participate in a trivia contest for prizes.

Some of the people chosen as essay subjects were:
George Dibbrell
Benny Martin
Kellie Jolley
Roy Whited
Lester Flatt
and several more (if I remember some of them, I'll update the post)


Middle School
First Place - Journee Christian Faith Clouse
Second Place - Cameron Clouse
Third Place - Megan Henry

High School
First Place - Casey Sain
Second Place - Elizabeth Fisher
Third Place - Savannah Dodson

Congratulations to these participants

DeKalb County Celebrates Tourism -

Thanks to Suzanne Williams, DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, for a fabulous meeting and a great speaker, Tennessee Commissioner of Tourist Development Susan Whitaker.

Always a blast hanging out with these Tennessee professionals.

Leadership 2014 - Education Day

Thanks to all our fabulous speakers at Leadership White County Education Day 2014

This is the 20th class to participate in Leadership White County. More than 200 community and business leaders have completed the requirements for graduation in the past 20 years.

The program is sponsored and coordinated by the Sparta - White County Chamber of Commerce.

Quilts on Barns blogspot

I was asked to share the Barn Quilt blog - enjoy. We are currently updating the brochure to be released later this spring. We are also coordinating the Quilt Block tours for 2014 - looking forward to

http://quiltsonbarns.blogspot.com/

Leadership White County 2014 - State Day

I will write more details later, but wanted you to see the photos from the day. Here is a link to the flickr set

You should be able to download the photos - if not, and you want to, just let me know.  Thanks Jody

Chamber Red Ribbon Ceremony for New Barn Furniture and The Local Lofts

Join us in welcoming New Barn Furniture and The Local Lofts - at 10 a.m., Sat., March 22, 2014 with a Chamber Red Ribbon Ceremony.

Local Lofts - More Photos

Sparta - White County Barn Quilt

Love, love, love the newest installed Sparta - White County Barn Quilt - we are currently working on updating the brochure.

Drop by the Stitch and Share Quilt Show, May 2-3, at the White County Agricultural Complex and pick up the newest brochure

Swarm of redbirds strip my holly tree

I used to wait for the Cedar Waxwings to gorge themselves each year  on my beautiful holly trees, for the past couple of years - the redbirds have gotten there first. They are pretty too, just not as pretty as the Cedar Waxwings . . .

2014 Governors Volunteer Star Award - White County Recipients

Salute to two fabulous women in White County TN were selected to receive the TN Governors Star Award in 2014.

Congratulations!

Wynette Maynard ~ 

Jacqueline Bumbalough

L-R: Wynette Maynard, Jacqueline Bumbalough, and Jody Sliger

Governor's Volunteer Star Awards

Two special people from White County were awarded the Governor's Volunteer Star Awards earlier this month in Franklin, TN.

I'll post more information soon - but wanted you to know. If you see Jacquline or Wynette, please thank them for their service.