Graduate - TVA Rural Leadership Institute 2015

It was an honor and a privilege to be selected to participate in the TVA Rural Leadership Institute.

TVA Rural Leadership Institute Class of 2015

Sessions began last fall and graduation was held in February, as part of the TVA Economic Development Forum.

New Beginnings - Statewide Program Director with TN Dept. of Economic and Community Development - ThreeStar Director

"For I know the plans I have for you" - this is the Lord's declaration - "plans for peace and not of evil, not for disaster, to give you a future and hope." Jeremiah 29:11

A new chapter has begun in my life, an opportunity to work at the state level on an economic and community development program that will assist all 95 counties - and I am thrilled to be named the ThreeStar Director for the State of Tennessee. It is an honor to have been given this charge and I take my new responsibilities seriously. Although, I will absolutely miss working with the great people of Sparta and White County (well, most of them anyway - lol)

On March 2, 2015, instead of traveling to downtown Sparta, White County Tennessee, where my view was the historic Liberty Square - I showed up to work at the Tennessee Tower in downtown Nashville, where my view is historic Tennessee State Capitol Building. 

Challenge Accepted!

All Occasion Flowers & Gifts - Grand Reopening

Celebrate the Grand Reopening of
All Occasion Flowers & Gifts

Go by and visit

White County Museums - Open House - in Celebration of Christmas In Our Town 2014

The White County Museums will be open with free admission on Christmas In Our Town - Dec. 6, 2014

Christmas In Our Town - YOU could win an I-pad or other Great Prizes

Okay, here is the deal.

We want to encourage you to Shop Sparta and White County First. Discover some of the great stores we have here - and be eligible for prizes.

1. Pick up an Entry Form (at the Chamber office, at Participating Merchants  (listed here), or you can even print it at home from here)

2. Visit all these great stores and have your entry form validated. (a fabulous opportunity to finish all the Christmas shopping)

3. Turn in your completed entry form at Sparta Office Supply before 3 p.m. Sat. Dec. 6, 2014.

4. Come to Sparta on Saturday (see list of events here) Prize drawings will begin at 3:15 p.m., at Oldham Theater.

Schedule of Events Happening on Saturday
List of Participating Merchants
List of Sponsoring Merchants

You MUST be 18 to enter. You MUST be present to win.

Christmas In Our Town - Sponsoring Partners

We want to send out a great big THANK YOU to the awesome sponsoring partners for Christmas In Our Town

Presented by the Sparta - White County Chamber of Commerce 

and Shop Sparta and White County First 

The City of Sparta, White County, The YMCA, Southern Treasures, Potter’s Ace Hardware, Fragrant Mushroom, Sparta Expositor, Sparta TV & Appliances, Golden Glo, The Berry Basket, Comp U Geeks, Brady Printing, Broadway Hardware, White County Farmers Co-op, Casa Luna Italian Restaurant, Subway Restaurant, McDonald’s, Hardee’s, KFC, Jim Brown’s Auto Parts, A Cut Above Flowers & Gifts, Burger King, Sparta Flowers & Gifts, 24 Fit, Classy Auto Care, Domino’s, Morgan Furniture, FireFly Acres, Walmart; Panda Garden, Pizza Hut; All Occasions Flowers & Gifts; Robert Verble/First National Bank; Floyd’s Hometown Foods; Save-A-Lot; Payless Family Pharmacy; Sonic Restaurant; Bank of White County;

Christmas In Our Town - Schedule of Events on Dec. 6, 2014

Christmas In Our Town

SCHEDULE of FESTIVAL

December 6, 2014

Music and Entertainment at Oldham Theater
with Ruth & Edward Baker
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
FEATURING
• 10 a.m. - Gene Hodge, 
Elvis Tribute Artist
• 10:30 a.m. - Milford Cash, Sandy
Witt, Eugene Phillips,
  Ken Daniels, & Jeremy Phillips
• 11 a.m. - Bill Woolridge
• 11:30 a.m. - Country Classic Band
• 12 noon - Woody and Becky Holder
• 1 p.m. - Justin Demps
• 2 p.m. - Joe Akridge, Polly Taylors,
Jean Campbell, Louise 
Shockley, Jean Gambrell, 
Sandy Witt, Wayne Cannon

But wait . . . there is More!!!!

•  10 am-5 pm - Craft Fair @American Legion Bldg

•  10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Coloring Contest 

sponsored by Woodmen of the World

•  10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Handmade with Love 

Craft Fair - raising dollars for charity

at Simply Southern Quilts & Gifts

•   11 a.m. - Puppet Show / Storytime at 

White County Public Library with Santa

•   2 p.m. - Pictures with Santa at Oldham

•   3:15 p.m. - Prize Drawings at Oldham

•  4:45p.m. - Woodmen of the World 

Family Movie Night  at the Sparta Civic Center

Cartoons at 4:45 p.m. - Christmas Movie at 5pm 

List of Christmas In Our Town 2014 - Participating Merchants

List of Christmas In Our Town 2014 - Participating Merchants

A Cut Above Flowers & Gifts
Antiques of Sparta Mall
April's Hair, Nails & Jewelery
The Berry Basket
Betty's Beauty Shop & Antiques
Big J Jewelry
Brady Printing
The Clock Shop
DTC Wireless
Factory Connection
Fragrant Mushroom
Golden Glo
The Local Lofts
Miss Marenda's Tea Room and Antiques
The Masters' Brew
Jim Brown's Napa Auto Parts
Pluto's Hot Dogs
Potter's Ace Hardware
Savage Building Supply
Shaffield's Furniture
Simply Southern Quilt and Gifts
Sparta Office Supply
Sparta TV and Appliance
White County Farmer's Co-op

A Cut Above Flowers and Gifts - Celebrates Grand Opening

A Cut Above Flowers & Gifts Celebrates their Grand Opening on Nov. 15

Located beside Yanni's Grill, and behind the bank - A Cut Above offers beautiful, high quality floral arrangements, candles, and other gifts for all your needs. Customer Service is number one.

Veterans Day Parade and Rotary Veterans Park Dedication - Nov. 8, 2014

What a great day to remember and honor those who have served and sacrificed for all, our amazing Veterans.

Click Here to view a SlideShow of more photos from the event

(It will take me a few days to get the video edited - enjoy the photos)

Shop Sparta and White County First

Shop Sparta and White County First

Watch for new promotions in 2015 . . . .

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey Visits Sparta

Senator Paul Bailey, City of Sparta Mayor Jeff Young, and White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson hosted a meet and greet with Tennessee Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey at the Sparta Civic Center. Thanks to all those who attended.

Click Here to View the Slideshow of More Photos

2014 Halfway Dinner with the Family

Family. Fun. Food. Festivities. Fabulous. and Fancy.

Ha - love you guys. Here is a link to the slideshow of photos

My Boys . . . I Love Them So!

2014 Sparta Soups and Sirens

SPARTA SOUPS AND SIRENS - OCT. 18, 2014

Salute to our fabulous Volunteers, with Fire Departments, Rescue Squad, Emergency Services, White County Anti Drug Coalition, and other great community leaders and volunteers, who together make the team that make Sparta and White County the greatest place in the world.

Click Here for More Photos from Sparta Soups and Sirens 2014

Groucho with O

Yep - he thinks he has a silly grandmama, I think I have a silly grandson!

Celebrate the Grand Opening of Lola Belle

We held a Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting Celebration for

Lola Belle

Check them out on AirBnB Lola Belle listing

See More Photos Here

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