[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5980620,"mediaKeyId","5775525-e336e5581166815768e962bd2df86df6","parentId",5775525,"title","Commission appoints David Wood to 9-1-1 board to fill unexpired term","audioSeconds",4154,"startMs",147000,"endMs",4301000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775525-e336e5581166815768e962bd2df86df6&start=147&end=4301","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775525-e336e5581166815768e962bd2df86df6/thumbnail_147000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5980620/Houston-County/Tennessee/Commission-appoints-David-Wood-to-9-1-1-board-to-fill-unexpired-term","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980620-eae6abe44c764d1c1ad917339d6941e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1777104506&Signature=LwBwNc~TiQvdP55mIuxq3QUofth5oz6QByU5IQt3R8moPSKHZzVMmKTW95dDBCLGo2CDDC42fv~LWR~cC~W97nSVFQ4jhelW6Gfn~C~E~MMw9yEG0G-ZDbYNVcGH6P2RatoYxii4hKDc4rMU-nd2Ipn6w0Bdky~lKytTLLCIOvosi1qR3mj7wwvGs22zi3yuw8yD5uJ8az1QPqcCARUIKkmA2YDWi956evUx11kJXkPtWSUPqCVZuR6YsTqnONsnmvOc25y6a2o4Cpd-2W7TVkcFe-udmST9J3ad7-8he5zGkRL~UwTDeLGci5ZE7-g2xocItPYyvKR06YHteRWV1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston County, TN","date","2025-09-17T12:38:35Z","article"," Commissioners approved appointing David Wood to the Houston County 9‑1‑1 board to fill the unexpired term of Bridal Bumpus, who resigned several weeks earlier. The appointment was added to the agenda and approved by vote; David Wood was present at the meeting.

Why it matters: the 9‑1‑1 board oversees local emergency dispatch operations and fills a seat that became vacant with Bumpus’s recent resignation. The commission did not specify an effective term end date in the discussion recorded in the meeting but indicated that the appointment completes the vacated seat.

Formal action: the commission added agenda item 32 to appoint David Wood and voted to approve his appointment. No objections were recorded during the roll call; commissioners welcomed Wood to the board.

Next steps: David Wood will begin serving on the 9‑1‑1 board to complete the unexpired term; if the board requires any formal onboarding or training, county staff did not specify those next steps during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9-16-25 CLB Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved adding David Wood to the county 9-1-1 board to fill the unexpired term of Bridal Bumpus, whose resignation was reported earlier in the meeting.","taxTitle","Houston County, Tennessee","taxId",73401,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980626,"Public urges patrols after school dismissal near Kiwi plant; commissioners say they will coordinate",180,4745000,4925000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775525-e336e5581166815768e962bd2df86df6&start=4745&end=4925","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775525-e336e5581166815768e962bd2df86df6/thumbnail_4745000.jpg","/articles/5980626/Houston-County/Tennessee/Public-urges-patrols-after-school-dismissal-near-Kiwi-plant-commissioners-say-they-will-coordinate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980626-418e20d411fef3bf335e3635a3dbc7f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1777104506&Signature=YOKOouaaWk9X7Iq5c7WOvNqGGQebLj0nFzLzidaMVNG4pycMHcik~VmMCKsqR7uVAlfxw5xLl4RUQecUUNYZjpmTszm3-DE1y9UN0Xeuk9UvOInxZNn20GCOYsn2ec-daRDKRnHr0HuToKvfT-HIeyFPAqf3AV86~vF6F1wIYXBs4sQyvscm-EZs7ESTZvLUIbAqfjr~KTS3ylPejDFDMOPHz2neAh57Fly4Z0gY9Oil~17azDZSkzkmNL1Sd~5sJaOsFyspc-288Wm02NVVOBjmU9x7FxGcO5r0vAs9qEEGah3wQpyMTbvomkXnkO3wyq9wVlbHgRSS05fnuHc6Mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG"," Several residents raised public-safety concerns during public comment about afternoon dismissal traffic at a local high school and heavy semi-truck traffic linked to the Kiwi plant. Commenters said students and parents crossing the road face unsafe conditions and urged the county to schedule periodic patrols to control traffic during the 2:45 p.m. dismissal window.

A resident described multiple near-miss situations as semis and commuter traffic share a narrow road used by school drop-off and by plant shifts. The resident said about 95 vehicles queued on some days during peak times and urged a deputy presence for 30 minutes during dismissal to reduce risk.

Commission and staff responses: officials said they have raised the issue with the plant and are exploring options to have plant traffic use a back route to ease the roadway burden. County staff and law enforcement acknowledged limited options without plant cooperation but said they would attempt to schedule periodic patrols and continue discussions with the company about traffic routing. The commission thanked emergency services and outside agencies for recent mutual‑aid responses mentioned earlier in the meeting.

This was a public-comment request; commissioners did not take immediate ordinance or budget action at the meeting but asked county staff and the sheriff’s office to follow up with patrol scheduling, coordination with the plant, and consideration of traffic‑control measures for the dismissal period.","Residents told the commission they see dangerous traffic during school dismissal near a road used by Kiwi plant shifts and urged periodic patrols; county officials said they will attempt to schedule deputies and coordinate with the plant to ease congestion.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980631,"Commission approves six-month trial lease of Head Start building to local tutoring center",1056,1615000,2671000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775525-e336e5581166815768e962bd2df86df6&start=1615&end=2671","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775525-e336e5581166815768e962bd2df86df6/thumbnail_1615000.jpg","/articles/5980631/Houston-County/Tennessee/Commission-approves-six-month-trial-lease-of-Head-Start-building-to-local-tutoring-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980631-0024664b172ec5373b40d16236f9cbc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1777104506&Signature=RMyMYcMcM9XlzoSrq2Y-3OM~GmW7wethxPL6U0COTjkCBoB2FIu7WFwITeVGj0hFRkV0~c7A88iOrKIS0nCiVVjPRnLh42OE2f65bTOE8FM9nEzgXvMEzbjeu1ziz1~dUOXjEtqhBLCDO6u8GSLNBKRAxDCSGsEkkMYQfocm2pSC7PDlpJ61Sz44rMcX08MTzH2yKtosC-9oAplRLfcIHjdpi8RLAGLt0uo3o3Kd2BOvZ-oi5tMNEbJcinwURheb5lhKpATlpaVJOGrsUdbGOdpJptlXOeTGadAt32y4ip0P-iolR1tzNXMIkqTUC1mW4V3UMOgr8CQwosnnica0~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG"," Lightpath Student Enrichment and Learning Center co-owners requested use of the county Head Start building to expand tutoring, casual care for ages 2–5, and a homeschool co-op. Commissioners approved a six-month trial lease that sets rent at $300 per month; the county will cover utilities and Wi‑Fi during the six-month trial, after which the commission will revisit terms.

Why it matters: Lightpath’s owners said their privately funded program already serves more than 50 local families and offers one‑on‑one tutoring, therapeutic supports and a homeschool co‑op. They asked for more space and safer parking than their current temporary location behind a local business provides.

The co-owners, Misty Cook and Tabitha Baggett, told the commission they launched in late 2024 and have a wait list; they described services that include after-school tutoring, preschool-style casual care, and a homeschool enrichment cooperative that meets three days a week. A longtime participant’s grandparent told the commission the child struggled after pandemic learning disruptions and improved substantially after hands-on tutoring at Lightpath.

Commission discussion covered rent, utilities and safety. Commissioners noted the center currently pays about $400 per month for its temporary location (utilities included) and said average utilities for the Head Start building run about $500 per month. During debate, commissioners proposed a motion to set base rent at $300 per month while the county covers utilities and Wi‑Fi for six months to give the center time to grow and pursue additional programs. The commission voted in favor; the motion included a six-month review to assess usage, enrollment and financial viability.

Formal action: the commission approved a six-month lease at $300 per month with the county covering utilities and Wi‑Fi for the trial period; the commission will revisit terms after six months. Commissioners asked staff to report back on enrollment counts, parking and safety improvements and whether the center’s operations expand to include aftercare and van transportation in the future.

Next steps: the co-owners said they will continue outreach, pursue aftercare partnerships, and use the Head Start layout to provide separated rooms and safer pickup/drop-off. The commission asked county staff to monitor safety at the site and to return with recommended rental terms after six months.","The commission approved a six-month rental arrangement letting Lightpath Student Enrichment lease the county Head Start building at $300 per month, with the county paying utilities for six months while the center expands from a smaller temporary space.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980634,"TCAT Dickson to open LPN program in Houston County with $2 million THEC grant",418,1069000,1487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775525-e336e5581166815768e962bd2df86df6&start=1069&end=1487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775525-e336e5581166815768e962bd2df86df6/thumbnail_1069000.jpg","/articles/5980634/Houston-County/Tennessee/TCAT-Dickson-to-open-LPN-program-in-Houston-County-with-2-million-THEC-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980634-d3bfcf81263a2f70009b8b9f277b17d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1777104506&Signature=CbGo6bruYIy9EqmmyXt04cIrnKAtHYBHmXUXbF2SAhoGOA9UXyhxjg5t95YtZYzsjnD9GvoVQ~XO2XB17PXgETNAxmLQrnZ7AO6ID96687WJ4lQGmryQORHhp2VGKxwsFhM97xagK3mpubWQI0BrSeH6ilCZ01ZQPfexJLaWa3maAPYyGaa9MzRcimTvMvWatTeqruvnJYjIoBRImHd-CkyJ7Qk4Vgg~jNgd2OuyVKw5NA1gKv7l-edhC2gHjcTBdk6BxDynVOy7z1V5osjVqJODXlLdJvs-yihbiLQLOggJQWgAxuQ5LqRY9wbTYxW2nJF9MDrKQxrL-ARzku0oqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG"," Levi Mayer, vice president of academics at TCAT Dickson, told commissioners that TCAT received a $2,000,000 rural health care grant from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and plans to open a one-year Licensed Practical Nurse program in Houston County using the county's old 911 building. The first cohort is planned to begin in August 2026 and will enroll 20–24 students per year, Mayer said.

The nut graf: TCAT officials said the move aims to address a statewide shortage of practical nurses — Mayer cited a growing number of LPN jobs and a low candidate-to-opening ratio — by offering local training, free CPR certification and career exploration for high-school students, and grocery assistance for rural health-care students during training.

Mayer said there are about 1,054 LPN job openings in Tennessee and annual job growth near 1.81%; he said only about three applicants appear per 100 openings in the cited statistic. The LPN program will include 1,296 clock hours and is intended to fit a schedule that attracts recent high-school graduates. TCAT will offer free CPR certification and career-exploration sessions to Houston County high-school students and employees; the THEC grant will also provide grocery assistance to enrolled rural-health students during their year-long training.

Mayer reported historical program performance for TCAT’s LPN track: a 96% program completion rate, 96% placement of completers into nursing fields, and a 100% licensure pass rate for their graduates. He asked commissioners and the public to help spread the word to potential students and community partners.

Discussion was primarily informational. Commissioners did not take formal action on the program during the meeting; county staff and TCAT representatives said they had received approval to begin spending grant funds and would proceed with coordination and outreach for enrollment.

Mayer urged outreach to local high schools and the community so enrollment would meet the program’s capacity and ensure sustainability. He said the first cohort is planned to start the first Monday in August 2026 and that cohorts thereafter would run annually.

No formal county appropriation or contractual vote was recorded for the program at this meeting; commissioners thanked the presenters and encouraged promotion of the program to students and local employers.","TCAT Dickson said it will open a one-year licensed practical nurse (LPN) program at the county's former 911 building, funded through a $2 million Tennessee Higher Education Commission grant, plus free CPR and grocery assistance tied to the grant.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980638,"Commission approves $425,000 annual parks-and-rec plan after sports-complex briefing",683,260000,943000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775525-e336e5581166815768e962bd2df86df6&start=260&end=943","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775525-e336e5581166815768e962bd2df86df6/thumbnail_260000.jpg","/articles/5980638/Houston-County/Tennessee/Commission-approves-425000-annual-parks-and-rec-plan-after-sports-complex-briefing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980638-9cd57461eb81d2964555bdc31bc59d40/orig.mp4?Expires=1777104506&Signature=kwvw1nY~ZqS2qlqnmV22U1XRcMa0QwW3xDAVpA9-ZnYYZ9YbhA1pXBwlwO4hMKyaPDtPCyntgX65mtHHA5weC4QN6PqmgyzsFOXqrxRBmf4w1Ar3XEmSvZdMMs8EMovOrskiklMpDeG6ty8ssJt5BlLb7ZAJS6~jmFu3TsikMKncLwOGnw8Ia03jpZldAAEdiho-jpEmPE6iS40knKVBmH372ufdw--b54XyeNiX~zA-ID-SxhigyPkZ5tln7BvEcsOx8p1RP0uWwCtzQ3WXgkOedNZ4LoAdXJBTxgIo3ZbGSoVcqDPVQdQVndnFNYD5hf3l4JQiyjJB9uhh6ez1~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG"," Commissioners approved a plan to fund operations for a proposed sports complex after hearing a design and budget briefing from a project presenter. The commission voted to establish a parks-and-recreation appropriation of $425,000 per year for up to 20 years to support operations if the project moves forward.

The briefing explained that the full build cost for the complex is estimated at about $21,000,000 and that the county’s share was modeled as a $425,000 annual parks-and-rec operating commitment. The presenter said that the operating budget includes salaries for three maintenance employees, a full-time parks-and-recreation director and an assistant; annual maintenance and supplies; four rounds of fertilizer and overseeding; utilities; and internet service. He described an assumed 2.75% annual inflation rate for operating costs over 20 years.

Why it matters: the funding vote commits the county to a long-term operating plan if the capital project advances, and commissioners stressed that the plan depends on expected grant and tournament revenue. Supporters said hosting travel tournaments and coordinated leagues could produce user fees, donations and occasional one-time hosting fees that would be returned to parks-and-rec to offset operating costs.

Most of the discussion focused on whether the operating projections are realistic for Houston County’s population and whether revenue assumptions — including tournament host fees, donations from nonprofit sports groups and possible partnerships with neighboring counties — would materialize. The presenter told commissioners that comparable facilities sometimes see local travel teams and out-of-county tournaments draw fees in the $25,000–$50,000 range and that some organizations contribute $15,000–$40,000 annually back to parks-and-rec in those communities.

Commissioners asked for and received several clarifications during the presentation: the ball fields in the design have partial irrigation, not comprehensive irrigation across the entire complex; the $425,000 operating figure assumes three maintenance staff plus two administrative positions and roughly $125,000 for maintenance supplies and utilities; and the capital cost estimate of about $21 million was the basis for modeling the operating budget as approximately 2.2% of build cost. The presenter said grant funding was expected to cover much of the capital construction and that the operating ask was presented to the budget committee for future review.

Discussion-only items included commissioners’ concerns over long-term maintenance costs, whether the county could guarantee support “if push comes to shove,” and the risk that the complex would be larger than the county population needs without sufficient outside users. One commissioner pressed that revenue assumptions should be conservative and requested follow-up reporting from the parks-and-rec director after any grants are secured.

Formal action: the commission adopted Resolution 25–26 (establish parks-and-recreation plan appropriation) approving a recurring $425,000 annual appropriation to support the proposed complex’s operations for up to 20 years; the motion passed on a roll call vote. Commissioners said the budget committee would continue to review funding sources and that any capital construction would still depend on grant awards and additional approvals.

The commission’s vote does not itself start construction; it establishes an operating commitment to be used if and when capital funding and final plans are secured. Commissioners said they expect continued presentations to the budget committee and periodic reports to the full commission on grant progress and revenue modeling.","After a presentation on a proposed $21 million sports complex, the Houston County Commission approved a 20-year parks-and-recreation funding plan built around an estimated $425,000 annual operating cost, contingent on grant funding and future budget committee review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission appoints David Wood to 9-1-1 board to fill unexpired term

Public urges patrols after school dismissal near Kiwi plant; commissioners say they will coordinate

Commission approves six-month trial lease of Head Start building to local tutoring center

TCAT Dickson to open LPN program in Houston County with $2 million THEC grant

Commission approves $425,000 annual parks-and-rec plan after sports-complex briefing