The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) proudly announce the recipients of the volunteer fire departments 2026 funding. This year a record $20 million will be distributed. The $20 million appropriation for 2026 is the program’s single largest allocation since its inception in 2020. Area departments …
Category: Jasper
Jasper News covers breaking stories, schools, sports, traffic, government, and community updates in Jasper and Marion County, Tennessee and surrounding communities.
Unemployment Rates Drop in Most Tennessee Counties
All but four Tennessee counties recorded unemployment rates below 5% in December, according to new data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Ninety-one counties reported unemployment rates below 5%, while the other four counties had rates of 5% or greater, with the highest rate at 5.7%. Unemployment rates decreased from November to …
Survey of Tennessee Drivers Reveals the 3 Most Avoided Winter Roads in the State
Survey of 3,004 drivers. S. Route 441 (Great Smoky Mountains) the most avoided winter route in TN. Infographic showing the most avoided winter routes in the U.S. When winter weather hits, many drivers quietly change their routes – not because certain roads are officially unsafe, but because they feel more stressed, exposed, or unpredictable in …
Monday Evening Truck Fire on I-24
On Monday evening, (January 26,2026), Haletown Fire and Rescue responded to a semi-truck fire on I-24 at mile-marker 145 westbound in Marion County, near Martin Springs. While in route the department received word that the truck was fully engulfed. The Jasper and Kimball Fire Departments were then called in for mutual aid for water tankers. …
Lawsuit Against Two Jasper Police Officers Dismissed
According to court records, a lawsuit alleging that two Jasper, TN police officers violated a man’s constitutional rights and caused him emotional and physical harm during a traffic stop has been dismissed. According to a court report from Judge Curtis L. Collier, for the reasons set forth in the accompanying memorandum, Defendants’ motion for summary …
Jasper Police Lt. Dewayne Dykes Out of a Job and Chief Retires
A lieutenant with the Jasper Police Department has been dismissed due to insubordination, as confirmed by Mayor Jason Turner. Mayor Turner. He stated that Lt. Dewayne Dykes was terminated for insubordination, submitting a false report, and retaliation. Additionally, Police Chief Billy Mason has retired and is currently seeking election as Marion County Sheriff. Mayor Turner …
13 Local Football Players Named All-State
The 2025 Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State football team includes 9 South Pittsburg Pirates, 3 Marion County Warriors and 1 Grundy County Yellow Jacket. Class 1A OFFENSE QB – Cole Brown, McKenzie* QB – Caden Jones, South Pittsburg, Sr. QB – Nolan Adams, Clay County, Sr. RB – Jaiden Bunch, Coalfield* RB – Ja’Mychal Buckner, …
New Charging Benches Available in Jasper
The Jasper Public Works Department installed four new benches last week. The Town of Jasper is among the initial communities in Southeast Tennessee to be awarded T-Mobile grant funding for 2025. The winning proposal, titled “Stay Connected with Family and Friends,” enabled Jasper to secure over $38,000 for the installation of four solar-powered phone charging …
I-24 Crash Near Nickajack on Saturday Night
On Saturday night around 8:30 Haletown Fire and Rescue responded to I-24 West at mile-marker 157 for a rear end collision with possible entrapment. Upon arrival they discovered one vehicle had indeed rear ended another and had come to rest partially off the shoulder. The car that was rear ended came to rest in the …



