MARION COUNTY, Tenn. — The Marion County Highway Department has reached a significant milestone in its ongoing effort to improve county infrastructure, completing paving work on its 70th road in just three years. Marion County Highway Superintendent Cory Pickett announced the achievement this week following the completion of paving work on Kilgore Goforth Road and …
Category: New Hope
New Hope News covers breaking stories, schools, sports, traffic, government, and community updates in New Hope and Marion County, Tennessee and surrounding communities.
UPDATE: Missing Marion County Teen Located Safe and Sound
UPDATE — 6/8/26 @ 11:44am: The Marion County Sheriff’s Department says a missing 16-year-old who was the subject of a public search has been located safe and sound. According to the sheriff’s department, the teen has been found and is safe. Authorities announced the update Monday and thanked the public for its assistance and concern …
Sequatchie Valley Head Start Now Accepting Applications for 2026-2027 School Year
Families in the are encouraged to apply now for enrollment in the Sequatchie Valley Head Start program for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. The program, which has served local children and families for more than 30 years, is currently accepting applications from qualifying families throughout the region. Head Start provides early childhood education and school …
Recent Rainfall Has Helped, But Area Reservoirs Remain Near or Slightly Below Seasonal Averages
With recent rounds of heavy rain across the Tennessee Valley, many residents may assume area reservoirs are running well above normal levels heading into the summer recreation season. However, officials say the situation is a bit more complicated. Just a few weeks ago, much of Tennessee and portions of the surrounding region were experiencing some …
Drivers Should Expect Delays on South Pittsburg’s Shelby Rhinehart Bridge During Upcoming Inspection
Motorists traveling between South Pittsburg and New Hope should prepare for delays next week as the Tennessee Department of Transportation conducts a routine inspection of the Shelby Rhinehart Bridge. According to TDOT, crews will be inspecting the span, which carries SR-156 over the Tennessee River beginning Monday, June 1, and continuing through Friday, June 5. …
Tennessee’s Free Fishing Day Set for June 6
Tennesseans will once again have the opportunity to fish license-free across the state during the annual Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day on Saturday, June 6. The event, organized by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, allows both residents and visitors of all ages to fish in Tennessee’s public waters without purchasing a fishing license for the …
South Pittsburg to Host Flag Day Parade as Part of America’s 250th Birthday Celebration
The City of South Pittsburg is inviting residents from across Marion County to take part in a patriotic celebration next month as the community hosts a special Flag Day Parade honoring America’s 250th birthday. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, beginning at 10 a.m. CST in South Pittsburg. City officials say the event …
TVA Considering New Rate Structure as AI Data Center Demand Surges Across Tennessee Valley
The Tennessee Valley Authority is considering changes to the way it charges large industrial customers as electricity demand from AI-driven data centers continues to grow across the region. According to reports, TVA officials recently informed local power companies that the utility is exploring new rate structures aimed at preventing everyday residential customers from absorbing the …
Lessons Through the Generations: The History of Education in Marion County
I wrote a similar lifestyle article about the history of schools in Marion County some years ago for another local publication. That publication has since changed hands, changed names, changed directions, and astonishingly failed to preserve much of its digital archive. The article is likely lost to time and the internet altogether. Not even a …
Marion Co. Highway Department Crews Respond to More Than 20 Downed Trees Following Days of Heavy Rain and Storms
After weeks of unusually dry conditions and growing drought concerns across the region, Marion County saw a dramatic shift in the weather pattern late last week as rounds of heavy rain and storms moved through the area beginning Thursday and continuing into the weekend. According to the Marion County Highway Department, crews responded to more …



