The principals of Trousdale County schools report that since returning from winter break, illness continues to plague attendance numbers at the schools with each reporting an approximate average of 20 students absent per day.
Enrollment for the district remains steady with a total enrollment of 1,374 students. This number is only three less than February 2024.
Parents should take note of the following important dates:
• The 2025 Summer Learning Camp online registration concludes March 7. The camp is for students Kindergarten through 9th grade and will be held June 2-27.
• Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled for Thursday, March 20. Students will be dismissed at 12:15 p.m.
• Spring break is scheduled for March 21-28. Students will return to school on March 31.
• April 14-May 2 is the TNReady Assessment Window and consideration should be given to these dates regarding student absences.
The Board of Education tackled three items of new business in their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb.20.
Under the recently passed Education Freedom Act of 2025, a one-time state-funded $2,000 bonus for public school teachers is available to teachers in districts that opt in to the program. It was determined that four teachers in the Trousdale County School District did not qualify for the teacher’s bonus. Racheal Petty made a motion to pass the resolution requirement for Education Freedom Act teacher bonuses and include the four teachers that are not eligible.
“We need to include these four teachers and find the funds,” said Petty.
Chris Woodard seconded the motion, and the motion passed.
In November 2024, a school trip request for the Trousdale County High School girls’ softball team was presented. The team would travel by school bus to Gulf Shores, Alabama to participate in a tournament during spring break. The board also discussed the change of transportation from bus to private vehicles for an out-of-state trip and considered supervision of students and potential legal issues before a motion to deny the trip was made by Robert Atwood. Johnny Kerr and Chris Woodard voted against the motion to deny the trip. Robert Atwood, Racheal Petty and Deanna Bode voted in favor of denying the trip.
The new Director of Schools selection timeline was determined by the board. Reviewing several options, the board approved posting the position June 30-Aug. 4 with a hire date scheduled for the regular meeting of the board on Thursday, Sept. 18.
The next regular meeting of the Trousdale County Board of Education will be Thursday, March 20 at 6 p.m. at 103 Lock Six Road, Hartsville. School board meetings are broadcast live, and past meetings can be viewed at .
Trousdale County High School Class of 2025 Top 10 Seniors
Trousdale County High School Class of 2025 Top 10 Seniors are Valedictorian — Kylie Carman; Salutatorian- Elizabeth Denning; Hana Tucker; Krysten Adcock; Marley Dalton; Matthew Baker; Alexis Smitley; Owen Zarichansky (not pictured); Mary Linville; Malia Morgan (Mary and Malia tied for number 9) and Emma Elmore.
A display of children's clothing for easy access at the Community Help Center.
The Community Help Center of Trousdale County.
The jewelry and accessories display and bookshelf at the Community Help Center.
Judy Wilbanks, Anna Walker and Rosemary Gregory volunteering at the Community Help Center.
Pictured in the food pantry of the Community Help Center are Chrisie Stafford, Manager, Mary Vaden and Helen Rankins.
CHC volunteer, Rodney Burrow, inspecting a donation before placing it in the thrift shop.
The Community Help Center of Trousdale County Board members. Back row: Judy Wilbanks, Susan Russell, Chris Gregory, Linda Spears, Tammy Steiger, and Chrisie Stafford. Front row: Betty Payne, Barbara Garren, Barbara Belcher, Rosemary Gregory, Anna Walker, and Mary Todd Linville.
Linda Spears placing clothing items for purchase.
Barbara Belcher is all smiles as she gets clothing ready for display in the thrift shop.
CHC volunteers are family .jpg
Dianna Cooper and Raquel Bennett.
Tommie Neill, Gina White and Mary Todd-Linville sorting through donations for the thrift store.
When you walk into the Community Help Center of Trousdale County, you will see more than an ordinary thrift shop, you’ll experience a boutique. You’ll see coordinated holiday displays of trinkets, decorations and specialty items. You’ll notice the neatness of clothing on racks, jewelry and accessories in lighted displays and home goods sorted and displayed for an easy shopping experience. You’ll notice the friendliness and efficiency of the volunteers and staff as they work and serve customers around the store.
It’s an experience that Community Help Center of Trousdale County Manager Chrisie Stafford and her team of volunteers strive for.
“We are very selective of the items we put out for resale in our store,” said Stafford. “All items are inspected before they are placed in the store. We strive to have good quality merchandise that our customers will be proud to own.”
In May 1993, a group of citizens became aware of a need in the county for programs to help feed and clothe individuals in need or in emergency situations. The goal of the nonprofit Community Help Center and Food Pantry of Trousdale County remains the same as it distributes over 100 boxes of food each month.
To purchase food and cover expenses for the center, the center relies on donations of quality items that are sold in the thrift store. The donated items are sold at reduced prices to also benefit those with smaller family budgets. The center also relies on church gifts, grants and private and business donations to meet expenses.
“We are working on a new website that we hope to have running soon,” said Stafford. “We will be able to accept monetary donations through the web site. If anyone wishes to donate to us currently, they bring or mail the donation to us. We want to make it simple for people to give if they feel led to.”
The center operates with two full-time and one part-time paid employees. The additional help they need to operate is delivered by a team of long-term volunteers who are like family.
“The volunteers we have here are some of the most dedicated and hardworking volunteers you will find anywhere,” said Stafford. “Their dedication to helping their community, helping their neighbors goes above and beyond. Many of the volunteers have been here for years and they are elderly, but they come in every day to organize or rearrange the shop, sort clothing, stock the food pantry, whatever it takes. They take a lot of pride in what they do here. When one of them is out for any reason, they are really missed. We need more dedicated volunteers, including some with strong backs to help unload food trucks and move heavy boxes of donations.”
Stafford noted people often ask why the thrift store is not open for longer hours or on Saturdays and the answer is simple, more volunteers are needed. As the need for assistance in the community grows, the help center itself sees a need for growth to accommodate the additional community need.
“We are just tight on space. We run the thrift store upfront. The food pantry and food storage are run in the back half of the building,” said Stafford. “We have a small area in the middle of the facility where we sort donations but no room to store an excess of items or large, furniture items. Our dream is to have a larger facility along Highway 25 to have a larger food pantry and thrift store to serve even more people.”
In anticipation of needing a larger facility in the future, the team at the help center anticipates more families needing help. In 2024, the center distributed 1,238 food boxes, but the need for food increased steadily in the last six months of the year. The center has partnered with Second Harvest since 1993 and purchases supplemental items not provided by Second Harvest. The team admits they are on “pins and needles” to see how the government will fund places like Second Harvest and how that might impact the center’s food costs.
The center uses the income eligibility scale for the distribution of ĐÔĘÓ˝çAPPDA foods. To qualify for assistance, an individual will be interviewed by the manager and their financial situation will be reviewed. Families may qualify for food and/or clothing. Referrals will also be given for assistance with other relief and assistance agencies.
The Community Help Center & Food Pantry of Trousdale County is located 120-A McMurry Blvd. East in Hartsville. It’s open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. No appointment is necessary to drop off donations. Baby and children’s items are always in need. The manager requests that items be brought in during business hours as there is no after-hour drop-off area.
“We are very appreciative of every donation we receive to sell in our thrift shop,” said Stafford. “Each one helps us to continue to take care of our neighbors and friends.”
Jazmyne Dunn
Jazmyne Dunn was selected for the all-district defensive team.
The Hartsville/Trousdale County Commission has appointed Linda Bruce to fill the vacancy left by Grant Cothron’s resignation from the Third District County Commission seat.
No stranger to community service, Bruce served on the Hartsville/Trousdale County Commission in the Fifth District seat from 2014-2021. She did not seek re-election following the last term due to time constraints as a caregiver for a relative.
When the Third District County Commission seat became vacant, Bruce said several people contacted her and asked her to consider filling the seat for the remainder of the term.
“I was on the fence about seeking the appointment to the Commission because I had decided to run for a seat on the Tri-County Board of Directors,” said Bruce. “Before I went forward with seeking the appointment to the Commission, I verified that there would be no conflicts with meeting schedules if I was selected for either position.”
Bruce moved from Indianapolis, Indiana to Trousdale County in 1999.
“It seems like I’ve been here forever,” said Bruce. “I am excited to serve my community, to see it grow and include more businesses and opportunities of interest for people. I know the Commission has several large projects it is working on and our community has questions and concerns. I want to represent them the best that I can. I look forward getting started at the next commission meeting.”
Bruce has been a realtor for 25 years. She is employed with Blackwell Realty and Auction. She resides with her husband in District 3. Their son is a business owner in Sumner County.
