The Year in Review: A Look Back at 2025, Part 2

This week, we are continuing with Part 2 of our series, “A Look Back at 2025.” Read below to reminisce on more of the happenings in Wayne County last year.

March

The Wayne County News reported on March 5, 2025, that the Waynesboro City Police Department had installed license plate readers around town, and lots of people had questions about the devices and what they would be used for. Lieutenant Jeremy Staggs of the Waynesboro Police Department explained why the camera readers were there and what they would be used for. Lt. Staggs said the City of Waynesboro applied for and was later granted a Violent Crime Intervention Grant to fund the purchase of an Automated License Plate Reading system (ALPR). This camera system is different than those in bigger cities which monitor speeding and even issue tickets. Under the guidance of Lt. Staggs, the Waynesboro Police Department installed two solar powered LPR cameras, one on Highway 64 near the Wayne County Public Library, and one on Highway 13 near the Sportsplex. Lt. Staggs emphatically stated that the cameras would not be used for speed monitoring. They are used to monitor license plates for detection of vehicles involved in crimes such as kidnapping. “The LPR cameras are a means of technology that your local law enforcement can use to help to protect our citizens,” said Lt. Staggs. “People’s safety is and always will be our primary concern.”

In the March 5, 2025, edition of The Wayne County News, we featured a story on the Wayne County Museum. Jerry Duren, President of Friends of the Museum, gave our writer a fascinating tour of the museum and all the exhibits. The front room of the museum is dedicated to an authentic display of World War II uniforms from different branches of the military. What makes this display truly special for Wayne Countians is that each of the uniforms was worn by a Wayne County veteran. Each branch of the service is represented, and there are placards identifying the people who wore these uniforms and how they served our country. Other exhibits at the museum include music memorabilia from Wayne County musicians; Wayne County’s own Natural Bridge; exhibits from Collinwood including phots and written histories of the industries that built the town; and donated items from Clifton such as items from the first hotel there and memorabilia connected to the Tennessee River. The Wayne County Museum is located on the square in Waynesboro. The building was generously donated to the museum by Ms. Virginia Dodge Fielder. Everyone should take the time to stop by the museum and browse through all it has to offer.

A mobile home on Cantrell Lane in Waynesboro was destroyed by what was called a “suspicious” fire on Tuesday night, March 4. According to the fire report, Station 1 (Waynesboro) and Station 7 (Topsy) volunteer fire departments responded to the call at 112 Cantrell Lane in Waynesboro at approximately 11:45 p.m. on March 4. The mobile home was already fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived on scene and was ultimately declared a total loss. In a matter seemingly unrelated to the fire, Jamie Staggs, age 50, also a resident of Cantrell Lane in Waynesboro, was arrested as he was standing outside his nearby home observing the mobile home fire. The warrant for Staggs’ arrest stated that when Deputy Zion Thompson arrived at the scene of the fire, he encountered a female who stated that Staggs had threatened her with a pipe, saying he was going to hit her in the head with it. Staggs was charged with aggravated assault and was booked into the Wayne County Jail on $50,000 bond.

The forecast was dire for Friday, March 14, and Saturday, March 15, across the south – a strong line of storms was predicted to tear through the Midwest and continue its path southward into Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama. On Friday, March 14, Wayne Countians did their best to prepare as one of the most reliable meteorologists in our area, Ben Luna of Tennessee Valley Weather, said a prayer on the air for everyone in the storm’s predicted path. When Wayne Countians were finally confident enough to come out of their basements and storm shelters on Saturday, they were blessed to see little to no wind damage. Even though high winds did pass through the area, Wayne County had a different kind of damage that can be just as deadly – flooding. Several roads in the county were damaged from the flooding and remained closed for a few days. Wayne County Highway Superintendent Chuck Moser and the Highway Department crew spent countless hours working on the flooded roads to get them reopened.

The Wayne County High School Wildcats finished their 2024-2025 basketball season last March with a three-point loss to Memphis Hillcrest in the TSSAA 1A State Tournament. The Wildcats finished their very successful season at 27 – 9. Chattanooga Prep repeated as tourney champion. Cayman Camfield and Justice Bell were named to the State Tournament Team.

Wayne County High School senior Blair Baugus received the 2025 Class A Miss Basketball award at the TSSAA annual awards banquet in March of 2025, Blair, being only the third Lady Cat to take home this prestigious honor, finished a four-year run in her high school career for the record books. This was actually the second time Blair was named Miss Basketball, which put her in a category with only Mia Daniel of Collinwood High School to be two-time winners. During Blair’s time at WCHS, the team amassed 132 victories with only 13 losses, two State Runner-Up finishes, one Final Four, and one Sweet Sixteen. Blair’s 2,539 career points made her the all-time leading scorer in Lady Cat history. With over 1,000 rebounds and a total of 50 career double-doubles, Blair re-wrote the record books. She has now gone on to be a standout player for the MTSU Lady Raiders.

Wayne County E911 announced in March of 2025 that thanks to the work of Meteorologist Brett Adair and Meteorologist Ben Luna with Tennessee Valley Weather, Wayne County now has its very own weather station and state-of-the-art weather camera. After years of planning, this new weather station will be used to track severe weather as well as other weather conditions. The weather station is located on the tower at the Wayne County E911 office.

The Waynesboro Beer Board and City Commission met on March 24, 2025, and approved the application from El Guadalajara for an on-premises alcohol sales permit. El Guadalajara was the first establishment in Waynesboro to apply for an on-premises liquor sales permit since the referendum passed in November of 2024. The majority of votes on the referendum on last November’s ballot were in favor of on-premises alcohol, and the referendum overrides any effort cities may try to make to block it.

APRIL

Wayne County Property Assessor Dustin White published a letter in The Wayne County News on April 2, 2025, explaining the state-mandated program that would change property appraisals. Appraisers from the State Comptroller’s Division of Property Assessments adjusted values based on the county property sales in 2024. White explained that the change in appraisals would not in itself be a tax increase, and explained that the re-assessments were mandated by the state. He went on to hold town hall meetings in Waynesboro, Collinwood, and Clifton to answer questions about the new appraisal process.

Every year, Kid’s Place – A Child Advocacy Center, oversees the placement of pinwheels in different locations around the counties they serve as a way of demonstrating commitment to building a healthy community and investing in the lives of children. The pinwheels serve as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse.

Participants gathered at Columbia State Community College in Clifton for the 13th Annual Janet J. Smith 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 5, 2025. The 5K Run/Walk is held annually in memory of Janet Johnston Smith. Janet was a true fighter, and through her determination and strength she survived eleven years after receiving the diagnosis of cancer. Through the Janet J. Smith Foundation, a difference is being made in this community in her name.

On Saturday, April 12, 2025, the Waynesboro American Legion held a fish fry at the Post Hall. The weather was beautiful and was appreciated by the large number of people who enjoyed the food. The proceeds from this event provide local high school students with scholarships for their continuing education. Proceeds also provide cash donations to the Butterfly Foundation and Kid’s Place, as well as providing assistance to veterans in assisted living facilities.

A fire that started with a lawnmower produced a large explosion that was heard by many in the Waynesboro area. Waynesboro Police Chief Walter Smith confirmed to The News that a lawnmower fire at a residence on Porter Road in Waynesboro began around 12 noon on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The fire quickly spread around the rental property, catching other flammable materials on fire and causing a large explosion heard by many Waynesboro residents. Chief Smith speculated that cans of paint thinner known to be present at the property may have caused the loud explosion.

Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers announced a $15,903,809 loan in April of 2025 for the City of Clifton to improve water infrastructure. The loan came from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program, and will address the construction of a new drinking water treatment plant. As a disadvantaged community, Clifton is receiving $4.9 million in standard loan forgiveness. It has also been determined that there are high amounts of PFAS in its water, so Clifton took additional protective measures, securing $5.1 million in additional loan forgiveness for technology it will use to address and remove PFAS from treated drinking water. The groundbreaking for the new water treatment plant in Clifton took place last week.

The Collinwood Middle School Trojanettes Softball Team competed in the Tennessee River Valley Conference Championship on April 24, 2025, in Lobelville, TN. The CMS girls captured the Championship title and ended the season with a 15-1 record. The Trojanettes were undefeated in their conference this season.

May

Thursday, May 1, was the 2025 National Day of Prayer. The theme for 2025 was “Pour Out to the God of Hope and Be Filled,” based on the scripture Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. National Day of Prayer was observed in Waynesboro at the flagpole located at the Wayne County Administrative Building (former courthouse) on the square. Prayers were offered for specific needs, including a prayer for government led by Jacob Kitchens, prayer for military led by NJ Pope, prayer for media led by Chuck Koblentz, prayer for business led by Sawyer Ray, prayer for education led by Tracy Love, prayer for churches led by John Scoggin, and prayer for family led by Jamison Edwards.

On May 5, 2025, at approximately 8:29 a.m., the Waynesboro Police Department responded to a construction accident at the intersection of Copeland Street and South High Street in Waynesboro. Upon their arrival, officers found a male construction worker underneath a milling machine at an intersection where workers were preparing South High Street and adjoining streets for paving. As officers approached the scene, the foreman of Charbon Contracting was in the process of having the machine operator back the milling machine away from the male worker, who was identified as 20-year-old Gavin Offutt of Madisonville, Kentucky. Lifesaving procedures were immediately started on Gavin and continued until Wayne County EMS arrived. Gavin was transported by ambulance to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he succumbed to internal injuries later that same day. Reports stated that Gavin had been directing traffic at the intersection, unaware the milling machine had come up behind him to turn around in the intersection in order to make another pass. The operator of the milling machine did not see Gavin under the conveyor and struck him from behind. When the foreman of Charbon Contracting walked in front of the machine to help guide the operator into the intersection, he found Gavin under the machine and immediately had another employee call 911 while he tried to get Gavin out from underneath the machine. This was a tragic accident that shook the Waynesboro community to its core.

The Natchez Valley Pro Rodeo was a great success in spite of the rain on May 9 and May 10, 2025. An estimated 3,000 people attended the two-day event, which was a great crowd for a first-time event. The rodeo was held at the Wayne County Ag Center. The inaugural Natchez Valley Rodeo, presented by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, was truly a success. People were helping others who were stuck in the mud and helped them through the mud to get to the bleachers. The vendors were incredibly busy as well. “This event really brought our communities together,” said former Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Director, Christine Chapman. Event planners say that they plan to expand the rodeo a little bit every year to continue to make it as successful as possible.

Two juveniles from Iron City, TN, were involved in an ATV accident on Saturday, May 10, near their home off Chisholm Road. Sheriff Shane Fisher confirmed that the two, a brother and sister, were riding in an ATV when it flipped over, throwing the 7-year-old girl out. The brother, who is a few years older, was not injured. The young girl was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center by helicopter for treatment of serious injuries, including a broken clavicle, broken ribs, severely bruised lungs, bruised retina, and a liver laceration. “We are thankful for your ongoing prayers, support, and love,” said the children’s mother.

Memorial Day, the last Monday of May, honors fallen service members of the U.S. military. Members of both the Waynesboro and Collinwood American Legion Posts join together every year with veterans and other citizens to honor our fallen soldiers with a special ceremony and 21-gun salute.

Watch next week’s edition of The Wayne County News for Part 3 of the Year in Review.