Brian Anthony Schalk, the former local law enforcement officer arrested Sunday after a missing Alabama teenager was found at his Sparta home, is now facing two charges in White County — and newly obtained court documents give the first account of what the 15-year-old told investigators after she was

A Sparta man reportedly knew his driving privileges were limited to work and doctor’s appointments. A trip to Dollar General for dog treats wasn’t on that list.

UPDATE: A suspect has been identified and booked into White County Jail on two charges with more expected to come.

An unknown man reportedly took off running through a local lumber yard after he was spotted there Sept. 2. One of the men at the property gave chase, following him over a conveyor belt and through the building before the man escaped outside. A break-in-in-progress call brought

At TaDa Small Shop, shoppers can find a little bit of everything, from unique gifts and homemade baked goods to farm-fresh eggs, produce and custom items. At 2695 Monterey Hwy. in Sparta, the family-owned business was opened by Tabitha Darnell in spring 2026 with a goal of serving

A longtime dream is becoming something real in Rock Island, where a new locally owned shop is bringing together personality, variety and a strong sense of community under one roof. With plenty to browse and a story rooted in family, RuthieJune’s Antiques and Boutique is ready to give shoppers

For Ella Roberts, crochet is more than a creative hobby. Since starting No Catchy Name Crochet in 2017, Roberts has turned her love of handmade crafts into a home-based business offering everything from colorful plushies and keychains to hats, bags, sweaters, and holiday decorations.

Sparta drivers have a new reason to skip the trip out of town when their vehicle needs a wash. Warrior Wash has opened on North Spring Street, bringing a new automatic car wash experience to White County with multiple wash options, memberships and several extras designed to help customers leave

White County's cross country runners joined hundreds of competitors from across Middle Tennessee Saturday morning for one of the bigger meets on their schedule, the MSCCA Voyles Classic at The Hermitage in Hermitage. The meet carries an added connection for White County. The annual race is named in

It took 47 minutes for White County to get a lead. But it really only matters who’s ahead at the end.

Know where the action is happening this week!

The Warriors had been waiting to find out what would happen when a game demanded all four quarters. They found out Friday night. White County and Cookeville traded blows in a rivalry game that had just about everything — three ties, a fourth-quarter stand, a go-ahead touchdown in the

If the White County Fair was going to go out, it was going to go out loud. Saturday night brought one more packed midway, one more packed grandstand and plenty of people trying to squeeze in their favorite food, ride or game before the gates closed on another year of

There was plenty happening around the White County Fair on Saturday afternoon before the final night got underway. The Draft Horse and Mule Show took over the arena for part of the afternoon, while some of the fair’s younger competitors tested their strength in the Kiddie Tractor Pull. The

Check out what's happening around White County over the next week!

Friday night was a busy one at the White County Fair, with a packed midway and plenty of crashing and banging coming from the arena. The Demolition Derby brought the action as drivers smashed their way through the first of two nights of competition. There were plenty of hard hits

WCHS Criminal Justice students take their learning to court.

Now that I have the attention of all sides, we need to have a hard conversation. As many of you know, last month, the White County Board of Education passed the 1st reading to install the Protestant version of the Ten Commandments alongside other historical documents in our schools.  Now,

The White County High School Warrior Marching Band has a chance to turn $4,000 in community support into $9,000 during the month of September. ONE Bank of Tennessee is celebrating its 125th birthday by supporting organizations in the communities it serves, and White County High School‘s Marching

White County Schools is one of five Tennessee school districts facing scrutiny from a group of national and state organizations following the School Board's move toward requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in local schools. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, ACLU

The Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen awarded a bid Thursday for asbestos removal at the former Baker school building, another step toward eventually clearing the East Bronson Street property.

Sparta's newly seated Board of Mayor and Aldermen will hold its first regular meeting Thursday, with a pair of appointments among the first items of business. The board will select a vice mayor and consider the appointment of a new city recorder during the Sept. 3 meeting. Finance

A new term in White County government begins Tuesday, but first came the oath. Newly elected and returning county officials, along with members of the White County Board of Education, gathered Monday evening to take their oaths of office ahead of the Sept. 1 start of their four-year terms.

The Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen opened Thursday night's meeting by swearing in Mayor Jerry Lowery and Aldermen Robert Officer, Travis McBride and Jim Floyd to new four-year terms before moving through a light agenda.

A probation search that authorities say turned up ammunition, drugs and prescription pills has ended with jail time in White County Criminal Court. The case was resolved Friday, Aug. 21, when the defendant entered a plea and was sentenced on both the new charge and a probation violation.

Growing from a college idea into a locally recognized jewelry brand, The Cowpoke Collection has been creating handcrafted and curated jewelry and accessories since 2021. Owned and operated by Sparta native Emilee Scott, the business offers necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, personalized pieces, and custom hand-stamped jewelry, with an emphasis

A case that began with a reckless-driving call and later grew to include allegations that the driver swallowed concealed contraband inside the White County Jail has now reached a resolution in White County Criminal Court. The June arrest resulted in charges ranging from DUI and simple possession to introducing

A motorcycle rider accused of reaching speeds over 100 mph while fleeing law enforcement earlier this year has received a four-year sentence in White County Criminal Court. The sentence was suspended to probation except for 60 days to serve.