This Week in White County History

October 6-13

An official flag for the county was made available after nearly a decade of work going into it. The flag design was finalized in 1976 and flew overhead at countywide gatherings for years. Suggestions and changes were added due to the exposure from the various folks witnessing it fly, and what was now able to be ordered was the finalized design. Pictured here are members of the design committee, Dr. Charles E. Golden, Mrs. Joann Vaughn, and Charles Leonard, as well as Dr. Robert F. Baker.

Pictured here are Mayor Harold Sims of Sparta, Wesley P. Flatt Jr., Cookeville attorney, and Wilkes Coffey Jr., Murfreesboro attorney, as they deliver an invitation to President Lyndon B. Johnson's assistant, David Bunn. The invitation was to the Joe L. Elvins Day in Cookeville, a massive celebration locally and then known nationally.

Here is Governor Frank Clement. During one of his visits to Sparta this week in time, he stopped by to type a few lines on The Expositor Linotype. V. Y. Vaughn and Donald Reeves watched on to give pointers where needed.

Posted Monday, October 5, 2026 7:30 am

By Josh Austin

1966

The White County Commission, or then referred to as the "quarterly court," approved a new Community Center for the county, at the cost of $228,360. 80% of the funds came from a federal fund, while the county provided the remaining 20%.
A new shopping center was planned to open at West Bockman Way, finally announcing an opening date to be around late October.

1976

The Expositor started a new regional page, covering news not directly related to White County, but close enough regionally to be of interest. This page has gone in and out of our publication in the past several decades, sometimes because the previous writer retired, or because readers showed less interest in regional affairs compared to local.
Mayor Herman Cowden and White County Administrator David Snodgrass proclaimed October to be "Operation Spirit of 76." Coinciding with the Tennessee Army National Guard's recruiting drive, it was done to support the drive and its effort to recruit new members.

1986

The sewer system in the city limits received a big $270,000 upgrade, eliminating the amount of surface water that gets in.
Baker Street received a straightening and improvement project as well! It seems the city was quite busy with projects this week.

1996

Sir Friendly C., an anti-drug advocate, visited White County Middle School to give a poignant message as well as activities for the children, educating them on the dangers of drugs. This was right around the peak of the "War on Drugs" era of American history.
WCMS also scored a homecoming victory this week, taking down the Cumberland North Patriots in a clean 14-0 victory.
Big Bend Technologies, Inc. announced its official move into Sparta. Set to move into 549 Vista Drive. Nowadays, THK Rhythm sits on that same property.
As part of the continuing discussion regarding Scott's Gulf, folks who are heavily against clear-cutting showed photos of before and after at various other natural areas, in an effort to show that removing its natural beauty is unacceptable.

2006

In a terrible act of vandalism, over 50 tombstones at Highlands Cemetery were overturned, knocked off their bases. A reward was offered to anyone who could turn in the vandal.
For the first time in many, many years, the cost to rent the Sparta Civic Center was increased.
Freshman and Junior varsity teams for White County Football crushed the competition against the Cumberland Jets in a 40-12 victory and 28-0, respectively.
WCHS Girls Soccer took down DeKalb in a 2-0 win, but both of the goals were scored in the early minutes of the game, leading to a tense defensive back-and-forth for the remaining time.

2016

Six Warriorettes received district volleyball honors. Jade England and Maggie Nielson were named to the first team. Hannah Leftwich and Macee Allison were named to the second team. Lauren Turner and Gracie Geer were named to the All-Freshman Team.
Saint Thomas Highlands held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate a new 3-D Mammography.
WCHS's then-principal Grant Swallows made it as a finalist in the 16- 17s Tennessee Principal of the Year. Swallows was the winner for our region, of which there were nine.