As 2026 officially begins, The Expositor revisits some of the top stories in the Sparta community this year. Here are the top 10 stories by visits on SpartaLive.com.
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Structure fire on Clark Street
On June 30, at 2 p.m., the tragic fire on Clark Street struck. The house was destroyed in the fire, and both families living inside suffered injuries. A father and his three children were injured, as well as another man living inside. The fire and aftermath caused public outcry during the county’s budget process as well, as raises for emergency services was a part of the discussion.
(9)
Waffle House is coming to Sparta
Sparta always loves their new restaurants. In April, Mayor Jerry Lowery officially announced that Waffle House will be coming to Sparta. The location is set to be next to Citizens Bank, on Bockman Way. While no construction has started yet, the business still has plans to move into town in the near future.
In his announcement, Mayor Lowery said, “One of the things I appreciate most about Waffle House is that it’s more than just a restaurant — it becomes part of the community. It’s a place where neighbors meet, where stories are shared, and where folks can feel at home.”
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Two wrecks in same day at OT Jones Crossroads
This crossroad is infamous for a reason. O.T. Jones Crossroads (the unofficial, but well-known name) that rests at the intersection of Old Kentucky Road and Smithville Highway, has nearly a dozen, if not more, wrecks each year. On Aug.15, however, the community was shocked with two wrecks happening only hours apart. At 7:50 a.m. and later 11:50 a.m., O.T. Jones Crossroads was the site of two separate collisions. While there were no major injuries at either scene, the two wrecks resulted in a large push for something to be done to make the crossroads safer.
At the time, White County Sheriff Steve Page said, “I have gone to the state over and over to do something about this crossroad.” It was not until December that a four-way stop was implemented.
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Four victims flown to Erlanger Medical Center after crash
nvolving log truck on Highway 111 in Van Buren County
White County’s neighbors in Van Buren saw their own share of bad wrecks this year, and this wreck was one of the worst. On June 19, around 2:30 p.m., a Dodge Durango with three passengers struck a log truck traveling south on Highway 111. All four occupants of the Durango were airlifted to Erlanger in Chattanooga. The driver of the log truck and his passenger were not injured. Doyle and Central View volunteer fire departments, as well as Sparta-White County Rescue Squad, were also dispatched to the scene, as there was an entrapment and extrication needed on scene.
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Comptroller’s investigation report released about former director’s activities at Sparta-White County Senior Center
One of the more controversial moments to happen in White County this year, the Senior Center’s former director was accused of multiple wrongdoings in her management of the center. The Tennessee Comptroller’s office investigated the accusations and released a lengthy seven-page document detailing all the evidence and conclusions against her.
The former director reportedly inaccurately reported the number of meals served at the center, which caused improper reimbursements totaling $4,134. She did not have policies governing the creation of the center’s Grievance Committee, with no documentation on how the committee was created, if it even was created properly, and no documentation on what transpired during their meetings. The center’s equipment was used for private catering, and $700 in unapproved payments were sent to her husband and son.
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Wreck scene, power outage
On Feb. 13, a wreck right around the time school was about to let out caused a power outage in the area. Near BonDeCroft Elementary, the wreck occurred in the afternoon, but the wreck itself did not cause the outage. A semi passing through ignored traffic directions from the sheriff deputies on the scene, causing the power lines to get all wrapped around the scene.
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Wreck on Mayberry Street
Oct. 10 saw one of the major wrecks in Sparta with reported fatalities. At 8:30 a.m., there was a head-on collision at the top of the hill on Mayberry Street, between the turns for Love Street and Town Creek Street. A Chevy HRR was traveling north, while the GMC Sierra was traveling south. The driver of the Chevy HRR was pronounced dead on the scene.
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Three victims, believed to be fatal, in plane crash in NorthEnd Community
A rare occurrence in any county, April saw an aircraft crash in the middle of a White County field. On April 26, near Howell Cemetery Road, an aircraft crashed while on its way to Upper Cumberland Regional Airport, from Alabama. Authorities found the aircraft after using an overhead flight.
About a month later, some preliminary details were released by the National Transportation Safety Board, including the victims’ names and other facts. The pilot and two passengers lost their life because of the crash. Earlier that same morning, the pilot had left Alabama to pick up his passengers. A witness claimed the engine was “cutting in and out like it was out of gas.” The preliminary report also listed that, “The No. 3 cylinder connecting rod was fractured and not attached at either end. The No. 3 cylinder connecting rod journal did not display any evidence of lack of lubrication. The engine was retained for further examination.”
While the preliminary report was released, the final report usually takes more than a year to release after a crash, to give the definitive cause. That final report would be scheduled for some time around May 2026, if not longer.
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Motorcycle wreck near Wilson Sporting Goods
At 7:43 a.m. on May 15, a motorcycle crash resulted in the death of the driver. On Robert-Matthews Highway, the motorcycle reportedly turned in front of a truck, resulting in a collision just in front of Wilson Sporting Goods. As emergency responders shut down the road, the driver was pronounced dead before anything could be done.
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Four fatalities in Monday’s crash
One of the most tragic events in White County happened Sept. 15, but there was a story of heroism that evening, too. At approximately 5:30 p.m., the driver of a Dodge Durango crossed the centerline on Highway 111, sideswiping a GMC Yukon. This caused the Durango to swing across the median to collide with a Ford Econoline. The drivers of both vehicles passed away because of the injuries, with two passengers in the Econoline also passing away. All of the 12 other passengers of the Econoline were also injured.
Right as the wreck occurred, however, Amos Rogan jumped into action to try and help the victims of the crash. He spent the evening alongside a young baby that was in the Econoline, staying with her as emergency services assisted the rest of the family. A few weeks later, Ascension Saint Thomas commended Rogan as well as the emergency responders on the scene.
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