JacksonHeraldTODAY

Fireworks, music, kids’ activities and food vendors will highlight the Freedom Festival slated for 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 27, in downtown Jefferson. The fireworks show will begin around 9:30 p.m.

“Kiddieville,” sponsored by Jackson EMC and the Jefferson Area Business Association, will include inflatables and “much, much more,” said Main Street Jefferson director Beth Laughinghouse. “This is probably going to be our biggest festival to date.”

Mark Garrison and family will perform from 5 to 7 p.m. BlueBilly Grit, a Jackson County-based bluegrass band, is also on the music list for the evening. The Shade, including Jefferson resident Mark Starnes, along with three friends, will be on the lineup with classic rock and roll.
Food vendors will offer barbecue, hotdogs, hamburgers, bratwurst, ice cream, cotton candy, fried pickles, watermelon, boiled peanuts and more.

“The fireworks promise to be the best ones ever,” Laughinghouse said. “Bring your chairs and your family and friends and join us downtown for all the fun.”

After discussing the matter in-depth at a recent retreat, the Jefferson Board of Education has decided to move forward and seek charter school status. [Full Story »] 

The Jefferson Police Department arrested nine people last week, including the following: [Full Story »] 

Racial slurs were painted on several walls inside a home found on fire early Monday morning. Arson is suspected at the residential fire at 52 Hamilton Drive in Jefferson. [Full Story »] 

The Jefferson police officer who reportedly had a relationship with a teenage girl at the school where he worked as a school resource officer has been fired. [Full Story »] 

There was no criminal wrong-doing in a Jefferson police officer’s relationship with a 17-year-old at the school where he worked as a resource officer, said Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brad Smith. But an internal investigation is continuing into whether he will be fired from the Jefferson Police Department for having violated departmental policies. [Full Story »] 

The number of charter schools is growing and the Jefferson City School System is looking at joining that number. [Full Story »] 

Jefferson police officer Robert Fehr has been placed on administrative leave and an internal investigation is under way into possible criminal activity. [Full Story »]