Tennessee
Sumner County Sheriff Sonny Weatherford dies in East Tennessee; procession escorts him home to Gallatin
Sumner County Sheriff Roy ‘Sonny’ Weatherford died Friday at age 65
A procession of law enforcement vehicles honored Sumner County Sheriff Roy “Sonny” Weatherford across Tennessee Friday, from Pigeon Forge to Gallatin.
Provided by Kelsi Carter
Sumner County Sheriff Roy “Sonny” Weatherford died Friday at the age of 65. A procession of law enforcement vehicles brought him home to Gallatin from Pigeon Forge, where Weatherford was attending the nearby 2024 Sheriffs’ Association Conference.
The long line of flashing blue lights passed by the sheriff’s office on Smith Street where law enforcement officers and community members gathered to honor Weatherford’s four decades of service to middle Tennessee. Weatherford’s cause of death has not been released, but a statement from law enforcement officials referred to his death as the result of a “sudden medical condition.”
“Sheriff Weatherford dedicated his life to the service and protection of our community, embodying the very essence of commitment, bravery, and integrity,” Sumner County Mayor John Isbell said in a statement. “In every action and decision, he demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice and the well-being of every citizen.”
Isbell and other local leaders took to social media Friday to remember Weatherford’s legacy as “a great man and a wonderful leader,” according to a statement from the Hendersonville Police Department.
Weatherford graduated from Gallatin High School and Volunteer State Community College in the 1970s before starting his career in law enforcement with the Portland Police Department. He rose in the ranks from patrolman to sergeant and chief deputy within Sumner County, and in 2010, he became the county sheriff. Weatherford served as sheriff for 14 years.
Tennessee State Rep. Johnny Garrett called Weatherford a “steadfast public servant that dedicated his life protecting the citizens of Sumner County” and asked the community to join him in prayers for the family, including Weatherford’s wife Tammy and their two sons.
Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association employee Shelby Lee Schiavone said in a statement on social media that she was part of the procession that transported Weatherford across the state.
“From leaving the hospital in Knoxville to arriving in Gallatin, all I could think of was how my beloved Sheriff Sonny Weatherford, would so appreciate the honor from all agencies that helped escort him home,” she said.
Schiavone recounted vehicles that joined to escort the group through each county, officers standing in the rain to block traffic and people lined up on overpasses to honor Weatherford as the procession passed through.
“It was a sight that I will not forget,” she said. “It was one that puts a smile on your face while tears run down your cheeks.”
In the wake of Weatherford’s death, Chief Deputy Eric Craddock is leading the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office.
Hadley Hitson covers trending business, dining and health care for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean.
Tennessee
Is Taco Bell open on Easter? What’s open and closed in Tennessee
How countries around the world celebrate Easter
Easter is marked very differently around the globe.
unbranded – Lifestyle Vertical
If Easter Sunday snuck up on you and your fridge is empty, you’re not alone, and many restaurants will be open, providing convenient options for a holiday meal without the stress.
Amidst egg hunts, church services, and family visits, preparing a full Easter meal isn’t always feasible. However, this doesn’t mean the day has to be dull.
Most restaurants choose to stay open on Easter Sunday, but several choose to close instead and let employees enjoy the day. There are also restaurants closed every Sunday, so don’t expect any fresh chicken minis from Chick-fil-A in any Easter baskets.
Here are the restaurants that will be open and closed on Easter Sunday in Tennessee.
When is Easter 2026?
Easter Sunday will fall on April 5 in 2026.
The earliest date Easter can be is March 22, so while it may feel early this year compared to last year’s April 20, the holiday is right on time.
What restaurants are open for Easter 2026?
Most national chain restaurants will remain open throughout the state. For smaller chain eateries or popular local spots, it is advisable to call in advance to verify their Sunday operating hours.
What fast-food restaurants are open on Easter 2026?
Most national chains will still be open across Tennessee for the holiday. As for smaller chains or local hot spots, it is recommended to call ahead to confirm their hours on Sunday.
Are any restaurants closed on Easter?
While not many chain restaurants and fast food spots close on Easter Sunday, there are still a few you won’t be able to dine at:
Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal and Tennessee. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com.
Tennessee
Watch Reese Chapman’s unbelievable catch for Tennessee baseball vs LSU
Tennessee baseball right fielder Reese Chapman made one of the most unbelievable catches of the season to rob LSU of a home run.
In the top of the fifth inning, LSU’s Steven Milam smoked a 1-1 pitch from Landon Mack to deep right field. Chapman sprinted toward the wall.
The ball was headed out of the ballpark when Chapman leaped, caught the ball and slammed into the wall. He held on to end the inning, triggering a wild celebration by Mack and the UT dugout.
It was a critical play for the Vols midway through Game 1 of their LSU series on April 3 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
“I don’t know if we’re going to see a better one than that, boys,” said ESPN analyst Chris Burke, a former Tennessee baseball player. “It’s not just the play that he made.. It’s the complete disregard for your own body.”
Chapman almost single-handedly put Tennessee in the driver’s seat. He not only robbed LSU of a home run in the fifth, he also hit a home run to put the Vols ahead.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Blake Grimmer blooped a single to left-center. Then Chapman pulled a 0-1 pitch over the right-field wall for a two-run homer. It was his third home run of the season, putting Tennessee ahead 3-1.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
Tennessee
Americans would be ‘up at night worrying’ if they knew the truth about alien life, Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett says
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said the American people would be “up at night worrying” if they knew what he’s been briefed on about extraterrestrial life.
“I’ve been briefed by just about every alphabet agency there is. And, I’ll just say this, if they were to release the things that I’ve seen, you’d be up at night, worrying about, thinking about this stuff,” Burchett told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on Wednesday.
Burchett — a member of the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets — recalled that he was briefed two weeks ago “on an issue” about extraterrestrial life that “would have set the Earth” on fire and “unglued” the country if released.
“They would demand answers,” Burchett said without going into further detail.
When Finnerty played a clip of former Rep. Matt Gaetz alleging knowledge of alien-human hybrid breeding programs, Burchett stopped short of directly addressing the explosive claims.
“I’m still a member of Congress, so I can’t really comment too much on what Matt said,” Burchett told Finnerty.
“Wait, seriously?” Finnerty slightly pushed back.
“I’m being 100% serious,” Burchett replied.
Burchett said that he has advocated for “full disclosure” despite the potential impact the truth could have on the public.
“The public has a right to know, dadgummit, it’s your tax dollars. Let’s get it out there,” he said.
Burchett also said that the people handling these sensitive matters are at the heart of the issue.
“When I’m in a meeting, in a closed-door meeting, and I ask about the president’s points on these. And then I’m told by some arrogant, unelected bureaucrat that the president is on a need-to-know basis. I think that says everything it needs to be said about what’s going on,” he told Finnerty.
The congressman said he’s described the handling of sensitive information to President Trump as “layers of the onion,” with each peeled away revealing “another one underneath.”
“When I sit in a meeting, and some little punk with a man bun is sort of running the show, and you have decorated officer military officers in the meeting there that are basically unallowed to say anything, and you can read their faces,” he shared.
Burchett also weighed in on the alarming string of disappearances and deaths among the country’s top researchers in the field — including the mysterious disappearance of retired Air Force Gen. William McCasland in February and his former colleague, rocket scientist Monica Reza, eight months earlier.
“There are no coincidences in this town. These folks have disappeared or died mysteriously,” he said. “I think overall, I think there is a connection there. People just do not disappear … not in this day and age.”
“For the record, I’m not suicidal, and I don’t take risks,” he added.
Burchett’s remarks follow President Trump’s vow in February to direct the Pentagon and other agencies to release files on UFOs and “alien and extraterrestrial life” to the public.
“Based on the tremendous interest shown,” the president wrote, “I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”
Since the president’s statement, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has registered the domains aliens.gov and alien.gov, according to People.
-
Culture1 week agoWhat Happens When We Die? This Wallace Stevens Poem Has Thoughts.
-
South-Carolina6 days agoSouth Carolina vs TCU predictions for Elite Eight game in March Madness
-
Miami, FL1 week agoJannik Sinner’s Girlfriend Laila Hasanovic Stuns in Ab-Revealing Post Amid Miami Open
-
Education1 week agoVideo: Transgender Athletes Barred From Women’s Olympic Events
-
Minneapolis, MN1 week agoBoy who shielded classmate during school shooting receives Medal of Honor
-
Vermont6 days ago
Skier dies after fall at Sugarbush Resort
-
Politics6 days agoTrump’s Ballroom Design Has Barely Been Scrutinized
-
Atlanta, GA6 days agoFetishist ‘No Kings’ protester in mask drags ‘Trump’ and ‘JD Vance’ behind her wheelchair