Reno Ruth Anderson for Alderman Puryear

08/28/2026

Morning Fam. Chef here....

One of the things we always worry about as consumers is what we eat. Beef has been in the news a lot lately, both over pricing, and integrity. Our markets are about to be flooded with beef of "Unknown Origin," and/or "Unknown/Unverifiable" quality.

I have researched this to the best of my ability, and found that with all that is going on with markets of all kinds, both meat and produce, that I no longer have as much faith as I once did in the "Product of U.S.A." stamp on my ground beef. It was this self drawn conclusion that led to my inquiry yesterday about "Local" grown and processed beef.

Happily, the post saw over 20 local producers announced, and better yet, it served a larger purpose unbeknownst to me, in that it received over 20 THOUSAND people engaging with the post. This told me that there are a lot more people out there curious about local beef/proteins than even I was aware of.

I have made the decision to pay a little bit more, *(albeit not much) and switch all my ground beef to HENRY COUNTY GROWN AND PROCESSED.

Our meatballs beginning last night, and going forward, are now made from USDA Processed "2M CATTLE" from Paris, Tn, and processed at K&J Meat Processing, also in Paris. I will try to spread the wealth, so to speak, by using as many of the local farms as possible, where feasible, as I believe their products are equally as good as the others.

The difference in price between our local choice and commercially produced ground beef will be absorbed by our current menu pricing, and won't effect the cost to our customers. I won't need to increase my prices at all.

Some may call my decision rather rash, or knee jerk, however, with my own family's needs when it comes to what we eat, Janice living with Crohn's Disease, I cannot risk a potentially contaminated beef product making it into her diet. She's already immunocompromised. Foodborne illness would be tragic. That said, I couldn't, in good conscience buy what I view as a more trustworthy product for my own family, yet feed what I, myself deem "dicey" to yours. Plus, lol, my kids love my meatballs too!

We have some great local butcher shops, who pride themselves on the products they put out, and The Meat Place Paris, and Trollinger's both care deeply about what their customers get. I have spoken in the past with the owners of The Meat Place Paris, and I can tell you from being a customer, that they, too, practice what they preach. Choice to Prime grades, and if I'm not mistaken, they, as well as Trollinger's, will grind beef right in the stores, from American Beef! My choice to go with smaller farm products is absolutely no refection on others. They do great work, and go above and beyond to maintain the integrity of their respective businesses.

So, I know I'm long winded, but I'll close this by saying, if you have the ability to do so, fill your beef needs with our local farmers' products. You'll never go wrong. If you can't? Use our local butchers. Either choice will lead you to reliably trustworthy supplies, and you'll be helping locally owned small businesses continue to thrive in a tough economy.

Thank you for reading, if you made it this far. lol

Much love,
Chef

08/12/2026

An Update on Puryear’s Murals

At last night’s Puryear City Council meeting, the Board voted that the murals created for our community will remain the property of the City of Puryear.

The murals currently displayed on the Puryear Station building will be removed and placed in storage until an appropriate location can be found for their future display.

I am very pleased with this decision. These murals were created to tell the story of Puryear—our past, our present, and our future—and I believe they should remain a part of our community’s heritage for generations to come.

I look forward to the day when we can find an appropriate permanent home where all three murals can be displayed together and enjoyed by the people of Puryear and those who visit our town.

For now, I am grateful that the City has affirmed that these works of public art will remain Puryear’s murals.

07/31/2026

I am wondering why it feels like life is standing still this week… I have started thinking of how we can come together in a powerful way to affect our community… thinking of what kind of legacy we want to leave in Puryear for the next generation… ideas? Thoughts?

07/05/2026

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood..." - Theodore Roosevelt

06/24/2026

🚧 Great News for Puryear Drivers! Street Resurfacing Finally Underway on N Cherry St! 🛣️

After months of waiting, the wait is OVER! Crews from Murray Paving Inc. (MPI) hit the ground running today on N Cherry Street, kicking off long-awaited resurfacing work that will smooth out the ride for residents and visitors alike.

Puryear News caught up with a representative on site, who shared that they’re starting strong with a solid basecoat today. Once that’s set, they’ll lay down a fresh 1.5-inch thick asphalt surface to give the street a smooth, durable finish.

According to Alderman Anderson, the full project is on track for completion by July 15!
This is the kind of progress that makes a real difference — safer, smoother streets mean easier commutes, better access for businesses, and pride in our community infrastructure.

Big thanks to MPI for getting the job done and to our city leaders for pushing this forward!
Who else is excited to see fresh pavement rolling through Puryear? Drop a 👍 or comment below if you drive N Cherry St! Let’s keep the positive momentum going!
-Puryear News

06/17/2026

Thank you to the anonymous resident who took the time to share their thoughts on the new Puryear News (digital newspaper). Thank you Lori Vanscyoc for the great analogy about a couple budgeting to buy a new vehicle, comparing it to a city budgeting to pay for needed infrastructure. Great comparison.

One thing I have learned over the past months is that people care deeply about Puryear. Sometimes that caring comes out as questions. Sometimes it comes out as concerns. Sometimes it comes out as disagreements. But at the heart of it, most of us want the same thing: a town we are proud to call home.

I have never accused anyone of corruption. In fact, I believe Puryear is filled with hardworking people who volunteer, serve, help their neighbors, and do their best every day. And some of those wonderful people have moved here from other places, and love this town too.

As an alderman, I asked questions and requested information because I believe transparency and accountability are important in every city government, large or small. Asking questions was never intended to attack anyone or diminish the accomplishments of those who served before me. Many good things have been done in Puryear over the years, and those efforts deserve recognition and appreciation.

Could some conversations have been handled better? Probably. We are all human. I know I continue to learn and grow in this role, just as everyone else does.

What excites me most is not looking backward. It is looking forward.
We have opportunities ahead of us: improving infrastructure, pursuing grants, supporting our first responders, enhancing our downtown, preparing for growth, and making sure Puryear remains the kind of community where people know their neighbors and look out for one another.

The future of Puryear will not be built by one alderman, one mayor, one employee, or one citizen. It will be built by all of us working together. as a team.

So let's keep talking. Let's keep asking questions. Let's keep sharing ideas. But most importantly, let's remember that we are on the same team.

Team Puryear - A community that is strongest when we work together, respect one another, and focus on the future.

— Reno Anderson, Alderman, Town of Puryear

06/10/2026

Tonight our city council discussed the reasons the paving of our roads has been delayed and is determining ways to finish the project quickly. We appreciated Deb Mell offering to use her Master Gardener class requirements to work on our Community Center flower beds. Reno Anderson was asked to look into grants for our city’s infrastructure and get information about annexation. The new budget resolution was passed with no hikes in water, sewer or property taxes.

05/31/2026

Prayers for all the persons involved in last night’s crash. I believe the road is now open.

05/12/2026