Bedford County, Tennessee

09/02/2026

Bedford County Government expresses its condolences to the family and friends of Peggy Bush, who passed away Sunday at Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital. Mrs. Bush served as Bedford County Trustee for 24 years and was president of the Middle Tennessee Trustees Association.

Complete obituary information is available at the Doak Funeral Home website:

View Peggy Jane Bush's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

09/01/2026

Let's beat Williamson County!!

🚨 HEY BEDFORD COUNTY, WE NEED YOU! 🚨

On September 22nd, we’re workin’ 9 to 5… and one extra hour to SAVE LIVES!💉🩸

The Battle of the Badges Blood Drive is quickly coming up, and we have one BIG goal:

🩸🩸 2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ DONORS🩸🩸

Every appointment filled gets us one step closer to 250. Every donation helps to save lives.
Every person who signs up shows exactly what Bedford County does best, showing up for each other when it matters!❤️

So here’s our challenge:

👉🏼 Grab a friend, coworker, family member, or neighbor and sign up to donate! 👈🏼

Can’t donate? That’s okay! We ask that you SHARE this post! Help us find someone who can.

✨ AND GUESS WHAT ELSE?!✨
When you donate, you’ll get to cast your vote in the Battle of the Badges and decide which group earns the bragging rights! 🚓🚒🚑🛻☎️

We set the goal at 250 because we KNOW Bedford County can do it. 💪🏼

🫵🏼 Now we just need YOU. 🫵🏼

📅 September 22, 2026
⏰ 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
🏟️ Cooper Steel Arena
🩸 Goal: 250 donors

🏆 One community. One big challenge.🏆
❤️ A whole lot of lives we can help.❤️

Bedford County, let’s get 250!🇺🇸

And remember…

We’re workin’ 9 to 5… but we’ll gladly take your blood ’til 6.🩸🅰️🅱️🅾️🆎🩸

⬇️ Who’s signing up?! ⬇️
(Dolly would 😉)

www.bloodassurance.org/bedfordcobattle2

09/01/2026

Bedford County Veterans Services, in the basement of the historic Bedford County Courthouse, will be closed Sept. 9-11 for mandatory training. We apologize for any inconvenience.

09/01/2026

New terms of county office officially begin at midnight tonight, as Aug. 31 turns to Sept. 1, but incoming County Mayor Curt Cobb, incoming Assessor of Property Emily Redd Hodges, re-elected County Clerk Donna Thomas, and 15 of the 18 members of Bedford County Board of Commissioners, including the nine newly-elected members, took their oaths of office during a ceremony held Monday night at the historic Bedford County Courthouse. Judge Wyatt Burk and Chancellor J.B. Cox split the duties of administering the oaths of office.

New county commissioners sworn in Monday night include Jared Featherstone (1st District); Michael Gregory and Roy Turner (2nd District); Alex Mitchell and Jason P. Sanders (3rd District); Brent E. Smith and Brian K. Bruce (5th District); David Deason and Jennifer Templeton (6th District)

Re-elected commissioners sworn in include Eric Maddox (1st District), Diane Neeley (4th District), Keith Davis and Syhlvia Pinson (7th District), John Boutwell and Jason Boyette (8th District).

Re-elected commissioners Anita Epperson, P.T. "Biff" Farrar and Mark Thomas will be sworn in between now and the Sept. 8 commission meeting.

08/31/2026

A swearing-in ceremony was held Monday afternoon at Bedford County Justice Complex for re-elected Circuit Court Clerk Michelle Murray and her staff. Murray's office provides court clerk services for local Circuit Court proceedings, General Sessions Court and Juvenile Court. Judge Charles Rich administered the oath of office to Murray and to her staff.

08/31/2026

A retirement reception honoring Sheriff Austin Swing on his retirement was held this morning at Cartwright Elementary School (local public schools are not in session this week). Swing served in law enforcement for 51 years, including as Sheriff and as Shelbyville police chief. Chief deputy Nikia Elliott, who was elected earlier this month to the top spot, will be sworn in as the new sheriff at midnight tonight.

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

In the first of several swearing-in ceremonies related to new terms of elected office, Trustee Tonya Davis and her staff were sworn in Friday afternoon by Circuit Judge Wyatt Burk. The ceremony took place in the second floor courtroom of the historic Bedford County Courthouse.

A number of elected officials, including new Bedford County Mayor Curt Cobb and many county commissioners, will be sworn in 6 p.m. Monday at the courthouse. New Sheriff Nikia Elliott, following a sheriff's office tradition, will be sworn in at midnight Monday, at exactly the moment new terms of office begin. County commissioners unable to attend the 6 p.m. ceremony on Monday will be sworn in immediately prior to their first meeting on Sept. 8.

08/28/2026

A retirement reception for County Mayor Chad Graham was held Thursday afternoon at the historic Bedford County Courthouse in Shelbyville, honoring Graham for his two terms as mayor and his total of 35 years of public service, including with Bedford County Emergency Medical Service and as a member of Bedford County Board of Education. Speakers included County Attorney John T. Bobo and Dana Rodriguez of Bedford County Chamber of Commerce.

During Graham's eight years as county mayor, new schools have been constructed, eliminating the need for portable classrooms; broadband service has been extended to numerous rural areas; a new Tennessee College of Applied Technology facility was built on U.S. 231; a new justice complex was built; and the courthouse was renovated as a government hub. The county began offering more competitive wages for emergency service positions, to try to reduce employee turnover and unfilled positions. The mayor also had to lead the county through the challenges of the the COVID-19 pandemic. The county began livestreaming government meetings, making it possible for citizens to become better informed.

Graham will leave office at midnight Aug. 31; Clerk and Master Curt Cobb, a former state representative, will take office as mayor Sept. 1. A swearing-in ceremony for Cobb and many other elected officials will be held 6 p.m. Monday at the courthouse.