Author: WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News Staff

First responders hold Sea of Blue for fallen officer

First responders across West Tennessee gathered for the Sea of Blue, where they celebrated and mourned the passing of Sergeant, Justin "Tiny" Harris. Bryan Duke, the Sheriff of Henderson County…

West Tennesseans gather to play with baby animals

JACKSON, Tenn. -- Andrew Donnell, owner of Donnell Century Farm, says they're trying to introduce kids to farming culture. “We’re focused on really these baby animals and letting kids be…

Kids fill their baskets at annual egg hunt

JACKSON, Tenn.--Grab your baskets! It's time to look for eggs. The Madison County and Recreation Department brings back an annual scavenger hunt. One two three go! The Easter Eggstravaganza is back…

Runners travel 100 miles to prevent child abuse

JACKSON, Tenn.--One group is traveling 100 miles by foot from right here in the Hub City to the home of blues. Breaking the Chains 100 Miler is a 100 mile run from Jackson to Beale Street in Memphis all for…

Volunteers gather to keep Jackson beautiful

JACKSON, Tenn. -- It's spring time and you know what that means, spring cleaning! This morning marked the 16th annual Spring Clean at Liberty Garden Park. Volunteers did everything from picking up limbs and debris, to mulching, all in efforts…

Fallen Sergeant laid to rest

LEXINGTON, Tenn. -- Today a local sergeant was laid to rest in Henderson County. On April 6th 2022, Sergeant Justin "Tiny" Harris passed away in Nashville, Tennessee. Sergeant Harris served with the Henderson County Sheriff's Office for over 10 years…

Pet of the Week: Matilda

This week's Pet of the Week from Hero West Rescue is Matilda! Matilda is special needs, as she is terrified of children! Before rescue, some bad things happened to her and…

TDOT gives update on I-40 construction

MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Department of Transportation gave an update of road construction on Interstate 40. For drivers making their way around the Hub City, it has been a case of maneuvering around orange and white barrels, reduced…

Jackson Theatre Guild presents ‘Clue’

JACKSON, Tenn. -- Residents of West Tennessee gathered to solve a mystery at the Ned. The Jackson Theatre Guild partnered with The Ned to perform the play "Clue," which is based on the board game and the big screen adaptation.…

Students sign their names in support of Ukraine

HARDIN COUNTY, Tenn. -- Students at Hardin County High School have teamed up for a cause. After seeing the crisis happening in Europe between Ukraine and Russia, Students for Freedom and Democracy wanted to help the citizens of Ukraine…

Virtual Teen Summit set for April 30

JACKSON, Tenn. -- A summit aims to help teenagers get life skills. According to a news release, Jackson Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is partnering with the Theta Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. to…

PBR Paris tickets to go on sale April 16

PARIS, Tenn. -- PBR in Paris is returning, with tickets going on sale soon. Tickets for this year's event go on sale on April 16, with a meet-and-greet also set at Troilinger’s BBQ in Paris, giving ticket buyers the chance…

West Tennessee Legal to host expungement clinic

JACKSON, Tenn. -- West Tennessee Legal Services is partnering with the Tennessee Faith and Justice Alliance to host a free expungement clinic on May 6 in Jackson. This clinic will allow qualifying individuals to have their criminal record erased. People…

Gun found at high school thanks to new JMCSS metal detectors

JACKSON, Tenn. -- The Jackson-Madison County School System is keeping students safe with an extra layer of protection. Tim Gilmer, with JMCSS, says metal detectors have been placed in every high school in the district. And part of the funding…

Educator of the Week: Terri DeWald

It's time to recognize this week's Educator of the Week, presented by the Tennessee Education Lottery. Terri DeWald says communication is very important in her ninth grade history class at Lexington High School, and…

Body of WWII veteran to be returned home in Tennessee

JACKSON, Tenn. -- A World War II veteran is finally returning to his hometown. Chief Water Tender Claud White, a native of Dyersburg, was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The Navy reports that the…

Organizations fight illiteracy in Jackson

JACKSON, Tenn. -- A local organization partnered with United Way of West Tennessee to fight against illiteracy in the area. The READ Team partnered with United Way to provide books for second graders in hopes of increasing their literary skills.…

School board addresses importance of keeping staff

JACKSON, Tenn. -- Two topics were up for discussion during a meeting by leaders with the Jackson-Madison County System. During Thursday's meeting, members of school board discussed the importance of keeping staff within…

Jackson Arts District gets the green light

JACKSON, Tenn. -- The City of Jackson has been given the green light to get creative! The Jackson City Council approved an Arts District for the city. "What it is, is just designating a…

Henderson County sergeant honored by his department

HENDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. -- The Henderson County Sheriff's Department honored the life of one of their own on Thursday. Justin Harris, known to the community as Tiny, died Wednesday in Nashville. Harris was with the department for 10 years,…

9th First Ladies Luncheon features Thistle Farms founder

JACKSON, Tenn. -- United Way of West Tennessee hosted their ninth annual First Ladies luncheon on Thursday. The luncheon had the biggest number of attendees in its history. Becca Stevens, the founder of Thistle Farm, was the keynote speaker…

UT Martin to host football camp in May

WEAKLEY COUNTY, Tenn. -- The University of Tennessee at Martin is hosting Quarterback Dresser Winn’s Football Camp. The camp is open to those 5 to 17-years-old who are interested in learning about new football drills straight from those who play.…

NPS marks 160 years since Battle of Shiloh

SHILOH, Tenn. -- Shiloh National Military Park will commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh by offering a variety of real-time hikes and interpretive programs this weekend. This year is the anniversary of several historic events in the…

RE/MAX President, CEO talks rising prices in housing market

JACKSON, Tenn. -- With record breaking price appreciation experienced over the past year, the housing market continues to be highly competitive. Nick Bailey, President and CEO of RE/MAX, says the City of Jackson alone has seen a 26% increase in…

NAACP steps in to represent Town of Mason in court

MASON, Tenn. -- One organization is representing a local West Tennessee town in court. The National Chapter of NAACP has filed a lawsuit against Comptroller Jason Mumpower for the Comptroller's financial oversight on the…

JPD: Shoes, drugs, more found in home on Tuesday

JACKSON, Tenn. -- A search of a home Tuesday night has led to one arrest and the seizure of several items. The Jackson Police Department confirmed on Thursday that a home on 4th Street in south Jackson was searched by…

Tennessee reports success in finding out-of-state troopers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The state of Tennessee says it is seeing success in getting out-of-state troopers. According to a news release, 11 troopers have joined the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “Just last week, we welcomed five new troopers to our ranks…

Controversial bill amended to have age requirement

https://youtu.be/Ta3qfqxMFcg NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Proposed legislation aims to provide an alternative way to marry in the state of Tennessee. The bill proposed by Rep. Tom Leatherwood in the Tennessee House and Sen. Janice Bowling in the Senate, aims to create…

Weakley County Schools celebrates young learning

WEAKLEY COUNTY, Tenn. -- A local school system is focusing all week long on young learners, and it's also introducing its new campaign. Weakley County Schools is just in the middle of…

Students hear firsthand about the dangers of drunk driving

GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. -- Students at South Gibson County High School listened to a guest speaker on Wednesday. Blake McMeans talked to the students about the dangers of drunk driving, and he spoke from his own experience. McMeans was in…

Senator Bill Hagerty talks border visit, Title 42

JACKSON, Tenn. -- U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty, along with several mayors and sheriffs across Tennessee, paid a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border. This was due to the Biden administration planning to…

Southern Airways to begin services in West Tennessee in June

JACKSON, Tenn. -- A new air service is set to take off from West Tennessee this summer. On Wednesday, Southern Airways announced that it will begin its service from McKeller-Sipes Regional Airport on June 1, 2022. Southern Airways is replacing…

Registration open for JMCSS summer camps

JACKSON, Tenn. -- The Jackson-Madison County School System is combating learning loss with in-person summer camps. JMCSS says it will be holding several in-person summer learning camps for kindergarten through eighth grade students. JMCSS says the camps will focus on…

Jackson’s Civitan Club honored by mayor

JACKSON, Tenn. -- One local club received an honor from Jackson Mayor Scott Conger. Conger presented a proclamation to the South Jackson Civitan Club in observance of April being designated as Civitan…

Brownsville police add new device to their belts

BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. -- A local police department is getting a new addition to their utility belt. The Brownsville Police Department is introducing a new and non-lethal way to detain individuals. "Brownsville Police…

March 2022’s Hub City Hero Grayson Hart named by city

JACKSON, Tenn. -- The City of Jackson has named its Hub City Hero for March of 2022. Grayson Hart, a Jackson native and founder of Lights Up Theatre Co., joins the list of those who have received the honor for…

Suspect dies in officer-involved shooting in Madison County

MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirms an officer-involved shooting in Madison County. Shortly before midnight on Tuesday, deputies with the Madison County Sheriff's Office attempted to make…

What to pack in Easter baskets this year

JACKSON, Tenn. -- With Easter around the corner, now is a great time to find perfect gifts for the kids on your shopping list. This year experts are suggesting toys and games to…

UT Martin seminar raises awareness of disabilities

JACKSON, Tenn. -- A local university held a special seminar to spread awareness of disabilities. University of Tennessee at Martin featured Judy Heumann, a lifelong advocate for the rights of disabled people for their annual Bettie Graham Special Education Seminar.…

58 scouts honored at Carl Perkins Civic Center

JACKSON, Tenn. -- Friends, family, and fellow scouts gathered to celebrate an achievement of a lifetime. The West Tennessee Area Council, Boy Scouts of America celebrated the accomplishments of 58 Boy Scouts who received their Eagle Award. The scouting…