I’ve spent decades reporting the news and one of the chief complaints is that news organizations spend a lot of time talking about the bad news.

We’re here to change that.

Something I’ve heard a lot over the years is that you miss the other paper’s old Family Living section. You loved to see what fun thing Carolyn Smith had featured on the cover and you loved reading about special events and other features published on those pages.

People love to share the wonderful things about the place they call home and they love to see their neighbors in the headlines. We love all of those things, too. If you’re a newsletter subscriber, you already know that on Sundays you’ll receive good news right in your inbox and we’re going to share it here as well. While we do have to write about things that are unpleasant at times, our goal is to spend just as much (or more!) time talking about the good things going on in Tipton County.

Let’s face it: Right now the national news can be pretty grim. It might turn you off of the news altogether, because it can be downright depressing. And so, we want to be intentional about creating pockets of joy in all of the media you consume. Our hope is that you look for the good news and share it.

Here is this week’s round-up of the awesome things that Tipton Countians have been up to lately.

A great big ‘WOO!’ for Level 5 Covington High

For the first time in 76 years, Covington High School’s FFA chapter was named the best in the west! On April 30, they brought home the District and Regional Championship AND Mary Jean Hall was named the TAAE Teacher Turn the Key winner – and if that doesn’t deserve a good ol’ WOOOO!!!, I don’t know what does!

Hall also earned her master’s degree from UT-Martin this week, so it’s gonna be pretty hard for her to top the last few days, I’d imagine.

Funeral home employees spotlighted in Times Square

Local funeral home employees Amber Brummett (Maley-Yarbrough Funeral Home) and Nicole Lightsey (Munford Funeral Home) were among the funeral home employees honored in Times Square on April 23, 2026, through a campaign called “The First Call,” which celebrated their role in guiding families through loss with compassion. The 15-minute takeover aimed to bring visibility to professionals who often work behind the scenes, recognizing them as crucial community responders.

Barlow earns Sterling Award

Speaking of amazing women, Phillis Barlow was one of 20 women in West Tennessee recently honored with a Sterling Award. Hosted by the Jackson Area Business and Professional Women, the awards are given to women who are considered the most influential in the region. Barlow is a retired administrator from Lauderdale County Schools. The awards were given at a reception on April 21.

Pizza Hut’s perfect score

In this week’s Restaurant Report, Pizza Hut – Covington earned a perfect 100 on its routine restaurant inspection! That’s not very common, we’ve found. Pizza Hut – Atoka earned a 99 on its follow-up inspection. And the Book It! program is back, so get those kids reading this summer.

Congratulations, everyone!

Have good news to share? Send it to news@paperfoldsnews.com for possible publication.

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