The Leader

Tipton County's Newspaper since 1886

Echo Day

Covington’s next mayor will make more money – and the only person who’s announced plans to run is against it

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Though the majority of the board of mayor and aldermen has decided to proceed with giving a raise to the next mayor, there are two who aren’t on board. One is the current mayor, the other is the only person who’s announced he plans to run for mayor.  “We’ve been discussing the raise for the upcoming mayor and I still have a problem with us raising that amount by $10,000,” said … [Read more...] about Covington’s next mayor will make more money – and the only person who’s announced plans to run is against it

Atoka’s fire chief has announced he’s retiring in August

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Fire Chief Henry Posey has announced his retirement after eight years as the Town of Atoka’s first fire chief. Hired in October 2014, Posey was tasked with starting the new fire department and building its team from the ground up. Since the department’s inception it became the first fire department in Tipton County to be fully Advanced Life Support (ALS) 24 hours a day, … [Read more...] about Atoka’s fire chief has announced he’s retiring in August

Triple H BBQ wins the 50th annual World’s Oldest BBQ Festival

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Triple H BBQ, based in Gillespie, Ill., was named the grand champion of the World's Oldest BBQ Festival in Covington Saturday. Lead by Bill and Andrea Heyen in 2015, the team earned 707.3828 points to take home the large water tower trophy. They came in first in Pork with a perfect 180 points, third in brisket (176.56) and ribs (177.7144), and 11th in chicken … [Read more...] about Triple H BBQ wins the 50th annual World’s Oldest BBQ Festival

Find out more about the free CPR classes hosted by local fire departments this Saturday

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Tipton County’s fire departments are teaming up to provide free CPR classes to residents.  The county-wide events are being held at participating fire departments Saturday, June 4 from 9-10 a.m.  “Every fire department in Tipton County will be doing this,” said Covington Fire Chief Richard Griggs during a meeting of Covington’s Public Safety Committee last week. “The fire … [Read more...] about Find out more about the free CPR classes hosted by local fire departments this Saturday

Fact check: No, Tipton County isn’t losing its SROs – in fact, they’re asking for more

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Last week a Memphis television news outlet reported a story whose headline suggested Tipton County would be losing its school resource officers.  Aired the same week as the second deadliest shooting in American history, the story was an obvious cause for concern for parents of students attending Tipton County’s public schools. Superintendent John Combs issued a statement last … [Read more...] about Fact check: No, Tipton County isn’t losing its SROs – in fact, they’re asking for more

Covington BBQ Festival starts today – and commemorates its 50th annual event

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What began as Tipton County’s Sesquicentennial in 1973 has evolved into the world’s oldest BBQ festival. “It started from simple beginnings on Court Square, where one side of the square was blocked off from traffic,” reads a story about the event published in The Leader in 2001. “However, as the event and town grew, it became apparent that more space was needed.” Since it began … [Read more...] about Covington BBQ Festival starts today – and commemorates its 50th annual event