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Animal Control issue gets hairy at county meeting
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Commissioner Michael Martin tells a member of the audience he doesn't have to explain his vote.
Lacy Garrison
Updated: Feb 25, 2016, 10:30 PM
Published: Feb 25, 2016, 11:30 PM

What began as an upbeat discussion on how Warren County Animal Control has become more of an adoption and rescue organization ended up in a shouting match after a pair of county commissioners dug in their heels and refused to vote to officially change the name of Animal Control.
“If we change this, what’s next?” asked Commissioner Tommy Savage who, along with Michael Martin, voted no to a resolution that would have added the words “And Adoption Center” to the name of Warren County Animal Control. His statement was answered by jeers from the audience.
Supporters maintain such a name change would make the center easier to find for people who want to adopt and rescue animals. It would also open up the center for grants.
“We are more into the adoption business than into control,” said Commissioner Blaine Wilcher who voted to change the name along with Teddy Boyd. The vote ended in a 2-2 tie as Commissioner Linda Jones was absent. “We even have someone who will donate new signage if we change the name.”
Animal Control director Kim Pettrey told the joint meeting of Health and Welfare, and Budget and Finance Committee members some people do not know they can go to Animal Control to get a pet.
“Our reputation was so bad there before,” Pettrey declared of the large number of animals that used to be euthanized at Animal Control. Pettrey added many of the center’s animals are taken by ARF Rescue which finds them homes across the country. “They are almost begging for our animals,” Pettrey said.
While the discussion was almost completely positive, with commissioners agreeing a mission of Animal Control is to adopt and rescue rather than kill, the fuzzy feeling did not extend past the vote. Members of the audience shouted at Martin who defiantly told them he would vote any way he wanted.
“I can vote no,” Martin replied to a woman from the audience who demanded he explain himself after the vote. “I don’t have to explain to you. I vote no.”
While the measure failed in the Health and Welfare Committee, it was decided to take the question straight before the entire Warren County Commission at its March 21 meeting, provided those supporting the name change get the wording of the resolution ready 10 days before the meeting.
Local farm partnership brings fresh beef to Warren County Schools
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Published: Apr 2, 2025, 11:31 PM

Warren County Schools has beefed up lunch menus this school year through a new community partnership. Thanks to a collaboration between the district’s School Nutrition Department and Barton Creek Farms, students at Warren County High School, Warren County Middle School, West Elementary, Eastside Elementary, and Dibrell Elementary are enjoying locally sourced, farm-fresh beef in their lunches as part of a pilot program.

The initiative, spearheaded by Terri Mullican, Director of School Nutrition, has already shown great promise in its first few months. The partnership with Barton Creek Farms, located in Rock Island, Tennessee, ensures that the beef served is not only local to Warren County but of the highest quality. Barton Creek Farms specializes in farm-to-fork beef, with grass-fed and grain-finished cattle. Each calf is born and raised in Rock Island and goes through USDA-inspected processing, ensuring it meets the strictest safety and quality standards.

“When the opportunity arose to provide fresh, local beef, we knew it was a no-brainer,” Mullican said. “The fact that it’s a product from right here in our community makes it even more special. We can’t wait to implement it district-wide.”

Barton Creek Farms delivers fresh ground beef to the district monthly, and the nutrition

department incorporates it into homemade recipes such as lasagna, meatloaf, chili, and tacos.

As of now, the beef is being served at five schools, but the ultimate goal is to expand the program to all ten lunch-serving schools in the district.

The pilot program originated from a conversation between Mary Roller of Barton Creek Farms and Mullican. Roller, recognizing the farm’s potential to support local schools, reached out to gauge the district’s interest in serving local beef to students. Around the same time, a Warren County school board member contacted Mullican to share information about a similar partnership in neighboring Dekalb County, which helped push the initiative forward.

The timing worked in the district’s favor, as the nutrition department was able to fund the purchase of the beef using existing resources, eliminating the need for additional funding. Now that the pilot program is enjoying a successful run, the department has budgeted to extend the partnership district-wide for the 2025-26 school year.

Dr. Grant Swallows, Director of Schools, praised the program’s economic approach to student nutrition.

“This pilot is a perfect example of how we can use local resources to continue providing nutritious, healthy meals for our students,” he said. “We are grateful for partnerships like this one that benefit both our students and our local community. We always strive to support our local businesses when we can because our community is so good to us.”

In addition to working with Warren County Schools, Barton Creek Farms also partners with local restaurants to offer farm-fresh beef on their menus. The farm’s offerings include ground beef, steaks, roasts, and custom cuts by the quarter, half, or whole cow, meeting diverse consumer needs.

As the program continues to grow, the district hopes to expand its focus on farm-to-school meals, benefiting students’ health and connecting them to the agricultural roots of the community