Local News in Tipton County, Tennessee on Our Tipton

Our Tipton Is Back (and There's a Lot Going On)

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 03:20:00 +0000

The news: Our Tipton is back. Hi again, Tipton County.

Wait, where’d you go? Fair question. Our last story ran in December 2025. Then things got quiet around here. Meanwhile, the county kept doing its thing: new meetings, new budgets, new headlines.

So what’s new? We’re back with fresh stories. Here’s what we’ve already got for you:

Covington: Covington Board Weighs $10 Million USDA Loan for Emergency Services Facility
Munford: Munford Lands $350,000 State Grant for Downtown Lights, Sound and Storefronts
Public safety: Four Charged in Tipton County Copper Wire Thefts That Disrupted Phone Service
Mason: Mason Under Boil-Water Alert as State Comptroller Presses Town on Budget, Water Fund

What we’ll cover: The stuff that actually affects your week, from Covington, Atoka and Munford to Brighton, Mason, Burlison, Garland and Gilt Edge. That means:

Mason Under Boil-Water Alert as State Comptroller Presses Town on Budget, Water Fund

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 03:15:00 +0000

The news: If you’re on Town of Mason water, boil it before you drink it. The town issued a boil-water alert on Tuesday, Oct. 27, “due to experiencing no water and low water pressure.” The alert is in effect “until further notice,” according to the notice signed by Town Administrator Terry Leggett.

Is it over yet? We couldn’t find a notice lifting the alert as of Thursday night. Questions? Call Mason City Hall at (901) 294-3525.

Four Charged in Tipton County Copper Wire Thefts That Disrupted Phone Service

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 03:10:00 +0000

The news: Four people are charged after a string of copper wire thefts hit communications and electric sites across Tipton County this month, the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) says.

What happened: Between Oct. 3 and Oct. 18, deputies answered several reports of copper wire and communications lines being cut, removed and stolen. According to the sheriff’s office, the targets included:

Ritter Communications facilities on Portersville Road, Wortham Road and Atoka-Idaville Road
A Southwest Electric facility on Glen Springs Road
A site in the Drummonds area

Why it matters: TCSO estimates damage and repair costs at more than $100,000. The sheriff’s office said the thefts disrupted essential communications service. Some residents couldn’t reach emergency services, WREG reported.

Munford Lands $350,000 State Grant for Downtown Lights, Sound and Storefronts

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 03:05:00 +0000

The news: Downtown Munford is getting a glow-up. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) awarded the City of Munford a $350,000 Downtown Improvement Grant (DIG), the city announced Oct. 22.

Big deal? Pretty big. The state announced 14 grants on Oct. 28, worth more than $3.9 million combined. Munford and Etowah tied for the largest award, at $350,000 each. Munford is the only Tipton County town on the list.

Covington Board Weighs $10 Million USDA Loan for Emergency Services Facility

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 03:00:00 +0000

The news: Covington’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen met Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The agenda included a resolution letting the city apply for a federal loan of up to $10 million to build a new Emergency Services Facility.

The loan: Under the resolution, the city would apply to USDA Rural Development for up to $10,000,000. The city would back the loan with a general obligation bond. The resolution spells it out: this is “a loan, not a grant,” and the city would have to repay all of it, with interest.