The Work Is Not Finished

For months, my calendar has been filled with campaign events, conversations, signs, door knocking and newspaper deadlines, all while running a business and publishing a newspaper.

First, thank you.

Thank you to everyone who prayed for me, encouraged me, volunteered, put up a sign, shared a post, attended an event, talked with me about issues that mattered to you and, most of all, took the time to vote.

I also thank Herbert, my family, our team and the many friends who walked through this campaign with me. When one person runs for office, others run with them.

And thank you to every candidate who put his or her name on the ballot, regardless of party affiliation. Running for office means putting yourself and your family in the public eye. It takes courage to say, “I am willing to serve.”

We will not always agree, but our community is better when people care enough to show up and make a difference.

Although the campaign is over, my work for Putnam County certainly is not.

Long before I was a candidate, I advocated for our community through my pen. That helped lead to this newspaper and our other platforms.

Our podcasts and YouTube channels will return in full force now that the campaign is behind me. There are stories to tell, conversations to have and questions to ask.

During the campaign, I was probably more cautious than usual in some of our coverage. I never wanted legitimate reporting viewed as campaign strategy simply because my name was on a ballot. At times I held back because I wanted to be fair.

That concern is behind me. The responsibility to be fair is not.

Readers deserve transparency and detailed answers. We will keep asking questions, digging into issues and telling our readers what is happening in the community we call home. Protecting Putnam County matters, and I have always believed in watchdog journalism.

But someone else has also been very much on my mind.

My friend Jennifer Dewar.

Jennifer passed away Aug. 3 at the age of 66.

I met Jennifer several years ago while volunteering with the Putnam County National Day of Prayer Task Force. She was kind, humble, encouraging and deeply committed to her faith.

When she became sick a short time ago, I don't think any of us imagined she would be gone by August.

Jennifer and I had plans.

She was going to help me with a history column for Highlands Insider and give me a tour of University Archives and Special Collections at Tennessee Tech, where she served as records officer and reference specialist. She loved history and spent 13 years serving the university and community.

I remember leaving an event at Stevens Street Baptist Church one evening when Jennifer told me about a promotion she had received at Tennessee Tech. I can still see the excitement in her eyes.

Jennifer was so humble that seeing her proud of something she had accomplished made me smile. At the time, it was simply a conversation between friends. Now I treasure it.

I also remember Jennifer helping me understand Tennessee's obscenity laws and issues surrounding books and children. She believed strongly that parents should determine when their children were ready for particular materials.

Jennifer was kind, but she was not timid. When she believed something was right, she stood for it.

She gave her time to the Putnam County Historical Society, Friends of White Plains, the Putnam County National Day of Prayer Task Force and her home church, Bend Church. She was deeply committed to Israel and the Jewish people, something I saw at local gatherings honoring Israel. She also worked to combat antisemitism and support faith communities.

I remember seeing her at the Republican Women of the Upper Cumberland meetings and working alongside her through the National Day of Prayer Task Force, including this May's Putnam County observance.

Her faith was not something she saved for Sunday morning. It showed up in the things she cared about and in the way she served.

Jennifer encouraged Highlands Insider before we ever printed a newspaper. She joined early focus groups, offered advice and encouraged us. Then, in February, she came to our print launch after several months of digital-only publishing.

I am especially grateful for that now. She got to see what she had encouraged us to build.

We thought there would be more time.

I thought we would write that history column and take that tour of the archives. I thought there would be more meetings and conversations.

Life has a way of reminding us that tomorrow is never promised.

Maybe that is part of what I have been thinking about as this election season ends. We spend so much time worrying about the next deadline, meeting, project or goal.

Those things matter. But so do the people standing beside us while we are doing them.

Jennifer is with Jesus now and is no longer in pain. I am grateful that I knew her and that our paths crossed. I can only imagine the worship she is experiencing now.

As for the rest of us, there is still work to do.

There are stories to tell, people to encourage and questions that need answers. There is a community worth serving and, yes, worth fighting for.

The election is over.

The work is not.

Photo captions

FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS: Jennifer Dewar, left, and Carol Carney share a smile during the Highlands Insider print launch celebration in February 2026. Dewar was an early supporter of the newspaper and participated in focus groups as Highlands Insider was being developed.

FAITH IN ACTION: From left, District 10 County Commissioner Gene Mullins, Jennifer Dewar, Highlands Insider columnist David Hunter and Good News Co. Pastor Alex Lisic join together during the Putnam County National Day of Prayer observance in May 2026. Dewar worked diligently with the National Day of Prayer Task Force and was known for living out her faith through service to the community. Photo by Cameron Williams.