LOUDON C O U N T Y FALL 2026
M A G A Z I N E
TABLE OF CONTENTS JOSH TOLBERT’S BAND STORY Pages 3 & 4
THE 25th, 9/11 REMEMBRANCE Pages 5 - 8
LOUDON COUNTY FARMER WINS Pages 9 & 11
SUPPORT OUR LOCALS Page 10
Nutter Butter Ghost Cookies Page 12
LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER Pages 13 & 14
LENOIR CITY DENTAL Page 15
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The 2026 Loudon County Magazine is published by Loudon County Publishers Inc., which also produces The News-Herald and The Connection. 2026 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without written consent of the publisher.
osh J
T
olbert’s (Band Story)
The gospel-bluegrass group, The Primitive Quartet, retired in 2023. But now, a new group in east Tennessee is keeping their sounds alive and well. The group is Jeff Tolbert and Primitive Road. The band consists of lead singer and former member of The Primitive Quartet Jeff Tolbert, guitar, piano player and singer Elisha Moore, stand-up bassist Mitch Gaylon and mandolin player and guitarist Skylar Coffey. “I traveled with the Primitive Quartet for 27 years. They celebrated 50 years of music in 2023,” Tolbert said.
Tolbert said the group has been busy and may even get a busier show schedule soon. “We’re going as far as we can. There’s a little limitation on what we could do, I guess compared to most groups,” He said. “A lot of people just strive to go all the time and we’re just very blessed and thankful” “We’ve been to Texas and Ohio and some other places,” Tolbert said. “We’ve got some calls for a lot of other places and we’re just seeing how that comes out in the future.”Tolbert said most of the members in Primitive Road have other obligations beside the band. “We have pastors in the group and music directors at church,” he said. “Church is a big thing for us, and we want to be in our home churches on Sundays. Our travels are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.” In fact, Tolbert is also the music director at Springview Baptist Church in Maryville.
“They retired and with much prayer and desire to keep the music alive, God allowed us to be able to form this group.” Tolbert and his band performed a concert recently at Prospect Baptist Church in Loudon, TN. He and his bandmates sat down with The Loudon County Magazine to discuss how the band came about and what are its plans for the future. “It used to be the Primitive Quartet. That’s what it was for 50 years and me being a part of that and everything and just keeping the music and the songs and what we do and we just sat around and tried to think of names so Jeff Tolbert and Primitive Road came out in the open,” Tolbert said. Tolbert started playing music at a very young age and joined his first group, Easter Brothers, when he was only 15. Through the years, he has also played with such groups as The Lewis Family, The Issacs and country and bluegrass music star, Ricky Skaggs. Tolbert said the group has been busy and may even get a busier show schedule soon. “We’re going as far as we can. There’s a little limitation on what we could do, I guess compared to most groups,” Tolbert started playing music at a very young age and joined his first group, Easter Brothers, when he was only 15. Through the years, he has also played with such groups as The Lewis Family, The Issacs and country and bluegrass music star, Ricky Skaggs. Elisha Moore Pictured Above
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Coffey,Tolbert,Gaylon, Moore Pictured Above
“So we’re based out of Maryville now, and so we’re closer for the guys so if we go to Florida, Georgia or Ohio, it works out pretty good,” Tolbert said. For the other band members, they love bringing gospelcentered music to people, especially when it is similar to their favorite group, The Primitive Quartet. “First and foremost, I love what we experience through it and that’s the spirit of God,” bassist Gaylon said. “It’s very conducive for the Holy Spirit to move and it speaks to me.” “As far as gospel groups, Primitive Quartet was my all time favorite,” guitarist Coffey said. “It’s just been a God thing. To be a part of this group with these guys. I love our fellowship and I love our time together on weekends.” “We all grew up on this music and that’s one thing that is special about the band we have today,” Coffey said. “It’s kind of introducing the music of what was to today.” Jeff Tolbert and Primitive Road has two albums available. “Our first album, “Heaven is Waiting for Me”, was released about one and a half years ago and then we just released another one called “Something to Shout About,” pianist and singer Moore said.
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Fall 26’ | 4
THE
25
th
YEAR
The 25th Year, 9/11 Remembrance held September 10, at the Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, was a beautiful, solemn, memorable ceremony. “We Will Never Forget” was the theme by honoring those that died in the attacks and hearing remembrances by individuals who lost loved ones or were at the Pentagon that day. Attendance surpassed expectations with nearly 150 people filling the room. The County Mayors of Loudon (Buddy Bradshaw) and Monroe (Mitch Ingram) attended and took part in the ceremony, as did Mr. Lowell Russell, the Tennessee State District 21 Representative. Pastor Mark Rhoads opened the ceremony by welcoming everyone and introducing Candace Sutter to sing the National Anthem. Sutter is the Music Director of the church and is a Christian recording artist, with a number of her original pieces being performed in churches around the country.
9/11
REMEMBRANCE
The ceremony was then further directed by Harry McDavid, Captain, US Navy, Retired. McDavid was at the Pentagon on 9/11. McDavid was joined by Pat McLarnan in performing the Alan Jackson song “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning”, in memory of the 9/11 attacks. Harry and Pat are both members of the music program at the church. McDavid followed the song with a history of 9/11, including the significance of that date throughout the centuries leading up to the 9/11 attacks. McDavid shared that the attacks were perpetrated by 19 Islamic Terrorists who hijacked four commercial jetliners. The attacks were planned by Osama Bin Laden. 15 of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Nearly 3,000 persons were killed and thousands injured. As bad as the deaths and injuries were, the horror could have been much worse. 50,000 people worked in the two Trade Towers.
Remembrances of their experiences on 9/11, Stephanie Cayne-Mayer, Jordan and Suzan Cayne, Nancy Holt, Harry McDavid, Marybeth Heiserman, Shelia Uphoff, Lowell Russell. Pictured Above
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All uniformed personnel in the audience were invited to the front so they could be recognized for their brave service to the local communities of Loudon and Monroe counties. Each was addressed individually by name, their position, and the county they represented. The attendees gave these local heroes a standing ovation that lasted several minutes. While they were still up front, Buddy Bradshaw (Loudon County Mayor), Mitch Ingram (Monroe County Mayor), and assisted by Wayne Schnell (Elder of the church and retired US Air Force Lt Colonel), presented the ceremonial wreath. During the presentation, McLarnan performed a touching instrumental arrangement of Amazing Grace. The ceremony then moved to the Ringing of the Bell, to honor all the fallen on 9/11 and those that died years later due to cancers attributed to working the Towers’ “Rubble Pile”. Fire Chief, Bill Hart, of Loudon Country Fire and Rescue, rang the bell for each category of the fallen as Schnell read each category out loud. Five individuals gave firsthand remembrances of 9/11. LT Col Nancy Holt and Major Shelia Uphoff were in the Pentagon and shared their experiences regarding the fear and confusion inside the Pentagon as people tried to ascertain what happened and to leave the building.
Loudon Fire and Rescue Chief Bill Hart. Rang the bell after each category of those lost their lives or injured Pictured Above
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Captain Harry McDavid leading the Ceremony Pictured Above
Marybeth Heiserman shared her story with McDavid earlier. McDavid delivered her story to the attendees. Heiserman was a flight attendant for American Airlines. She personally knew each of the flight crew that died. She, thought of them as her work family. She had flown on that exact aircraft. Pastor Rhoads presented to Heiserman flowers and words of condolence.
The Ensign lost emotional control, collapsed, and was removed from the room. While on the call, he heard that one of the flight crew was Renee May of Baltimore. May was his fiancé. She was supposed to be off duty; however, when a flight attendant called in sick, she took her place. Heiserman confirmed the truth of that event.
McDavid was on active duty with the Secretary of the Navy command staff. When the Pentagon was attacked, he was in the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy’s Office. Within minutes, they heard the quick woosh of a jet, felt and heard the impact, and knew what it was. McDavid and other military personnel ran towards the impact location and flames but were unable to get close enough to render aid due to extreme heat of the fire caused by the jet fuel. They saw some covered bodies being laid on the Pentagon grounds. The last memory McDavid shared was of an Ensign taking phone calls while working in the makeshift Navy Personnel Communication Office up the hill from the Pentagon. He took a call from American Airlines who called to give the names of the passengers and flight crew of the flight that attacked the Pentagon.
Stephanie Cane-Mayer delivered the remembrance of her brother Jason David Cayne, killed in the North Trade Tower. His parents, Suzan and Jordan Cayne, formerly of New Jersey, were in attendance during the Remembrance ceremony. Stephanie shared stories of their growing up, family events, and how dearly they all loved Jason and how terribly shocked when they learned of his death. He was married and had small children. Lowell Russell, the Tennessee State District 21 Representative, read to Suzan and Jordan a certificate from Governor Bill Lee over their lost.
7 | Fall 26’
He also presented to them the Tennessee State flag, flown over the Capitol. Pastor Rhoads and Schnell presented flowers and words of condolence to the Cayne family. Russell spoke regarding the death of Lance Corporal Franklin Namon Watson, killed on active duty in Afghanistan during the War on Terror that followed 9/11. LCPL Watson was from Vonore and a special friend to Russell. McDavid and McLarnan performed the song “The Last Parade” by Steve Bonafel. The song was about a true story of an Army Sergeant’s funeral procession down main street of his town in Kentucky. Watson had a similar procession on Highway 411 in Madisonville TN. The song was dedicated in his honor. Following that song, Al DiEva played Taps with everyone standing. Prior to dismissing everyone and the conclusion of the Remembrance, Sutter led the attendees in the singing of God Bless America.
Loudon County Buddy Bradshaw, Monroe County Mayor Mitch Ingram, Wayne Schnell Pictured Above
The event was truly well received by everyone. The heart-felt remembrances of that day, the music, and the mingling of the attendees and the persons who gave remembrances made the event special.
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LOUDON FARMER WINS
TENNESSEE STATE FAIR HAY COMPETITION A local Loudon farmer is a first-place winner in a statewide hay testing competition. The statewide competition took place in Lebanon at the Tennessee State Fair back in August. Alan Burton of Freedom Farms in Loudon had six entries with four of them being winners in the state competition. He also had two other entries finish in top five positions at fourth and fifth place. The results for Burton from the 2026 competition have come a long from his first Tennessee State Fair competition, where he got sixth place for one entry. “I have always been competitive at certain things,” Burton said. “So, the third year we entered, we won two classes. This would be the fourth year we have done this.” Burton’s hay has also won competitions on a bigger level than just the state of Tennessee. In October 2025, Freedom Farms won at the Sunbelt Ag Expo for its perennial cool season grass hay. That expo features a hay competition that covers 14 states across the southeastern part of the United States. Freedom Farms has entered that same competition in 2026 and has been notified of a top five finish. “We have just done better and better as time goes on,” Burton said. Burton’s six entries into the Tennessee State Fair were tested for multiple physical qualities. These physical qualities include leafiness, maturity, odor, color, cleanness and texture. Burton went over Freedom Farm’s methods for making their own hay high-quality. “We really just follow all the studies that have been done and do everything they say,” Burton said. “We have been fortunate. We never had to cut corners financially. Alan Burton of Freedom Farms presenting his hay Pictured Above
9 | Fall 26’
In the end, what makes all the difference is knowing that ‘If it is not in the soil, it cannot be in the hay.” What Burton is referring to is when the hay grows out of the ground, it takes a large percentage of the nutrients in the ground with it. “There is nothing that won’t eat it and waste it,” Burton said. “It is high in energy. The only thing that could really beat what we have is a good grade of alfalfa.” Previously, Burton and Freedom Farms used to make fencing and barns for other people. Instead, he will now shift into the hay business full-time with his recent stretch of success in competitions. “We still have some work to do,” Burton stated. “We have about 30 more acres to do, which is about four or five cuttings.” The quality of the hay decreases as more cutting is done. However, the first few cuttings result in really good hay, which Freedom Farms is known for. “After we finish those cuttings, we will stop for a bit to do deliveries,” Burton said. “I’ll also work on some big projects involving fencing and what not.”
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Fall 26’ | 10
Loudon County leadership gather to celebrate Freedom Farms and Alan Burton’s wins in the hay contest from the Tennessee State Fair in Lebanon. Pictured Above
The deliveries Burton makes with his hay go to many people throughout East Tennessee. The hay is used to feed lots of animals from thoroughbred horses in Dayton and goats in Maryville. “He [Burton] does this for a living,” University of Tennessee Loudon County Extension CoDirector John Goddard said. “When other people do hay, it usually is a “side thing.” They often have other ways of making a living like a dairy farm or a beef farm.”
After Burton and his hay won big at the Tennessee State Fair in Lebanon, they decided to turn the competition up a notch. Freedom Farms submitted a hay sample entry to the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. Burton’s hay will compete against some of the best producers in the world in the World Forage Super Bowl. Freedom Farms was notified by an e-mail that they were a top five entry in the competition in their first year competing on the world stage.
Freedom Farms’ hay contest awards from the 2026 Tennessee State Fair. Four out of six entries from Freedom Farms finished in first place. The other two entries received top five finishes. Pictured Above
For more information about Freedom Farms, you can visit freedomfarmhay.com. 11 | Fall 26’
Nutter Butter Ghosts Ingredients
- Nutter Butter Cookies - White Chocolate - Chocolate Chips or Candy Eyes
Instructions
- Melt the White Chocolate, Mix every 30-60 seconds until chcolate is smooth. - Dip the Nutter Butter Cookie to your liking. - Add Chocolate Chips or Candy Eyes after dipping the cookie. - Let the Cookies dry on wax paper - Enjoy!
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Fall 26’ | 12
LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER Like father, like .. well .. in this case, daughter. After nearly half a century as a dentist in Loudon County, TN, Dr. Joe Simpson has retired, but he didn’t have to look very hard to find his replacement. His daughter, Natalie, was ready to take over the reins. Still, it is a decision that has been years in the making. “I did not want to become a dentist. I think he’s genuinely shocked because for most of my childhood, I was like ‘no, I’m going to be a childfamily lawyer’,” Dr. Natalie Roth (formerly Simpson) said. “I’m adopted and so is my brother so that is what I wanted to go into, but I was good at science and math so that’s when it kind of became a thing.” Then, Dr. Roth said it all changed one summer at her father’s office. “I worked the front desk first and I was helping with charts and things like that,” she said. “And, then his assistant, Sherry, who is now my dental assistant, taught me how to clean a room, taught me how to assist a little bit, as much as I could, and after that, I was like ‘dang it, I love this’.” Dr. Simpson started treating patients 47 years ago. 22 years later, he brought in a partner, Dr. Scott Adkisson, who is still with the practice. Like his daughter, Dr. Simpson also had other ideas for a career before realizing his passion for dentistry. He received a bachelor’s degree in forestry and a master’s degree in agricultural biology, but he still didn’t find the work satisfying.
Dr. Joe Simpson and Dr. Natalie Roth Pictured Above
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“I didn’t like doing research so I started looking for a different avenue,” Dr. Simpson said. “In graduate school, I had taken a lot of the prerequisite courses for dentistry so I used that degree to take those courses and then I applied for dental school and got in” Dr. Simpson said what he liked most about being a dentist is the people. “I’m somewhat of an introvert but being in a dental office, you can’t be I guess,” he said. “It’s just rewarding to start the process and then see it through to the end.” Dr. Roth agreed her father loves his patients. She, her husband Josh and their two children moved home to Tennessee after 12 years. They are staying with her father until their house is ready. Dr. Roth said everyday, Dr. Simpson goes over the schedule to talk to her about each patient. “We just sit down and he says ‘she was my physical therapist’ and gives me stories about each patient because he’s known them forever so that’s been an awesome part,” Dr. Roth said. Dr. Simpson said he is still keeping busy in his retirement. “The grandkids. They’ve been fun,” he said.
Dr. Natalie Roth Pictured Above
“I have a cabin in middle Tennessee and own a farm in Cumberland County where my mother grew up.” Dr. Roth and her family are happy to be back in Tennessee. “It’s like a homecoming,” Dr. Roth’s husband, Josh, said. “We’ve always wanted to come home and the stars aligned. It’s kind of surreal” And, Dr. Roth is glad to be taking over for her father at what is now Adkisson & Roth Cosmetic and Family Dentistry at 603 US-321 in Lenoir City. “It’s pretty awesome to go to work where everybody is like a family to me and I’m getting to meet these patients who’ve heard about me and heard about my kids,” she said. “It’s super welcoming and I like that.” “I love my job. Even if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would still go into work, because I truly love working with people,” Dr. Roth said. “I love making them love their smiles again.”
Fall 26’ | 14
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Dr. Christopher Lee, Lenoir City dentist, is committed to providing you with excellent dentistry in a comfortable environment. You deserve a skilled, experienced dental team that can help you ensure great oral health. Experience what patient-centered care can do for you. We welcome new patients of all ages. 15 | Fall 26’