State Representative Dan Howell

09/01/2026

Congratulations to Mercier Orchards on becoming the newest member of the Polk County Chamber of Commerce !
Polk Chamber members and Executive Director Lynne McClary held a welcoming ceremony today which included a “ behind the scenes tour. “
Mercier is the largest apple orchard in Georgia and a Southeast US destination for Agri-tourism! Their Fried Apple pies are their top seller and are sold retail and wholesale up and down the east coast. They produce an average of 8,000 fried pies a day!😀
During peak apple season Mercier has welcomed as many as 6,000 people a day… who want to pick their own. This is in addition to thousands of others who come to shop.
Apples have been grown in this orchard for more than 100 years.. and is now in its 3rd generation.
We were privileged to have Mr. Tim Mercier as our tour guide on the wagon ride.
They grow 39 varieties and the CEO Rob gave me the biggest Mutsu apple I’ve ever seen. 👍😊the original apple house is still standing, plus they grow blueberries, strawberries and blackberries… and you can pick your own!😊
Mercier Orchards

08/31/2026

A great crowd from the community came to witness the swearing in of most of Polk County’s newly elected officials and public servants.
Thanks to all who are willing to serve👏👏👏
Thanks to Circuit Court Judge Mike Sharp and Polk County sessions Judge Brooklyn Townsend for officiating.

08/28/2026

E-LAB PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN VW & BRADLEY COUNTY SCHOOLS!
Such an exciting morning as students, teachers, BCS staff, PEF & Volkswagen officials gathered to cut the ribbon on THREE new VW eLabs… the first to open in Bradley County and the only ones outside Hamilton County!
Following a rigorous selection process, the three eLabs are located at Bradley Central High, Charleston STEAM Academy and Ocoee Middle School.
The partnership is a recognition of the excellent quality of the Bradley County School System, which is ranked number ONE academically in the Chattanooga South East region of Tennessee.
The new eLabs will allow students to dream, explore, imagine, and think critically as they learn to solve problems and innovate.
The three BCS eLabs join a network of 61 schools in Hamilton County collectively, and, according to the MIT Fab Foundation, comprise the largest Fab Lab Network in the world!!
Students now have access to the tools, technology and experience that will open doors to high-demand careers.
Congratulations to Superintendent Dr Linda Cash, BCHS, Charleston STEAM Academy and Ocoee Middle school. Well done 👍👍
County Schools
/Bradley Chamber of Commerce
Central High School
Middle School PTO
Elementary School

08/27/2026

I had the privilege of swearing in two of Meigs County’s new commissioners Thursday morning! Thanks to Carter Lankford, Billy England and all who are willing to step up and offer themselves as public servants.

08/26/2026

Go Mustangs👏👏👏

Walker Valley High School is proud to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best High School for the 9th consecutive year!

For nearly a decade, this honor has reflected more than rankings. This honor represents a steadfast commitment to excellence, innovation, and the success of every student who walks through our doors. From the classroom to the athletic field, from career and technical education to the arts, our mission remains the same: to provide opportunities, support, and experiences that help every child discover their potential and achieve their goals.

This recognition belongs to our incredible students, dedicated teachers and staff, supportive families, and community partners who believe in the work we do each day. Together, we have built a culture where excellence is expected, growth is celebrated, and student success is at the center of every decision.

Nine years of recognition. Nearly a decade of excellence. The award recognizes our past, but our focus remains on the future and ensuring every student who enters Walker Valley leaves prepared to succeed, lead, and make a difference. 🐴💛💙

08/26/2026

Great family fun at the Meigs County fair! I had the honor of cutting the ribbon to officially open the fair Tuesday evening, with a little help from a young assistant.😊
The opening highlight was catching the greased pig contest for the kids. They all did great. But we were very impressed with the young lady who caught and wrestled a good sized pig into the circle for a minimum 10 seconds.
The winner could choose either $50 or keeping the pig.
She chose to keep the pig. It’ll be worth much more than $50 when fully grown.😊 (college fund maybe?) Smart girl.
The cheeseburger at the 4-H concession was great!
The fair runs through Saturday night. Check it out. 👍👍

08/25/2026

70 percent of new jobs are created by small businesses.
The National Federal of Independent Businesses PAC, (NFIB) and its 7,000 members in Tennessee are glad to announce our endorsement of State Representative Dan Howell.
Small business owners and their employees vote in high numbers and are known for actively recruiting friends, family members, and acquaintances to go to the polls. NFIB Tennessee PAC's political support is based on the candidates' positions and records on small business issues.

08/24/2026

Awesome!!

08/17/2026

What an honor to join with my Legislative colleagues, Rep Kevin R***r and Senators Adam Lowe and Tom Hatcher, to recognize the exemplary public service of three of Bradley County’s elected officials. County Clerk Donna Simpson, County Trustee Mike Smith and county Register of deeds Diana Swafford are all retiring after a combined 115 Years of service to Cleveland & Bradley County. Thank you for your service.👏👏👏
Senator Tom Hatcher District 2
Senator J. Adam Lowe, Tennessee District 1
Representative Kevin R***r

08/14/2026

A great meeting this morning at the Polk County. Chamber of Commerce! Special thanks to Director Lynn McClary for facilitating the South East Tennessee Economic And Community Development meeting.
Attendees included staff from TNECD, the Polk Co school system and area business leaders. The focus was on opportunities to grow
the local economy, create jobs and expand the tax base by bringing new business here.