PINEVIEW, TN (WOPC) - A massive falling sheet of ice crushed the front of a young volunteer firefighter's truck late Tuesday, as he was away fighting a house fire. It happened at the Pineview Volunteer Fire Department. Firefighter Caden Pinkerton, 17, was away responding to a fully-involved structure fire, when melting ice from the fire department's roof crashed down onto his vehicle. 

Pinkerton's family says the vehicle is likely totaled, with engine, hood, front-end and windshield damage. "Caden Pinkerton responded to a house fire call and while we was gone the ice slid off the roof at the firehall and crushed the front of his car! Fun times! Looks like we will be on the hunt for another car soon." Caden's family wrote on social media. 

Pinkerton was fighting the fire along with his parents and other dedicated volunteers, braving brutal cold and extremely dangerous driving conditions. No injuries were reported from the house fire, and their actions prevented the fire from spreading. Pinkerton says he is not sure how he will replace the vehicle at this time, to meet his immediate needs. 

All photos from the scene provided by the Pinkerton Family for use by WOPC. 

LINDEN, TN - The Mayor of Perry County has formally requested activation of the Tennessee National Guard to respond to the community following this weekend's devastating winter storm. In a very direct communication to the state, Mayor Carroll urges immediate action to help save lives. 

The move comes as Mayor Carroll, along with Sheriff Nick Weems and other county leaders, have been working around the clock to manage the unfolding crisis. "We are not stopping with just this request" Mayor Carroll told WOPC. "We have been working nonstop to activate additional resources from the state and some nearby communities" Carroll adds. "We are accepting offers to help, and coordinating those efforts as a team" the Mayor told WOPC Wednesday. 

WOPC obtained a copy of the letter: 

Immediate Emergency Request – Activation of National Guard Armory and Personnel for Perry County Relief Operations

To: Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA)

From: Office of the Mayor, Perry County, Tennessee

Date: 01/27/2026

Dear Director and TEMA Leadership,
 

On behalf of Perry County, I am issuing an urgent emergency request for the immediate activation and use of the Perry County National Guard Armory and deployment of National Guard personnel to support emergency relief operations following the catastrophic winter ice storm impacting our county.

Perry County has suffered total and widespread devastation. Thousands of residents remain without power and heat, with infrastructure damage, impassable roads, and utility failures severely limiting emergency access. A significant portion of our population is elderly, medically vulnerable, and isolated, creating an immediate life-safety crisis.

Local resources are fully overwhelmed. At this time, Perry County does not have the capacity to provide:

• Adequate warming shelters

• Food and water distribution

• Emergency transport and rescue operations

•Wellness checks on isolated residents

•Power Generation and Power Generation Equipment 

• Logistical operations at scale

We formally request:

1. Authorization and activation of the Perry County National Guard Armory as a centralized warming, feeding, shelter, and emergency operations center

2. Deployment of National Guard Soldiers to assist with:

• Welfare checks and rescue operations

• Transportation of vulnerable residents

• Food and supply distribution

• Medical access support

• Infrastructure clearing and access routes

• Power Generation Mechanics and Power Generation Equipment 

3. State logistical and operational support through TEMA coordination

This is an active humanitarian emergency with immediate risk to life. The prolonged loss of heat and power in freezing conditions presents an extreme danger, particularly for elderly residents and those with medical dependencies.

We need all available assistance to protect our citizens and stabilize this situation. Time is critical, and rapid mobilization is essential to prevent further harm.

Thank you for your immediate action and partnership in this emergency response.

Respectfully,

John Carroll

Mayor of Perry County Tennessee 

Here are the latest weather-related closings for the winter storm event from January 23-27, 2026. Have a closing to tell us about? CLICK HERE and submit the information. 

CLOSINGS: 

 -Linden Church of God, Closed Sunday. 
- First Christian Church, Linden - Closed Sunday

-First Baptist Lobelville - Sunday Service Canceled 

-New Life Church - Sunday Worship Canceled 

-Cedar Grove community church - No worship Sunday 

- Tom's Creek Baptist Church - Closed Sunday 
 

-The Perry County Transfer Station, Convenience Centers, and Landfill will be closed Saturday 1/24/26. 

The  Perry County Commission Meeting and all Committee Meetings that were to take place Monday evening, 1/27/26, will be rescheduled to a later date.

- Walk-in Medical Clinic of Linden CLOSED Saturday

WARMING SHELTERS:

- Perry County E911 Building, Venture Drive in Linden 

-Lobelville Public Works Building (Main Street, Lobelville down from City Hall)

-WOPC Studios (Pineview. Hwy 438 W)

-More expected soon, check back to this list

Community Information:

-Perry County Vikings Basketball Game has been moved to 4pm Friday. 

News Release submitted by the Perry County Sheriff's Office

The Perry County Sheriffs Office is proud to announce that it has launched its Sheriffs App. 

Sheriff Nick Weems said that he began this process back in June of last year, and now it is ready to use.  Where as before, the Sheriffs office relied on a website and a facebook page to put out information, they will now be solely relying on the app.

The Sheriffs App can be downloaded on Iphone or android.
 

“I encourage everyone in Perry County to take advantage of this free service” the sheriff said.

With this app, users will be able to:
 

-Submit  tips to the Perry County Sheriffs Office. 

-Receive push notifications such as alerts, news and happenings in your area. In order to receive these alerts, you will need to go to the page settings (gear icon) in upper right corner and select “verify push notifications “.

-View inmate rosters and can be notified when inmates are released if they select  the “notify of status change”. 

-See where sex offenders are residing in Perry County. 
 

-Fill out your own report if you hit a deer. 

These are just a few of the things the app has to offer. 

In order to get access to this app, you can scan the QR code provided and download the Sheriffs Connect App. Then you must search for Perry County Sheriffs Office. Then select. That’s all you have to do. From there you will be able to navigate through the app and see what all it has to offer. 

“This will be a great tool for our community and I encourage everyone in Perry County to take advantage of this free service” the Sheriff said. 

LINDEN, TN - Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems announced his bid for re-election Wednesday, in a statement released to WOPC. The statement comes ahead of a spring primary with the general election in late fall. Here is the complete statement: 

"When you read the words "Re-Elect" a lot of things may come to mind. I ask people to look at the - in those words. That is where all the important details are hidden. For every candidate, between the campaign trail and the next election, is the dash. 

I have been your Sheriff for over 10 years and have served Perry County for 23 years in Law Enforcement. 

I have worked hard during my tenure  to follow my campaign promises and I strive to deliver a better department every day. 

Since taking office I have filled my "dash" with budget accountability, higher salaries for the men and women who serve your community, new patrol units, a wood shop program for inmate recidivism, GED programs, numerous grants  and and the list goes on. This Sheriff's Office SERVES and PROTECTS this community.
 

With our litter program reaching its 10 year anniversary, countless tons of litter has been removed from our roadsides. Our inmate mowing program currently services 90 cemeteries in Perry County. Our firewood program is heating the homes of over 50 families in need. I have expanded the protections of the school from just one SRO, to having a deputy at every school in our county. I have put Nightlock devices and trauma kits in every classroom in Perry county. My SROs provide security for every in-county game and we are proud to provide that security for every family and student that attends. We also provide all the security for our Judges, clerks and courthouse employees. These are just some of the things I am proud of in my dash. This is what it looks like to have a Department that serves their community. 
 

Perry County is blessed to have great deputies. Our department has over 265 years of collective experience.  All of these deputies are hand selected by myself and Chief Rosson. It is my honor to serve them, as much as our citizens. A Sheriff holds the physical and financial safety of almost 50 employees and it isn’t something I take lightly.  You need experience to lead the experienced. 
 

Anyone who puts on the badge knows the weight. Law enforcement all across this state have been libeled, slandered, and sued. In 2016-2022 TN departments had over 7,000 lawsuits.  As the political climate polarizes and the landscape changes, it’s important to stay true to what law enforcement is all about, and that is serving and protecting the people who reside in Perry County. I plan to continue to support my deputies and serve my constituents, even when it gets hard.  
 

The dash is the never ending phone calls, problem-solving and decision-making. It’s about taking time away from family and doing the work that never gets seen. It's the delivery of bad news and making the hardest decisions you will ever be faced with.  It is the grit and courage to look people and their families in the eye, even after you've had to discipline or terminate an employee and sometimes it’s having to arrest your own family. It's never an easy task, but the work must go on. It's balancing budgets, search and rescue, herding livestock one day and going to the Capitol the next. It's all about delegating and negotiating to do what is right for Perry County. 
 

My "dash" is filled with accomplishments I will forever be proud of. My dash is filled with protecting our school children, grants to save this county money, higher salaries and a stronger and more efficient budget. My dash is filled with more police protection, a new radio communications system and new patrol cars. It is  filled with record drug busts and a state of the art firing range.  My dash if filled with a network of Sheriffs and Chiefs across the state that I call friends. My dash has a loyal, strong team behind me. Trust me when I say, there is more to come.   
 

This election cycle may bring an opponent, but I welcome that. Competition is always good, because it helps keep you humble and it helps keep you focused. Some people run because they truly think they can do a better job than those holding the position. That is a great thing for our community. I love seeing people strive for ways to serve their citizens.  Some people run because they overlook the "dash" and just focus on the title. 
 

I humbly ask the citizens of Perry County for their vote of confidence in me once again. As long as I am your Sheriff I will continue to strive for a better, safer community.  I will continue to fight for the protection of our schools and I promise to continue to always do the best I can.  Thank you for supporting me and helping me add so much to my dash. It’s an honor." (End statement) 

As hinted in the statement, Weems faces a challenger, Lauren Smoyer, a former deputy of the department. Smoyer recently made her announcement on social media.