BEST OF THE BEST 2025 BALLOT CONTEST
WINNERS presented by:
BEST PEOPLE v Accountant: Allison Manes at Smith Manes Tax Services v Aesthetician: Kylie Ball at Glow Salon v Attorney: Lucy Dunn Hooper at Lucy Dunn Hooper, Attorney at Law v Backhoe Operator: Shane Hemminger at Shane’s Excavating v Bank Executive: Paige Rhodes at US Bank v Bank Officer: Rosalind Reed at Tennessee State Bank v Bank Teller: Darlene Walton at Commercial Bank v Barber: Kelvin Roane at Chopped and Faded v Boss: Alyssa Coggins at The Cruz Thru v Business Man: Ini Budi at Milano’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant v Business Woman: Alyssa Coggins at The Cruz Thru v Cabinet Maker: Doloris Dalton at Spicewood Cabinets v Car Salesperson: Jonah Suggs at Cars, Trucks, & SUVs LLC v Chiropractor: Tennessee Spine v City Employee: Rick Gregg at Newport Street Department v City Law Enforcement Officer: Justin Shelton at Newport Police Department v City Politician: Louanna Ottinger at City of Newport v Commmercial Real Estate Agent: Don Fabrikant at Country Living Realty v Community-Involved Person: Macie Reed - Property Assessor v Computer Tech: Brandon Thai at Jefferson Cocke County Utility District v Consultant: Kristi Dance-Kinkead at Sylvia Grace Events & Consulting/ Kinkead Performance & Events, LLC v County Employee: Macie Reed at Cocke County Courthouse v County Law Enforcement Officer: Danny Ray Reece, SRO at Cocke County Sheriff’s Office v County Politician: Sheriff C.J. Ball at Cocke County Sheriff’s Office v Dental Assistant: Alexus Watts at Westmorland Dentistry v Dental Hygienist: Donna Lamb at Kickliter Dental v Dentist: Dr. Matthew Kickliter at Kickliter Dental v Electrician: Kip Smith at NUB v Farrier: Chase Lewis - Self Employed v Firefighter City: Matthew Woody at Newport Fire Department v Firefighter County: Jake Henry at Parrottsville Fire Department v General Physician: Dr. Samuel Puckett at Newport Pediatrics v Hairstylist: Haley Torres at My Sister’s Bliss Salon & Massage v Handyman: Tim Cody - Self Employed v Healthcare Worker: Lindsay Henderson at Healthstar v Heating/Air Service Person: Johnny Williams at Accurate Heating & Air v Heavy Equipment Operator: Rufus Ford at Newport Sand & Gravel v Insurance Agent: Eric Varner at Eric Varner State Farm Insurance v Jeweler: Nikki Coggins at Home Office v Landscaper: Bryan Spencer at Spencer Lawn Care v Loan Officer: Beth Blazer at Newport Federal Bank v Massage Therapist: Jenny Zmich at Journey to Wellness v Mechanic: Tommy Strange at Strange’s Eastport v Nail Tech: Faith Ellison at Glow Salon v Nurse: Sue Hartsell at Newport Medical Center v Nurse Practitioner: Jennifer Eisenhower at Healthstar v Office Manager: Vanessa Dennis at Newport Medical Center v Optometrist: Dr. Emily Eisenhower at Vision Source v Pastor/Preacher: Rick Clevenger at Crossroads Community Church v Personal Trainer: Sarah Hall at East TN Muscle Gym v Pharmacist: Justin Kickliter at Broadway & Main Pharmacy v Pharmacy Tech: Robin Smith at Suggs Drugs v Physical Therapist: Megan Dance Stinson at Strength & Vitality Physical Therapy Clinic v Plumber: Mike Kyker at Kyker Plumbing v Principal: Travis Hall at Parrottsville Elementary School v Real Estate Agent: Karen Massey at Massey Realty
v Secretary: Rosa Sutton at Newport Grammar School v State Politician: Jeremy Faison Tennessee State Representative v Store Cashier: Vayda Coggins at The Cruz Thru v Store Manager: Alyssa Coggins at The Cruz Thru v Teacher: Sara Morrow at Newport Grammar School v Waitress/Waiter: Ariela Holt at Wonderfully Made Coffee and More v x-Ray Tech: Mara Coakley at Newport Medical Center
BEST BUSINESS v Antiques/Collectibles: Roscoe’s Treasures v Appliances: Jefferson Cocke County Utility District v Asphalt/Paving: Newport Paving v Auction Company: Goddard Real Estate & Auction v Auto Body Repair: Strange's Custom Auto v Auto Parts Store: Giles Auto Parts v Auto Repair: Strange’s Custom Auto v Bank: Newport Federal Bank v Barber Shop: Elite Barber Studio v Beauty Salon: Glow Salon v Bookkeeping/Tax Service: LA Tax Services v Bookstore: Our Place v Bridal Formalwear: Trinkets & Treasures v Building Supplies: Wilton Springs Hardware v Car Dealership: Stinnett Automotive v Car Dealership Service Department: Stinnett Automotive v Coffee Shop: Snowbird Mountain Coffee Co. v Concrete: Hommel Concrete v Construction Company: Hommel Construction Co. v Convenience Store: The Cruz thru v Credit Union: ORNL Credit Union v Customer Service Department: Jefferson Cocke County Utility District v Daycare: Tiny Tots Learning Center v Drugstore: Broadway & Main Pharmacy v Electrical Supply: Wilton Springs Hardware v Emergency Medical Services (EMS): Priority Ambulance First Call v Excavating Service: Hatcreek Hauling & Excavation LLC v Eyewear: Vision Source of Newport v Farm/Agriculture: Shannon’s Gardens v Finance Company: Newport Federal Bank v Flooring Sales & Installation: Tread On Me Flooring v Florist: Flowers by Wilma v Formalwear: Trinkets & Treasures v Funeral Home/Mortuary: Manes Funeral Home v Furniture: Warehouse Furniture Liquidators v Gas Station: AMOCO in Hartford v Gifts: Uptown Merch v Glass Company: S&A Glass v Gravel/Rock: Shannon's Gardens v Grocery Store: Food City v Guttering: Daniel Hood Roofing Systems v Hardware: Wilton Springs Hardware v Hearing Aids: Professional Hearing Aid Center v Heating/Air Conditioning: Accurate Heating & Cooling v Home Decorating: Petals Florist v Home Health Care: Smoky Mountain Home Health v Home Health Care Products: Jabo’s Pharmacy v Home Mortgage: Newport Federal Bank v Hospice: Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice v Hospital: Newport Medical Center v Hunting Supply Store: Joe’s Sporting Goods v Insurance Agency: Eric Varner State Farm Insurance Agent v Jewelry Store: Jewelry Connection v Landscaping Center: J.S. Lawn & Cleaning Service v Lawn Mower Dealership: Smoky Mountain Mowers v Maternity Care: Rural Medical Services v Mattress Store: Warehouse Furniture Liquidators v Meat Department: Food City v Monument Company: Cocke County Monument Co. v Motel/Hotel: Best Western v Mowing Service: Tucker Hembree Landscaping v Nail Salon: David & Jolly v New Business Opened 2024/2025: Simpl Cafe v Office Supplies: Newport Printing v Oil Changes: Newport Quick Lube v Paint Supplies: Wilton Springs Hardware v Pawn Shop: Peddler’s Pawn v Pet Supplies: Animal Crackers Feed & Grain v Pharmacy: Broadway & Main Pharmacy v Photography Studio: Wendy Crowder Photography
v Plumbing: Kyker Plumbing v Pool Company: Smoky Mountain Pools & Spas v Pressure-Washing: Aaron’s Pressure Washing v Printing Company: Newport Printing v Produce Store: Shannon’s Gardens v Radio Station: WLIK v Rafting Company: Smoky Mountain Outdoor & Rafting v Real Estate Agency: Country Living Realty v Rehab Facility: Forks of the River Clinic v Rental Items: Wilton Springs Hardware v Restaurant: Big Boys Country Kitchen v Retail Store: The Pink Willow v Roofing Contractor: Rob Baker Roofing v Savings Accounts: Commercial Bank v Security Systems: ASAP Security v Septic Tank Service: Tom Messer Septic Tank Service v Signs & Graphic Service: Rocky Top Graphix v Sporting Goods: Joe’s Sporting Goods v Tanning Salon: Tan Easy Salon v Tire Store: Strange’s Eastport v Tools & Supplies: Wilton Springs Hardware v Tree Trimming Service: Tim Cody’s Tree Service v Truck Dealership: Stinnett Automotive v Truck Equipment: Stinnett Automotive v TV-Satellite: Denton’s v Used Cars/Trucks: Hometown Auto Sales v Vapor Shop: H&H Vapors v Weight Loss Center: It’s All About You Weight Loss Clinic v Wireless Company: Verizon v Women’s Clothing: The Pink Willow
BEST FOOD v Bakery: Sweet Southern Charm Bakery v Barbecue: The Woodshed Restaurant v Breakfast: Big Boys Country Kitchen v Buffet: Big Boys Country Kitchen v Burgers: Debbie’s Drive In v Carry-Out: Debbie’s Drive In v Catering: Mountain Heart Catering by Becky v Chicken: Big Boys Country Kitchen v Cleanest Restaurant: Big Boys Country Kitchen v Deli: Brock’s v Desserts: Sweet Southern Charm Bakery v Fast Food: Debbie’s Drive In v Fish & Seafood: Big Boys Country Kitchen v Fresh Meat for Grilling: Food City East v Friendliest Restaurant: Milano’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant v Home Cookin’: Janice’s Diner v Hot Dogs: Bridgeport Market v Hot Wings: Grease Rack v Ice Cream: Debbie’s Drive In v Lunch: Simpl Cafe v Mexican Food: Monterrey Mexican Restaurant v Pizza: Del PizzaRio v Plate Lunches: Janice’s Diner v Ribs: The Woodshed Restaurant v Roast Beef Sandwich: Arby’s v Salad Bar: Ruby Tuesday v Sandwiches: Brock’s v Seafood: Big Boys Country Kitchen v Shakes/Malts: Debbie’s Drive In v Steaks: The Woodshed Restaurant v Value-for-the-Money Meal: Monterrey Mexican Restaurant
BEST IN THE AREA v Bargain Store: Newport Bargain Barn v Bluegrass Band: Mountain Edge v Business Lunch Place: Fox & Hounds v Camping Place: Paint Creek Campground v Cemetery: Union Cemetery v Church: Sand Hill Church of God in Jesus Name v Civic Club/Organization: Isaiah House v Clothing Store: The Pink Willow v College: Carson-Newman University v Community Festival/Event: Rhythm on the River v Community-Involved Business: Milano’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant v Elderly Care Facility: Wellington Manor Newport v Fitness Center: Volunteer Fitness v Friendliest Business: The Cruz Thru v Hospital/Medical Facility: Newport Medical Center v Liquor Store: The Bottle Shop v Local Gospel Singing Group: The Smith Family v Mobile Home Park: Morgan Rentals v Night Spot: Fox & Hounds v Pet Boarding: 2 Dogs & A Lady v Place to Take Out-of-Town Guests: CJ Popadops v Technical College: Tennessee College of Applied Technology v Workplace (INDUSTRIAL): Phoenix Closures v Workplace (NOT INDUSTRIAL): Jefferson Cocke County Utility District v Wrecker/Towing Service: Evan’s Towing
THANK YOU to EVERYONE who PARTICIPATED & CONGRATULATIONS to ALL WINNERS! Join us again next year for The Newport Plain Talk’s 2026 BEST OF THE BEST contest!