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Tennessee waterfalls truly put on a spectacular show year-round, but several times of year Middle Tennessee sees large rainfalls in short periods of time. That's when Tennessee waterfalls really start showing off. Thundering down with massive amounts of water, it's an incredible sight to see. Knowing we had a very limited amount of time before they settled down, we jumped in the car and spent the day chasing raging waterfalls here in Tennessee. Here's how we spent our day:

1. Burgess Falls State Park (Sparta, TN) is home to 4 beautiful waterfalls! The largest of them, Burgess Falls (136 feet) really puts on a spectacular show when Falling Water River swells and spills freely over the top of the overflow dam within the park. Among this short 1.3 mile loop trail at the park, you'll find Falling Water Cascade, Little Falls, Middle Falls and Burgess Falls. After the large amount of rain we received last night all of the waterfalls were putting on a grand show that was a feast for the eyes!

5. Lost Creek Falls (Sparta, TN) - This beloved waterfall is typically very calm, a welcome place for out-of-town visitors to get a taste of Tennessee's beauty without a long hike. It is well known as a place to relax on the rocks to the soothing sounds of nature. However, the heavy rain brought so much water to the area that even this calm waterfall became full of thundering power. Spilling its massive release of water down the walking path and into the nearby cave only to disappear into the darkness. A sight that is rarely seen throughout the year.

# waterfall# hiking# outdoors# travel# weather

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SPARTA, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Sparta woman has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison for concealing material support intended for a foreign terrorist organization.

37-year-old Georgianna A.M. Giampietro was indicted in August 2019 on charges of attempting to provide these materials to Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham. Information provided in January 2022 charged her with the concealment of the support and resources.

According to court documents, Giampietro had conversations in September 2018 with an undercover agent who expressed interest in traveling to Syria to join the designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.

The agent told Giampietro that her husband swore an oath of allegiance to HTS and that he intended to fight on behalf of HTS.

U.S. Attorney's Office, Giampietro initially provided instruction and advice to the individual on how to travel to Syria and avoid detection by law enforcement.

This advice included actions that she and her husband should take before the trip such as severing ties in advance, acquiring new phones, etc.

Giampietro also offered to communicate with her own contacts on their behalf to help them in safely traveling to Syria.

Court documents detail that Giampietro asked the undercover agent if she considered traveling to Afghanistan after being told by her contact that there was presently no jihad in Syria.

Not only did she provide the agent with information that would assist her and her husband, while providing contact information, Giampietro was aware that HTS was a designated terrorist organization and believed the individuals were going to work under the direction of the organization.

She also intended that the agent and her husband would provide funds to the contact which would make its way to HTS. This was providing material support to HTS disguised as a charitable contribution.

Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

SPARTA, Tenn. (WZTV) — A church in White County, Tennessee is on its heels after a letter to one of its parishioners went viral online.

In late February, a parishioner posted a letter that she had received from three church elders. It lamented that she had not attended church in a couple weeks and was living with a man she had not married.

West Sparta Church of Christ sent the letter saying that if their member did not repent immediately, she would be ostracized from the church.

Since then, making contact with the church leaders has proven difficult. Their Facebook page has come down, and their phone line listed on Google is disconnected.

Online, some have supported the church elders, others wrote, “rather judgmental toward others.”

All churches are not the same, and all denominations are certainly not uniform. Reverend and state representative Harold Love says it’s natural for people to question their faith during tough times.

“You naturally will have people say what is going on, where is God in this situation, how do we make it together,” Love said. “That’s why I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for the faith community to step up and do what the faith community can do which is unite people.”

Pew Research lists Tennessee has one of the most religious states with 51% saying they attend church services at least once per week. 70% pray daily.

“People are still searching,” Love explained. “People have always searched for answers to life’s questions. Faith has often times provided those answers. There are some times though that your faith can be shaken so much it can take some time to come back around.”

One woman’s example is Sparta is proof of what Love believes: a little patience can restore what is lost.

FOX 17 News could not find the recipient of the letter, so we are unsure if she has returned to West Sparta Church of Christ where services continue.

Get reports like this and all the news of the day in Middle Tennessee delivered to your inbox each morning with the FOX 17 News Daily Newsletter:

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SPARTA, Tenn. (WTVF) — White County Sheriff Steve Page says recent complaints about a spike in illegal over-the-counter sales of products vape pens, beer, and CBD gummies to minors have his team going undercover.

As a result, it led to a series of undercover stings in Sparta.

"How you doing, man? I came back. I brought some money this time," said a underage teen to a clerk.

Sheriff Page said it is all about the money.

He said the clerk is selling a vape pen to a minor who is working undercover with a camera and mic.

At no point is the teen asked for any identification.

"That's why there are so many vapes in middle schools and high schools," said Sheriff Page.

He said his deputies stay busy with opioid and meth busts. But recent complaints about illegal over-the-counter sales of vape pens, beer, and CBD gummies led him to bring back the undercover sting.

"How much are these?" asks the teen.

The video shows the clerk making the sale, and then making a pitch to the teen to return ...

"Come I take care of you — I give you something special. I promise you. Thank you, man."

Sheriff Page said he was surprised and very disappointed. Then he points to this sequence caught on camera where the teen tries to buy beer and tobacco. Initially, the clerk does the right thing.

"You have your ID with you?" the clerk asked.

Then as the clerk contemplates what to do next, a customer behind the teen actually offers to buy it all for him.

"No you don't have to do that, ma'am," said the teen.

But she does and the clerk goes along with it, and she allows a moment later even breaking a $10 bill for the teen so he can pay the customer back.

The teen walks out with the bag of beer and smokes.

Sheriff Page said he is disgusted.

"It's like nobody is watching, be we are fixing that," Page said. "This is a wake-up call to every sheriff in Tennessee in my opinion. Watch what's going on in your county."

The sheriff said the clerks received misdemeanor citations.

But that it should also serve as a warning to all. Repeat offenders risk losing their license to legally sell the products.

Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Helen Austin Hayes recently became the first person to complete BASF’s apprenticeship program at the company’s Sparta, Tennessee site.

Helen Austin Hayes recently became the first person to complete BASF’s apprenticeship program at the company’s Sparta, Tennessee site, wrapping up 18 months of on-the-job training and education. The program is part of BASF’s North American Apprenticeship Development Program, which aims to meet future talent needs for a skilled and diverse technician workforce while attracting more females and other under-represented groups to industry roles. Upon completion of the program, Hayes was offered and accepted a full-time production operator role at BASF’s Sparta site.

“The apprenticeship gave me great insight into manufacturing and provided me the opportunity to connect in-class learning with my job responsibilities,” said Hayes. “I appreciate BASF and Motlow State Community College for supporting me through this process and I’m excited about beginning my career at BASF.”

The Sparta site launched the apprenticeship program in August 2022 in partnership with Motlow State Community College. The program pays apprentices a full-time wage for time spent on the job and in the classroom. In addition to paying a competitive salary, BASF offers full medical, dental and vision benefits, paid vacation and covers the cost of tuition, books and fees associated with earning a certificate in Advanced Manufacturing. At the end of the program, apprentices have the skills and credentials for an opportunity to be placed in positions with annual merit increases and bonuses.

“I’m proud of Helen for not only being the first apprentice at the Sparta site, but for seeing it through and completing the program,” said Andy Schmitt, Site Director at BASF’s Sparta site. “She has set the tone for all other apprentices who join the program and will be a great resource to everyone who follows in her path.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeship programs bring about many benefits, including enhanced employee retention, a safer workplace, a stable and reliable pipeline of qualified workers and a systematic approach to training, which ensures that employees are prepared and certified to produce at the highest skill levels required.