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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

South Pittsburg New Year’s Eve party organizers complain about city interference

Resident Katherine Vinson speaking to the South Pittsburg City Commission about her frustration with city actions on New Year's Eve, which she said disrupted a planned party. Photo by Ryan Lewis/Times Free Press
Resident Katherine Vinson speaking to the South Pittsburg City Commission about her frustration with city actions on New Year's Eve, which she said disrupted a planned party. Photo by Ryan Lewis/Times Free Press Resident Katherine Vinson speaking to the South Pittsburg City Commission about her frustration with city actions on New Year's Eve, which she said disrupted a planned party. Photo by Ryan Lewis/Times Free Press

SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. – A contingent of New Year’s Eve party attendees, led by co-organizer Katherine Vinson, arrived at the South Pittsburg City Commission’s January meeting in a foul mood.

For the last five years, some residents have organized a New Year’s Eve party in South Pittsburg by renting the city’s old National Guard Armory building.

Vinson said in that five-year history, attendees “never had any problem.”

photo Resident Katherine Vinson speaking to the South Pittsburg City Commission about her frustration with city actions on New Year’s Eve, which she said disrupted a planned party. Photo by Ryan Lewis/Times Free Press

At this year’s party, however, she said “the police were all over us.”

“All we have heard is rumors – bad rumors,” Vinson told the board. “Rumors that you [city leaders] wanted to shut us down.”