Governor Bill Lee stopped in Carroll County on Wednesday, September 3, as part of a statewide tour celebrating Tennessee’s role in the United States’ upcoming 250th birthday.
The governor and First Lady Maria Lee are traveling to every county in the state ahead of the July 4, 2026 milestone.
At Lake Halford (known locally as the 1,000 Acre Lake), a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency–managed lake, Lee praised the collaboration between state and local agencies in promoting tourism, recreation, and conservation.
“Today is about celebrating the partnerships that make Tennessee’s natural beauty available to everyone,” Lee said. “Tourism, conservation, and outdoor recreation are vital to our communities, and places like [the 1,000 Acre Lake] show how we can work together to improve access and experiences.”
Lee posed for group photos with local officials and residents, then joined TWRA staff on the water.
He helped install several new fish attractors and later boarded TWRA’s electrofishing boat, which stuns fish temporarily so biologists can collect population data without harming them.
Since taking over management of the 1,000 Acre Lake in 2022, TWRA has invested more than $1 million through the Bill Dance Signature Lakes program.
Improvements include a new fishing pier, courtesy dock, and paved parking lot, along with stocking one million forage fish and placing hundreds of fish attractors to improve angling.
Earlier in the day, Lee visited Benton County and the city of Martin, where he spoke to civic and nonprofit organizations about their contributions to Tennessee’s heritage and future.
