2026 Knox County's Best - Runners-Up

For the first time in the history of the annual Knox County's Best contest,  we are publishing the list of runners-up, those who received the second-most amount of votes!

Thank you, Knox County, for showing up and voting! This year was the best response we've seen in several years. While each year does great, this year took two people two weeks to tally the votes from the ballots submitted.

We at The Mountain Advocate pride ourselves in taking this contest seriously, and counting the votes with accuracy and integrity.

We celebrate with our community this who have achieved the titles of "Knox County's Best"!

If you make a post to social media celebrating your placement, be sure to tag us @ The Mountain Advocate!

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RUNNERS-UP

RELIGION

Pastor Josh Smith

Church Turkey Creek Baptist Church

Choir East Barbourville Baptist Church

(Write-in)  Chris Hobbs

RECREATION

Community Festival  May Day Festival

Club/Organization  Knox Co.Autism Foundation

SCHOOL

Principal Eric Hubbard

Elem. School Teacher Hannah Grisell

Middle School Teacher Dayna Bingham

High School Teacher Lori McKeehan

College/Univ. Professor Lisa Abner

College/Univ. Staff Lynn Smith

Teacher’s Aide Mandy Pickard

Best High School Knox Central High School

Best Elementary School Lay Ele. School

Best Middle School Knox Co. Middle School

(Write-in) Bus Driver - Nora Faithing

SCHOOL SPORTS

Coach Micah Corey

Referee Jimmie Mills

School Sports Team  LCHS Boys Basketball

Athlete  Lindsey Thomas

Elementary Athlete Miles Moses

Middle School Athlete Peyton Townsley

High School Athlete Jathan Collins

College/Univ. Athlete  Kayla Curry

Cheer Squad  Knox Central High School

Dance Team  Knox Central High School

(Write-in) Amy Messer - Girdler Elem. Secretary

BANKING/FINANCE

Bank/Credit Union  Forcht Bank

Bank President/Manager Corey Chesnut

Loan Officer Joanie Bingham

Teller Josh Jordan

Finance Company World Finance

Mortgage Company Commercial Bank

Title Company Knox County ESEQ

(Write-in) Tim Davis - VP, PNC Bank

HEALTH CARE

Clinic / Practice Grace Health

Assisted Living Christian Care Community

Doctor Dr. Richard Carter

Nurse Practitioner Leslie Vaughn

Nurse / RN Amy Shelton

LPN Kathy Howard

Pediatrician Rachel Bargo

CNA Caylin Baker

Physical Therapist Jacob Scalf

Emergency Med. Tech.  

Pharmacy Hinkle Hometown Drug Store

Pharmacist Jimmy Hinkle

Pharmact Technician Tayah Gray

Dentist Bob Dunaway

Dental Assistant Riley Smith

Optometrist Dr. William Vickers

Fitness Center Elevation

Chiropractor

Massage Therapist April Storms

Behavorial Health  Cumberland River Behav.

(Write-in) Stuart Mac, PA-C

BEAUTY CARE

Hair Salon  Salon Perfection

Barber Shop  One Eyed Jacks

Stylist Krystal Mills

Barber Adam Lay

Nail Tech Danny Nyguen

Makeup Blair Grubb

Tanning Salon  That Glow

Tattoo / Piercing   The Ink Spot

Waxing Carrie Lefevers

Aesthetics/Skin Care  Alchemy Aesthetics

(Write-in) Braid - One Eyed Jacks

GOVERNMENT

City Council Member  Tyler Dunn

City Gov’t Employee  Thomas Gary

County Gov’t Employee  Suzanne Smith

Court Judge  Lucas Joyner

Attorney  Gilbert Holland

Magistrate  Keith Abner

Constable  Larry Eagle

WORKPLACE

Place to Work  KCEOC

Manager/Boss  Dr. Richard Carter

Secretary/Receptionist  Barb Smith

Customer Service  Walmart

Friendliest Staff  Access Health

FUNERAL / MEMORIALS

Funeral Home  Hampton-Hutton Funeral Home

Funeral Director  Joe Hopper

Funeral Home Emp.  Brian Broughton

Monument Co.  Reece Monument

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Building & Plumbing Supplies  Barbourville Nut & Bolt

Electrical Supplies  Davis Electrical

Heating & Air  Croley

Furniture  Farmer’s Home Furnishings

Agriculture Store  Farmer & Sons

Contractor/Carpenter  ProTec

Lawn Care  Antonio Cortez

Concrete/Brick Layer Pete Woolum

Flooring  Bill Burnette

Plants / Gardening Tractor Supply

(Write-in) Ky. Wash Pros

GROCERY

Grocery Store  IGA

Grocery Employee Shelby Lewis - IGA

Produce Stand  IGA

AUTOMOTIVE

Auto Parts Store Advance Auto Parts

New Car Dealership Legacy Ford

Used Car Dealership Epps Automotive

Car Salesperson David Barton

Mechanic Bingham’s Tire & Oil

Oil Changes Valvoline

Tires Bingham’s Tire & Oil

Body Shop Epps Automotive

Wrecker Service  Jay’s Wrecker Service

PROFESSIONALS

CPA / Accounting Bargo Mills

Insurance Agency State Farm Insurance

Insurance Agent Coty Walters

Real Estate Agency  Century 21

Realtor Alex Gains

Auctioneer Josh Trosper

Photographer Krystal Jones

Wedding Planner Peggy Retherford

Day Care Kids Being Kids

Event Venue Family Fun Center

Parcel/Mail Delivery Jason Grubb

(Write-in) The Swan House - Wedding Chapel

RETAIL / MISC.

Floral Shop  Off the Creek Florist

Tobacco Store  Tobacco Stop Outlet

Clothing  Katie’s Creation

Boutique  Katie’s Creation

Liquor / Spirits Liquor Mart

FOOD / BEVERAGES

Fast Food  Dairy Queen

Home Cooking  Dixon’s

Sandwiches  Subway

Mexican  2 Amigos Mexican Restaurant

Chinese / Japanese Wah Weng Garden

Best Overall Restaurant  McDonald’s

Restaurant Manager Teresa Mills

Breakfast  Billy’s One Stop

Coffee  The Ugly Mug

Lunch  Tommy’s Rootbeer Stand

Burgers & Fries  Tommy’s Rootbeer Stand

Hot Dogs  Hamburger Hut

Pizza  Black Street Pizza Co.

Ice Cream  Dairy Queen

Cakes   IGA

Catering  Southern Baked Dreams

Food Truck  Flying Pig BBQ

BBQ  Phatt Butts BBQ

Specialty Drink Crave

LAW ENFORCEMENT

State Police Trooper  Trp. Josh Jones

Sheriff’s Deputy  Dep. Sam Mullins

City Police Officer  Adam Townsley

Det. Center Employee  Rita Wood

(Write-in) Steve Owens