Taking a closer look at cuts to school system’s budget
By Eddie West Staff Writer During this summer’s budget hearings, county commission set a spending cap of $35 million for the school system’s proposed 2026-2027 fiscal year budget. In order for the school system to meet the county commission $35 million budget cap, the county’s school board had to make several expenditure reductions to its original…
Read MoreCOMPLETE PERFORMANCE
Gordonsville 43, Fayetteville 7 By Shea Haile Courier Sports GORDONSVILLE — For the third straight season, the Gordonsville High Tigers football team has started their regular season with three straight victories. Last Friday night, Big Blue moved to 3-0 in 2026 with a dominant 43-7 victory over the visiting Fayetteville Tigers at Turney Ford Field. Big…
Read MoreSECOND HALF LETDOWN
Livingston 23, Smith Co. 9 By Terry Collins Courier Sports CARTHAGE — The Smith County High School Owls football team traveled to Overton County to face Livingston last Friday night. The Owls were 1-1 after a thrilling three overtime matchup in Celina last week versus Clay County while the hosts were 2-0. Unfortunately, the game was…
Read MoreObit – William Douglas Kell
William Douglas Kell of Castalian Springs, Tennessee, passed away on Saturday, August 29, 2026. He was born on December 24, 1932, to William Beckwith and Ethel Marie Phillians Kell in Springfield, Ohio. Doug graduated from Enon High School in 1950, where he excelled in sports. He pursued farming in his early years alongside his brothers,…
Read MoreObit – Mrs. Cherry Slack Deering
Mrs. Cherry Slack Deering, age 73, of Carthage, TN, passed away on Tuesday, September 2, 2026. Mrs. Deering was born April 10, 1953 in Lebanon, TN, a daughter of the late Charles Hubert Slack and Ruby Nell Denney Slack. Mrs. Deering was also preceded in death by Sons; Stephen Porterfield and Hubert Carroll Porterfield and…
Read MoreLegal & Public Notices For The Week Of 09/10/26
SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE Sale at public auction will be on October 22, 2026 at 11:00AM local time, at the front door, Smith County Courthouse, 211 North Main Street, Carthage, Tennessee pursuant to Deed of Trust executed by Heather Nichols, to National Registered Agents, Inc., Trustee, as trustee for Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as…
Read MoreObit – Mrs. Rhonda Hackett
With her family at her bedside, Mrs. Rhonda Hackett of South Carthage departed her earthly journey to begin her walk with God at the family’s Tulip Lane home in South Carthage at 12:30 a.m. She was pronounced deceased at 2:31 a.m. on August 31, 2026 by Amedisys Hospice of Murfreesboro. Funeral services from the Carthage…
Read MoreObit – Mrs. Sue Sloan Grisham
A longtime Pleasant Shade Community resident who possessed a keen sense of humor and was loved by all who knew her, Mrs. Sue Sloan Grisham, departed this earth to be with her two sons, husband and parents. At 89 years of age, she was pronounced deceased at 8:12 a.m. Thursday morning September 3, 2026 at…
Read MoreObit – Mrs. Shannon Marie Schwartz
A sweet-spirited and kind-hearted lady, Mrs. Shannon Marie Schwartz, departed this earthly life at the age of 64 on Sunday, July 5, 2026, to begin her heavenly journey with her Lord and Savior. A memorial service to Celebrate her Life will be conducted at a time and date to be announced from the Carthage Chapel…
Read MoreSchool budget gets state attention
By Eddie West Staff Writer The months long debate concerning Smith County’s 2026-2027 school system’s budget has garnered the attention of state education leaders. The county’s budget discussions should be a warning sign for Tennessee lawmakers and the next Tennessee governor, warns a Nashville-based Tennessee education advocate, who is calling for additional funding at the state…
Read More