Area Breaking News

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME THIS WEEKEND Daylight Saving Time ends 2 a.m., Sunday, November 1. Residents will need to set their clocks back an hour.

SECRETARY OF STATE VISITS Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, right, visited the early voting station at the Smith County Election Commission office located in the Turner Building in Carthage, Thursday morning. Administrator of Elections Yvonne Gibbs, second from left, listens as Secretary Hargett speaks. Poll workers Brycen Claywell and Lisa Overstreet also listen in.…

SOME HALLOWEEN EVENTS CANCELED, BUT EXPECT SPOOKS TO STILL BE OUT A COVID-19 influenced Halloween will be taking place this year. Halloween conveniently falls on a Saturday night so there will be trick-or-treaters and adults out there attending parties, but how many is anybody’s guess. Two main events held in Carthage and Gordonsville will not…

• HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ELECTION ARRIVES TUESDAY (For local election results Tuesday night residents can check the Courier website for a link to the Smith County Election Commission’s website which posts results as they become available. Also, look for a recap of the election in next week’s edition of the Courier.) Residents will be participating in…

FREE Drive-through COVID-19 Testing Saturday, October 31 from 9 a.m. to Noon Smith County Ag Center 159 Ag Center Lane Carthage TN, 37030

NATIONAL DRUG TAKEBACK DAY EVENT PLANNED Smith Countian’s have an opportunity to safely and securely dispose of potentially addictive prescription medications at the upcoming National Prescription Drug TakeBack Day. The event is set for Friday, October 30 from 1-5 p.m. at the Carthage Walmart. Take back events offer an opportunity for anyone to properly dispose…

LOSS OF LEARNING ALARMS SCHOOL OFFICIALS School officials continue to be alarmed about the decline in learning for students attending school in-person. High absenteeism due to COVID-19 guarantee protocols is resulting in a significant loss in classroom time for many students. For students attending in-person classes, fewer hours translates into a decline in learning, compared…

RUSH ON TO VOTE EARLY IN ELECTION Interest in the November 3 elections is running high. While county and city elections may often be the biggest draw in Smith County, there is considerable interest in this year’s presidential race. Through Saturday (October 17), 2,424 residents had voted either in person or by absent in three…

HIGHWAY TO REMAIN OPEN, BUT? A Tennessee Department of Transportation rock mitigation project set for a bluff located west of the Tanglewood community on Highway 25 is nearing. The bluff is located just west of the Highway 25 and Highway 80 intersection and on the north side of the state highway. Often the site of…

DR. DUKE ON HALLOWEEN SAFETY (The following was submitted by Dr. Roger Duke head of the Smith County Coronavirus Task Force. Dr. Duke warns residents to follow health safety guidelines when celebrating the holiday.) Halloween is just around the corner! It is traditionally celebrated in Smith County by gathering individuals for events and activities, participating…