Area News

TWO CHARGED IN BRUSH CREEK DRUG ARREST Sheriff’s department officers located a number of illegal drugs following the search of a residence near the Brush Creek area. Officers went to a Northfield Lane residence on January 6. According to an offense report filed by K-9 officer Sgt. Junior Fields, two ounces of marijuana, two grams…

 ARRESTS MADE IN BUY/BUST OPERATION The sheriff’s department’s K-9 units made two arrests during a “buy bust” operation. The operation began when a man agreed to deliver an ounce of methamphetamine for $600 to an undercover officer. The drug deal was to take place in the parking area at the Smith County Welcome Center (Buffalo…

CAGES BEND HOUSE DESTROYED BY FIRE Fire destroyed a house in the Cages Bend community, Thursday morning. The fire was reported around 10:32 a.m. at 60 Murrah Lane. The single story, vinyl sided house was fully involved when discovered. Riddleton/Dixon Springs and Central District fire departments were dispatched to the fire. The house and its…

SECOND DEGREE MURDER CHARGE FILED Second degree murder charges have been filed against a man who allegedly provided illegal drugs to an individual who was discovered at a Pleasant Shade Highway residence. Bailey Alexander Underwood, 24, Lebanon, has been indicted on two counts of second degree murder. Underwood is charged in connection with the death…

CARTHAGE COUNCIL PLANS TO DISCUSS SPEED LIMITS The Carthage City Council will be reviewing speed limits throughout the city in the coming weeks. During the council’s January meeting Thursday night, the issue surfaced as a new business item presented by Mayor Sarah Marie Smith as a “request from residents to change the speed limit on…

DOORS CLOSED TO LANDMARK BUSINESS Residents have found the doors to a landmark Gordonsville business closed. A note on Gordonsville Shoprite grocery store’s front door reads “everything must go”. Prior to the closing, the owner of the business, Samer Moussa, had cut back in hours and was selling out inventory. Meanwhile, the doors to the…

STATE ROAD WORK NEARS; ONE LANE ROAD PLANNED Construction phase on a state transportation department rock (bluff) mitigation project on Highway 25 is expected to begin as soon as this month. State transportation department officials say the Franklin based construction company which was awarded the construction contract is planning to begin installing traffic light signals…

SPECIAL OPERATION TEAM DEPLOYED Three Charged Following Sheriff’s Department K9 Investigation Three people face charges following a sheriff’s department K-9 unit drug investigation which led to a Special Operations Team search of a Vantrease Road home near the Grant community. The investigation began after K-9 officer Sgt. Ridge Long stopped a vehicle, locating methamphetamine and…

KEN BECK: REMEMBERING CONGENIAL DAWN WELLS I was saddened to learn recently of the death of Dawn Wells, who portrayed sweet Kansas farm girl Mary Ann Summers, the only normal person amidst six other (kooky) castaways stranded on “Gilligan’s Island.” Her publicist, Harlan Boll, told the Associated Press she died peacefully Dec. 30 from Covid-19…

GPD CHIEF EAGER FOR VACCINE Some residents are taking a “wait and see approach” when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine. However, Gordonsville Police Chief Shannon Hunt was eager to be one of the county’s first vaccinated for the virus. “If people had experienced what I did they would be eager to take it (vaccine).…