Area News
County commission races set; Eight candidates in Elmwood, Chestnut Mound race
By Eddie West Staff Writer There wasn’t much interest in this summer’s District 8 (Elmwood/Chestnut Mound) county commission race. No one qualified for the August ballot, leaving three seats vacant on the county legislative body. A few weeks later, it’s a different story. Nine candidates returned qualifying papers to run in a special election to be…
Read MoreTaking 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 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 MoreBudget cuts made by school board; looking to please commissioners
By Eddie West Staff Writer The county’s school board met in special session Saturday (August 22) and rescinded a $35.5 million budget it had approved just days before. The proposed $35.5 million was to be presented to the county commission Monday (August 24) night. Before Monday night’s meeting, the school board met in special session on…
Read MoreSchool system’s CTE building named
By Eddie West Staff Writer The county’s newest education facility has been named by the school board. Located on Industrial Drive in Carthage, the building has been named the Smith County CTE Center. Once open, the renovated building will be a technical skills instructional facility. At one time home to Save-A-Lot Grocery Store, the building has…
Read MoreFour injured in Dixon Springs Highway accident
By Eddie West Staff Writer Four people were reportedly injured in a tragic multiple vehicle accident which occurred on Dixon Springs Highway/Highway 25 in Carthage Wednesday. The accident occurred just east of the Highway 25 Quick-N-Easy convenience market around 2:18 p.m. Multiple emergency agencies and personnel responded to the accident including three air ambulances. Dixon Springs…
Read MoreCounty property tax rate set
By Eddie West Staff Writer There will not be a county property tax rate increase this year. County commissioners approved a 2026-2027 fiscal year county budget and a state certified property tax rate of $1.3023 during a special called meeting held last Monday (August 10) night. During the meeting, commissioners also set the school system’s…
Read MoreResults from county election
RESIDENTS SELECT NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS By Eddie West Staff Writer Four school board seats were up for election in Thursday’s County General Election. In School Board District 8 (Elmwood) there were four candidates seeking one spot. Tressa D. Bush was the top vote getter with 197 votes. Incumbent Scotty Lewis received 125 votes, J.D. Driver received…
Read MoreUpper Cumberland Electric to hold director’s election
By Eddie West Staff Writer Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (UCEMC) will be holding a directorate election this month. Seats on UCEMC’s board of directors are up in District 1, District 2 and District 4. Only the District 1 seat is being challenged. District 1: District 1—includes Smith, DeKalb, Wilson and Macon counties. Candidates include current…
Read MoreSouth Carthage bank robbed; Male subject claimed to be “God” in human form
By Eddie West Staff Writer A South Carthage man has been charged with robbing the South Carthage office of Citizens Bank. In a bizarre incident, a male subject described as being “strangely dressed” walked into the bank claiming to be “God in human form” and asked for “his money”. Upon being confronted by the man, a…
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