Area News

COUNTY, CITY NEGOTIATING CONTRACT FOR LEACHATE DISPOSAL The town of Carthage has temporarily agreed to continue accepting a liquid substance known as leachate, a byproduct of the county landfill which is deposited in the city’s sewer system, while an agreement between the city and county is being renegotiated. A disagreement surfaced over plans by the…

FOUR INJURED IN ZINC MINE ACCIDENT Four people were injured in an accident at Nyrstar’s Cumberland Mine in Carthage. Three of those injured were transported to Riverview Regional Medical Center where they were treated and released. One person was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. The accident involved a transformer which was said…

COMEDY SHOW AT PLEASANT SHADE Pleasant Shade Community Center will host a stand up comedy show in February. Performers include Michael DelGiorno of SuperTalk 99.7 FM WTN and former Saturday Night Live comedian Victoria Jackson. “Michael DelGiorno has been on the radio airwaves entertaining and enlightening his listeners for over 30 years as well. His…

SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY SHOT AT HOMES WITH BB GUN A man faces charges for allegedly firing a BB gun at residencies at two locations in Carthage. The BB gun was fired at residencies on Cordell Circle and McClarin Court. In some cases the shots broke glass windows. The alleged incidents occurred on December 29 and December…

STATUTORY RAPE CHARGES FILED A man faces charges after allegedly having a sexual encounter with a female relative who is a minor. Billy Bray Fann, 19, Whitleyville, has been charged with statutory rape and incest. Charges were filed by the sheriff’s department’s detective division on December 19. According to an affidavit of complaint, Fann admitted…

ENBRIDGE OUTLINES REPAIRS Enbridge officials were anticipating repair work to the natural gas pipeline which exploded on Stone Branch Road near the Pleasant Shade community to be completed by this week. On Thursday, Enbridge’s communications department said the estimated completion date was on or between December 28 and December 30. “Following completion of repairs, and…

MAN CHARGED IN DOUBLE HOMICIDE ASKS JUDGE TO SET BOND One of two suspects charged in the murder of two men found at an unoccupied house on Dillehay Hollow Road in April is seeking bond. Meanwhile, one has already posted bond. Alain E. Benitez, who formerly lived in Smith County, had relocated to Wilson County…

WELL-KNOWN TEACHER PASSES A celebration of life was held Friday at the Carthage Chapel of Bass Funeral Home for retired Smith County High School teacher Debbie Fulton, who passed away at the age of 66. A Tanglewood resident, Fulton died December 25 at Tri-Star Centennial Hospital in Nashville. Fulton had been admitted to the hospital…

SANTA SHOPPERS Sheriff’s department Lt. Ronnie Maynard checks items with a youth while waiting to check out during the department’s annual Santa Shoppers event held on Tuesday night, December 18. Youth gathered at the courts facility for pizza, treats and Santa before going on a shopping spree at Walmart with law enforcement officers from the…

SMITH UTILITY DISTRICT RECEIVES WATER TANK LOAN A local utility district has received a nearly one million dollar loan to construct a new water storage tank. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced Smith Utility District was awarded a $933,000 loan, according to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The project will receive…