Area News

FORMER COUNTY HISTORIAN PASSES Longtime county historian and historical author Sue Maggart Petty passed away over the weekend. A resident of Carthage, Maggart Petty is a former postal employee, having served as Gordonsville Postmaster. Maggart Petty passed away Saturday and is survived by husband Dr. Gordon Petty. Having a passion for Smith County history, Maggart…

SECOND SUSPECT – IDENTITY THEFT For the second time in recent weeks a man faces charges for allegedly stealing the identity of another individual to gain employment at a local company. Gaspar Baltazar Sebastian, 29, Cookeville, has been charged with theft of identity, forgery and criminal simulation. The investigation began when an Arizona man contacted…

BANKER CELEBRATING MILESTONE (Citizens Bank will be celebrating Walter Glenn Birdwell’s 90th birthday Friday, November 30, at the bank.) Well-known Carthage banker Walter Glenn Birdwell Jr. doesn’t keep bankers’ hours. Approaching the age of 90, the Carthage native arrives to work at Citizens Bank’s Carthage headquarters at 7 a.m. The day usually ends at 4…

TRAFFIC STOP NETS 2 SUSPECTS A traffic stop made by the sheriff’s department’s canine unit resulted in multiple drug related charges. Sgt. Ridge Long stopped a vehicle traveling on Dixon Springs Highway for speeding. According to an offense report filed by Sgt. Long, the officer smelled a strong odor of “raw marijuana” coming from the…

MAN WHO FLED FROM HWY PATROL JAILED A man who allegedly fled from the Tennessee Highway Patrol in a stolen vehicle before abandoning it near Gordonsville and is a habitual traffic offender is now in the county jail. Richard Scott Patterson, 33, Nashville, has been charged with evading arrest, tampering with or fabricating evidence, driving…

15LBS OF MARIJUANA WAX LOCATED 3 PEOPLE ARRESTED AFTER INVESTIGATION Three people face drug charges after a concerned citizen reported suspicious activity taking place in the parking lot of a department store. Upon investigating, law enforcement authorities located 15.2 pounds of marijuana wax and 3.2 ounces of hashish. The concerned citizen contacted the sheriff’s department…

‘BOMB’S AWAY’ – AVIATION RADIOMAN REMEMBERS WWII It’s been over 73 years since Lucius Agee flew on a bombing mission, but in his mind’s eye the 94-year-old World War II veteran can picture it clear as day, even though he performed his duty in the dark of night. “My big job was to interpret what…

‘LITTLE HOUDINI’ REPORTEDLY ON THE RUN Received Suspended Sentence Here A man known by numerous law enforcement agencies in the mid-state, including Smith County, is reportedly being sought, yet again. Christopher Daniel Gay, 44, who has lived at various locations in the mid-state and known as “Little Houdini”, is reportedly wanted in Rutherford County. According…

CARTHAGE AMPHITHEATER PROJECT IN JEOPARDY A proposed amphitheater in Carthage is in jeopardy due to a lack of funding. Plans were to construct the amphitheater on the grounds of the former mobile home park on Industrial Drive. During this month’s city council meeting, Jerry Warren, with Warren and Associates, project engineer, informed council members the…