Area News

By Eddie West Staff Writer With a 2026-2027 fiscal year county budget yet to be approved by county commissioners, it remains very much uncertain whether residents will face a property tax rate increase this year. Earlier, county commissioners adopted a 2026 state certified property tax rate which translates into no property tax rate increase for this…

By Eddie West Staff Writer A rural hillside in the Defeated community is an out of the ordinary location for an art studio. However, a former resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania finds it to be the perfect spot to practice her unique style of artistry.  Inside the Beasley Hollow Artistry studio, Denise Phillips-Haney combines traditional picture painting…

By Eddie West Staff Writer Discussion of a proposed 2026-2027 county budget by the full county commission is anticipated to take place during a meeting scheduled for Monday, August 10.   Earlier this year, the county adopted a state certified property tax rate of $1.3023 for 2026 but that rate could change as the full county…

Sixty years ago, the Smith County Rescue Squad was founded on a simple but powerful desire—to help families and people in need. Over the decades, faces have changed, equipment has evolved, and generations of volunteers have answered the call, but the mission has remained the same: serving others in their time of need. The story…

By Eddie West Staff Writer The county’s Budget and Finance Committee and school board are at odds over the school system’s proposed 2026-2027 fiscal year budget. During a meeting held Thursday night, the Budget Committee and Finance Committee voted down a proposed 2026-2027 fiscal year school budget which the school board had approved by a 6-2…

By Eddie West Staff Writer The town of Carthage has taken a step forward in the potential rehabilitation of the James A. Clay Municipal Building (city hall/police station). City officials are soliciting “statements of qualifications from professional architectural/engineering firms to provide expertise, guidance and preliminary design services for the town of Carthage’s proposed Town Hall Building…

By Eddie West Staff Writer Fire destroyed a house and its contents in the Tanglewood community Wednesday evening. The fire was reported at 7 p.m., Monday, at 9 Hills Dale Lane East which is located in the Hackett Subdivision off Highway 25/Dixon Springs Highway. Central District, Riddleton/Dixon Springs and Defeated fire departments were dispatched to the…

By Eddie West Staff Writer One person was injured and Main Street North in Carthage was temporarily shutdown following a wreck Thursday afternoon. The accident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. in the Beulahland area. Traveling out of town on the right side of the roadway, the vehicle struck a mailbox, grazed a pickup truck before crossing…

By Eddie West Staff Writer Following an approximately three year, multi-million dollar renovation, opening of Hotel Walton is nearing. The hotel, featuring a restaurant, is expected to open around the end of August or first of September, according to management. Final renovation work and operational details for the hotel to begin accepting guests are being devised.…

By Eddie West Staff Writer “Out of the ordinary” describes this summer’s August 6 County General Election. Only one of six full-time offices will be challenged in this summer’s election. Meanwhile, it’s a mixed bag when it comes to county commission races. Only two of eight county commission districts are challenged in the upcoming election. …