Area News

By Eddie West Staff Writer A man found guilty of first degree murder in the 2019 death of a South Carthage resident was in court Friday. A Smith County jury found Kenneth S. McDonald, a 49 year old White House resident, guilty of first degree murder in the death of Jason Taylor Neusse in April…

By Eddie West Staff Writer Teachers returning back to school from summer break were greeted with news of a proposed 12 percent pay raise. Director of Schools Barry Smith made the announcement as teachers gathered for their annual in-service training at Smith County High School, starting off the 2023-2024 school year for teachers. The announcement…

Josh Dillard was a dedicated husband, father of two boys, and a man that knew where his strength came from in the midst of hard times. His wife, Hope Dillard described Josh as, “the most selfless person who looked for humor in every situation.” These characteristics remained in Josh even as an unforeseen battle unfolded…

(Story provide by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.) When Kyle Owen started his farming operation in 2004, he had 32 acres of burley tobacco and some farming equipment that he pulled out of weedy fence rows. Being named “Tennessee Farmer of the Year” could not have been further from his mind. Yet in…

By Eddie West Staff Writer A juvenile is suspected in phoning in a bomb threat to the Waffle House in Gordonsville. The fourteen year old male was officially charged by Gordonsville police in the case, Thursday. Police were able to work with the telephone company, Verizon, and determine a location of the call and other…

By Eddie West Staff Writer A local doctor has been found guilty of unlawfully distributing controlled substances, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ). A federal jury in the Middle District of Tennessee convicted Dr. Bowdoin Smith, 67, Carthage, of three counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, Wednesday (July 26), according to the…

The Carthage Courier brought home a record 18 total awards — including receiving the coveted top prize for 1st Place for General Excellence among Division I newspapers from across the state — in last Friday’s 2023 Tennessee State Press Contest Awards held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Franklin. The awards, sponsored by the University…

By Eddie West Staff Writer Law enforcement officials say multiple juveniles were involved in the vandalism of as many as 21 mailboxes in Carthage as well as two communities in the county. Five mailboxes were either knocked off their posts or dented in Carthage. All of the mailboxes damaged were located on Jackson Avenue. Meanwhile,…

By Eddie West Staff Writer Hotel Walton has a new owner. The historical hotel was purchased by Snow Creek Properties last Monday (July 17). Carthage resident John Leftwich Jr. purchased the hotel in the spring of 2020 from C.D. “Digger” Poindexter (Poindexter Realty and Auction). Through the years, the historic hotel underwent extensive renovations while…