Area News

MAN FACES DECADES BEHIND BARS A man potentially faces decades behind bars after being found guilty in the 2018 murder of two men in the Dillehay Hollow located near the Defeated community. It took jurors about two hours to find Alain E. Benitez guilty of two counts of first degree murder and two counts of…

COBLE INURED IN HOME INCIDENT Smith County Road Superintendent Steve Coble was hospitalized following a fall at his residence Friday morning. Coble, who was re-elected to his fourth term last month, was airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. “The family is asking for prayers,” an employee with the highway department said Monday morning.…

 COUNTY COMMISSION SEATS UPDATE Two county commission seats will be up for election in November. The deadline to qualify for a vacant commission seat in District 3 (New Middleton, Brush Creek, Hickman) was noon, August 20. Those qualifying to run for the seat were Josh Brown and Stephanie McCaleb. The seat was held for a…

STATE PLANS TO RELEASE DATA ON COVID NUMBERS IN SCHOOLS The Tennessee Department of Health says it will release COVID-19 information at school and district levels, including numbers of new positive COVID-19 cases in districts and schools. The announcement came Thursday and was made by Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn. Initially, the state said it would…

BURTON IN GORDONSVILLE MAYORAL RACE Ronnie Burton announces his candidacy for mayor of Gordonsville. “My name is Ronnie Burton and I would like to announce my candidacy for the position of Gordonsville City Mayor. I have lived in Gordonsville since 1966 with Shelby, my wife of 48 years. Our two children Chasity Wasmer, and Rusty…

FESTIVAL ON SCHEDULE Event takes place this month One of the county’s signature events, the William Walton Harvest Festival, will be taking place this month. The event will be held in downtown Carthage from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday, September 26. The day will feature live entertainment, youth and adult activities, as well as…

KEEPSAKE BACK IN OWNERS HANDS Keepsakes. Most people possess at least one. Possibly a piece of jewelry, furniture, memento or even a collection of items that once belonged to a close friend or relative. Many keepsakes have little monetary value to others; however for their owners the items are often priceless. Keepsakes possess a unique…

GIBBS SEEKS RE-ELECTION Gordonsville Mayor James Milton (Duck) Gibbs announces his candidacy for re-election as mayor of Gordonsville. “I, James Milton (Duck) Gibbs, am a candidate for re-election as the mayor of the town of Gordonsville. During my previous tenure as your mayor, we have: •Paved most city streets and worked with TDOT to have…

THEFT SPREE Law enforcement authorities are keeping a particularly close watch on businesses as night falls. This comes after an unusual crime spree where an armed robbery and three burglaries occurred in less than a week. What may have triggered the crime wave has police guessing. The thefts took place between August 18 and August…

COMMISSIONERS TO APPOINT NEW JUDGE Former Co. Attorney Candidate County commissioners will be looking to seat a general sessions judge to fill the unexpired term of Judge Michael Collins, Monday night. A special meeting of the county commission has been set for 7 p.m. to fill the vacancy. This month, Judge Collins was elected to…