Area News

The anticipated implosion of the cooling tower at the former Hartsville Nuclear is anticipated to take place at Thursday morning, according to multiple sources. Plans are for the implosion to take place around 6:30 a.m. Residents in the area in Smith County (Trousdale County) are expected to receive a reverse 911 call at 5:30 p.m,…

By Eddie West Staff Writer A man was found not guilty of criminal charges related to a 2022 deadly tractor-trailer truck accident in which two people were killed on Interstate 40. LaFollette resident Brandon Lee Brock, who was 35 at the time of the accident, was found not guilty by a Smith County jury of two…

By Eddie West Staff Writer Construction to correct a storm water drainage problem which leads to the flooding of a section of Main Street South in South Carthage is well underway. The work is taking place in a low-lying area just south of the Carthage Church of God which is prone to flooding. During periods of…

By Eddie West Staff Writer It’s one of the oddest sights in our nation. A more than 500 foot tall, concrete tower rising well above acres of otherwise picturesque farmland and rolling hills at the Trousdale County line. The remnants of the former Hartsville Nuclear Plant, which at the time was suppose to be one of…

By Eddie West Staff Writer An attempt to terminate Director of Schools Barry Smith’s contract by a divided school board failed. School board members were to discuss whether to enter contract extension talks with the director or accept applications for the position as Smith’s current contract will expire next year. Instead board member David McDonald opened…

By Eddie West Staff Writer A local pastor is asking school officials to be “neutral” when setting school polices pertaining to religious activities.  Peytons Creek Baptist Church Pastor Josh Gibbs said he felt the need to come before the board to represent the Christian side of the issue. In November of 2019, a lawsuit was filed…

By Eddie West Staff Writer Election season 2026 is underway. At the county level, Democratic and Republican primary elections are set for May 5 (2026). This means candidates and potential candidates at the county level are already out and about.  Meanwhile, residents are debating who’s running or who might be thinking about running for a particular…

By Eddie West Staff Writer Repair of a slide area on State Highway 141 will cost almost three million dollars. The project was bid by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) in July. The low bid was submitted by Dement Construction Group at $2,926,194.60 which was award the project. Other bids included: Cleary Construction Inc.—$3,326,633 and…

By Eddie West Staff Writer The county’s grand jury met for its August session on Monday of last week, returning a number of indictments. A majority of the indictments were for drug related offenses. READ MORE IN THIS WEEK’S COURIER