Area News

SMITH COUNTY CELEBRATES – NOBEL Smith County Celebrates held the third annual Nobel Peace Prize Dinner, Saturday, at the agriculture center in South Carthage. The event recognizes the county’s two Nobel Peace Prize winners, raises funds for scholarships and a traveling Nobel Peace Prize exhibit of former vice president Al Gore and former secretary of…

FOUR CHARGED IN SHOP BURGLARY Four people have been charged in connection with the burglary of a shop located at a residence in the southeastern section of the county. The shop is located at a residence on St. Mary’s Hollow Road which is near the Chestnut Mound community. The burglary, in which various tools valued…

RESCUE SQUAD CALLED TO SEARCH CORDELL HULL LAKE The county’s rescue squad spent several hours searching an area of the Cordell Hull Lake in the Defeated community over the weekend. A man “jug fishing” using swimming “noodles” was checking his lines Saturday afternoon. The man contacted authorities after reportedly seeing what he believed to be…

NEW BUSINESS PLANNED FOR CARTHAGE BUILDING A building, known locally as the former Texas Boot Factory building in Carthage, has sold and is undergoing renovation. The company’s new owner released the following information concerning the development: “Leviathan US LLC (hereinafter Leviathan US or the company), was organized as a corporation established under the laws of…

ONE INJURED IN THURSDAY WRECK One person was injured in a single vehicle wreck on Highway 70/Cookeville Highway, Thursday afternoon. The location of the wreck was just west of the building known as the Blackhorse Saloon and just east of the South Carthage city limits. The accident occurred around 3:45 p.m. A man, traveling west,…

AUGUST INDICTMENTS RELEASED By Eddie West / Staff Writer The grand jury met for its August session Monday (August 5) and returned more than 60 indictments. Indictments include: Destani R. Whittaker, 28, Carthage, theft under $1,000. Haley L. Lewis, 21, Carthage, criminal trespassing. Leanne Chaffin, 40, Lancaster, DUI (first offense), driving while blood alcohol above legal…

POLICE PURSUIT LEADS TO MULTIPLE CHARGES A man who led Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers and local authorities on a high speed chase which ended in a crash on a deadend street in South Carthage faces multiple charges. The incident began when Trooper Troy Withers stopped a vehicle traveling west bound on Interstate 40 for speeding.…

SEVERAL STATE HWY PROJECTS TAKING PLACE A number of roadway improvement projects are under development or planned for this year by the state’s department of transportation. Two new projects are included in the state’s August bid letting. One of the projects is the emergency slope stabilization of an area on Highway 70 (Cookeville Highway) east…

NEW SCHS PRINCIPAL FOR NEW SCHOOL YEAR Students at Smith County High School will be greeted by a new principal this week. Former Assistant Principal Dusty Whitaker is now principal. Former Principal Tim Towns resigned the position to become supervisor of instruction for grades 9-12 and CTE supervisor at the central office. Dillon Reed was…

ARMED ROBBERY IN NEW MIDDLETON LEADS TO I-40 PURSUIT Police are searching for two male subjects who are wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a man and his wife in the New Middleton community, Sunday afternoon. The victims were robbed at gunpoint, resulting in a pursuit along Interstate 40 into Wilson County. The…