Area News

FIRST TENNESSEE PLANNING TO CLOSE CARTHAGE OFFICE First Tennessee Bank will be closing its Carthage office. Plans are for the bank to close at noon, Wednesday, September 25. The bank released the following statement concerning the closing: “These changes are part of our ongoing strategy that we announced last November at our Investor Day, to…

MIDNIGHT VOTE BY COMMISSIONERS RAISES PROPERTY TAX While much of the county was asleep Monday night, the county commission set the county’s property tax rate at $2.73 in order to fund its 2019-2020 fiscal year budget. The $2.73 tax rate, which is the 59 cent increase proposed by the county’s Budget and Finance Committee, wasn’t…

TWO MURDER SUSPECTS REMAIN JAILED Two people facing first degree murder charges in connection with the April death of a South Carthage man remain jailed. Meanwhile, there are indications additional individuals could be charged in the case. Kenneth S. McDonald, 46, White House, and Jeffrey Ivan Kolb, 47, Greenbrier, were indicted for first degree murder…

HOLIDAY FIREWORKS AT FAIR For those looking for a local Fourth of July fireworks, display one will take place Thursday night at this year’s county fair. The display is being billed as one of the largest in the area and is scheduled to take place beginning at 9:30 p.m. near the Russell Nixon Arena.

DOCTOR CHARGED IN SEALED INDICTMENT A doctor, who was charged in April in connection with a federal investigation, faces local charges. The grand jury returned sealed indictments against Dr. Bowdoin G. Smith, 63, and Melissa M. Smith, 50 both of Tanglewood, in April. The two were indicted on charges of possession of a schedule VI…

COMMISSIONERS TO MEET AS FISCAL YEAR BUDGET REMAINS UNRESOLVED Having yet to set a 2019-2020 fiscal year budget and county property tax rate, commissioners will meet for their regularly scheduled July session Monday night (July 8). The meeting will be the first since a controversial 59 cent property tax rate failed during the commission’s June…

RESIDENTS QUESTION BUDGET OVERSIGHT, CALL FOR CUTS It was a public hearing. And county commissioners heard a lot from the public. An overflow crowd filled the main courtroom at the courts and jail facility for Thursday night’s public hearing on the county’s upcoming 2019-2020 fiscal year budget which included a proposed 59 cent property tax…

COUNTY FAIR BEGINS MONDAY The county fair begins Monday night and continues through next Saturday (July 1-6). Pre-fair events begin this Saturday with a full day and night of activities. Admission to this year’s fair is $5. A season pass, which includes seven days, is $20. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free. One…

CARTHAGE PD GUN AUCTION ONLINE The Carthage Police Department is in the process of selling approximately 90 guns in an online auction. The guns have been declared surplus property. Most of the guns were confiscated or formerly used by the police departments. The guns include both handguns, rifles and shotguns. Funds raised from the sale…

ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNERS Planning for this year’s Smith County Celebrates, which celebrates the county’s two Nobel Peace Prize winners, is taking place. The event, which includes dinner, will be held beginning at 6 p.m., Saturday, August 17. This year’s speaker is Smith County native Pennye Nixon. “Smith County holds the unique…