Carthage, TN – March 28, 2025 – Highpoint Health – Riverview with Ascension Saint Thomas announces its upcoming Women’s Health Expo on Sunday, April 27th, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This informative event is designed to empower women of all ages with valuable knowledge and resources to support their health and well-being. There is no cost to attend.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about a variety of important topics, including prenatal and postnatal care, postmenopausal health, gynecologic care and procedures, pelvic floor health, as well as preventive care such as weight loss and fitness. Local organizations will be on-site offering products, free samples, safety demonstrations, and more.

Participants can also meet Highpoint Health – Riverview’s knowledgeable providers, enjoy light refreshments, and enter for a chance to win exciting door prizes. Tours of the Labor and Delivery and 3-D mammography suites will be available.

“We’re thrilled to announce this year’s expanded Women’s Health Expo, offering so much more than just obstetrics and pregnancy information,” said Jamie Green, Women’s Services Director at Highpoint Health – Riverview. “This is a fantastic opportunity for women in our community to connect with our providers, gain valuable insights into important health issues, and discover local organizations dedicated to supporting their overall well-being.”

Mark your calendars! The event will be held at Highpoint Health – Riverview at 158 Hospital Drive, Carthage, TN 37030. Don’t miss this free event dedicated to women’s health.

For more information about Highpoint Health’s Women’s Health Services, please visit https://www.highpointhealthsystem.com/womens-health.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Nashville District announces the third annual Spring Trail Day at Cordell Hull Lake.

USACE Ranger staff will host a spring trail hike and bike in celebration of Earth Day.

The event is set to take place this Saturday, April 26.

The event will take place at the Bear Waller Gap Hiking Trail and Bear Wheels Mountain Bike Trail.

Shuttle service will be provided for hikers from Defeated Creek Recreation Area to the Overlook trailhead for the Bear Waller Gap hikers.

The shuttle service and complimentary lunch following the hike and bike will be provided by the Friends of Cordell Hull Lake.

Secretary of Friends of Cordell Hull Lake, Lizzy Chambers, states, “Friends of Cordell Hull Lake is proud to sponsor and be supporter of USACE’s annual Hike and Bike event. We believe in bringing communities together, not only to care for nature’s beauty, but also to make lasting memories with friends and family.”

The event is set to take place Saturday, April 26, 2025, with the first shuttle departing at 0830 from Defeated Creek Park and will have subsequent departures every 30 minutes until 0930. RSVP is encouraged, but not required, and link can be found at https://www.facebook.com/cordellhulllake.

Anyone who may have questions about the event or any other information on Cordell Hull Lake, please contact the Cordell Hull Resource Manager’s Office at 615-735-1034.

(Please note while the event is taking place in celebration of Earth Day it doesn’t take place that designated day which is April 22.)

Get ready for a delicious evening of food and community fun at the Pleasant Shade Community Center’s Fish Fry on April 12, 2025!

The event will take place from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the community center, located at 743 Pleasant Shade Hwy. Guests will enjoy a meal featuring fish or chicken with hushpuppies, two sides, dessert, and a drink for $15.00. A special child plate is available for kids 8 and under for $10.00, including two pieces of fish, a hush puppy, French fries, and a drink.

Come out for great food and even better company while supporting your local community. Mark your calendars and bring your friends and family for an evening of Southern-style cooking!

For more details, contact the Pleasant Shade Community Center.

Tennessee Tech University’s School of Art, Craft & Design will host the 27th annual Celebration of Craft on Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event takes place at the Appalachian Center for Craft, Tech’s satellite campus in Smithville, and is free for guests of all ages.

Each of the Craft Center’s studios–glass, metals, clay, fibers and wood– will present demonstrations by Tech faculty, students, and resident artists. Woodturning, raku pottery, blacksmithing, weaving and glass blowing are among the many craft demonstrations visitors can enjoy. All are encouraged to explore the open studios and ask questions.

The main stage will feature music and dance performances by Global Education Center showcasing a wide array of cultural expressions from around the world. Visitors can get a schedule of performances at the welcome tent. Nearby, guests will find a great selection of food and drinks including pork rinds, kettle corn, coffee drinks, Italian ice, sandwiches, hot dogs, tacos and burgers. Food trucks including Habibi’s Mexican Grill, That Dang Coffee Truck, Southern Soft Ice, Bunz on the Run and Country Boys Gourmet will be serving up crowd favorites all day.

Kids and families can enjoy free face painting and hands-on craft activities where they can create their own works of art with guidance from Tech art education faculty and students. Drop-in activities will include origami birds, indigo dyeing, cardboard circle weaving, foam shape printmaking and pencil pinwheels, providing fun and learning for all ages.

During Celebration of Craft, purchases of handcrafted items in the Craft Center gallery will be discounted 25%, including paintings, prints, ceramics, glassware, handwoven textiles, jewelry, woodturned utensils and more created by fine craft artists from across the region. Visitors will also have the opportunity to shop the Visual Art Society student sale, located in the Craft Center’s cafe.

The Appalachian Center for Craft is located at 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville, Tenn. Leashed pets are welcome in outdoor areas only. Additional information is available at www.tntech.edu/celebrationofcraft or by contacting the Craft Center at craftcenter@tntech.edu or 931-372-3051. submitted by By Ashley Lusietto

The Gordonsville Events Committee is proud to announce the 4th Annual Gordonsville Community-Wide Easter Egg hunt.

The egg hunt will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 12pm at Ivy Agee Park in Gordonsville (RAIN OR SHINE). There will be three separate egg hunts broken up into three categories: Ages 0-3, 4-7, and 8-12.

There will be 6,000 eggs, TONS of candy and prizes. A photo booth will be available to have pictures made with the Easter bunny. The event is free to the public.

The Gordonsville Events Committee (also known as the Gordonsville Halloween Bash Committee) is a non-profit organization made up of community members, representatives from civic organizations, and government partners. The Gordonsville Events Committee’s goal is to bring fun, free, family-oriented events to Gordonsville.

Get ready for a day full of excitement and community spirit at the Easter Fun event on Saturday, April 12 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM at Carthage City Park (350 Industrial Drive, in front of the dog park).

Enjoy a variety of activities including egg hunting, a scavenger hunt, inflatables, and more! Egg hunts will be divided into age groups:

• Ages 0–3
• Ages 4–7
• Ages 8 and up

The fun kicks off at 2:00 PM at the cross with a special message from Bro. Jim and Bro. Josh.

Be sure to bring your own lawn chair and come ready to have a great time with family and friends! This event is hosted by First Baptist Church Carthage and Peyton Creek Baptist Church.

New Middleton School will hold Kindergarten Registration Day on Friday, April 11, 2025, from 8:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Registration is by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please call the school at 615-683-8411.

Students must be five years old on or before August 15, 2025, to enroll. Parents should bring the following documents:

• Certified birth certificate (student must be 5 years old by August 15)
• Immunization record
• Proof of a current physical exam
• Proof of Smith County residency (current utility bill or tax statement)
• Custody papers (if applicable)

Students may register without all of the required documentation; however, all documentation must be submitted before the start of school in August.

Parents and guardians will have the opportunity to ask questions about the upcoming school year during the event. This is a quick and easy registration process, and students are not required to stay all day.

If you are unable to visit on April 11, please call the school to make alternate arrangements.

For His Glory invites the community to a delicious fundraising dinner on Friday, April 5, 2025, from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. at The Spot, located at 108 Ward Avenue East in Carthage, TN.

Guests can enjoy a choice of Chicken Alfredo or Cajun Alfredo, served with salad, bread, dessert, and a drink. The cost is $12 for adults and $8 for children aged 10 and under. Both dine-in and carry-out options will be available.

All proceeds will go toward supporting Smith County residents in need. The evening will also feature free music, fun, and fellowship.

For more information, contact 615-580-1251.

In just a couple of weeks, Cookeville High School’s lobby and gym will once again be transformed into a free, temporary medical clinic, thanks to the continual efforts of Tennessee Tech University students who have been preparing for months.

The Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic will be held this year on Saturday and Sunday, March 22-23. It’s a vital healthcare resource for the Upper Cumberland – and it’s coordinated locally by a Tech student-led group in health-related majors, under the guidance of chemistry instructor Janet Coonce.

Sarah Beshara is this year’s student lead for the clinic, and she is a biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology major on a pre-dental track from La Vergne, Tenn.

“I’ve been involved with the RAM clinic since I came to the university, and I’m excited to be the student lead this year – but it’s a lot of work. Patients arrive at all hours during the scheduled weekend to be seen by doctors, dentists and optometrists, so we must have volunteers 24/7,” she said.

While most of the clinic’s volunteers are regional healthcare professionals – the doctors, dentists and optometrists who give their time and expertise to examine patients on a first-come, first-served basis – volunteers also help with set-up, parking, meal service and clean-up.

Coonce said, “Sarah’s team has done an outstanding job working together in cooperation with local Rotary members, organizations and businesses who volunteer to prepare a successful clinic.”

In addition to Beshara, this year’s team of host group leaders includes: Katelin Veins, fundraising; Lauren Knight, recruitment; Claire Pride, hospitality; Leah Secker, promotions; Margaret Martizano, parking lot coordinator; and James C. Gray, M.D., volunteer medical coordinator.

All RAM clinic services are free and open to anyone in need of care. No identification is required, but patients are encouraged to line up in the CHS student parking lot on Friday evening, March 21, and Saturday evening, March 22, and may need to be prepared to wait overnight in their cars. Each patient may be asked to prioritize between dental and vision services, but all attendees receive medical care after their intake.

The positive health impacts of the RAM clinic are undeniable. In 2024, 161 people went home with new glasses, while 523 received teeth extractions and 178 received fillings. The total value of care delivered amounted to $343,533.

While patients who participate in the clinic are quick to laud its benefits, the RAM clinic provides more than simply healthcare – it’s a valuable, real-life learning experience for all the Tech students who are involved.

Nursing students assist with triage, while nutrition students from the quantity food production class, under guidance from School of Human Ecology Director Melinda Anderson, prepare hot breakfasts each morning at 5 a.m. and clean the kitchen afterward. Local churches and restaurants also contribute additional meals for volunteers, while Rotary provides clean water and sanitation for the clinic.

For Beshara, the clinic is a deeply personal endeavor.

“As an aspiring healthcare professional, I knew this was a service I wanted to help provide. For many of the people who attend the RAM clinic as patients, though, it’s often the only care they get all year,” she said.

This year’s clinic is expected to be even larger than last year’s, but with rising costs, that means the students’ fundraising drive must also be stronger.

The Tech group, working in partnership with the Cookeville Regional Medical Center (CRMC) Foundation, secured two first-time ever grants – the UCEMC Cares Grant, which allows applicants in the service area of the Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation to receive up to $10,000 per fiscal year, and a grant from Chattanooga-based Just One More, a foundation focused on mental health programs

In addition, they tripled their participation with Faithful Waymakers, a program that allows charity groups to raise money by working concession stands at Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone Arena and sporting and entertainment events at other large Nashville venues. And a longtime cornerstone of the group’s funding is the Golden Helix 5K race.

“It was the most successful fundraising year in the clinic’s history,” Beshara said.

People who wish to donate to the clinic can do so through the CRMC Foundation at cookevilleregionalcharity.org. Click on the “give now” button and select “Upper Cumberland RAM Clinic” from the dropdown menu. For more information on RAM clinics, visit ramusa.org. By Tracey Hackett

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – In just a couple of weeks, Cookeville High School’s lobby and gym will once again be transformed into a free, temporary medical clinic, thanks to the continual efforts of Tennessee Tech University students who have been preparing for months.

The Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic will be held this year on Saturday and Sunday, March 22-23. It’s a vital healthcare resource for the Upper Cumberland – and it’s coordinated locally by a Tech student-led group in health-related majors, under the guidance of chemistry instructor Janet Coonce.

Sarah Beshara is this year’s student lead for the clinic, and she is a biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology major on a pre-dental track from La Vergne, Tenn.

“I’ve been involved with the RAM clinic since I came to the university, and I’m excited to be the student lead this year – but it’s a lot of work. Patients arrive at all hours during the scheduled weekend to be seen by doctors, dentists and optometrists, so we must have volunteers 24/7,” she said.

While most of the clinic’s volunteers are regional healthcare professionals – the doctors, dentists and optometrists who give their time and expertise to examine patients on a first-come, first-served basis – volunteers also help with set-up, parking, meal service and clean-up.

Coonce said, “Sarah’s team has done an outstanding job working together in cooperation with local Rotary members, organizations and businesses who volunteer to prepare a successful clinic.”

In addition to Beshara, this year’s team of host group leaders includes: Katelin Veins, fundraising; Lauren Knight, recruitment; Claire Pride, hospitality; Leah Secker, promotions; Margaret Martizano, parking lot coordinator; and James C. Gray, M.D., volunteer medical coordinator.

All RAM clinic services are free and open to anyone in need of care. No identification is required, but patients are encouraged to line up in the CHS student parking lot on Friday evening, March 21, and Saturday evening, March 22, and may need to be prepared to wait overnight in their cars. Each patient may be asked to prioritize between dental and vision services, but all attendees receive medical care after their intake.

The positive health impacts of the RAM clinic are undeniable. In 2024, 161 people went home with new glasses, while 523 received teeth extractions and 178 received fillings. The total value of care delivered amounted to $343,533.

While patients who participate in the clinic are quick to laud its benefits, the RAM clinic provides more than simply healthcare – it’s a valuable, real-life learning experience for all the Tech students who are involved.

Nursing students assist with triage, while nutrition students from the quantity food production class, under guidance from School of Human Ecology Director Melinda Anderson, prepare hot breakfasts each morning at 5 a.m. and clean the kitchen afterward. Local churches and restaurants also contribute additional meals for volunteers, while Rotary provides clean water and sanitation for the clinic.

For Beshara, the clinic is a deeply personal endeavor.

“As an aspiring healthcare professional, I knew this was a service I wanted to help provide. For many of the people who attend the RAM clinic as patients, though, it’s often the only care they get all year,” she said.

This year’s clinic is expected to be even larger than last year’s, but with rising costs, that means the students’ fundraising drive must also be stronger.

The Tech group, working in partnership with the Cookeville Regional Medical Center (CRMC) Foundation, secured two first-time ever grants – the UCEMC Cares Grant, which allows applicants in the service area of the Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation to receive up to $10,000 per fiscal year, and a grant from Chattanooga-based Just One More, a foundation focused on mental health programs

In addition, they tripled their participation with Faithful Waymakers, a program that allows charity groups to raise money by working concession stands at Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone Arena and sporting and entertainment events at other large Nashville venues. And a longtime cornerstone of the group’s funding is the Golden Helix 5K race.

“It was the most successful fundraising year in the clinic’s history,” Beshara said.

People who wish to donate to the clinic can do so through the CRMC Foundation at cookevilleregionalcharity.org. Click on the “give now” button and select “Upper Cumberland RAM Clinic” from the dropdown menu. For more information on RAM clinics, visit ramusa.org. by Tracey Hackett

Come out and support FHG and the youth group at the Giant Yard Sale Fundraiser on March 21st and 22nd at Grace Baptist Church, located at 3 Preacher Road in Riddleton, TN. This event offers something for everyone, with a wide variety of items available, including clothes in all sizes, furniture, home furnishings, and toys.

Doors open early, so be sure to stop by and see the great deals for yourself. Pictures of some featured items will be posted on Friday morning. Don’t miss this chance to shop, support a great cause, and help make a difference for the youth group!