Artists of Smith County are invited to submit work for an upcoming exhibit of Pet Portraits to be held at the Carthage Junction Depot February 15. Artists of all ages are welcomed to submit work. Any medium is welcome, but entries must be prepared for hanging. If you would like to show your creations, art can be submitted to Keith Williams at Citizens Bank, Carthage during business hours any day until the deadline: Feb 6. If you have questions about entering this exhibit, contact the Carthage Junction Depot on facebook messenger or by emailing caneyforkcreative@gmail.com.

The Carthage Junction Depot proudly presents a one day only exhibit of the work of artist Perry Johnson on Saturday, January 18.

Perry Johnson is a painter and printmaker with degrees from Virginia Intermont College and East Tennessee State University. While in graduate school, Perry worked as a programmer, first for the web and then moved to application and database development. He has been teaching since 1999 and now teaches painting and related courses at Tennessee Tech University.

Truly a Renaissance man, his work displays his delight in the intersection of technology, science, and art. He recently led a grant funded workshop that allowed 30 American Chemical Society member participants to explore the chemistry of color and paint media in a studio lab environment. He has also presented his work: Meaning, Modernity and the Machine: Theories About Emotional Vectors in AI Generated Images as Artat the 2024 conference of the International Society for Research on Emotion, held at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland. And over the summer, Perry also served as resident artist at Belfast Print Workshop, Northern Ireland. During the residency, he worked to develop intaglio lift ground techniques using graphite, wax-based pencils, or oil based ink. Several plates were produced and three editions followed. Some of the work from these editions will be featured in the exhibit at the Depot.

Perry’s philosophy of teaching shines through in his own body of work: “Composition, construction, and craft are in play here. Answers come through experience. We fail and we fail often. A moment of experimentation is better than a week of speculation. Risk is inherent to creation, but I encourage students to see each colossal failure as a possible solution to another problem. The forked purpose here is to develop the skill and discipline to arrive at an intentional aim while also being open to possibilities one did not intend.”

Perry Johnson’s art will be on display at the Carthage Junction Depot Saturday, January 18 from 10am-4pm. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Some work may be available for purchase from the artist. The Carthage Junction Depot is located at 185 Gordonsville Highway, Brush Creek, TN.

The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) will hold a commodities distribution in Smith County on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 9 until 11 a.m. at 159 Ag. Center Ln., South Carthage, TN.

Sign-up will be available at the distribution site. Visit uchra.org/2025-commodities-distribution-events for more information about UCHRA’s commodities program including instructions on how to apply. The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin, religion, or disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities.

This project is funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee

The Second Harvest Food Truck will be at the Smith County Agriculture Center on Wednesday, January 8th. The truck generally arrives at 10 a.m. Volunteers work to unload the truck and get the food ready for pick-up shortly after. Food is distributed until it is gone. Cars line up around the Ag Center early. Those hoping to receive food at this distribution are encouraged to be in line no later than 10 a.m.

The food trucks are sponsored by the Hunger Relief Fund of Smith County and grants from Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN. Churches, businesses and individuals donate to the hunger relief fund all year. Usually two dates are scheduled each month. For more information feel free to contact the Smith County Chamber of Commerce 615-735-2093.

Plan to give blood at the Smith County Chamber of Commerce – Community Room on Monday, January 6, 2025 from 12-6 p.m., 939 Upper Ferry Road, Carthage, TN. You can schedule your appointment by visiting RedCrossBlood.org and entering sponsor code Carthage19. Your pre-donation reading and health questions can be completed using your rapid pass visit RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass.

You’re invited to a free community event on Sunday, December 8, at the Smith County Ag Center! Enjoy a festive day featuring a free Christmas movie, delicious movie snacks, photo opportunities with The Grinch, face painting, and live music. Bring your family and friends for some holiday fun!

We’ve had a busy couple of months recently! We were honored to assist with the Community Thanksgiving, host our own Thanksgiving meal, and even participate in the Christmas parade with a float.

As the year comes to a close, we’re excited to serve our final meal of 2024 on December 28th. Join us from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (or until the food runs out) for a special Christmas meal at the room beneath the Library. You can find us by parking in the lot behind the Courthouse.

In addition to our meals, we want to remind everyone that we also operate a food pantry and provide clothing for those in need. If you or someone you know could use some support, please reach out to For His Glory Ministries through Facebook or call us at 615-580-1251.

We will be doing some fund raisers starting in January to try to raise the money to be able to do this the last Saturday of the month. We are currently taking donations and if you have extra cash and would like to help it would be appreciated because everything we give away is free and comes out of our pockets or from donations from others in the community.

We look forward to seeing a big turnout for our December meal. (Submitted by Ashlynne Myers For His Glory Ministries)

The holiday season is here, and so is Small Business Saturday! This year, on November 30, it’s the perfect time to kick off your holiday shopping while supporting the local businesses that make your community unique. Some stores are kicking off the celebration early with hours on Thanksgiving Night and Friday.

Instead of heading to big-box stores, explore your neighborhood for thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gifts. Small businesses offer items with a personal touch that you won’t find anywhere else—perfect for adding meaning to your holiday giving.

Shopping online? Many small businesses have websites, so you can support them directly from the comfort of home. Or choose “buy online, pick up in-store” and discover even more treasures when you visit.

Not sure what to buy? Gift cards from local shops, restaurants, or cafés are always a great option. They make thoughtful gifts and provide immediate support to the businesses you love.

While you’re out, treat yourself to a meal or coffee from a local restaurant or cafe. It’s a delicious way to support small businesses while soaking in the holiday cheer.

Found a business you love? Share it! Post about your experience, tag the business, or leave a review. A simple recommendation can go a long way in helping them grow.

Shopping small may require shifting your perspective. Beyond price and convenience, it can have a significant positive impact for small businesses have on your community. By supporting them, you’re investing in local creativity, innovation, and the personal touches that make your area unique. Small businesses also tend to provide personalized service and friendly expert knowledge, creating a shopping experience that stands out from big-box stores

This holiday season, shopping small isn’t just about finding great gifts—it’s about giving back to your community and celebrating the people who make it special. Let’s shop small and spread some holiday cheer!

On Saturday December 7th, Carthage Junction Depot will host a special holiday event featuring entries into the Gingerbread House competition and pictures with Santa! Event will be free and open to the public from 10-4 on Saturday. Visiting Santa is free for children of all ages. A photographer will be on hand for photos . Printed photos will be available for purchase for $10/ea.

 The Gingerbread House competition will accept entries on December 2&3 at the Carthage Junction Depot from 3:30-5pm. Prizes for this competition are sponsored by Underwood Hometown Realty and  will be awarded on the day of the exhibit. Entries should be completely edible and able to be carried by one person. Due to limited space, groups are asked to submit only one entry. After the event, houses not picked up will be discarded. For more information, contact the Carthage Junction Depot via Facebook messenger or email caneyforkcreative@gmail.com.

Get ready to meet Santa at Wilson Bank & Trust! Visits with Santa are free and open to the public. Be sure to bring your own camera to capture the magic, as a photographer will not be provided.

To see the complete Santa Visits schedule, visit wilsonbank.com/events. Don’t miss this festive holiday tradition!