The Smith County Health and Rehabilitation Center will host the 2024 Shamrock 5K on March 16, 2024 at 7 a.m. The race will begin and end at 50 Cookeville Highway, Carthage TN.

To register scan the QR code or stop by to pick up information. All proceeds will go to the resident van fund.

Get ready to unleash your inner ninja and support a worthy cause at the upcoming Cookeville Ninja Challenge, a thrilling fundraising event benefiting Hope Center Family and Adoption Services. Taking place at the Hyder Burks Pavilion on Saturday, February 24, 2024, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, this action-packed day promises fun for the whole family.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
• Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Location: Hyder Burks Pavilion, Cookeville, TN
• Website: https://cookevilleninjachallenge.com/

The Cookeville Ninja Challenge is set to be the first community and competition event of its kind in the area. Attendees can look forward to tackling the Ninja Nation Mobile Pro Obstacle Course, enjoying delicious fare from food trucks, and exploring offerings from local vendors.

Competition times will run from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by individual course times from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. The course itself boasts 125 feet of truss obstacles, including the world-famous Warp Wall. With dual obstacle lanes catering to participants aged 6 years and above, the event promises all the excitement of an American Ninja Warrior experience.

New this year is the team competition, where groups of four will compete in time trials across the entire event. Teams will navigate obstacles together, pushing their physical and mental limits to secure the quickest time. The cost for each team to enter is $100, with each member running the course once.

Individual tickets for the Cookeville Ninja Challenge are available for purchase here. Each ticket grants one run of the obstacle course, allowing participants to test their ninja skills to the fullest.

Proceeds from the Cookeville Ninja Challenge will directly benefit the Hope Center Family and Adoption Services, a local charity dedicated to supporting families and facilitating adoptions. By participating in this event, attendees can make a positive impact in their community while having a blast.

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to test your ninja powers and support a great cause. Purchase your tickets today and get ready for an adrenaline-fueled day of fun at the Cookeville Ninja Challenge!

New Salem Association of Baptist Churches will host a Men’s Conference and Car and Truck Show on Saturday, March 16th 2024 at the Smith County Ag Center.

Registration for the Car and Truck Show will begin at 9 a.m. Scan the QR code for $15 Early Bird Registration or register at the event for $20. Lots of fun will begin at 10 a.m. including corn hole and pickle ball. Helen’s “On the Go” Food Truck will provide lunch.

Worship will begin at 11:30 a.m. The Nesbitt Family will provide live music and Travis Humes will be the speaker. Admission to the Conference is Free. All proceed from the Car show will benefit the Smith County Pregnancy Resource Center.

The Pleasant Shade Community Center will host Nash Night Clean County Music Concert on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 7 p.m.

Entry fee is $10 and youth 15 and under are free. Food and drinks will be available. The featured performers will include Connor Jameson and Jeff Holbrook.

For more information check out the website www.615NASH.COM . Scan the QR code for ticket information.

Plan to give blood at the Smith County Chamber of Commerce – Community Room on Monday, March 4, 2024 from 12-6 p.m., Carthage United Methodist Church, 608 Main Street North, 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.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After a sold-out inaugural event last year, Tennessee Tech University’s College of Fine Arts is set to host its second annual Arty Gras at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at the Saltbox Inn in Cookeville.

The event, billed by organizers as a “fine arts fête,” will feature a plated dinner, cocktails, dancing, costumes, live music from local entertainer Lily Bethke and presentations of art, music and theatre from Tech Fine Arts students – all with a theme of “Fairytales, Fiction & Fables.”

Jennifer Shank, dean of the College of Fine Arts at Tech, says the event is meant to offer an elevated, whimsical experience while putting a spotlight on the College of Fine Arts’ offerings and celebrating arts culture in the Upper Cumberland.

“Sometimes the College of Fine Arts is a bit of a hidden gem, and I very much wanted to create an event that would showcase our students’ work and invite the community as a whole to celebrate with us,” said Shank. “It’s a way to experience what the College of Fine Arts has to offer all in one place, and we have some tricks up our sleeve. There’s going to be some fun events and surprises.”

Shank adds that, while the soirée supports the College of Fine Arts, it is “not a fundraiser.”

“Once our guests walk through the door, we want them to take in the beautiful ambiance we’ve created and enjoy the delicious food, drinks, dancing, costumes and live entertainment without worrying about being asked for additional contributions,” said Shank. “This is about having a good time.”

To pull off the event, Shank assembled a committee of Upper Cumberland arts leaders, business owners and creatives helmed by Kathleen Gilpatrick, the president of the Cookeville Theatre Company and public relations specialist for the College of Fine Arts.

“Our committee is made up of some of the most wonderful community people who are bringing amazing creativity to this event,” added Shank.

Mark Cramer, associate professor of clarinet at Tech, will once again direct student musicians at this year’s Arty Gras. Cramer’s performance roster for the event includes a flute quartet, reed quintet, jazz combo, percussion ensemble, string quartet, barbershop quartet, steel drum band, tuba quartet and brass trio.

Tech theatre students will also perform one-act scenes for guests while students from the School of Art, Craft & Design will have selected works on display.

“We are so lucky to have such a thriving arts scene in a community of our size. As a musician and a member of the Tech faculty, I am proud to showcase the wonderful talent of our students with our guests year after year,” said Cramer. “This is an event you won’t want to miss!”

Tickets for Arty Gras are limited and sales close Feb. 15. Tickets can be purchased by calling 931-372-3016 or visiting www.tntech.edu/fine-arts/. Arty Gras is an ages 21-and-up event.

The March 16th Art Show at the Carthage Junction Depot will feature young artists in Smith County. Students pre-K-12th grade are encouraged to participate. 2-D and 3-D original artwork can be submitted at every Smith County Schools. Home schooled students are also eligible to participate. Space is limited, but a variety of work from all ages will be considered. Young artist must submit their work by February 26th. Those artists selected to participate will be notified the week of March 4-8th. Please contact Jenny Penuel during school hours for more information at fordj6@smithcoedu.net.

Wilson Bank & Trust’s 31st annual home show will return to the Farm Bureau Expo Center in February with a variety of exhibitors ready to help with all types of home-related projects.

The Southern Home & Garden Expo takes place Friday and Saturday, February 9-10. With free admission, the event provides access to dozens of Middle Tennessee businesses in the home improvement industry, featuring more than 120 exhibitors. Special guests this year will be Brooke and Brice Gilliam from the hit television show Making Modern with Brooke + Brice, featured on the Magnolia Network, Discovery +, and Max.

The couple reside in Nashville, but

Brice is a native to Lebanon.

Prizes and giveaways will be given away at this year’s Expo, including a $250 MasterCard gift card and Blackstone Grill from Wilson Bank & Trust, a solo stove from Chim-Chimney plus additional prizes. There will be giveaways each event day (while supplies last). Expo hours are 4pm to 8pm on February 9, and 9am to 5pm on February 10. A food court area will be located inside the expo center. WBT also offers special financing rates only available during the event, as well as competitive deposit products. Please see a lender for more details.

For more information about the Southern Home & Garden Expo, visit wbthomegardenexpo.com.

About Wilson Bank & Trust

Wilson Bank & Trust (www.wilsonbank.com) is a community bank established in 1987 to provide personal and professional service in a hometown setting. One of the top banks in the South in stability, products, technology, growth and earnings, WBT currently operates 29 full-service offices in nine Middle Tennessee counties, offering a full range of financial products that include secondary market mortgage loans and mobile and online banking services. Wilson Bank & Trust is a member of the FDIC and originates loans without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or familial status.

The February 17th Art Show at the Carthage Junction Depot will feature works from the themed “A Song in My Heart” event that was postponed due to snow and icy conditions. It will celebrate our affection for the sounds that move our feet and touch our soul. Local artists’ work inspired by music will be on display and open to the public. Styles of music from Bluegrass to Weird Al are represented in every medium from oil paint to floral foam. This event also includes a Record Swap. Several participating artists will be offering a selection of vinyl records available for sale for visitors to find some new tunes or favorite old jams.

Entries are still being accepted for the “See You at the Fair” part of the February show. This exhibit will feature artwork submitted for consideration to be the cover art for the Smith County Fair program. Deadline for entry is February 7. Be sure to bring your entry in to Citizen’s Bank Carthage any business day before the deadline. All work submitted should be prepared for display.