Bill Woodard presents Chamber Membership plaque to James Byrnes

This article is part of Smith County Success Stories, a Chamber Business Spotlight series presented by the Smith County Chamber of Commerce. The series highlights businesses, entrepreneurs, organizations, and community leaders whose hard work, innovation, and dedication help make Smith County a great place to live, work, visit, and do business.

When people see Patriot Contractors’ trucks around Smith County, they recognize a local construction company. What they may not realize is the story of hard work, service, family values, and community commitment behind the business. Patriot Contractors, LLC, a member of the Smith County Chamber of Commerce, has grown from humble beginnings into a full-service construction company serving residential and commercial clients throughout Middle Tennessee.

Located at 1011 Main Street North in Carthage, Patriot Contractors is licensed, bonded, and insured, offering services that include new construction, remodels, roofing, gutters, excavation, water lines, septic systems, and a wide range of additional residential and commercial services.

Owner James Byrnes’ journey began long before the company was established. Growing up in difficult circumstances, Byrnes learned the value of hard work at an early age. By his mid-teens, he was already working in construction and learning from experienced professionals and mentors who helped shape both his skills and work ethic. Rather than viewing obstacles as roadblocks, he treated them as opportunities to learn and improve.

Today, Patriot Contractors employs approximately twenty-four people and has become known for tackling projects of all sizes, from small repairs to luxury homes, commercial renovations, and extensive remodels. The company has played a role in numerous projects throughout Smith County and surrounding communities, helping improve homes, businesses, and public spaces.

According to Byrnes, one of the guiding principles behind Patriot Contractors is delivering value rather than simply being the lowest bidder. He believes reputation matters and that clients deserve quality workmanship, dependable service, and a contractor who leaves a project better than they found it. That philosophy has helped the company earn repeat customers and referrals throughout the region.

Military service has also played an important role in shaping Byrnes’ approach to leadership. A United States Marine Corps veteran, he credits the discipline, responsibility,

and teamwork learned during his service with influencing how he operates his business today.

Beyond construction, Byrnes is passionate about community involvement. He has supported fundraising efforts for veterans and individuals with disabilities and remains committed to giving back to the community that has supported his business. His belief that success should be measured not only by financial growth but also by positive impact reflects the values that continue to guide Patriot Contractors.

The company’s reach extends beyond traditional construction. Patriot Contractors has also been involved in the development of Grace Haven Senior Living in Hartsville, an independent living community designed for active adults aged fifty-five and older. The project reflects the company’s ability to manage larger developments while helping address important community needs.

Despite their growth, Patriot Contractors remains rooted in Smith County. Byrnes describes one of the area’s greatest strengths as its sense of community, where people know one another and local businesses support each other’s success. That hometown atmosphere continues to motivate the company as it expands its services while maintaining a commitment to quality and customer relationships.

For Byrnes and his team, the goal is not simply to complete construction projects. It is to be known as a team that delivers quality work, stands behind its reputation, and contributes to the long-term success of the community it serves.

Patriot Contractors can be reached at 615-489-0578, by email at patriotcontractors77@gmail.com, or online at www.patriotcontractorsusa.com.

Smith County Chamber of Commerce Member Spotlight recognizes businesses that invest in our community, create jobs, and help make Smith County a stronger place to live, work, and visit. We are proud to spotlight Patriot Contractors and thank them for their continued membership and support of the Chamber.

Patriot Construction is located at 1011 Main Street North in Carthage

When I think of fall, I think of vibrant orange, yellow, and green leaves, pumpkin recipes, and of course a new school year for children! As children return to school, there are some basic safety tips we can all follow to ensure the safety of students as they travel to and from school.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2013 to 2022 more than 1,000 people died in school-transportation-related crashes, and 198 of those were children age 18 and younger. Most of those students weren’t on the bus. 82% were either walking, waiting for the bus, biking, using personal devices such as scooters and wheelchairs, or in another vehicle. NHTSA offers the following safety tips:

Drivers:

• You may need to add additional time to your commute as all drivers following or passing a school bus need to stop when the bus stops to pick up students.
• Red flashing lights on the bus mean stop and wait at least 20 feet behind the bus. Children are getting on or off the school bus. Remain stationary until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving.
• Even when lights aren’t flashing, watch for children, especially in the morning or mid-afternoon, around school arrival and dismissal periods. Be alert as you back out of a driveway or drive through a neighborhood, school zone, or bus stop.

Parents:

• If you are driving your child to school:
• Make sure everyone in the vehicle is always wearing a seatbelt while the car is in motion.
• If the child is 12 years old or younger, he or she should always be riding in the back seat and, depending on age, sitting in the appropriate car seat.

· If your child is riding the bus:

• Make sure he or she lines up 6 feet away from the curb as the bus approaches.
• Advise them to always wait until the bus comes to a complete halt and the bus driver tells them to board before approaching the bus.
•  If your children have to cross in front of the bus, teach them to first walk at least 10 feet ahead until you can see the driver.
• Teach them that they should face forward when seated and remain seated while the bus is in motion.
• Tell them to exit the bus when it stops and look left-right-left for cars before crossing a street.
• Communicate with your children that the bus driver should always be able to see them when they are departing near the bus.

Walkers:

Children and adolescents need 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. Walking to school is a great way to help reach that goal. However, children 10 years old and younger should be accompanied by an adult or young adult on their way to and from school. If you are walking:

• Use the sidewalk whenever available, and if there isn’t a sidewalk, walk on the edge of the street facing traffic.
• Whenever they are accessible, use marked crosswalks to cross the street, and look left-right-left for vehicles or bikes before crossing.
• Make sure you never play, push, or shove other individuals when you walk around traffic.
• Everyone should watch the road, not their phones.

Bikers:

Biking is a fun, healthy method of getting to and from school. If you are biking:

• Always wear a properly fitted helmet, and securely fasten the chin strap.
• Ride in the same direction as traffic and follow traffic signs and signals.
• Stay in the bike lane whenever possible.
• Never use electronics while riding.

Student drivers:

As adolescents may be getting newly acquainted with driving, it is important to follow these safety tips:

• The vehicle should not move until everyone is buckled up.
• Abide by the speed limit.
• Stay focused. Keep your cellphone in a safe location in the vehicle where it cannot be seen. In 2017, 297 people died in crashes that involved distracted teen (15- to 19-year-old) drivers.
• We all have a part to play in keeping children in our community safe when it comes to transportation. As summertime comes to an end, keeping back-to-school safety at the top of your mind will ensure a successful and productive school year for our youth. For more information on back-to-school safety, contact Mary Parker Draper at UT-TSU Extension, Smith County at 615-735-2900.

Squash Dressing

2 cups squash, boiled, drained, and mashed

½ stick butter, melted

1 large onion, chopped

2 cups cornbread, crumbled

1 can cream of chicken soup

3 tablespoons sage or less depending on taste

Salt to taste

Pepper to tastte

Combine squash, butter, onion, cornbread, soup, sage, salt, and pepper. Pour into casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Submitted by: Linda Lankford, Elmwood/Chestnut Mound FCE Club

The Smith County Commission held its meeting on the evening of Monday, August 10, 2026

You can watch the full meeting below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1G5jVySE9U/

Thanks to Powell & Meadows Insurance Agency for sponsoring the live broadcast of this meeting.

Subscribe to Smith County Insider’s YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on meeting coverage, business spotlights, video features, and more!

Commission meetings are held in the Smith County Agricultural Center, 159 Ag Center Lane, Carthage, TN.

All meetings are open to the public and are streamed live at https://www.facebook.com/smithcountyinsider/.

A Gordonsville woman had her stolen 2021 Hyundai SUV recovered within an hour after a suspect’s crime spree crossed into Mt. Juliet.

It all began shortly after midnight this morning on I-40 in Smith County, when a deputy spotted a vehicle displaying a false license plate. When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled before crashing on Grant Highway in Gordonsville. The suspect ran from the crash and was not located during the initial search. The abandoned vehicle had a damaged and punched ignition, along with a broken door handle.

Later around 8:15 a.m., a 2021 Hyundai SUV was reported stolen from a driveway on Bob Davis Lane in Gordonsville.

Around 9:30 a.m., #MJGuardianShield alerted officers on the stolen SUV’s license plate when the stolen Hyundai entered Mt. Juliet on Lebanon Road near West Elementary School. Officers immediately responded and began searching the area.

The SUV was located a short time later on Lebanon Road near Benders Ferry Road. Officers contained the vehicle in a parking lot and safely took the suspect, a 20-year-old Celina man, into custody.

The stolen SUV was recovered for its owner, along with the victim’s purse.

Every day, our officers work hard to prevent crime, protect our community, and ensure those who commit crimes in Mt. Juliet are held accountable. The reality is that many of the criminal suspects our officers encounter do not live in our city. They can enter Mt. Juliet and leave just as quickly.

That is why proactive policing, strong investigative work, responsible use of technology, and close partnerships with surrounding law enforcement agencies are so important. Together, those efforts help our officers identify criminal activity, quickly locate those responsible, recover stolen property, and hold offenders accountable before they can cause harm in our community.

From the Mt Juliet Facebook page

Students will once again have access to free breakfast and lunch through the School Nutrition Program during the upcoming school year.

School officials are encouraging parents to remind and encourage their children to take advantage of the nutritious meals provided at school. The program helps ensure students have access to breakfast and lunch each school day while supporting their health and ability to learn.

While breakfast and lunch are free, extra items and additional snacks, including ice cream and other available items, may be purchased separately. Parents can pay for these extras with cash or check or add money to their child’s account through linqconnect.com/main.

School officials express their appreciation to families and the community for supporting the School Nutrition Program and helping keep free breakfast and lunch available to students.

GORDONSVILLE, Tenn. — A familiar location on East Main Street has a fresh name, a renewed vision, and plenty of hometown flavor. What was once known as BB’s Bistro is now Christina’s Diner & Shakes, where owner Christina Williams combining old-fashioned hospitality, classic diner favorites, and a deep love for Smith County to create one of Gordonsville’s newest community gathering places.

Christina recently took ownership of the restaurant from her longtime friend, mentor, and former owner Debie Pilant, after managing the business for several years. According to Christina, the opportunity was the realization of a dream fueled by her passion for serving people and creating a place where everyone feels welcome.

Open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Christina’s Diner has quickly become a local favorite for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Customers can expect a family-friendly atmosphere, attentive service, and menu items prepared with a hometown touch. The restaurant is located at 4 East Main Street in Gordonsville and serves everything from hearty breakfasts and burgers to sandwiches, homestyle plates, milkshakes, and desserts.

One of the diner’s biggest attractions is its growing selection of sweet treats. Christina has introduced hand-spun shakes and banana splits that are already creating a buzz around town. For many longtime residents, the highlight may be the nostalgic addition of the famous-style walnuts in syrup, bringing back memories of the banana splits at a beloved drive-in once located in Elmwood decades ago.

“Try the shakes and banana splits,” Christina says enthusiastically. “They remind people of the good old days.”

That sense of nostalgia is exactly what she hopes to create. Her goal is to bring back a fun, family-oriented diner experience where people can enjoy a burger, a corndog, a milkshake, or simply spend time together with friends and family.

Customers consistently praise the restaurant’s food, service, and welcoming atmosphere. Popular menu items include the Main Street Classic Breakfast, cheeseburgers, Philly cheesesteaks, fried fish plates, mozzarella sticks, and a variety of specialty shakes. The diner also offers homestyle favorites and daily options that appeal to diners of all ages.

“I love the community and the people here,” she explained in responses provided for a local business spotlight questionnaire.

Originally from Quincy, California, a small mountain town in Northern California, Christina says she was drawn to Smith County because it reminded her of home. The tight-knit community, family values, and genuine friendliness of local Smith County residents were exactly what she hoped to find when looking for a place to raise her family.

In fact, Quincy and Smith County share more similarities than many might imagine. She said that if you take a left at Hallelujah Junction on Highway 70 and drive about 55 miles, you’ll find yourself in Quincy, where life still moves at a small-town pace. During a recent visit back home, she saw deer casually roaming the streets, a reminder of the rural lifestyle and close connection to nature that made her upbringing so special.

When it came time to choose where to build her future, she wanted her family to experience the same sense of community, safety, and neighborly spirit she enjoyed growing up. She found those qualities in abundance in Smith County.

“Smith County filled that need,” she said. “The people here care about each other, support local businesses, and make you feel like family.”

That appreciation for small-town living influences everything she hopes to create at Christina’s Diner & Shakes. More than just a restaurant, she envisions it as a gathering place where neighbors connect, families make memories, and visitors are treated like longtime friends.

Looking ahead, Christina has ambitious plans for the diner. She currently has space for family gatherings and civic club meetings and hopes to eventually create an outdoor dining area complete with picnic tables and some game boards where families can relax and enjoy a meal together.

She hopes to decorate the restaurant with historic Smith County photographs and is inviting residents to contribute images that help tell the story of the community’s past. She is making a community-wide call for historic photographs of Smith County. One of her goals is to transform the diner into a place that celebrates local heritage, and she hopes residents will share copies of old photos, downtown scenes, farms, schools, businesses, and community events from years gone by. She envisions the walls of Christina’s Diner & Shakes becoming a visual journey through Smith County history, giving customers a chance to reminisce, tell stories, and pass local traditions on to younger generations. “Every picture has a story,” Christina said. “I’d love for the diner to showcase the people, places, and memories that make Smith County special.”

More than anything, Christina wants Christina’s Diner & Shakes to be a place where everyone feels at home.

“A person can come in here for the first time and feel like they belong,” she recently said.

With good food, friendly faces, and a commitment to serving the community, Christina’s Diner & Shakes is proving that the recipe for success in Gordonsville is simple: great meals, genuine hospitality, and a little hometown located at .4 East Main Street, Gordonsville, TN Monday-Saturday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Smith County 4-H Wildlife Judging Team poses near the salt marsh at the South Carolina FFA Leadership Center with 4-H Agent Rachel Petty and chaperone Leisa Bibbings.

A group of Smith County 4-H’ers have proudly brought home a National Championship title as representatives of Tennessee 4-H at the 2026 National Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) Contest, which was held at the South Carolina FFA Leadership Center in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on July 26th – 29th.

The team was made up of Easton Bibbings, Emmy Bibbings, Turner Harville, and Owen Meeks. These 4-H’ers earned their bid to compete in the National WHEP contest by first winning the Central Region 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest in May and then the State 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest in June.

In total, 18 teams from 17 states competed in the 2026 WHEP National Contest. Of these teams, 11 represented 4-H and 7 represented FFA. The contest was based around the Southeastern Mixed and Outer Coastal Plain Ecoregion.

In addition to the 1st Place 4-H Team win, Easton Bibbings was also crowned the overall 1st Place High Individual in the 4-H Contest. Owen Meeks placed 2nd individually, and Turner Harville placed 5th.

This team was coached by 4-H alumni Carson Meeks and Gabe Harville and supported by 4-H Agent Rachel Petty. Rachel Petty and Leisa Bibbings served as chaperones for the trip.

WHEP is a hands-on environmental education program dedicated to teaching wildlife and fisheries habitat management to 4-H and FFA youth in the United States. WHEP provides participants an opportunity to test their wildlife knowledge in a friendly competition where teams of 3-4 individuals compete together. Through the WHEP program, participants learn about wildlife terms and concepts, wildlife habitat, how to judge the quality of wildlife habitat, wildlife habitat management practices, and wildlife damage management.

During the three-day contest in South Carolina, participants got to enjoy time at the South Carolina FFA Leadership Center, which is located on a salt marsh teeming with wildlife. Our Tennessee team shared Moon Pies and Mountain Dew with other states as part of the Share Fair on Sunday night. On Education Day on Monday, participants cruised down the intercostal waterway to the Atlantic Ocean in search of bottlenose dolphins, which were found just off the shoreline in North Carolina. After lunch, students broke out into education stations where they

learned more about alligators, saltwater fishing, coastal ecology, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Competition Day was on Tuesday, where our Tennessee team ultimately emerged victorious!

We are so incredibly proud of Easton, Emmy, Turner, and Owen for this huge accomplishment on the national stage. These 4-H’ers have been involved in the 4-H Wildlife Judging program for many years, and this win is so well-deserved. They sure make Tennessee 4-H and Smith County proud!

Thank you to Smith Farmers Co-Op, Citizens Bank, the University of Tennessee Department of Natural Resources, Smith County FCE, Petty Farms, and the National Wild Turkey Federation – Forked River Longbeards for their generous monetary donations to support this trip. A donation by Smith County Farm Bureau paid for our team polo shirts, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency donated two different sets of hats for our team to wear during the contest.

4-H Wildlife Judging allows 4-H’ers to embrace the great outdoors as a classroom and can afford them once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like competing at the national level.

For more information about 4-H Wildlife Judging or any other 4-H activities offered in Smith County, please call 615-735-2900 or email rpetty@utk.edu.

The 2026 National Champion WHEP 4-H Team from Smith County, Tennessee L to R: Owen Meeks (2nd Place), Emmy Bibbings, Turner Harville (5th Place), and Easton Bibbings (1st Place)

2026 WHEP 4-H 1st Place High Individual Easton Bibbings

Submitted by Rachel Petty – Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is reminding Tennesseans and visitors to take part in the 2026 wild turkey summer observation survey. The survey is open to the public and continues through Aug 31.

“As we begin to wind down another summer, please remember to report your sightings of wild turkeys to TWRA via the annual summer turkey survey,” said Roger Shields, TWRA Wild Turkey Program Coordinator. “Whether you see gobblers, jakes, hens with poults, or hens without poults, they are all important observations for the survey. So please take time to report any turkeys you see this month.”

The Agency had set a goal of having at least 30 observations from each of the state’s 95 counties. TWRA received reports of sightings from all but Crockett County last summer.

Agency staff have conducted this survey annually since the 1980s, with public participation now in its fifth year. The main purpose of the summer survey is to obtain wild turkey reproduction and population data that can be compared with results from previous years to evaluate population trends. Survey participants help the TWRA monitor the state’s wild turkey population by reporting wild turkey sightings. For more information on the survey and how to participate, visit www.tn.gov/twra/turkeyobs.

For those interested in participating in the survey for the first time, the website will explain why TWRA conducts the survey, provide an ID tutorial with a quiz to test one’s knowledge of turkey ID, and provide links to the actual forms to submit observations.

The public can read the TWRA’s wild turkey status reports and summaries of past years’ survey results by visiting https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/twra/hunting/big-game/turkey.html#biology.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving fish and wildlife species for the benefit of Tennesseans and visitors. The Agency also maintains public safety through law enforcement and safety education on waterways.

Check out the August 2026 edition of the Smith County Chamber Corner Show.

This month’s show features local businesses, community organization and events going on in and around Smith County.

If you would like to promote your event or local business on the Smith County Chamber Corner Show, contact the Smith County Chamber of Commerce by calling 615-735-2093 today.

Watch the full show below, or catch it on DTC3 TV.

youtube.com/watch?v=H_HDWclg3AE&feature=youtu.be