Kyle Owens has been named the Tennessee Farmer of the Year by University of Tennessee Extention. His story was recently featured in the UT Institute of Agriculture August 2023 Magazine and Newsletter. Below is an excerpt.

When Kyle Owen started his farming operation in 2004, he had 32 acres of burley tobacco and some farming equipment that he pulled out of weedy fencerows. Being named Tennessee Farmer of the Year could not have been further from his mind. Yet in his nearly 20 years of farming, his passion for agriculture, work ethic, and business sense have combined to morph that original 32 acres of tobacco to more than 6,000 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat as well as tobacco, watermelons and pumpkins. That’s among the many reasons that Katie Martin, University of Tennessee Extension-Smith County agriculture agent and county director, was proud to nominate Owen to be the 2023 Tennessee Farmer of the Year. Though the process involved a detailed and rigorous application, she was very excited that the effort was rewarded.

“I admire Kyle’s hard work and determination,” Martin says. “Very few people can build what Kyle has built as a first-generation farmer. The way he has diversified and grown his farm inspires all those young people who dream of a career in production agriculture but aren’t blessed to grow up on a multi-generational farm. Kyle is a testament that it is possible to make it. He has faced many challenges and has overcome each one with a little innovation and a lot of grit.”

When asked how he was able to grow his operation Owen says, “Although it was a struggle with very little labor and equipment, that first crop was a success. I had a profitable year and began a plan to grow 50 acres the next year and 80 acres the following year, and by 2011, I had purchased my first farm, had a full lineup of equipment, and was growing nearly 300 acres of tobacco.”

He continues his story with more emphasis on planning and crop diversification. “While tobacco had been good to me,” says Owen, “I knew to stay profitable I needed to diversify my operation and get a steady crop rotation. So, in 2011 I leased an additional 350 acres, bought a combine and planter, and began my endeavor into corn and soybean production.” Owen has continued plans for expansion by adding row crop acreage, additional grain storage and even plans for agritourism in the future.

As the Tennessee Farmer of the Year, Owen will be honored at the UT Institute of Agriculture’s annual Ag Day event in Knoxville, this year to be held September 23. He will also compete in the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year c

Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. Check out the full article at utia.tennessee.edu.

The Smith County Rescue Squad is a volunteer organization that operates solely on donations received from the community. In July they responded to over 40 calls including community service, water rescue & numerous vehicle accidents. The volunteer rescue staff receives no compensation for our service. However there are expenses every time they respond to a call. Supplies, gas, and vehicle maintenance are necessary to keep everything ready to respond to the next emergency.

Any time 911 is dialed Smith County Rescue is ready to respond, many times they are first on the scene. They work hand in hand with other Smith County Emergency Services including Emergency Management, City & local Fire Departments, Police Departments and the Smith County Sheriffs Office.

Continued support is greatly appreciated. If you would like to donate to the Smith County Rescue Squad you can Venmo @SCrescue. Your donation makes it possible for Smith County Rescue to continue to service our community.

On July 31st, The Spot in partnership with the Smith County Health Department held The Red Sand Project. The Spot is a youth center for 7th-12th grade students in Smith County. 

The Red Sand Project is a collaborative artwork movement created by Molly Gochman that uses sidewalk indentations and cracks to create opportunities for people to question, connect and take action against human trafficking, modern slavery, and exploitation. The red sand represents the people that are trafficked “falling through the cracks’” in the view of society.

Over 30 people attended the event at the Historic Carthage Courthouse. Artwork made by the red sand was created by adults and youth alike, helping to show awareness for the common cause to show awareness for human trafficking.

Extreme weather patterns such as tornadoes, wildfires, and flash-flooding have claimed lives and destroyed property across the U.S. so far this summer – and the peak of summer is still ahead.  

In an effort to help prepare Tennessee consumers should severe weather occur, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (“TDCI”) encourages Tennessee consumers to remember that today’s preparation can play a crucial part in making a successful recovery tomorrow.  

“While no one can predict when a disaster will strike, consumers should take a few minutes today to prepare themselves and their families to ensure that they are ready to evacuate should a disaster strike,” said TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence.  

Creating a home inventory can be an invaluable resource when filing insurance claims after a disaster strikes. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners‘ (“NAIC”) Home Inventory App makes it easy for consumers to create and protect a record of their belongings and offers tips on disaster preparation and filing claims. 

“Creating an annual home inventory should be an important part of every homeowner’s to-do list when it comes to emergency preparedness,” said TDCI Assistant Commissioner for Insurance Bill Huddleston. “The NAIC’s Home Inventory App makes it easy for consumers to make a safe, secure record of their home’s contents in the event they ever need to file an insurance claim after an emergency.” 

The NAIC Home Inventory App, which can be accessed from the App Store and Google Play, gives consumers the ability to: 

• Group belongings by category 
• Scan barcodes for accuracy 
• Upload and export photos with ease 
• Find disaster preparation advice 
• Review information about filing insurance claims 

In addition to making a home inventory, Tennessee consumers can take several other steps today to help them prepare for an emergency. 

• Create an emergency kit that includes bottled water, a first-aid kit, flashlights, a battery-powered radio, non-perishable food items, blankets, clothing, prescription medications, eyeglasses, personal hygiene supplies, and a small amount of cash. 
• Prepare an evacuation plan and choose two meeting places: one right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency (like a fire) and one outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home. 
• Review insurance policies — whether they are homeowners, renters, flood, or health policies — to make sure that adequate coverage is in place should a disaster strike. It is important to note that traditional homeowners policies do not cover floods. 
• Flood insurance can only be purchased through an insurance agent or an insurer participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”). If you are in need of an agent that sells flood insurance, you can contact the NFIP Referral Call Center at 1-800-427-4661. 
• Talk to an insurance producer about purchasing flood insurance. Before purchasing, make sure the agent is licensed to sell in Tennessee by visiting TDCI’s website. 

To assist consumers after a disaster, TDCI has compiled list of Consumer Disaster Recovery Resources that are available here. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is holding a public meeting 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023,
at the Smith County Agricultural Center in Carthage, Tennessee, to discuss a draft Environmental Assessment and unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact for the revision of the 1998 Center Hill Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual.

The Environmental Assessment evaluates proposed operational changes, resource categories, and alternatives to assess potential effects of proposed water control manual updates. In addition to the public meeting, there is a 30-day comment period ending on Sept. 1, 2023. The Nashville District is soliciting feedback on proposed changes to hydropower ramp rates, sluice gate operations, and minimum flow requirements at Center Hill Dam. Comments may be sent via email to
CorpsLRNPlanningPublicCom@usace.army.mil.

“This comment period and public meeting are an opportunity for stakeholders and the public to provide feedback on the agency’s tentatively selected plan,” said Patrick Garner, project planning branch environmental section biologist. The Draft Environmental Assessment is prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. §§ 4321-4370h), Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 C.F.R. §§ 1500-1508),
and the Corps’ implementing regulation, ER 200-2-2, 1988 (33 C.F.R. § 230), The Draft Finding of No
Significant Impact can be viewed at https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll7/id/24361.
The Draft Environmental Assessment 1998 Water Control Manual Revision can be viewed at
https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll7/id/24362.

The Smith County Agricultural Center is located at 159 Agricultural Center Lane in Carthage, Tennessee.
(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District
on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on
Twitter at www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps. The public can also follow Center Hill Lake updates at
www.facebook.com/centerhilllake.)

Carthage, TN (July 24, 2023) – The American Diabetes Association (ADA), recently announced the recognition of the Riverview Regional Medical Center (RRMC) Diabetes Education Center through the Education Recognition Program (ERP). The ADA is the nation’s leading organization committed to fighting diabetes by driving discovery through research and innovation, intensifying the urgency around the diabetes epidemic, and supporting people living with and affected by diabetes.

“Riverview Regional’s Diabetes Education Center has proven a valuable resource to those in our community, and we are pleased to be recognized by the American Diabetes Association,” says Carolyn Sparks, CEO of Riverview Regional Medical Center. “By offering diabetes education to not just those in our rural community living with the disease but also their families, we can provide the care and education they need, closer to home.”

The ADA’s Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational services meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES). Services certified by the ADA’s ERP program offer a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes management. Services apply for recognition voluntarily, and ADA-ERP recognition lasts for four years.

“Daily self-management skills are absolutely essential for people to effectively navigate the 24/7 challenges of living with diabetes, helping to keep them healthy and prevent or delay the serious complications of diabetes,” said Linda Cann, MSEd, the ADA’s senior vice president of professional services. “We applaud the RRMC Diabetes Education Center for its commitment to providing high-quality, evidence-based education and support for people with diabetes by meeting the National Standards for DSME/S and earning the ADA’s ERP recognition.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) 2017 National Diabetes Statistic Report there are 30.3 million people or 9.4% of the population in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 23.1 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 7.2 million people are not aware that they have this disease. Each day, more than 4,110 Americans are diagnosed with diabetes. Many will first learn that they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications – heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease, and amputation. Diabetes continues to be the seventh leading cause of death in the US—in 2015, it contributed to 252,806 deaths. The ADA’s Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2017 confirms diabetes as the nation’s most expensive chronic health care condition at $327 billion.

For more information on Riverview Regional Medical Center’s Diabetes Education Center, visit MyRiverviewMedical.com/Diabetes-and-Nutrition.

About the American Diabetes Association –

Nearly half of American adults have diabetes or prediabetes; more than 30 million adults and children have diabetes; and every 21 seconds, another individual is diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization whose mission is to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The ADA drives discovery by funding research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, as well as to search for cures; raises voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and works to safeguard policies and programs that protect people with diabetes. In addition, the ADA supports people living with diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes, and the health care professionals who serve them through information and programs that can improve health outcomes and quality of life. For more information, please call the ADA at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).

About Riverview Regional Medical Center –

Riverview Regional Medical Center (RRMC) is a 35-bed critical access hospital in Carthage, Tennessee. RRMC provides general medical and surgical care, 24-hour emergency services (including an accredited chest pain center), skilled nursing, psychiatric services, childbirth and geriatric care to residents of Smith and surrounding counties. Riverview Regional Medical Center is a facility of HighPoint Health System. To learn more, call 615-735-1560 or visit MyRiverviewMedical.com.

On Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 Gordonsville Police Officer Ian Grigg responded to the Waffle House located on Gordonsville Highway after a caller indicated to an employee that there was a bomb in the restaurant. Upon arriving to the location Officer Grigg evacuated the building and checked the bathrooms where the caller had indicated the bomb was located. Nothing was found to be out of place in the bathrooms.

The employee indicated that the caller seemed to be using a voice changer and specifically said “there is a bomb in the bathroom.” When she asked for clarification the caller immediately hung up. The number of the caller was recorded. A detailed investigation is still in progress and potential juveniles are being questioned.

All agencies were involved in the process to secure the restaurant and safety of the staff and customers including the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Carthage Police Department, South Carthage Police Department, Gordonsville Police Department, Gordonsville Fire Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Smith County 4-H was proud to be represented by several outstanding exhibitors at the Regional and State Beef Expo, which took place in Lebanon, Tennessee on June 28 – July 1, 2023. 10th grader Erin Hensley and 6th grader Tana Harville showed in their breed classes, competed in showmanship, participated in Sales Talk, and completed Skillathon. 7th grader Turner Harville also participated in Skillathon and Sales Talk.

Showmanship classes are judged on the exhibitor’s ability to control and present their animal to show off its best characteristics, while Skillathon tests exhibitors’ overall knowledge of beef cattle including breeds, diseases, nutrition, and more.

At the Central Region Show, Tuner was 1st and Tana was 3rd in Skillathon. Tana also won her showmanship class and was named Grand Champion with her Hereford heifer at the Regional Show. Erin Hensley also won her class with her commercial heifer.

At the Tennessee Junior Beef Expo, Tana placed 1st in her class and went on to be named the Reserve Champion Hereford Heifer and 1st place Registered Heifer Premier Exhibitor. Turner once again was 1st place in Skillathon and 2nd place in Sales Talk.

All of these outstanding young people made Smith County proud as they showed off the hard work they have put into their livestock animals over the past year. Their determination and dedication is sure to take them far, and we look forward to seeing where their show career goes next!

For more information about showing livestock or any of our 4-H activities, please call 615-735-2900.

If you stopped by the Smith County Extension Office this summer, you may have seen a new face. McKenzie Mason has been working with us this summer as our summer intern. McKenzie is currently a junior at Tennessee Tech University majoring in Agribusiness Management. While at school, she works as a student assistant in the office of the School of Agriculture.

McKenzie wanted to intern with us to gain real-life experience of potential careers in the Agriculture Industry. McKenzie participated in 4-H during elementary school but never realized how far 4-H could go. She says this summer has been eye-opening to be able to see all that Extension can do for you through 4-H, Agricultural and Natural Resources, and Family and Consumer Sciences. She has learned the daily operations of the Smith County Extension Office this summer. McKenzie states, “The amount of hard work the ladies in the office put in is inspiring. They are trying their hardest to help and educate the people of Smith County.”

Over the summer, McKenzie has assisted with 4-H camp, helped at the Smith County Fair, went on farm and home visits, observed FCS events, and much more. McKenzie’s favorite moment this summer was Agriculture Day with Smith County Adult Leadership. “Seeing the farmers of Smith County and some of their daily operations is a great learning experience. We could not make it without farmers, so getting to see their impacts on Smith County Agriculture is really cool,” she explained. Some honorable mentions for McKenzie’s favorite moment were the Women in Ag Summit, 4-H Camp, and the fair.

McKenzie would like to thank UT Extension for giving her the opportunity and Altria Client Services for sponsoring her internship this summer. She hopes any college student interested in Extension or Agriculture applies for one of the many internships UT Extension offers and gets the chance to learn what she has. We know that McKenzie’s future is bright!

For more information about UT Extension Smith County, call our office at 615-735-2900.

Tennessee kicks off its tax-free weekend on Friday for clothing, school supplies and computers as parents and students gear up for a new school year. Tennessee’s annual school supply sales tax holiday kicks off at 12:01 a.m. Friday and ends on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. For a full list of tax-exempt items, along with information on other sales tax holidays, visit tn.gov/revenue/taxes/sales-and-use-tax/sales-tax-holiday.

Shoppers will get another tax break on food and food ingredients starting at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 1 through 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 31.

On Monday July 17, 2023, the River City Ball committee donated $20,000 each to the Pregnancy Help Center and the Smith County Help Center followed by a small reception at The Rose Building made possible by the funds raised for the 2023 River City Ball.

The River City Ball presented by Birthright Title, LLC was held on May 13, 2023 at Catesa Farms. This is the second year the event has been held at Catesa Farms, and the event continues to grow. Four hundred people attending the event gathered in 80s Prom attire to raise funds for the two beneficiaries.

River City Ball was created to benefit local non-profits working to improve the quality of life in Smith County. Each year the River City Ball benefits a local organization chosen through an application process and provides a $1,000 scholarship to two graduating seniors in Smith County. This year the committee took a leap to choose two beneficiaries thinking the organizations would benefit from something rather than nothing; however, the event was able to surpass everyone’s expectations and raise over $40,000!

This year’s beneficiaries were The Pregnancy Help Center of Smith County and the Smith County Help Center. The Pregnancy Help Center is a Christ-centered ministry offering life affirming, compassionate care to women, men, and children. This organization aims to help women who are pregnant as well as their families and support team during pregnancy and until the child is age two. The Smith County Help Center aims to provide “A Hand Up, not a Hand Out.” While the brick and mortar is a thriving thrift store in downtown Carthage, the mission of the Help Center is to provide assistance to those in need with food, utilities, and emergency needs.

Carthage Family Chiropractic generously supported the scholarship allowing us to present $2,000. Applicants for the scholarship complete an essay discussing the importance of the River City Ball and the organization being sponsored. The applications are submitted to the committee without names and scored based on length and content. Scholarships were presented to Kailey Hawthorne at Gordonsville High School and Amanda Barrett at Smith County High School.

River City Ball greatly appreciates all the sponsors that went into making this event possible. Please make sure to follow the event on Facebook and Instagram for the most up to date information. If you are interested in applying to be a sponsor or the cause for 2024, please reach out to the committee through social media or at rivercityball@outlook.com

Planning for the 2024 River City Ball will begin in August.

Article submitted by Virginia Alexander. Photos of the check presentations by Deerly Blessed Photography. Event photos by Nathan Crowder and Stephanie Elise Winfree.

A federal jury in the Middle District of Tennessee convicted a medical doctor today for unlawfully distributing controlled substances.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Bowdoin Smith, 67, of Carthage, Tennessee, unlawfully prescribed controlled substances, including opioids such as oxycodone and morphine. Smith, a doctor of osteopathy, owned and operated a general practice medical clinic in Carthage where he knowingly prescribed opioids outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. In 2012, the Tennessee Department of Health placed Smith’s medical license on probation for three years because he routinely prescribed greater amounts of controlled substances than were medically necessary for his patients. After the probation was lifted, Smith continued to write unlawful prescriptions between 2016 and 2019, regularly ignoring the signs of drug abuse and addiction in his patients.

The jury convicted Smith of three counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Tamala Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.

The DEA, HHS-OIG, and TBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Leslie Williams Fisher and Kelly Lyons of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in late 2018, ARPO has partnered with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. Over the past three years, ARPO has charged over 115 defendants collectively responsible for issuing prescriptions for over 115 million controlled substance pills. To date, more than 84 ARPO defendants have been convicted. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

The Smith County Board of Education met at 5:00 p.m. on July 18, 2023.

You can watch the full meeting below.

Thanks to Defeated Creek Designs 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!

The Smith County School Board meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. at the Smith County Board of Education, located at 126 Smith County Middle School Lane in Carthage, Tennessee.

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

The Carthage City Council held its monthly meeting on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 6:00 pm. Several items were discussed. Watch the full meeting below.

Thanks to Theresa’s Gifts for sponsoring Smith County Insider’s 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!

The Carthage City Council meets at 6:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at Carthage City Hall, located at 314 Spring Street in Carthage, Tennessee – 37030.

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