The Smith County Help Center was able to assist 1,096 families with food or utility needs. Additionally, during times of crisis—such as house fires they stepped in to help 38 families who lost everything, providing clothing, furniture, and essential household items.

Thanks to the generous donations received, the Help Center raised $53,000 through sales, all of which went directly toward providing food and utility assistance for Smith County residents facing immediate hardships.

Director Pamela Ferriss shares her heartfelt gratitude, saying, “We thank each of you for your generosity and support. Please remember us when you’re looking to donate items, and most of all, keep our mission in your prayers. Together, we continue to be a ‘Hand Up, Not a Handout”

The Smith County Help Center is a non-profit organization helping those in need of assistance with food, utilities, and emergency needs. Smith Co Help Center operates on funds received from grants and donations made by concerned individuals, businesses and churches. It is also a local thrift shop located at 318 Main St N, Carthage, TN where you can find a variety of items including clothing, housewares, furniture, home decor and much more.

The University of Tennessee at Martin recently announced its Chancellor’s Honor Roll recipients for the Fall 2024 semester, recognizing students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement.

Among those honored was Violet C. Gillilan of Elmwood, who earned a spot on the list with honors. To qualify for the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, students must complete at least 12 hours of credit and maintain a minimum 3.2 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Honors are awarded to students achieving a GPA between 3.2 and 3.49.

Congratulations to Violet on this accomplishment!

The Smith County Fair has been recognized as the Division A Merit Award 1st Runner Up presented during the 103rd Tennessee Association of Fairs (TAF) Convention held January 16-18 in Murfreesboro.

This accolade was shared in a press release from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, which highlighted various fairs for their contributions to community, agriculture education, and entertainment. The full announcement can be found here.

In response, the Smith County Fair organization expressed their gratitude to the volunteers, sponsors, attendees, and participants whose collective efforts led to this recognition with the following statement:

We are delighted to announce that the Smith County Fair has received the 1st Runner Up Merit Award. We extend our sincerest gratitude to the volunteers who generously devote countless hours to our fair. We also appreciate the unwavering support of our sponsors, whose contributions enable us to host a successful fair. Furthermore, we thank all attendees and participants for their involvement in our fair. It is indeed a collective effort that ensures its success.

The Smith County Fair is summer staple event, preserving the heritage of rural Tennessee as an agricultural fair. This recognition underscores the fair’s commitment to excellence.

The 2025 Smith County Fair is scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 5. For more information on the Smith County Fair, visit their website at https://smithcountyfairtn.com/ or their Facebook page.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has announced its Fall 2024 Dean’s List, honoring more than 16,000 students for outstanding academic achievement. This recognition is awarded to undergraduate students who complete at least 12 credit hours and achieve a term GPA of 3.50 or higher.

Several students from Smith County have earned this distinction, including the following:

Summa Cum Laude (3.90 – 4.00 GPA)

• Kalli F. Cothron
• Ethan M. Crockett
• Ashby E. Long
• Lily F. Manor
• Seth Manor

Magna Cum Laude (3.70 – 3.89 GPA)

• Roman D. Perry
• Natalie A. Smith

Cum Laude (3.50 – 3.69 GPA)

• Neelie E. Sloan

Congratulations to these Smith County students!

A new local business is elevating waste disposal convenience. Mid South Rolloff, headquartered in Smith County, streamlines debris management so homeowners, contractors, and local businesses can focus on their primary tasks. Offering flexible scheduling and multiple dumpster sizes, the company meets a wide range of needs throughout the region.

Mid South Rolloff emphasizes a streamlined approach, making it easy to arrange rentals and schedule both drop-offs and pick-ups without disrupting project timelines. With transparent pricing and prompt service, they aim to build trust and provide a dependable experience for the community.

For more information on dumpster sizes, rental options, and scheduling, visit midsouthrolloff.com or call (615) 706-9841. As they continue serving Smith County and beyond, Mid South Rolloff stands out as a reliable resource for efficient waste management solutions.

by Lucas Holman, UT Horticulture Extension Agent, Wilson County

Winter can be bleak at times with the threat of snow and frigid temperatures, but there can still be color in the garden during the winter. Many of the variegated or golden leaved evergreens can brighten up the garden. Leaves aren’t the only thing that can show interest in the garden, don’t forget to look at bark, berries, and branches.

When it comes to leaves that can pop in the wintertime, many of them are evergreen or conifers. These will generally hold their leaves majority of the winter and then flush out new growth in the spring time. There are many variegated or golden leaved hollies on the market today. One of my favorite pictures that I took a few weeks ago was of a golden leaved holly with snow on it. There are many excellent cultivars of gold leaved and variegated hollies on the market today. Be sure and shop around at different nurseries and garden centers to see which news ones are out. Hollies are also excellent berry producers and many times these berries last through the winter. ‘Foster’ holly is an excellent evergreen choice that usually has a heavy set of berries. Winterberry hollies are definitely growing in popularity because they’re deciduous. They will lose their leaves and just show the berries. It will pop in the landscape. When selecting winterberry hollies be sure and also purchase a male holly because only the females will set fruit. ‘Winter Red’ is the tried-and-true favorite of winterberry holly with ‘Southern Gentleman’ being its pollinator.

If you are looking to add some unique conifers that can be bright in winter, look for ‘Yellow Ribbon’ Arborvitae, ‘Gold Lace’ Juniper, and ‘Vintage Gold’ False Cypress. There are many excellent blue foliaged evergreens that can also be a great contract to the gold. One of the most popular is ‘Grey Owl’. Be sure and space these appropriately because I normally see them planted directly beside the foundation of a home. Many times, they will get much larger than the actual tag says.

As for winter interest in terms of branches, be sure and check out the colorful twig dogwoods. These dogwoods are deciduous and will lose their leaves but their brightly colored twigs remain all winter. Look for cultivars that are proven to grow well in Tennessee such as ‘Winter Flame’, ‘Arctic Sun’, and ‘Cayenne’. All of these plants mentioned above work well for cut container arrangements in the winter. After you pull out all of your warm season annuals, cut some red-twig dogwoods, winterberry hollies, and gold evergreens and design an arrangement that will pop.

As always, if you have any questions regarding any horticulture facet, feel free to contact Lucas Holman, UT Horticulture Extension Agent, Wilson County at 615-444-9584 or Lholman1@utk.edu.

The University of Tennessee Extension offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. ag.tennessee.edu

On January 23, 2025, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced a monumental $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, aimed at tackling the opioid crisis that has deeply affected communities across the state, including Smith County.

This settlement, the largest of its kind with individuals responsible for the opioid epidemic, is antipated to provide Tennessee with more than $90 million over 15 years. For Smith County, this could mean even more funding in addition to that already received through previous opioid litigation settlements.

Since earlier settlements, Smith County has seen disbursements totaling nearly $130,000, allocated to local organizations like The Emmanuel House, The Spot, the Smith County Drug Prevention Coalition, and the Smith County Mentorship Program. These funds have been used for various initiatives focused on education, prevention, and rehabilitation, aligning with programs approved by the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council.

Smith County anticipates that through these settlements, additional funds will be available through 2038, providing a resource over time to help combat opioid misuse. These funds could provide a lifeline to local programs dedicated to healing and preventing the devastation caused by opioids.

The settlement not only brings financial aid but also ends the Sackler family’s control over Purdue Pharma, ensuring that they can no longer sell opioids in the U.S. This agreement follows a series of legal battles, including a notable overturn by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2024 of a previous settlement. The current deal focuses on consensual releases without offering the Sacklers automatic legal protection, marking a significant shift in how such cases are handled.

The Annual Spring Farm Equipment Consignment Auction will be held at the Smith County Ag Center and will take place on February 1, 2025 at 9 A.M.

All consignments are welcome ranging from tractors and large farm machinery to smaller items such as lawn mowers and hand tools. There will be a five dollar minimum per lot and absolutely no used car or truck tires will be allowed. 

Acceptable terms include cash or check, but out of town bidders should call the auctioneer prior to the sale if planning to pay with an out of town check.

Auction items will be received from Tuesday, January 28 thru Friday, January 31. This is a rain or shine event.

Gabe Harville, a distinguished member of Smith County 4-H, has further enhanced his impressive resume in public speaking at the national level. While representing Tennessee 4-H at the 2025 4-H Western National Roundup, Harville was named Reserve Champion (2nd Place) in the Impromptu Speech Contest. This accomplishment adds to his previous accolades, including the title of 2024 4-H National Prepared Public Speaking Champion.

The Western National Roundup, an annual event held in Denver, Colorado, brings together over 1,000 youth and adults from across the United States. Participants engage in various contests and workshops designed to foster teamwork, self-confidence, and adherence to the 4-H mission.

In the Impromptu Speech Contest, participants select a topic by drawing a question from a pool. They are given a few minutes to organize their thoughts before delivering a speech that is between three to five minutes long. Judges evaluate participants based on the quality of their content, delivery, vocal control, and overall presentation.

Harville’s consistent excellence in public speaking and all things 4-H is a testament to his dedication and the support afforded to him by Smith County 4-H. His involvement in 4-H began in the fourth grade, and he has since participated in numerous activities, held various officer positions at different levels, and served as the 4-H Congress Speaker of the House. Gabe also produces and hosts In the Wild with Gabe Harville. Gabe is scheduled to graduate from Smith County High School in May and plans to attend the University of Tennessee and major in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences.

Congratulations to Gabe Harville for his accomplishments in 4-H and his contributions as a representative of Smith County on the national stage.

For more information about Smith County 4-H, contact the UT-TSU Extension Office at 615-735-2900 or visit https://smith.tennessee.edu/4-h-youth-development/.

Smith County Little League is now accepting registrations for the upcoming baseball and softball season. This year, Little League requires registration through a new online system. Although it might look different, it’s simple to use:

To Register Online:
• Navigate to the registration page at https://leagues.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1955169
• Select the signup form for your child’s age group
• Create an account and complete the registration
• Upload your child’s birth certificate (required for all players)

If you can’t register online, in-person signup days will be held on February 8th and February 15th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Smith County Ag Center. Payment is due at signup. The registration deadline is February 26th for baseball and March 5th for softball. No late signups will be allowed.

If you want to be a Manager or Assistant Coach, please fill out the volunteer application under “Volunteer Programs” on the same site. You will need to create an account to volunteer.

For more information or questions, please visit the Smith County Little League Facebook page.

Tennessee Tech University has recognized several students from Smith County, Tennessee, for their outstanding academic performance during the Fall 2024 semester. To be named to the Dean’s List, students must attend full-time and maintain a grade-point average of at least 3.1 on a 4.0 scale.

The following students from Smith County have earned a place on Tennessee Tech’s Dean’s List:
• Stevie Leeann Angel
• Arron Christopher Apple
• Eva Marie Atkinson
• Emma C. Baker
• Lance Caleb Ballard
• Adam F. Bingham
• Madelynn G. Brewer
• Olivia Grace Brown
• Chloe M. Buckner
• Gary B. Claywell
• Rebecca D. Claywell
• Mercedes Amberlee Cornett
• Carleigh Lynn Cowan
• Hunter Dawn Davis
• Devin W. Dixon
• Will M. Dudney
• Emma Mae Enoch
• David Lamar Ferrell
• Adrianna Flanagan
• Isaac Glen Flatt
• Madysin Jayd Griffin
• Allyson C. Hall
• Jocella Sue Halliburton
• Ashton Cole Harper
• Jubilee L. Hart
• James B. Hays
• Nathan Johnson
• Molly C. Jones
• Dustin R. Lafleur
• Augusta Leigh Long
• Abby L. Malone
• Allie Elizabeth Manning
• James Wayne Martin
• Katie R. Martin
• Mckenzie G. Mason
• Matthew McDonner
• Carson S. Meeks
• Cody M. Mofield
• Emily N. Parker
• Shahil N. Patel
• Steven Tyler Peyatt
• Victoria Prichard
• Emma Grace Scudder
• Kensea E. Skelton
• Caiti Vaden
• Jon Evan Wagner
• Adam D. Welsh
• Alexa R. Western
• Aaron L. Wheeley
• Andrew G. Williams
• Austin G. Williams
• Clayton E. Wilmore
• Sarah Reann Wilmore

Congratulations to all the honorees!

Middle Tennessee State University has recognized 6,478 students for their academic achievements during the Fall 2024 semester, including several outstanding students from Smith County. These individuals earned a place on the Dean’s List, which requires a semester grade-point average of at least 3.5 while completing a minimum of 12 semester hours.

The Smith County students who earned this distinction are:

• Lily Larree Agee of Brush Creek
• Noah T. Harris of Gordonsville
• Cameron Cruz Loftis of Carthage
• Michela Shay Loftis of Carthage
• Alexandra G. McIntosh of Lebanon
• Lillian Elizabeth Nava of Gordonsville
• Hannah G. Potter of Brush Creek
• Xander M. Ratledge of Dixon Springs
• Ephraim A. Rodenbach of Carthage
• Jesse Clay Swann of Carthage
• Jake Edward Taylor of Carthage
• Nathaniel Lee Wells of Brush Creek
• William James Jefferson Woodard of Hickman
• Feliciano John Zenos of Carthage

Congratulations to these students for their dedication and hard work during the semester.