Are you raising a relative child or need housing assistance?
For more information on assistance and support, please contact Melissa Allison at the Upper
Cumberland Development District toll-free at 1-877-275-8233.
A support group meeting will be held for relatives that are caring for relative children during this
month. Please contact Melissa Allison at 931-476-4127, if you are interested in attending this
meeting.
For housing assistance, while caring for a minor child, contact Myra Walker at 931-432-4111.

CARTHAGE, Tenn. (August 12, 2025) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District announces the first Annual Youth Dove Hunt at Cordell Hull Lake for hunters between the ages of 10 and 16.  

Applications for the September 1 dove hunt, in partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Friends of Cordell Hull Lake, are available at the Cordell Hull Lake Resource Manager’s Office located at 71 Corps Lane in Carthage, Tennessee or by emailing garrett.s.fagan@usace.army.mil. Applications must be received in person or by email 4 p.m. CST Friday, Aug 23, 2025. 

“The hunt will take place the opening day of dove season, accommodate twenty five hunters plus their mentors with the ultimate goal of getting our youth outdoors.  The mandatory safety brief for hunters will take place from 10:30 until Noon,” said Park Ranger Stone Fagan. 

Fagan added, all the event’s hunters must be preregistered, hunters must hold a TWRA approved hunter safety education class certificate, and all valid hunting permits. Youth hunters must also be accompanied by a mentor 21 years of age or older who also must be hunter safety certified, unless born on or before Jan. 1, 1969.  

For additional information, or to contact an application via e-mail, contact the Cordell Hull Lake Resource Manager’s Office at 615-735-1034. Follow Cordell Hull Lake At hwww.facebook.com/cordellhulllake for more news and information. 

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. Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest employment and contracting opportunities at www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-army-corps-of-engineers-nashville-district. 

tnAchieves is excited to announce the expansion of its statewide volunteer mentoring program with the
launch of a new opportunity focused on workforce readiness. In 2026, tnAchieves Mentors can choose
between the following distinct but equally impactful formats—selecting how they make a difference in the
lives of students, their communities and the state as a whole.

• Workforce Mentorship is career-focused and industry-driven. This new option is designed to provide
  college sophomores with a real-world perspective on their career of interest and the skills needed to
  succeed in the workforce. Workforce Mentors will be paired with students based on their interests as
  they prepare to launch their careers.
• Access Mentorship will continue to make a meaningful impact in the lives of high school seniors by
  guiding them to their first year of college. Access Mentors will continue to be paired with students
  based on their high school/county preference.

With more than 60,000 high school students and more than 30,000 college students being served annually
by tnAchieves, both Workforce and Access Mentorship play an important role in building the workforce of
tomorrow and ensuring that all students have access to personal support on their path to college and career.

“tnAchieves Mentors are doing more than offering guidance; they’re investing in the future of Tennessee,”
said Krissy DeAlejandro, President & CEO of tnAchieves. “The addition of Workforce Mentorship ensures that
tnAchieves students have access to career-based support as they transition to the workforce. Combining
Workforce Mentorship with our existing Access Mentorship model represents important wraparound
supports that further set tnAchieves students up for success in the workforce.”

The mission of tnAchieves remains clear: to Build Tennessee’s Future Workforce by ensuring students are
supported from high school through career. 84.7% of tnAchieves graduates live and work in Tennessee
after completing their education. They go on to become healthcare professionals, educators, business
owners and other essential contributors to the state’s economy.

“Each year, the state of Tennessee shows why we are The Volunteer State as mentors raise their hands to
stand with students,” said Tyler Ford, Vice President of Workforce at tnAchieves. “We are thrilled to leverage
the career experiences of our mentors across the state. This adds another layer of support to better serve
students on their path from high school to college to the workforce.”

tnAchieves Mentorship requires just one hour a month and is conducted entirely online, making it accessible
for busy professionals and community members across the state. tnAchieves provides all mentors with a
training, handbook and weekly emails to ensure success.

The tnAchieves Mentor application is now open. Those interested in becoming a mentor can learn more and
register at tnAchieves.org/mentors.

tnAchieves is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Any interview requests or questions can be directed to Rebecca Franklin
at Rebecca@tnAchieves.org or (865) 748-7767.

GORDONSVILLE, Tenn. – Gordonsville High School will implement a new traffic flow for afternoon student pickup beginning Monday, August 11, 2025, in an effort to ease congestion on Main Street.

The adjustment will allow parents to enter campus through the back gate from Maple Street. The gate will open at 2:40 p.m. and will serve as entry only—no vehicles will be allowed to exit through this gate. Pickup will continue to take place behind the school in the same designated area, with the one-way traffic flow through campus remaining unchanged.

Parents traveling east toward the school are encouraged to access Hickman Highway, turn onto Oak Drive, and then turn left on Maple Street to reach the back entrance. Parents traveling west toward the school can still use the Main Street entrance as usual.

School officials hope this change will help reduce traffic delays and improve safety for students and drivers during the busy afternoon dismissal period.

A detailed map has been provided by the school to help parents navigate the new route.

SOUTH CARTHAGE, Tenn. – The Town of South Carthage has announced a temporary road closure on Main Street South to allow for major infrastructure improvements aimed at addressing long-standing drainage issues in the area.

Beginning in the second week of August, a short section of Main Street South—just south of the Carthage Church of God—will be closed to traffic for approximately three months. The closure will allow crews to complete critical storm drain upgrades intended to alleviate persistent flooding that has affected the area for years.

In addition to the road closure, a portion of the Rails-to-Trails walking track near the construction zone will also be closed during the project. However, the Highway 70 entrance to the trail will remain open, allowing access for approximately one mile of uninterrupted walking path.

Town officials emphasized that all homes and churches located within the impacted area will remain accessible throughout the duration of the work.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work to improve our infrastructure and make South Carthage safer and more resilient,” said Mayor Joey Nixon.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to use alternate routes and exercise caution in the area once construction begins.

Chris Washer has officially announced his candidacy for the Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Cooperative (UCEMC) Board of Directors for District One.

“This is something I’ve thought about for a few years, and I have finally decided to give it a try,” said Washer.

Washer is a lifelong resident of Smith County and a 2000 graduate of Gordonsville High School. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Cumberland University in 2004. For the past 27 years, he has worked at Cumberland Supply.

He and his wife of 13 years, Courtney, have two children — Ainsley (10) and Drake (8). In addition to his professional career, Washer has been active in the community, particularly through coaching youth sports. While he has coached several sports over the years, baseball remains his greatest passion.

“I love to coach kids and develop their skills, but my main focus is to teach them about life and having fun,” he said.

Washer hopes to encourage voter participation in the upcoming UCEMC election. “I hope to get many of you involved in this election and help you to understand how important it is for the local communities,” he said. “I would appreciate your support and vote in this election.”

UCEMC Election Details

• Early Voting: Friday, August 22, 2025
• Election Day: Saturday, August 23, 2025
• Voting Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. both days
• Voting Locations: Cooperative offices located in each directorate district. Click here for addresses.
• Voter Information: One vote per household. Members may cast their ballots at any UCEMC district office.

For questions or more information about his campaign, Washer encourages residents to reach out directly.

Tennessee Tech University honored two-time graduate, university trustee and astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore upon his retirement from NASA after 25 years of service and 464 total days in space.

Tech President Phil Oldham released the following statement:

“Captain Wilmore is the best of us. He is a role model for our students, an inspiration to this entire campus community and a personal friend to me. His determination, faith and Tennessee Tech education have taken him beyond what most of us could ever imagine. From his service on our Board of Trustees, to his video calls with our students from the International Space Station, we are enormously proud that, at every turn in his journey, he has remembered his Golden Eagle roots.”

“Captain Wilmore’s remarkable career at NASA has landed him in the history books. With his well-deserved retirement, we look forward to more opportunities to welcome him, Deanna, and their daughters Daryn and Logan back to Cookeville, where he will always have a place of honor on this campus.”

In a statement from NASA, Joe Acaba, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, praised Wilmore’s “mastery of complex systems, coupled with his adaptability and steadfast commitment to NASA’s mission.”

Wilmore became a household name after technical challenges on the recent Boeing Starliner mission led to a more-than-nine-month stay at the International Space Station before he and fellow astronaut Suni Williams returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

Most recently, Wilmore was honored at Tech’s June 26 Board of Trustees meeting with the “Order of the Eagle Award,” the university’s highest honor, which has only been awarded once previously in Tech’s 110-year history. Also at the meeting, trustees unanimously passed a resolution naming the university’s pedestrian walkway and plaza “Wilmore Way.” A formal dedication is slated for later this fall.

Wilmore holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tech’s College of Engineering. He received an honorary doctorate from the university in 2012, received Tech’s Outstanding Alumni Award in 2010 and was inducted into Tech’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. Wilmore’s term on the university’s Board of Trustees lasts until 2026.

U.S. Representative John Rose’s (TN-6) district staff will hold a series of local office hours for constituents to connect directly with caseworkers and receive assistance with federal agencies throughout the month of August. During the local office hours, district staff will be available to answer questions and assist constituents with federal casework, such as social security and veterans’ benefits, steps for obtaining a passport, and more. Local office hours occur monthly. If you have questions, please contact one of Representative Rose’s offices so a staff member may help you. “We are ready to assist constituents with federal casework and welcome anyone with questions to sit down with staff,” said Representative Rose. “My goal is to make the expertise of my staff and the resources of this office easily accessible to every person I represent.” Details for local office hours can be found below and on Representative Rose’s website.

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

TIME: 1:00pm-2:00pm

WHAT: Smith County Local Office Hours

LOCATION: Smith Co. Chamber of Commerce, 939 Upper Ferry Rd., Carthage, TN 37030

WHO: Representative Rose will be represented by Field Representative Lou Nave during this visit.

Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Hunting and Fishing Academy is now accepting applications for its upcoming youth dove and deer hunts, providing immersive and educational outdoor experiences for youth and their families this fall and winter.

These mentored hunts are designed for youth ages 9 to 16 and provide a safe, hands-on introduction to
hunting in Tennessee. Led by trained hunting guides, each event emphasizes safety, conservation, and
skill-building for first-time and novice hunters.

“Whether it’s their first time holding a firearm or their first time in the field, these hunts are designed to
guide youth every step of the way,” said Jeb Beasley, Hunting and Fishing Academy manager. “We want
them to walk away with new skills, a better understanding of Tennessee’s wildlife, and a lasting
connection to the outdoors.”

Upcoming Youth Dove Hunts (Apply by August 15)
● Sept. 1 — Jackson
● Sept. 6 — Greeneville
● Sept. 13 — Decatur

Upcoming Youth Deer Hunts
● Oct. 24-26 — Decatur, Dickson, Jackson, Jonesborough, Westmoreland
● Jan. 9-11 — Decatur, Jackson

To participate, youth must complete a certified hunter education course and acquire the appropriate
Tennessee hunting license before the event. A parent or guardian is required to attend. Applying for
youth hunting experiences does not guarantee selection to participate. Learn more and apply at
tnwf.org/family-experiences.

About Tennessee Wildlife Federation
Tennessee Wildlife Federation leads the conservation, sound management and wise use of Tennessee’s
great outdoors. Since 1946, the Federation has spearheaded the development of the state’s wildlife
policy, advanced landmark legislation on air and water quality and other conservation initiatives, helped
restore numerous species, and introduced thousands of kids to the great outdoors. To learn more, visit
tnwf.org.

The Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD) has announced a
new partnership with Rural Innovation Driving Equitable Resilience (RIDER), a national coalition of
rural-focused organizations. UCDD will serve as the backbone agency for RIDER, providing fiscal
and administrative support as the group seeks to secure financing for its mission to cut childhood
poverty in half across its communities.

RIDER is a collaborative effort of like-minded organizations from rural areas across the United
States. The coalition is dedicated to developing and implementing innovative strategies to create
economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for children and families. By partnering with
UCDD, RIDER gains the administrative infrastructure necessary to pursue significant funding
opportunities while it works to obtain its own non-profit status in the future.

“It is exciting to partner with these great organizations that share a similar passion for their
communities,” said Mark Farley, UCDD Executive Director. “This collaboration allows us to
combine resources and expertise to address the critical issue of childhood poverty on a larger
scale. We are proud to support RIDER’s ambitious and vital work.”

As the backbone agency, UCDD will manage financial contributions and provide structural
support, enabling RIDER’s member organizations to focus on program development and
community-level implementation. This partnership exemplifies a shared commitment to fostering
resilient and thriving rural communities.