tnAchieves is proud to share its 2025 Annual Report, which celebrates an exciting milestone: 50,000 college graduates (53,168 graduates to be exact)!

Beyond the Tennessee Promise scholarship program, tnAchieves continues to innovate ways to support students—AT SCALE. That means supporting those 50,000 graduates in finding individual success while also building and executing student-focused programming to move the needle for ALL students to improve their chances at completing a degree of impact and entering the workforce. The data and results confirm these supports matter.

“tnAchieves is dedicated to taking a human approach to building Tennessee’s future workforce,” said tnAchieves President and CEO Krissy DeAlejandro. “There is power in supporting a student in not only going to college but encouraging them through meaningful degree completion and into the workforce. Today these 50,000 grads are more educated, more skilled and more prepared than ever to live and work in Tennessee.”

Every tnAchieves program is designed to keep students first while also helping Tennessee’s economy thrive.

Every graduation metric highlighted in this year’s Annual Report is seeing an annual increase. Those increases are all being driven by the COMPLETE and Knox Promise Programs, which pair 1:1 coaching and emergency aid grants, so students not only go to college but are encouraged through degree completion.

Key findings include:

· The three-year graduation rate saw a five-percentage point jump—representing an historic increase in college completion.

· Knox Promise’s 49.3 percent three-year graduation rate would place the program THIRD in the country when compared to national graduation rates.

· 84.7 percent of tnAchieves graduates are living and working in Tennessee. Read the full report here, and see how tnAchieves is creating a stronger, more prepared Tennessee—one student at a time.

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.

The Cordell Hull Bridge is scheduled to be temporarily closed to traffic for maintenance during two separate periods in June, local officials have announced.

The bridge will be closed June 9 through June 13, and again from June 16 through June 20. Each day, the closure will be in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to allow for necessary work to be completed safely and efficiently.

Motorists are encouraged to plan alternate routes during these times to avoid delays and ensure safety for workers and drivers alike.

Local authorities have stated that should the schedule change, updates will be shared with the public as soon as possible.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed through local news sources and the Town of Carthage Facebook page for the latest information.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) will start accepting applications for wildlife officer positions June 2-23. The requirements for wildlife officers are listed on the TWRA website under the Law Enforcement section. Applications can be made through the State of Tennessee Government home page, under the careers section.

The TWRA’s uniformed wildlife officers have the responsibility for enforcing Tennessee’s, fishing, hunting, trapping, and boating regulations. At least one officer is assigned to each of Tennessee’s 95 counties.

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

On Friday, May 23, 2025, eleven Smith County 4-H’ers and 4-H Agent Rachel Petty celebrated the end of the school year with a 4-H Youth Barn Quilt Class at the Smith County Chamber of Commerce. The class was led by Karen Young, the owner of Stonewall Barn Quilts, and her sister Sheryl Hankins.

Karen and Sheryl shared some information about the history of barn quilts and the Smith County Barn Quilt Trail before leading the group through a fun and engaging art class.

Students were able to pick their pattern from a number of beginner-friendly options and customize them with whichever colors they wanted. Through a step-by-step process that required precision, painter’s tape, and a bit of patience, each student was able to make a unique project they were proud of.

Karen typically teaches classes for adults and has partnered with Smith County FCE to offer several barn quilt classes recently, but this is the first time she had worked with a youth audience. We are so appreciative of her sharing her time and talent with our group of 4-H’ers!

If you would like to learn more about the many opportunities available to our local youth through the Smith County 4-H program, please call 615-735-2900 or email rpetty@utk.edu.

Celebrating Local Schools in the TVA EnergyRight School Uplift Program

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is pleased to report there were no boating-related fatalities over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The holiday weekend extended from 5 p.m. Friday through midnight Monday and is considered as the unofficial start of the summer boating season.

There was one injury reported, a tubing incident occurring on Watts Bar Lake, and two other incidents which involved property damage. Additionally, TWRA wildlife officers made five BUI (boating under the influence) arrests.

The TWRA had a strong presence across the state over the weekend. Agency officials reported cool temperatures and rainy conditions for most of the weekend which kept the recreational boating traffic lower than normal.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency announces the availability of grant dollars to assist cities, schools, community organizations, civic groups, watershed organizations, conservation groups and others with stream clean-up projects during the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Five grants, at a maximum of $1,000 each, are available for each of TWRA’s four regional Aquatic Habitat Protection regions (a total of $5,000 per region). The funds will be obligated as grants, so the grantee must have a nonprofit tax number. The application deadline for this program is June 30, 2025.

            The grant money could be used to buy supplies such as rakes, work gloves, and garbage bags. Additionally, the funds could be used to pay disposal fees for solid waste and tire removal or to provide promotional items like project advertisement or T‑shirts and refreshments for volunteer support. 

The grant application form can be viewed and completed by scanning the attached QR code.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), in partnership with Smith County, announces the completion of a new public access point, Piper’s Ford, located on the Caney Fork River. A dedication ceremony held on the riverbank at Piper’s Ford in Carthage marked the culmination of more than a decade of vision and community commitment to connect people with recreation and the Caney Fork River.

Piper’s Ford is now officially open to the public, offering improved access for anglers, kayakers, and canoe enthusiasts. The project represents a significant step in increasing outdoor recreation opportunities while easing congestion and challenges at existing river access points.

The Smith County Chamber of Commerce and community have been working to bring this to reality for more than 12 years. The effort included fundraising to relocate the historic Carthage Junction train depot and partnering with TWRA to connect it all to the river.

“When we got the project, I knew we had a lot of work to do,” said Michael Miller, TWRA Engineer. “A lot of clearing was needed to gain access to the water, and we made some minor tweaks to the plan related to the terrain, shored up the bank, and built a walkway access to the river. In all, it took about 45 days, and now Tennessee has another access for sportsmen to utilize and enjoy one of the many incredible waterways in the state.”

Bill Woodard of the Smith County Chamber of Commerce emphasized the benefits of the new access point. “Pipers Ford will be an access for those who want to kayak. We’ve had challenges between boaters and kayakers on other ramps in the county, and this location creates options to reduce those challenges and gives the community more access to the river, enhancing the outdoor experience for everyone.”

Smith County officials indicated there are more plans for the area with continued improvements and amenities that will further connect the community to the outdoors and the Caney Fork River.

Pictured above (left)- The historic Carthage Junction train depot welcomes visitors to Piper’s Ford.

Pictured above (center) TWRA engineer, Michael Miller (far left) with members of the Smith County Chamber of Commerce and community supporters as Bill Woodard cuts the ribbon officially opening the Piper’s Ford access area.

Pictured above (right) Canoe and kayak ramp to the Caney Fork River.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has officially recognized The Payne Place in Pleasant Shade as a Century Farm, marking over 100 years of continuous family-owned agricultural production. The designation honors the Payne family’s deep roots in Smith County and their longstanding contributions to Tennessee farming.

The farm was founded in 1880 by Zachary Taylor “Rough” Payne and his wife, Cansada Jane “Cannie” Crabtree Payne. The couple raised wheat, rye, hay, tobacco, and corn on their land. After Rough’s untimely death in 1891 due to a horse-related injury, Cannie carried on the farm work while raising nine children—one of whom was born after her husband’s passing.

Their son, Zachariah Taylor “Z.T.” Payne, known locally as “Daddy Payne,” took over in 1933. Alongside his wife, Gillie Alice, he tended fruit trees, raised dairy cattle, and welcomed not only their four children but also other children in need of a home. Their compassion and commitment to both agriculture and community left a lasting mark on the area.

Today, the farm is owned and operated by the couple’s great-grandson, Roger “Don” Harbison, and his wife Shirley. The Harbisons continue to work the land, producing hay, hardwood, and cedar. The original 1919 farmhouse still stands proudly and has been lovingly restored—most recently serving as the site of a festive Christmas gathering for the extended Payne family.

With this recognition, The Payne Place becomes part of the Tennessee Century Farms Program, which highlights farms that have remained in the same family and in continuous agricultural production for at least 100 years.

“We’re proud to welcome The Payne Place into the Century Farms family,” said a representative from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. “This farm represents not only agricultural perseverance, but also the enduring strength and values of Tennessee’s farm families.”

The legacy of The Payne Place is one of hard work, heritage, and heart—a true treasure in the Pleasant Shade community.

During Gordonsville High School’s graduation ceremony held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 10 a.m., the Southside Lions Club proudly presented the Taylor-Wills Memorial Citizenship Award to Claire Massey, honoring her outstanding character and commitment to service.

This annual award commemorates the memory of Joe Kenneth Taylor and Roy Shannon Wills, two Gordonsville High School graduates who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. Joe Taylor, a member of the Class of 1960, died on February 22, 1966, at the age of 24. Shannon Wills, a 1968 graduate, was killed on July 14, 1969, at just 19 years old.

In their honor, the Southside Lions Club established the Taylor-Wills Memorial Citizenship Award to recognize a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities of patriotism, bravery, leadership, citizenship, reverence, friendliness, and a desire to achieve. Claire Massey was selected based on nominations and recommendations from Gordonsville High School faculty and students. The award was presented by Mr. Heath Watkins during the commencement ceremony.

In a meaningful addition to this year’s presentation, Claire Massey also received the inaugural Zac Medley Memorial Scholarship—a $2,000 scholarship established by the Medley family in memory of Zac Medley, a 2004 graduate of Gordonsville High School and former Taylor-Wills award recipient.

Zac Medley pursued a career in pharmacy, ultimately becoming co-owner of Infinity Pharmacy in Cookeville, TN. Known for his compassion, Zac was deeply committed to his patients—often working after hours, delivering medications personally, and covering costs for those in need. His legacy of service and selflessness lives on through this new scholarship, which will now be awarded annually to the recipient of the Taylor-Wills Memorial Citizenship Award.

The Southside Lions Club and the Medley family congratulate Claire Massey and wish her continued success as she begins this next chapter.