In a recent Facebook post, Smith County Mayor Jeff Mason expressed his appreciation for everyone who worked diligently to extinguish the fire at the Smith County Landfill on Monday afternoon. The quick response from volunteer firefighters, Fire Rescue teams, EMS director and staff from stations across the county was crucial in managing the situation.

While the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, it’s important to note that fires in landfills are not uncommon due to factors like excessive heat, dry weather, and the nature of some landfill debris. The Mayor expressed concern that under different circumstances, the fire could have escalated into a much more severe event. Fortunately, thanks to the focused efforts of the landfill staff, firefighters, EMS teams, as well as the Smith County Sheriff’s Officers and Carthage City police, the fire was contained and extinguished in less than two hours.

Mayor Mason commented, “It was impressive and inspiring to watch the landfill and fire crews work together to put out the fire. We have some great volunteer firefighters and a great landfill crew..” He also extended his gratitude to “all who were there on Monday.”

Harvest may be on the horizon for traditional row crops in the area, but the season is winding down for watermelons. George McDonald, owner of Catesa Farms in Riddleton, Tennessee, teamed up with Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st® last week to make sure watermelons left in his fields didn’t go to waste. Melons gleaned from George’s fields were donated to Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee in hopes of bringing a sweet and refreshing treat to families who rely on the food bank. The event was part of Farm Credit Mid-America’s Farms to Food Banks program, which bridges the gap between local farmers and food banks by providing fresh produce and protein to enhance shelf-stable meals. Since its inception in 2016, the program has supplemented more than 4.4 million meals.

Officials signed a Project Partnership Agreement today to officially begin a streambank stabilization project on the Cumberland River that will prevent further bank erosion that currently endangers the Carthage Wastewater Treatment Plant.

With the stroke of a pen, Carthage Mayor Steve Babcock and Lt. Col. Robert Green, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District commander, established a cost share partnership between USACE and the town to initiate the project’s design and construction phases.

Green said that moving forward, USACE and the town of Carthage will work closely together to deliver the project’s betterments for the people, the citizens, that depend on this wastewater treatment plant.

Erosion is currently eating away at about 400 feet of the eastern streambank at Cumberland River mile 308. It is jeopardizing critical infrastructure, including a 150,000-gallon final digester tank and access road within the wastewater treatment plant. A plant failure or shut down would adversely affect the town and downstream communities, including vulnerable populations, and result in residents losing access to clean drinking water.

Carthage Mayor Steve Babcock said he very much appreciated representing the town at this ceremony, but he gave credit to former Mayor Sarah Marie Smith and the previous administration for initiating this project with the Corps of Engineers.

Babcock stressed that he is excited to partner with the Corps of Engineers, and looks forward to working together moving forward on this important project to protect the wastewater treatment plant.

The Continuing Authorities Program in Section 14 of the Flood Control Act of 1946 authorizes USACE to study, design, and construct emergency streambank and shoreline protection projects not specifically authorized by Congress to prevent damages to highways, bridge approaches, public works, churches, hospitals, schools, and other non-profit public services.

The Corps of Engineers recently completed a $100,000 Emergency Bank Stabilization Feasibility Study under the Continuing Authorities Program for the Carthage Water Treatment Plant location. The federal government funded 100% of this study, with $50,000 of it covered by an appropriation in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The project delivery team identified the problems, opportunities, objectives, and constraints to guide plan formulation and outline measures to prevent further erosion. The feasibility study identified that there is a federal interest in the resolution of this water resource problem under the Section 14 CAP authority.

Congressman John Rose, Tennessee District 6, who represents the town of Carthage in Washington, D.C., attended the signing ceremony and said this project is important because it’s emblematic of the way agencies like the Corps of Engineers can come together with local officials to get the job done.

Moving forward, Green said the Corps of Engineers is charged to design the project in consultation with the town of Carthage to determine methods required for construction, operation and maintenance of the project.

Following the ceremony, Ricky Brown, assistant supervisor of the Carthage Wastewater Treatment Plant, said he began working at the plant in 1997, and remembers when the embankment of the Cumberland River extended out further. Over the years erosion has claimed about five feet of the riverbank and drying beds that used to be in that location.

The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/About/Districts/Nashville-District/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on X (formerly Twitter) at www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps. Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest Nashville District employment and contracting opportunities at https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-army-corps-of-engineers-nashville-district.

The Smith County Board of Education met at 5:00 p.m. on August 15, 2024

You can watch the full meeting here – https://www.youtube.com/live/UXJzxKfvZCM?si=CGJkGP13LXdy43Ze

The live broadcast of this meeting is sponsored by Teresa’s Gifts.

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 Smith County Noon Rotary Club has released the design for their 2024 knife fundraiser. This year’s design features the the 225th Anniversary of Smith County, Tennessee. There are two options to choose from.

The first option is a Case XX Trapper knife with Red/White, Blue Corelon Swirl handles that comes in a wood display box. The Case XX knives are $85 each.

The second option is a Steel Warrior Brand Trapper with Red/White/Blue bone handles and they come in wood display boxes. The Steel Warrior brand knives are $50 each.

The top of the wood boxes features a custom logo designed by local artist Jenny Ford Penuel.

Knives are now available for purchase at Wilson Bank or Citizens Bank in Gordonsville, while supplies last.

The Smith County Noon Rotary Club releases a new knife each year, featuring a Smith County historical landmark. The designed from previous years include the Historical Smith County Courthouse, Cordell Hull Bridge, Gordonsville High School, Smith County High School, the Caney Fork River, the Cumberland River, and Cordell Hull Dam.

Last week at the Wilson County Fair- TN State Fair, local beekeeper Ronnie Bussell, partnered with Smith County UT Extension to present how honey is made at the Pick TN Produce Stage. Everyone that stopped by during the presentation was able to receive a sample of fruit dip made with local honey!

Check out the following tips on how to use and store honey.

· For every 1 cup of granulated or brown sugar, substitute ½ cup of honey in baked goods.

· Add ¼ teaspoon baking soda for every 1 cup of honey used to help balance the acidity of the product.

· Reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees F. Honey is sweeter than regular sugar, so it burns faster.

· Honey is best stored in a dry place at temperatures between 50-70°F in a tightly covered container. Honey will start to form crystals as it gets older or if it is refrigerated. To make honey liquid again, place it in an open container in a pan of warm water until it is clear again. Make sure the container is not plastic.

Honey has many benefits, including that if stored and handled properly, it should be able to use for years to come. However, if honey starts to foam or smells like alcohol, it is best to throw it out. Research has also shown that honey can help with coughs and burns. Though, honey should not be fed to infants under one year of age because of the risk of infant botulism. For more information visit https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/gh1120.

Easy Creamed Spinach

Ingredients:

16 oz baby spinach leaves, washed and dried

1/3 cup unsalted butter, divided

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup milk, or half and half

1 pinch ground nutmeg, optional

1 pinch of cayenne pepper, optional

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese, to serve

Instructions:

Melt ¼ cup of butter in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for a couple of minutes until light golden. Add in the onion and cook until transparent (about 2-3 minutes), then add the garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).

Pour in the milk (or half and half), whisking constantly until the white sauce thickens (about 5 minutes). Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and cayenne (if using). If the sauce is too thick, add another ¼ cup of milk to the sauce, whisking it thoroughly until reaching your desired thickness.

For the spinach: melt the remaining butter in a separate pan, and add spinach in batches, wilting each batch before adding the next, until all spinach is wilted. (Add a small spoon of water if the pan gets too dry.) Alternatively: Cook the spinach in a pot of boiling water for just one minute; then immerse in a cold-water bath to stop the cooking process. Squeeze out any excess water from the leaves and set aside.

Add wilted spinach to the cream sauce, stirring gently to combine. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Note: Instead of fresh spinach, you can use a 16 oz package of frozen chopped spinach. Thaw and squeeze dry before adding to the sauce.

Submitted by: Yvonne Gorney, Elmwood/Chestnut Mound FCE Club

During the third week of July, two Senior High Smith County 4-H’ers, Gabe Harville and Kynlee Davis, along with 4-H Agent Rachel Petty and volunteer leader Lisa Harville, had the opportunity to attend the 101st Annual Tennessee 4-H Round-Up & All-Star Conference at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

4-H Round-Up is an annual event that allows Senior High 4-H members to grow their leadership abilities, have fun new experiences, meet friends from across the state, learn more about the UT System, and prepare for their future. This event also serves to recognize 4-H members for their outstanding 4-H project work and leadership accomplishments throughout their 4-H career.

This year’s 4-H Round-Up was an excellent experience for both Gabe and Kynlee, who received multiple awards and recognition throughout the week.

During the Awards Banquet on Tuesday evening, Kynlee and Gabe were each named winners in their respective project areas. Gabe competed in the Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries project, and Kynlee competed in the Poultry project. This statewide competition consisted of 4-H’ers putting together a digital portfolio detailing their 4-H project work and citizenship and leadership experience. They then sat for an interview with a panel of judges to finish out the competition in-person at Round-Up.

As Level II project winners, Gabe and Kynlee both received scholarship money, a silver bowl, and a trip to National 4-H Congress, which will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, this November.

Celebrations continued on Thursday morning, as Gabe Harville was elected by his peers to serve as President of the Tennessee 4-H State Council for the 2024-2025 term. Gabe was selected as the Central Region candidate at Roundup Readiness Day in June and continued his campaign throughout the week against two other outstanding candidates from the Eastern and Western regions.

Gabe consistently displays excellent leadership and initiative at the county, region, and state level and is a true advocate for Tennessee 4-H. He is well-liked and well-respected by his peers, continually leads by example, and has a heart for service. We know that Gabe will thrive in this new leadership role!

On the final evening of the 4-H Round-Up festivities, Kynlee and Gabe both received their Vol State recognition during the closing ceremony. This is the highest level of honor that a Tennessee 4-H member can achieve. The Vol State award is presented to high school juniors and seniors in recognition of excellence in all phases of 4-H work, as well as service and leadership rendered in their communities. Gabe was also officially installed as the 2024-2025 Tennessee 4-H State Council President during this ceremony.

We couldn’t be more proud of these two 4-H’ers and the way that they represent themselves and Smith County at every opportunity! This is the highest honor that a Tennessee 4-H member can achieve during their 4-H career. There is no doubt that their future is bright!

The 4-H Youth Development Program delivers programs through cooperative efforts of the University of Tennessee, Tennessee State University, and public and private sector volunteers. 4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades 4-12, on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

For further information concerning the many opportunities that 4-H has to offer the youth in Smith County, call 615-735-2900 or email rpetty@utk.edu.

The Smith County Commission held its February meeting on the evening of Monday, August 12, 2024

You can watch the full meeting below.

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/.

Leadership Opportunity Smith County was founded in 1998. The program was designed to empower and motivate participants to develop their leadership style for the continued enhancement of Smith County.

Over 200 students completed the program since initiated by the Adult Leadership group in 2000. Students participate in an orientation and six one-day sessions, community service opportunities and recognition at the Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet for completing the class. The one-day sessions are during the school day and are excused “school/community related” absences.

Additionally, there is SCHOLARSHIP money available. Students who complete the Youth Leadership Program are eligible to apply for $1000 in their senior year. The class is limited to 12 students. The deadline to apply is August 30th Smith County public, private and homeschool students 10th -12th grade are eligible to apply.

Orientation is September 12th and the first session September 25th. Other sessions and community service opportunities follow monthly. This is a great resume booster and potential scholarship opportunity.

Applications are available at the guidance offices at each high school and the Smith County Chamber of Commerce, 939 Upper Ferry Road, Carthage. You can call 615-735-2093 for more information. The Deadline to apply is August 30th. Applications should be returned to Smith County Chamber of Commerce.

Tennessee residents are allowed to hunt without a license on Saturday, Aug. 24 which coincides with the opening day of squirrel season.

Free Hunting Day is an event the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency annually provides in hopes of increasing interest in hunting. Squirrel hunting is one of Tennessee’s oldest and favorite traditions. The day serves as an excellent opportunity for people to experience the enjoyment of the sport.

The TWRA encourages regular hunters to introduce friends and family members (young and old) to the outdoor sport. It is also an excellent opportunity for people who have not tried hunting in a while to be reintroduced to the sport.

In addition to opening of squirrel season, the three-day archery only for antlered deer hunt on private lands and selected wildlife management areas (WMAs) is set for Aug. 23-25. Check individual WMAs for regulations. Due to the removal of Unit CWD, guns and muzzleloaders will no longer be allowed during the August season.

On Free Hunting Day, state resident hunters are exempt from hunting licenses and WMA permit requirements. Many of the WMAs are open to hunters seeking public access on Aug. 24. Hunters are asked to check the information for specific WMAs in the 2024-25 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide. Sportsmen are required to ask for permission to hunt on private lands they do not own.

The TWRA offers a reminder that hunter education requirements are not waived for Free Hunting Day. Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1969 is required to have successfully completed a hunter education course. An apprentice license is required for those born on or after Jan. 1, 1969, if the hunter education course has not been completed. This license exempts the hunter from the mandatory hunter education law for one year from the date of purchase but may only be purchased for up to three consecutive years during the lifetime of the hunter. Those under 10 years of age do not need a Hunter Education certificate but must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age who must remain in a position to take immediate control of the hunting device.

Hunters can harvest up to 10 squirrels a day from the opening day of squirrel season through March 15, 2025. Each hunting day begins a half-hour before sunrise and ends a half-hour after sunset.

For more information about hunting in Tennessee, visit TWRA’s website at www.tnwildlife.org or contact your nearest TWRA regional office.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is urgently seeking assistance in locating two young boys, Xavier Brown, 12, and Connor Lynch, 10. The boys were last seen in the Brush Creek area of Smith County around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 18th. Brush Creek is an unincorporated community in the county.

Authorities believe both boys are riding a red dirt bike. Detailed descriptions of the boys have been provided to aid in the search:

• Xavier Brown: White male, 12 years old, wearing red shorts with no shirt. He is 4’2″ tall, weighs 90 pounds, has red hair, and brown eyes.
• Connor Lynch: White male, 10 years old, wearing a black Fortnite shirt, green and black shorts, and white Crocs. He is 5’1″ tall, weighs 116 pounds, has brown hair, and brown eyes.

The boys were last seen on Brush Creek Circle and could be either on the red dirt bike or on foot.

The sheriff’s office urges anyone with information that could help locate Xavier and Connor to call 615-735-2626 ext. 1. Community members are asked to remain vigilant and report any sightings or relevant information immediately to aid in the search efforts.

Tennessee placed third among 10 states that competed in the 44th annual National 4-H Forestry Invitational from Sunday July 21 through Wednesday July 24. The invitational was held at West Virginia University Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Camp and Conference Center near Weston, West Virginia. The event was sponsored by Farm Credit, Green Diamond Resource Company, Society of American Foresters, Southern Regional Extension Forestry, F and W Forestry, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and West Virginia University Extension.

While at the Invitational 4-H members competed for overall team and individual awards in several categories. Events included tree identification, tree measurement, compass and pacing, insect and disease identification, topographic map use, forest evaluation, the forestry bowl and a written forestry exam.

The Tennessee team members were Easton Bibbings, Emmy Bibbings, Gabe Harville, and Owen Meeks. The team coaches were Carson Meeks and Rachel Petty. All of the team members are Smith County residents and 4-H members.

4-H is a youth education program operated by the Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the state land grant universities. More than six million youth, 540,000 volunteers, and 3,500 professionals participate in 4-H nationwide, and nearly 100,000 are part of the 4-H Forestry Program.