A free short-term rental workshop is scheduled for June 17 for individuals interested in or that currently own/operate vacation rental properties in the Upper Cumberland. The workshop is organized through a partnership with Upper Cumberland Tourism Association, Upper Cumberland Development District and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. 

Following a successful, statewide series of programs dedicated to short-term rental development and education last year, the regional workshop will be facilitated by Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association Executive Director Alicia Phelps. 

The program includes an opportunity for participants to learn more about vacation rental markets, laws and regulations, customer service, proper cleaning guidelines, as well as how to get started with rentals or enhance current properties. The workshop will also offer a question-and-answer session with a panel of local short-term rental experts and an opportunity to hear from local tourism and hospitality-related entities.

“Our workshops in 2023 were in high demand, and we’re excited to offer this series throughout Tennessee in different communities that have been noted for growth in the accommodations sector,” said Phelps. “We’ve conducted preliminary research and found the Upper Cumberland to have a thriving short-term rental market due to their proximity to outdoor opportunities and urban landscapes.”

Registration is required. The workshop will take place from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. CT at Upper Cumberland Development District, located at 1104 England Dr. Cookeville, TN 38501.

The Tennessee Music Pathways marker for Louise Scruggs was revealed on Friday, May 31, 2024 on the lawn of the Historic Smith County Courthouse at 211 Main Street in Carthage, TN.

·Ashley DeRossett, Tennessee Dept. of Tourist Development, Billy Woodard, Smith County Chamber of Commerce, Smith County Mayor Jeff Mason, and Scruggs family members participated in the dedication. To see to full video of this historic event click below.

Louise Scruggs was a native of Smith County’s Grant community near Carthage, Tennessee, She was a pivotal figure in popularizing bluegrass music, managing her husband Earl Scruggs and his partner Lester Flatt from 1956 to 1969 through their rise to popularity.

Tennessee Music Pathways is an online planning guide that connects visitors to the state’s rich musical heritage at tnmusicpathways.com. From the largest cities to the smallest communities, Tennessee Music Pathways stretches across all 95 counties and features hundreds of landmarks from the seven genres of music that call Tennessee home.

The Smith County Board of Commissioners held a special-called meeting on the evening of Thursday, May 30, 2024. The Commission met inside the Smith County Ag Center. 

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!

The Smith County Board of Commissioners meets on the second Monday of every other month at the Smith County Agriculture Center, 159 Ag Center Lane.

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

For more information about your County Commissioners, meetings and committees visit the https://smithcotn.com/county-commissioners.

New Middleton Lodge #249 is currently taking orders for their Annual Boston Butt & Rib Sale!

Boston Butts can be purchased for $45 and Ribs can be purchased for $28.

The deadline to order is June 26, 2024. Please text or call 615-489-7344 to place your order.

Orders may be picked up at the New Middleton Lodge between 3pm and 6pm on the afternoon of July 3, 2024.

You can pay for your order on the day of pick up. New Middleton Lodge is located at 347 New Middleton Hwy – Gordonsville, TN 38563.

On Tuesday, May 28, 2024, the Smith County Board of Education met for a Budget Work Session at 4 p.m.followed by the regular Smith County Board of Education Meeting at 5 p.m.

You can watch the work session and meeting below:

Thanks to Teresa Gifts or 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/.

To avoid falling victim to banking scams, do not pay anyone who asks for advance payment in the form of cryptocurrency, gift cards or money transfers. If asked to withdraw cash from a bank account in order to convert it to cryptocurrency, do not provide any personal information to the requestor.

Banks are seeing a rapid increase of the Bitcoin ATM Scam. If you are asked to withdraw money and convert that money to Bitcoin through an ATM, it is time for you to talk to your Bank.

Nothing good comes from this type of transaction, guaranteed!

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.

About the Upper Cumberland Development District: The Upper Cumberland Development District provides regional planning and assistance to the 14-county Upper Cumberland region to promote economic growth and community enhancement. Find UCDD on the web at www.ucdd.org and at facebook.com/UCDDconnect.

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 June.

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, June 18, 2024

TIME: 1:00pm-2:00pm

WHAT: Smith County Local Office Hours
LOCATION: Smith County Admin Building, 122 Turner High Circle, Carthage, TN 37030

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

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – May 2024 – In advance of summer travel and to help preserve Tennessee’s natural beauty, and protect both wildlife and visitors along the state’s scenic byways, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) are reminding residents and visitors to be vigilant and safe during the summer travel season, especially when it comes to bears.

“Black bears are one of Tennessee’s state treasures and it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep them wild and keep them alive,” says Dan Gibbs, TWRA Black Bear Coordinator. “Bear management experience has shown that bears attracted to human food sources, or that are deliberately fed by humans, have a relatively short life.”

According to TWRA’s bear-conflict reports, the summer travel season is also when bears in Tennessee become more active. “Our bear population is approximately 5,000 – 6,000 statewide, with the majority found east of Cookeville,” says Gibbs. “We are getting more reports from Middle Tennessee each year with an occasional sighting from West Tennessee.” TWRA receives more than 1,200 bear conflict reports annually, which does not include reports from local, state and national parks, police departments and other agencies. Eighty percent of the calls are related to bears accessing trash.

TDOT also sees an uptick in litter on the state’s roadways and along scenic byways in the summer and reminds residents that food waste is litter, which attracts animals to roadways, endangering them and motorists.

“Tennessee’s scenic byways are renowned for their breathtaking vistas, rich history, and diverse ecosystems, attracting tourists and nature enthusiasts from around the globe,” said Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “However, with summer travel and the influx of visitors along the byways, comes the challenge of managing waste responsibly, especially in areas inhabited by wildlife. We encourage visitors and residents alike to enjoy our beautiful state and dispose of litter responsibly.”

To keep bears and other wildlife from accessing food waste and to help spread the message about litter prevention, TDOT has installed 80 Nobody Trashes Tennessee-branded bear-proof trash cans along seven of the state’s 13 scenic byways. The heavy-duty containers are specifically designed to withstand the curiosity and strength of bears, ensuring that waste is securely contained, and wildlife remains unharmed.

In addition to safeguarding wildlife, the installation of bear-proof trash cans supports the two agencies’ broader efforts to protect wildlife and promote environmental responsibility. The trash cans have been installed along the following scenic byways: Great River Road, Woodlands Trace, Tennessee River Trail, Cumberland National Scenic Byway, Sequatchie Valley National Scenic Byway, Cherohala Skyway and East Tennessee Crossing Byway.

TWRA offers the following guidelines to minimize many unnecessary and potentially dangerous bear encounters.

– Never feed or approach bears!

– When camping in bear country, keep all food stored in a vehicle and away from tents, and dispose food waste in the proper receptacles.

– If you see a black bear from a distance, alter your route of travel, return the way you came, or wait until it leaves the area.

– Make your presence known by yelling and shouting at the bear in an attempt to scare it away.

– If approached by a bear, stand your ground, raise your arms to appear larger, yell and throw rocks or sticks until it leaves the area.

– Never run from a black bear! This will often trigger its natural instinct to chase.

– If a black bear attacks, fight back aggressively and do not play dead! Use pepper spray, sticks, rocks, or anything you can find to defend yourself. If cornered or threatened, bears may slap the ground, “pop” their jaws, or “huff” as a warning. If you see these behaviors, you are too close! Slowly back away while facing the bear at all times.

TWRA encourages residents to contact them immediately if they witness aggressive behavior by black bears at: tn.gov/twra/law-enforcement#accident. For additional information about what to do when encountering a bear while hiking and camping visit, bearwise.org.

About TWRA

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency protects and conserves fish and wildlife species for the benefit of Tennesseans. The agency manages 1.6 million acres of public land and water to provide diverse habitats for wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities including hunting, fishing, and boating across the state. To learn more about conservation in Tennessee visit TNWildlife.org.

About Nobody Trashes Tennessee

Nobody Trashes Tennessee (NTT) is the State of Tennessee’s official litter prevention campaign managed by Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). Visit nobodytrashestennessee.com to learn more about TDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program and additional ways to get involved in helping to prevent and reduce litter through personal actions, community events, and reporting littering incidents through the Tennessee Litter Hotline (1-877-8LITTER). Join the conversation on Facebook at nobodytrashesTN, instagram.com/nobodytrashestn and on X at NobodyTrashesTN.

Canning foods can be intimidating for many people, especially beginners. A good place to start when learning something new is the terms that go into the process. Listed below are many terms used in canning from UT Extension that may be helpful.

Acid Foods: Acid foods are foods containing natural acids, or foods that had vinegar added to them. Acid foods includes fruits, pickles, sauerkraut and relishes. These foods can be processed in warm water baths.

Low-Acid Foods: Foods that contain very little natural acid include most vegetables, meats, poultry, seafood, soups and mixed vegetable recipes that include tomatoes as one of the ingredients. All low-acid foods must be processed at 240° F (116° C) to assure the destruction of spoilage microorganisms.

Bacteria, Yeasts and Molds: These are forms of microorganism found in the environment that will grow in canned foods if not processed properly.

Blanching (scalding): Blanching is the dipping of vegetables in boiling water or steaming them over boiling water. After boiling dip in cool water to stop the cooking. Blanching destroys enzymes that cause undesirable changes in color, flavor and texture.

Botulism: Botulism is a type of food poisoning caused by eating foods that contain a bacteria Clostridium Botulinum in a sealed jar. These spores can grow in tightly sealed jars of any low-acid food. These foods need to be processed in a pressure canner. All home-canned, low-acid foods should be boiled 10 to 20 minutes before tasting to destroy any toxin that could be present.

Canning/Pickling Salt: Salt that does not contain iodine that is in regular table salt is used for canning.

Cold Pack/Raw Pack: Packing canning jars with raw food and covered with boiling brine, water, syrup or juice is cold or raw packing canning.

Head Space: Headspace is the space between the top of food in a container and the inside bottom of the lid.

Hot Pack: A method of filling containers by heating food in an open vessel in water, juice, syrup or steamed and packed hot into canning jars prior to processing.

Pectin: Pectin is the substance in fruits that forms a gel when it is in the right combination with acid and sugar. Sometimes pectin is used to add gel to fruit.

Pickling or acidifying: Pickling or acidifying is the process of adding enough acid (vinegar) to a low-acid food to add acid for safely heat-processed in boiling water.

Steam Pressure Canner: A large, heavy metal kettle that can close steam inside. The lid is fitted with a safety valve, steam vent or petcock and a pressure gauge. Steam produced inside the kettle is pressurized to obtain temperatures exceeding the boiling point of water.

Water Bath Canner: A large metal kettle with a tight-fitting cover and rack or basket to keep glass jars from resting on the bottom of the kettle or from bumping together. The kettle must be deep enough for the water to be well over the top of the jars and still have room to boil briskly. The water bath canner is recommended for foods such as fruit, fermented foods and food with vinegar added, jellies, jams and preserves.

Open Kettle: An old-style method of canning that is no longer considered to be safe. In this method, the food is cooked in an open kettle and then quickly put into jars and sealed without further processing.

If you are interested in learning more about canning, join us on June 24th and 25th from 9:30-12:00 at Gordonsville First Baptist Church for our two-day canning college. Participants must pre-register with payment. The $30.00 fee covers supplies for take home jars and a wealth of knowledge. Call 615-735-2900 to register today!

Turkey Patties

1 lb. ground turkey

1 tbsp chopped parsley

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp butter

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp chili pepper flakes, optional

2 tbsp fresh garlic, minced

1 tsp fresh grated ginger, optional

Directions

1. To make the turkey patties: Combine all ingredients for the turkey patties (ground turkey, parsley, garlic, salt, cayenne, ginger, and chili flakes) in a medium-sized bowl and gently mix until everything is evenly combined. Do not overwork, to create a proper texture.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 teaspoon butter together in a skillet over medium-high heat and divide the turkey mixture into six equal parts. Flatten gently to form the turkey patties, then sear the turkey patties in the skillet for 5-8 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 160ºF. Make sure to give a good sear to the turkey patties so they’re crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

3. Serve them alone, maybe with a dollop of chipotle aioli on the side, or place between two slices of buns to have burgers. Enjoy!

Recipe tips for the turkey patties

· You can easily double this recipe to make more turkey patties.

· You can bake the patties. Just drizzle some vegetable oil onto a large, non-stick cookie sheet, making sure that the surface is evenly covered. Arrange the turkey patties on the sheet and gently brush the tops with some oil. Bake at 425˚F for 15 minutes. Flip, and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes.

Submitted by: Erin Parchman, Grant FCE Club