if you were driving by Smith County Ag Center or Walmart on Tuesday evening you may have thought you were the last ones to know there was a disaster in Smith County. Dozens of police, sheriffs vehicles along with Carthage Fire pulled out of the Ag Center at approximately 5:30 with lights cutting through evening sky. It was not a disaster, in fact it was an emblem of an ongoing holiday celebration of the amazing giving spirit of many in Smith County residents who partner with the Smith County Sheriffs Office to make Santa’s Shoppers a success. This was the 10th year the Smith County Sheriff’s Office coordinated the community event which served 220 children and their families. The event is made possible with the cooperation The Tennessee Highway Patrol, Carthage Police Department, South Carthage Police Department, Gordonsville Police Department, and Carthage Fire Department along with a host of other volunteers. Each child and family was treated to a fun experience that included pizza and cookies, special escort service to Walmart and shopping with an officer. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office posted “Each individual child, parent, and officer alike took memories away from tonight that they will never forget. This is but one way we try to give back to our most precious citizens and hopefully leave an impression on them of serving others ” on their facebook page earlier this week. See some of the highlights from 2023 Smith County Santa’s Shoppers Event below.          

 

CARTHAGE/HERMITAGE/COLLIERVILLE – Monday nights Tennessee Lottery drawings created thousands of winners of a variety of prize levels, including three who won especially big. This includes two players who won $150,000 each in Carthage and Hermitage, and another who won $40,000 in Collierville.

Here are the details:

The $150,000 Powerball winners each matched four numbers plus the Powerball to win the base prize of $50,000. But since the lucky players added the Power Play for an extra dollar, the prize was tripled because last night’s multiplier was three.

These tickets were sold at:

–Murphy USA, 111 Myer Street in Carthage.

–Publix, 4670 Lebanon Pike in Hermitage.

The $40,000 Lotto America winner matched five numbers to win the base prize of $20,000. But since the lucky player added the All Star Bonus, the prize was doubled because the multiplier drawn was two.

That ticket was purchased at Kroger, 3685 Houston Levee Road in Collierville.

 

After seeing images and footage of the catastrophic tornadoes that swept through parts of Middle Tennessee and Kentucky, many are seeking opportunities to help. Contributing to fundraisers is usually the best solution. Unfortunately, scammers use times of great need after a tragedy to target those interested in giving.

Better Business Bureau serving Middle TN and Southern KY urges donors to give thoughtfully and avoid those seeking to take advantage of the generosity of others.

“The aftermath of the recent tornadoes has many of us seeking ways to give,” said Robyn Householder, President & CEO of Better Business Bureau Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. “Before donating money, we suggest you do some research.”

To avoid the possibility of being scammed, there are four tips from BBB everyone can use before giving money:

1. Review crowdfunding sites to find out transaction fees and other specifics.

2. Before donating to a celebrity’s fundraising effort, look beyond the fame and see if they identify plans for the intended use of funds.

3. Beware of vague appeals for money that do not identify how funds will be used.

4. Never click on links to unfamiliar charity websites sent through text messages or email.

In addition to the tips provided, Householder says, “Donors should visit the Give.org website to verify if a charity meets the BBB standards for charitable accountability. Visiting the website will help reduce confusion and risk of being scammed.”

BBB cares and is here to help. If you have questions, please send us an email info@bbb.org or give us a call 615-242-4222.

If you encounter a scam while trying to give to a worthy cause, please submit the scam details to BBB.org/Scamtracker

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is now soliciting comments on the 2024-25 hunting season dates and regulations. The comment period is open Dec. 15 through Jan. 15, 2024.

This is an opportunity for the public to share ideas and opinions about hunting seasons and regulations with TWRA. Public comments will be considered by Agency staff and may be included in proposed regulations. Comments can be made by accessing the website: https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/twra/wildlife-survey.html.

A preview of the Agency’s recommendations for the hunting seasons will be made at the March meeting of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission and the final recommendations made at the April meeting.

The holiday season is a time of spending joyful moments with family and friends, eating together, exchanging gifts, and playing holiday movies and games. However, it’s also a difficult time of the year to eat healthy, and many adults gain weight through the holiday season. Following these tips from the University of Tennessee Extension can help you avoid holiday weight gain while still enjoying the festivities.

“There are several simple habits that, if followed, can help us all avoid adding a few extra pounds through holiday meals,” says Soghra Jarvandi, UT Extension community health specialist. “The most important habit is to plan ahead and avoid skipping meals. It is harder to pay attention to portion sizes when we are hungry, so if we arrive at a party hungry, then we are more likely to eat more. Plan ahead and eat a healthy snack, such as fruit, a salad, or yogurt before heading to a gathering,” says the expert.

Jarvandi also suggests being physically active. “Burning the extra calories we inevitably consume during the holidays can help. Incorporate physical activity in your schedule, whether it’s inside or outside, such as walking, dancing, or swimming,” she continues.

It’s also important to pay attention to your plate, says Jarvandi. “Choose a smaller plate to start with, as eating smaller servings can help curb caloric intake. For example, a one-fourth cup of stuffing has 59 calories, while a one-half cup of stuffing has 118 calories. That adds up.”

What’s on your plate is also important, so Jarvandi suggests filling your plate with a balanced selection of food groups: half vegetables and fruits, a quarter protein foods (such as lean meat, beans and peas), and a quarter grains (such as bread, rice, pasta). Vegetables help you feel full and avoid overeating. Choosing fruit for dessert can help curb calories as well, but if a high-calorie dessert like cake is calling your name, eat a very small slice and eat mindfully.

Giving healthy snacks and foods as gifts is another way to make eating more manageable. Stuff stockings with healthy snacks, like nuts or dried fruit, and bring salads, fruit trays, or other light dishes to potlucks and family meals.

“As the Center for Disease Control suggests, healthy eating is all about balance and moderation, and that’s important to keep in mind during the holiday season,” concludes Jarvandi.

For additional help and programs specifically about healthy choices, contact Mary Parker Draper at the UT Extension office at 615-735-2900.

Mandarin Salad

8 oz cool whip

3 oz package orange Jell-O

23.5 oz jar mandarin oranges, drained

8 oz can crushed pineapple, undrained

2 cups miniature marshmallows

Mix all together and chill until ready to serve. Submitted by Debra Dillehay, Defeated FCE Club

Check out the December 2023 edition of “An Ounce of Prevention”, the monthly newsletter from the Smith County Drug Prevention Coalition!

Read this month’s newsletter to learn more about the Smith County Drug Prevention Coalition.

For more information about the Smith County Drug Prevention Coalition or how you can get involved, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.

Mr. William Chadwick Brown had an active warrant for a probation violation. K-9 Deputy Brady Dodson along with Sgt. Chris Lynn went to Brown’s residence  to attempt to take him into custody on his active warrant. 

Upon making contact with Mr. Brown,  he was advised of why the officers were there. Mr. Brown advised that he had a “plate” inside, and agreed to take the officers to it. Once inside a plate with a white residue on it and a Methamphetamine pipe under a wooden dresser were located. Also observed was a black plastic bag sticking out from a cut in the head of Mr. Brown’s mattress, inside, was approximately 2.9 ounces of Crystal Meth.

Mr. Brown also disclosed that he had more narcotics inside of a cigarette pack on top of the wooden dresser. Approximately 1 gram of Cocaine inside of a small baggie stuffed into a cigarette pack was also located. 

Mr. Brown was transported to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office for processing.

The presidential field is set in Tennessee for the March 5, 2024, Super Tuesday Presidential Preference Primary and County Primary Election following today’s noon withdrawal deadline. On Super Tuesday, 15 other states will join Tennessee in helping decide each party’s presidential nominee.

The following candidates will be on Tennessee’s March 5, 2024, ballot:

Republican Primary Ballot:

• Ryan Binkley
• Chris Christie
• Ron DeSantis
• Nikki Haley
• Asa Hutchinson
• Vivek Ramaswamy
• David Stuckenberg
• Donald J. Trump

Democratic Primary Ballot: 

• Joseph R. Biden

Republican candidate Doug Burgum withdrew from the ballot after suspending his campaign. Democratic candidate Dean Phillips did not satisfy the requirements to gain ballot access via the petition process.

“We are expecting strong voter turnout for the presidential election cycle next year,” said Secretary Hargett. “I encourage all Tennesseans who need to register to vote or update their voter registration address do so now by using our convenient online voter registration system at GoVoteTN.gov.”

Early voting for the March 5, 2024, Super Tuesday Presidential Preference Primary and County Primary Election starts Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, and runs Monday to Saturday until Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. 

Check out the December 2023 edition of the Smith County Chamber Corner Show!

This month’s show features local businesses, community organization and events going on in and around Smith County.

If you would like to promote your event or local business on the Smith County Chamber Corner Show, contact the Smith County Chamber of Commerce by calling 615-735-2093 today. 

Watch the full show below, or catch it on DTC3 TV.

In a recent investigation, Sergeant Junior Fields made contact with Mr. Ardnas Miles at the Gordonsville Pilot after he was given information of a possible delivery of 7.5 grams of crystal meth.

Mr. Miles was to deliver meth to an individual at the Pilot in exchange for $300. Upon making contact with Miles, who was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro, 7.5 grams of crystal meth was found in his possession. 

The vehicle was registered to Mr. Miles was seized in accordance with Tennessee Asset Forfeiture Laws. He was placed under arrest and transported by Deputy Burl Johnson to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office for processing.

On Sunday, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) surveyed some of the damage left behind after a series of tornados tore through Middle Tennessee. Rep. Rose spoke with victims of the destruction alongside Governor Bill Lee, state Sen. Charlane Oliver, and state Rep. Vincent Dixie.

Rep. Rose released the following statement:

“There are no words to describe the loss that many Middle Tennesseans are feeling today,” Rep. Rose said. “Listening to the pain people are feeling and seeing the destruction up close is an experience I won’t forget. I continue to pray for those who lost loved ones or are displaced. And I want to assure the families I represent in Gallatin, Hendersonville, Madison, and East Nashville that I am committed to securing federal emergency relief during their time of need.”

Background:

As of Monday morning, the National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed two tornados touched down in Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Dec. 9. Their surveys determined an EF-3 with winds of 150 mph touched down in Clarksville and preliminary data indicates an EF-2 tornado hit the Madison, Hendersonville, and Gallatin areas with winds of 125 mph. At least six deaths have been confirmed, as well as dozens of injuries, and hundreds of homes are reported damaged. Further surveys will be completed in the coming days.

U.S. Representative John Rose is currently serving his third term representing Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District and resides in Cookeville with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Guy and Sam. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, and White counties as well as portions of Davidson, Scott, Warren, and Wilson counties. Representative Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner, and attorney, and currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee and House Agriculture Committee.  

We are excited to announce the 2nd Annual ‘Best of the Best’ awards in Smith County, Tennessee. Smith County Insider wants to give the citizens of Smith County a chance to vote for the best businesses and organizations in our community.

Over 300 nominations were received during the nomination period that ended on December 1. All of the nominations were compiled and the ballot below was created. The nominations on the ballot are in the order that they were received.

Vote now in the form below. Voting will end on Friday, December 22, 2023. Once the voting has ended, the winners will be announced. (You must have a google account to vote)

Be sure to scroll down to sign in to Google.

If the form below does not work, then click HERE to vote.

Smith County 4-H News – by Rachel Petty, UT Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development

The Smith County 4-H Forestry Judging Team can officially say that they have a State Championship title under their belt!

Our team, made up of Senior High 4-H’ers Easton Bibbings, Emmy Bibbings, Gabe Harville, and Owen Meeks, traveled to the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on October 7, 2023, to compete against other 4-H Forestry Judging teams from across the state at the University of Tennessee’s annual Fall Judging Day. The team qualified for this contest by placing 1st at the Central Region contest on September 12, 2023.

A total of six teams competed at the state level by testing their forestry knowledge in several different areas: tree identification, wood identification, insect and disease identification, compassing and pacing, and tree measurement. The contest culminated in a forest evaluation plan that the whole team was responsible for putting together.

The competition was tough, but Smith County ultimately emerged victorious. When our group came back from their forest evaluation at the end of the contest, they were all walking in a line, proudly holding their Biltmore sticks, and grinning from ear to ear. As it turns out, those were the smiles of state champions!

In addition to their 1st place team win, Emmy Bibbings was also the 1st place High Individual at the contest. Owen Meeks placed 6th, Easton Bibbings placed 7th, and Gabe Harville placed 11th overall.

We are so incredibly proud of this team and all of the hard work and time they have devoted in order to excel at this level of competition. As a result of their win, they will travel to represent Tennessee at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational in West Virginia this summer!

We also want to say a special thank you to our extremely dedicated volunteer Forestry Judging coaches, Carson Meeks and Spencer Meeks. We couldn’t have done it without them!

For further information relating to Forestry Judging or any other 4-H activities, events, and projects, please contact Rachel Petty in the Smith County office of the University of Tennessee Extension at 615-735-2900.

Better Business Bureau serving Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky is pleased to announce the launch of the 2023 Students of Integrity Scholarship program sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and Asurion. The scholarship is for high school students entering their senior year who will graduate in the Spring of 2024. Applications are being accepted until Wednesday, December 13th.

The annual scholarship program proudly recognizes high school seniors from the Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky area who embody ethical behavior and decision-making in their leadership roles at school and in their community.

“We are honored for the opportunity to give back to the next generation of ethical leaders,” said Robyn Householder, President & CEO Better Business Bureau serving Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. “This grant has helped many families. As a mother, I know the mounting costs of college tuition, and this scholarship will be the difference maker for many students.”

This year, 15 students have the opportunity to receive $1000. The scholarship can be used toward expenses for trade schools or four-year universities.  

To qualify for the scholarship, the student must be a senior graduating in the spring of 2024 and attend a high school in the following counties in Kentucky: Trigg County, Christian County, Todd County, Logan County, Simpson County, Allen County, Monroe County. 

Tennessee qualified continues include Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Clay, Coffee, Davidson, Dekalb, Dickson, Fentress, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Warren, Wayne, White, Williamson, and Wilson County. 

Each application is evaluated by an independent, voluntary panel of judges selected by BBB. Entries will be judged on four areas of criteria: Leadership, Community Service, Academic, and Essay.

Since the program’s inception in 2005, BBB’s Integrity Foundation has awarded over $180,000 in scholarships to high school students in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky.

For more information on scholarships and specific entry criteria, please visit BBB.org . You can also find out more by visiting our Facebook page @bbbMidtnSouthky.

If you have additional questions, please email npoole@gobbb.org or call 615-250-4243

The Better Business Bureau is a nonprofit organization established in 1954. The mission of the Better Business Bureau is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust.