CARTHAGE, Tenn., November 27, 2023 – BankTennessee is pleased to welcome Eddie Sykes as the new Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending at its Carthage office.

“Eddie brings a wealth of banking and lending experience and a deep understanding of the local community. As a local resident, Eddie is well-versed in the intricacies of the community and has an intimate knowledge of the area’s financial landscape,” said Brad Houser, Middle Tennessee president. “We believe his expertise will be invaluable as we continue to serve the market in Smith County and the surrounding areas,” stated Houser.

Prior to joining BankTennessee, Sykes held the position of Senior Relationship Manager at FirstBank. He previously served as a Commercial Agricultural Lender at Citizens Bank of Lafayette from 2019 to 2021 and worked at other area banks during his 30-year tenure.

“Community banking has been at the heart of our philosophy for over 80 years. Eddie’s addition to our team aligns seamlessly with our commitment to local engagement and customer satisfaction. We look forward to the collaborative efforts that will further enhance our presence in Carthage and beyond,” Houser added.

The Carthage office, located at 936 Upper Ferry Road, has been an essential hub for BankTennessee since its establishment in 2019. Over the years, the branch has experienced substantial growth, reflecting the bank’s commitment to fostering financial prosperity within the community.

About BankTennessee

BankTennessee has 10 banking offices with 3 locations in Middle Tennessee including Lebanon, Carthage, and Gallatin. In West Tennessee, there are 7 branches with locations in Collierville, Memphis, Germantown, Ripley, and Munford.

BankTennessee offers a full range of financial products and services including personal and business checking accounts, mobile banking, online banking, mortgages, home equity lines of credit, custom construction loans, commercial and consumer loans, treasury management, remote capture, and merchant card services.

As of June 30, 2023, BankTennessee had $551,647,942 in assets. For more information, visit www.banktennessee.com.

Carthage, Tennessee, Nov. 26, 2023 – This past Sunday, the town of Carthage embraced the festive spirit with its annual Hometown Christmas celebration and Parade. The lively procession commenced on Industrial Drive, weaving its way up Hwy 25 to North Main Street, concluding at Second Avenue just beyond the Historic Smith County Courthouse.

Expressing gratitude for the event, Tracy Woodard shared her thoughts on the parade: ” WOW! A huge THANK YOU to each and every one who weathered the rain and participated in the parade. We hope all of the spectators were able to enjoy, also, despite the rain. Your donations were over-the-top this year!!! As you can see, Johnnys van is filled to the brim!!We believe this was the largest parade we have had in a long time! As with any outdoor event, it is so hard to plan because you’re playing with the weather. You just have to hope for the best and cross your fingers! THANK YOU to each of the local businesses that made donations to the Carthage Lions Club. Your donations are why we are able to assist Individuals with either eye wear or hearing aids! THANK YOU, AGAIN!!! Carthage Lions Club (Lions Club Members Tracy Woodard, Diane Skelton, Tom White, Johnny Law, Alex Richmond, and Denise Givens were among those who contributed to the parade’s success.)

Carthage’s Main Street was bedecked with eye-catching decorations, with credit going to the Town of Carthage public works crew led by superintendent Mr. Leslie Fisher. The Town of Carthage Decorations Committee, helmed by Mrs. Francis McDonald and Mrs. Jackie Dodson, added a touch of elegance with ribbon stripes and bows on the street poles.

The festive spirit extended to the Courthouse Grounds, where the Smith County Maintenance crew, under Mr. David Lankford’s leadership, erected the County tree and manger scene. Riddleton’s Family & Consumer Education club, overseen by Mary Draper at the UT Extension office, added charm to the large flowerpots. The Historic Courthouse’s front received a collaborative touch from the Smith County Events Committee and the Carthage Events Committee, adorning it with wreaths, bows, and lights.

The Historic Courthouse’s interior was transformed into a winter wonderland by the Smith County Events Committee, chaired by Mrs. Stephanie Winfree. Children were treated to a delightful scene reminiscent of the North Pole, thanks to the efforts of Mr. & Mrs. B.J. Blankenship, members of the Lafayette Lions Club, who portrayed Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. Santa’s helpers and elves, including Matt and Leslie Smith, Erika Ebel, Bridgette Briggs, Jessica Knowles, and Stephanie Winfree, added to the enchantment.

Entertainment graced the Courthouse steps with performances by Don and Barbara Kannapel, Julie Wright, and Billy Woodard. The cast of Les Misérables from the Smith County Playhouse, directed by Mr. J.R. Smith, previewed a number from their upcoming play at the Bill Reece Auditorium in Smith County High School. The Smith County Community Band regaled the audience with a medley of Christmas songs.

The county’s Christmas tree and decorations received an official illumination from recent beauty queens and Mayor Jeff Mason. Acknowledging the collaborative effort required for such an event, gratitude was extended to Nancy Richardson and Bridgette Briggs for their administrative and planning roles throughout the year. Special thanks were also offered to the Smith County Chamber of Commerce events planning committee for their continuous support.

Reflecting on the success of the event, it was emphasized that none of it would be possible without the dedication of individuals from Smith County, the Town of Carthage, Gordonsville, and South Carthage. “I love and appreciate all you folks who helped us have the biggest and best Hometown Christmas and parade ever!”

May God Bless all of you and have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.

Submitted by Billy Woodard, Smith County Chamber of Commerce.

Photos shared with permission from Mark Ervin Presley, Smith County Events Committee and Smith County Chamber

The Smith County School Board approved the 2024-2025 School Calendar.

After summer break, students will return to school for a half-day on August 2, 2024. Fall Break will be October 14– 18, 2024, and Thanksgiving Break will be November 25 – 29, 2024. Students will go for a half-day on December 20, followed by Christmas Break on December 23, 2024 – January 6, 2025. Spring Break will be March 24 – March 28, 2025

The final half-day of the school year will be May 23, 2025.

We are excited to announce the 2023 ‘Best of the Best’ awards in Smith County, Tennessee. Smith County Insider wants to give the citizens of Smith County a chance to nominate and vote for the best businesses and organizations in our community.

Nominations will be taken until December 1, 2023. The nominations will be collected and then voting will begin.

Fill in the blanks below to nominate your favorite business or organization in each category. (You must have a google account to nominate and vote)

Be sure to scroll down to sign in to google.

If the form above does not work properly, click HERE to make your nominations.

NASHVILLE – Today, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDSOHS) Commissioner Jeff Long, Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Colonel Matt Perry and Tennessee Highway Safety Office Director Buddy Lewis joined multiple law enforcement partners to announce the Tennessee Interstate Challenge traffic safety initiative.

The Thanksgiving holiday is the busiest travel time of the year. That is why the THP is increasing patrols during the Thanksgiving holiday by placing troopers every 10-20 miles on all Tennessee interstates and issuing the friendly Tennessee Interstate Challenge to every sheriff and chief of police.

This is a unique and effective traffic enforcement initiative effects the entire state of Tennessee. “This week many people are traveling across Tennessee to celebrate and give thanks with their loved ones,” said Commissioner Long. “With the Tennessee Interstate Challenge, we are working to prevent crashes and help everyone get home safely.”

Colonel Perry is personally requesting that every law enforcement agency have a strict tolerance for traffic violations in their areas of jurisdiction. To support local law enforcement partners that do not have an interstate system running through their jurisdictions, the THP will increase patrols on all secondary roadways across the state. It is the THP’s mission to do everything possible to prevent injury and death on Tennessee highways.

“I recognize the fact that we cannot enforce our way out of traffic incidents, but we are going to do our part to promote highway safety,” said Colonel Perry. “We are also asking drivers to do their part. Wear your seatbelt and don’t drive distracted or intoxicated. If we work together, we can stop preventable crashes.”

Over the 2022 Thanksgiving holiday, THP arrested 89 people for DUI and worked 511 crashes. Of these crashes 14 involved fatalities. Of these deaths, 10 were occupant fatalities and 4 people were not wearing a safety restraint. Additionally, four pedestrians were killed. Troopers also investigated 36 crashes that were alcohol related. THP issued 469 seat belt citations and 2,575 speeding citations. These statistics don’t reflect the real-world impact made on families. “The benefits of this traffic enforcement effort from previous years are immeasurable,” said Colonel

Pursuant to Chapter 442, Tennessee Public Act of 1974, “The Sunshine Law” the Dale Hollow Rural Planning Organization will hold a meeting on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. The meeting will be held at 10:30 AM (CST) at the Upper Cumberland Development District, located at 1104 England Drive in Cookeville. Anyone interested in attending will need to contact Mark Dudney at (931) 476-4152 or mdudney@ucdd.org for more details.

The Dale Hollow RPO is responsible for comprehensive transportation planning for Clay, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Smith and Trousdale counties. This is an open public meeting. To request an agenda, please call Dale Hollow RPO Coordinator Mark Dudney at (931)476-4152. If you need assistance or accommodations due to disability, please contact Mark by Friday, December 1, 2023.

A student at Smith County High School was recently featured in a video about his employment at Smith County Animal Clinic. Dalton Shoulders is part of the Transition Pathways Project with Vanderbilt University. This project is in conjunction with the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment of Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University and is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), Administration for Community Living.

The Transition Pathways Project is examining the transition services that prepare students for employment after high school. Paid employment is considered a “best practice” in transition, but we wanted to (a) better understand the impact of paid employment on students and (b) develop practical and free resources that can help schools put this best practice into actual practice. The team at Vanderbilt created resources to help the teachers connect students to paid employment. Vanderbilt’s role was to coach and support the teachers in making community connections, advocating for jobs, and problem-solving any barriers that may arise while trying to obtain employment. One key piece of our project is the employment planning meeting. The parents, teacher, student, and Vanderbilt staff came together to hold an employment planning meeting. We invited outside supports, like Vocational Rehabilitation, to discuss the student’s likes and dislikes, strengths, needs, and supports that could help the student be successful in a job. Dalton took the lead in the meeting and had a PowerPoint that outlined his interests, job goals, and what he may need help with at work. Leaving the meeting, each person had a defined role in helping Dalton get a job.

Brandi Hays, the IEP Transition Coordinator at Smith County High School used personal connections to advocate for Dalton to find employment. Brandi asked Dalton’s mom if it was okay to post about Dalton on Facebook, list his skills, and ask about employers that have openings within Dalton’s career of interest. Brandi received a response from Dr. Lindsey Dixon at Smith County Vet Clinic. Dr. Dixon said she had an opening and would be willing to hire Dalton if his skills matched the job requirements. Dalton’s teacher, Tammy Givens, also played an instrumental role in making this happen and preparing Dalton for his job. Tammy works with each of her students to promote self-advocacy and they engage in soft skills instruction on a daily basis. Dalton has been employed at Smith County Vet Clinic since March of 2023.

In this video, Dalton’s support team will share their experiences of coming together to help him reach his employment goals. Brandi Hays, the IEP Transition Coordinator, discusses how she connected with employers and advocated for Dalton in a rural community. Dr. Lindsey Dixon talks about her experiences hiring Dalton and working with students with disabilities. Lastly, Dalton will discuss his employment and how he enjoys working at Smith County Animal Clinic.

At the November 16, 2023 meeting of the Financial Management Committee at the small room of the Ag Center, the committee discussed and passed several motions about the qualifications and job posting for the Director of Finance position created by the Financial Management System of 1981.

The committee decided to move forward with the attached qualifications and also to begin accepting applications from within all areas of the county government (County, road department, and Board of Education). The application deadline is December 8th.

The committee also voted to send a budget amendment to the county commission to approve one-half year’s salary and benefits for this position. The salary for this position will be tied to the trustee’s salary, which is currently $86,716, pending approval by the county commission.

The committee will meet again on December 14th.