Smith County, TN

An overturned tractor-trailer in Smith County blocked all traffic headed east on Interstate 40 at mile marker 260 for several hours.

TROUSDALE COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — A man is in custody after leading deputies on a reckless motorcycle chase through two Tennessee counties on Friday. The Trousdale County Sheriff's report that about 3:15 p.m, Friday a Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop a motorcycle displaying no tag on East Main St. at McMurry Blvd E.

A Carthage man has pleaded guilty to the inappropriate touching of a child under age thirteen. Ronnie Butler, age 74, appeared in criminal court on Friday and pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Sexual Battery. Butler was sentenced to ten years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The sentence must be served at one hundred percent without the possibility of parole. In addition, Butler was placed on the Tennessee Sexual Offender Registry and ordered to Community Sex Offender supervision for life at the conclusion of the prison sentence.

Waggin’ Tails will host a fundraising BBQ Dinner on Saturday, August 27th at 6 p..m. at River Point Ranch in Carthage TN. In addition to dinner there will also be a live and silent auction. Tickets can be purchased online at givebutter.com/waggintails. Waggin’ Tails is a dog rescue in...

Longtime Smith County resident, Clyde Ray, passed away on August 9, 2022 at the age of 84, in Smyrna. Clyde Allen Ray was born January 5, 1938 in Lancaster to Wirt and Bonnie Betty Ray. He was the youngest of his six siblings. He graduated from Gordonsville High School in Gordonsville in May 1956. He went on to enlist in the US Army and was first stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, Company D. He was honorably discharged and later met his future wife, Ivora Jean Murray. They were married on July 28, 1961 in Oklahoma City and would eventually move to the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming to ranch and raise a family.

K9 Sgt. Ridge Long and Deputy Robbie Woodard conducted a traffic stop after observing the driver of a vehicle exit the parking lot of a local business and enter the highway without wearing a seatbelt. The driver was identified as Michael Henry. Henry stated he was currently on parole. The...

On July 9th K9 Sgt. Ridge Long encountered a vehicle and a motorcycle sitting in the parking lot of a local business. Sgt. Long made contact with the occupants who were identified as Joshua Carpenter, Haley Roach and Lisa Burnette. Consent was given to search the their person(s), the vehicle...

Longtime Smith County resident Clyde Ray passed away on August 9, 2022 at the age of 84, in Smyrna, Tennessee. Clyde Allen Ray was born January 5, 1938 in Lancaster, Tennessee to Wirt and Bonnie Betty Ray. He was the youngest of his six siblings. He graduated from Gordonsville High School in Gordonsville, Tennessee in May 1956. He went on to enlist in the US Army and was first stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, Company D. He was honorably discharged and later met his future wife Ivora Jean Murray. They were married on July 28, 1961 in Oklahoma City and would eventually move to the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming to ranch and raise a family.

A Pleasant Shade man, formerly employed as a Smith County Middle School coach/PE instructor, was among those indicted during the August session of the grand jury. Jamal Devante Carter, 26, Pleasant Shade, was indicted on “15 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor” by the county’s grand jury which met on Monday of last week.

- Population: 19,926 - Born in Tennessee: 14,538 (73.0% of population) - Born in a different state: 4,851 (24.3% of population) --- Midwest (7.4%), Northeast (2.8%), South (11.1%), West (3.0%) - Born in another country: 444 (2.23% of population) --- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.78%), Europe (0.16%), Latin America (1.17%), North America (0.12%), Oceania (0.00%)

Smith County will be represented by a new member in the Tennessee House of Representatives as Michael Hale defeated Terri Lynn Weaver in the Republican Primary for Tennessee House District 40 during the August 4 election. Weaver carried Smith County with 1,678 votes to Hale’s 1,534; however, Hale outperformed Weaver in the other areas of the 40th District. Click here to see the election results for the entire district.

The Smith County Grand Jury met for its August 2022 session. You can see them below. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. 1 Count Possession of Sch. II, Methamphetamine >.5 Grams. 1 Count Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. State of Tennessee vs. Christopher D. Strub. 1 Count Driving on Wrong...

Voters had the opportunity to cast ballots in a variety of races during the 2022 State Primary and Smith County General Election, including Governor, US House, TN Senator, TN House, District Attorney, General Sessions Judge, Mayor, Trustee, Clerk, County Commission, and several more. Citizens may view a full sample ballot here.

Below are the election results from the August 4th County Election and State Primaries:

UT Extension Smith County is proud to present the latest episode of Cultivating Communities. Join hosts Katie Martin and Chris Hicks as they travel the Upper Cumberland to introduce you to local farmers, families, and Extension agents. In this episode, Chris and Katie meet up with Extension Agent Johnny Barnes...

Katie Martin – UT Extension Agent – We would like to invite you to join us for our first meeting of the 2022-2023 school year for the Smith County 4-H Homeschool Club. Our Homeschool Club meets monthly from September through March and is a great way to learn about the awesome opportunities Smith County 4-H offers. Through our Homeschool Club, youth have the opportunity to participate in speech, posters, demonstrations, photo contests, and much more. This club is open to all homeschooled 4-12 graders in the county.

Students from around the county participated in Smith County Schools’ Summer Learning Camp for grades 1-8. The Summer Learning Camp is part of a three year plan to help students who may have suffered from learning loss during the COVID pandemic and school shut down. Along with studying ELA and Math, these students had the opportunity to learn how to be a firefighter, meet a News Channel 5 meteorologist, and study at the Adventure Science Center in Nashville.

Smith County Humane has partnered with Butler’s Auction to collect items for Eastern Ky Flood Relief efforts. Smith County Humane will deliver the collected items and work directly with Guardians of Rescue a local rescue group in Eastern Kentucky to distribute the items. DONATE your items between now and...

The Helping Hearts Fundraiser Pageant will be hosting our 5th annual pageant on August 27th, 2022 at the Smith County Ag Center. All proceeds will go to our local animal rescue, Smith County Humane. Entry fee: $40. Additional electives: $5 each. *prettiest eyes. *best dressed. *best smile. *best personality. *most...