A Liberty man was arrested on drug, theft, and other charges last week by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department after officers responded to a hit and run in Dowelltown and a disturbance in Liberty.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 22 year old Stephen Hunter Pugh of Sweetwater Road, Liberty was charged Tuesday with violation of probation, failure to appear (two counts), resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft of property, theft of property under $500.00, and leaving the scene of an accident.
Sheriff Ray says deputies received a call on East Main Street in Dowelltown about a hit and run. When officers arrived on the scene, the owner gave them a description of the vehicle. While there, the deputies received another call about a disturbance at a business in Liberty. Upon their arrival in Liberty, officers talked with the complainant, who advised that Pugh had come to the victim’s residence on Jimmy Malone Road in Liberty inquiring about scrap metal. When the victim told Pugh they had no scrap metal to give to him he started to leave, but jumped out of his truck, loaded aluminum guttering into his vehicle, and fled the scene. The victim followed him to a market in Liberty.
Deputies found Pugh in a bathroom in the store, He allegedly admitted that he had just injected Dilaudid into his arm and threw a hypodermic syringe into the trash can. Deputies saw blood on Pugh’s arm and were able to retrieve the syringe. While Deputies were trying to handcuff Pugh, he began resisting to the point where the deputies could not cuff him. After a brief struggle, Pugh was cuffed and taken in for booking. Deputies also had two warrants on Pugh for violation of probation which were served on him. Pugh is being held without bond for the violation of probation and failure to appear. Pugh will appear in General Session’s Court on July 17th.
Meanwhile, 26 year old Sabina Solano of Morgan Dive Smithville was arrested on a sealed indictment for Sale of a Schedule II Drug (Dilaudid) and Delivery of a Schedule II Drug (Dilaudid). Solano was indicted in the last Sheriff’s Department Drug Round Up in April. Solano was also arrested on two charges of failure to appear. Solano’s bond was set at $10,000 on the indictment. No bond was set on the failure to appear warrants. She will appear in court on July 18th.

The DeKalb County Amateur Radio Club conducted a Special Event Station at the 37th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Craft Festival on Saturday, July 5th, 2008. The station was setup at the front entrance of the Justin Potter Library during the early morning hours on Saturday. Antennas were assembled, radios were properly checked, and transmissions were begun just before 8:00 AM local time. Operations took place in the 20 meter, 40 meter, and 10 meter Amateur Radio bands, and the station was publicized in Amateur Radio magazines QST and CQ-Amateur Radio and the club website at http://www.dcarc.drivehq.com/.
The station contacted 167 total Amateur Radio Stations in 33 States, and 4 Provinces in Canada. The most distant station contacted was in Hawaii, this year was the first time a Hawaiian station had been contacted. Other interesting contacts included the Ham Station on the Battleship USS New Jersey anchored in Camden, NJ and now a museum. Also contacted was the Ham Station at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC and two different Science Centers in Arizona and Toronto, Ontario Canada.
Amateur Radio Operator Guests included the following: N4HWL – Ken Tenpenny – Murfreesboro, TN; KH6AD – Bob Soare – Smithville, TN; KJ4BQK – Carl Wachsman – Smithville, TN; KI4UUP – Andrew Thomas – Crossville, TN; W4GKM – Nick Smith – Crossville, TN; and AG4VF – Bruce Newberry – Pegram, TN.
Participants of the station included local Amateur Radio Operators:
KG4BTO – Joe Ferrell; KF4QNT – Kevin Neely; and KC4GUG – Freddy Curtis.
Pictures of the Special Event Station can be viewed at the club’s website at: http://www.dcarc.drivehq.com/.
The local club looks forward to operating another special event station at next years Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Craft Festival. The club would like to offer its thanks to Jamboree Coordinator – Mr. Neil Dudney, Justin Potter Librarian – Mrs. Kathy Hendrixson, and Smithville Postmaster Mr. Michael Lynn for their support of this activity.
The DeKalb County Amateur Radio Club is an organization of Amateur Radio operators from DeKalb and Surrounding Counties and is an affiliated club of the American Radio Relay League. The next club meeting will be on Thursday, August 28th, 2008 – 6:30 PM at the Justin Potter Library. Any person interested in Amateur Radio is invited to attend.

Neil Dudney will soon be retiring as President and Coordinator of the Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival, a position he has held for sixteen years.
A plaque was presented to Dudney Saturday night on stage prior to the beginning of the finals competition.
The plaque reads “This plaque is presented to Neil Dudney for 16 years of service to the Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival as President and Coordinator. Your hard work and dedication have helped preserve Appalachian music and crafts for future generations. Your efforts will long be remembered ”
Dudney received the plaque from the man expected to be his successor as Jamboree President and Coordinator, Jack Barton, who is currently assistant Jamboree Coordinator.
Dudney told WJLE Saturday night that he will continue to be a part of the Jamboree, serving as an assistant and advisor.
Dudney is one of the founders of the festival. Up until he was named President and Coordinator, Dudney served as sound engineer for the Fiddler’s Jamboree.
Dudney’s wife, children, sons-in-law, and grandchildren joined him on stage as he received his award.
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The Grand Champion Fiddler of the 37th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival is Eric Vick of Lyles, Tennessee.
Vick won the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award Saturday night after the Grand Finale Fiddle-Off between the best Junior and Senior Fiddler.
Vick made it to the fiddle off by winning the Junior Fiddling competition and he won the Grand Championship by beating the winner of the Senior Fiddling contest and defending champion from last year, Ped Scruggs of Hartsville.
The two day festival came to a close at 11:00 p.m. Saturday night.
Other winners in the Saturday session of the Fiddler’s Jamboree are as follows:
Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39): First Place- Eric Vick of Lyles, Tennessee; Second Place- Gailanne Amundsen of Longwood, Florida; and Third Place- Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro
Junior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages up to 39): First Place- Justin Frazor of Smyrna; Second Place- Woody Stephenson of Nashville; and Third Place- Jacob Campbell of Murfreesboro.
Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Michael Oliver of Hartsville; Second Place- Jay Bland of Kennesaw, Georgia; and Third Place-Edward Adams of Lebanon.
Senior Buck Dancing (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Michael Oliver of Hartsville; Second Place- Eileen Stewart of Murfreesboro; and Third Place- Darrin Stryker of Crossville.
Senior Clogging (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Michael Oliver of Hartsville; Second Place- Sherry Guenther of Monterey; and Third Place- Tammy Scruggs Reed of Hartsville.
Bluegrass Banjo: First Place- Kurt Stephenson of Dyersburg; Second Place- Sarah Ward of Columbia; and Third Place- Chuck Holcomb of Winchester.
Bluegrass Band: First Place- Crosswind of Olive Hill, Tennessee; Second Place- Grass Cutters of Cookeville; and Third Place- Blue Tradition of Murfreesboro.
Senior Fiddlers ( Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Ped Scruggs of Hartsville. Second Place- Delmer Holland of Waverly; and Third Place- R.B. Scruggs of Hartsville.
Square Dancing: First Place- Little Texas of Franklin; Second Place- Rocky Top Revue of Franklin; and Third Place-Rhythm-N-Motion of Cookeville.

An Indiana boy took home this year’s top Jamboree award as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners.
Cole McCracken of Fredricksburg, Indiana was crowned the Grand Champion fiddler Saturday and won the coveted James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award, named for the man who started the children’s competition during the 1980’s as part of the annual Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival.
Meanwhile Grant Rigney of Normandy, Tennessee received the “Entertainer of the Year” Award, which is presented to the best overall instrumental entertainer among winners in the dobro guitar, mandolin, five string banjo, and flat top guitar competition.
The National Championship for Country Musician Beginners showcases the talents of children up to age twelve in seven categories of competition.
This year’s winners are as follows:
Fiddle: First Place-Cole McCracken of Fredricksburg, Indiana; Second Place- Grant Rigney of Normandy, Tennessee; and Third Place- Brandon Shull of Lancaster, Ohio.
Buck Dancing: First Place- Kelly Eicher of Allensville, Kentucky; Second Place- Keley Tomlin of Springfield, Tennessee; and Third Place- Caroline Dean of Greenbrier, Tennessee.
Clogging: First Place- Sierra Tomlin of Springfield; Second Place- Keley Tomlin of Springfield; and Third Place- Raygan Sellers of Ashland City.
Dobro Guitar: First Place- Grant Rigney of Normandy; Second Place- Tyler Sellers of Ashland City; and Third Place- Adam Keckritz of Tullahoma..
Mandolin: First Place- Kyle Ramey of North Vernon, Indiana; Second Place- Grant Rigney of Normandy; and Third Place- Tyler Sellers of Ashland City.
Five String Banjo: First Place- Daniel Arrick of Pleasantville, Tennessee; Second Place- Adam Keckritz of Tullahoma; and Third Place- Cara DiGiovanni of Greenbrier
Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Abby Ward of Columbia; Second Place- Jessie Hester of Chapmansboro, Tennessee; and Third Place- Grant Rigney of Normandy.

34 year old Christopher England of Murray, Kentucky was the overall winner of the 2008 Fiddler 5K race held Saturday morning in Smithville.
England completed the 5K in 16 minutes and 30 seconds, a new record, beating the old course record by 33 seconds.
Meanwhile, 17 year old Sara Tarashima of Richmond, Indiana was the top overall female, with a time of 21 minutes and 46 seconds.
20 year old Lee Davis of Birmingham, Alabama had the overall best time in the One-Mile Fun Run, at 7 minutes and 29 seconds.
In the age group, 12 and younger, 7 year old Ethan Jenkins of Smithville had the best time of 9 minutes and 23 seconds in the One Mile Fun Run, followed in second place by Bill Miller of Smithville, and Daniel Puckett of Smithville, who came in third place
A total of 277 runners competed in this year’s Fiddler 5K and One Mile Fun Run, also a new record.
Among the runners was Staff Sergeant Eric Sanders, who is home from Iraq for some rest and relaxation. He scheduled his leave so that he could participate in the Fiddler 5K. Sanders arrived home Friday.
All proceeds from the Fiddler 5 K and One Mile Fun Run will go to benefit DeKalb County Habitat for Humanity.
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State Senator Mae Beavers presented a United States flag to Lee Ann Sufann from Australia and a Tennessee State flag to Allen Roark from San Jose, California during the Fiddler’s Jamboree on Friday night
The flags go to the persons who travel the greatest distances, both from inside and outside the country, to get here. (Click on picture to see larger image)
Except for an hour rain delay Friday afternoon, the first day of the 37th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival ran non-stop from about 8:30 a.m. until 11:22 p.m. Friday night.
Preliminaries were held in fifteen categories of music and dance competition followed by the finals featuring the top three acts in each event.
The following are the winners in each category:
Old Time Appalachian Folk Singing (Solo/Duet): First Place- Gailanne Amundsen of Longwood, Florida; Second Place- Bailey Cooke of Nashville; and Third Place- Sierra Tomlin of Springfield.
Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna; Second Place- Will McMeans of Lester, Alabama; and Third Place- Casey Campbell of Kingston Springs.
Junior Clogging (Ages 13-39): First Place- Melissa Pack of Lebanon; Second Place- Chris Stewart of Lyles, Tennessee; and Third Place- Joey Jonte of Dickson..
Junior Buck Dancing (Ages 13-39): First Place- Justin Frazor of Smyrna; Second Place- Jacob Campbell of Murfreesboro; and Third Place Kory Posey of Murfreesboro
Dobro Guitar: First Place- Earl Grubbs of Murfreesboro; Second Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna; and Third Place- Will McMeans of Lester, Alabama.
Mountain Dulcimer: First Place- Bobby Nobley of LaGrange, Georgia; Second Place- Isaac Vick of Lyles, Tennessee; and Third Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna.
Hammer Dulcimer: First Place- Howard Friedman of Knoxville; Second Place- Lewis Taylor of Ringgold, Georgia; and Third Place- Chris Brown of Beechgrove, Tennessee
Novelty Event: First Place- Pa Fields and the Whambangers of Crossville; Second Place- Jim Owens of Deatsville, Alabama; and Third Place- Wes Langlois of Nashville.
Old Time Fiddle Band: First Place- Imer Holland Blue Creek Ramblers of Waverly, Tennessee; Second Place- Spring Creek of Lester, Alabama; and Third Place- The Lickabees of Nashville.
Autoharp: First Place- Bobby Nobley of LaGrange, Georgia and Second Place- Austin Vick of Lyles, Tennessee. There was no third place winner.
Gospel Singing (Solo): First Place-Emily Dean of Greenbrier; Second Place- Samantha Lewis of Smithville; and Third Place- Sierra Tomlin of Springfield.
Country Harmonica: First Place- Ronnie Murphy of Oakland, Kentucky; Second Place- Lewis Taylor of Ringgold, Georgia; and Third Place- Isaac Vick of Lyles, Tennessee
Old Time Banjo: First Place- Eric Vick of Lyles; Second Place- Rebeka Weiler of Murfreesboro; and Third Place- Benjamin Bateson of Murfreesboro
Gospel Singing (Duet, Trio, & Quartet): First Place- Eastern Sky of Morrow, Ohio; Second Place-Sarah and Danny of Dowelltown; and Third Place- Jubal’s Kin of Longwood, Florida
Mandolin:First Place- Bobby Nobley of LaGrange, Georgia; Second Place- Will McMeans of Lester, Alabama; and Third Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna.
The Saturday session of the Fiddler’s Jamboree begins at 9:00 a.m.

Fiddler’s Jamboree Craft awards were presented Friday.
Nolan and Susan Pazin of Baxter received the “Best of Show” award for their wood working crafts.
The “Best Appalachian Craft Award” went to Ron Hyndman of Mount Juliet for his gourds.
Jared Weaver of Lenior City was the recipient of the “Best Newcomer Award” for his dulcimers
The “Best of Display Booth” award went to Darren Jenkins of Trade, Tennessee for his birdhouses.
(Click on picture to see larger image) Look for pictures of other Jamboree craft winners on our special Jamboree picture page.

The 37th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree & Crafts Festival is underway. It began around 8:30 a.m. today (Friday) with welcoming remarks by local government and civic leaders.
County Mayor Mike Foster made a special presentation to Jimmy Walls for his service to the community.
The plaque presented to Walls reads ” In appreciation for your life long service and dedication to Smithville and DeKalb County. We applaud your leadership, your courage, and your fortitude. Your contributions to this community have been a glowing example for all to see and admire. You have always set standards for excellence. We appreciate you very much. Presented by the DeKalb County Mayor and Commission and on behalf of Smithville”
The DeKalb County Commission, last month, recognized Mr. Walls.
The resolution, in part, reads ” Whereas, from time to time, it is appropriate for DeKalb County to recognize people who unselfishly serve our County. It is therefore fitting that the DeKalb County Commission and County Mayor honor Jimmy Walls for the service he has given his Country, his County, and his State.”