The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce joined the family and staff of F.Z. Webb & Sons Pharmacy for a ribbon cutting and Christmas Open House Thursday afternoon at the new 608 South Congress Boulevard location.
The pharmacy’s new soda fountain was opened for the occasion.
“It’s been around 25 years since we closed the old soda fountain at the downtown location. We found a picture of (my children) Anderson and Martha eating the last ice cream cone that Mrs. Patterson served them. I’m glad to have it back,” said Alan Webb.
“Its taken a long time to get the soda fountain done and everything is still not there. We don’t have a fountain coke machine yet but we do make our own root beer and its great,” said Webb.

“The first full day of the soda fountain will be the Monday after Thanksgiving, November 27 and our hours will be 10:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. We’ll serve lunch until 2:00 p.m. We are a soup, salad, sandwich lunch place. From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. we’ll be only serving ice cream, milk shakes, and sodas,” added Lora Webb.
Established in 1881, the Webb family operated the pharmacy for 136 years on the public square until the decision was made to leave downtown and relocate on South Congress Boulevard, where there is more traffic and higher visibility.
The response to the move has been positive. “I’ve met people I didn’t even know were here in the county. It surprised me. Some of these people have been here for a long time and didn’t know where the public square was,” said Alan Webb.
The pharmacy is owned by Webb and his wife Lora Webb along with their daughter and son-in-law, Martha and Dr. Justin Hooper, bringing a fifth generation of ownership to the family owned pharmacy.
While the new pharmacy offers many of the same favorite products and services as before including a drive-thru window, there are newer attractions like the soda fountain, a gift department, clinic, and private consultation station.
“We took this underway in January and we’re in November now. When you are remodeling something it always takes a little bit longer than you think and then with the soda fountain we didn’t want to open it until we were 120% ready. I feel like we’re ready now,” said Lora Webb.
The new pharmacy is open Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The phone number is 615-597-4185.

The 2nd annual Lighting of the Tower is scheduled for Saturday, December 2 at Edgar Evins State Park.
Join the staff and friends of Edgar Evins State Park as they welcome the Christmas Season with cookies, hot chocolate, tree trimming and music.
There may even be an appearance from Santa and hayrides for the children and young at heart. This will be a relaxed, informal, come-as-you-are type of event. At a set time they will turn on the colored lights on the newly repainted observation tower. Time: 6 p.m. CT to about 8 p.m. CT. They hope to make this an annual event.

DeKalb West School announces its Students of the Month for November. Congratulations to Hailey Brown, Kindergarten, Bane Averitte, 1st Grade, Fiona Street, 2nd Grade, Ethan Brown, 3rd Grade, Mireya Barrett, 4th Grade, Ethan Kempton, 5th Grade, Hasten Waggoner, 6th Grade, Braxton Page, 7th Grade, and Breanna Cothern, 8th Grade.
Teachers choose students based on the quality of their character, academics, and other factors that make them one of the best at DeKalb West.
Picture front row left to right are Hailey Brown, Mireya Barrrett, Bane Averitte, and Fiona Street. Back row left to right are Principal Sabrina Farler, Ethan Brown, Ethan Kempton, Breanna Cothern, Hasten Waggoner, Braxton Page, and Assistant Principal Joey Agee.

Smithville Elementary would like to recognize our Students of the Month for November. These students were selected for their outstanding character, academics, and other traits that make them an all-around excellent student. Selected as Students of the Month for November are:
PreK: Jasmine Gallegos
Kindergarten: Katie Martin
1st Grade: Landon Brown
2nd Grade: Triniti Thomas

A cookbook is now available for sale in time for the holidays to raise funds for the DCHS Class of 2018 Project Graduation.
The cookbook called “Classic Gourmet” is packed with great recipes from the class of 2018 graduates and their friends and families.
The cost is 15.00
Parents may pick up the cookbooks to sell for their senior from Gena Cripps at Dr. Cliff Duke’s Office or Webb’s Drug Store and Soda Fountain
For more information call Gena Cripps at 615-785-8859 or Ann Whitefield at 931-409-0743

NHC Smithville is hosting a Career Day on Thursday, November 16 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the History Room of the DeKalb County Complex and again on Wednesday, November 22 from noon until 3 p.m. in the cafeteria area of the County Complex.
Career opportunities will be available for nurses, CNA’s, housekeepers, dietary aids, cooks, laundry, maintenance, recreation, health information, rehab, and business office.
Applications will be accepted and interviews conducted on site. Background checks will be conducted on all applicants.
“Begin a career with the team that makes a difference at one of the best healthcare companies in the state,” said Clint Hall, Administrator of NHC Smithville.

The DeKalb Emergency Services Association (DESA), in partnership with local businesses and volunteers, will be preparing and delivering Thanksgiving Meals to the needy or underserved on Thursday, November 23.
“We feel that this is just another way our local emergency service providers can serve our community. If you or a family member needs a hot meal on Thanksgiving Day, please call one of the numbers listed below to be added to our delivery list. We will need your address, phone number, and number of persons in your household. The meals are scheduled to be delivered between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 Noon,” says Association President Blake Cantrell.
DESA will accept names of persons requesting meals through Friday, November 17.
To get your name on the delivery list, call 615-390-0297 or 615-712-4286 or 615-390-0189.
Additionally, if you want to support this community project by donating food items or volunteering your time to prepare meals and/or make deliveries, you can contact any of the phone numbers above.

Early voting hours for the December 19th 17th Senatorial District Special Election have been set.
The candidates are Mary Alice Carfi, the Democratic nominee, and Mark Pody, the Republican nominee. The winner will fill the unexpired term of former State Senator Mae Beavers.
The DeKalb County Election Commission voted Monday night to set the following hours
Mondays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 12 Noon
Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 12 Noon
Thursdays 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Fridays 9 a.m. to 12 Noon
Saturdays 9 a.m. to 12 Noon
Early voting begins November 29 and runs through December 14. All early voting is conducted on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse.
Election Day is December 19 and polls will open that day at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, local candidates are gearing up for the May DeKalb County Democratic Primary and DeKalb County General Election in August. County offices up for election in 2018 are Road Supervisor, County Mayor, Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff, Register of Deeds, County Clerk, Trustee and the county commission in each of the seven districts (two per district for a total of 14).
Petitions for the Democratic Primary will be available at the election office beginning Friday, November 17th. The qualifying deadline is Noon February 15, 2018.
Independent candidates for those county offices can also pick up petitions beginning Friday.
Republican candidates will be selected by a party caucus.
Independent and Republican candidates must also qualify by Noon February 15.