The congregation of the Northside Church of Christ held worship services for the first time in their new church home Sunday.
Following morning worship, lunch was served followed by a dedication service and ribbon cutting at the new church building, located beside the old one on Highway 56 north which had served as the congregation’s worship center since 1970 . The congregation’s beginnings date back almost seventy years.
“It is very exciting,” said Burnes Lyons, minister of the congregation. “One of my objectives is that I wanted to see the older members be able to see a new building erected and that’s why we have them up front cutting the ribbon. We wanted to build something in the community that would be passed on to future generations that might benefit those who come behind us,” said Lyons.
Members of other congregations joined in helping the church commemorate Sunday’s special occasion.

The Picking Friends band will be performing a free concert in downtown Smithville on Thursday, July 2nd. The music will begin at 7:00 PM on the open-air stage located at the Joe L. and Ann S. Evins Park, across from the Smithville Post Office and Justin Potter Library. Picking Friends is a 5-member band comprised of talented musicians who love to perform a mix of traditional and gospel bluegrass. Band members Brian Anderson and Glenn Carpenter are from Watertown, TN and Shawn Frick, John Mason, and Glenn Moats are from Lebanon, TN. Picking Friends has performed all across the middle Tennessee area and into Virginia.
In addition, Smithville Sugar Squares and DeKalb Dancin’ Delights dance teams will also be performing that night. Smithville Sugar Squares dancers include Tess Barton, Katherine Gassaway, Kathryn Hale, Emma Jennings, Madelyn Johnson, Summer Morse, Elizabeth Seber, and Lillie Grace Young, DeKalb Dancin’ Delights dancers are Ellie Cripps, Annabella Dakas, Kaitlin Hutchins, Kristen Hutchins, Katherine Knowles, Preston Summers, Sadie West, and Shelby West. Their teacher is Mary Ann Puckett.
So, bring your own lawn chair and enjoy a fun evening of music and dancing! The perfect way to get in the Jamboree mood!
Pictured l-r:
Brian Anderson, Glenn Carpenter, Shawn Frick, John Mason, Glenn Moats

In order to keep police salaries from reaching a level far above other city employees, Smithville Aldermen Monday night were poised to eliminate three steps of the police department’s existing seven step pay scale with passage of the new 2015-16 fiscal year budget. But at the urging of Alderman and City Police Commissioner Jason Murphy, the council decided to postpone any move to revise the scale until next year. As a result, the new city budget was adopted on a 3-2 vote with the seven step wage scale remaining intact for another year. Aldermen Josh Miller and Shawn Jacobs, concerned about other aspects of the budget, voted against the spending plan.
Passage of the budget on second and final reading came during a special meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen covered exclusively by WJLE.
The idea for making changes in the police department wage plan was proposed at a city budget workshop last Tuesday, June 23 to keep pay raises on a more level playing field with other city departments. But since the workshop some police officers began raising concerns. A few of them attended Monday night’s meeting.
Under the proposal, any city police officer who had exceeded the fourth step would have received a cost of living raise as provided to all other hourly employees instead of moving to the next scheduled step in the wage scale. For the new fiscal year, the cost of living increase given to all hourly city employees is two percent.
Alderman Murphy said he felt the city was moving too quickly on an issue that needs more study and that the police officers were not given sufficient notice.
“Basically what I think is we should not do anything to the pay (scale) yet but to have a plan to do something by the next budget year. It gives us more time to think about it and it gives the officers notice that their pay in the future will change,” said Alderman Murphy.
“I found out about this (proposal to change wage scale) on Friday. My (employment) anniversary date is July 1 so I was expecting a raise really soon. I budgeted my personal affairs that way and found out that wasn’t going to happen. My own thought is that if it could be put off just long enough for us make adjustments or to be prepared for it would be helpful,” said Officer James Cornelius in addressing the Mayor and Aldermen.
“Everyone in the police department certainly understands and respects the decision making process the council is faced with. We do understand that we’re in a position that something has to be done. We do respect and appreciate you working with us as much as you have. I just want to express on behalf of the police department that the intention behind the step (wage) program was to retain officers. I couldn’t ask for better guys to work with and I certainly think we are headed in the right direction as far as gaining quality people and that can’t be done alone and we do need everyone’s help and we appreciate your support,” added Captain Steven Leffew.
Janice Plemmons-Jackson, the city’s financial advisor proposed freezing the police wage scale at four steps until a study could be done. “We could schedule a workshop for a committee to compare salaries to other places for all the departments and look at what officers in other places are making and see if we are in line with them or see if we need to give them another step and make an evaluation. To me that seems more logical to say that we have a problem coming along so we’ll freeze the steps at four and give a two percent raise and then do a study and see if we’re in line with where we need to be. Then if we need to in a few months we could pass a budget amendment and go ahead and give another step. But you have money in the bank. You could pay and spend this but the trend is that revenues are flat and have been for many years and expenses continue to climb each year,” she said.
While the aldermen agreed with Plemmons-Jackson that a study should be done before next year, they did not take her advice on freezing the police wage scale at the four step level at this time.
Meanwhile, the new city budget also includes pay raises for salaried employees. The new base salary for each is as follows:
City Administrator: $61,500
Chief Financial Officer: $40,000
Police Chief: (OPEN POSITION): $58,000
Fire Chief: $43,500
Airport Manager: $39,000
The city has appropriated $45,000 toward payment to volunteer fire fighters. That’s about $10,000 more than last year. The city fire department plans to implement an incentive program to pay volunteers not only for fire calls but to reward them for doing extra duties.
The new city budget totals $8-million 111-thousand 623 dollars.
The property tax rate will remain the same at .6490 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Water and sewer rates will also be unchanged. City water customers will continue to pay $5.00 per thousand gallons of usage. Rates for customers outside the city limits are $7.50 per thousand gallons. City sewer customers will continue to pay $5.00 per thousand gallons plus the flat usage rate of $3.62.
The rate the city charges the DeKalb Utility District will remain at $2.67 per thousand gallons.
Capital outlay projects include:
*New sanitation truck and trash containers- $350,000
*New extrication “Jaws of Life” equipment ($25,000) and a new thermal imaging camera ($10,000) for the Fire Department.
*Police Car & Unspecified -$40,000
*New Animal Shelter- $75,000.That money will only be spent if the county appropriates $75,000 to match the cost of the project
*Airport: (Mostly funded by grants):
Lighting Rehabilitation- $325,000
Fuel Farm- $350,000
Taxiway land acquisition-$135,000
Taxiway Initial Design- $150,000
Digi-WX-$100,000
Upgrade existing MX hanger door-$100,000
Unspecified-$5,000
Land acquisition- $85,000
*Water service truck (water and sewer department)- $50,000
The city also plans to spend $200,000 from the State Street Aid budget to mill and repave the downtown square area and to replace any old worn out water and sewer lines in the process. An expenditure of about $30,000 to be appropriated from the water and sewer fund.
Total general fund revenues are projected to be $4,160,050, not enough to cover total estimated expenditures of $4,856,693. The city plans to appropriate $696,643 from the general fund surplus to balance the budget. The water and sewer fund is expected to show a surplus of $8,155 by year’s end with total revenues at $2,628,600 and expenditures of $2,620,445

The National Junior Beta Club presented former DeKalb West School student Callie Mulloy with the prestigious John W. Harris award Sunday (June 28) at the Beta Club’s national convention.
“I was scared,” Callie says of accepting the award in front of thousands of other students at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville.
Callie, who served as Vice President of the DWS club this past school year, was one of five students presented with Beta’s MVP leadership trophy.
“I am full of pride and thankfulness that Callie was chosen for this great honor,” said School Counselor and DWS Junior Beta sponsor Bill Conger. “I’ve had Callie in class since she was a Kindergarten student my first year at DeKalb West, and I’ve enjoyed watching her grow academically and mature over the years. The Beta Club made a perfect pick.”
“Her peers and adults alike admire Callie’s intelligence and loving spirit,” School Resource Officer Lewis Carrick wrote in a recommendation letter for Mulloy. “She is driven and strives at being the best for those around her. She stands out as a positive role model for the rest of the students.”
Callie’s academic record is outstanding, her character is beyond reproach, and her skills as a leader are superb. While being involved in other extracurricular activities like cheerleading, gymnastics, and softball, she has maintained straight A’s on her report card. She is a member of the gifted program. Callie says, “I always strive to go above my academic goals.”
Beyond her educational aspirations is her faith. “Whether I succeed or fail in my ambitions, there is always One I can go to for hope and inspiration; my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Her beliefs are underscored by the way she conducts her life. For example, instead of enjoying a well-deserved hour break for related arts and gym at the end of the day, Callie sacrificed her time to tutor her classmates. She longs to see them succeed and understand their subjects as she does.
Callie supported the administration early each morning when she and another Junior Beta student provided child care for PreK-1st grade students prior to school. “There is nothing so special as watching their smiles and laughter light up the room,” she said. “That simple little moment just reminds me of the good in the world.”
Callie has logged approximately 80 hours of service to the Junior Beta Club this year alone. She is always willing to do whatever is needed whether it’s picking up trash, tutoring, writing/drawing cards of appreciation, working with the food bank, and performing with the Drama Club at church. Her special calling is with the elderly at our community’s assisted learning center, Webb House. Callie is the kind who puts her heart and 100% effort into everything she does.

The Tiger Pride Football Camp will be July 7-9 from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the DCHS Practice Football Field. Its for ages 6-12. Camp goals are to provide each camper with a positive, fun filled learning experience. The camp is designed to teach the fundamentals of football and give campers added game experience, while emphasizing teamwork and competition in a fun environment.
The camp fee is $20 per camper. The fee includes three days of camp and a T-shirt per camper. Please mail enrollment form and fee to: 5100 Jacobs Pillar Road, Smithville, TN 37166. Make checks payable to DeKalb Jr Pro Football. Please do not mail cash. The last day for registration is June 30. Late registrations will be accepted but not guaranteed a shirt. Camp will be divided into age groups.
Camp Directors are John Kilgore and Toby Nokes and staff are County and Area Coaches.
(CLICK LINK BELOW FOR REGISTRATION FORM)
camp0002.pdf (327.44 KB)

A prisoner and his wife were sentenced in Criminal Court Tuesday, June 23 on charges of introducing contraband in a penal institution after trying to use their eight year old child to smuggle a pill into the DeKalb County Jail.
Judge David Patterson presided.
24 year old Justin Dale Estes and 30 year old Ashley Nicole Estes each received a three year sentence. Justin Estes must serve his time but a second charge of child endangerment was dismissed. The term is to run concurrently with another case against him in General Sessions Court. He was given jail credit from November 6, 2014 to June 23, 2015.
Ashley Estes’ three year sentence has been suspended to supervised probation. She was given jail credit for 76 days and fined $2,000. A second charge of child abuse/neglect against her was dropped.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, November 6, 2014 Justin Estes, serving a sentence in the DeKalb County Jail, was visited by his wife Ashley Estes and their children. Before the visitation, a Sheriff’s Department Detective found a pill in the coat pocket of the Estes’ eight year old daughter and learned that it was placed in the coat by Mrs. Estes. According to Sheriff Ray, Justin Estes admitted that he had told his wife to put a pill in the child’s coat pocket. The pill was believed to be an eight milligram suboxone. If ingested, Sheriff Ray said the pill could have caused the child to suffer serious sickness or death. Mrs. Estes told the detective that she had previously brought drugs into the jail for her husband on different occasions by putting them in the clothing of her children, according to Sheriff Ray.
29 year old Curtis Lloyd pled guilty to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) under .5 grams. He received a four year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. Lloyd was also fined $2,000. He was given jail credit of 55 days. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, October 22 a sheriff’s department detective stopped Lloyd for speeding on Highway 56 south. The officer received consent to search Lloyd’s car, a 1997 Lumina and found a baggie containing a white powdery substance still partially wet. The substance field tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 1.1 grams. Lloyd was placed under arrest.
26 year old Raymond Rollins pled guilty to domestic assault and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to supervised probation. He was given jail credit from May 14, 2015 to June 23, 2015. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, June 22, 2014 a deputy received a domestic call on South Judkins Lane in the Jefferson Community. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who said that Rollins had thrown her from the front porch to the ground. She claims Rollins grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the wall, bursting the wall. Through an investigation, the deputy found that Rollins was responsible for the assault and caused the woman to fear bodily injury. He was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
28 year old Zackary N. Hale pled guilty to vehicular assault and reckless endangerment. He received a four year sentence for vehicular assault suspended to probation and a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to probation for reckless endangerment. The two terms are to run concurrently. Hale was involved in a two vehicle personal injury crash in September 27, 2012 on Highway 56 south.
28 year old Margie Drennan pled guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to supervised probation except for time served from November 18, 2014 to June 23, 2015.
50 year old Leslie Franklin Arnold pled guilty to a second offense of driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to 45 days. He was fined $610 and will enroll in Teen Challenge. The term is to run concurrently with a Putnam County DUI case against him. Arnold was given thirty days of jail credit which includes twenty eight days treatment through Samaritan and New Leaf Recovery programs. Smithville Police said that on Tuesday, May 6 2014 Arnold was operating a motor vehicle on Highway 56 when he was observed crossing the yellow line. As the officer was making the traffic stop, Arnold sideswiped a van. A computer check revealed that Arnold’s license were revoked for DUI in Putnam County on January 30, 2014. Arnold had an odor of alcohol on his person and his speech was slurred. A half pint of Vodka and two empty beer cans were found in his vehicle. Arnold was taken to the emergency room of the hospital by DeKalb EMS.
37 year old Tara Jane Summers pled guilty by information to three counts of reckless endangerment. She received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run consecutively for a total of almost three years. Summers will be on probation with CPS and is to maintain involvement in a mental health program. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 Summers pulled up in her vehicle in front of the sheriff’s department. She signaled for one of the detectives to come to her automobile. The detective responded and saw two small children in the back floorboard of Summers’ vehicle. He also noticed that Summers held a 12 gauge shotgun in her lap. Summers told the detective that her parents had been murdered and that there were people chasing her, trying to kill her. When Summers was asked to hand over the shotgun, she refused and started pointing it out the window toward passing vehicles. The detective had to take the weapon by force. The gun was found to be loaded with three live rounds. Summers was placed under arrest.

The DeKalb County Fair returns Monday through Saturday, July 20-25
With the theme “Country Scenes and Beauty Queens”, this year’s fair will feature another fun filled week of activities along with rides by the Family Attractions Amusement Company and new events including a Comedy Hypnotist Show, the Almost Anything Goes Game Show, and Omega Force Strongmen.
The catalog of premium rules for exhibit entries at the Kenneth Sandlin Center is now available. Just check out the 2015 Fair Catalog (PDF) for complete details. Download the 2015 DeKalb County Fair Rule Book at the link below.http://www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com/images/2015_Fair_Book_web.pdf
Entry Dates and Times
*Non-Perishable Items ONLY will be taken in on Saturday, July 11 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Kenneth Sandlin Center
*Perishable Items ONLY will be taken in on Saturday, July 18 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Kenneth Sandlin Center
Entries are also being sought for the DeKalb County Fair’s Decorated Hay Contest featuring three categories:
Decorated Round Bale
Decorated Square Bale
Decorated Display
Open to any youth or adult resident of DeKalb County
Hay can be entered Saturday July 18th – From 11:00 am till 2:00 pm
Hay bales may be decorated Saturday July 18th from 11 am till 2 pm & Sunday July 19th from 2 -4 pm
Decorations and Bales are to be removed on Sunday July 26th between 1- 3 pm
Meanwhile, the DeKalb County Fair 5K and Fun Run will be July 18. Registration begins at 6:30 pm at the Fair Office. The Run will start at 7:00 PM. Pre-registration available by contacting Matt Boss at 615-464-8627. Pre-registration guarantees a DeKalb County Fair 5K T-Shirt. The entry fee is $20 for youth and $25 for adults. Parking available behind Fair Office. For more info. contact Matt Boss at number above. Proceeds will go to the Paislee’s Foundation
Fair pageant applications are available for ages one day through 20. You may download applications from www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com.
Fair events each night are as follows:
Monday, July 20: Cattle Show at the Grandstand at 6:00 p.m.; Open Rodeo at the T.C. McMillen Arena at 7:00 p.m.; Junior Fair Princess Pageant for contestants ages 13-16 at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Fairest of the Fair Pageant for contestants ages 17 to 20 at the Lions Club Pavilion and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 21: Little Mr. and Miss Pageant for contestants ages 4-6 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion followed by a Comedy Hypnotist Show; Corn hole Contest at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; Go-Cart Racing at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 22: WSMV-TV’s Snowbird will greet fairgoers from 5-7 p.m. at the main gate; Little Miss Princess Pageant for contestants ages 7-9 at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Miss Sweetheart Pageant for those ages 10-12 at the Lions Club Pavilion; 4 Wheeler and Motorcycle Racing at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; Kids Peddle Tractor Pull at the Grandstand at 7:00 p.m. ; and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 23: Junior Goat Show at 6:00 p.m. at the Tot Kelly Barn; Baby Show at 6:00 p.m. followed by The Almost Anything Goes Game Show at the Lions Club Pavilion; Omega Force Strongmen at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Friday, July 24: Toddler Show for contestants 13 months to 48 months at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Zone Status Band at the Lions Club Pavilion: ATV-Mini Road-Outlaws Pulling at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; a Horse Show at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 25: Blind Draw Horseshoe Tournament at the Tot Kelly barn at Noon.; Gospel Singing at the Lions Club Pavilion at 6:00 p.m.; Super Tractor and Truck Pull at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena: and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Take a stroll down Memory Lane and enjoy nightly entertainment at the Memory Lane Stage in Memory Village.
Memory Lane Stage Events are as follows:
Monday Night July 20
6:30-7:30 pm —Muddy Water Band
7:45- UNTIL —Kitty Steadman
Tuesday Night July 21
6:30-7:00 pm—Reily Kelly
7:00-7:45 pm—Smithville Sugar Squares & DeKalb Dancing Delights
7:45-8:45 pm—Donnie Barthelemy
Wednesday Night July 22
6:30-7:30 pm—Kitty Steadman
7:45-8:45 pm— DCHS Cheerleaders
Thursday Night July 23
6:30-7:30 pm—Bryan Keith
7:45-8:45 pm— Terri Lynn Weaver
Friday Night July 24
6:30 – until— Karaoke Night
No Rap – Radio Edit Only
Max 1 Instrument or 2 Vocal Mikes and 2 Instruments Max.
7:45- UNTIL — Nokes Brothers
Saturday Night July 25
6:30-7:30 pm— Mid State Cloggers
7:45-8:45 pm— Evermean Evergreen Cloggers
Events subject to change without notice.
Rides on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company. Unlimited rides will be available for $15.00 on Monday night; $16.00 on Tuesday night; $14.00 on Wednesday and $18.00 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Admission to the fair is $4.00 per person. Children age four and younger will be admitted free! Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. The exhibit building is open from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Parking is Free!
For more information, call 529-FAIR or visit on-line at www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com.