DeKalb County Schools reopen this week.
Registration for all students will be Thursday, August 1. That will be an abbreviated school day from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
Friday, August 2 will be an administrative day for teachers only
The first full day of school for all students will be Monday, August 5.
A system wide professional development day will be Monday, July 29 at DCHS from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
All teachers will report to their individual schools on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 30 and July 31 from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Some schools are having special registration times.
DeKalb County High School Registration:
•Registration for current students:
9th grade orientation will be Tuesday, July 30th. Students at 4:30, parents joining them at 5:30.
Grades 10 – 12 will be August 1, 7:30 to 9:30.
•Schedule pick-up:
9th grade students will receive their schedules at Orientation on July 30
Northside Elementary School is hosting “Meet Your Teacher” night Tuesday, July 30 at 6:30 p.m. for the upcoming 2nd & 3rd grade students. All students that attend on July 30 and complete the necessary paperwork will not be required to come to registration on August 1.
Kindergarten Open House will be Monday, July 29 at 6:00 p.m. at Smithville Elementary School for all kindergarten students who have already registered for kindergarten
The Eighth Annual First Day of School Education Celebration for DeKalb County will be held on Thursday, August 1 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. downtown around the courthouse square.

The Grandpa Fair of the South ended its weeklong run late Saturday night.
Highlights of the Saturday session of the Fair included a horseshoe tournament, Super Truck and Tractor Pull, Clogging, and Gospel Singing.

(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW VIDEO GALLERY OF SEVERAL 2013 DEKALB FAIR EVENTS)
http://www.wjle.com/node/23900
Winners of $500 in a cash drawing were Inetta Taylor of Smithville and Bobby Hale of Watertown.
(Play Video Below to View portion of Vintage Fashion Show from Thursday night)

The DeKalb County Fair Association wishes to thank you for your support and hopes to see you next year.

Winners of the annual Toddler Show were announced Friday evening at the DeKalb County Fair.
First place winners received a blue ribbon. Red ribbons went to those receiving second place
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW VIDEOS OF ALL BABY AND TODDLER SHOW PARTICIPANTS)http://www.wjle.com/node/23872
This year’s recipients are as follows:
Girls (13 to 18 months)
Winner: Alexis Nicole Graham, the 15 month old daughter of Derek and Andria Graham of Smithville
Runner-up: Addison Baiely Peden, the 17 month old daughter of James Peden and Amanda McClure of Smithville.
Other participants in this category: Paizlee Dae Taylor, the 15 month old daughter of David and Susan Taylor of Dowelltown; Brylee Key, the 18 month old daughter of Shannon and Holly Key of Alexandria; Kimber Davis, the 14 month old daughter of Jared and Kelli Davis of Smithville; Adison Bliss Love, the 14 month old daughter of Leslie Love and Stan Morris of Smithville; Lyra Dell McMinn, the 16 month old daughter of Nathan and Amanda McMinn of Dowelltown; Jacie Rea Sosa, the 16 month old daughter of Noe and Megan Sosa of Smithville; and Kayleigh Deanna Ramirez, the 17 month old daughter of Tosha and Luis Ramirez.
Boys (13 to 18 months)
Winner: Zane Austin Griffith, the 16 month old son of Mindy and Ron Griffith of Dowelltown
Runner-up: Billy James Clark, the 15 month old son of Bryan and Nikie Clark of Smithville
The only other participant in this category: Christian Cain Cripps, the 13 month old son of Jordan and Nicole Cripps of Dowelltown
Girls (19 to 24 months)
Winner: Alexis Grace Kamryn Maples, the 22 month old daughter of Shane and Amanda Maples of Sparta. She was the only contestant in this category.
Boys (19 to 24 months)
Winner: Drew Michael Jones, the 23 month old son of Michael Jones and Renee Riddle of Smithville.
Runner-up: Brayden Beaulieu, the 23 month old son of John and Tracy Beaulieu of Alexandria.
The only other participant in this category was Brennan Isiah Atnip, the 21 month old son of Trista Atnip and Skyler Insixiengmai of Smithville.
Girls (25 to 30 months)
Winner: Caitlyn Lee Adcock, the 27 month old daughter of Jessie and Tia Adcock of Smithville
Runner-up: Cora Marie Cox, the 28 month old daughter of Brandon and Whitney Cox of Smithville
The only other participant in this category was Mia Nicole Hall, the 26 month old daughter of Bradley and Lacy Hall of Alexandria.
Boys (25 to 30 months)
Winner: Hayden Allen Quarles, the 29 month old son of Matt and Alana Quarles of Liberty. He was the only contestant in this category.
Girls (31 to 36 months)
Winner: Emily Danielle Johnson, the 33 month old daughter of Clint and Dee Dee Johnson of Smithville.
Runner-up: Aubrey Isabella Lasser, the 35 month old daughter of Richard and Ashley Lasser of Smithville.
The only other participant in this category was Helen Marie Hale, the 34 month old daughter of William and Rebekah Hale of Dowelltown.
Boys (31 to 36 months)
Winner: Hunter Allen Moore, the 35 month old son of Clayton and Crystal Moore of Smithville.
Runner-up: James Wayne Redmon, the 35 month old son of Kristie Shehane and Donnie Redmon of Smithville.
The only other participant in this category was Brayden Chance Nicholas, the 36 month old son of Tami Lance and Richard Nicholas of Smithville.
Girls (37 to 47 months)
Winner: Amelia Jane Turner, the 39 month old daughter of Christopher and Sara Jane Turner of Lebanon.
Runner-up: Lilly Grace Anderson, the 47 month old daughter of Caitlin Anderson of Smithville and the late PFC Billy Anderson.
Other participants in this category were: Cassie Bain, the 43 month old daughter of Michael and Emily Bain of Alexandria; Zoey Golson, the 43 month old daughter of Katie Davenport and Demetris Golson of Alexandria; Shelby Jean Elam, the 46 month old daughter of Andrew and Bethany Elam of Sparta; McKenzie Mullican, the 41 month old daughter of Randall and Christy Hunt of Smithville; Karah Jo Ford, the 39 month old daughter of Amanda Ford and Joseph Wann of Smithville; Annali Garcia, 41 month old Cardelly and Hector Garcia of Smithville; Kenzi Foutch, the 45 month old daughter of Ashley Foutch of Smithville; and Addison Ferron, the 46 month old daughter of Daniel and Amber Ferron of Smithville
Boys (37-47 months)
Winner: Jaxsen Theryn Speaks, the 45 month old son of Justin and Donna Speaks of Smithville
Runner-Up: Nathaniel Wilson, the 38 month old son of Tim and Bonnie Wilson of Smithville
They were the only two participants in this category.

Joshua Chapman of Smithville won the DeKalb Idol talent competition Friday night at the DeKalb County Fair. The event is sponsored by DTC Communications.
Chapman, who was among the top ten, made it to the finals and beat out two other singers, Elizabeth Koegler of Smithville and Christy Dannels of Silver Point to claim the top honor with his performance of the Rascal Flatts song “Changed”. Chapman received $300 and a trophy.
Koegler finished in second place and won the “People’s Choice Award”. For finishing as the runner-up, Koegler received $200 and a ribbon. She also claimed $150 as the People’s Choice fan favorite.
Dannels took home third place, winning $100 and a ribbon.
Rounding out the top ten were Hope Valenta of McMinnville, Kathy Duggin of Dowelltown, Adam Overstreet of Elmwood, Autumn Monroe of Maryville, Becky Reagan of Livingston, Alison Ferguson of Carthage, and Leanna Firestone of Algood.

The biggest change in this year’s DeKalb Idol competition was in the audition process. Interested contestants auditioned at a designated site on the fairgrounds on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights . Contestants performed a 30 second segment of a song, a cappella, which was filmed by DTC3. The auditions were also shown live outside the audition venue on video screens provided by DTC TV.
At the end of the three-night audition, the top ten contestants were notified on Thursday and returned to perform a full song during the competition on Friday night. Video highlights of the week’s auditions were shown to the live audience during the competition. The top three finalists, Chapman, Koegler, and Dannels were selected from the top ten, and each performed a different song in front of both the judges and the live audience.

Contestants were scored on vocal ability, stage presence, appearance and audience response by judges who all had connections to the music industry.
Meanwhile, Tim Holmes of Smithville and Keith Reynolds of Liberty each won $500 in cash at the fair Friday night.
The following events are scheduled Saturday night:
Saturday, July 27: 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, sponsored by DeKalb Community Bank.
The DeKalb County Fair Memory Lane Stage Line-Up is as follows:
•Saturday Night July 27
6:30-7:30 pm— Mid State Cloggers
7:45-8:45 pm— Evermean Evergreen Cloggers
8:45 – until— ZONE STATUS
Visit the food booths and view exhibits in the Kenneth Sandlin Center and Commercial building.
Rides on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company.
Ride Arm Band Prices:
Saturday:$18
Admission to the fair is $4.00 per person. Children age four and younger will be admitted free! Gates open at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Parking is Free!
For more information, call 529-FAIR or visit on-line at www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com.

DeKalb Middle School is sporting a new look in time for the new school year.
Throughout the building, the walls have been repainted in the school colors of red, blue, and white and new floor tile has been put down in most of the school to replace the carpet. “We’re excited about it. We think it gives the school a whole new look and we hope the kids are excited about it too,” said DMS Principal Randy Jennings in an interview with WJLE Thursday.
“We’ve got a brand new paint job all throughout the building. We had the yellow (painted walls) but now we’ve gone with school colors. We’ve got blue and white all throughout the building. We’ve put down new tile throughout the building. We have very little carpet left in this building. The library, computer lab, and two small offices still have carpet but hopefully we’ll get that out too within the next year. We also plan to renovate our restrooms,” said Principal Jennings.
“It’s a brand new school. I believe everyone will feel a sense of pride when they come in and see that all of this work has taken place for their children,” added Amanda Dakas, Assistant DMS Principal.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby said he is impressed with the transformation, which has largely taken place over the summer since school has been out. “It’s almost a totally new facelift for the school. I believe it will bring a lot of pride to the school. When something is really nice, people want to keep it really nice. I think the students will enjoy it. Mr. Jennings has told me about some of the football players who were here recently and were just amazed at the difference in the school from the time they left until now. The better things look and the better conditions we have, the better off its going to be for all the people in the community. I think the parents, students, and staff will be amazed to see the difference,” said Director Willoughby.
Principal Jennings said he is also proud of the recent renovation of locker rooms in the old gym and the development of a new weight room. “The locker rooms in the old gym, where our football is housed, we renovated those last school year. Coach (Tad) Webb did most of it himself. We updated one of the locker rooms. Put new lockers in. The high school built them for us. The other (project) was a major renovation. We made a weight room for the football team that we’re also going to utilize for our PE program and probably other sports throughout the year,” he said.
Director Willoughby said he is appreciative to the staff who pitched in to help. “This has been the biggest face lift the school has had since it opened in the 1970’s. Getting rid of a majority of the carpet in the school was also a really big deal. As you look around this school, with the exception of actually putting down the tile, all the painting was done by people already employed in the school system,” he said. “Some of our custodians were painting. Some of our staff who are employed during the regular school year, they have been painting. We had maintenance people who have worked really hard. Our custodians have put a shine on this place. It’s made a big difference,” said Director Willoughby.
DMS students will also notice other changes as they roam the halls this year. “We have the addition of some new character education and academic banners throughout the school with some inspirational sayings and quotes. So everywhere the kids look it’s going to be new. It’s going to feel new,” said Assistant Principal Dakas.
“We also have the addition of two new math teachers and a writing lab which will enhance what we’re doing with common core,” she added.
To keep up to date on activities at DeKalb Middle School visit http://www.dekalbmiddleschoolsaints.com/

Liberty Alderman Dwight Mathis looks to become the town’s next elected mayor.
Mathis is the only mayor candidate in the race next Thursday, August 1.
The election will be held from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Liberty Community Center. Voting will be by paper ballot. “The law states any municipality with a population of five thousand (5,000) or less may elect to use paper ballots instead of voting machines for municipal elections when there is no opposition for any of the offices involved (on the ballot),” said Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley. “Liberty did choose to use paper ballots, rather than voting machines, which will save the town approximately $1,200,” he said.
One alderman will be elected along with the mayor. Each is to serve a four year term. Incumbent alderman Howard Reynolds, Jr. is seeking re-election. Two aldermen were to have been elected this year but Incumbent alderman Jarrett Pistole chose not to seek re-election and no one else qualified by the deadlines to get his or her name on the ballot or as a write-in candidate. It will apparently be up to the board of mayor and aldermen to make an appointment to fill the position.
Mathis will succeed longtime mayor Edward Hale who passed away in May.