Twelve year old Sarah Anne Colwell of Smithville is the new Junior Miss of the Spring Blossom Pageant, which was held Saturday night at the DCHS gym and sponsored by the Smithville Women’s Club.

Colwell, daughter of Christie and Trent Colwell, succeeds the 2012 Junior Miss Liz Abigail Qualls of Smithville, the fifteen year old daughter of Brad and Kim Trapp and Jason and Stormy Qualls.
First runner-up in the pageant was Morgan Faith Green of Smithville, the thirteen year old daughter of Suzanne and Jon Harrison. Morgan was also named Miss Congeniality.
Twelve year old Addison Grace Oakley of Liberty was second runner-up. She is the daughter of Lisa and Clark Oakley. Addison also received the title of Miss Photogenic.
Destiny Danielle Franklin of Smithville, the thirteen year old daughter of Jennifer and Charlie Ware was named third runner-up.
Fourteen year old Mary Elizabeth Murray of Smithville, daughter and Angel Brown and Dwight Murray was the fourth runner-up

A total of twelve young ladies participated in the pageant. Other participants were Alexis KaSara Davis, thirteen year old daughter of Angela and Scott Davis of Smithville; Kyra Orlando, fourteen year old daughter of Shellie Bain and Shane Orlando of Smithville; Abigail Hope Taylor, twelve year old daughter of Cindy and Ken Taylor of Smithville; Kyleigh Alexis White of Alexandria, twelve year old daughter of Emily and Andy Turbeville and Kenny White; Casey Elizabeth Vickers, fourteen year old daughter of Wanda Sue and Joseph Vickers of Liberty; Miranda Nicole Davis, thirteen year old daughter of Nicole and Robert Bruhn of Smithville; and Emily Hope Burklow, twelve year old daughter of Shan and Andy Burklow of Dowelltown.
(Top Photo: 4th runner-up Mary Elizabeth Murray, 2nd runner-up Addison Grace Oakley, Junior Miss Sarah Anne Colwell, 1st runner-up Morgan Faith Green, 3rd runner-up Destiny Danielle Franklin)
(Middle Photo: Miss Photogenic Addison Grace Oakley and Miss Congeniality Morgan Faith Green)
(Bottom Photo: Junior Miss Sarah Anne Colwell)

Do you dream of owning your own home? Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is making plans to build another affordable, safe and decent home with a local family.
There will two opportunities to learn more at an Informational Meeting and Application Fair. Please come either Tuesday, April 23 at 6 p.m. OR Saturday, May 4 at 9:30 a.m. at the Methodist Family Life Center next to Love-Cantrell Funeral Home in downtown Smithville. Families will receive information about the Habitat Program and assistance to complete the application.
To qualify, applicants must meet the following basic criteria:
1. Be a DeKalb County resident for at least 1 year prior to April, 2013.
2. Be a U.S. Citizen or have permanent resident alien status.
3. Have a housing need. For example, current conditions may be overcrowded, unsanitary, unsafe, temporary or cost prohibitive.
4.Have an ability to pay. Applicants must provide proof of income and ability to pay a monthly mortgage.
5.Be willing to partner. Qualified families will participate in budgeting and home maintenance classes as well as help in the construction of their own home.
If you cannot attend either meeting on April 23 or May 4, please call 615-215-8181 and leave your name and phone number. A Habitat volunteer will contact you to provide additional information and perhaps mail an application to you.
To be considered, completed and signed applications must be postmarked by Friday, May 31, 2013.
The purpose of Habitat is to build houses and sell them at no profit and no interest to families who could not otherwise afford their own home. This Christian ministry is financed through private donations using volunteer labor and donated materials whenever possible.

The City of Smithville earned almost a perfect score in the latest sanitary survey of the water treatment system conducted by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Water Resources Water Supply Section.
The Smithville Water System earned 596 points out of a possible 599 points for a numerical score of 99% which places the water system in the state’s “Approved” category, according to Johnny Walker, manager of the Division of Water Resources for the Cookeville Environmental Office.
The survey, performed by David Phillips of the Division of Water Resources, consisted of a records review to document the operational performance of the system, and on-site inspections of the water treatment plant and distribution system. The Sanitary Survey covered the time period January 9, 2012 through February 21, 2013.
In a letter to Mayor Jimmy Poss, Walker wrote ” the record organization has much improved. The records adequately reflect the improved operation of both treatment and distribution systems.”
Apparently, the only finding that kept the city from receiving a perfect score in the survey was that “all dead end mains should have a suitable flushing device installed. According to the regulations, all dead end mains and all low points in water mains shall be equipped with a blow-off or other suitable flushing mechanism capable of producing velocities adequate to flush the main. The material needed to correct this deficiency has been ordered. The Division appreciates the rapid response by the Water System to meet the requirement”.
The letter further notes that “recent major improvements in the Smithville Water System are easily recognized and sincerely appreciated. Mr. Todd Bowman (Water Plant Supervisor) has obviously gone above and beyond to ensure exemplary operation of the Water Treatment Plant. The customers of the Smithville Water System are very fortunate. The Division would like to thank Bowman, Kevin Robinson (Public Works Director), and their staffs for their courtesy and prompt response to requests during this survey,” wrote Walker.
During Monday night’s city council meeting, Hunter Hendrixson, Secretary-Treasurer said the state conducts these sanitary surveys about every eighteen months now. “The last one we had was a 94 (score) with several provisions. This was a 99 (score) without any provisions which shows our water system is top notch,” said Hendrixson.

Three men were injured in a two vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in the Blue Springs Community in front of the Bethel Methodist Church
57 year old Norman Hendrix of Dowelltown and 64 year old Eddie Malone of Smithville were transported to DeKalb Community Hospital by DeKalb EMS. 47 year old Jeffery Stubbe of Smithville was taken to the hospital by a private vehicle.
Trooper Craig Wilkerson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that Stubbe was driving a 2002 Nissan Altima south on Blue Springs Road when he apparently failed to yield to a 2003 GMC Sierra, driven by Hendrix who was east on Bethel Road. Malone was a passenger with Hendrix. After impact at the intersection, Hendrix’ truck rolled over at least once and came to rest upright on its wheels. All three men were cited for not wearing their seatbelts.