18 year old Rosemary Apple is the 2009 Fairest of the Fair.
Apple, daughter of Nick and Claire Apple of Smithville, was chosen from among ten contestants for the title Monday night in Alexandria. She was also named Miss Photogenic.
Apple succeeds the retiring Fairest of the Fair, 21 year old Nicole Linn of Smithville, daughter of Leo and Doris Linn.
18 year old Jessie Young Strickland of Alexandria was named first runner-up. She is the daughter of Jerry Strickland and the late Melissa Strickland.
18 year old Kara Elizabeth Young, daughter of Ronny and Nancy Young of Smithville was named second runner-up in the pageant.
Third runner-up went to Macy Felts, the 18 year old daughter of Kendra and Rick Guinn of Smithville and the late Chuck Felts.
20 year old Wendy Michelle Scott of Smithville, daughter of Kathy Scott and the late Billy Ray Scott was chosen Miss Congeniality.
Extreme Looks Hair Design awarded the “Extreme Queen” crown to 17 year old Breanna Hendrixson, daughter of Loretta and Tim Hendrixson of Smithville for beauty, sportsmanship, teamwork, and congeniality.
The DeKalb County Fair Board presented a plaque to the family of the late Clay Edwards in remembrance of Mr. Edwards, who was an active member of the fair board for several years. He passed away last fall. The presentation was made by Ron Paschal to Mr. Edwards’ wife Tena, and children Sara and Abram Edwards.
Click here to see pictures from the fair on Monday http://www.wjle.com/fair-monday
Click here to view video clip of Off Road Challenge Monday at the Fair.

The 2009 Junior Fair Princess of the DeKalb County Fair is 15 year old Katie Sue Haggard, daughter of David and Vicki Haggard of Smithville.
She succeeds the retiring Junior Fair Princess, 15 year old Kristen LaCole Smartt of Dowelltown, daughter of Aaron and Paula Taylor.
The first runner-up was Chelsie Lewis, the 14 year old daughter of Jimmy and Gina Lewis of Smithville.
Second runner-up was Katelyn Goodwin, the 15 year old daughter of Joey and Kathy Goodwin of Smithville.
15 year old Victoria Dawn Tatrow was the third runner-up. She is the daughter of the late Shanna Tatrow and Corey and Vicki Funk of Smithville.
Martha Alan Webb, the 16 year old daughter of Alan and Lora Webb of Smithville was named Miss Congeniality.
Sara Elizabeth Edwards, 13 year old daughter of Tena Edwards of Liberty and the late Clay Edwards, was chosen Miss Photogenic.
Others in the top ten were Zoe Elaine Whaley, Camry Lou White, Sara Elizabeth Edwards, Cora Beth Rhody, Jasmine Marie Dimas, and Martha Alan Webb.
Extreme Looks Hair Design awarded an “Extreme Queen” based on congeniality, teamwork, sportsmanship, and beauty. The crown went to 13 year old Zoe Elaine Whaley, daughter of Celia and Scott Whaley of Smithville.
The Junior Fair Princess Pageant featured twenty eight young ladies.
Click here to see pictures of the fair on Monday http://www.wjle.com/fair-monday

An arson investigation by the Sheriff’s Department has resulted in the arrest of a Warren County man for aggravated burglary and theft.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 46 year old Jeffery Smithson of Viola Road McMinnville was arrested Wednesday, July 15th for aggravated burglary and theft of property under $500.00. County detectives were called to investigate a house fire on Stoner Road June 28th. Through that investigation, the detectives learned that Smithson had entered the home before the fire and had taken the owner’s cell phone. The residence burned a short time later. After he took the cell phone, Sheriff Ray says Smithson gave the phone number to his friends so they could contact him. Detectives are still investigating the arson case. Smithson’s bond was set at $17,500 and he will appear in court on July 23rd..
Meanwhile, on Friday, July 17th, a deputy spotted 39 year old Harold Eugene Cunningham of Johnson Chapel Road, Sparta driving on Highway 70. Having prior knowledge that Cunningham had a revoked driver’s license, the officer stopped Cunningham, ran a computer check on Cunningham’s license and found it to be revoked for a driving under the influence charge. Cunningham was placed under arrest for driving on a revoked license. Deputies also found three yellow pills believed to be Hydrocodone in Cunningham’s pocket and was further charged with possession of a schedule III drug (Hydrocodone). Meanwhile, a passenger, 44 year old Melissa Susan Cunningham also of Johnson Chapel Road Sparta, was arrested after four pink pills and twenty eight blue pills believed to be Hydrocodone were found in her pocket book. Ms. Cunningham said she did not have a legal prescription for the pills. She was charged with possession of a schedule III drug (Hydrocodone). Bond for both was set at $5,000 each and they will appear in court on August 6th.
Deputies responded to a drunk driver call on Dale Ridge road Saturday, July 18th , spotted the described vehicle on Snow Hill Road, and noticed it weaving. The driver, 35 year old Anthony Wayne Cantrell of Snow Hill Road Dowelltown was arrested for a first offense of driving under the influence. After stopping Cantrell’s vehicle, Deputies noticed a strong odor of an intoxicant on Cantrell’s person. Cantrell also was unsteady on his feet and he refused to submit to all field sobriety tasks. Bond for Cantrell was set at $1,500 and he will appear in court on August 6th..
In another incident on Saturday, deputies observed a vehicle on the south end of the county weaving in the roadway and running off into the ditches. Officers stopped 31 year old Jason Kenneth Cline on Haley Road and detected a strong odor of alcohol on his person. Cline also had red watery eyes and slurred speech. Cline submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed. Cline was arrested for a second offense of driving under the influence and his bond was set at $3,000 He will appear in court on August 27th.
On Sunday, July 19th, deputies observed a male subject walking on Sparta Highway and stopped to check on him. 32 year old Jimmy Lane Estes of Jacobs Pillar Road was found to be intoxicated. Estes was unsteady on his feet and had slurred speech. Due to the safety of Estes, Deputies arrested him for public intoxication. Bond for Estes was set at $1,000 and he will appear in court on August 6th.

The DeKalb County Junior League All Star 13-14 year old team was eliminated from the Junior League State Tournament Sunday after losing to Clarksville Northwest 11 to 3 at Cumberland Gap High School near Cumberland Gap, Tennessee.
In the tournament opening game on Saturday, the DeKalb All Stars were
defeated by the District 7 All Stars from Murfreesboro by a score
of 6-5. That loss sent the local all stars into the loser’s bracket of the double elimination tournament against the 13 -14 year old All Stars from Clarksville Northwest on Sunday.
DeKalb was the visiting team on Sunday and came out in the 1st inning with singles by Stephen Howell and Steven Page and a 1-0 score. Stephen Howell was the starting pitcher
for the DeKalb Team.
In the 3rd Inning Howell then hit a double, followed by Evan Cripps hitting a single bringing in Howell, and Steven Page hit one deep bringing in Cripps, but Page was called out at third base, resulting in the score of 3-0 DeKalb at the bottom of the 3rd Inning.
The 3rd inning saw the tide turn for DeKalb as Pitcher Stephen Howell walked six successive batters allowing Clarksville Northwest to score 4 runs. Evan Curtis came in to relieve Howell and ended the Clarksville streak by striking out a batter.
In the 4th Inning DeKalb saw a batter hit, Seth Stanley, followed by three successive outs.
Clarksville scored no runs in the 4th Inning.
In the 5th inning Devin Summers came in as pitcher and walked three batters and allowed three singles, hit a batter, and two walks and the score was 7-3.
The 6th inning saw DeKalb’s bats come alive with a single by Evan Curtis, double by Jordan Huling, but there were three outs at the bottom of the line-up resulting in no score. Clarksville increased their lead to 11-3 in the 6th Inning sealing DeKalb’s fate, although in the 7th
inning Evan Cripps and Evan Curtis each added a single.
The final was DeKalb 3 and Clarksville Northwest 11, ending the DeKalb County 13-14 Year Old All Stars’ appearance at the State Tournament.
This team would like to thank all individuals and businesses who donated funds to allow the team to travel to the State Tournament.

The DeKalb County Junior League All Star 13-14 Year Old Team participated in the State Tournament on Saturday, July 18th at Cumberland Gap High School near Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. In the tournament opening game, the DeKalb All Stars faced the District 7 All Stars
from Murfreesboro.
The DeKalb All Stars were defeated 6-5. DeKalb started out with a 4-0 lead. A series of pop flies followed with two errors and the game was tied in the top of the 4th Inning. At the bottom of the 4th Inning DeKalb had three up and three down, which resulted in no runs.
Murfreesboro gained the lead in the 5th Inning.
DeKalb rallied in the 7th Inning with singles from Stephen Howell, Evan Cripps, Evan Curtis, and Jordan Huling. A questionable call occurred as Steven Howell attempted to steal at third base, but was ruled out. The game concluded when Devin Summers had a ball hit just over first base and snagged by Murfreesboro.
Steven Page had the loss on the mound for DeKalb. Those having singles included: Stephen Howell; Evan Cripps (2); Steven Page; Evan Curtis (2); Jordan Huling; Dustin Cook; and Devin Summers had two doubles.
DeKalb will enter the Loser Bracket in a game scheduled for Sunday, July
19th at 2:00 p.m. E.D.T. or 1:00 p.m. Smithville time.
(Top Picture) DeKalb 13-14 Year Old All Star Pitcher Steven Page
(Bottom Picture) – Coach Steve Page confers with the team in the 5th Inning
(Special thanks to Freddy Curtis for providing pictures and story)

Carnival workers, members of the DeKalb County Fair Board, and other volunteers spent several hours over the weekend preparing for opening night of the fair Monday.
The DeKalb County Fair in Alexandria kicks off Monday through Saturday.
With the theme “You need a FAIRCATION”, the Grandpa Fair of the South will feature a fun filled week of activities.
The following events are scheduled:
Monday, July 20th: National Anthem at 5:45 p.m. at the Lion’s Club Pavilion; T-Shirt Preview at 5:50 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion; Cattle Show at 6:00 p.m. at the grandstands ; Off-Road Challenge at the T.C. McMillen Arena at 6:30 p.m.; Junior Fair Princess Pageant at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Fairest of the Fair Pageant at the Lions Club Pavilion. $1000 cash giveaway at 9:00 p.m. and announcement of DeKalb Idol winners at the Pavilion.
Tuesday, July 21st: the Little Mr. and Miss Pageant at 6:00 p.m. followed by David Turner and Friends at the Lions Club Pavilion; Go-Cart Racing at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; and a Horse Show at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; $1000 cash giveaway at 9:00 p.m. and announcement of DeKalb Idol winners at the Pavilion.
Wednesday, July 22nd: Little Miss Princess Pageant at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Miss Sweetheart Pageant at the Lions Club Pavilion; Four Wheeler and Motorcycle Racing at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; $1000 cash giveaway at 9:00 p.m. and announcement of DeKalb Idol winners at the Pavilion.
Thursday, July 23rd: Senior Citizen Day activities at 9:00 a.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion; 4-H Chick Chain Show at 5:00 p.m. at the barn; Junior Goat Show at 6:00 p.m. at the barn; a Baby Show at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Vintage Fashion Show at the Lions Club Pavilion; and a Rodeo at the T.C. McMillen Arena at 7:30 p.m.; $1000 cash giveaway at 9:00 p.m. and announcement of DeKalb Idol winners at the Pavilion.
Friday, July 24th: WSMV Channel 4 Snow Bird from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Doug Collins in concert at 5:30 p.m. at the Granstand; Toddler Show at 6:00 p.m. followed by DeKalb Idol Final Competition at the Lions Club Pavilion; an Antique Tractor Pull at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; and a Demolition Derby at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; $1000 cash giveaway at 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 25th: A Horse Shoe Tournament at 3:00 p.m. at the barn; Gospel Singing at the Lion’s Club Pavilion at 6:00 p.m. and a Super Tractor and Truck Pull at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena: and a $1000 cash giveaway at 9:00 p.m.
Fair Manager Jeff McMillen urges fair goers to take the time to enjoy lots of delicious foods from the food booths and stop by to see the many commercial, agricultural, and women’s exhibits.
The Kenneth Sandlin Center will be open Monday through Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Enjoy nightly entertainment at the Memory Lane Stage in Memory Village. The line-up is as follows:
Monday night, July 20th:
7:15-7:35 p.m. Kevin Roberts (Elvis Impersonator)
8:15 p.m.- until? Jubal’s Cry-CD Release Party
Tuesday night, July 21st:
6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.- Suzanne Slager and Friends
7:15-8:15 p.m.- Terri Lynn Weaver
8:15-9:15 p.m.- Unfinished
Wednesday night, July 22nd
6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.- Broken Vessels
7:15 p.m.-8:15 p.m.- Krystal Marie
Thursday night, July 23rd
7:00 p.m.-? Karaoke Night
Friday night, July 24th
6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.- Bryan Keith
7:15-8:15 p.m.- Pickin’ Friends
Saturday night, July 25th
6:00 p.m.-7:45 p.m.- Country Pride
7:45 p.m.-until Lakside Drive
One thousand dollars in cash will be given away each night, Monday through Saturday and you must be present to win. If no one presents the winning ticket within three minutes, the money will be saved and given away on Saturday night in increments of $1,000. Your fair admission ticket is your ticket for the cash drawing.
Rides on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company. Unlimited rides will be available each night for $16.00.
Admission to the fair is $3.00 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. Parking is Free!
For more information, call 529-FAIR or visit on-line at www.dekalbcountyfair.us or www. dekalbtn.com.

For the second consecutive year, DeKalb County Fire Department has been named, by the Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy (TFACA), as one of the Elite Club members that attained over 1,000 student contact training hours. For FY 2008-09, there are 42 of the state’s approximately 700 fire departments that met the requirements to join the “Elite Club” and DeKalb County Fire Department ranked # 28, with 1,288 student contact hours.
According to DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green, “the 1,288 hours only includes a portion of the larger amount of training hours that our firefighters have attended. We have specialized training courses, such as vehicle extrication/rescue, wild land firefighting, CPR, medical first responder, and monthly training drills, that our firefighters complete which accounts for over 3,000 department training hours annually.”
Chief Green says that he credits much of the department’s training program success to Asst. Chief Roy Merriman who coordinates and manages the training activities for the department’s 11 stations and 70 volunteer firefighters. “The fact that we are ranked # 28 on this list, which is mostly full-time paid fire departments, speaks volumes about our training program and the commitment our volunteer firefighters have; especially when you consider that 19 of the 27 departments ranked above DeKalb County Fire Department are full-time paid departments whose firefighters are actually on the clock when they are training. Our volunteer firefighters are doing their training on their own time, on nights and weekends when they are not at their paying jobs”, says Chief Green.
DeKalb County Fire Department continues to seek committed volunteers who are willing to serve their communities. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, contact the department at 615-464-7176, or visit the department’s website at www.dekalbfire.com to submit an online application.

Members of the Smithville Police Department want the community to get to know them better, and according to at least one officer, the effort has paid off.
Chief Richard Jennings says Officer Nathan Estes recently came up with the idea of handing out police department stickers to children in the housing project, in a get acquainted campaign.
Officer Estes says children should not be afraid of the police. “What it consisted of is a particular officer going through the housing authority on foot patrol when we had time and handing out these stickers. Basically what this is doing, when we hand out these stickers, is we’re interacting with the children and letting them know that they shouldn’t be afraid of us.”

According to Officer Estes, the effort has not only had a positive impact on the children, but their families have become more open in providing valuable information to the police. ” I saw this as something positive and I originally started it for the children but it wound up going further than that, because we wound up getting a lot of information we needed for investigations for the police department, through the moms and dads, aunts, uncles, grandmothers, and grandfathers. We had two fugitive from justice people that I helped locate from the housing authority. There were two or three drug deals we got interested in while we were over there, things of that nature. But the main thing I wanted to prove with this was that the housing authority people and their kids are just as important to us as anybody else in the city or the county.”
Officer Estes says he hopes to continue the campaign in other parts of the city. “Now that I’m back on nights, I’m going to start at a different place, such as Village Place subdivision, Morgan Avenue, and places like that while still keeping up the same streets such as Andrews and others where I have been going to let everyone know that just because we’re the police does not mean we don’t care about them or their kids. We’re not in this just to take people to jail and write tickets. We’re supposed to be a role model to the public and set an example for the public.”

The Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party was in Smithville Thursday night.
Chris Devaney met with members of the local party at the community room of city hall.
Devaney says he is excited about the 2010 elections and the opportunity Republicans have to win more public offices. “There’s a lot of excitement across Tennessee, I see it in the tea parties that are going on. Six weeks after President Obama was elected we saw these tea parties pop up across the country and across Tennessee and I think it really signaled that people are concerned about the direction of our country. ”
“Republicans in Tennessee have had success because they have stood on principled leadership and core Republican principles of individual freedom, low taxes, and personal responsibility and I think that is resonating with people in Tennessee and across the country. We are setting the example here in Tennessee of what can be done. We have majorities in the General Assembly. We’re going to solidify those majorities in 2010. We’re excited about the direction we’re headed in this state.”
“I think people are looking at the example of Terri Lynn Weaver, who is providing excellent leadership for this district. She was elected in 2008 and already she has become a leader in the General Assembly because she is standing up for principles. That’s why Terri Lynn will be re-elected and that’s why we’re going to elect a Republican in (State Senator) Mae Beaver’s seat.”

An 18 year old Liberty man was seriously injured when his pickup truck crashed into a tree on Big Rock Road Thursday afternoon. Central Dispatch received the call at 4:41 p.m.
Carlos Dustin Nokes was airlifted from the scene by a Life Flight helicopter ambulance and flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
Trooper Darrell Knowles of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Nokes was driving a 1986 Chevy S-10 south on Big Rock Road when he went off the right side of the road, overcorrected, continued south, and then went off the left side of the road. The pickup struck a ditch, went airborne, and then crashed nose down and top first into a tree. The truck then fell back and came to rest on it’s wheels. Nokes was pinned inside the truck and had to be extricated by members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Rescue Team. Others on the scene were members of the Keltonburg and Short Mountain Highway Stations of the Fire Department, county deputies, and DeKalb EMS.
Meanwhile two people were transported by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital after a two vehicle wreck on Whorton Springs Road Thursday afternoon.
Trooper Knowles says 17 year old Kiesha M. Kunze of Smithville was east on Whorton Springs Road in a 2005 Toyota and 39 year old Benjamin D. Barlow of Smithville was traveling west in a 1996 Mazda pickup truck when they made contact in a curve.
Both Kunze and a passenger of her vehicle, 69 year old Marga Spruill of Smithville were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Two others in the Kunze vehicle, Sandra Kunze and an eighteen month old child were not injured. Barlow was also uninjured.