A Murfreesboro girl took home this year’s top Jamboree award as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners.
Maddie Denton was crowned the Grand Champion fiddler Saturday and won the coveted James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award, named for the man who started the children’s competition during the 1980’s as part of the annual Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival.
Denton also received the “Entertainer of the Year” Award, which is presented to the best overall instrumental entertainer among winners in the dobro guitar, mandolin, five string banjo, and flat top guitar competition.
The National Championship for Country Musician Beginners showcases the talents of children up to age twelve in seven categories of competition.
This year’s winners are as follows:
Fiddle: First Place-Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro. Second Place- Danielle Bishop of Fairview, North Carolina. Third Place- Alex Thomlinson of Suches, Georgia.
Buck Dancing: First Place- Emily Dean of Springfield. Second Place- Ty Jackson of Cedar Hill. Third Place- Tanner Dunn of Cookeville.
Clogging: First Place-Emily Dean of Springfield. Second Place- Ty Jackson of Cedar Hill. Third Place- Lindsay Batts of Ashland City..
Dobro Guitar: First Place-Seth Taylor of Bryson City, North Carolina. Second Place- Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro. These were the only two contestants in this category.
Mandolin: First Place-Sarah Jones of Smithville. Second Place- Grant Rigney of Normandy, Tennessee. Third Place- Emma DeJarnette of Snellville, Georgia.
Five String Banjo: First Place- Seth Taylor of Bryson City, North Carolina. Second Place- Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro. Third Place- Aaron Thompson of Benton, Kentucky.
Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro. Second Place- Tyler Sellers of Ashland City. Third Place- Andrew Rigney of Normandy, Tennessee.

The Grand Champion Fiddler of the 35th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival is Jeremy Stephens of Danville, Virginia.
Stephens won the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award Saturday night after the Grand Finale Fiddle-Off between the best Junior and Senior Fiddler.
Stephens made it to the fiddle off by winning the Junior Fiddling competition and he won the Grand Championship by beating Carl Franklin of Hendersonville, the winner of the Senior Fiddling contest.
Other winners in the Saturday session of the Fiddler’s Jamboree are as follows:
Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39): First Place- Jeremy Stephens of Danville, Virginia. Second Place- Greg Hallums of Lebanon. Third Place- Ashley Sullivan of Mount Juliet.
Junior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages up to 39): First Place- Jacob Campbell of Murfreesboro. Second Place- Justin Frazor of Smyrna. Third Place- Chris Gray of Saint Joseph, Tennessee.
Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro. Second Place- Thomas Maupin of Murfreesboro. Third Place- Tommy Scruggs of Hartsville.
Senior Buck Dancing (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Stanley Reece of Whitleyville, Tennessee. Second Place- Darrin Stryker of Crossville. Third Place- Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro.
Senior Clogging (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Tammy Scruggs of Hartsville. Second Place- Michael Oliver of Hartsville. Third Place- Tommy Jackson of Franklin.
Bluegrass Banjo: First Place- Kurt Stephenson of Dyersburg. Second Place- Jeremy Stephens of Danville, Virginia. Third Place- Tyler Collins of Allons, Tennessee.
Bluegrass Band: First Place- Tennessee Bluegrass of Jackson, Tennessee. Second Place- Crosswind of Olive Hill, Tennessee. Third Place- Stoney Lonesome of Cookeville..
Senior Fiddlers ( Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Carl Franklin of Hendersonville. Second Place- Delmer Holland of Waverly. Third Place- R.B. Scruggs of Hartsville.
Square Dancing: First Place- Rhythm-N-Motion of Cookeville. Second Place- Rocky Top Revue of Franklin, Tennessee. Third Place- Rhythm-N-Motion Xplosion of Cookeville.

The DeKalb County Commission Monday night authorized a property search in the Austin Bottom community for the construction of a fire hall to serve that portion of the county, difficult to reach because of Center Hill Lake.
County Mayor Mike Foster says Putnam County, which has been providing primary emergency services to the 235 homes in the Austin Bottom/Cookeville Boat Dock area, is no longer interested in covering that portion of DeKalb County. “We’ve been meeting with the people over there and the committees that have already met have recommended, subject to your (county commission) approval, that we build a fire hall and equip it subject to those people over there getting a minimum of seven volunteer firemen and at least five emergency medical first responders.”
Foster says hopefully the county can find a site large enough to perhaps offer other services. “I think it’s everybody’s feeling that we need to buy an acre of land because, in addition to the fire hall, we’re probably going to need some other things, like a garbage collection center.”
“Under our mutual aid agreement, Putnam County has been answering the 911 calls in that area for some time and we have been covering a little more of their insurance than normal, but they have decided to stop doing that (answering calls) as of August 1st of this coming year.”
“Our 911 people have gone over there, gotten the GPS and mapping done, and have obtained the numbers from Cookeville, Baxter, and those areas, and are ready to change it over on a trial basis July 1st so that we can start answering those 911 calls.”
“We’ve already responded to fires in that area even though Putnam County is still responding. We’re sending our trucks and when our trucks get there they (Putnam County) leave. The two or three (calls) that we responded to lately had under 30 minute response times, which is good. In fact, it’s better than Putnam County’s has been.”
“The thing that concerns everyone connected with it, is the true emergency ambulance service call, like a heart attack victim and that’s why we’re trying to get so many first responders over there.”
“There’s also an assisted living home over there that has about eighteen residents and lot of the ambulance calls from that area are to take those people back and forth to the hospital.”
Foster says once a site has been located, he will propose that the county commission make the purchase so that construction on a fire hall can begin.

Fires damaged two homes late Monday night in DeKalb County.
Firefighters responded to the residence of Chris Dodson at 906 Parkway Drive around 11:17 p.m. after a neighbor spotted smoke coming from the house and called 911 to report it.
County Fire Chief Donny Green says firefighters made entry to the home and contained the blaze to a front bedroom of the house, where the fire apparently started.
The rest of the home received heat and smoke damage.
Green says the Dodson’s were reportedly at work when the fire started. No one was injured.
Members of the Cookeville Highway, Short Mountain Highway, and Midway Stations responded along with the tanker truck. DeKalb EMS also stood by at the scene as a precaution and officers of the Sheriff’s Department assisted with traffic control.
Meanwhile, Assistant County Fire Chief Roy Merriman says another fire call came in around 11:45 p.m. at the residence of Danny Rigsby at 1863 Bethel Road.
Firefighters, responding to an alarm, found fire coming from a back bedroom of the house. They made entry to the home and quickly extinguished the blaze. Merriman says the fire was mostly confined to the bedroom although there was some damage to the ceiling, living room, and hallway.
No one was home at the time of the fire and no one was injured.
Members of the Blue Springs, Keltonburg, and Belk Stations responded to that fire.
DeKalb EMS and a county officer also stood by at the scene.

Many people turned out to honor Smithville Mayor Cecil Burger during a reception Friday at city hall.
City officials also dedicated the new town clock to the mayor.
A plaque, to be placed at the base of the clock on the grounds of city hall, reads “Town Clock, dedicated to the honorable Cecil Burger for his loyal and devoted service to the City of Smithville serving as Secretary/Treasurer for many years and as Smithville City Mayor from July 1, 1990 to June 30, 2006, representing 40 years of committed service to his community. Presented this 23rd day of June, 2006.
Mayor Burger expressed his appreciation to all those who attended the reception and he reflected on his years of service as city employee, mayor, and his future service as alderman. “I appreciate this very much. It makes me believe that I have done something that’s pleasing to the City of Smithville, the citizens, and especially the employees of the City of Smithville. Everything has been nice.”
“I started the 15th of September, 1966 as city judge and city recorder. I stayed judge for two or three years and then stayed as city recorder/secretary”.
“I’ve served under nine mayors and forty six aldermen. Some had more than one term”.
“I’ve tried to do my best to do what I could with whatever I’ve had to do with for everybody for the good of the people of Smithville.”
“I think I’ve done about everything in the city but be a policeman and councilman. I don’t want to be a policeman so I’ll stick to being alderman.”
Mayor Burger, after serving eight terms and sixteen years as mayor, decided not to seek re-election this year. However he did run for and was elected alderman.

Smithville Police have arrested a second person in connection with burglaries of vehicles on Luttrell and Anthony Avenue after midnight early Wednesday morning.
Detective Sergeant Chris Russell says 20 year old Curtis Allen Lloyd of Warren County was arrested on Friday, June 23 and charged with Theft over $500, Theft under $500, and Burglary.
Russell says the arrest was the result of further investigation into the auto burglaries that occurred during the morning of June 21st in which two vehicles were broken into on Anthony Avenue and Luttrell Avenue.
Another man, 21 year old Joshua McCowan of Morgan Drive was taken into custody near the scene of the crimes Wednesday morning and charged in the cases on Thursday.
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Bond for both Lloyd and McCowan is set at $50,000. McCowan will appear in General Sessions Court July 20th. Lloyd will be in court on the charges July 27th.

Thousands will be flocking to Smithville for the 35th annual Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival this weekend.
The musical competition is now underway.
Preliminaries are being held in the following categories:
Old Time Appalachian Folksinging (solos and duets); Flat Top Guitar; Junior Clogging (ages 13-39); Junior Buck Dancing (ages 13-39); Doboro Guitar; Mountain Dulcimer; Hammer Dulcimer; Novelty Event; Old Time Fiddle Band; Autoharp; Gospel Singing (solos); Country Harmonica; Old Time Banjo; Gospel Singing (duets, trios, and quartets); and Mandolin.
The top three acts in each category will be called back for the finals tonight and a first, second, and third place will be awarded.
In addition to the on-stage musical entertainment, the Fiddlers Jamboree will feature hundreds of crafts, plenty of delicious food; and lots of shade tree picking around the public square.
The DeKalb County Community Chorus is expected to perform sometime between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. featuring a patriotic program. The late Staff Sergeant Shannon Taylor of DeKalb County, who was killed in Iraq nearly a year ago, will be honored and remembered during the performance of the community chorus.
WJLE will broadcast most of the on-stage entertainment LIVE.
Meanwhile, the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce has presented awards to participating businesses in Project Welcome Mat.
Meigs Family Eye Care at 107 North Congress Boulevard, Smithville received the “Best Worded” sign award which reads, “Don’t Just Fiddle Around Enjoy Crafts Too”
Liberty State Bank on South Congress Boulevard, Smithville was presented the “People’s Choice” award for their two sided sign. On one side, the sign reads “Pick A Shade Tree and a Glass of Tea and Join us at the 35th Fiddler’s Jamboree”. The other side of the sign reads “A Little Ditty about the 35th Jamboree, Fiddling & Crafts and the Fun is Free”.
The “Most Original” sign award went to Smithville Food Store on South Congress Boulevard for their sign that reads “Don’t Clog By Come Fiddle in Smithville”

A domestic complaint led to more serious charges against an Alexandria man Wednesday after law enforcement officers tailed him in a pursuit from Alexandria to Liberty.
Alexandria Police Chief Jim Baker says Paul Comer is charged with reckless endangerment, evading arrest, and a first offense of driving under the influence.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has also charged Comer with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment
Chief Baker says Alexandria Police Officer Josh King and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Deputy Nathan Miller responded to a domestic call at 309 High Street Wednesday at 7:49 p.m.
While Officer King was trying to keep Comer and a female from arguing, Officer Miller had to leave after receiving another domestic complaint.
King says he instructed Comer to stand at the garage on the property while he talked to the woman, but Comer got in a Pontiac Grand Prix and drove away.
Officer King got in his patrol car and followed Comer from Hall Street to Highway 53, and then to Highway 70 east.
Deputy Miller later joined the pursuit and when the officers tried to get Comer stopped, he began swerving on the highway.
According to Officer King, ” We were still on Highway 70 and approaching Highway 96 when the subject went over on the emergency lane and tried to hit Deputy Miller. Near Tater Knob Road, the subject started driving in the westbound lane head-on at traffic.”
County Deputy Jon Slager joined the pursuit and Comer apparently stopped after the officers were able to get him boxed-in.
Officer King reports that ” Deputy Slager was on the subject’s driver side, Deputy Miller was in front of him, and I was behind him. The guardrail was on the right side of the subject.”
“As we exited our patrol cars, the subject turned his head, looked at me (King), and then punched the throttle and drove toward Deputy Miller. He (Miller) then fired several shots and the subject started driving toward Deputy Slager. I (King) then fired shots toward the driver’s side back tire causing it to go flat. The subject then drove east on Highway 70 and in the westbound lane of traffic with the back left tire blown out.”
“Deputy Slager was able to get in front of the subject in the city limits of Liberty. The subject tried to rear end Slager’s car and then swerved back to try to hit Miller. The subject turned left onto Highway 53 in Liberty.”
“Deputy Chris McMillen joined the pursuit and the subject made several attempts to run him and me (King) off the road. I was able to gain control and pass the subject on Cave Springs Road. The subject then stopped.”
The officers on the scene got the subject (Comer)out of his vehicle and placed him in custody. He was taken to the DeKalb County Jail.
No one was injured.

A 21 year old Smithville man is facing charges after being caught by police near the scene of a burglary on Luttrell Avenue early Wednesday morning.
Smithville Police Chief Gus Clemente says 21 year old Joshua Lynn McCowan of 434 Morgan Drive is charged with public intoxication, resisting arrest, possession of burglary tools, possession of a schedule IV controlled substance, and unlawful carrying of a weapon. He is also charged with burglary, theft of property valued at over $500, and theft of property valued at under $500.
Sergeant Steve Deffendoll and patrolman William Elliott were dispatched to 809 Luttrell Avenue around 1:04 a.m. Wednesday morning on a prowler call.
Officer Elliott’s report states that “Upon arrival, I saw one suspect between two houses. When instructed to stop, the suspect began to run. I chased the suspect behind the house where I then saw a second suspect lying on the ground. Both suspects ran between the houses and split up. I followed McCowan on a foot pursuit in between houses. McCowan ran across a porch and then around the corner of a house. As I came around the corner, I saw the suspect lying behind a bush. I instructed him to lie on his belly and outstretch his hands. I notified Sergeant Deffendoll. When he arrived I took the suspect into custody and called the county sheriff’s department to transport him to jail.”
A search was conducted in the neighborhood for a second suspect but no one else could be found
Police say McCowan had in his pocket, a knife exceeding four inches and an unlabeled bottle containing three blue pills believed to be xanax.
Officers also recovered a flashlight, tape, box cutters, screwdriver, and other tools consistent with items often used in committing a burglary.
A camouflaged duffle bag was also recovered containing a stereo cd player and tools.
Police say McCowan, upon his arrest, had a strong odor of alcohol on his person, and his speech was slurred.
Detective Sergeant Chris Russell, later Wednesday morning, spoke with a resident at 800 Luttrell Avenue who reported to police that his 1989 Chevrolet work truck had been burglarized. Entry was made by prying open the rear glass of the truck.
Russell, Thursday afternoon, said he had charged McCowan with theft over $500, theft under $500, and burglary resulting from an investigation into two vehicle burglaries which occurred during the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 21st. The thefts occurred on Luttrell Avenue And Anthony Avenue.
Detective Sergeant Russell says McCowan was arrested around 1:00 a.m. on June 21st by Sergeant Deffendoll and Officer Elliot on Luttrell Avenue after the officers saw McCowan and another male walking on Luttrell. When the officers attempted to talk to the subjects they fled on foot. McCowan was apprehended within a few minutes. McCowan had in his possession at the time of his arrest a camouflage cooler which had been reported stolen from the vehicle on Anthony Avenue. McCowan is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on July 20. His bond is set at $50,000.

A 23 year old man has been charged by the Smithville Police Department in connection with several recent theft and burglary investigations.
Christopher Adam Hale of Smithville was arrested on Wednesday.
Detective Sergeant Chris Russell says that on June 21st at approximately 8:45 p.m.. Officer Marcus Caldwell and Sergeant Steve Deffendoll responded to 1024 West Main Street to take a theft and burglary report.
According to the victim, someone had burst a hole in the rear wall of his shed and stole several power tools.
Officer Caldwell reported while at the scene that Hale, who lived next door, ran off into the woods . He was apprehended a short time later.
During a police interview, Detective Sergeant Russell says Hale confessed to committing the burglary at his neighbor’s property.
He also accepted responsibility for another burglary that was committed about a month earlier at the same house where a shotgun was stolen.
According to Detective Sergeant Russell, Hale gave a third confession, claiming he committed a burglary at a house on West Main Street about a week ago, where several guns were taken.
Hale further confessed to committing at least two other burglaries out of the city limits , one on Game Ridge Road and one on Short Mountain Highway. The information in those two cases have been turned over to Detective Charles Griffith of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department for prosecution.
Hale is charged with theft over $1,000, Theft over $500, Theft under $500, two counts of Aggravated Burglary, and one count of Burglary. Total bond is $110,000 and he is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on July 27th.