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.

Smithville Police arrested a Hendersonville man and woman on drug charges Tuesday night after finding marijuana, Valium, and drug paraphernalia in their automobile.
45 year old Ronald Wayne Mackie is charged with public intoxication and sale and delivery of a schedule IV controlled substance and 34 year old Karen K. Konstantynowicz faces charges of simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officer Mike Billings says he was called to the BP Station on South Congress Boulevard Tuesday night around 7:00 p.m. in answer to a complaint about an intoxicated person.
In his report, Billings says, ” Upon my arrival, I noticed Mackie staggering in the parking lot. After making contact with Mackie and in talking with him, he appeared to be under the influence of drugs. Mackie was unsteady and his speech was slurred. He kept repeating himself.”
Konstantynowicz, who claimed to be the driver of the vehicle, gave officers consent to search the automobile and a small bag of a green leafy substance, believed to be marijuana, was found under the passenger seat. Officers also found a tin box containing another small baggie of marijuana, along with several prescription bottles including two bottles containing Valium, hemostats, a blade, and cut straws.
Mackie and Konstantynowicz were taken into custody and charged in the case. They will be in General Sessions Court on July 13th.
Officer Billings was assisted in the investigation by Officer Marcus Caldwell

DeKalb County Sheriff Lloyd Emmons is among twenty six persons who have applied for Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety.
The Tennessean is reporting Thursday that Interim Safety Commissioner Gerald Nicely is in the process of interviewing candidates to replace him atop the state Safety Department, which includes the THP and the state office that issues driver’s licenses.
Governor Phil Bredesen last week said “I want a real commitment to professionalism. I want somebody that I really believe is not just saying the words but I really believe is intent on creating a first-class, modern, professional Highway Patrol and all the stuff that that implies ? getting politics and all that kind of nonsense out of it.”
Bredesen says if the interviews go well, a new commissioner could be in place by next month, but if he doesn’t find the right person among these candidates, the process could take longer.
Nicely says the next commissioner will be tasked with seeing through changes in the department, which include a revamped professional standards division and the naming of several top command staff positions to be added after July 1.
The new commissioner will have to restore credibility to the agency and continue to get it back on track since its implosion in December. The top three officials stepped down amid scandal then, and Bredesen brought in Nicely from his regular job ? state transportation commissioner ? on a temporary basis.
Sheriff Emmons, former Tennessee Highway Patrolman and Lieutenant, left the patrol in 2002 to serve as DeKalb County’s sheriff, but he lost the May primary this year and will be leaving office in September.

The 150th DeKalb County Fair in Alexandria will be held July 24th through July 29th.
The theme of this year’s fair is “Spotlighting 150 years of Memories”
The following events are scheduled:
Monday, July 24th: Junior Fair Princess Pageant at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Fairest of the Fair Pageant at the Lions Club Pavilion.
Tuesday, July 25th: Little Mr. and Miss Pageant at 6:00 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion; Go-Cart Racing at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilltop Arena; and a Horse Show at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand.
Wednesday, July 26th: Little Miss Princess Pageant at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Miss Sweetheart Pageant at the Lions Club Pavilion; a Cattle Show at 6:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; and Four Wheeler and Motorcycle Racing at 6:00 p.m. at the Hilltop Arena.
Thursday, July 27th: Senior Citizen Day activities at 9:00 a.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion; a Baby Show at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Vintage Fashion Show at the Lions Club Pavilion; and Lawn Mower Racing at 7:00 p.m. at the Hilltop Arena.
Friday, July 28th: Toddler Show at 6:00 p.m. followed by Gospel Singing at the Lions Club Pavilion; an Antique Tractor Pull at 6:00 p.m. at the Hilltop Arena; and a Demolition Derby at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand.
Saturday, July 29th: a Horse Shoe Tournament at 3:00 p.m. at the barn; a performance by the DeKalb County High School Band at 5:00 p.m.; Karaoke and Games at 5:30 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion; Live Band and Dancing at 8:30 p.m. at the pavilion; and a Super Tractor and Truck Pull at 6:00 p.m. at the Hilltop Arena.
Music in celebration of the decades will be featured each night around 5:45 p.m. and there will be a $1,000 cash give away each night at 9:00 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion. You must be present to win. Any unclaimed money during the week will be given away on Saturday night.
WSMV Channel 4’s Snow Bird will be at the fair on Tuesday, July 25 from 5-7 p.m.
Rides on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company. Unlimited rides will be available each night for $14.00.
The fair will feature lots of delicious foods and many commercial, agricultural, and women’s exhibits.
Admission to the fair is $3.00 per person. Children under age six 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!
All non-perishable exhibit items must be brought to the fairgrounds on Saturday, July 15 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and all perishable exhibit items must be brought to the fairgrounds on Saturday, July 22 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Premium (Exhibit) books containing detailed information on entering items in the fair are available at the Smithville and Alexandria libraries; DeKalb Community Bank; Liberty State Bank; Regions Bank; and at the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, call 529-FAIR or visit on-line at www.dekalbcountyfair.us or dekalbtn.com.