The public is invited to attend a ‘Meet and Greet’ to honor the newly appointed Commissioner of Tourist Development, Kevin Triplett. Commissioner Triplett will be visiting Smithville on Wednesday, July 8th at the DeKalb County Complex auditorium from 4 PM to 5:30 PM. After speaking, the commissioner will have a question and answer time. Senator Mae Beavers, State Representative Terrie Lynn Weaver, and State Representative Mark Pody will also be in attendance.
County Mayor Tim Stribling and Chamber Director Suzanne Williams urges all county and city leaders, business and community leaders, as well as the general public to attend this important and informative event. “This is a great opportunity to meet our new Commissioner of Tourist Development and to help him be aware of all that DeKalb County has to offer,” says Williams, “Currently, DeKalb County has the third highest tourism dollars in the Upper Cumberland region bringing approximately $39 million dollars to our county and around 4 million visitors annually.”
Everyone is invited for this rare opportunity of meeting and visiting with Commissioner Triplett on Wednesday, July 8th at the County Complex auditorium from 4 PM to 5:30 PM. For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce at (615) 597-4163

The DeKalb/Cannon County Amateur Radio Club conducted a Special Event Station at the 44th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Craft Festival on Saturday, July 4th, 2015. This year marked the fifteenth year that a special event station had been set up at the Jamboree.
The station was setup at the front entrance of the Justin Potter Library during the early morning hours on Saturday. Antennas were assembled, radios were properly checked, and transmissions were begun at 7:50 AM local time. Operations took place in the 20 meter, and 40 meter Amateur Radio bands, and the station was publicized in Amateur Radio magazines QST, CQ, and the club website. This year operations took place on a cool over cast day with only one small rain shower during the operations.
The station contacted 162 total Amateur Radio Stations in 34 States, Ontario and Nova Scotia, Canada, as well as stations in the Bahamas, and Puerto Rico. One interesting contact included an amateur radio operator on-board a farm tractor in Michigan.
Amateur Radio Operator Guests included the following: K4DZR – Jerry Goodchild, Cookeville, TN; KC5PSD – Keith Herbert, Smithville, TN; KD4TVO – Joe Poole, Wartburg, TN and WB4OFM – Jim Hall, Murfreesboro, TN.
Participants of the station included DeKalb/Cannon County Amateur Radio Club Members:
NN9J – Steve Kujawski, Sparta, TN; NF9G – Kathy Kujawski, Sparta, TN; KF4QNT – Kevin Neely, Smithville, TN; and W4WFC – Wm. Freddy Curtis, Smithville, TN.
The club would like to offer thanks to Jamboree Coordinator – Mr. Jack Barton; Justin Potter Librarian – Mrs. Kathy Hendrixson; DeKalb County EMA Director – Charlie Parker; and Mr. Darryl Counts – Postmaster, Smithville Post Office for their support of this activity.
The DeKalb/Cannon County Amateur Radio Club is an organization of Amateur Radio operators from DeKalb, Cannon, and Surrounding Counties and is an affiliated club of the American Radio Relay League. The next club meeting will be on Thursday, July 30th, 2015 – 6:30 PM at the DeKalb County Complex, 722 South Congress Boulevard, Smithville, TN. Any person interested in Amateur Radio is invited to attend. More information about the club can be found at the club’s website – http://www.dccarc.org.
Picture Caption:
Picture 1 = Amateur Radio Operators at the Special Event Station operate during the 44th Annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival included:
Left to Right: W4WFC – Wm. Freddy Curtis; K4DZR – Jerry Goodchild and NN9J – Steve Kujawski. Photo Courtesy of NF9G – Kathy Kujawski.

A woman on probation, who said she is unemployed, was found with pills and a large amount of cash during a sheriff’s department traffic stop on Tuesday, June 30.
31 year old April Lynn Anderson of Quail Point Drive, Smithville is charged with possession of a schedule II drug for resale (Dilaudid). Her bond is $10,000 and she will be in court on August 13.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday, June 30, a detective spoke with Anderson after she got out of a 2015 Ford Mustang at East Side Inn on Highway 70 east. Anderson told the detective that she was on probation and had no job. She also admitted to having a metal container on her person. Anderson retrieved the container from the area of her crotch. Inside the container were 10 Dilaudid pills. Anderson also had $1,270 in cash and thirty two pill pouches in her purse. Anderson’s vehicle was seized as a result of the discovery.
31 year old Michael Dewayne Roller of Big Hill Road, Liberty is charged with theft of property over $500. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court July 23. He was arrested on Tuesday, June 30.
Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, June 13 a report was taken of the attempted theft of a paddle boat on Keltonburg Road. A criminal detective was assigned the case and found that Roller tried to take a blue Sea Hawk Paddle Boat from an address on Keltonbrug Road without the owner’s consent. The boat is valued at $600.
39 year old Shannon James of McCarley, Mississippi was arrested on Friday July 3 and charged with domestic assault and driving under the influence after intentionally wrecking his 2001 Chevy S-10 to apparently frighten a woman who was a passenger. He was further cited for no drivers license and driving on roadways laned for travel. James’ bond is $3,000 and he will be in court July 16.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, July 3 a deputy was dispatched to Vaughn Lane because of a truck wreck. Upon arrival he spoke with the driver , James and a woman who was a passenger. According to the woman, she and James were having a verbal argument which became physical when James burned her finger with a cigarette. He then began swerving the truck in the roadway to scare the woman. She said James intentionally wrecked the truck causing her to fear for her life.
The investigating officer detected a strong odor of alcohol on James’ person at the scene. He was very unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. James performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He consented to a blood alcohol test.

He had hoped to be able to start his own in-home research brewery operation , but Alex Seitz has been denied a beer manufacturing permit.
The DeKalb County Beer Board met to act on the application Thursday night. The meeting was covered exclusively by WJLE.
Seitz, who resides on Floyd Drive in Lakeview Mountain Estates, said he would be conducting the brewery primarily for research purposes but small amounts of the byproduct would be bottled and sold to the Calfkiller Brewery in Sparta, a wholesale distributor. Seitz said the brewery would be operated out of his basement and that there would be no retail sales to the public from his home and no signage on the premises. “It technically is a business but it is a research facility. Its science based and will be in incredibly small amounts. It’s like a byproduct of the theoretical yeast fermentation process. I will put it (beer) in champagne bottles and then I’ll load them in my car and take it away. I just want to be able to work with my yeast so that I can actually sell the yeast because a lot of other home breweries and laboratories would want that yeast,” said Seitz in addressing the Beer Board.
While the board voted 3-2 in favor with one member choosing to pass, the application fell one vote short of being approved. For a permit to be granted, four members of the seven member board must vote in the affirmative.
Board members voting in favor were Rhonda Caplinger, Johnny King, and Jim Stagi. Frank Thomas and Leonard Dickens voted against it and Robert Rowe, who presided in the absence of Chairman Edward Frazier, passed.
Dickens and Thomas were apparently concerned about a brewery operating in a residential subdivision. One man who lives in the neighborhood addressed the beer board expressing his opposition. “This is a subdivision restricted solely for residential purposes,” he said. His concern is if one business is allowed, others could follow.
Seitz said he has spoken with some neighbors around him and they are not opposed to his plans.
“The book (law) says the first thing (Seitz must do) to do is register with the State of Tennessee,” said Dickens who cited TCA 57-5-102 which states “Every person, firm, corporation, joint-stock company, syndicate or association in this state engaging in the manufacture or wholesale distribution of beer shall be required to first register its name and address, by mail or in person, at the office of the commissioner of revenue and to receive and keep posted at its usual place of business a certificate of registration bearing a serial number, which serial number shall be assigned to such person, firm, corporation, joint-stock company, syndicate or association in this state by the commissioner. The registration shall be made and certificate of registration received and posted before commencement of any business as described herein,”
In response to Dickens, other board members said before Seitz can register with the state, he must have a permit issued by the county beer board.
As for neighbor complaints, the permit application form states that “DeKalb County has adopted a rule forbidding the sale of beer and like alcoholic beverages within 300 feet of a residential dwelling, if the owner of the dwelling objects to the issuance of a beer permit”. Although a neighbor questioned it, Seitz claims no resident in his neighborhood is within 2,000 feet of his home and no one who may live within 300 feet has yet come forward to voice an objection.
The application form also states that “DeKalb County has adopted a rule forbidding the sale, storage, and manufacture of beer and like beverages within 800 feet of schools, churches, and other places of public gathering”. This would not be an issue in Seitz’s case since no businesses operate in the area.
Beer Board member Caplinger said she had researched the laws and talked with County Attorney Hilton Conger who said the beer board could grant the permit. “He (Conger) said there isn’t anything that says we couldn’t do it,” she said. However, if there are deed restrictions, the homeowners association in the subdivision could try to block it (apparently in the courts). “He can sell it to a wholesaler. People can’t pull up to his door step and go in and buy it but he can ship it off to a distributor. (The law says) he may not sell beer directly to retailers and he’s not. He is selling it to a wholesaler,” said Caplinger.
Meanwhile, the beer board also voted Thursday night to require TBI and FBI criminal background checks of all future applicants for permits. Under T.C.A. § 57-5-103(e), a city or county is authorized to seek criminal history background or fingerprint checks on applicants for beer permits. These criminal background checks may include fingerprint checks against state and federal criminal records maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In other action, the Beer Board voted to accept an application for an on premises permit from Ross Garrett for Edgar Evins Marina-Ship’s Store at 2100 Edgar Evins Park Road, Silver Point in DeKalb County.
The board also accepted an application for an on and off premises permit from Araceli Soto Godinez for Nicoles Market on Short Mountain Highway.
Final action on both applications will be considered at the next meeting in August.

Rocky Top Revue of Franklin won the Square Dancing Competition Saturday during the 44th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival.

Only three square dance teams competed during the preliminaries and all three were scheduled for a return performance during the finals Saturday night but then heavy rains set in forcing a change in plans. The dancers decided to allow their scores in the preliminaries to determine how they would place.
Taking second place was Main Stage Fusion of Springfield and Third Place went to Harpeth River of Franklin.

The Grand Champion Fiddler of the 44th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival is Tyler Andal of White House, Tennessee.
He won the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award Saturday night after the Grand Finale Fiddle-Off between the best Junior and Senior Fiddler.
Andal made it to the fiddle off by winning the Junior Fiddling competition and he won the Grand Championship by beating the winner of the Senior Fiddling contest Gail Johnson of Lavergne.
Due to heavy rains, the contestants were forced to fiddle off under an overhang (eave) on the stage’s storefront background. Instead of three tunes, Andal and Johnson each fiddled only one song, tune of their choice.
Although the Saturday session of the Fiddlers Jamboree got off to slow start with an hour rain delay at the beginning, the event ran smoothly throughout the day until the start of the finals competitions Saturday evening when the rains set in again. The first four categories, all individual dancing events were held as normal, even in the rain. But as the light rain became a downpour, the rest of the finals were held under the stage’s overhang (eave), except for the senior fiddling and square dancing events. Contestants in both categories decided to allow their scores in the preliminaries to determine how they would place. There were only three square dance teams competing in the preliminaries this year.
Winners in the Saturday session of the Fiddler’s Jamboree are as follows:
Junior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages up to 39): First Place-Matthew Campbell of Smyrna; Second Place- Chris Stewart of Lebanon; and Third Place- Hillary Klug of Shelbyville.
Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Tommy Scruggs, Jr. of Hartsville; Second Place- Stanley Reece of Gainesboro; and Third Place- Darrin Stryker of Crossville.
Senior Buck Dancing (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Thomas Maupin of Murfreesboro; Second Place- Tommy Scruggs, Jr. of Hartsville; and Third Place- Eileen Stewart of Tennessee Ridge, Tennessee.
Senior Clogging (Ages 40 & Over): First Place-Sherry Guenther of Monterey; Second Place- Tammy Gay Scruggs of Hartsville; and Third Place- Jeff Yates of Adams, Tennessee.
Bluegrass Banjo: First Place-Joey Gipson of Manchester; Second Place-Kurt Stephenson of Dyersburg; and Third Place- Daniel Amick of Centerville.
Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39): First Place-Tyler Andal of White House, Tennessee; Second Place- Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro; and Third Place- Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro, Tennessee.
Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Daniel Amick of Centerville; Second Place- Tyler Andal of Whitehouse; and Third Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna.
Contest Fiddle (Neil Dudney Award): First Place- Tyler Andal of White House; Second Place- Justin Branum of Nashville; and Third Place- Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro. The Neil Dudney Award was presented to Andal by Dudney’s grandson Ethan Shaw.
Bluegrass Band: First Place- Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band of Signal Mountain; Second Place- Tennessee Bluegrass of Dyersburg; and Third Place- Bluegrass Militia of Hartsville.
Senior Fiddlers ( Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Gail Johnson of Lavergne; Second Place- Billy Brewer of Lyles, Tennessee; and Third Place- Marcia Denton of Murfreesboro
Square Dancing: First Place-Rocky Top Revue of Franklin; Second Place- Main Stage Fusion of Springfield;and Third Place- Harpeth River of Franklin.

Giri Peters of Nashville was crowned the Grand Champion fiddler of the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners at the Fiddlers Jamboree Saturday and won the coveted James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award
(View Video Below)

Sierra Hull, who competed on the Fiddlers Jamboree stage as a child, is now a young adult with a professional career as a singer, songwriter, and musician. But she took time out of her busy schedule to return to the Jamboree stage Saturday afternoon where she performed and was presented the Jamboree’s Blue Blaze Award, which is given to a musician who is actively cultivating a love of bluegrass music. The award was presented by Shan Burklow of the Jamboree Marketing Committee.
Following her performance at the Fiddler’s Jamboree, Hull appeared on the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night.
Hull’s journey began on the stage of the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree at the young age of 9 years old. By age 11, Alison Krauss had called with an invitation to the Opry stage; by 12, Rounder Records was expressing interest (she signed a record deal with Rounder at 13, with her first album released at 16.) She’s also played the White House, Carnegie Hall (twice), the Kennedy Center, traveled around the world sharing her music, and released three albums. Then there’s the fact that Berklee gave her the school’s most prestigious award, the Presidential Scholarship, a first for a bluegrass musician.

“We are honored that Sierra’s humble beginnings started right here on the Jamboree stage and have enjoyed watching her career explode at such a young age,” said Burklow. “She is a remarkable talent and extraordinary person. The core mission of the Blue Blaze Award is to acknowledge a musician that has kept the embers of bluegrass music glowing for future generations to come. We believe that Sierra embodies the heart of this mission.”
“At 9 years old, I stepped on to the stage at the Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree for the first time to play “Jerusalem Ridge”, said Hull, “It was my first contest, and I had only been playing about a year at the time. I didn’t place in the contest, but felt really inspired by all the other kids and musicians I met that day. I immediately looked forward to going back the next year. My dad certainly reminded me that I’d have to work hard if I wanted to place next time. The next year, I went back and won 1st on guitar, which was really exciting, but only 2nd on mandolin. I’ve always thought of myself as a mandolin player first, so I really wanted to win the mandolin contest at least once. It was such a good thing for me as a young kid to enter a contest and lose! It really gave me a boost to work hard for another year. I went back the next year and won both mandolin and guitar! I was so excited. It was also great local exposure with the contest being broadcast on WCTE. After winning – later that year, Gibson gave me my first mandolin endorsement – mostly because Danny Roberts had seen me play at the Jamboree. I couldn’t believe it! I am so honored to be chosen for the Blue Blaze Award this year. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Smithville as a place where some of my fondest memories as a young musician were made,” said Hull.

A Nashville boy won the top Jamboree award Saturday as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners.
Giri Peters was crowned the Grand Champion fiddler 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. Members of the Driver family made the award presentation including Driver’s sons Jim and Mickey Driver and great grandsons Logan Beauchamp, Brandon Turrentine, and Ashton Campbell.
In addition to winning the top fiddler prize, Peters also captured first place in the Dobro Guitar, Mandolin, and Flat Top Guitar competition.
Peters 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- Giri Peters of Nashville; Second Place- Uma Peters of Nashville; and Third Place- Kate Ward of Kuttawa, Kentucky
Buck Dancing: First Place- Isabella McCoy of Brush Creek; Second Place- Kaelin Wade of Paris, Tennessee; and Third Place- Gracie Parrish of Pleasant View
Clogging: First Place- Kaelin Wade of Paris, Tennessee; Second Place- Isabella McCoy of Brush Creek; and Third Place- Lexi Huntley of Loretto.
Dobro Guitar: First Place- Giri Peters of Nashville; Second Place- Maddie McKenney of Cullman, Alabama.
Mandolin: First Place-Giri Peters of Nashville; Second Place-Isabella McCoy of Brush Creek; and Third Place- Evan Morse of Smithville.
Five String Banjo: First Place- Uma Peters of Nashville; Second Place- Lexi Huntley of Loretto; and Third Place- Noah Aikens of Cookeville
Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Giri Peters of Nashville; Second Place- Noah Aikens of Cookeville; and Third Place- Robert Wheeler of Smithville.
The remainder of the day’s on-stage events are as follows:
Preliminaries in the following categories:
*Junior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance (ages up to 39)
*Senior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance ( ages 40 and over)
*Senior Buckdancing (ages 40 and over)
*Senior Clogging (ages 40 and over)
*Bluegrass Banjo
*Junior Fiddlers (ages 13-39)
*Flat Top Guitar
*Contest Fiddle for the Neil Dudney Award
*Bluegrass Band*
*Senior Fiddlers (ages 40 and over)
*Square Dancing (4 Couples-8 Total Dancers).
Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be called back tonight to compete for first, second, and third place.
The winners of the Junior and Senior Fiddling competition will square off for the Grand Champion Award, the Berry C. Williams Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the festival.
WJLE is broadcasting the on-stage entertainment LIVE on AM 1480/ FM 101.7 and LIVE streaming at www.wjle.com.
In addition to music and dancing competitions onstage, the Fiddlers Jamboree also features dozens of crafts displayed along the downtown streets, plenty of delicious foods for sale at local food booths, and lots of shade tree picking under tents around the town square.