Members of the DeKalb County Republican Party met Saturday morning at the courthouse to elect officers to serve for the next two years.
Local attorney Mingy Colwell Bryant was elected Chairman of the Party.
Other officers are Vice Chairman Clint Hall, Secretary Sharon Rhoten, Treasurer Tom Chandler, and Assistant Treasurer Dustin Estes. The new officers were nominated as a group and elected by acclamation with no other names placed in nomination.
Bryant thanked the party faithful for the confidence and trust they have placed in her to lead the local GOP. “I greatly appreciate this opportunity. I consider it a great honor. We have a lot of new and innovative ideas. We have a great board. We have new members as well as members who have been on for a while which is going to guide us and keep us on the right track. A lot of people, and I’ve seen the Democratic Party do this, they will say our goal and job is to grow our party. Well our party is big. Our party, I think is a really good size, we just need more involvement from our party. We need more structure to where we all stand together not only at the state level but also at the local level. We need more people to stand up. One person by their self will just drift away but if we can get together as a group, we can make a change. We can get the bills passed that we want passed. We just have to stand together and have our voices heard and not just wait and hope somebody else takes that torch. Thank you for all your support,” she said.
Last year Bryant ran for General Sessions Judge.
State Senator Mae Beavers and State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Mark Pody attended the meeting and spoke briefly on issues before the general assembly. Jennifer Winfree, State Committee Woman and former DeKalb Party Chairman was also recognized along with local elected Republican officials Sheriff Patrick Ray, Trustee Sean Driver, Road Supervisor Butch Agee, and Fifth District County Commissioner Jerry Adcock.

Three people were seriously injured in a two vehicle crash Saturday on Highway 56 south near Evins Mill Nursery.
Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 22 year old Michael Quinton McKinley of McMinnville was traveling north in a 1997 Ford F150 when the truck went off the right side of the highway. McKinley overcorrected and his truck then crossed the center line and made an angle impact with a southbound 1977 Ford pickup , driven by 43 year old Timmy Hendrixson of Smithville.
Hendrixson was ejected from his truck. McKinley was trapped in his pickup. Both were seriously hurt along with a 17 year old McMinnville boy who was a passenger with McKinley.
Members of the DeKalb County Fire Department’s Extrication Team were summoned to help free McKinley from the wreckage.
According to Trooper Johnson, McKinley was transported by DeKalb EMS to Vanderbilt Hospital. The 17 year old boy was taken by EMS to the Smithville Municipal Airport where he was airlifted by a helicopter ambulance and flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. DeKalb EMS took Hendrixson to Cookeville Regional Medical Center.
Sergeants Eric McCormick and Jimmy Jones assisted Trooper Johnson with the crash investigation. Charges are pending.

Tyra Grace Graham is the first ever Miss Spring Blossom.
Graham, the 16 year old daughter of Kyle and Doris Graham of Smithville, won the inaugural pageant held Saturday at DCHS sponsored by the Smithville Women’s Club. She was also named Miss Photogenic.
First runner-up went to Destiny Danielle Franklin, the 15 year old daughter of Jennifer Ware of Smithville.
Victoria Vincent was second runner-up. She is the 18 year old daughter of Darrin and Julie Vincent of Smithville. Vincent was also selected Miss Personality.
The pageant featured three contestants ages 15-18.

The winner of the Little Miss Pageant Saturday was Ella Grace Kirksey, the four year old daughter of Graden and Sabrina Kirksey of Smithville.
Kirksey, who also won the title of Little Miss Photogenic, succeeds the retiring Little Miss, Averie Nicole McMinn, the seven year old daughter of Nathan and Amanda McMinn of Dowelltown.
Fourteen girls, ages four to six, were in the pageant held at DCHS sponsored by the Smithville Women’s Club.
Runners-up in the pageant are as follows:
First runner-up: Leah Elisabeth Trapp, the six year old daughter of Jeremy and Jenny Trapp of Smithville.
Second runner-up: Zayleigh Grace Washer, the six year old daughter of Larry and Rachel Bain of Smithville.
Third runner-up: Kaydence Shontae Johnson, the five year old daughter of Jeremy Ashburn and Trista Johnson of Smithville.
Fourth runner-up: Lakelyn Brooke Nelson, the four year old daughter of Dustin and Kristian Nelson of Smithville.
Little Miss Personality: Savannah Faith Stibil, the four year old daughter of John and Glenda Stibil of Smithville
Rounding out the top ten were McKenna Reece Miller, the six year old daughter of Charles and Christen Cox and David Miller of Smithville; Lillie Grace Young, the five year old daughter of Michael and Crystal Young of Smithville; Karah Ford, the four year old daughter of Amanda Jo Ford of Dowelltown; Kaylyn Isabelle Prichard, the five year old daughter of Andy and Chrissy Prichard of Liberty; and Ava Layne Steff, the five year old daughter of Mark and Renee Steff of Smithville.
Other participants were McKenzie Nicole Hunt, the five year old daughter of Randall and Christy Hunt of Smithville; Kaylee Garrett, the four year old daughter of Monya and Justin Garrett of Smithville; and Graciella Marie Johnson, the four year old daughter of David and Patricia Johnson of Dowelltown.

Five year old Jaxsen Theryn Speaks is the 2015 Little Mister.
Speaks, the son of Justin and Donna Speaks of Smithville, succeeds last year’s Little Mister,
Skyler Chase Sullivan, the seven year old son of Charity Sullivan of Smithville and the late Jamie Sullivan.
The contest, featuring three boys, was held Saturday at DCHS sponsored by the Smithville Women’s Club.
In addition to being named Little Mister, Speaks also received the Mister Photogenic honor.
Abram James Koegler was first runner-up in the pageant. He is the five year old son of Brian and Leticia Koegler of Smithville.
Second runner-up was Eli Lackey, the six year old son of Retta Lackey and Jason Lackey of Smithville. He was also named Mister Personality.

The 2015 Young Miss of the Smithville Women’s Club’s Spring Blossom Pageant is seven year old Isabella Faith Rackley.
Daughter of Gordon and Jessica Rackley of Smithville, Isabella beat out nine other girls ages seven to nine for the crown. She succeeds last year’s Young Miss Carlee Elizabeth West, the nine t year old daughter of D.J. and Megan Stewart of Smithville.
First Runner-up and Miss Photogenic in the pageant was Annabella Eleni Dakas, the eight year old daughter of John and Mandy Dakas of Smithville.
Second Runner-up: Savanna Hope Murphy, the eight year old daughter of Brian and Stephanie Leist of Smithville.
Third Runner-up: Averie Nicole McMinn, the seven year old daughter of Nathan and Amanda McMinn of Dowelltown.
Fourth Runner-up: Kenlee Renae Taylor, the nine year old daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor of Smithville
Miss Personality: Jakayta Odom, the seven year old daughter of Rebecca Waggoner
Other contestants were Kortnee Ann Marie Skeen, the nine year old daughter of Tim and Andrea Littleton and Charles Skeen of Liberty; Allyson Roxanne Fuller, the nine year old daughter of Anthony and Amanda Fuller of Smithville; Makinzy Jenkins, the eight year old daughter of Wallace Rackley and niece of Maranda Washer of Smithville; and Layla Lynn Walker, the nine year old daughter of Edward and Penny Walker of Smithville.

Fourteen year old Sarah Anne Colwell is the new Teen Miss of the Spring Blossom Pageant. She won the crown Saturday at DCHS.
Colwell, daughter of Trent and Christie Colwell of Smithville, succeeds the retiring queen Morgan Faith Green, the fifteen year old daughter of Suzanne and Jon Harrison of Smithville.
Five girls were in the contest.
First Runner-up and Miss Photogenic went to Abigail Hope Taylor, the 14 year old daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor of Smithville.
Shelby Maylee Sprague was Second Runner-up. She is the 13 year old daughter of Jimmy and Johnna Sprague of Smithville.
Shaunta Rose Koegler, daughter of Brian and Leticia Koegler of Smithville was Third Runner-up.
Fourth Runner-up and Miss Personality went to Carrie Mooneyham, the 13 year old daughter of Dori Keith and the late Billy Mooneyham and Curtis and Stephanie Bone of Smithville

Twelve year old Alexis Grace Atnip won Junior Miss of the Spring Blossom Pageant Saturday at DCHS.
She is the 12 year old daughter of Veronica Atnip of Smithville
Four girls were in the contest sponsored by the Smithville Women’s Club.
Last year’s winner was Shaunta Rose Koegler, the 13 year old daughter of Brian and Leticia Koegler of Smithville
Madison Rae Rackley was the first runner-up and Miss Photogenic. She is the 11 year old daughter of Gordon and Jessica Rackley of Smithville.
Hannah Paige Trapp was named second runner-up and Miss Personality. She is the 10 year old daughter of Jeremy and Jenny Trapp of Smithville.
Third runner-up went to Courtney London, the 10 year old daughter of Jeff and Dana London of Smithville.