Austin Merriman and Lakelyn Brooke Nelson were crowned Little Mister and Miss at the DeKalb County Fair Tuesday night.
Merriman, who was also named Mister Manners, is the 6 year old son of Joyce and Jake Merriman of Smithville. Nelson is the 5 year old daughter of Dustin and Kristian Nelson of Smithville.
They succeed the 2015 Little Mister and Miss, Levi Hamilton Cripps and Ella Grace Kirksey. Cripps is the 6 year old son of Kevin and Liz Cripps of Alexandria. Kirksey is the 5 year old daughter of Graden and Sabrina Kirksey of Smithville.
First runner-up in the Little Miss contest was Cora Marie Cox, the 5 year old daughter of Brandon and Whitney Cox of Smithville.
Second runner-up was Caitlyn Lee Adcock, the 5 year old daughter of Jessie and Tia Adcock of Smithville.
Annabelle Merriman was third runner-up. She is the 5 year old daughter of Joyce and Jake Merriman of Smithville. She was also named Miss Congeniality.
Kenna Blythe Sykes, the 5 year old daughter of Jennifer and Robbie Sykes of Smithville, was fourth runner-up.
Meanwhile, Emily Danielle Johnson, the 5 year old daughter of Clint and DeDe Johnson of Smithville, was named Little Miss Photogenic.
Others in the top ten were Madison Bogle of Dowelltown, 6 year old daughter of Holly Owen and Travis Bogle; Haiden Robinson of Smithville, 6 year old daughter of Melissa Boehm and Chip Robinson; Layla Jayde Dedmon of Smithville, 4 year old daughter of Misty Dedmon; Alexis Nicole Graham of Smithville, 4 year old daughter of Derek and Andria Graham; and Charley Loren Prichard of Liberty, 4 year old daughter of Andy and Chrissy Prichard.
Remaining contestants were Heaven Grace Farris of Smithville, 5 year old daughter of Jessica Guess and Jimmy Vaughn; Tanisha L. Owens of Smithville, 6 year old daughter of Julia Owens; Savannah Faith Stibil of Smithville, 6 year old daughter of John and Glenda Stibil; Shelby Jean Elam of Sparta, 6 year old daughter of Andrew and Bethany Elam; Brylee Michelle Key of Alexandria, 4 year old daughter of Shannon and Holly Key; Paizlee Dae Taylor of Smithville, 4 year old daughter of David and Susan Taylor; Hannah Lynnlee Hubner of Lebanon, 4 year old daughter of Charles Hubner and Amanda Hutchinson; Emily Grace Roberts of Liberty, 4 year old daughter of Kevin and Tonya Roberts; Mia Nicole Hall of Alexandria, 5 year old daughter of Bradley and Lacy Hall; and Lyra Dell McMinn of Smithville, 4 year old daughter of Nathan and Amanda McMinn.
First runner-up in the Little Mister contest was Collin Lee Hale, the 5 year old son of Austin and Kimberly Hale of Smithville.
Four year old Caysen Josiah Hale was second runner-up. He is the 4 year old son of Austin and Kimberly Hale of Smithville.
Third runner-up was Zailan Martinez, the 4 year old son of Michelle Martinez and Michael Martinez of Smithville.
Fourth runner-up went to Justice O’Fallon Nokes, 5 year old son of Toby and Jamie Nokes of Smithville.
Six year old Jaxsen Theryn Speaks of Smithville was named Little Mister Photogenic. He is the 6 year old son of Justin and Donna Speaks.
Others in the contest were 4 year old Emmitt Hale of Smithville. His grandmother is Candy Hale; 4 year old Cain Hall of Smithville; and Joseph Wayne Jenkins, Jr. of Smithville, the 5 year old son of Rachel and Michael Lawrence.

National Miss Teen Tennessee, Morgan Faith Green, 16, of Smithville will compete for the title of National Miss Teen 2016 on July 27 and 28, 2016 at the Music Road Resort. Pigeon Forge, TN. Miss Morgan Faith Green is the daughter of Jon and Suzanne Harrison. She attends DeKalb County High School and is a member of “Crowns for a Cause” which is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people in need. Morgan brings awareness to her platform, which is “improving the health and wellbeing of children”, by spending time at the Ronald McDonald House. Morgan is competing for a Presidential Community Service Award by completing a minimum of 100hrs of community service.
Morgan would like to thank her sponsors. Her sponsors for the pageant are Auto Hut, B & G Supply Company, Brittany West and family, D& S Special Tees, DeKalb County Florist, DeKalb Funeral Chapel, Florence & White Ford, Judge Bratten Cook II, Tammy Stevens, and last but not least family and friends.

18 year old Bethany Brooke Poss is the 2016 Fairest of the Fair.
Poss, daughter of John and Lori Poss of Smithville won the crown Monday evening during the annual pageant held on opening night of the DeKalb County Fair in Alexandria.
Five contestants competed for the title.
The new queen succeeds last year’s winner, 20 year old Kaylee Shannon Cantrell, the daughter of Shannon and Tonya Cantrell of Smithville.
17 year old Tyra Grace Graham of Smithville was named first runner-up and Miss Photogenic. She is the daughter of Kyle and Doris Graham.
Second runner-up was Shauna Faith Taylor, the 20 year old daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor of Smithville. She was also named Miss Congeniality.
Third runner-up went to Hannah Renea Walker, the 17 year old daughter of Scott and Misty Walker of Smithville.
17 year old Destiny Danielle Franklin was fourth runner-up. She is the daughter of Jennifer Ware of Smithville

The 2016 Junior Fair Princess of the DeKalb County Fair is 15 year old Abigail Hope Taylor, the daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor of Smithville.
Taylor, who was also named Miss Photogenic, was among eight young ladies ages 13-16 who competed for the crown on the opening night of the DeKalb County Fair Monday.
She succeeds the 2015 Junior Fair Princess, 15 year old Addison Grace Oakley, the daughter of Clark and Lisa Oakley of Liberty.
The first runner-up was Sarah Anne Colwell, the 15 year old daughter of Trent and Christie Colwell of Smithville.
Second runner-up was Ellisyn Kelsey Cripps, the 13 year old daughter of Troy and Jamie Cripps of Smithville.
Shaunta Rose Koegler was third runner-up. She is the 15 year old daughter of Brian and Leticia Koegler of Smithville
The fourth runner-up was Madison Rae Rackley, the 13 year old daughter of Gordon and Jessica Rackley of Smithville.
The title of Miss Congeniality went to 13 year old Monica Mashay Carlton of Smithville, the 13 year old daughter of Leroy and Amanda Hale and Travis and Toni Carlton
Two others were in the pageant, Alexis Grace Atnip, the 13 year old daughter of Veronica Atnip of Smithville; and Lacey Jade McMillen, the 13 year old daughter of Chris and Kristina McMillen of Alexandria.

An annual prayer for our schools observance will be held Sunday, July 31 at Northside Elementary School starting at 2 p.m.
Parents, church leaders, educators, and community leaders are invited to attend this special “BACK 2 SCHOOL -CALL 2 PRAYER” gathering. Information from the past year and projections related to the new school year will be presented.
The prayer service has become an annual event conducted by local pastors and youth pastors offering prayers for each school in DeKalb County and for school sponsored activities. A special prayer will be offered for our law enforcement agencies.
This year, instead of a closing prayer, those present will be asked to go to the geographical location of each school and pray. A prayer of blessing and protection will be offered for the students and faculty for the school year .
For more information please call Donnie Kelly 931-260-1763 or Graden Kirksey at 931-260-9297

A Cookeville man believed to be responsible for recent thefts and burglaries was arrested last week by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
20 year old Tyler Johnston Arnett of Cookeville is charged with public intoxication, two counts of burglary, two counts of theft of property under $500, and one count of theft of property over $1,000. His bond is $21,500 and he will make a court appearance on July 21.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday, July 12 a deputy was dispatched to the Pine Grove Subdivision where a vehicle was observed parked in the road. Upon arrival, the officer found an abandoned 2000 GMC dual wheel truck in the road with the head lights on. During the investigation, the sheriff’s department received another call in the same area where a resident suspected someone had been in his vehicle. Arnett was later spotted by a deputy riding a pink and purple bicycle in the neighborhood. After stopping him and checking further, the officer discovered that Arnett had allegedly stolen both the bike and the truck (valued at $3,500) and had broken into another vehicle, taking a brown tri-fold wallet containing a JC Penny card, a Chase Mastercard, a Sears card, and a BP gas card. Arnett was believed to have been under the influence of an intoxicant. He was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. Arnett told the officer that he did not know where he was or where he had been. Meanwhile, other people in the area reported being suspicious of someone having been in their vehicles but nothing was missing. The burglaries and thefts were investigated by a Sheriff’s Department Detective. A deputy arrested Arnett on the public intoxication charge.
33 year old Jonathan Kyle McCormick of E.H. Haas Road, Dowelltown is cited for roadways laned for traffic and he has two citations against him for simple possession of a schedule II drug. His court date is August 25. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, July 15 a detective pulled over a 1999 Toyota Camry on Midway Road for a traffic offense and found that the driver, McCormick had on him a small baggie containing less than a gram of methamphetamine and a morphine pill.
37 year old Pedro Paulin is charged with driving under the influence. He was further cited for failure to carry registration, no insurance, no driver license, driving on roadways laned for travel, and violation of the implied consent law. His bond is $1,500. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, July 16 a deputy responded to a reckless driver call on McMinnville Highway and spotted a red Ford F150 traveling north on Highway 56 and swerving in and out of his lane of traffic. The officer stopped the truck and found the driver, Paulin to have a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. His eyes were bloodshot and he was unsteady on his feet. Paulin had an empty can of Natural Ice beer laying on the back floor board of his truck. Field sobriety tasks could not be given due to a language barrier and Paulin refused to submit to a blood test. He was placed under arrest.
26 year old Patrick Jerome Murphy of Highland Street, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is August 18. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, July 12 a deputy and detective went to Murphy’s home to conduct a probation search and found 2.5 grams of methamphetamine in the home.

The DeKalb County 7-9 year old Girls Coach Pitch All Stars claimed the Championship of the Tennessee Youth Baseball Association Sunday in Murfreesboro. They competed in the TYBA’s 7-9 year old Girls Coach Pitch Open State Championship.
DeKalb County defeated the Christiana Diamond Queens 11 to 1 in the Championship Game on Sunday after first beating Unionville 11 to 4 in the Semi-Finals earlier in the afternoon.
The local team began tournament play on Friday with an 11 to 5 win over Unionville and then played two games on Saturday, beating Christiana 8 to 5 and Adrenaline 13 to 1.

A portrait of World War I soldier James Marlie Foutch from DeKalb County will soon be on display at the Smithville City Hall.
The painting was presented to Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss during the Foutch family reunion held Sunday at city hall, donated by Dan Foutch of Knoxville, a nephew of Marlie Foutch.
Private Foutch, a member of Company E, 117th Infantry, 30th Division of the United States Army, died with honor in the service of his country in October, 1918 at the age of 23 after being wounded in action during a battle near Bellicourt, France. He is buried in the Somme American Cemetery in Bony, France.
Foutch was born in 1895 in the Holmes Creek community of DeKalb County, now covered by Center Hill Lake.
After being called to serve his country in 1917, Foutch went to Camp Sevier at Greenville South Carolina for his training. “His Division was made up of young men from Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina. They named themselves “Old Hickory” because of the three states’ connections with Andrew Jackson. Marlie left the United States on May 19, 1917 and arrived in Europe on May 23, 1917,” said Billie Foutch Breedlove, Marlie’s niece and author of the book “Foutch Footprints Across the United States of America”.
After his death, Private Foutch was first buried in a churchyard cemetery near Bony, France. His body was later disinterred and buried on June 4, 1919 in a temporary cemetery established by the American Graves Registration Service. After World War I, Foutch’s remains were moved to his final resting place in the Somme American Cemetery in Bony, France.
According to Breedlove, the painting of Private Foutch was produced years after his death. “The painting was done after his death and after World War I. Its a painting done from a small picture of him. At the time, the government had painters to produce these portraits of fallen soldiers for families who wanted to purchase them. My grandmother paid for that painting and it was done sometime in the latter part of the 1920’s. When I was a little girl, I thought it (portrait) was my daddy because it looked so much like him. She (grandmother) kept this painting setting on the floor across the corner in her parlor, she said.
Although she never met him, Breedlove said she visited her uncle’s gravesite during a trip to France in 1997. “I was always taught about him and it was a desire of mine as I got older to go to France and visit his grave. As far as I know, I am the only family member who has ever been there and visited the grave. It was really a wonderful experience for me to do that,” said Breedlove.
Dan Foutch, the owner of the portrait, said his desire was for the painting to be hung in DeKalb County for the public and family members to enjoy and is thankful to Mayor Poss for allowing it to be placed on public display at City Hall.

The DeKalb County Fair begins its annual weeklong run Monday through Saturday, July 18-23
This year marks the 160th edition of the Grandpa Fair of the South.
Fair events each night are as follows:
Monday, July 18: Cattle Show at the Grandstand at 6:00 p.m.; Bullwhip Rodeo at the T.C. McMillen Arena at 7:30 p.m.; Junior Fair Princess Pageant for contestants ages 13-16 at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Fairest of the Fair Pageant for contestants ages 17 to 20 at the Lions Club Pavilion; Lip Sync Battle Round 1; and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 19: Little Mr. and Miss Pageant for contestants ages 4-6 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion; Corn hole Contest at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; Championship Wrestling at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 20: Snow Bird from 5-7 p.m.; Little Miss Princess Pageant for contestants ages 7-9 at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Miss Sweetheart Pageant for those ages 10-12 at the Lions Club Pavilion; Go Cart Racing at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; Kiddie Tractor Pull at the Grandstand at 6:00 p.m. ; and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 21: Senior Day at 9 a.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion; Junior Goat Show at 6:00 p.m. at the Tot Kelly Barn; Baby Show at 6:00 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion followed by a Vintage Variety Show; ATV/Motorcycle Racing at 6:30 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Friday, July 22: Toddler Show for contestants 13 months to 48 months at 6:00 p.m. followed by Lip Sync Battle Finale at the Lions Club Pavilion: ATV/Mini-Rod/Outlaw Pull at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 23: Horseshoe Tournament at the Tot Kelly barn at Noon.; Gospel Singing at the Lions Club Pavilion at 5:00 p.m.; Super Tractor and Truck Pull at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena: and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Take a stroll down Memory Lane and enjoy nightly entertainment at the Memory Lane Stage in Memory Village.
Rides on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company. Unlimited rides will be available for $15.00 on Monday night; $16.00 on Tuesday night; $14.00 on Wednesday and $18.00 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Admission to the fair is $4.00 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. The exhibit building is open from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Parking is Free!
For more information, call 615-529-FAIR or visit on-line at www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com.

A total of 277 people have cast ballots during the first five days of early voting for the August 4 elections.
Forty five voted in person Wednesday and ten were voted at the nursing home.
That brings the five day total to 253 who have voted in person, 14 by absentee, and 10 at the nursing home
The vote totals in each election are as follows:
Tennessee Democratic Primary: 115 (total)
Tennessee Republican Primary: 133 (total)
DeKalb County General Election Only: 29 (total)
Smithville Municipal Election: 115 plus 43 property rights voters for a total of 158
Dowelltown Municipal Election: 0
Liberty Municipal Election: 1
Early voting runs through July 30 on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse. Hours are Mondays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until Noon. Five elections are set for August 4—the DeKalb County General Election, the Tennessee Republican and Democratic Primaries, and city elections in Smithville, Liberty and Dowelltown.