Alexandria’s oldest resident, 103 year old Carrie Helen Smith, was the Grand Marshal of Sunday’s Alexandria Christmas Parade.
The parade also featured the DCHS, Gordonsville, and Watertown High School bands among other attractions including the stars of the show, Santa and Mrs. Claus. Many excited Santa fans poured into town to greet them.
Oakley’s Thrift Store won first place among the float entries. Wilson Bank and Trust received second place and third place went to Lovers Lane Neighborhood.
Don Barrett was awarded first place in the vintage automobile category for his 1965 Chevy truck while Paul Johnson received second place for his 1966 Ford F100. Third place went to Randy Murphy for his 1956 Chevy Bel Air.
Cody Hale took first place for best tractor with his 1952 John Deere MT.
M2U02613 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

A group from the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church performed a few Christmas songs at the 303 building Thursday night during Christmas on the Square.
(View Video Below)

A Smithville man who was on probation for attempted especially aggravated kidnapping and theft is going to prison to serve the balance of a ten year sentence.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL- Intakes & Releases From: 12/04/2017 Thru: 12/11/2017)
Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR_51.pdf (2.82 MB)
Judge David Patterson revoked the probation of 23 year old John Thomas Mason following a hearing Friday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
Mason, who was originally charged with especially aggravated kidnapping, has been on probation since he entered a plea by criminal information in April to the lesser offense of attempted especially aggravated kidnapping and theft over $1,000.
In April, Mason received a ten year sentence on the kidnapping charge as a range 1 offender to serve six months of the term with the rest to be served on TDOC probation. Mason got a two year sentence for the theft as a range 1 offender with the term suspended to probation. The sentences are to run concurrently with each other. Mason is to make restitution of $6,246 to one victim and $371.64 to another.
Although Mason was to stay out of trouble and make regular reports to his probation officer, he failed to do either.
A probation officer testified Friday that Mason never reported to her as part of his conditions for release. A deputy also testified that in August he spotted Mason in a vehicle running a stop sign. When he tried to pull him over, Mason failed to stop and sped away. Mason was later arrested and charged in the case for evading arrest and driving on a revoked license.
Mason’s attorney, Gayla Hendrix asked the court for an alternative to incarceration such as Mission Teens but the judge denied the request and ordered that Mason’s probation be revoked.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Monday, December 19, 2016 the Sheriff’s Department received a report of a stolen 2005 Toyota Corolla, valued at $6,000. Two days later, on Wednesday December 21 Mason and a co-defendant, 36 year old Christina Love Johnson were found in possession of the car in Warren County. A further investigation revealed that Mason held a man at gunpoint in the car forcing him to drive to Midway Road and then he took the car at gunpoint. The case against Johnson remains pending in court.

Once again the Christmas season is approaching.
Christmas is a time for love, a time for joy, and a time for family. Not all children this year will take part in a celebration with their own families. Children who have been taken out of abusive or neglectful homes may be sharing Christmas with a family of strangers. Many of these children may wonder if Santa Claus has received their new address and if he will be bringing gifts this year.
There are currently more than 734 children in the Upper Cumberland area who are in state’s custody and approximately 86 of those children are from DeKalb County. These children need your help.
As in years past, your assistance is requested with funds for the DeKalb County Foster Children Fund Account. This account provides assistance to foster and underprivileged children all year. If you or your organization is willing to help provide funds, please contact Annette Greek at 615-597-5023 or make your check payable to the DeKalb County Foster Children Fund and send it to Annette Greek, 1101 South College Street, Smithville Tennessee 37166.

A former log home salesman and minister charged with theft for allegedly taking money from clients who ordered from him and not delivering on the product appeared in DeKalb County Criminal Court Friday.
Judge David Patterson presided.
49 year old Lawton Duane Park, originally indicted for four counts of theft involving two victims, entered a best interest plea Friday to one count of theft over $10,000 (which occurred June 8, 2015) and received a five year sentence but he will be on judicial diversion during that period. Other charges against him are to be dropped. If he abides by all terms and conditions of his probation the case will be dismissed after five years and he may apply for expungement of his record. Under the plea agreement, Park maintains his innocence but he must make restitution of $30,261 to one victim and $31,000 to another.
Park, former operator of Starry Hill Log Homes, was accused of entering into contracts with the victims for the sale of log home kits to be set up at their homes in another state. However after accepting payment for the kits, Park allegedly breached the contracts by failing to produce the products sold.
After the hearing, Park released the following prepared statement:
“I have chosen to enter this “Best Interest” plea for that very reason. It is in the best interest, of my family and I, to bring a resolution to a case that would, potentially, drag on even longer than the two years it already has. I strongly maintain my innocence”.
“As a family we determined not to let the circumstances DEFINE but rather REFINE us. We are grateful to God for His grace during this time. We thank Mr. (Hilton) Conger (Park’s attorney) for his patience and stellar representation and Juliana for her kindness. God is good all the time and Jesus is Lord.”

DeKalb County athletes Cameron Miller and Evan Morse were part of the winning soccer team at the 2017 Challenger Cup Soccer Tournament held December 2-3 in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Miller and Morse played for the Murfreesboro Soccer Club Strikers 2004 team, a premier travel soccer team. Their team placed first in the state in its
division last May, and looks forward to another competitive season this spring.

A great crowd shared in the fun of “Christmas on the Square” Thursday evening downtown Smithville.
Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss, County Mayor Tim Stribling, and Chamber Director Suzanne Williams opened the program with brief welcoming remarks at the 303 building followed by a group of singers from the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church and then the Community Chorus who entertained performing delightful Christmas songs. Behind them was a LIVE nativity (no animals) by the Smithville Nazarene Youth and the cast of Steel Magnolias made an appearance. Inside the building was a festival of decorated and lighted Christmas trees provided by local businesses and other organizations..
After the entertainment, county officials and their employees greeted visitors at the courthouse and served refreshments and a free photo booth was available with holiday music provided by the City of Smithville.
The DeKalb Animal Shelter held an Adopt-A-Pet event at the Coalition’s Restore on Walnut Street giving folks a chance to have a pet of their own or as a gift in time for the holidays
Children got a chance to visit with Santa at Justin Potter Library and to make their own Christmas ornament to take home.
Several stores also stayed open extended hours to accommodate holiday shoppers.