Smithville Area Local News

Kentucky Man Overall Winner in Fiddler 5K

Dwayne Page — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:12:30 -0500

34 year old Christopher England of Murray, Kentucky was the overall winner of the 2008 Fiddler 5K race held Saturday morning in Smithville.

England completed the 5K in 16 minutes and 30 seconds, a new record, beating the old course record by 33 seconds.

Meanwhile, 17 year old Sara Tarashima of Richmond, Indiana was the top overall female, with a time of 21 minutes and 46 seconds.

20 year old Lee Davis of Birmingham, Alabama had the overall best time in the One-Mile Fun Run, at 7 minutes and 29 seconds.

In the age group, 12 and younger, 7 year old Ethan Jenkins of Smithville had the best time of 9 minutes and 23 seconds in the One Mile Fun Run, followed in second place by Bill Miller of Smithville, and Daniel Puckett of Smithville, who came in third place

A total of 277 runners competed in this year's Fiddler 5K and One Mile Fun Run, also a new record.

Indiana Boy Wins Jamboree Fiddling Championship for Beginners

Dwayne Page — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:07:58 -0500

An Indiana boy took home this year's top Jamboree award as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners.

Cole McCracken of Fredricksburg, Indiana was crowned the Grand Champion fiddler Saturday 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.

Meanwhile Grant Rigney of Normandy, Tennessee 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:

Eric Vick Named Grand Champion Fiddler of 37th Jamboree

Dwayne Page — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:51:53 -0500

The Grand Champion Fiddler of the 37th annual Smithville Fiddler's Jamboree and Crafts Festival is Eric Vick of Lyles, Tennessee.

Vick won the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award Saturday night after the Grand Finale Fiddle-Off between the best Junior and Senior Fiddler.

Vick 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 and defending champion from last year, Ped Scruggs of Hartsville.

The two day festival came to a close at 11:00 p.m. Saturday night.

Other winners in the Saturday session of the Fiddler's Jamboree are as follows:

Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39): First Place- Eric Vick of Lyles, Tennessee; Second Place- Gailanne Amundsen of Longwood, Florida; and Third Place- Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro

Local Civic Leader Honored at Fiddler's Jamboree

Dwayne Page — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:37:02 -0500

The 37th annual Smithville Fiddler's Jamboree & Crafts Festival is underway. It began around 8:30 a.m. today (Friday) with welcoming remarks by local government and civic leaders.

County Mayor Mike Foster made a special presentation to Jimmy Walls for his service to the community.

The plaque presented to Walls reads " In appreciation for your life long service and dedication to Smithville and DeKalb County. We applaud your leadership, your courage, and your fortitude. Your contributions to this community have been a glowing example for all to see and admire. You have always set standards for excellence. We appreciate you very much. Presented by the DeKalb County Mayor and Commission and on behalf of Smithville"

The DeKalb County Commission, last month, recognized Mr. Walls.

Fiddler's Jamboree Presents Craft Awards

Dwayne Page — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:48:51 -0500

Fiddler's Jamboree Craft awards were presented Friday.

Nolan and Susan Pazin of Baxter received the "Best of Show" award for their wood working crafts.

The "Best Appalachian Craft Award" went to Ron Hyndman of Mount Juliet for his gourds.

Jared Weaver of Lenior City was the recipient of the "Best Newcomer Award" for his dulcimers

The "Best of Display Booth" award went to Darren Jenkins of Trade, Tennessee for his birdhouses.

(Click on picture to see larger image) Look for pictures of other Jamboree craft winners on our special Jamboree picture page.

Senator Beavers Presents Flags to Jamboree Visitors from Australia and California

Dwayne Page — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:33:02 -0500

State Senator Mae Beavers presented a United States flag to Lee Ann Sufann from Australia and a Tennessee State flag to Allen Roark from San Jose, California during the Fiddler's Jamboree on Friday night

The flags go to the persons who travel the greatest distances, both from inside and outside the country, to get here. (Click on picture to see larger image)

Except for an hour rain delay Friday afternoon, the first day of the 37th annual Smithville Fiddler's Jamboree and Crafts Festival ran non-stop from about 8:30 a.m. until 11:22 p.m. Friday night.

Preliminaries were held in fifteen categories of music and dance competition followed by the finals featuring the top three acts in each event.

The following are the winners in each category:

Old Time Appalachian Folk Singing (Solo/Duet): First Place- Gailanne Amundsen of Longwood, Florida; Second Place- Bailey Cooke of Nashville; and Third Place- Sierra Tomlin of Springfield.

18 Year Old Dies in ATV Accident

Dwayne Page — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:04:43 -0500

An 18 year old Sparta man died in an ATV accident on Indian Mound Road Wednesday evening in DeKalb County.

Dead is Jacob Cole.

Trooper Mark Jones of the Tennessee Highway Patrol reports that Cole was traveling east when the ATV left the road to the right and struck a tree, ejecting him. Cole was wearing a helmet.

DeKalb EMS was summoned to the scene and later an Air Evac Helicopter ambulance but Cole apparently died before he could be airlifted.

Central dispatch had received a call at 6:42 p.m. of an ATV driving at a high rate of speed on Indian Mound Road. A county officer, who went to the area, apparently discovered the accident and requested that EMS be dispatched to the scene. Air Evac arrived at 7:47 p.m.

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department and the Cookeville Highway Station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department also responded.

Two More Businesses Awarded Thursday in "Project Welcome Mat"

Dwayne Page — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:23:32 -0500

Liberty State Bank and Sunbelt Realty were awarded for their participation in "Project Welcome Mat" Thursday.

Liberty State Bank won the "People's Choice" award for their two sided sign. On one side the sign reads "Make your day a Fiddler's Quest, Come join the Music, Fun & Fest." The other side of the sign reads " Wanna feel like you're in Heaven? Come join us at the Fiddler's Jamboree # 37"

The award for "Most Original" went to Sunbelt Realty for their sign " We hear U Fiddler's are Cloggin n Kickin' to git to Smithville to do ur Pickin'."

"Project Welcome Mat" is an effort by the Chamber of Commerce to ensure that our Jamboree visitors feel welcome. The Chamber would like to express gratefulness to the busineses and schools that used their signs to promote tourism and to show hospitality to people visiting DeKalb County.