Local News Articles

Annual Sales Tax Holiday Returns August 3-5

Governor Phil Bredesen and Department of Revenue officials remind you that the second annual Sales Tax Holiday begins this Friday, August 3, at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, August 5, at 11:59 p.m.

This holiday provides statewide sales tax exemption for school and art
supplies and clothing priced $100 or less per item and computers priced
$1,500 or less. This is the first holiday that art supplies will be
exempt, which includes clay and glazes; tempera and oil paints;
paintbrushes for artwork; sketch and drawing pads; and watercolors.
Please visit the dedicated Sales Tax Holiday Web site at
www.tntaxholiday.com ( http://www.tntaxholiday.com/ ) to learn more
about what items are exempt from sales taxes.

“This holiday is another way we can show our commitment to Tennessee
families and their children’s education,” said Governor Bredesen.
“Our Sales Tax Holiday not only helps families save on their

Second Annual Education Celebration Set for Monday

The Second Annual Education Celebration for DeKalb County has been set for August 6th from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. downtown around the courthouse square.

The celebration is being organized by DeKalb County Board of Education Federal Programs Supervisor Michelle Burklow along with committee members Jennifer Mitchell, Angela Johnson, Pamela Poss, Suzette Barnes, Gina Denman, Melissa Pirtle, and Jamie Vickers.

This Education Celebration is nationally known as First Day of School America and is held annually in a lot of the bigger cities in the United States. Since 1997 the First Day Foundation organization has been assisting schools, families and communities to come together for a celebration on the First Day of each new school year to support education and begin a year-long partnership to promote student success. This is also a time that parents and students can become more familiar with the faculty, staff and PTO of the school that they are entering.

Traffic Stop Results in Three Drug Arrests

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department made a traffic stop last Wednesday which led to the arrest of three people on drug charges.

Sheriff Patrick Ray says 28 year old Donald Bart of Old Eagle Creek Road Smithville was pulled over on Highway 70 East for a traffic violation and when the deputy asked who he was, Bart gave a fictitious name. Upon further investigation, the deputy learned the man's real identity. Bart said he gave the deputy a fictitious name because he was wanted in Texas. Bart was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after the deputy found a syringe in Bart's belt line.

Meanwhile, 52 year old Thomas Pavone of Old Eagle Creek Road, Smithville was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and 32 year old Tracy Schunke of Foster Road Smithville was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession of a schedule II drug (Dilaudid).

Both Pavone and Schunke were in the vehicle with Bart.

DeKalb County Fair Draws to Close Saturday Night

If you haven't been to the DeKalb County Fair this week, today (Saturday) is your last chance.

The week long fair will draw to a close late tonight.

Today's events are as follows:

A performance of the DCHS Band at 5:00 p.m.; DeKalb Idol Final Competition at 6:00 p.m. followed by a performance by Joanie Compretta at the Lions Club Pavilion; a Horse Shoe Tournament at 3:00 p.m. at the barn; and a Super Tractor and Truck Pull at 7:00 p.m. at the Hilltop Arena. On the Memory Lane Stage, Southern Dream will be performing at 8:00 p.m. The Sympathetic Scarecrow Band, which was scheduled to perform, will be unable to attend.

There will be no cash drawing tonight. All the prize money has been given away.

Rides on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company. Unlimited rides will be available for $14.00.

The fair will feature lots of delicious foods and many commercial, agricultural, and women's exhibits.

Toddler Show Winners Awarded at DeKalb County Fair

Winners of the annual Toddler Show were awarded Friday evening at the DeKalb County Fair.

The winners are as follows:

Girls (13 to 18 months)
First Place- Bella Nicole Moser, daughter of Tyson Moser and Melissa Higgins of Smithville
Second Place- Grace Boyd, daughter of Leslie and James Boyd of Smithville

Boys (13 to 18 months)
First Place- Tony Bryson Trapp, son of Amanda and Tony Trapp of Smithville
Second Place- Kaden Trapp, son of Melissa Hart and Nathan Trapp of Smithville

Girls (19 to 24 months)
First Place- Lydia Grace Johnson, daughter of Jason and Crystal Johnson of Smithville
Second Place- Tacoma Nicole Maples, daughter of Bruce and Shondrell Maples of Rock Island

Boys (19 to 24 months)
First Place- Briz Trapp, II, son of Brad and Kim Trapp of Smithville..
Second place- Coen Edward Pipes, son of Jimmy and Brandy Pipes of Brush Creek.

Girls (25 to 30 months)
First Place- Harlee Rae Stanley, daughter of Chris and Dana Stanley of Liberty

Smithville Police Deal with Despondent Man on Green Acre Drive

Smithville Police this week were summoned to a residence on Green Acre Drive where a man was reportedly despondent and suicidal.

Chief Tom Stufano says "Officers were advised that a despondent man was held up in his residence located at 224 Green Acre Drive in Smithville. 911 dispatchers had received a call from another address on the street that a man was claiming that he was suicidal and would hurt anyone responding. Numerous calls were made back to the original phone number but the resident there stated that the man had left and gone back to his residence."

DeKalb County Fair Features Baby Show

Babies from one day to twelve months old were showcased during the annual Baby Show held Thursday evening at the DeKalb County Fair.

The winners are as follows:

Girls (1 day to 3 months)
First Place- Kaitlyn Brooke Summers, daughter of Alisha Root and Matt Summers of Smithville.
Second Place- Madison Gale Byars, daughter of Amy Walker and Cody Byars of Smithville

Boys (1 day to 3 months)
First Place- Jacob Ryan Lawson, son of Tim and Christy Lawson of Smithville
Second Place- Savory Ike Brown, son of Elizabeth Hutson and Matthew Brown of Smithville

Girls (4-6 months)
First Place- Katherine Irene Knowles, daughter of Jared and Karen Knowles of Smithville
Second Place- Addison Grace Miller, daughter of Josh and Amy Miller of Smithville.

Boys (4-6 months)
First Place- Robert Zaxton Grandstaff, son of Marcus and Dianna Grandstaff of Alexandria
Second Place- Alex Lane Lemons, son of Ed and Ashley Lemons of Smithville

Girls (7-9 months)

Murray Named Little Miss Princess

Eight year old Mary Elizabeth Murray was crowned Little Miss Princess at the DeKalb County Fair Wednesday night.

Murray is the daughter of Angel Brown and Dwight Murray of Smithville.

She succeeds the retiring 2006 Little Miss Princess, 10 year old Kelsey Sueanna Hedge, daughter of David and Trina Hedge of Smithville.

First runner-up in the pageant was Mallory Dickerson, the eight year old daughter of Terry and Tracy Dickerson of Carthage.

Eight year old Rosa Maria Payne of Alexandria was second runner-up and also named Miss Photogenic.. She is the daughter of Tammy and Randy Payne.

Third runner-up was seven year old Caitlin Tyree, daughter of Josh and Carrie Tyree of Liberty.

Meanwhile, Rick Martin was the winner of the $1,000 cash giveaway Wednesday night.