Derby Repeats as Beginner Fiddling Champion at Jamboree
by: Dwayne PageJul 05, 2025
A repeat!
A Columbia girl, for the second year in a row, has claimed the top Jamboree award as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners. The competition was held Saturday afternoon as part of the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival
Ella Derby 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 festival. Members of Mr. Driver’s family presented the award to Derby.
Meanwhile Kade Stewart of Anderson, Alabama was winner of the Nolan Turner Memorial Entertainer of the Year award. The honor, sponsored by the Turner family, is presented to the best overall instrumental entertainer among winners in the dobro guitar, mandolin, five string banjo, and flat top guitar competition. Turner, who died in October 2017, was a long time Fiddlers’ Jamboree supporter and photographer. Stewart earned first place in the beginner dobro guitar contest; took second place in the beginner five string banjo and flat top guitar events; and earned third place in beginner mandolin.
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:
Beginner Fiddle sponsored by the S&B Design: First Place-Ella Derby of Columbia; Second Place- Kadence Edgington of Nashville; and Third Place- Sophie Gruber of Meridanville, Alabama
Beginner Buck Dancing sponsored by DeKalb Title: First Place- Levi Campbell of McMinnville, Second Place- Lyla Mae Wharton of Mount Juliet, and Third Place- Adley Wharton of Mount Juliet
Beginner Clogging sponsored by Cody Tipton, Realtor: First Place- Lyla Mae Wharton of Mount Juliet; Second Place- Adley Wharton of Mount Juliet, and Third Place- Ryman Harris of Rockvale.
Beginner Dobro Guitar sponsored by Three Nails Lounge & Spa: First Place- Kade Stewart of Anderson, Alabama.
Beginner Mandolin sponsored by The Attic on Walnut Street: First Place- Silas Pegg of Gallatin, Second Place- Sophie Gruber of Meridanville, Alabama, and Third Place- Kade Stewart of Anderson, Alabama
Beginner Five String Banjo sponsored by Legacy Haus: First Place- Immanuel Roberts of Fort Payne , Alabama; Second Place- Kade Stewart of Anderson, Alabama; and Third Place- Ryker Lemons of Murfreesboro.
Beginner Flat Top Guitar sponsored by Cross Driven Motorsports Exhaust: First Place-Collette Rainwater of Murfreesboro; Second Place- Kade Stewart of Anderson, Alabama; and Third Place- Joel Roberts of Fort Payne , Alabama
Another Jam-Packed Fiddlers Jamboree Day Underway
by: Dwayne PageJul 05, 2025
Visitors from places as far away as Belfast Northern Ireland are in town this weekend for the 54th Annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival and a few of them were recognized during Friday night’s welcoming ceremony.
After the introductions of several local public officials and community leaders, Congressman John Rose’s Chief of Staff Van Hilleary and State Representative Michael Hale presented Tennessee and United States flags to persons who came from the longest distances to get here. State Senator Janice Bowling was unable to attend but Representative Hale presented a flag for her
On behalf of Congressman Rose, who was also unable to attend the festival, Hilleary greeted Pete and Pat Morris of Belfast, Northern Ireland and presented them with a US flag. State Representative Hale gave TN State flags to Justin and Jennifer Woody of Everett Washington and Becky Givens of Memphis.
The first day of the Fiddler’s Jamboree was jam packed with 15 hours of picking, singing, dancing and crafts continuing non-stop until the final awards of the day were presented just past midnight this morning (Saturday).
The opening ceremony at 6 p.m. began with a prayer by Doug Ferguson, the minister of the Smithville Church of Christ and a performance of the National Anthem by a fiddler as two members of the Smithville Fire Department posted colors.
The Smithville Community Chorus later took the stage delivering a stirring patriotic performance featuring a tribute to veterans and the Grand Ole Opry on its 100th birthday in 2025
The preliminaries and finals were held in each of the sixteen categories of music and dance competition
The following are the Friday winners:
*Old Time Appalachian Folk Singing (Solo)- sponsored by The Vintage Owl:
*First Place-Adam Chrisman of Tracy City
Second Place- Larry Chunn of Greenbrier
Third Place-Everett Hammond of Brentwood
*Junior Clogging (Ages 13-39)-sponsored by Evins Mill Resort & Retreat:
First Place- Jacob Fennell of Dickson
Second Place- Trebel Chunn of Greenbrier
Third Place-Elizabeth Clark of Barren Plains
*Junior Buck Dancing (Ages 13-39)-sponsored by Matt Boss, Attorney at Law:
First Place- Elizabeth Clark of Barren Plains
Second Place- Trebel Chunn of Greenbrier
Third Place-Eden Harris of Rockvale
*Old Time Appalachian Folksinging (Duet, Trio, Quartet)-sponsored by the Male Room Brotique:
First Place- Sarah Cripps of Smithville
Second Place-Sarah Harris of Rockvale
Third Place-Ty McMeans of Athens, Alabama
*Dobro Guitar-sponsored by Kilgore’s Restaurant:
First Place-Robbie Harris of Rockvale
Second Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna
Third Place-Nick Norris of Nashville
*Mountain & Hammer Dulcimer and Autoharp-sponsored by Middle Tennessee Jewelry-Cookeville:
First Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna (Mountain Dulcimer)
Second Place-Nick Norris of Nashville (Mountain Dulcimer)
Third Place-Pat Van Goroen of Eagleville (Mountain Dulcimer)
*Novelty Event-sponsored by TraChic:
First Place- Nick Norris of Nashville
Second Place-Don Derby of Columbia
Third Place-Lily Goebel of Elkton, Kentucky
*Gospel Singing (Solo)-sponsored by Fluty’s:
First Place-Sarah Harris of Rockvale
Second Place- Angelica Branum of Murfreesboro
Third Place-Brock Ealey of Cookeville
*Country Harmonica-sponsored by Hohner Harmonica:
First Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna
Second Place- Kyle Twilley of Old Hickory
Third Place-David Swanger of Nashville
*Old Time Banjo-sponsored by Deering Banjo:
First Place- Daniel Rothwell of Smyrna
Second Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna
Third Place- Trenton Courathers of Cookeville
*Youth Square Dancing- sponsored by TN Entertainment Commission:
First Place- Tennessee Rhythm of Greenbrier
Second Place-DeKalb Dancin’ Delights of Smithville
Third Place- Center Hill Hoedown of Smithville
*Gospel Singing (Duet, Trio, & Quartet)-sponsored by State Representative Michael Hale:
First Place-Cornelia Overton and Sarah Cripps of Smithville
Second Place-The Huckleberries of Fort Payne, Alabama
Third Place-Harris and Branum of Rockvale
*Mandolin- sponsored by Bill Luton:
First Place- Noah Goebel of Elkton, Kentucky
Second Place-Sarah Hattaway of Bowling Green, Kentucky
Third Place- Nick Norris of Nashville
*Old Time Fiddle Band- sponsored by the IBMA:
First Place-Frog Leg Pickers of Smyrna
Second Place-The Old Time Ramblers of Nashville
Third Place- The Clarence Carter Family of Rockvale
*NCHC (National Clogging Hoedown Championships) Traditional Duo sponsored by Cody Tipton, Realtor:
First Place-Kody and Jamie Hash of Maryville
Second Place-Elizabeth Clark and Kamry Patterson of Barren Plains
Third Place- Herman and Frank of Old Hickory
*NCHC Hoedown sponsored by DeKalb County Florist:
First Place- Tennessee Rhythm of Greenbrier
Second Place-Smithville Select of Smithville
Third Place- Harpeth River of Franklin
For more about the Fiddlers’ Jamboree including the weekend events from the festival click the links below
http://smithvillejamboree.com/
http://smithvillejamboree.com/scheduleEvents.html
Woman killed in Boating Related Lake Accident
by: Dwayne PageJul 04, 2025
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officers responded to a call on Center Hill Lake at 6:00 p.m. (CDT) Thursday evening, July 3, 2025. A 57-year-old Brentwood woman jumped into the water from a Monterey ski boat and was injured by the prop. The woman succumbed to her injuries and was transported to Ascension St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital.
The incident occurred near Hurricane Marina. DeKalb County Rescue, EMS, and Fire and Hurricane Marina staff also responded to the incident. The incident remains under investigation.
Meanwhile the DeKalb County Fire Department has issued the following statement about the accident:
The DeKalb County Fire Department, along with the Smithville/DeKalb County Rescue Squad, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, DeKalb County Emergency Medical Service, and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, responded to a tragic single boat incident on Center Hill Lake near Hurricane Marina Thursday evening at approximately 5:58 p.m.
Emergency responders arrived and located the ski boat approximately 300 yards away from the marina near the main channel. An unconscious adult female victim was located in the water and under the boat trapped by the boat’s inboard engine propeller. The adult male operator of the boat was in the water at the rear of the boat attempting to rescue the victim. Rescue personnel were able to free the victim, but she had already succumbed to traumatic injury.
Emergency responders were assisted by staff from Hurricane Marina providing pontoon boats and traffic control. The Putnam County Rescue Squad responded with their Dive Team.
The incident is being investigated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The parties of those involved are from Brentwood, Tennessee and the names are not being released at this time. Please keep the family of the victim in your thoughts and prayers.