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
Jerry Jared Named New Alexandria City Attorney
by: Dwayne PageJul 03, 2025
The Town of Alexandria has a new attorney.
During Tuesday night’s special called meeting, the mayor and aldermen hired Jerry Jared of Jared & Jared Attorneys in Cookeville to be the city’s legal representative.
Jerry and his son Matthew attended Tuesday night’s meeting.
It’s the third change of attorneys since last November when longtime Alexandria City Attorney Vester Parsley resigned. He was later replaced by Attorney Matt Boss but he stepped down in March.
Mayor Jeff Ford described the duties of the city attorney in the town’s charter and the pay he is to receive.
“In our charter in SECTION 3.03 for Town Attorney. The Board shall appoint a Town Attorney, and such Assistant Town Attorneys as may be authorized by ordinance. The Town Attorney, or an Assistant Town Attorney designated by such Town Attorney, shall be responsible for representing and defending the town in all litigation in which the town is a party; attending all meetings of the Board; advising the Board, Mayor and other officers and employees of the town concerning legal aspects of their duties and responsibilities; approving as to form and legality all contracts, deeds, bonds, ordinances, resolutions, motions, and other official documents; and performing such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board,” said Mayor Ford.
“We offered Jerry the same rates as Matt Boss which was a retainer fee of $300 per month and an hourly rate of $200,” added Mayor Ford.
Jared was administered his oath of office by the city recorder Jessica Howard
Smithville Old-Time Dance Club Season in Full Swing
by: Dwayne PageJul 02, 2025
DeKalb County’s local square dance teams, as part of the Smithville Old-Time Dance Club, have been busy preparing for their competitions at the 54th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree. The six teams made up of a total of 48 dancers, under the direction of native DeKalb Countian Mary Ann Puckett, have been practicing steadily since March to be Jamboree stage ready by this Friday! DeKalb Dancin’ Delights, Center Hill Hoedown, Caney Fork Circle Eights, Ragland Bottom Roundup, and Little Liberty will all be competitors in the Youth Square Dance category on Friday afternoon, and Smithville Select (in their eleventh year in the Jamboree) will compete in the Adult Square Dance category late Saturday afternoon. “I am inspired to see so many young people interested in learning clogging and square dancing. The mission of the Smithville Jamboree is alive and well in our local old-time dancers,” Puckett excitedly proclaimed.
Dancers from Select, Delights, Hoedown and Circle Eights began this season’s performances at the Country Tonite Theater in Pigeon Forge on June 17th where they danced a pre-show in collaboration with Cannon Arts Dance Studio from Woodbury. Performing the Pigeon Forge show were Ripley Barnes, Camille Barton, Tess Barton, Anna Cripps, Charlotte Cripps, Izayah Dowell, Kylynn Dowell, Caroline Estes, Everly Keith, Kaylee Moseley, McKenzie Wells, Evie Wilson, and Katie Wilson. The group enjoyed an hour-long daytime workshop with the Country Tonite Dance Captains before clogging and square dancing for the audience that evening. Several Smithville dancers and their families spent Sunday at Dollywood before heading back home. Director Mary Ann Puckett noted, “We were honored to have the opportunity to take the stage at a long-running Pigeon Forge show and look forward to other opportunities to share our dance with wider audiences in the future.”.
Last Saturday, a mixed square of Smithville old-time dancers took home third place in Adult Square Dance at the Robert Spicer Tennessee State Buck-Dance Championship at the Grand Old Hatchery in Dickson, Tennessee. Dancing the Dickson square were Camille Barton, Tess Barton, Charli Cripps, Caroline Driver, Katherine Gassaway, Harmony Edwards, Aubree Johnson, Kaylee Moseley, and Colleena Ralston. After competing, the group hurried back to DeKalb County just in time to meet up with the rest of the Old-Time Dance Club for their big show at the DeKalb County Fair! All but three of the 48 dancers this season were present and put on a rousing clogging and square dance show for a packed crowd at the Lions Club Pavilion. Featuring synchronized clogging numbers to Rocky Top, Cumberland River, Get Back to the Country, and Salt Creek, the dancers were thrilled to entertain the crowd for the first time as a full club this season. Each team also performed their competitive square dance routines.
On Tuesday this week, the Smithville Old-Time Dance Club dancers, in full costumes, delighted audiences at Webb House of Smithville and NHC of Smithville. “We love to bring a part of the Jamboree to the residents of Webb House and NHC since many of them can’t make it out to the Jamboree anymore,” Puckett stated. “They are always so appreciative when we bring the dancers out and put on a show for them,” she added. The teams will be back in action for the Pre-Jamboree Kickoff Show this Thursday evening at the Evins Park Amphitheatre. They will dance following the Smithville Community Chorus which will begin at 6:00 p.m. Bring a camp chair, and come out and enjoy the show!
You can also catch the youth square dance teams competing onstage at the Jamboree on Friday afternoon and Smithville Select on Saturday afternoon. If you can’t catch the Jamboree in person, tune in to WJLE to listen to wall-to-wall audio coverage or stream it live on DTC3.tv.
Members of the 2025 teams are as follows:
Smithville Select: Tess Barton, Carleigh Beckham, Izayah Dowell, Sylvia
Evans, Katherine Gassaway, Kathryn Hale, Darrah Ramsey (caller), and
Lillie Grace Young
DeKalb Dancin’ Delights: Camille Barton, Charli Cripps, Kylynn Dowell,
Caroline Driver, Harmony Edwards, Kaylee Kent (caller), Aubree Johnson,
and Kaylee Moseley
Center Hill Hoedown: Ripley Barnes, Adalyn Cook (caller), Anna Cripps,
Lillie Cate Driver, Caroline Estes, Everly Keith, Evie Wilson, and Katie
Wilson
Caney Fork Circle Eights: Ireland Hobbs, Ebin Kurtz, Saige Moore, Skyla
Moore, Gaby Prater (caller), McKenzie Wells, Catie Wright, and Lydia
Wright
Ragland Bottom Roundup: Jaedyn Dunaway, Lialynn Farmer, Jane Grant,
Calvary Johnson, Allie Wilson, Chrissie Wilson, Ainsley Woodward, and
Mila Whaley
Little Liberty: Boaz Bohannon, Lander Bohannon, Lexi Carroll, Claire
Cripps, Emmie Edwards, Adelann Taylor, Alanah Williams, and Caroline
Williams