Pautienus Wins 23rd Annual Fiddler 5K Race

July 6, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Hundreds of runners participated in Saturday’s 23rd annual Fiddler 5K and One Mile Fun Run

(Click link below for all Fiddler 5K and One Mile Fun Run race results)

https://fiddler5kandonemilefunrun.itsyourrace.com/Awards.aspx?id=7476&y=0&eid=0&g=A&amin=0&amax=199

The overall winner was David Pautienus who ran the course in 17:07 seconds. Meanwhile Cari Pautienus won the race among females. She ran the course in 21:46 seconds.

Winners in other categories were:

TOP MALE MASTERS (Age 40 and older): Sean Edwards at 19:23 seconds

TOP FEMALE MASTERS (Age 40 and older): Melissa Cunningham at 22:54 seconds

One-Mile Fun Run (age 12 and younger) winners:

TOP MALE: Ewan England at 8:14 seconds

TOP FEMALE: Nola England at 8:43 seconds

Funds raised will support Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County.

July 4, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Several families were left homeless after a fire swept through and destroyed much of Towne’s Edge Village Apartments on Kendra Drive in Smithville Sunday.

All the residents there at the time were safely evacuated.  One source said the fire might have started from a grill but authorities  have not determined the  cause. It remains under investigation.

The 20 unit apartment complex  consists of buildings housing 10 units on either side of the parking lot. The fire started in one of the units and spread to others adjoining it destroying eight  dwellings and heavily damaging two others.  Families lost most or all belongings in the fire. Although they are still livable, several units on the other side of the parking lot received damage from the intense heat which melted siding on the exterior of the building.

Wendy Jenkins and her family lost their home and belongings in the fire. Jenkins told WJLE that she and her husband Cody, a Smithville Police Officer, and their son were home when she smelled smoke and heard a neighbor’s smoke alarm.

“We had just returned from the lake and were trying to change and get ready to go onto other festivities when we started to smell smoke. I was able to hear my neighbors smoke alarm, the constant beeping. Cody ran outside and came back in. He said get out now. He grabbed  his portable radio, because he works for Smithville City Police, and was able to alert central dispatch. Residents were calling as well. When we got out all we saw was smoke rolling out of the top. Within minutes it got so hot and flames starting coming out from everywhere,” said Jenkins.

Sandy Hughes, a representative of the American Red Cross Murfreesboro Chapter, later arrived to render assistance to the families “We have 10 families who have been displaced from the apartments and we are working to do case work for them to give them assistance and community resources”.

The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department was on the scene along with the Smithville Police Department  and  DeKalb EMS.

July 4, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Justin Branum has claimed the Grand Champion Fiddling Title at the 50th edition of the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival.

The Murfreesboro resident, who also won the Junior Fiddling contest here Saturday night, beat out the Senior Fiddling Champion Gail Johnson of Lavergne in the showdown for the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award.

Branum was the Grand Champion Fiddler of the 2020 Virtual Jamboree.

This is the 10th year in a row (not counting last year’s virtual jamboree) that a Junior Fiddler has beaten the Senior Fiddler for the Grand Championship of the Festival.

Sam Stout, President and Coordinator of the Fiddlers Jamboree presented the award to Branum at the conclusion of the festival which ended at 11:15 p.m. Saturday evening.

By winning the Junior fiddling contest, Branum edged out two other competitors for a right to advance to the fiddle-off

Winners in the Saturday session of the Fiddler’s Jamboree are as follows:

Junior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages up to 39): First Place- Jacob Fennell of Dickson; Second Place- Trenton “Tater” Caruthers of Cookeville; and Third Place Kelsey Gray of White Bluff.

Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet; Second Place- Stanley Reece of Gainesboro; and Third Place- Tommie Scruggs, Jr . of Hartsville.

Senior Buck Dancing (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro; Second Place- Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet; and Third Place-Tammy Scruggs of Lebanon.

Senior Clogging (Ages 40 & Over): First Place-Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet; Second Place-Terrie Harrell of Mount Juliet; and Third Place- Tammy Scruggs of Lebanon.

Bluegrass Banjo: First Place-Axel Rico of Smithville; Second Place- Trevor Holder of Greenville, South Carolina; and Third Place-Shane Cothran of Franklin.

Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39): First Place-Justin Branum of Murfreesboro; Second Place- Tyler Andal of Nashville; and Third Place-Joe Evins Overton of Joelton.

Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Tylar Andal of Nashville; Second Place-Jake Patty of Lexington, Kentucky: and Third Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna.

Contest Fiddle (Neil Dudney Memorial Award): First Place- Justin Branum of Murfreesboro; Second Place-Tylar Andal of Nashville; and Third Place- Sarah Harris of Rockvale. The Neil Dudney Award was presented to Branum by two of Dudney’s, grandchildren, Ethan and Brandon Shaw. Dudney, who passed away in October, 2018 served as President and Coordinator of the Fiddlers Jamboree for 16 years until he stepped down in 2008.

Bluegrass Band: First Place- Smithville Fiddlin’ Music Team of Johnson City; Second Place-Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band of Chattanooga; and Third Place-Clearview of Hillham.

Senior Fiddlers ( Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Gail Johnson of Lavergne; Second Place-Thomas Chapman of Falkville, Alabama; and Third Place- Tony Haley of Mount Juilet.

Square Dancing: First Place-Rocky Top Revue of Franklin; Second Place- Harpeth River of Franklin; and Third Place- Foggy Mountain Steppers of Waverly

Winners of the Best Overall Inclusive Dance Award were Zachary Hughes in the category for adults and Sarah Jensen for teens.