News
Miss Jamboree Pageants June 14
June 3, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
The 2025 Miss Jamboree Pageants are set for Saturday, June 14 at the DeKalb County Complex starting at 9:00 a.m. and is a fundraiser for the Last-Minute Toy Shop.
15-year-old Karah Jo Ford, daughter of Hector-O-Roscoe and Amanda Ford of Smithville, was crowned the 2024 Miss Jamboree Queen in the age 14-16 category.
All Tennessee girls, babies, toddlers along with single, married, and senior ladies may enter by June 6th.
The entry fee is $25.00 per contestant. A People’s Choice Award will also be given in each category and there are optional awards of prettiest eyes, hair, attire, smile, and photogenic. The entry fee for optionals is $5.00 in each category. All winners in the 13-15, and 16-18 age groups are required to be present during the Fiddlers Jamboree July 4 & 5 to help distribute trophies, flyers, etc.
Age groups are as follows:
Boys and girls- one day to 6 months
Boys and girls- 7-12 months
Boys and girls-13-24 months
Boys and girls-25-48 months
Girls-4-6 years
Girls-7-9 years
Girls-10-12 years
Girls- 13-15 years
Girls-16-18 years
Ladies 19-49 years single
Ladies-19-49 years married
Ladies-50 and older senior
Include on the entry form, name and age of contestant, complete address and phone number, parents or guardians’ names, and note “I love the Jamboree Because”.
Pay via Venmo or mail check/money order to Last Minute Toy Shop 3385 New Home Road, Smithville 37166.
Sunday Fire Destroys Lake Home
June 2, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A Sunday fire swept through and destroyed a home on Coconut Ridge Road.
DeKalb Fire Chief Donny Green said that the department was summoned to the scene at 3:05 p.m. and upon arrival found the structure well involved with fire venting through the back of the roof. Firefighters were challenged with lack of apparatus access due to the narrow one lane road and water supply in the remote area.
Although the structure was a complete loss, firefighters, Emergency Medical Services, the Sheriff’s Department, and the department’s rehab unit were on the scene for over six hours. No injuries were reported, and no other property was damaged. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined.
The Main, Cookeville Highway, Liberty, and Temperance Hall stations, Tanker 1, Tanker 2, Rehabilitation Unit, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, and DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene.
Special thanks to Domino’s in Smithville donating pizza to feed firefighters on scene.
Meanwhile on Saturday at approximately 10:36 a.m., the DeKalb County Fire Department was dispatched to 450 South Mill Street in Dowell town for a commercial structure fire.
According to Chief Green when firefighters arrived, they found two vehicles fully ablaze inside the building. Crews quickly made an interior attack and extinguished the fire containing it to the area where the fire originated. There was significant smoke damage through the large building.
The staff at the facility reported they had been using a cutting tool to disassemble one of the vehicles when a spark from the tool ignited flammable materials nearby. One facility staff member onsite received minor burns to his hands but refused emergency medical services transport.
The Liberty, Temperance Hall, Main, and Cookeville Highway stations responded along with both tankers, DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services, and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
Library Summer Reading Fun Begins Thursday, June 5
June 2, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
The Justin Potter and Alexandria Libraries Summer Reading Program will begin on June 5th and end on June 26th. All events for both libraries will be in the DeKalb County Complex Theatre Room at 2:00 pm. Children of all ages can register now for Summer Reading at both libraries. Each child that registers and meets their goal will receive a participation certificate and other goodies at the end of the Summer Reading Program. Program attendance is not required to participate.
Color our World programs include the following events:
Thursday, June 5th at 2:00 pm – Opening party with Mr. Bond’s Science Guys and DTC Photobooth.
Thursday, June 12th at 2:00 pm – Barry Mitchell’s “Show of Many Colors” and DeKalb County Health Department.
Thursday, June 19th at 2:00 pm –. Edgar Evins State Park Rangers and Animal Friends.
Thursday, June 26th at 2:00 pm – Final Party with The Nashville Zoo.
They hope you will join them for a fun filled Summer Reading Program.
For more information, call Justin Potter Library at 615-597-4359 or Alexandria Library at 615-529-4124 visit us on Facebook, Instagram or our website at www.dekalblibraries.net.
