Milligan Wins Crown in 14-16 Age Category of Miss Jamboree Pageant

June 26, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

16-year-old Keara McKinsey Milligan won the crown in the 14-16 age category of the Miss Jamboree Pageant Saturday.

Milligan is the daughter of Josh and Cyndi Milligan of Smithville. She also won the optional categories for prettiest eyes, prettiest hair, prettiest attire, and most photogenic.

16-year-old Ansley Faith Cantrell was 1st runner-up. She is the daughter of Tony and Amee Cantrell of Smithville.

Second runner-up went to Kenadee Rose Prichard, the 14-year-old daughter of Luke and Jo Dee Prichard of Alexandria.

Other category winners will be posted later.

June 26, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A 48-year-old Smithville man was handed a 20-year prison sentence Monday in a 2020 child sex crime investigation.

David Wayne Nichols, who was indicted for rape of a child (2 counts) and aggravated sexual battery entered a plea to one charge of aggravated sexual battery. Nichols received a 20-year sentence to serve with the possibility of 15% good credit. His name will be listed on the sex offender registry, and he will be under community supervision for life. The other counts against him will be dismissed. Nichols was given jail credit of 817 days.

Nichols appeared in Putnam County Criminal Court for the sentencing Monday.

At the request of 13th District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, in August 2020, TBI agents began investigating a report of a sexual offense that had occurred in Smithville earlier that month. As the result of the investigation, agents developed information that David Nichols was responsible for the sexual assault of the victim. The offenses allegedly occurred between April 1, 2018 and August 6, 2020.

On March 29th, 2021 the DeKalb County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Nichols with two counts of Rape of a Child and one count of Aggravated Sexual Battery. Nichols was arrested by members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and TBI agents. He was booked into the DeKalb County Jail.

June 26, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Arista Isabella Rigsby was crowned the 2023 Miss Jamboree in the age 17-20 category Saturday at the county complex auditorium.

Rigsby, the 18-year-old daughter of David and Tyroma Rigsby of Lebanon was also awarded for Prettiest Hair.

Finishing as first runner-up was 18-year-old Kenlee Renea Taylor, daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor of Smithville. She was also named Most Photogenic and awarded for Prettiest Eyes.

Caley Grace Taylor received second runner-up. She is the 17-year-old daughter of Brandon and Shayna Taylor of Smithville. She was also judged to have the Prettiest Attire.

Winners of other categories will be posted here later.

The annual pageant was hosted by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club