Hale and Atnip Capture Little Mister and Miss Crowns at DeKalb County Fair

July 13, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Keaton Sawyer Hale and Kendyl Reign Atnip were crowned Little Mister and Miss at the DeKalb County Fair Tuesday night.

Hale is the 5-year-old son of Bobby Lee and Ciara Hale of Alexandria and Atnip is the 6-year-old daughter of Brooke Hutchings and Cody and Kimberly Atnip of Liberty. Both Hale and Atnip were named Most Photogenic in their respective pageants.

They succeed the 2021 Little Mister and Miss Colton Graham Duke and Kallen Averie Curtis. Duke is the 6-year-old son of John and Whitney Duke of Smithville, and Curtis is the 6-year-old daughter of Heather Page and John Curtis of Smithville.

The pageants featured contestants ages 4-6.

First runner-up in the Little Mister Pageant was Robert Maddux Hale, 5-year-old son of Kimberly and Austin Hale of Smithville. He also earned the Mister Manners honor and Thomas Blaine Bragg, 4-year-old son of Morgan and Justin Bragg of Smithville was second runner-up.

First runner-up in the Little Miss contest was Haddeigh Grace Harvey, 5-year-old daughter of Chad and Kayla Harvey of Alexandria.

Dallas “Toby” Agee, 5-year-old daughter of Donny and Stephanie Agee of Smithville was second runner-up

Third runner-up was Neyland Hadlee Garrett, 5-year-old daughter of Ryan and Erica Garrett of Liberty

Ansley Grace Snow, 6-year-old daughter of Andy Snow and Ashleigh Snow of Smithville was fourth runner-up

Eloise Oxley was Miss Congeniality. She is the 5-year-old daughter of Matthew and Haleigh Oxley of Dowelltown

Others in the top eleven were Eloise Oxley, 5 year old daughter of Matthew and Haleigh Oxley of Dowelltown; Summer Elizabeth Longmire, 5 year old daughter of Drew and Kristy Longmire of Smithville; Oaklynn Fayth Hale, 6 year old daughter of Kimberly and Austin Hale of Smithville; Aleeya Weslyn Graham, 5 year old daughter of Derek and Andria Graham of Smithville; Braelyn Kayde George, 6 year old daughter of Misty Glover and Jay George of Smithville; and Lakelyn Jayde George, 6 year old daughter of Misty Glover and Jay George of Smithville

July 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Although it remains partially open to traffic, a small bridge over Dry Creek Road just off West Broad Street has a gaping hole through it and is in need of replacement.

During Monday night’s monthly meeting, the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen voted to have an engineer develop plans and specifications for eventual bid letting for a new bridge, but it could be months before the project is awarded to a contractor and started.

“A few weeks ago, we discovered that this bridge has some issues and we have shut a portion of it down. We have talked to Kyle Hazel, an engineer, and I asked him if this is approved tonight to let him begin the engineering phase and all the surveys when is the quickest we could get this out for bids. He said it would probably not be let out for bids until the first of next year,” said Mayor Josh Miller.

“At this time the bridge is still open but big trucks don’t need to drive across it because its in bad shape. I have ordered signs to put on each corner of the bridge and should have them put up this week,” said City Public Works Director Kevin Robinson.

“We will try to keep the bridge open as long as possible but there will be a time when bids are let out and the council accepts the bid and then it will have to be shut down,” added Mayor Miller.

Because it is apparently not eligible for state aid, the city may have to go it alone on funding the bridge replacement, a project which could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“Five of our bridges are on state aid so they (state) come around and inspect them every two years but this bridge is two feet shy of being on state aid so it doesn’t get inspected (by the state),” said Robinson.

Janice Plemmons-Jackson, the city’s financial advisor, said the city has ample reserves to cover the bridge replacement cost.

We have been accumulating funds for years and years which is what you do (to prepare) when you have a major problem come up,” said Jackson. “There are different options for financing, and nobody likes to talk about spending money, but we do have cash on hand and if we chose to do that, we could pay the costs as we go from what we have accumulated. There is always a bond issue or debt which I would not recommend but that spreads the cost out and then we have grant funds we are receiving. I just think its going to be a matter of deciding how we pay for it, but I don’t think we have a choice. We have to do this. I am just glad we are in a position that we can meet the financial needs and do what we have to do. We have been conservative and fiscally responsible for years,” Jackson said.

July 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

18-year-old Addison Jean Puckett is the 2022 DeKalb County Fairest of the Fair.

Puckett, daughter of Jimmy and Anita Puckett of Smithville, won the crown Monday evening during the annual pageant held on opening night of the DeKalb County Fair in Alexandria. There were eight contestants. She will also represent the DeKalb County Fair in the state pageant.

Puckett succeeds the 2021 Fairest of the Fair, Ellisyn Kelsey Cripps, the 19-year-old daughter of Troy and Jamie Cripps of Smithville.

First runner-up in the Fairest of the Fair event was Kenlee Renae Taylor, the 17-year-old daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor of Smithville.

Second runner-up: Katherine Grace Colwell, 18-year-old daughter of Trent and Christie Colwell of Smithville.

Third runner-up: Alexis Grace Atnip, 19-year-old daughter of Veronica and Gary Johnson of Smithville

Mackenzie Leigh Sprague of Smithville was fourth runner-up. She is the 18-year-old daughter of Wanda Sprague.

The title of Miss Congeniality went to Caitlin Elisabeth Washer of Smithville, 17-year-old daughter of John and Karey Washer and Charlise Washer.

18-year-old Ellie Elizabeth Webb was named Most Photogenic. She is the daughter of Cindy Webb and C.D. Webb of Dowelltown.

The other contestant was McKenzie Faith Sanders, the 17-year-old daughter of James and Misti Sanders of Smithville.

The schedule of Fair events tonight (Tuesday) is as follows:

Tuesday, July 12:
*Little Mister for contestants ages 4-6: 6:00 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion
*Little Miss for contestants ages 4-6 following the Little Mister Pageant
*Mrs. Fair Queen for contestants up to age 54 at the Lions Club Pavilion following the Little Miss Pageant
*Miss Senior Fair Queen for contestants ages 55 and older at the Lions Club Pavilion following the Mrs. Fair Queen Pageant
*Corn Hole Tournament: 7:00 p.m. at the Ag Center
*ATV/Motorcycle Racing: 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena
*Cash Drawing-9:30 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion (There were no cash winners Monday night)

Visit the DeKalb County Fair website at the link below for information about renting booth space, being a sponsor, entering pageants and shows, entering exhibits and events. The contact person and phone number for all of these are listed on the website at
www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com/