Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree Helping to Promote Tennessee Songwriters Week

January 14, 2023
By:

The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree is partnering with The Harvester for a Tennessee Songwriters Week

Helmed by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Tennessee Songwriters Week was established in 2019 to support music venues, celebrate songwriters with live performances in all genres of music, drive visitation and inspire travelers to experience the state’s music stores, history, attractions and venues. During the first two weeks of February, more than 50 music venues are hosting qualifying rounds across the state from Memphis to Northeast Tennessee. Songwriters chosen to advance from the qualifying rounds will perform at one of seven pre-determined showcase events.

“We are so excited to be a part of a Tennessee music tradition of songwriters. A perfect fit with the history of Tennessee Music and the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree” ,said Jamboree President Kim Luton. “The Jamboree is sponsoring the judges for the event. And what a line up of judges: Local Vanissa Braswell Murphy of Smithville, TN who was the past Chair of the Music & Arts Department at the the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire; Michelle Canning, Member of the International Bluegrass Music Association and a member of IBMA Songwriters Committee; another local from Smithville – Darrin Vincent of Dailey & Vincent, Grammy Award Winner and member of the Grand Ole Opry Winner. ”

The Harvester was selected as one of just fifty live music venues throughout Tennessee to host the qualifying rounds. Winners will advance to showcase events in Memphis, Franklin, Gallatin, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Gatlinburg and Johnson City February 19-25, 2023. Finalists selected at each will earn an opportunity to perform before music industry professionals in the competition’s last round, to be held at Nashville’s Historic Bluebird Cafe.

The qualifying round will be held February 2, 2023 beginning at 6pm at The Harvester in Smithville. For more information visit  harvestertn.com, smihvillejamboree.com or tnvacation.com/songwriters-week

January 13, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

She’s beautiful, healthy, well behaved, and she could be yours!

Meet Darlene, the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”.

“Darlene is about two years old,” said Shelter Director Emmaly Bennett. “She is an Alaskan Malamute, maybe mixed. We don’t have a huge back story on Darlene. She showed up on someone’s property and they cared for her until she was brought to the shelter. Darlene is incredibly well mannered and behaved. She knows how to sit, stay, and is leash trained. She loves people including children as well as other dogs. She is a great family dog. We would love to see her go to a family that is active. These dogs do have a lot of energy so Darlene would do well with outdoorsy people, those who would want to take her for walks, or just hang out with her outdoors. Darlene is spayed, up to date on all vaccinations, and micro-chipped. Her adoption fee is only $80. Now is the time to adopt from us here at the shelter because we have reduced most of our fees,” said Bennett.

“If you are interested in adopting Darlene please check out the adoptable pets link on our website at https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/to fill out an application and see her picture and we will call you to come in and meet her. Please give us a call so we can find Darlene a good home ,” said Bennett.

The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 8 to 4 and Saturday from 8 to 12 at 186 Transfer Station Road.

Meanwhile the DeKalb Animal Shelter will host an adoption event Saturday, January 28 from 9 to 12 at Tractors Supply from 9-12 and Darlene will be one of the featured pets there if she has not already been adopted by then.

January 13, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The White County Warriors and the Gordonsville Tigers will join the 2023 DCHS Football schedule replacing Goodpasture and Cannon County.

DeKalb County had no choice but to add White County which is leaving Class 5A, Region 5 and stepping down to Class 4A, Region 4 in 2023.

With the addition of White County, the former six team 4A region, will be made up of seven teams as the Warriors join DeKalb County, Upperman, Livingston Academy, Stone Memorial, Macon County, and Cumberland County which have already been part of the 4A region.

The TSSAA released its initial football region alignments for the 2023 and 2024 seasons in November.

Tiger Coach Steve Trapp said an already competitive region will become even more challenging with the addition of White County.

“Our region slate got a little larger. White County actually dropped down a classification. They were in 5A last year and they are now in 4A so all of our region teams stayed the same except we have added White County. Although they are new to our schedule they are not new to us playing them. We have played them for several years in the past but it’s another quality football team joining the region so now you have to win at least three region games to make it to the state playoffs which makes it a more challenging road than before. We will have them (White County) and Upperman at the end of the regular season so it will most likely come right down to the wire,” said Coach Trapp.

DeKalb County’s non-region schedule will include Warren County, in the season opener at McMinnville on August 18; Smith County in Smithville on August 25; Watertown on the road September 8, and Gordonsville in Smithville for Homecoming on September 15.

Gone from the 2023 schedule are Goodpasture, which had been a Tiger opponent for the last two years, and perennial border rival Cannon County, who elected not to schedule DeKalb County in 2023.

“Cannon County did not want to play us anymore. That was a decision on their end. I really hate that because it was a good game financially for both teams. We have played each other many times but that was a decision they made,” said Coach Trapp.

Although DeKalb County has often scrimmaged Gordonsville and played them in pre-season Jamborees this will be the first meeting between the programs on the gridiron during a regular season game in several years. “That is a quality opponent, and we will have them for Homecoming,” added Coach Trapp.

The season kicks off on Friday, August 18 at Warren County followed by the home opener August 25 against Smith County.

All games start at 7:00 p.m.

WJLE will have LIVE coverage each week.

The DCHS 2023 Football Schedule is as follows:

REGION OPPONENTS (*)
August 18: Warren County- McMinnville 7 p.m.
August 25: Smith County-Smithville 7 p.m.
September 1: Livingston Academy*-Smithville 7 p.m.
September 8: Watertown-Watertown 7 p.m.
September 15: Gordonsville (Homecoming)- Smithville 7 p.m.
September 22: Stone Memorial*-Away 7 p.m.
September 29: Macon County*-Smithville 7 p.m.
October 6: Cumberland County*-Smithville 7 p.m.
October 13: BYE WEEK
October 20: White County*-Sparta 7 p.m.
October 27: Upperman* Baxter 7 p.m.

The Tigers will also compete in a pre-season Jamboree at Smith County on August 11.