Third Time is a Charm for Smithville Christmas Parade

December 12, 2023
By: dwayne page

Third time’s a charm!

After twice being postponed due to rainy weather within the previous nine days, the Smithville Christmas parade went off without a hitch Monday night before a huge crowd in and around downtown.

Although the event has become a nighttime tradition in recent years, this was apparently the first ever Monday night Christmas parade in Smithville but the timing could not have been better.

With two weeks remaining until Christmas day, people were in a festive mood as children and grownups alike gathered street side or viewed the attractions from their automobiles along the parade route from South Congress Boulevard to the downtown square.

The parade offered something for everyone from holiday themed floats, horseback riders, pageant royalty, the DCHS band, vintage automobiles, and of course, Santa Claus plus much more.

Bubba’s Auction House won first place for the best float entry. Driver’s Boat and RV Storage took second place and MTR Equipment Rentals captured third place. The Spirit award went to the Autism Awareness entry.

December 11, 2023
By: dwayne page

Another candidate may be entering the Assessor of Property race in 2024.

According to the DeKalb County Election Commission, Mike Clayborn has obtained a qualifying petition for Assessor of Property as an Independent in the August 1st General Election. Clayborn is a former county clerk.

Meanwhile incumbent Property Assessor Shannon Cantrell and challenger Amy Clare Lockhart will be vying for the GOP nomination for the office in the March 5 DeKalb County Republican Primary. Both Cantrell and Lockhart have returned their qualifying petitions and are qualified candidates.

So far, no Democrat has obtained a petition for Assessor of Property. Noon Thursday, December 14 is the qualifying deadline for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.

Names of candidates or potential candidates for other local offices in the March 5 GOP primary are as follows:

Board of Education: Tom Walkup & Megan Moore (5th District) and Jason Miller (Incumbent) (6th District) Miller has returned his qualifying petition and is a qualified candidate.

Constable:
Tyler Cripps (1st District)

Danny Adamson (2nd District). He has returned his petition and is a qualified candidate.

Travis Bryant (3rd District) (Incumbent)

Lane Ball (4th District) (Incumbent). He has returned his petition and is a qualified candidate.

Mark Milam (5th District) (Incumbent). He has returned his petition and is a qualified candidate.

Jason Brown (6th District) (Incumbent)

Jeremy Wayne Neal (7th District)

Recently governor appointed judge Shawn Fry of Cookeville has also filed his petition in the six counties including DeKalb that make up the 13th Judicial District to seek a full eight-year term to the newly created criminal court judgeship.

Both the DeKalb County Republican and Democratic Parties will be holding primaries simultaneously on Tuesday, March 5th for the offices of Property Assessor, Constable (districts 1-7), and Board of Education (5th & 6th) districts along with the newly created position of criminal court judge-Part III in the 13th judicial district. The primaries will be held in conjunction with the Tennessee Presidential Preference Primary.

The qualifying deadline is Thursday, December 14 at 12 noon. The voter registration deadline for the March 5th primaries is February 5 and the early voting period will be Wednesday, February 14 through Tuesday, February 27. The Absentee ballot request deadline is Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

Independents wishing to run for Assessor of Property or Constable (districts 1-7), Board of Education (5th & 6th) districts, or for criminal court judge-Part III in the August 2024 County General Elections must also qualify by noon on Thursday, December 14.

Party nominees and independents for these offices will run in the DeKalb County General Election on Thursday, August 1, 2024 and those elected will take office September 1, 2024.

The incumbents in these offices are Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell and Constables- 1st District: Waylon Kyle, 2nd District: Darrell Johnson, 3rd District: Travis Bryant, 4th District: Lane Ball, 5th District: Mark Milam, 6th District: Jason Brown, and 7th District: Johnny King.

The school board seats up for election in 2024 are currently held by Jamie Cripps in the 5th district and Jason Miller in the 6th district.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Tre Hargett has certified the names of nine Republicans and one Democratic presidential candidate for the March 5, 2024, Super Tuesday Presidential Preference Primary and County Primary Election. On Super Tuesday, 15 other states will join Tennessee in helping decide each party’s presidential nominee.

The following candidates will be on Tennessee’s March 5, 2024, ballot:

Republican Primary Ballot:
Ryan Binkley
Doug Burgum
Chris Christie
Ron DeSantis
Nikki Haley
Asa Hutchinson
Vivek Ramaswamy
David Stuckenberg
Donald J. Trump

Democratic Primary Ballot:
Joseph R. Biden

December 11, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A Golden Girl!

The DeKalb Animal Shelter is home to “Golden” a one-year-old Shar Pei mix and she would love nothing better than to have a forever home in time for the holidays!

Why not welcome “Golden” into your family?

“Golden was an owner surrender,” said Cathy Bader of the Friends of DeKalb Animal Shelter organization. “The owner could no longer care for her. She is a very sweet dog and has lots of energy. She is spayed and up to date on all her shots. Golden loves to play. She will fetch a ball and bring it back to you. She is good with other dogs and children but not good with cats. Golden is housebroken and ready to be adopted. If you are looking for a wonderful loving dog full of energy this is the dog for you. She is the sponsored pet of the Friends of the DeKalb Animal Shelter this month so the cost of her adoption is $80,” said Bader.

“If you are interested in adopting Golden, please check out the adoptable pet’s link on our website to fill out an application at https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/ and we will call you to come in and meet her,” she said.

The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 8 to 4 and Saturday from 8 to 12 at 186 Transfer Station Road. Phone 615-597-3647.

Meanwhile the DeKalb Animal Shelter is selling long sleeved Christmas shirts for $23 as a fundraiser. The shirts are available in several sizes.