Mike Carpenter Named Manager of the Smithville Municipal Airport

August 5, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville has a new manager at the airport.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the aldermen voted to hire Mike Carpenter to succeed Joe Johnson who announced his resignation last month.

Carpenter’s hiring came upon a favorable recommendation from the Smithville Airport Advisory Board.

“I want to thank you for your confidence. I look forward to increasing the scope of the airport and the community awareness of the airport. I also want to give accolades to Joe (Johnson). He has worked tirelessly in increasing the infrastructure of the airport. He has been a good friend. We also have a great community of guys at the airport and I am proud to be part of that,” said Carpenter in addressing the mayor and aldermen.

“I will be trying to expand our services and bring in different types of flight utilization including ultra lights and drone piloting for young people. The FAA approved Amazon for drone usage and a lot of young people need to understand that and learn about drones and the basics of aeronautics . I look forward to things like that. I’d also like to have movie nights for the community. Maybe once a month have a movie and popcorn and show some good old fashioned movies and do something that brings the community to the airport. I am excited and looking forward to it,” added Carpenter.

In other business, the aldermen reappointed Walter Burton to another term as a member of the Smithville Electric System Board of Directors.

Burton, who is chairman of the SES board, serves with fellow members Jason Murphy, Hilton Conger, Sandra Wall, and Mayor Josh Miller.

August 5, 2019
By:

DeKalb Telephone Cooperative, Inc. d/b/a DTC Communications will host its annual meeting on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, at the DeKalb County Fairgrounds in Alexandria.

Directors will be elected in the Auburntown, Gordonsville, Temperance Hall, and Woodland exchanges.

Incumbents Roy N. Pugh – Auburntown exchange, James H. Dillard, Jr. – Gordonsville exchange, Kurt Bass – Temperance Hall exchange, and David Parker – Woodland exchange are running unopposed.

Voting for directors will take place at the cooperative’s annual meeting on Saturday, Sept. 14. Gates to the DeKalb County Fairgrounds in Alexandria will open at 8:45 a.m., with voting from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. The business meeting will begin at 11 a.m. or once the last person in line at that time has voted.

Only DTC members may vote, and each member must present proper photo identification. For a single membership, only that individual may vote. Either member of a joint membership may vote, but not both. In the case of a business membership, a business affidavit is required.

The last day to make changes to your membership or to be eligible to vote in the 2019 election will be Thursday, September 5.

For questions regarding membership and voting, call DTC at (615) 529-2955

August 5, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The legacy of the Smithville Church of God will be celebrated Sunday, August 11 as the congregation commemorates 70 years of the church’s ministry in this community.

(Click link below for more church photos)

http://www.smithvillecog.com/church-history/

The special service, which begins at 10:30 a.m. will include a video presentation on the history of the church along with recognition of members who have been with the church for 60 plus years and the only surviving charter member from 1949, Louise Bryant Knowles. Bishop Wayne Daugherty, State Overseer of the Church of God will be the featured speaker. No Sunday School will be held but a homecoming meal will follow the service. Everyone is invited including former pastors.

The following is a summary of the church history as it appears on the Smithville Church of God website.

“Our beginnings were with worship services being conducted under a canvas tent, located on Highway 56 with Reverend T. M. Martin as the very first pastor. The small congregation worshipped here for several months. Some services were conducted in the DeKalb County Courthouse due to weather conditions.

In mid August 1949 the Smithville Church of God was organized with 8 charter members, under the leadership of Reverend A. R. Parker as pastor, and Reverend Harry O. Kutz, district overseer. The charter members were: Virginia Emberton Young, Joe Emberton Barber, Algie Lee Vanderpool, and with Dora Kay LeFever Vanderpool, Hoyt Cripps and wife Sue Underwood Cripps, O’Fallen Bryant Young, and Louise Bryant Knowles.

The year 1951 was a glorious year. Reverend A. R. Parker preached the Word and many souls were won to Christ and the church. A good growth was realized by the church. A concrete block building was erected on the Old Nashville Highway or Highway 70. the people moved into a shell of a building with only sub flooring. Reverend James Harold Kear was the next pastor. He completed the building and soon afterwards built a parsonage located on the lot behind the church.

Upon Reverend Kear’s departure came Reverend Cecil Raymond Stansbury. The church was then bricked along with other improvements.

In 1960 the congregation under the very capable leadership of Reverend Walter P. Atkinson decided to relocate. Land located on West Broad Street was purchased and a new sanctuary and education plant was erected. Mrs. Lena Whaley, a friend of the church, gave the church the lot located directly behind the new sanctuary. This was converted into Whaley Park. Later a Fellowship Hall was built on this property. The land was purchased by the church on Whaley Street and a nice brick veneer parsonage was constructed.

The church continued to grow spiritually and numerically. In 1974 another much larger sanctuary was added to the existing building. The was done under the leadership and design of Reverend Carl L. Sifford.

During the pastorate of Andrew J. Crawford, the old sanctuary was converted into Education facilities.

Many noteworthy and progressive endeavors have been accomplished under the leadership of each pastor.

Previous pastors in succession:
1. T. M. Martin
2. A. R. Parker
3. James Harold Kear
4. Cecil Raymond Stansbury
5. J. L. Underwood
6. L. A. Brannon
7. Marshall Poplin
8. Walter P. Atkinson
9. James Bandy
10. Billy Ray Hedgepath
11. Jesse Lavender
12. Carl Lynn Sifford
13. Cecil Raymond Stansbury
14. Andrew J. Crawford
15. Richard Blackburn
16. Wayne E. Wicker
17. Norman Ray Simms
18. Donnie Dwayne Kelly
19. T. Michael Farr
20. Jeff Armstrong
21. Chris Moore

The Smithville Church of God remains a strong and committed congregation, due to the dedication and consecration of her membership and an intense desire to be the “Ecclesia” called out ones. In the Power of the Spirit!”

http://www.smithvillecog.com/church-history/