Excited kids enjoy getting all wet with Grand Opening of Splashpad at Green Brook Park (View Video Here)

June 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The splashpad is now open at Green Brook Park and if the first day is any indication it’s going to be a big hit with children.

The mayor and aldermen, joined by other city officials, the Chamber of Commerce, parents, and kids hosted a ribbon cutting for the new splashpad Friday at Green Brook Park just before it opened at noon. The splashpad is open seven days a week from 12 noon until 7 p.m.

“It’s a very exciting day for Smithville. I want to thank the city council for funding this project. I think this will be a great asset and something good for the kids to have to enjoy for years to come. I also want to thank our public works department. They have put a lot of time into this project especially Public Works Director Kevin Robinson and City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson. We did not use an architect with this, so we saved money and there was a lot of time put into this by our administration going over plans. We are proud of it,” said Mayor Josh Miller.

A groundbreaking was held in March for the new 2,400 square foot splashpad. The mayor, aldermen, and other city officials and friends were on hand for that occasion including Jason Stewart and Adam Walton of Recreational Concepts of Cookeville, the company that built the splashpad.

In November, the aldermen awarded the bid and adopted a budget amendment authorizing an expenditure of up to $173,000 for the splashpad. The money for the project was taken from the city’s unreserved fund balance.

“The splashpad is about 2,400 square feet and it has a lot of beautiful above ground features for kids to run through and things that spray and splash along with in-ground features that spray out of the ground. It’s a nice mix for all age groups and abilities. It fills up the space really well especially with the playground and gazebos. It’s a nice addition to the park,” said Walton.

“Like Adam said It’s about 2,400 square feet and has a five-foot apron around the pad that is essentially a dry deck where no water flows and on the inside on the splashpad itself there are above grade and embedded features that spray upward providing an experience for different age groups and ability levels. There are about 28 different features on the pad itself,” said Stewart.

Mayor Miller said the city also plans to refurbish the 25-year-old playground at Green Brook Park soon.

“We have about $50,000 in the budget to start fixing up the playground equipment and refurbishing that. Although the city would have to replace the broken and splintered wood, a professional company could be contracted to refurbish and stain the playground equipment,” he said.

June 3, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Gas prices across the country and close to home are continuing to skyrocket.

The national average gas price is currently setting at an all-time high of $4.71, which is up 11 cents from last week, according to AAA.

Tennessee is also seeing record-high gas prices with the state’s average price setting at $4.35.

In Smithville, some local convenience markets now have prices for regular gasoline at $4.49 cents per gallon, which is above the state’s average.

For more information on gas prices, check gasprices.aaa.com.

June 2, 2022
By:

The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree & Crafts Festival has announced the Blue Blaze Award recipient for 2022. The Kody Norris Show country bluegrass band will be honored on Saturday, July 2nd, 2022 during the festival competition at approximately 5pm followed by a mini-concert performed by the band on the main stage in the Smithville, Tennessee Downtown Square.

In addition to numerous awards, album releases (Rebel Records), and appearances across the nation including the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, The Kody Norris Show was recently named ‘Entertainer of the Year’ at the 2022 SPGMA Awards (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America Awards). Following that honor, Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris was named ‘Fiddle Player of the Year’. The group performs crowd-pleasing songs like ‘Love Bug’ and ‘Ole Carolina’ to name a few. For those unable to see the concert and award ceremony in person, the performance will air live on wcte.org, WCTE-PBS Channel 22, Tennessee PBS stations, and dtccom.net

“It is our sincere honor to award The Kody Norris Show with this year’s Blue Blaze Award.” said President & Coordinator Sam Stout. “They are a perfect example of young people that have grown up with a bluegrass heritage that they are continuing to build upon.”

“I am truly honored and humbled to be the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Blue Blaze Award. Organizations like the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree embody so many of the same values that the band and I work so diligently to pass on to the next generation. By preserving ole’ time country & bluegrass music and presenting it in a positive manner, it is my hope that bluegrass and pure country music will last through the ages.” said Kody Norris of The Kody Norris Show. “Receiving an award given previously to many of my bluegrass friends and heroes is one of the most humbling experiences of our lives. I am looking so forward to our performance at the 2022 Jamboree, and so excited to see our friends in Middle Tennessee.”

The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree & Crafts Festival will commence on Friday & Saturday, July 1-2, 2022 beginning promptly at 9am-10pm each day. For more information on the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree schedule of events, go to: www.smithvillejamboree.com or follow their FaceBook page at Smithville-Fiddlers-Jamboree-and-Crafts-Festival. For information on The Kody Norris Show, go to: www.TheKodyNorrisShow.com