“Smithville Select” Square Dancers–a Unique Group

July 4, 2024
By:

Smithville Select, two-time and reigning Youth Square Dance Champions at the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree who recently made an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, have been on a long journey in old-time dance leading up to their success in recent years. Two of the current-day members began learning to clog back in 2013 and competed with their first square dance team in 2015, but 7 years would pass before their team began to win any awards. Their story is that of “overnight” successes rarely being overnight.

Current Smithville Select members include Tess Barton, Carleigh Beckham, Izayah Dowell, Sylvia Evans, Katherine Gassaway, Kathryn Hale, Darrah Ramsey (caller), and Lillie Grace Young. The team is led by DeKalb County native and Smithville Jamboree super fan Mary Ann Puckett.

Tess Barton, Kathryn Hale, Katherine Gassaway, and Lillie Grace Young were inaugural members of this group from its first time competing at the Fiddlers’ Jamboree nine years ago in 2015 (under the name “Smithville Sugar Squares”). The group also danced under the name “Smithville Stompers” for a few years and added Sylvia Evans in the early years. Darrah Ramsey and Izayah Dowell joined the team for the 2019 season, and in 2021, the group settled on the name “Smithville Select.” That same year (2021), the team, wearing their coral and white costumes, placed third in the Jamboree marking the first time they had made the top three. Carleigh Beckham joined the group in 2022, and this exact group is in its third season together, having won first place at the Jamboree in 2022 and 2023. They have also received awards at the Wilson County / Tennessee State Fair as well as the Robert Spicer Tennessee State Buck-Dance Championship in Dickson, Tennessee.

When asked about this group, team leader Mary Ann Puckett enthusiastically noted, “This team is really special. They’ve worked so hard to get to this point and are always looking to improve, never satisfied with what they’ve done before. And they know how to make hard work fun!”

Puckett continued, “Select is made up of true go-getters. On this team of dancers, we have kids involved in so many different activities besides old-time dance. They play school basketball, softball, soccer, and tennis. They are football and basketball cheerleaders, pianists, public speakers, scholars, and many are involved in their churches. Some of them hold jobs. One is even involved with the University of Tennessee rowing team. This year’s DCHS Salutatorian Kathryn Hale is on this team, and Tess Barton ranked 11th in the DCHS Class of 2024. This is an outstanding group of young people.”

She concluded by saying, “These kids aren’t afraid to put themselves out there and give their best shot at trying things even when they don’t know all the answers. They know the importance of showing up again and again, and that dedication has been paramount to their success. One of my favorite quotes is, “It’s hard to beat someone who never gives up.” Select just kept coming back year after year, and it paid off!”

Puckett is thrilled to see her dancers receive some recognition and says she feels so lucky to have had the chance to work with these young people. “My time with Select will always be near to my heart no matter the future of this group. They have paved the way for a thriving old-time dance program in DeKalb County and have shown us what’s possible in the small world of competitive square dance, all the while bringing tremendous joy and pride to their families and our community.”

This year, Smithville Select will make their debut in the Jamboree’s Adult Square Dance competition later in the day on Saturday. Come downtown and see them.

July 4, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A woman was recently issued a citation by Smithville Police for providing alcohol to minors.

40-year-old Jessica Hunter of Smithville is cited for three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins said that on June 18 police were dispatched to Snow Street where parents reported alcohol having been bought for three juveniles. During an investigation, officers found evidence that Hunter had purchased alcohol for the minors. Her court date is July 11.

40-year-old Kelly Gibbs of McMinnville is charged with public intoxication. Chief Collins said that on June 13 an officer assisted EMS with an unruly person on Meadowbrook Drive. Upon arrival police observed Gibbs yelling and being belligerent toward EMS workers. Gibbs was unsteady on her feet, and she smelled of alcohol. Gibbs was placed in custody. Her bond was set at $2,000.

61-year-old Rodney William James of Alabama is charged with driving under the influence. Chief Collins said that on June 21 an officer while on patrol pulled over a red Jeep Wrangler on East Broad Street for traveling 58 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour speed zone. The driver, James had watery eyes. His speech was slurred, and he smelled of alcohol. According to Chief Collins, James admitted to having just left a club on Sparta Highway where he had consumed three alcoholic beverages. James refused to submit to field sobriety tasks or comply with the implied consent law. James was then placed in custody and a search warrant was obtained for a blood sample from him. He was also cited for speeding and violation of the implied consent law. Bond for James was set at $3,500 and his court date is July 11.

23-year-old Markus J. Majka of the Loop, Smithville is charged with evading and resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search. Chief Collins said that on June 24 an officer pulled over a black Chevy S-10 pickup truck. During the investigation a passenger, Majka jumped out and fled on foot into a back yard on Hooper Street. After a short search, Majka was found and placed in custody. His bond is $6,000 and he will be in court July 11.

July 4, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A Celebration!

The Community Chorus and Mary Ann Puckett’s Clogging and Square Dance Teams invite you to join them at the Evins Park Amphitheater downtown Smithville this evening (July 4) starting at 6 p.m. for an Independence Day Celebration.

Evins Park is located across from Justin Potter Library and the Smithville Post Office.

The Community Chorus, under the direction of long-time Director Faye Fuqua, will take the stage first featuring a patriotic-themed program but you’ll want to bring your own seating and get as close as possible because the concert will be held without a full sound system.

Fuqua explained that this performance is really a rehearsal for the featured performance of the chorus to be held on Friday night, July 5th on the main Jamboree stage at the east side of the courthouse during the opening ceremony starting at 6 p.m.

“We will do a fanfare of patriotic music first followed by a salute in honor of the military. This year our tribute is Roots music with tunes like “Will the Circle be Unbroken” and we will feature blues, folk, country, gospel and it will include a performance from children and even cloggers. Its all part of who we are in this area,” said Fuqua.

The community chorus’ involvement with the Jamboree, Fuqua explained dates back to the beginning in 1972

“Three of the Jamboree founders, Berry Williams, Congressman Joe L. Evins, and James G. “Bobo” Driver approached me and said they wanted to have a patriotic program around the 4th of July, and they asked me to help organize it. They especially wanted to involve high school students. I said let’s use people of all ages from the churches and they agreed. At that time were we doing the lighting of the tree at Christmas time, and I had put together a group for that so this is how it all began and from that I assured those three men that we would always have a patriotic program at the Jamboree,” Fuqua explained.

Jackie Smith, another community chorus veteran, said its an honor to be part of something that has become a tradition and is now known far and wide.

“I got involved around 1972 right after my husband Wade and I came back from overseas while he was in the service. I may have missed one or two performances but its something I look forward to each year. One thing we are very honored about is that the Jamboree was named some years ago as the official state festival,” said Smith.

Immediately Following the performance of the community chorus tonight (Thursday) at Evins Park 5 Square Dance Teams, led by the Square-Dancing Queen herself, Mary Ann Puckett, will dazzle the audience.

The performing Square Dance teams include:

•Smithville Select (who recently performed on The Grand Ole Opry stage)

•DeKalb Dancin’ Delights

•Center Hill Hoedown

•Caney Fork Circle Eights

•Ragland Bottom Roundup

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