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Upper Cumberland Middle School Math Contest

April 21, 2022
By: Bill Conger

Sixteen DeKalb West School students participated in the recent Upper Cumberland Middle School Math Contest at Tennessee Tech. 7th grader Leyton Scarbrough placed 2nd out of 126 7th graders; 6th graders Kaitlyn Swearinger placed 5th and Cameron Salas placed 8th out of 113 6th grade students.

The test was conducted as one continuous 60-minute test. It consisted of 30 problems/questions with multiple choice answers that cover material normally taught, plus challenge problems or questions.

Other students from DWS involved in the event were 6th graders Jordyn Agee and Autumn Crook, 7th graders Ben Barton, Ethan Brown, and Jennifer Fortune, and 8th graders Autumn Dies, Johnathan Keith, McKenna Miller, and Alex Vaughn.

Pictured front row left to right are Leyton Scarbrough, Alex Vaughn, Cameron Salas, Kaitlyn Swearinger, and Autumn Crook. Second row left to right are Jennifer Fortune, Johnathan Keith, Ben Barton, Ethan Brown, Autumn Dies, McKenna Miller, and Jordyn Agee.




Harvester Event Center Launches Inaugural Concert Series

April 20, 2022
By:

The historic Harvester Event Center located in Downtown Smithville, TN has scheduled its inaugural live music concert on Friday, May 20, 2022, with a performance by The Smoky Nights, the Upper Cumberland’s own regional recording songwriters/artists.

Bert Driver, a native of Smithville, TN, and a fifth-generation Nursery Owner/Proprietor is pleased to announce the opening the Harvester Event Center – a community gathering center, and live music performance venue, located in the thriving downtown area of Smithville, TN.

Driver comments, “Smithville and the Upper Cumberland has needed a place like the Harvester Event Center for a long time – I’m just happy to be able to be in a position to help our area grow culturally and fulfill some of my personal dreams at the same time. I wanted to create a space that allows folks to host “no worries” events that fit the exact theme or purpose they have in mind.”

Driver’s ongoing support of the “local vibe” was with him throughout the renovation of the Harvester. He has invested extensive work to transform a former farm equipment dealership, and later bank offices, into a unique mid-century venue. He says, “I am proud that almost all the work required to convert the 1946 International Tractor Dealership into the Harvester Event Center was done by local folks who possess excellent expertise in their particular field – they have my sincere thanks. Could never have done it without them!”

The Harvester Event Center features the International Hall with three modern chandeliers, catering kitchen with walk-in cooler, and glass garage roll-up doors that step onto The Mid-Town Patio overlooking historic West Main Street. The Flatwoods is the eye of the Harvester, and includes The Yella Dog Lounge, The Black Walnut Bar and Mezzanine, a performance stage with built-in sound system that features a 1929 brass chandelier from the Noel Hotel (now known as Noelle Hotel) in Nashville, sound booth and elevated video/photography platform, ice machine, and high-speed internet services.

In addition to offering concerts and performances to the public, the Harvester is now booking private events – weddings, corporate events, quinceañeras, and more. Tickets for the Harvester Event Center (and Bert Driver’s Burlap Room) are available at burlaproom.eventbrite.com. For more information about the Harvester Event Center visit www.harvestertn.com, or follow us on Facebook: @harvestertn, and Instagram: @harvestertn




Death investigation of man found two weeks ago takes new twist as his car is recovered from Center Hill Lake

April 20, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The death investigation of man found two weeks ago takes new twist as his car is recovered from Center Hill Lake

According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, a 2013 Chevy Malibu was recovered from the water at the Cookeville Boat Dock ramp in DeKalb County on Tuesday, April 19. The vehicle belonged to 37-year-old William Houghtaling, Jr of Baxter, whose body was found in the water at the Johnson Chapel Boat Ramp on April 6.

“No other details will be released at this time,” said Sheriff Ray.

The case is being investigated by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

In a statement released last week, Sheriff Ray said “Houghtaling was reported missing out of Cookeville City by the Cookeville Police Department in March 2022. The evening when the body was found (April 6), I contacted the District Attorney General’s Office and requested the assistance of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation due to a possible multi-county case. (Putnam and DeKalb) District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway requested the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to assist the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department with the case. No other information is available,” said Sheriff Ray.

The body was found floating face down in the lake Wednesday afternoon (April 6) at the Johnson Chapel Recreation area only a few feet from the boat ramp in about 3-4 feet of water.

According to Sheriff Ray the body was nude except for the pair of socks he was wearing, and identification was found tucked in one of the socks which matched that of Houghtaling.

The discovery was made by a fisherman.

“A man came to the area to check the lake to see if it (lake level) was up because he was going to go fishing when he noticed something near the boat ramp. At first, he thought it was an animal but as he got a closer look, he found it to be a human body. Because of the poor phone service in that area, the man went to the top of the hill to call 911 which did a transfer to White County and then the White County 911 center transferred it to DeKalb County,” added Sheriff Ray.




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