“Mountain Man” Tim Guraedy of Duck Dynasty Fame to Make Smithville his home

August 6, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A popular and colorful character from the Duck Dynasty reality television series which aired on A&E from 2012 to 2017 is making his home in Smithville.

Tim Guraedy, best known to the show’s millions of hard-core fans as “Mountain Man,” was invited to the monthly meeting of the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen Monday evening to offer the opening prayer.

As a regular on Duck Dynasty, Guraedy was the slow-talking air-conditioning repairman/radio host and a neighbor to the Robertsons, the Louisiana family that made a fortune from best-selling duck calls, and around which the Duck Dynasty show was based. Mountain Man was the only semi-regular cast member who was not a Robertson family member or employee of Duck Commander.

While he was born in Louisiana, Guraedy moved around a bit in his youth, spending time in Minnesota, Tennessee and Indiana. But the lure of the Bayou State was too strong, and Guraedy returned to Louisiana, where he made his home for several years before moving back to Tennessee. He lived in West Monroe, LA, the small town made famous by Duck Dynasty and Duck Commander. For to know Mountain Man is to know a man whose Christian faith is a big part of who he is. “Life’s not easy, but I have God in my life and it’s so much better. So much better,” he has said. This faith, as well as his celebrity, is now allowing him the opportunity to reach out to people who need inspiration. Guraedy is also an avid outdoorsman, enjoying both fresh and saltwater fishing, as well as hunting for everything from wild boar to, well, ducks, of course.

August 5, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Sworn in!

Four days after election day, the newly elected Mayor of Alexandria, Beth Tripp and Aldermen elect Lucas “Luke” Dylan Prichard, Robert “Bobby” Alex Simpson, and Jonathon Tripp took their oath of office from County Mayor Matt Adcock at the courthouse Monday.

Beth Tripp was elected to fill an unexpired term during Thursday’s Alexandria Municipal Election. She received a total of 88 votes to win the seat. Tripp’s name was the only one on the ballot for mayor, but an active write-in campaign was staged by two others, Rodney Allen Lawson, who received 64 votes and Russell “Rusty” Allen Bradshaw who had 18 write-in votes.

Tripp’s husband Jonathon Tripp was elected to a full four-year term as aldermen with 92 votes. Tripp’s name was the only one on the ballot for the position. Two others, Lucas “Luke” Dylan Prichard and Robert “Bobby” Alex Simpson were elected to a full four-year aldermen term through a write-in effort. Prichard received 74 write-in votes and Simpson garnered 73. Two other write-in candidates were unsuccessful in their quest for a full four-year term as alderman including Bobbie Jo Ford who received 24 votes and Curtis James Rutter who had 32 write-in votes.

Jeff Ford was elected to fill an unexpired alderman term with 79 votes. His was the only name on the ballot to fill the vacancy. There were no write-in candidates for the unexpired term.

Ford was not present for the swearing in ceremony Monday.

August 5, 2024
By:

Payne Denman is set to join Tennessee’s men’s golf coaching staff as an assistant coach, head coach Brennan Webb announced Sunday.

Denman joins Webb and fellow assistant coach Bo Andrews, who are each entering their seventh season on Rocky Top in 2024-25.

“We are excited to add Payne to our staff,” said Webb. “As a world class amateur player who still competes at the elite levels of amateur golf, Payne brings a unique perspective to our program that will be a tremendous resource for our players.

“As well, Payne’s familiarity with our players and staff will allow him to fit seamlessly into our program and allow him to hit the ground running.”

Denman spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at MTSU. During the 2023-24 season, Denman helped guide Middle Tennessee to a team win at the Daniel Island Intercollegiate and he aided in the development of his players individually and ultimately saw five Blue Raiders earn All-CUSA awards.

Additionally, MTSU golfer Owen Stamper was selected to the 2024 West Lafayette Regional as an individual.

In the 2022-23 season, Denman helped four players earn All-CUSA honors as Stamper earned Conference USA Player of the Year. In year one as an assistant coach with the Blue Raiders, he also helped lead them to a second-place stroke play finish at the 2023 Conference USA Championships and an NCAA Regional berth.

On top of his coaching endeavors, Denman currently holds amateur status as a player.

The Riverwatch, Tennessee, (DeKalb County) native won the 2024 Tennessee State Amateur Championship at Tennessee National Golf Club after firing an 18-under total. Denman etched his name in Tennessee Golf Association history and became the first Tennessee State Amateur winner to receive exemption into the U.S. Amateur for his state championship victory.

Denman also made a quarterfinal run at the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball with partner Brett Patterson and most recently finished runner-up in the Tennessee State Amateur Four-Ball while playing alongside Whit Turnbow.

Denman played collegiately for MTSU from 2012-15 after transferring from Florida, making his mark on the program’s record book. He finished with 26 rounds of par or better, tied for 15th in the career rankings.

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