News
Alexandria Town Council Poised to Hire New Police Chief
March 25, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
The appointment of a new police chief and a new officer is on agenda for Tuesday night’s monthly meeting of the Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen.
The meeting will be held Tuesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. at city hall.
The naming of a new chief is scheduled to come in the wake of the firing of Chief Kenneth K.D. Smith last Thursday night, March 20.
The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
Mayor Beth Tripp to open the meeting
Roll Call
Prayer and Pledge
Approval of minutes from last meeting
Open the floor for resident input to speak on agenda items only
Appointment of a Police Chief and a new officer
Department monthly reports- Fire, Water/Sewer, Streets, Financial, Attorney, and Mayor
Unfinished business-Seay Church (James Duke Family), Engineer (Evan White)
New Business- Reserve officer to move to part time. Address sidewalks in front of the coffee shop. Change to Government software from Quickbooks. Plaque for Vester Parsley, former city attorney
Easter- set a date and time for community Easter egg hunt
Town of Alexandria Movie Night 2025 (per approval).
Adjourn
State Lawmakers to Honor Local Church on its 75th Anniversary
March 25, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
State Representative Michael Hale has introduced a resolution in the Tennessee General Assembly to honor the New Life United Pentecostal Church on the celebration of its 75th anniversary.
The resolution is as follows:
“WHEREAS, New Life United Pentecostal Church of Smithville has stood on the rock solid foundation of Christian belief, service, and love for seventy-five years, serving as a bastion of faith and outreach to the people of its community; and
WHEREAS, in 1945, Sister Trudie Colvert was the first to bring the message of Oneness, Jesus’s Name baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, as preached in Acts 2, to the Smithville/DeKalb County area; and
WHEREAS, on May 1, 1949, the church became affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church (UPC) International, with the first building being purchased in 1952 and named the First Pentecostal Church; and
WHEREAS, over the years, several families have served as pastor to spread the good news throughout the community, including Trudie Colvert, EE Cooper, Robert Rutledge, Jesse Plunk, Norman Welcher, Marvin Tidrick, E.A. Calvin, Edward Grace, Sr., Larry Sims, Doyle Neal, Ralph Yarbro, Roger Moore, Howard Smith, C.W. Milam, Paul Sanders, and Dwayne Cornelius; and
WHEREAS, three separate UPC churches existed in the Smithville/DeKalb County area at one time, and New Life emerged from the merger of the three congregations in a special service in August of 1987, when they officially became one congregation under the name of New Life United Pentecostal Church, with Paul Sanders elected as the pastor; and
WHEREAS, Brother Sanders oversaw the building of a new church facility at 860 Congress Boulevard, and the first service was held there in September 1992; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Sanders retired in 2006, and Reverend Dwayne Cornelius was elected as pastor in April 2007; and WHEREAS, a remodel of the original New Life church building took place in 2009; and
WHEREAS, after the purchase of property next to the church, a remodel and conversion of the Pamida building was completed in 2012, adding 36,000 square feet of space to use for God’s glory; and
WHEREAS, upon the completion of that building, a fully accredited children’s program, the Kids Connection Early Learning Center, was established, and the vision of a Christian private school began as DeKalb Christian Academy in 2017; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, a new sanctuary was completed, and the original New Life church building became “The 860,” a facility designed to house the children’s ministry department; and
WHEREAS, the church now consists of two campuses, with three buildings totaling 60,000 square feet and serving over 300 constituents; and
WHEREAS, New Life United Pentecostal Church is one of the great religious institutions and catalysts for positive spiritual change in our State and nation, and the members of this exceptional congregation should be appropriately honored for their exemplary service to their fellow Christians and to the good people of Tennessee; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, that we join with the pastor and congregation of New Life United Pentecostal Church of Smithville in celebrating the seventy-five years they have spent building God’s Kingdom, thank these good people for their notable service to their Lord and the State of Tennessee, and wish them much continued success.
A Rebel without a home! (View Video Here)
March 23, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A Rebel without a home!
Who could resist “Rebel”? This super sweet cuddle bug is now available for adoption at a discount at the DeKalb Animal Shelter?
“Rebel is about four or five years old. We think he is sort of a Pointer, German Wirehaired mix. He is a good boy, super sweet, and he would be a great hiking partner as well as a great couch cuddle buddy. Rebel is already neutered and up to date on vaccines. He has been dewormed, and he is on flea and tick prevention. He is sponsored so his adoption fee is only $50,” said DAS Director McKenna Frazier
If you are interested in meeting Rebel, fill out an application on the animal shelter website or come in. Visit https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/ or call 615-597-3647.
The shelter is open Mondays-Fridays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Transfer Station Road off Highway 70 east behind Tenneco.
