Fiddlers Jamboree In Progress (View Video Below)

July 5, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The 48th annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree is now in progress.

(View Video Below of  Junior Clogger contestant Shelby Dunn earlier today)

WJLE is broadcasting the on-stage entertainment LIVE on AM 1480 FM 101.7 and LIVE stream at www.wjle.com.

The Saturday session, July 6 starts at 9 a.m.

Part of the fun of the two day festival is the shade tree picking or sidewalk picking as was the case with a band Thursday evening (VIEW VIDEO BELOW) featuring Harry Greek on dobro, Danny Cowan on guitar, Carolyn Davis, Craig Wilbanks on guitar, Axel Rico on banjo, and Bryan Jones on upright bass.

With over 35 music and dance categories, streets full of hand-made crafts, and over a dozen food booths, there is something for everyone at the Jamboree. You have to experience it in person…come and see the Jamboree!

Preliminaries will be held in the following categories on Friday, July 5:

Old Time Appalachian Folksinging (Solo); Junior Clogging (ages 13-39); Junior Buck Dancing (ages 13-39); Old-Time Appalachian Folksinging (Duet, Trio, Quartet); Dobro Guitar; Mountain Dulcimer; Hammer Dulcimer; Novelty Event (Spoon Clacking, Jug Blowing, Washboard, Tub, Saws-Appalachian Related Only); Autoharp, Gospel Singing (Solo); Country Harmonica; Old Time Banjo; Youth Square Dancing (4 Couples-8 Total Dancers); Gospel Singing (Duet,Trio, and Quartet); Mandolin; and Old Time Fiddle Band.

The top three acts in each category will be called back for the finals on Friday night and a first, second, and third place will be awarded.

A United States flag and a Tennessee State flag will be presented on Friday evening. The flags, which have flown over the state capitol, go to the persons who travel the greatest distances, both from inside and outside the country, to get here. The flags will be presented by State Senator Mark Pody and State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Clark Boyd.

The Smithville Community Chorus is expected to perform with a variety of patriotic songs.

Fiddler’s Jamboree Craft Awards will be presented during the weekend for “Best of Show”, “Best Appalachian Craft”, “Best Newcomer”, and “Best Craft Display”

On Saturday, July 6, preliminaries will be held in the following categories:

Junior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance (ages up to 39); Senior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance ( ages 40 and over); Senior Buckdancing (ages 40 and over); Senior Clogging (ages 40 and over); Bluegrass Banjo; Junior Fiddlers (ages 13-39); Flat Top Guitar; Contest Fiddle for the Neil Dudney Award; Bluegrass Band; Senior Fiddlers (ages 40 and over); and Square Dancing (4 Couples-8 Total Dancers).

Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be called back Saturday night to compete for first, second, and third place.

Bluegrass legend, Ronnie Reno, will be honored with the 2019 Blue Blaze Award on Saturday, July 6th during the festival at approximately 5pm followed by a mini-concert performed by Reno on the main stage

The winners of the Junior and Senior Fiddling competition will square off for the Grand Champion Award, the Berry C. Williams Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the festival.

Meanwhile, the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners will be held Saturday afternoon, July 6 during the Jamboree featuring competitions for children, up to age twelve, in the categories of Buck Dancing, Clogging, Dobro Guitar, Mandolin, Five String Banjo, Flat Top Guitar, and Fiddle.

Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be brought back to compete for first, second, and third place.

One child will receive the Best Overall Instrumental Entertainer Trophy Award and the top fiddler will get the James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Trophy.

In addition to the on-stage musical entertainment, the Fiddlers Jamboree will feature many crafts, plenty of delicious food; and lots of shade tree picking around the public square.

WJLE will broadcast most of the on-stage entertainment LIVE on AM 1480/ FM 101.7 and LIVE Streaming at www.wjle.com.

For more information on the festival, go to www.fiddlersjamboree.com

July 4, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A fire Wednesday evening destroyed a mobile camper trailer on Jacobs Pillar Road.

DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green said Sherry Gunter lived in the trailer but was not home at the time. A neighbor who lives in an adjacent camper and who owned Gunter’s trailer spotted the smoke and reported it. The fire quickly spread and consumed the trailer and all of Gunter’s belongings.

IMG_7679 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Firefighters contained the blaze to keep it from spreading although heat from the fire melted fiberglass on the exterior of the neighbor’s camper trailer only 8 feet away.

The cause of the fire is undetermined

Members of the Main Station, Cookeville Highway, and Midway stations responded.

Meanwhile lightning struck a large shed belonging to Linda Cantrell on Allen Bend Road in the Belk Community Wednesday at about the same time as the fire on Jacobs Pillar Road.

Chief Green said the lightning strike on the eave of the shed sparked a fire in the attic.

Firefighters were summoned and snuffed out the smoldering blaze without any major damage to the shed.

Members of the Belk and Keltonburg Stations responded along with the tanker truck.

July 4, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Teachers and members of the support staff at Smithville Elementary School met their new principal Wednesday during an informal “meet” and “greet”.

Summer Cantrell has been named by Director of Schools Patrick Cripps to take on the position of principal at SES while Amanda Dakas will be serving as assistant principal.

“I am very excited to be part of the community and part of the family at Smithville Elementary School,” said Principal Cantrell.

She comes to SES from Parkview Elementary School in Putnam County where she was assistant principal for four years working with Principal Bobby Winningham.

Although Cantrell is new to the school system, she is not a complete stranger to DeKalb County. Cantrell is married to Collin Cantrell, son of Boyd and Brenda Cantrell of Smithville, and they are members of the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church. Collin and Summer have one son, Knox, who will soon be turning 4 years old. They now make their home in Smithville.

“I am so excited about meeting the parents and people in the community. I already know some of them because I have been distantly part of DeKalb County by marrying into family from here but now it is my home too and I look forward to serving the community as well as our students, parents, and teachers,” said Principal Cantrell.

“I have been in education almost 20 years and half of that time in administration and leadership. I taught at schools in West Tennessee and also had some leadership opportunities there when we relocated for a short time but I have been in Putnam County the longest,” she said.

Asked about her vision for the school, Principal Cantrell said she wants to foster a spirit of unity and teamwork under her leadership.

“I know that this school is well grounded in tradition and there are some amazing teachers here. I have heard nothing but wonderful things about the entire staff and faculty here. This year I want to learn more about the school and our teachers. My vision overall is that we be a team and work together. Ms Dakas and I have both expressed that. We want our school to come together in unity so that when our students leave second grade and go into third grade they are ready on all levels. We all want them to be successful students because this is the foundation for when they graduate years later and go into a career. This is where it all starts. If we create a solid foundation with community support and teamwork that will come to fruition,” said Principal Cantrell.

Director Cripps said Cantrell will be a good fit as Principal for Smithville Elementary School.

“She comes to us from Putnam County. I called several people over there and talked with them and other people who knew her outside of school trying to learn all I could about her. They said she was strong in her data and she is willing to make changes. She loves kids and that is first and foremost for me especially at this age level. I think it’s important that when a kid comes into the school system that they have a good first impression. We want to set the standard and expectation that they are going to be loved when they come here. Summer and Amanda will bring that to us. I am excited about the team and the ideas she has for her school,” said Director Cripps.

“I wanted someone as principal here who would challenge me and one who has other ideas. That is something Summer will bring to us. Often times we do something over and over until we get complacent. We want our kids to be on their grade level and even on a higher level. That is something she will be challenged with but I think when she gets here and digs in and sees the data and what is needed she will meet that challenge. We’re not here to tell her what to do. We’re here as a resource. This is her school and her teachers’ school and I believe they will work hand in hand and meet the needs of each individual child,” added Director Cripps.

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