Fans of the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival are sure to be impressed with a brand new website promoting the annual event which was recently launched and is now available at www.fiddlersjamboree.com.

Members of the James G. “Bobo” Driver family, long-time supporters of the Jamboree, funded the new Fiddlers Jamboree website which features beautiful photos with easy to navigate information and a LIVE Twitter feed on the home page.

Mr. Driver founded the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners portion of the Fiddlers Jamboree during the 1980’s to showcase the talents of children up to the age of 12 in seven categories of music and dance competition.

Although tens of thousands attend the festival each year, the new website is designed to broaden its appeal to musicians, artisans, and tourists alike throughout the country and the world.

Read about the story and history of the Fiddlers Jamboree as well as State and Congressional Resolutions paying tribute to the festival. Check out the photo gallery with special memories of past years; a section devoted to previous winners; a schedule of events for this year as well as contestant rules and regulations, along with photos and information about the crafts show and downloadable registration forms. There’s even a listing of lodging locations and more!

For all things related to the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival, visit often and see what’s new at www.fiddlersjamboree.com

Early Voting times have been set for the August 2nd elections.

The DeKalb County Election Commission met Monday evening to make it official.

Early voting begins July 13 through July 28 on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

The times are as follows:

Mondays—1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesdays—9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesdays—9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursdays—2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Fridays—9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturdays—9 a.m. to noon.

Four contested races for county-wide public offices will be settled with the DeKalb County General Election on Thursday, August 2.

Those races are for County Mayor, Sheriff, Road Supervisor, and Circuit Court Clerk.

The lineup of candidates as they appear on the ballot are as follows:

County Mayor: Democrat Tim Stribling and Independent Randy Paris

Sheriff: Republican Patrick Ray and Democrat Michael Jay Agee

Circuit Court Clerk: Republican Susan Martin and Democrat Nicole Wright

Road Superintendent: Republican Danny L. Hale and Democrat Jimmy Sprague

Others running unopposed are as follows:

Trustee: Republican Sean D. Driver

County Clerk: Democrat James L. (Jimmy) Poss

Register of Deeds: Democrat Jeff McMillen

The winners will take office September 1.

Each of the seven county commission district races will be contested in the DeKalb County General Election on Thursday, August 2.

The lineup of candidates in each district as they appear on the ballot are as follows:

1st district: Republican Tom Chandler and Democrats Dennis Slager and Julie Williams Young. Two are to be elected.

2nd district: Republican Sabrina Farler and Democrats Nora Harvey and Myron Rhody. Two are to be elected.

3rd district: Republican Renee Steff and Democrats Bobby G. Johnson and Jenny Trapp. Two are to be elected.

4th district: Republican Greg Matthews and Democrats Janice Fish-Stewart and Scott Little. Two are to be elected.

5th district: Republican Jerry D. Adcock, Democrats Lloyd F. Emmons and Anita Puckett, and Independent William Millard Rutherford. Two are to be elected.

6th district: Republican Matt Adcock and Democrats Betty Jean Atnip and Jeff Barnes. Two are to be elected.

7th district: Republican Bruce Malone and Democrats Beth Pafford and Larry Summers. Two are to be elected.

The winners will take office September 1.

The Smithville Municipal Election will feature a contested mayoral race on Thursday, August 2.

The candidates for Mayor as listed on the ballot are Josh Miller, Jimmy W. Poss, and Curtis L. Rust.

Two alderman candidates are running unopposed, Brandon J. Cox and Gayla C. Hendrix.

The winners will take office September 1. The terms are for four years.

The Liberty Municipal Election also has a contested Mayor race on August 2.

The candidates are Darrell W. Johnson and Dwight Mathis.

The five alderman candidates are unopposed including Dwayne Blair, J.D. Bratten, Derek Johnson, Jason H. Ray, and William Howard Reynolds, Jr.

The terms are for four years.

Three aldermen are to be elected in Dowelltown but only one name appears on the ballot, Ronald L. Griffith. The terms are for four years.

Three aldermen and a mayor are also to be elected in Alexandria but only one name for alderman appears on the ballot Lloyd Dale Dyer. Two other persons plan to mount a write-in campaign for alderman including Shane Blair, an incumbent, for a full four-year term and Bridgette Rogers, for a two-year term that fills a vacancy.

There is no name on the Alexandria ballot for mayor although two persons Bennett Armstrong and Donna Davis are planning a write-in campaign for that office.

The mayor’s term is for four years.