Smithville Christmas Parade and “Christmas on the Square” Set for December 7

November 13, 2024
By:

Get ready to embrace the spirit of the season as Smithville gears up for an unforgettable holiday celebration. The Smithville Christmas Parade and the 23rd Annual “Christmas on the Square” are again joining forces to make Saturday, December 7th, a day filled with joy, festivities, and cherished memories.

The Smithville Christmas Parade will kick off the festivities at 4 PM, but the line-up for the participants begins at 2 PM at the New Life Connection Center, 750 S. Congress Blvd., Smithville. The parade route will commence from the New Life Connection Center, proceeding along South Congress Blvd. and culminating in the heart of Downtown Smithville Square. Grand Marshalls for the parade will be this year’s Mr. DeKalb County – Smithville Mayor Josh Miller, and Ms. DeKalb County – Smithville Alderman Beth Chandler. Honorary Grand Marshalls will be Aaron and Thea Tippin.

Following the Smithville Parade, the enchanting “Christmas on the Square” and “Downtown Live Windows” extravaganza will begin at 5:30 PM. The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber cordially invites all attendees to stay and immerse themselves in the joy of the holiday season with an array of delightful activities in downtown Smithville.

Highlighted Events at “Christmas on the Square” include:

Chamber of Commerce “Live Windows” Contest: People of all ages love the “Live Windows.” Downtown businesses and offices will adorn their windows with amazingly creative “live” scenes, and beautifully decorated interiors for the occasion starting at 5:30 PM. Smithville Mayor Josh Miller and Chamber Director Suzanne Williams will present awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, in addition to a “Chamber Choice” award. Mayor Miller will personally donate $350 to the 1st place winner to be donated to the charity of their choice.

DeKalb Courthouse: Make sure to visit the DeKalb Courthouse to visit with elected county officials and partake in complimentary refreshments within a festive atmosphere. The courthouse’s exterior will dazzle with large Christmas trees adorning both sides.

Smithville City Hall: Experience the magic of the season with festive outdoor Christmas displays, accompanied by holiday music playing outdoors. Inside, you can enjoy cookies and admire the interior decorations.

FREE Photo Booth: Sponsored by the City of Smithville, a photo booth will be available on the main floor of the courthouse for visitors to capture cherished moments.

Refuge Church: After the parade, head to Refuge Church at 303 Public Square, where they will be serving hot soup while it lasts and providing a place to warm up.

Justin-Potter Library: Bring your camera! Santa himself will be making a special appearance at the library from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, offering photo opportunities for children. Each child will also receive a Christmas take-home craft.

Christmas Shopping: Discover an array of holiday specials and extended shopping hours at downtown stores, making it the perfect opportunity to select unique and wonderful Christmas gifts. Shops will be open until 8 PM.

Smithville Electric: Be captivated by the dazzling lights at Evins Park’s Open-Air Stage, beautifully decorated by Smithville Electric employees, creating a magical atmosphere.

Parking Information

Parade Participants: Only parade entries will be allowed to enter the New Life Connection location. Overflow parking will be at the DeKalb County Complex.

Downtown: The Downtown Smithville square will be partially blocked off for the event to make it more pedestrian-friendly. Streets on the north side of the square will be closed. But the Smithville city parking lot will be open and accessible from Don Cantrell Road (behind Evins Park).

November 12, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County needs community volunteers to become part of an effort to advocate for and promote the best interests of abused and neglected children in DeKalb County working with the juvenile court system.

Through the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, volunteers, just like you, stand up for and speak out to help children who have been abused and neglected. Advocates work to ensure that the court recognizes these children’s right to a safe, loving, and permanent home.

The mission of CASA is to recruit and train volunteers to give a voice to abused children within the juvenile court system and become the local leader in advocacy by educating the public as to the scope and availability of the services for the protection of children.

DeKalb County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Brandon Cox has announced a community meeting to introduce the program on Tuesday, November 19 from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the county complex. All interested are urged to attend.

Tennessee currently has 20,000 vulnerable children waiting for CASA volunteers to support them in their search for a safe, loving and permanent home. CASA is part of a network of 951 CASA programs across the country.

Volunteer advocates—empowered directly by the courts—offer judges the critical information they need to ensure that each child’s rights and needs are being attended to while in foster care.

Volunteers help children until they are placed in loving permanent homes. For many abused children, a CASA volunteer is the only constant adult presence in their lives.

Judge Cox said a DeKalb County CASA program will be an extension of Cannon County CASA.

“We are trying to bring Court appointed special advocates into DeKalb County,” said Judge Cox. “CASA is in several counties around us including Rutherford, Cannon, and Warren County and this one in DeKalb County would be expanded out of Cannon County. Its grant funded with community partners.

“CASA is basically a volunteer program in which members of the community can become trained and involved in the juvenile court system mainly with children who are dependent and neglected or abused. Volunteers are trained to be advocates for the kids and help get involved in their lives while assisting the court system as best we can to reunify or get the children some permanency. It’s a really helpful program. We have not had it here before but it’s a way of getting our community involved in these cases with vulnerable kids,” explained Judge Cox.

“We are having an initial meeting on November 19 at the county complex. Its an introductory meeting as to what the program is all about as well as the training expected of volunteers. It will take six to eight months to get everybody trained and everything up and running. I’m excited because we have more and more kids involved with DCS and the foster care system with few available resources. This is another tool we can use in our court system to hopefully help these kids,” said Judge Cox.

To RSVP for the community meeting on November 19 scan the QR code shown here. For further information visit www.beforthechild.org

November 12, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A Sparta woman lost her life in a two-vehicle crash Monday afternoon on Highway 70 east in the Hillcrest area.

Dead is 57-year-old Rhonda Wilson.

According to Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Wilson was traveling east in a 2005 silver Buick LeSabre as 32-year-old Jason Ervin of Smithville was heading west in a 2013 red Toyota Tacoma.

Ervin’s vehicle came across the double yellow line into the eastbound lane and struck Wilson’s car. Ervin told Trooper Delong that he had fallen asleep. Wilson tried unsuccessfully to avoid the collision. Upon impact Wilson’s car went off the right side of the road onto the grass and came to rest facing north. Ervin’s truck overturned on the passenger side in the eastbound lane. Wilson died at the scene. Ervin was apparently uninjured. Both were wearing their seatbelts.

Members of the DeKalb Fire Department Rescue Team used extrication tools to better access the body for removal from the wreckage.

Trooper Delong said Ervin was cited for failing to maintain lane of travel and for no insurance. DeKalb EMS and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene along with other THP officers.

Meanwhile, a woman’s hand was reportedly severed in a separate crash late Saturday night on Highway 146 near Tabernacle Road.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol reports that 29-year-old Laura P. Palomo Morales was traveling North on Short Mountain Highway in a 2016 Jeep Cherokee when the vehicle went off the right side of the roadway and then came back onto the highway. The Jeep then traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree head-on where it came to a final rest in a yard.

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