Smithville First Free Will Baptist Church Welcomes New Pastor (View Video Here)

June 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Andy Patterson is the new pastor of the Smithville First Free Will Baptist Church and he will be preaching his first sermon there on Sunday, June 30.

Patterson and his family moved here this week from Erwin, Tennessee where he has been minister for 8 years.

He is the focus of this week’s WJLE Preacher Feature.

“We just moved in on Monday. We came in from Erwin which is about a three and a half hour drive and we’re still getting everything unloaded. We’ll probably be living out of boxes for a while,” said Patterson.

Born and raised in Cookeville, Patterson was educated in Putnam County and met his wife Charity there.

“I am from Cookeville. I was born in 1979 and lived there for the first 20 years of my life. I met my wife there at Cookeville High School. We were high school sweethearts and went to each other’s proms,” he said.

Patterson said he became a Christian in 1995 and soon after felt the call to preach.

“ I had never been in church or thought anything about church but after being in a car accident I felt an incredible urge that I needed to get in church and I did. I met the Lord in 1995 at a little church called Lilly’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church at Baxter and from there I just had this strange sense and burden that I needed to preach even though I was the most bashful person in the world. In 1996 I preached my first sermon. It was on the Ten Commandments and I preached every one of them in five minutes. That was pretty interesting. I don’t do that anymore but 1996 is when I began preaching and the Lord blessed us to preach all over the Upper Cumberland region. In 2000 we moved from Cookeville on up to Glasgow, Kentucky and I was pastor there for 10 years. I preached for about a year in Arkansas and then we have been in East Tennessee at Erwin for 8 years. It was a leap of faith but God has been so good to us all these years,” he said.

After being away from this area for several years, Patterson said he and his family sought to return and learned that the Smithville First Free Will Baptist Church was in search of a new pastor after longtime minister Bernard Houk had decided to retire.

“ We had a real burden to come home after 20 years because I have roots here in Middle Tennessee and my family is all still in the Cookeville area. To be honest I just missed my mamma and daddy so we began to pray that God would allow us to come home. I reached out to a preacher friend in Cookeville and asked if he knew any place that was open. Brother Bernard Houk had just announced his retirement here in Smithville so they put me in contact with them and the rest is history and we are excited to be in DeKalb County and Smithville,” said Patterson.

The Patterson’s are the proud parents of two children, 16 year old Noah and 14 year old Hannah who will be attending DeKalb County High School starting this fall.

“They are nervous but excited. My daughter is in the band and has already met Mr. Tracy Luna. We’re excited about being in this community and everybody has been so wonderful in welcoming us with open arms,” he said.

Asked about his vision for the church, Patterson said it is to continue and expand on the work already being done there.

“My vision for this church would be to reach out to the community. I know DeKalb County is like a lot of others. There are many needs and I think the church has a great responsibility not only to look inward but to reach outward. My wife has really had a great ministry through the years reaching out to folks in need and that inspires me. We would like to translate that here to Smithville. I know the First Free Will Baptist Church has been a great church in this community but we want to continue to reach out to this town and be a blessing to people. I know folks are struggling with so much and times are hard for a lot of people but I feel that the church can help alleviate some of that so that is our passion. Not to be just an inward church but to reach out to people in need,” said Patterson.

Services at the Smithville First Free Will Baptist Church are Sunday School at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m. evening service at 6 p.m. and Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

“We would love to have anybody from anywhere come see us no matter what you are facing or what you are going through. All are welcome and we would love to have you join with us anytime,” said Patterson.

June 28, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The show will go on!

Repairs began to the Fiddlers Jamboree stage Friday after a storm blew through Thursday afternoon knocking down the canopy and the beams that supported it. The front of the stage also sustained some structural damage.

(Video shows forklift vehicle removing supporting beams for the stage canopy blown down by the storn Thursday)

“We had about a 60 mile an hour wind shear hit the stage just head on from a storm Thursday afternoon. It damaged our canopy but the canopy is being removed. We had a little damage to the front of the stage but it’s being repaired now and we’re moving forward with the 48^th annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree,” said Sam Stout, Fiddlers Jamboree President and Coordinator.

Although the stage will be ready by the time the festival begins next Friday, July 5^th the canopy will not be erected back this year

“ The awning and bracing will not be here this year so everybody on stage will have to wear their sun block or a hat but we’re not going to let a little bump in the road get a Tennessee tradition down,” said Stout.

June 28, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The Alexandria property tax rate will remain the same for another year but most water and sewer customers there will soon see an increase in rates.

During the regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, the Alexandria Aldermen adopted on second and final reading the city’s budget ordinance for the 2019-20 fiscal year beginning July 1.

Alexandria property owners will continue to pay .7944 cents per $100 of assessed value. The only major pending capital project listed for the year in the general fund is $35,000 for the purchase of a police vehicle.

The city was forced to take action on rates affecting its 970 water and 405 sewer customers

Under the new budget, current water and sewer rates will not change for customers inside the city using the minimum up to 2,000 gallons per month. Their water bill will remain at $26.00 plus tax and their sewer at $20.00 per month. But for usage above the minimum, water and sewer customers will pay $10.40 per thousand, up from the current rate of $7.77 per thousand.

For example, an inside the city water customer who uses 5,000 gallons per month will see their monthly bill go from $49.31 to $57.20 per month plus tax while bills for sewer customers using 5,000 gallons a month will jump from a current bill of $43.31 to $51.20 per month.

Water customers outside the city will pay $34.52 per month (no sewer), up from $28.52 for the minimum plus tax and $12.48 per thousand above the minimum, up from the current rate of $7.77 per thousand.

For at least three years Alexandria’s water and sewer fund has lost money operating in the “red” which is in violation of state law. The city was ordered months ago by the state’s water and wastewater financing board to come up with a plan to correct the issue or be subject to the state setting the rates for the utility. In response to the order Alexandria asked the municipal technical advisory service (MTAS) to conduct a rate analysis to essentially give the city guidance on how much rates should be adjusted to bring the utility into compliance.

Also in order to comply with the state’s order, Alexandria had to offer a five year plan of action for making capital improvements to the water and sewer system. The MTAS study also covered that including a plan on how the city would pay for it. The city is hoping to obtain funding through a Rural Development Loan, a State Revolving Fund Loan, and a Community Development Block Grant for the needed projects.

Pending capital projects planned for the city’s water and sewer fund in the coming year include $12,000 for a sewer plant equipment upgrade and $6,000 for new water meters, the first of a four year (water meter) project.

“The water meters are regular read so we are just updating in Zones to help identify areas with water loss and are included at $6,000 per year in our future projects,” said Elizabeth Tetlow,  Municipal Financial Officer/City Recorder.

Future plans are to upgrade the city’s sewer plant and collection system, a $1,350,000 project and a $30,000 water pump motor upgrade.

Ordinance No 2018-6 2019-2020 Budget

Minimum Bill Rates7-1-2019

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