Smithville Jamboree announces Smithville Select to Perform at Grand Ole Opry on May 18th

May 7, 2024
By:

Smithville Select, the reigning champion of the Fiddlers Jamboree Youth Square Dancing competition, is set to dazzle audiences at the iconic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Led by Mary Ann Puckett, this talented youth square dance team will share the stage with the Opry Square Dancers and some of country music’s biggest stars.

The performance is scheduled for Saturday, May 18th, at 7:00 PM at the Opry House. The lineup for the evening includes performances from Jason Crabb, Gary Mule Deer, Vince Gill, Chapel Hart, and Old Crow Medicine Show.

The journey to the Grand Ole Opry began when Smithville Select clinched the Youth Square Dancing Title at last year’s Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival. The team has been rehearsing diligently, blending traditional square dance moves with a modern twist to create an unforgettable show.

“Performing at the Grand Ole Opry is a dream come true,” says Mary Ann Puckett, the team’s leader. “Our dancers have poured their hearts into every step, and we’re ready to showcase our talent on this legendary stage.”

Join Smithville Select as they make their mark on the Grand Ole Opry stage, proving that square dancing is alive and well in Tennessee. The 53rd Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree & Craft Festival will be held July 5th – 6th, 2024. For more information, visit smithvillejamboree.com Ticket and Opry information can be found at Country Music’s Biggest Stage | Opry.

May 7, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Almost every year at least one or more seniors at DCHS completes the credits necessary to earn an Associate degree from Motlow State Community College just as they are finishing up their high school studies in preparation for graduation.

Such is the case this year for Alex Antoniak, son of Sean and Jessica Antoniak, who can now proudly call himself a college graduate while he awaits his high school diploma which will be presented to him Friday night, May 10 during the commencement for the Class of 2024 at DCHS starting at 7 p.m. on the football field.

Through Motlow College’s dual enrollment program, high school students like Antoniak can earn college credits while still enrolled in high school. Students can take classes on a Motlow College campus, online, or even at a partner high school like DCHS.

According to the Motlow website, Dual Enrollment participation requirements are as follows:

• 3.0 High School GPA (2.5 GPA for CTE courses, such as Mechatronics) and a 3.0 GPA in a student’s high school classes in the subject area they wish to take collegiate classes, or ACT subscores of 18 English, 19 Reading, 19 Math

• “Homeschool students must have qualifying ACT scores (must have a composite of 21 or higher to get two free classes in a semester). If a homeschooled student doesn’t have an ACT composite of 21 or higher, he/she may receive more than one grant in a single semester if he/she has maintained a B average after the completion of at least two collegiate courses”.

Some high schools may have more stringent eligibility requirements

In a recent prepared question and answer interview with WJLE, Antoniak talked about his high school and dual enrollment experiences

Q: Have you already received your Associate of Science degree from Motlow?

“As of May 6th, I have an Associate degree in Computer Science from Motlow. The ceremony was held Monday night at MTSU, but I did not attend,” said Antoniak

Q: How long have you been working toward the degree through the dual enrollment program at DCHS?

“In 7th grade, I was given the ability to take high school Algebra. In 8th grade, I took freshman English, Biology, and Geometry classes. Because I had such a head start on high school courses, I was able to begin working toward my Associate degree as a freshman”.

Q: Were your college courses taken online?

“Other than Calculus I, which I took on campus, all my courses were online”.

Q: Was dual enrollment challenging since you have been so active at DCHS with academics and sports?

“Trying to balance basketball and dual enrollment did present some challenges. However, because I was able to spread the courses out over four years, I was not overwhelmed with schoolwork during basketball season”.

Q: How does it feel to have earned your degree at Motlow before being awarded your high school diploma, which will come Friday night, May 10?

“It is a great feeling to earn my degree from Motlow before my peers and I receive our high school diploma on Friday. I am proud to say that I have taken complete advantage of my opportunity to get a head start on post-secondary education,” Antoniak explained

Q: What are your plans after high school?

“I plan to further my college education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I will be pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering”.

Q: Would you recommend dual enrollment to others trying to decide their future?

“I would recommend dual enrollment to others trying to decide their future. It is a great opportunity to get ahead and prepare yourself for the next level of education”.

Q: Have you enjoyed your high school experience at DCHS?

“I have enjoyed my years at DCHS. I played basketball all four years and was a member of the Beta club my senior year. My favorite memories are playing Mario Super Sluggers on the Wii when we had our work done and being named Athlete of the Week after missing a dunk attempt on Senior Night. I will definitely miss the friends and countless memories that I have made here,” said Antoniak.

May 6, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A tornado touched down in Smithville Monday afternoon causing structure damage and downed utility lines and trees mainly on the north and eastern portions of the city and county especially along Allen’s Ferry Road and North Congress Boulevard (Highway 56 North). No serious injuries were reported.

The first Tornado Warning alert for DeKalb County was issued by the National Weather Service at 4:24 p.m. followed by another alert six minutes later that a tornado was confirmed by radar and located over Smithville moving east at 25 miles per hour.

Local businessman Jared Davis of Davis Auto Body on West Broad Street, who captured a video of the tornado, said he was working in his shop when he received a weather alert by phone. Davis said he then got on the computer and pulled up the radar on a Nashville television station and saw that the storm was approaching.

“I was looking on the radar to see if I could pinpoint it and noticed that it seemed to be coming really close to my shop. I then contacted my wife and kids who were at Northside Elementary School with a large group for Literacy Night because I knew it was going in that direction. After that I went outside with another guy who works for me and we looked up and he pointed it out. I got my phone out and started videoing it. I had never seen a tornado before,” said Davis.

Davis’s wife, Kelli said after getting warnings on their phones, everyone at the school was instructed to take shelter in the cafeteria.

The school was not hit and no one there was injured.

Just a short distance from the school, the tornado destroyed the home of Joe and Polly Payne at 550 North Congress Boulevard just outside the city limits.

“My husband and I were at home. We were in our den. I heard the notifications go off that they send on the phone and I told Joe that we need to get to the basement. I didn’t see it coming but I could hear it although I wasn’t sure that is what I was hearing but I didn’t want to take any chances,” said Ms. Payne. I jumped up and ran in front of him and he was following right behind me. I thought he was closer than he was. I had already gotten to the bottom of the steps and I was yelling are you behind me. On the way down the steps I was saying help us Jesus. By the time that happened, the noise was over and it was already getting quiet again. Joe finally answered me and I got back up the steps and we assessed the damage. Neither of us had a scratch,” said Ms. Payne.

DeKalb Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie Parker said the storm damaged or destroyed outbuildings, barns, and homes, uprooted trees, and downed utility lines along its path but there were no serious injuries.

“I have only had a report of one minor injury and that was in the Sligo area across the river where a tree had fallen down and a lady was hurt. We don’t really think that was from the tornado. It was probably more from just straight line winds.  As of now that’s the only report of injuries we have had through all of this. We are extremely lucky considering the damage we received,” said Parker.

“The storm looks to have started behind the (high school and middle school) around the soccer field. It took a fence down at the soccer field and then continued on down Allen’s Ferry Road on both sides of the road affecting power lines and trees. It got some outbuildings and houses along Allen’s Ferry Road causing a lot of roof damage. Two outbuildings were completely destroyed. It then went across Highway 56 causing substantial damage to one house (the Joe and Polly Payne residence) and moderate damage to another across the road (the Butch Ludwig residence),” Director Parker continued.

“Because of the path taken by tornadoes before in the Allen’s Ferry Road area, we had the sheriff’s department and fire department check out Highway 56 north and down Holiday Haven and Puckett’s Point but there wasn’t anything significant, so this one evidently lifted after it crossed Highway 56,” said EMA Director Parker.

Along with the damaging winds and heavy rains, Parker said the storm produced nickel sized hail in the Smithville area.

Among the responding agencies and utility companies were DeKalb Emergency Management, Smithville Police and Fire, DeKalb EMS, DeKalb Sheriff and Fire Departments, and Smithville Electric, Caney Fork Electric, and DTC Communications.

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