Smithville Mayor and Aldermen Remember Wade Smith, Jr. (View video here)

October 3, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Mayor and Aldermen Monday night paid tribute to a long-time member of the planning commission and board of zoning appeals who passed away in August.

Mayor Josh Miller presented a plaque to Jackie Smith, wife of Wade Smith, Jr.

The plaque reads as follows: “The City of Smithville honors the family of the late Wade Smith, Jr. He served the City of Smithville faithfully for many years serving on the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals. His dedication to the city will never be forgotten. Presented this 3rd Day of October, 2022”.

In other business the aldermen approved the promotions of four long time city firefighters upon the recommendation of Chief Charlie Parker including Captain Jeff Wright to Assistant Fire Chief, and Lieutenants John Poss, Donnie Cantrell, and Danny Poss to the rank of Captain. Hoyte Hale will continue serving as Deputy Chief.  These firefighters remain volunteers.

“These promotions are reflective of the leadership jobs these men have been doing, and this reclassification is to reflect that. Their promotions will be effective October 1, 2022,” said Chief Parker.

The board adopted a resolution authorizing the Upper Cumberland Development District to apply for Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation American Rescue Plan Act funds up to $1,336,999 for sewer system infrastructure improvements. The city’s local match would be 15% or $238,110. The application must be submitted by November 1.

The aldermen also voted to rename Walnut Alley downtown in honor of Country Music Star John Anderson, a longtime resident of Smithville. The alley will become known now as John Anderson Alley. Signage will soon be posted there to reflect it.

Mayor Miller also updated the aldermen on upcoming events downtown Smithville including the Pumpkin Festival October 22 from 9-4; October 28 the Habitat for Humanity Chili Cook-Off and Bake Sale from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.; and October 31 the Boo Bash from noon until 5 p.m.

The aldermen voted to table a public hearing and second reading action on a new beer ordinance after some questions have surfaced that might require a legal response from City Attorney Vester Parsley, who could not attend the meeting Monday night.

The proposed new ordinance, which was adopted on first reading last month, would re-establish the terms for regulating the sale of beer for off-premises consumption in Smithville.

Ordinance (City of Smithville)

Many provisions in the new ordinance mirror existing regulations such as the 400 feet distance requirement between a business permitted to sell beer and a place of public gathering. Perhaps the biggest change is the implementation of the Tennessee Responsible Vendors Act, which was adopted by the state in 2006 that municipalities may also enact as part of city regulations for vendors permitted to sell beer.

To become compliant with this Act each vendor employee must complete a Responsible Vendor-training program. Once a person, corporation, or other entity has been issued a permit to sell beer for off-premises consumption by the city and has received certification by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission under the Tennessee Responsible Vendor Act, penalties for violations would be less severe than for those who don’t obtain the training and certification.

According to the proposed new ordinance, the Smithville Beer Board may impose on a Responsible Vendor a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each offense of making or permitting to be made any sales to minors or for any other offense. Under state law, the beer board shall not revoke or suspend the permit of a Responsible Vendor for a store clerk’s illegal sale of beer to a minor if the clerk is properly certified and has attended annual meetings since the clerk’s original certification unless his Certified Responsible Vendor status has been revoked by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. However, the city must report the violation to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

“If the beer board determines that a clerk of an off-premises beer permit holder certified by the state sold beer to a minor, the beer board shall report the name of the clerk to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission within 15 days of determination of the sale. The certification of the clerk shall be invalid, and the clerk may not reapply for a new certificate for a period of one year from the date of the beer board’s determination,” according to the proposed new ordinance.

Nonparticipating clerks and businesses as Responsible Vendors could face license suspension or revocation or a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for illegal sales to minors.

Under the proposed new ordinance, “The beer board may, at the time it imposes a revocation or suspension, offer a permit holder that is not a Responsible Vendor the alternative of paying a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for each offense of making or permitting to be made any sales to minors, or a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for any other offense”.

“If a civil penalty is offered as an alternative to revocation or suspension, the holder shall have seven days within which to pay the civil penalty before the revocation or suspension shall be imposed. If the civil penalty is paid within that time, the revocation or suspension shall be deemed withdrawn”.

Ordinance (City of Smithville)

October 3, 2022
By: Bill Conger

The DeKalb County High School Fighting Tiger Band is heading to the state championship. D.C.H.S. Band is one of 25 top bands across Tennessee selected to perform at the 41st Annual Tennessee Division II State Marching Band Championship. The event will be November 5 at Stewarts Creek High School.

“First, it is an honor to be invited,” Band Director Don Whitt said. “Only 25 bands in the entire state of Tennessee are selected. This is huge for us. What it means to me before we win any awards or anything, we are one of the best 25 bands in the state. This to me, is an honor and makes me very humbled. Secondly, I feel as I am following in the footsteps of my best friend Tracy Luna, who had taken them to the State Championship in the past. One of my mentors was really noticing the way we played and marched during band camp in July, and said, “I think you may have an opportunity to play at the state championship this season” and encouraged me to get there.”

The band brought home an arm full of awards from Trousdale County on September 24. After competing in the Yellow Jacket Invitational the band was second in its class while the percussion and color guard placed first. Drum major Serenity Burgess placed second. The guard also scored number one overall.

“The color guard did a fantastic job at the competition,” Color Guard Coach Shannon Johns said. “They have put in extra time on the field and a few of them even helped write equipment work for the show. I am super proud of their performance and how well they represented DeKalb County!”

“I think we are building momentum for a wonderful year,” Whitt said. “I’m so very proud of these young students. They are learning what it takes to be successful, which is hard work and dedication. I’m very thankful for Erica Birmingham, Shannon Johns, Emily Wallace, Destiny Battaglia and the overwhelming support of the band boosters, administration, faculty, and bus drivers which makes this a successful band program.”

“Overall, the band did well. We are one band; one sound and we strive to work together as a team. Overall, the judges said it was an exciting show. One judge commented,” There is nothing boring about it.” The one focus that they said to have in every group is keeping that excitement and energy alive throughout the entire show. Which is about 7 minutes. The main thing we must do now is clean up the music and marching techniques. Everyone that saw us last year has come up to me at football games, at competitions and even Wal-Mart has told me this is a different and better-looking band than last year. I’m very happy about that. We must continue with that momentum.”

The annual Yellow Jacket Invitation Tournament also honored D.C.H.S. late band director Tracy Luna by retitling the soloist award in his memory.

October 1, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb West School students showed their colors this week for DCHS in celebration of homecoming

Thanks to Assistant Principal Thomas Cagle, DCHS organized an art contest for DWS students, and three winners were selected to be part of the homecoming game night experience. The winners were chosen among grade level groups.

“Kindergarten through second grade were in a grade band, third through fifth grade were in a grade band, and sixth through eighth grade were together,” said DWS Assistant Principal Seth Willoughby.

Overall winners were eighth grader Ben Driver who took first place for his artwork of a player, fourth grader Jaxon Murphy for his Tiger costume art, and first grader Ty Combs for his Tiger logo. Each winner received a Homecoming game pass for their families and the students got to stand on the field for the player’s entrance. The first-place winner, Ben Driver was also made an honorary captain and delivered the game ball to the official for the opening kickoff Friday night.

Willoughby said the contest was special for DeKalb West School students who don’t usually get to be included in the DCHS activities because of the distance between the schools.

“The (Homecoming) parade doesn’t come all the way to the West School, so he (Cagle) wanted to find a way to get all students involved,” said Willoughby. “He (Cagle) created this art contest for us that spanned over the whole grade system”.

“Mr. Cagle gave students three art options to pick out, color and decorate however they saw fit,” Willoughby said. “We had judges pick out the homeroom winners, and those were sent to the high school to be judged.”

Judges for the art contest included Mrs. Walteen Parker, Mrs. Betty Loeb, and Mr. Jack Loeb.

The art contest also included a category for DCHS students and three of them won for their artwork, which earned them class points for their grade level during Spirit Week. Eleventh grader Lilly Waggoner won first place for her Tiger in the spotlight, eleventh grader Topanga Patrick won second for her “Scream” depiction, and senior Ailish Munoz came in third for her Tiger with sunglasses.

Photo: Pictured from left are DeKalb West School Assistant Principal Seth Willoughby, Ben Driver, Jaxson Murphy, Ty Combs, and DWS Principal Sabrina Farler.

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