Smithville Select Crowned Youth Square Dancing Champion at Fiddlers Jamboree

July 2, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

For the first time a local square dancing team has claimed a Fiddlers Jamboree Championship.

Smithville Select, led by Mary Ann Puckett, was crowned winner of the Youth Square Dancing Competition Friday night at the 51st Annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival.

Before dancing their way to the title, Smithville Select had to make it to the finals and emerged from a field of six teams during the preliminaries Friday afternoon as one of the top three contenders.

Taking second place in the Youth Square Dancing competition was Jackson Hollow of Franklin and Third place went to Steppin’ Time of Dickson.

Fiddlers Jamboree performers jammed almost non-stop from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. Friday on the opening day of the festival.

(View WJLE Fiddlers Jamboree Photo Gallery at Link Below)

https://www.wjle.com/fiddlers-jamboree/

Although it was hot and humid during the day the Jamboree faithful showed up and by evening the crowds grew even larger as the weather became more pleasant and comfortable.

Highlights of the day included welcoming remarks by local and state officials who spoke briefly during the Fiddlers’ Jamborees Official Welcoming Ceremony Friday evening. The Community Chorus also presented a stirring patriotic program of music and clogging from grownups and kids alike featuring solo and ensemble performances and the release of doves while singing “Let there be peace on earth” near the end of the show.

During the opening ceremony, State Senators Mark Pody and Janice Bowling presented flags flown over the state capitol to Jamboree visitors who traveled the longest distances to get here. Tennessee State Flags went to Claire Morris of Memphis and Marymargaret Saldana of Denair, California while a United States flag was presented to Christine Cordova of Uganda. State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver was unable to attend for the flag presentation due to a prior commitment but showed up later in the evening to welcome the crowd.

The following are the Friday winners:

*Old Time Appalachian Folk Singing (Solo):
First Place-Sarah Cripps of Smithville
Second Place- Lily Goebel of Elkton, Kentucky
Third Place-Michael Klug of Madison

*Junior Clogging (Ages 13-39):
First Place- Jacob Fennell of Dickson
Second Place-Jamie Hash of Walland
Third Place-Arlee Fowlkes of Hurricane Mills

*Junior Buck Dancing (Ages 13-39):
First Place- Kody Hash of Walland
Second Place- Jacob Fennell of Dickson
Third Place-Jamie Hash of Walland

*Old Time Appalachian Folksinging (Duet, Trio, Quartet)
First Place- Sue Griffiths and Billy Kemp of Liberty
Second Place-Larry and Cheryl Chunn of Greenbrier
Third Place-Sarah Cripps and Bob Burns of Smithville

*Dobro Guitar:
First Place-Robbie Harris of Rockvale
Second Place-Noah Goebel of Elkton, Kentucky
Third Place-Tylar Andal of Nashville

*Mountain Dulcimer:
First Place-Kendra Ward of Bidwell, Ohio
Second Place-Tyler Andal of Nashville
Third Place-Lisa Tressler of Madison, Alabama

*Hammer Dulcimer:
First Place-Kendra Ward of Bidwell, Ohio
Second Place-Nicole Tressler of Madison, Alabama
Third Place-No Winner

*Novelty Event:
First Place- Jim Owens of Deatsville, Alabama
Second Place-Twins Fiddlers of Murfreesboro
Third Place-Marshall Murphy of Knoxville

*Autoharp:
First Place-Beth Rickert of Inverness, Florida
Second Place- No Winner
Third Place-No Winner

*Gospel Singing (Solo):
First Place-Angelica Branum of Murfreesboro
Second Place- Larry Chunn of Greenbrier
Third Place-Tim Hartman of Lyles

*Country Harmonica:
First Place- Jim Owens of Deatsville, Alabama
Second Place- Bill Harpole of Smithville
Third Place-No Winner

*Old Time Banjo:
First Place-Daniel Rothwell of Smyrna
Second Place-Trenton Tater Caruthers of Cookeville
Third Place- Tyler Andal of Nashville

*Youth Square Dancing:
First Place- Smithville Select of Smithville
Second Place-Jackson Hollow of Franklin
Third Place- Steppin Time of Dickson

*Gospel Singing (Duet, Trio, & Quartet):
First Place-Clearview of Hilham
Second Place-Larry and Cheryl Chunn of Greenbrier
Third Place-Jack Horner and Anna Pennesi of Murfreesboro

*Mandolin:
First Place-Noah Goebel of Elkton, Kentucky
Second Place-Tyler Andal of Nashville
Third Place-Justin Branum of Murfreesboro

*Old Time Fiddle Band:
First Place-Tater and the Po’tates of Nashville
Second Place-The Cumberland Stump-Jumpers of Madison
Third Place-Blue Grass Experience of Clinton, Tennessee

Today (Saturday, July 2) preliminaries will be held in the following categories:

Junior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance (ages up to 39); Senior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance (ages 40 and over); Senior Buckdancing (ages 40 and over); Senior Clogging (ages 40 and over); Bluegrass Banjo; Junior Fiddlers (ages 13-39); Flat Top Guitar; Contest Fiddle for the Neil Dudney Award; Bluegrass Band; Senior Fiddlers (ages 40 and over); and Square Dancing (4 Couples-8 Total Dancers).

Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be called back Saturday night to compete for first, second, and third place.

The winners of the Junior and Senior Fiddling competition will square off for the Grand Champion Award, the Berry C. Williams Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the festival.

Meanwhile, the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners will be held Saturday afternoon, July 2 during the Jamboree featuring competitions for children, up to age twelve, in the categories of Buck Dancing, Clogging, Dobro Guitar, Mandolin, Five String Banjo, Flat Top Guitar, and Fiddle.

Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be brought back to compete for first, second, and third place.

One child will receive the Best Overall Instrumental Entertainer Trophy Award and the top fiddler will get the James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Trophy.

WJLE will broadcast most of the on-stage entertainment LIVE on AM 1480/ FM 101.7 and LIVE Streaming at www.wjle.com.

For more information on the festival, go to www.fiddlersjamboree.com

July 1, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Another coaching change at DeKalb County High School.

John Sanders, who for the last four seasons has been head coach of the DCHS Tiger Basketball program has announced his resignation as coach and Physical Education Teacher. Sanders is stepping down to become an assistant to Head Boys Basketball Coach Ryan Sleeper at Trousdale County High School.

“It was something I really wasn’t planning on doing but an opportunity presented itself to get a little closer to home (Carthage). It was a tough decision and one I prayed about for a while, but I think in the long run it will be what’s best for me and my family,” said Coach Sanders.

“I want to thank the DeKalb County administration and the school for being so supportive. I have enjoyed working with my co-workers but it’s the kids that I will miss the most. Everyone was really good to me,” added Coach Sanders.

A native of Smith County, Coach Sanders came to DeKalb County in 2018 after having served as an assistant boys’ basketball coach at Murfreesboro Oakland High School. He and his wife Kristen Oldham Sanders still reside in Carthage. They are the parents of two children, 3-year-old Quinn and Jo Lynn who will be 1 year old in November.

In his four seasons at DCHS from 2018-22, Coach Sanders compiled an overall record of 36-73 and 17-37 in the district according to Coach T.

Meanwhile Tiger Assistant Basketball Coach Logan Vance has also resigned. He is taking a job as teacher and basketball coach at Smith County Middle School.

These resignations come just a little more than a month after DCHS Lady Tiger Basketball and Tigerette Softball Coach Danny Fish decided to leave DCHS to become head boys’ basketball coach at Warren County. Brandy Alley was later named to replace Coach Fish as Lady Tiger Basketball Coach and Danielle Tyson Horton will take over the Tigerette Program.

June 30, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Its show time in Smithville as the Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival returns to town with thousands expected to flock to the acclaimed festival. Each day, Friday and Saturday, July 1 & 2 begins at 9am with over 35 music and dance categories, streets full of hand-made crafts, and food booths galore.

The Community Chorus headlined a pre-jamboree patriotic program Thursday evening at Evins Park downtown joined by the Smithville Select Dancers and the DeKalb Dancin’ Delights led by Mary Ann Puckett.

The Chorus will be featured again on the Jamboree Stage as part of the Official Welcoming Ceremony Friday evening around 6 p.m. along with the posting of colors and brief remarks by local government and community leaders. A United States flag and a Tennessee State flag will also be presented by State Senator Mark Pody and State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Clark Boyd to the persons who have traveled the greatest distances to get here, both from inside and outside the country. Fiddler’s Jamboree Craft Awards will be presented during the weekend for “Best of Show”, “Best Appalachian Craft”, “Best Newcomer”, and “Best Craft Display”.

The Kody Norris Show country bluegrass band will be honored on Saturday, July 2 at 5 p.m. as the 2022 Blue Blaze Award recipient followed by a mini-concert performed by the band on the main stage.

Meanwhile, the Grand Ole Opry has agreed to invite the 2022 Grand Fiddle Off Champion to play a ‘fiddle tune’ for the Opry square dancers live performance during a selected show. (TBD)

Preliminaries will be held in the following categories on Friday, July 1:

Old Time Appalachian Folksinging (Solo); Junior Clogging (ages 13-39); Junior Buck Dancing (ages 13-39); Old-Time Appalachian Folksinging (Duet, Trio, Quartet); Dobro Guitar; Mountain Dulcimer; Hammer Dulcimer; Novelty Event (Spoon Clacking, Jug Blowing, Washboard, Tub, Saws-Appalachian); Autoharp, Gospel Singing (Solo); Country Harmonica; Old Time Banjo; Youth Square Dancing (4 Couples-8 Total Dancers); Gospel Singing (Duet,Trio, and Quartet); Mandolin; and Old Time Fiddle Band.

The top three acts in each category will be called back for the finals on Friday night and a first, second, and third place will be awarded.

On Saturday, July 2, preliminaries will be held in the following categories:

Junior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance (ages up to 39); Senior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance (ages 40 and over); Senior Buckdancing (ages 40 and over); Senior Clogging (ages 40 and over); Bluegrass Banjo; Junior Fiddlers (ages 13-39); Flat Top Guitar; Contest Fiddle for the Neil Dudney Award; Bluegrass Band; Senior Fiddlers (ages 40 and over); and Square Dancing (4 Couples-8 Total Dancers).

Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be called back Saturday night to compete for first, second, and third place.

The winners of the Junior and Senior Fiddling competition will square off for the Grand Champion Award, the Berry C. Williams Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the festival.

Meanwhile, the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners will be held Saturday afternoon, July 2 during the Jamboree featuring competitions for children, up to age twelve, in the categories of Buck Dancing, Clogging, Dobro Guitar, Mandolin, Five String Banjo, Flat Top Guitar, and Fiddle.

Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be brought back to compete for first, second, and third place.

One child will receive the Best Overall Instrumental Entertainer Trophy Award and the top fiddler will get the James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Trophy.

WJLE will broadcast most of the on-stage entertainment LIVE on AM 1480/ FM 101.7 and LIVE Streaming at www.wjle.com.

For more information on the festival, go to www.fiddlersjamboree.com

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