Chamber Awarded $150,000 In Tourism Grants

August 6, 2020
By:

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce recently applied for, and was awarded, 2 Tourism Enhancement Grants making DeKalb County one of only two counties in the state of Tennessee to be approved for both applications totaling $150,000. The grants were awarded for The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree renovation project and an interactive stage set for the DeKalb Community Theater.

“With the 50th Jamboree Anniversary Celebration coming next year, the timing couldn’t be better for a renovated stage. We will also be adding new handicap accessible ramps to assist our newest performers competing in our special needs categories for 2021,” said Chamber Director, Suzanne Williams. “In addition, the DeKalb Community Theater now will have the opportunity to produce plays, musicals, and band performances using pre-created or graphic designed artwork and backgrounds at the touch of a button helping to draw visitors from across the region, including thousands of Center Hill Lake tourists looking for things to do while spending time in DeKalb County. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to the State of Tennessee for providing DeKalb County this wonderful opportunity to enhance our tourism assets.”

The Chamber applied on behalf of the City of Smithville in the amount of $75,000 for the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree to be used for a new custom stage and stage cover, backdrop, a handicap accessible on/off ramp, along with appropriate ADA compliant signage, and professional stage lighting.

In addition, the Chamber applied on behalf of DeKalb County in the amount of $75,000 for enhancements to the DeKalb County Complex Community Theater. With tourism growth in mind, the goal is for the DeKalb Community Theater to become a state-of-the-art, multi-media venue to encourage increased year-round tourism to our county through the arts, performances, and concerts with the addition of a ‘Green’ Cinema Environmental Screen and professional grade stage lighting and sound equipment. This new technology will reduce the performance costs of multiple, complicated stage sets, as well as being a timesaver allowing for additional plays to be produced throughout the year, while marketing to a much broader audience.

The Tourism Enhancement Grant becomes more competitive each year. This year, 69 applications were received, totaling requests of over $4.5 million. Fifty-two of the 69 applications were not awarded due to the Tourism Enhancement Grant budget being just over $1 Million. An advisory committee selected the 17 communities who are receiving grants.

The Chamber of Commerce urges the community to join in the excitement of the 50th anniversary of the Jamboree by volunteering to be a part of the ‘50th Jamboree Committee’. Volunteers will be asked to contribute their creative ideas, help with historical searches, contacting past champions, and use their personal talents and skills to help implement the new ideas and projects. If you would like to be a part of this special committee, please contact the Chamber or email: smithvillejamboree@gmail.com.

August 6, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County has recorded a 2nd death from COVID-19 just over two weeks after the first one.

According to the Tennessee Department of Health, DeKalb County has 331 confirmed cases of COVID-19, as of Thursday, August 6. A total of 4,817 have been tested since March with 4,486 negative results and 331 positive and 2 deaths.

The DeKalb County Health Department’s testing hours are Monday-Friday from 9am to 12 NOON every day.

At 331 cases, DeKalb County ranks 6th highest in the 14 county Upper Cumberland region behind Putnam with 1,677 (16 deaths), Macon 855 (13 deaths), Warren 476 (4 deaths), Cumberland 398 (6 deaths), and Smith 429 (4 deaths ). Other counties in the region with COVID-19 cases are White 246 (5 deaths), Overton 155 (1 death), Cannon 136, Jackson 112 (1 death), Fentress 79, Clay 71, Van Buren 35, and Pickett 30 (1 death)

(Click Link Below for COVID-19 Prevention Tips)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

August 6, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A woman who assaulted another with a golf club last month will be in court next week.

47 year old Billie Jo Morris of King Court Circle, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court August 13. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on July 9 Morris caused bodily injury to a woman while using a weapon (golf club). A deputy was called to the hospital where the victim had gone for treatment after being assaulted. The victim said Morris struck her in the right arm with a golf club at a location on King’s Court Circle and tried to hit her again but she (victim) was able to get control of the golf club. The victim had bruising and swelling on her right arm and an injury to her left arm after falling to the ground upon being hit.

53 year old Joel Acuna Delacruz, Sr. of Old West Point Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court date is August 20.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 1 Delacruz caused bodily harm to his wife by hitting her in the back of the head with his hand. A deputy was called to the Delacruz home on Old West Point Road due to a domestic disturbance and spoke with the victim who said she and her husband, Delacruz had been arguing and that he hit her causing a knot on the back of her head. A witness confirmed her story.

The man who was charged last week with escape after getting away from officers while being transported from the courthouse to the jail is facing more charges.

41 year old James Ricky Ashford, Jr. of Delong Road, Smithville is charged with driving on a suspended license and theft of property. His bond is $3,000 on these charges and his court date is August 13. Sheriff Ray said that on July 30 a deputy spotted Ashford driving. Ashford’s license have been suspended since November 1, 2018 for failure to show proof of insurance. The theft charge is due to Ashford stealing a pair of handcuffs during the escape incident last week.

27 year old Michael Brady McGhee of Pack Circle, Smithville is charged with criminal trespassing. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court August 20.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 28 a deputy was dispatched to Vanatta Subdivison in Alexandria due to an unwanted guest on the property. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the homeowner who said she did not want McGhee on her property. McGhee refused to leave even after being told he needed to go.

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