State Rep. Michael Hale encourages local houses of worship to apply for state safety grant funding

June 26, 2024
By:

State Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville, today encouraged eligible religious organizations in Cannon, DeKalb, Jackson, Smith and Wilson counties to apply for a state grant to increase security at their campuses.

A total of $750,000 in Houses of Worship Security Grant funding will be distributed statewide by the
Department of Safety and Homeland Security. The funds can be used to pay for contract security personnel for eligible 501(c)(3) religious organizations including churches, synagogues, temples and mosques.

“Tennesseans should be able to freely practice their faith without fearing for their safety,” Hale said.

“It is essential that these locations have adequate security in place to protect the many worshipers they serve.

I encourage every eligible organization to apply for this important funding should an emergency unfortunately occur.”

The 2024-25 Houses of Worship Security Grant is a competitive grant with a 12-month period, disbursed
through a Tennessee cost reimbursement grant contract. The maximum award amount is $100,000.

Completed applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on July 12. Additional information about the
grant program, including how to apply, can be found on the Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s website at www.tn.gov/safety/homeland-security/grants.html.

State Rep. Michael Hale represents House District 40, which includes Cannon, DeKalb, Jackson, Smith and
part of Wilson counties.

June 26, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The 2024 Little Miss of the DeKalb County Fair is Jazmin Perez of Smithville

The 4-year-old daughter of Joel Perez and Blanca Jones, Jazmin won the crown Tuesday night during the annual pageant at the fair in Alexandria which featured 17 contestants.

Perez, who was also named Miss Congeniality, succeeds the retiring Little Miss Westyn Elyse Roller, the 7-year-old daughter of Jordan and Kari Roller of Smithville.

Meanwhile Samuel Keith Griffin is the 2024 Little Mister of the Fair. He is the 5-year-old son of Casey and Luke Griffin of Alexandria. Samuel succeeds the retiring Little Mister Bentlee John Myers, the 6-year-old son of Crystal Stibil of Smithville.

First runner-up in the Little Miss Pageant was Eloise Hendrix of Dowelltown, the 5-year-old daughter of Jared and Jennifer Hendrix.

Rozlyn Marie Prichard, 6-year-old daughter of Mark and Amanda Prichard of Smithville was second runner-up.

5-year-old Hattie Donnell of Alexandria was judged Most Photogenic. She is the daughter of Travis and Amber Donnell.

Others in the top ten of the Little Miss Pageant were Elliott Quinn Prichard, 4 year old daughter of Mark and Amanda Prichard of Smithville; Oaklyn Grace Ferrell, 5 year old daughter of Keith and Devon Ferrell of Smithville; Anna Lee Brelje, 5 year old daughter of Andy and Whitney Brelje of Alexandria; Ellie Chapman, 6 year old daughter of Taylor and Josh Chapman of Smithville; Thea Kate Emberton, 4 year old daughter of Josh and Katie Emberton of Smithville; Laurel Cait Kilgore, 5 year old daughter of Colby and Taylor Kilgore of Smithville; and Elizabeth Mary Sue Gammons, 5 year old daughter of Amanda Ford of Smithville.

The 2024 DeKalb County Fair’s Mrs. Fair Queen is 27-year-old Mariah Faith Kilgore of Smithville. The pageant was held Tuesday night.

Kilgore, who was also named Miss Congeniality, succeeds the 2023 Mrs. Fair Queen, 50-year-old Cindy Taylor of Smithville.

Mariah described herself as follows: “I am a wife and mother of two. I own my own business Hair by Mariah as a Master Barber Stylist. I am a flower farmer and enjoy spending time with my family. I home school my oldest baby and I am a member of The Baptist Tabernacle Church of Christ”

First runner-up and Most Photogenic was 39-year-old Andria Lee Graham of Smithville. Andria said “I am a radiologic technologist at Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital. I take X-rays and CTs of people to help make them feel better. I am also a wife and mother of two girls named Alexis and Aleeya who keep me busy running to practices and ballgames. I love living in DeKalb County because everybody is a friend and there is a lot of hospitality in our town”.

51-year-old Shelia A. Tiner of Sparta was second runner up. She said “I have been married for 26 years to my love of 31 years. I have two kids and 5 grandkids. I strive to live my life for Jesus and let His light shine through me. My hobbies are church activities, spending time with my grandbabies and crafting”

The 2024 Senior Fair Queen of the DeKalb County Fair is 59-year-old Tammy West of Smithville.

West won the title during the annual pageant held Tuesday night at the fair in Alexandria. She succeeds the retiring queen 72-year-old Betty Davis of Smithville.

“I am 59 years old and married to the love of my life,” said West. “We have been married almost 11 years. I have two beautiful daughters. I am also about to be a mimi for the first time. I enjoy reading, traveling, and photography as well as cross stitch. It is an honor to represent my wonderful county as Senior Fair Queen,” said West.

First runner up in the pageant was 77-year-old Margie Ann Williams of Alexandria. She described herself as follows: “I am married for 30 years to Gary Williams. I am the mother of five boys and two girls. I have 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. I was born in Smithville but raised in Chicago, Illinois. I am the oldest of 18 children. I have been a caregiver much of my life. I am a member of the Malone’s Chapel Baptist Church,” said Williams.

57-year-old Teresa Faye Winchester Stanley of Smithville was second runner up.  She was also named Most Photogenic “I am a super proud Christian single mother of one grown son named Ross and the nanny of one granddaughter named Alexis. I am a former seamstress, a Tennessee state nurse technician, and a quality auditor by trade. I am now retired enjoying cooking/baking, keeping a tidy home, and weightlifting. I am an active church and community volunteer,” said Stanley.

56-year-old Vonda Brown of Smithville was name Miss Congeniality. Her sister Wanda Redmon of Smithville was also in the pageant.

Brown said “I am married to Glen Brown of Smithville. We have two children, five grandchildren, and a lapdog. I enjoy singing, spending time with family and serving the Lord. I attend the Smithville First Freewill Baptist Church and I volunteer with the Last-Minute Toy Shop. I love to laugh and try to be a comedian. I have two goals. I try to accomplish every day to put a smile on someone’s face and to learn something new no matter how big or small”.

Redmon described herself as follows” What about Wanda Redmon? She writes she is a 56-year-old-young, Christian who attends Smithville First Freewill Baptist Church. She has been involved with many non-profit organizations during her lifetime. Currently, she is a volunteer and founding board member with Last Minute Toy Shop of DeKalb County. She is the Ambassador for Mary & Martha Products. She said one of the blessings she has is having the ministry on Facebook, called FISH-Faith Inspired Shares Hope, where she shares devotionals. She will tell you that she has had many troubles and trials in her life. She has found that with studying and reading her Bible and helping others, she has found that when they rain down, all she does is take her umbrella and turn it upside down. Why may you ask? To capture all the blessings and lessons she receives from them”.

June 26, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

After adopting on Monday night a property tax increase of 51 cents and an initial and detailed bond resolution of up to $65 million for construction of a judicial center or jail, the county commission’s next move is to decide which option and where to build it.

For one, Commissioner Andy Pack is ready to move and made a motion during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting to make an offer on the 38-acre Peggy Hayes property near Walmart for the appraised value and to begin imminent domain proceedings if she turns down the county’s offer. Pack said the site is the county’s best option for building a judicial center with 190 inmate beds.

The commission rejected Pack’s motion on an 11 to 3 vote.

The Hayes property, which is currently open farmland once owned by Hayes’ father the late Rex Hayes, is situated in the heart of Smithville in the area off West Broad Street and behind Anthony Avenue, Morgan Drive, and Short Street near the housing projects in the vicinity of Walmart. The county commission first considered the property last fall but couldn’t come to terms with Hayes on the purchase price.

“This property consists of 38.6 acres plus or minus,” said Commissioner Pack. “That (this property) would provide us with (space for) other projects in the future that have been discussed. We have fueling projects (county fueling station) that we could bring in-house to cut out the middleman. We could save all these shop fees on service to our county fleet (vehicles) in the future,” Pack continued.

“In October 2023 we paid $3,500 for a certified real estate appraiser to come in and appraise the (Hayes) property. That appraisal was $1,485,000. I would like to make a motion to start the bid process and construction process of a 190-bed facility on that piece of property and start the purchasing process of that property for the $1,485,000. That is for a 190-bed judicial center on that property. This is centrally located. It’s the best piece of property that would accommodate DeKalb County in lots of different areas not only now but in the future. I think that is the best move at where we are at,” said Commissioner Pack.

Voting in favor in addition to Pack were Commissioners Larry Green and Glynn Merriman. Commissioners opposed were Beth Pafford, Myron Rhody, Mathias Anderson, Daniel Cripps, Susannah Cripps, Tom Chandler, Tony (Cully) Culwell, Greg Matthews, Jeff Barnes, Sabrina Farler, and Tony Luna.

Commissioner Greg Matthews said he would never vote to take someone else’s property by imminent domain.

“I will never vote to take somebody’s property. I think there are other places that have more land not surrounded by a bunch of neighborhoods,” he said.

Commissioner Mathias Anderson said Pack’s motion was premature and other property locations should be considered.

“I feel like essentially voting on an imminent domain is putting us way ahead of ourselves,” said Commissioner Anderson. “I think we need to identify the available options that are in the county and then we need to speak to the city and say these are our options and would you annex this into the city. If they say no, then we will identify options already within the city and go from there. I feel we are putting the cart way ahead of the horse here to say we are only going to look at this one property (Hayes) and then potentially go to the imminent domain process when we have not officially gotten an answer from the people who could say yes or no on annexation,” said Commissioner Anderson.

City officials have signaled an unwillingness to annex any property into the City limits of Smithville if its purpose is for a county jail or judicial center.

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