The DeKalb County Farmers Market is open today (Saturday) in time for your Memorial Day Holiday picnics and cookouts.

Spokesperson Connie Tjarks said there will be much from which to choose.

“You will need to stop by the market to pick up a few fresh greens and onions to put on those sandwiches and maybe in your salads during this Memorial Day holiday weekend,”said Tjarks.

“Ms Jean will be there with her homemade bread and fried pies. They are always a hit at any meal. She often sells out by 9 a.m. so get there early if you want to get her products”.

“Mark will have his mom’s homemade goodies including pies, cookies, and muffins. I had one of her blueberry muffins last week and every bite was full of delicious blueberries. There is also fresh eggs available,” Tjarks continued.

“Do you have a recipe that calls for honey? The DeKalb Farmers Market has quart and pint jars of DeKalb local honey”.

“If gardening is your holiday exercise, Billy still has some tomato and pepper plants for sale”.

“We have a new vendor this year with a huge variety of soy candles. They burn without soot and make a great hostess gift if you are going to a holiday party,” said Tjarks

“Of course Roy always comes with his delicious barbeque and I will be there with some herbal dips and fresh spinach and fresh lettuce,” she added.

“Check WJLE’s website often for market information”.

“We hope to see you at the Farmers Market. Remember to always pick fresh. Buy Local and Pick Tennessee,” said Tjarks.

The DeKalb County Farmers Market, located on East Bryant Street next to DeKalb County Ace Hardware and the County Complex, is open every Saturday from 7 a.m. until noon.

Support your local farmers and artisans. Pick Tennessee! Provided by the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program.

School is out for the summer and kids had a chance to take a dip in the pool for free Friday during Report Card Day at the Smithville Municipal Swimming Pool.

By presenting their report cards at the gate, kids were able to swim at no charge. It was a “soft” opening date for the pool.

Ken Lacy, manager of the city pool and golf course, said the pool will officially open to the public for the season today (Saturday).

The pool is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon until 5 p.m.

Admission to the swimming pool is $2.00 per person for everyone age 4 and older.

Membership fees have also been established.

Single pool membership fees are $70.00 including tax or $135.00 including tax for a family membership.

Three companies have submitted bids to build a new fire hall in the Four Seasons Community but they are all much higher than the best bid the county received during the first round of bidding on the project in March.

The latest bids were opened for the fire hall Thursday morning, May 24. Triton Construction of Rockvale had the lowest base bid at $257,000 with two deductive alternates totaling $19,200 (deleting graveling and leveling the parking area and deleting external stairs and lowering the walls). Quality Builders of Sparta submitted a base bid of $278,060 with no deductive alternates and Preston Brothers of Woodbury offered a base bid of $285,300 with two deductive alternates totaling $27,690 (deleting graveling and leveling the parking area and deleting external stairs and lowering the walls).

County Mayor Tim Stribling said two local builders had come to him recently inquiring about the project but neither submitted a bid

This was the second round of bidding for the fire hall construction.

During the first round on March 29 two bids were received including one for $284,000 from Preston Brothers of Woodbury (minus $11,000 if the county put the gravel on the parking lot) and $197,000 from FTM Contracting of Cookeville (deductive alternate of $2,400).

The county commission, during its regular monthly meeting on April 23, voted to re-bid the project because the bids received were too high.

The commission will take up the issue again Tuesday night, May 29 when it meets in regular monthly session.

According to County Mayor Stribling, plans call for the fire hall to be 40’ x 55’ in size consisting of two bays, a restroom, shower, and a small meeting room. He said while the plans do not include any frills it will be a turnkey project with all the work including construction, concrete pad, septic tank, etc all to be done under one contract.

A new fire station at Four Seasons would be the 12th station in the county operated by the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department. The other fire halls are on Short Mountain Highway, Midway Community, Belk, Keltonburg, Cookeville Highway, Austin Bottom Community, Liberty, Temperance Hall, Main Station, Johnson Chapel, and Blue Springs.