Addison Jean Puckett Crowned Miss Jamboree (Ages 17-20)

June 27, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Addison Jean Puckett was crowned Miss Jamboree in the age 17-20 category Saturday at the county complex auditorium.

Puckett, the 17 year old daughter of Jimmy and Anita Puckett of Smithville, was also awarded for Prettiest Eyes and Attire.

The 1st runner-up was Monica Mashay Carlton of Smithville, 18 year old daughter of Leroy and Amanda Hale and Travis and Sheena Carlton. Monica was also awarded for Most Photogenic.

Leah Brooke Davis was 2nd runner-up. She is the daughter of Kerry and Glenda Davis of Smithville. She was also awarded for Prettiest Hair and the People’s Choice Award.

The annual pageant is sponsored by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club.

Winners in the 14-16 age group:

15 year old Chloe Faith Lawson was crowned queen in the 14-16 age category. She is the 15 year old daughter of Victoria Poteet and Adam Denney of Smithville. Lawson also received honors for Most Photogenic and Prettiest Eyes, Hair, and Attire.

15 year old Lacey England was 1st runner-up. She is the daughter of Robert and Stephanie England of Smithville.

Winners in the 11-13 age division:

In the 11-13 year old age division 12 year old Kate Elyse Gribble won the crown. She is the daughter of Darrell and Jennifer Gribble of Morrison. Kate also took home awards for Most Photogenic and Prettiest Eyes, Hair and Attire.

11 year old Karah Jo Ford of Smithville was 1st runner-up. She is the daughter of Amanda Ford and Hector O-Roscoe.

Haley England was 2nd runner-up. She is the 12 year old daughter of Robert and Stephanie England of Smithville.

Third runner-up went to 11 year old Jessa Nevaeh Sanders, daughter of James and Misti Sanders of Smithville.

Winners in the 7-10 year old age group:

10 year old Ella Kirksey is the Miss Jamboree Queen in the 7-10 year old age group. She is the daughter of Graden and Sabrina Kirksey of Smithville. Ella was also awarded for Most Photogenic and Prettiest Eyes.

Haylee Brooklyn Thompson was named 1st runner-up. She is the 8 year old daughter of John and Cora Thompson of Hampshire, Tennessee.

2nd runner-up went to 9 year old Kendall Huskey, daughter of Tiffany Rad and Marc Huskey of Manchester. She also earned honors for People’s Choice and Prettiest Attire.

8 year old Arraya Jenae Taylor of Smithville was 3rd runner-up. She is the daughter of Angie Taylor.

Winners in the 4-6 year old category:

Queen Addlee Jane Evans of Smithville, the 5 year old daughter of Ashley and Brandon Deffendoll and Johnny Evans. She was also awarded for Prettiest Eyes.

1st runner-up and Prettiest Hair: Haddeign Grace Harvey, 4 year old daughter of Chad and Kayla Harvey of Alexandria.

2nd runner-up: Cortlynn Bree Joins, 6 year old daughter of Brandon and Stephanie Joins of Gallatin.

3rd runner-up: Ansley Snow, 5 year old daughter of Andy and Ashleigh Snow of Smithville.

4th runner-up and Prettiest Attire: Summer Elizabeth Longmire, 4 year old daughter of Drew and Kristy Longmire of Smithville.

Receiving awards for Most Photogenic and People’s Choice was Avaleigh Elizabeth Haddock, 4 year old daughter of Donald and Kristina Haddock of Dowelltown.

Miss Jamboree 25 to 48 months:

Queen Briar Rose Kilgore, the 2 year old daughter of Clay and Mariah Kilgore of Smithville. She also won for Most Photogenic and Prettiest Eyes and Hair.

1st runner-up: Blakelyn Emerie Cripps, 3 year old daughter of Corey and Kami Cripps of Smithville.

2nd runner-up: Peyton Rae Shepherd, 2 year old daughter of Jason and Ashley Shepherd of Smithville.

3rd runner-up and Prettiest Attire: Kathryn Ann Williams, 3 year old daughter of Dillon and Hailey Williams of Alexandria.

4th runner-up: Serenity Carmen Tiner, 30 month old daughter of Billy and Stephanie Tiner of Smithville.

Winners in the category for boys ages 25 to 48 months:

Samuel Keith Griffin was crowned King. He is the 2 year old son of Luke and Casey Griffin of Alexandria. He also won for Most Photogenic and Prettiest Eyes, Hair, and Attire.

Matthew Hayden Williams was 1st runner-up, the 2 year old son of Dillon and Hailey Williams of Alexandria.

Winners in the girls 13-24 months category:

Queen Olivia Denise Kilgore, 19 month old daughter of Ryan and Jasmine Kilgore of McMinnville. She also won for Miss Photogenic and Prettiest Hair and Attire.

1st runner-up and Prettiest Eyes: Amaya Bradley, 18 month old daughter of Amanda Bane and Jesse Bradley of Smithville.

Winners in the boys 13-24 months category:

Saige Tyreise Reeder was crowned King. He is the 17 month old son of Reagan Patton and Deshon Reeder of Smithville. He also won for Prettiest Hair, Eyes, and Attire.

1st runner-up: Corbin James Claude of Dowelltown, son of Bailey Pack and Robert Claude.

2nd runner-up and Most Photogenic: Sawyer Cordell Oyster, 13 month old son of Coleman and Morgan Oyster of Liberty.

Winners in the girls 7-12 months group:

Queen Briley Ann Cripps, 9 month old daughter of Corey and Kami Cripps of Smithville.

1st runner-up and Most Photogenic: Eliza Jane Kemp, 11 month old daughter of Hunter and Reba Kemp of Liberty.

2nd runner-up: Journee Nikole Garnett Davenport, 7 month old daughter of Darian and Travis Davenport of Smithville.

3rd runner-up: Remington Mae Kemp, 11 month old daughter of Hunter and Reba Kemp of Liberty.

4th runner-up and Prettiest Hair and Eyes: Dayvani Haggard, 12 month old daughter of Caleb Haggard and Haley Haggard of Smithville.

Receiving an award for Prettiest Attire was Emma Rose Chapman, 9 month old daughter of Jocelyn Williams and Corey Chapman of Smithville.

Winner of boys 7-12 months::

Sonny D. Gilbert, 11 month old son of Carl David and Cecilia Gilbert of Smithville

Winners of boys 1 day to 6 months:

Ryland Vincent was crowned King: He is the 5 month old son of Seth and Kayla Vincent of Smithville. He was also awarded for Prettiest Eyes and Attire.

1st runner-up: Sutton Banks Pelham, 3 week old son of Jason and Carla Pelham of Smithville.

June 27, 2021
By: Bill Conger

Fiddle master Deanie Richardson of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s reigning Entertainer of the Year group, Sister Sadie, sings the praises of the Smithville Jamboree.

“Smithville is a massive part of my muse, my adulthood, and my career,” says Richardson, who is also the 2020 IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year. “For me, it feels like my complete childhood rolled up into one day.”

Richardson, 49, won the Beginner Fiddle Championship when she was around age 11 or 12.

“That gave me my first spot on the Grand Ole Opry. That year the fiddle player that won that whole thing got to appear on the Grand Ole Opry.”

“They started giving the kids 12 and under a shot at winning something because we were having to compete with adults,” Richardson recalls. “I believe the year that I won it was the first year they did that.”

Besides fiddle, Richardson competed in the guitar and mandolin contests, and her brother was a dancer. Describing the Jamboree as “the highlight of our year,” Richardson says she loved the atmosphere off stage as much as performing on stage.

“It’s the jamming — the constant walking around the square and finding a group to get in and play with. The crowd would be massive back there watching those jams. That’s probably my greatest memory as a kid playing music in Smithville and being a part of those jams back behind the courthouse [at the bottom level concrete entrance]. We would snag that up because that was the place the dancers could dance, and we could play.”

As part of her Jamboree days, Richardson would often get to fiddle for the square dancers.
“At the end of the day there’s this square dance competition, and I got to stand up there for that, sweat rolling down my whole body as I played “Sally Goodin,” while the dancers competed. That’s the exact thing that inspired my new record, Circle Up.”

Richardson’s career continued to advance, and since her contest says, she has gone on to tour with Vince Gill, Bob Seger, and the Chieftains. Nominated for the Academy of Country Music’s Top Fiddle Player of the Year in 2010, Richardson also has shared the stage with Emmy Lou Harris, Hank Williams, Jr., Travis Tritt, Marty Stuart, and Del McCoury to name a few. An in-demand music instructor, Richardson has taught several of the kids who have entered the Smithville Jamboree including frequent award winner Ivy Phillips.

“You get those students that come along and just blow you away, and she’s one of them,” Richardson says. “I’ve been teaching Ivy since she was 4. Watching her be so successful through all these years does my heart good.”

The fiddling ace starts preparing her students in January each year for the Smithville Jamboree where they compete in a number of categories.

“For me now as a teacher, it’s such a massive incentive to say, ‘Alright. We’ve got to start prepping for Smithville.’ Honestly, the money that you win at Smithville is not as great as a lot of the other competitions I went to, but it’s also the atmosphere, [and] the other children that these kids get to meet and create lifelong friendships with.”

Richardson wants her students to experience the unique warm and receptive crowds that she encountered as a kid at competitions.

“That was a huge thing for me. Most competitions your audience is sitting there, sort of stoic, and the judges are writing. This one felt more like a performance. It felt like the audience was so engaged in what you were doing. They’re cheering you on if they hear something they like. It’s just a totally different vibe than all the other contests we went to as a kid.”

Often, Richardson also accompanies her students with her guitar while they perform on stage.
“I love going and participating with them. I remember going back for the first time after not being there for years because of my touring schedule, and playing with some students. I remember being so overwhelmed with emotion being on that stage accompanying a child I had taught and prepping for that.”

Certainly, Richardson would like to see her students take home the top trophies, but she says that’s not what it’s all about.

“One of my bucket list items is to watch my kids grow up and get to have the [Smithville Jamboree] be part of their journey as well.”

June 26, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A Dowelltown man is reportedly among 17 charged by Metro Nashville Police in a human trafficking investigation.

WKRN is reporting that 26 year old Joshua Haines is one of the men who police say agreed to pay for sex with an undercover police officer who was presenting herself as a 16 year old girl. The arrests were the result of a two-day undercover operation led by the Metro Nashville Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit. Haines is charged with trafficking for a commercial sex act.

According to the report, police said the men arrived at a hotel in the area of Donelson Pike and Royal Parkway of Nashville in response to an Internet ad. The suspects were then arrested after going into a room and exchanging money as payment for sex.

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