Branum Named Top Fiddler of 2020 Virtual Jamboree (View Video Here)

July 3, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The Grand Champion Fiddler of the 2020 Virtual Jamboree is Justin Branum of Murfreesboro.

For his performance via social media, Branum has won the Berry C. Williams Memorial Grand Champion Fiddler Award, the top prize given each year by the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree & Crafts Festival. Branum was also the Junior Fiddling Champion.

(View One of Justin’s Video Submissions Below)

July 2, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The 49th annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival would have started tomorrow (Friday, July 3) in the traditional manner had it not been for COVID-19. Instead a 2020 Virtual Jamboree has been held and the winners announced based on social media submissions by competing performers. A special televised program will be featured this weekend on WCTE and DTC 3 TV

In our continuing “Jamboree Special Moments” series from past festivals this week, WJLE today showcases the talents of the Slim Chance Band of Smyrna who won the Old Time Fiddle Band Competition and Harvey Brown Smith of Beechgrove who claimed the Gospel Singing Title among duos, trios, and quartets in 2018 during the 47th Annual Fiddlers’ Jamboree.

Enjoy the videos below

July 2, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County has a new TWRA officer.

Matt Howard of Sparta has been assigned to DeKalb County after working as a TWRA officer in Washington and Cocke County.

“I went to high school in White County and then to Tennessee Tech and earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Fisheries. After I got my degree I worked for the Tennessee Department of Transportation for a year and then got hired with the TWRA when a position opened up. I started in Washington County, which is Johnson City in East Tennessee. I worked there for about a year and then transferred to Cocke County and worked there until I got hired in DeKalb County earlier this year,” said Howard.

Matt and his wife Sara reside in White County.

Howard, who joins fellow TWRA Officer Tony Cross in working DeKalb County, takes over from Joe Fortner who still lives here but now works for the TWRA in another position.

Matt said he enjoys working in DeKalb County especially because it is close to home for him.

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