Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree Hosts Virtual Competition

June 17, 2020
By:

The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree & Crafts Festival has cancelled their LIVE music competition due to challenges presented by Covid-19, opting to create an innovative Virtual Jamboree for the first time in 49 years. The Jamboree is one of many festivals across the nation that have been forced to cancel in recent months, but one of the only festivals to develop a virtual platform for contestants. The online competition, however, seems to be an overwhelming success, receiving praise from musicians and dancers that have had nowhere to perform or compete.

“In the initial planning phases of the 49th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree, we were still under a stay-at-home order from the Governor, and cases were escalating. At that time, we had to make a very difficult decision to cancel the live competition and festival for the safety of our community,” said Sam Stout, President and Coordinator of the Jamboree, “In lieu of just cancelling and waiting around for next year, our marketing team suggested that we host a virtual competition via our FaceBook Page. Our board supported the decision, and the response was overwhelming, with cloggers and fiddlers submitting videos from across the nation.”

Longtime clogging competitor, Sherry Guenther (a crowd favorite), has been to every Jamboree since 1972, along with her family ‘The Lanana Drifters’. Sherry entered the Virtual Jamboree this year with her two granddaughters to continue the tradition, “I competed in my first Jamboree at the age of 13, and haven’t missed a single year,” Guenther says, “I entered the Senior Clogging category this year, and my two granddaughters entered the Beginner Clogging. The youngest is 3 years old.” Sherry’s competition video submission received 6,400 views on social media showing off her impressive clogging capabilities, her nimble knees, and a wall full of awards from previous years. Those numbers will likely grow after the PBS special airs next month.

“The competition started a little slow out of the gate, but grew quickly in talent and contest submissions as the idea of a virtual competition caught on,” said Shan Williams Stout, Director of Marketing for the Jamboree, “WCTE-PBS, along with DTC-TV3 were excited to present a televised version of the Virtual Jamboree, continuing the long-running tradition of having a televised event. We appreciate our media partners helping us to navigate this unusual situation by using virtual interviews from contestant’s homes, along with bringing hosts into the PBS studios with social distancing in place. A few surprises are in store, along with many of the hosts and local talent that we associate with the Jamboree year after year. Everyone has worked together, and had to think outside the box to make this possible. Due to the ability to open up the competition to everyone in the nation, we have had contestants from California to Pennsylvania, along with our first-ever contestants with special needs. We have now created a ‘Bluegrass Inclusive Dance Category’ just for them! We couldn’t be more excited for this wonderful addition to our festival.”

The special feature broadcast featuring the Smithville Fiddlers’ Virtual Jamboree will air on Saturday, July 4th at 5pm & 11pm (Central) on WCTE-PBS, along with being featured on DTC-TV3, and the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree FaceBook page at a later date. The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree would like to personally invite your to next year’s 50th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree & Crafts Festival entitled, “The Jamboree Family Reunion” on July 2nd & 3rd, 2021 on the courthouse square in Smithville, Tennessee.

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Pictured: Shan Williams Stout and Jennifer Hobbs Phipps, longtime hosts of the Jamboree on WCTE-PBS, are seen here filming part of the upcoming Virtual Jamboree 2020 airing July 4th at 5pm on WCTE-PBS.

June 17, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Graduation for the Class of 2020 at DeKalb County High School is scheduled for Friday night, June 19 at 8:00 p.m. on the high school football field. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m.

“Graduation will look a little different than normal due to the continued social distancing guidelines, but the senior class will finally get their day to celebrate their years of accomplishment,” said DCHS Principal Randy Jennings.

“The DCHS administration would like to remind everyone that only guests who have tickets that are given to them by a graduating student will be permitted inside the football stadium. Each student will receive 6 tickets total. There will be 2 tickets that will allow guests to sit inside the football field, where chairs will be provided, and 4 additional tickets that allow guests to sit in the stadium seating area on either side of the football field”.

“We are extremely sorry for any inconvenience that these restrictions may cause but ultimately we want to celebrate these students’ accomplishments with a ceremony that is as close to normal as possible,’ added Jennings.

The commencement program will feature the presentation of the White Rose and Citizenship Awards to members of the Class, recognition of honors, distinction, top rank and service students, remarks by the Class Valedictorian Anna Chew and Class President Hannah McBride, and presentation of diplomas. The band and chorus will not be making an appearance this year.

June 17, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce may soon be getting more financial support from the County.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, the County Budget Committee voted to grant a request by Chamber Director Suzanne Williams and include in the proposed 2020-21 budget an increase of $7,500 in the county’s annual contribution to the chamber. If approved by the county commission with passage of the new budget, the chamber will be getting a total of $25,000 from the county, an increase from the current contribution of $17,500 per year.

Chamber Director Williams, joined by Chamber President Lisa Cripps and Vice President Jen Sherwood, addressed the county budget committee last month asking for the increase on behalf of the chamber, a non-profit organization, established to promote local economic development and tourism. Along with the request, Williams provided members of the budget committee copies of the 2020 Chamber budget, current Chamber activities, and a DeKalb County Tourism Report.

The county currently contributes $17,500 while the City of Smithville provides $15,000 each year to the chamber. Among Upper Cumberland counties, DeKalb County ranks at the bottom in chamber funding contributions. In comparison, White County and Sparta each contribute $30,000 to the Chamber there along with proceeds from a hotel/motel tax which funds grant matches. Smith County donates $50,000 and Carthage $10,000 to its Chamber while Clay County appropriates $120,000 for its Chamber made up of all proceeds from that county’s hotel/motel tax including a tax on houseboats and the City of Celina also adds another $12,000 to the Chamber in Clay County.

The DeKalb County Chamber’s projected income for 2020 is $79,348 which includes membership dues and fundraisers in addition to the county and city’s contributions while expenditures are expected to exceed $82,000.

Williams said Tourism in DeKalb County has grown to $49.54 million and currently ranks third among the 14 Upper Cumberland Counties behind Putnam at $140.15 million and Cumberland at $127.80 million.

In addition to promoting DeKalb County and raising funds to support the Chamber, Williams said she also spends much of her time writing and administering grants for the county among other tasks.

Over $73,000 in grants have already been secured for the county this year with more expected. The latest to be funded is a $3,500 TVA Telework Technology Grant for the UT Extension Service Conference Room at the County Complex.

In a letter to the County Mayor and Commissioners, Williams outlined Chamber supported goals for the upcoming year.

“This year we are choosing to focus on and accomplish several major goals including New DeKalb County Resource Guides to be distributed at the Smith County Welcome Center and for newcomers and visitors, the new Alexandria Park and Playground, improvements to DeKalb Tee Ball Fields, a new Telework Technology System for the County Complex Conference Room, next year’s 50th Smithville Jamboree super celebration, and downtown Smithville murals,” said Williams.

With the workload ever increasing, Williams said the Chamber could use a financial boost from the county.

“We are not a donation. We are an investment. You will never lose money by putting it into the Chamber. Any grant Tim (Stribling) has ever asked me to write I have done it and I am glad to do it because these things are important for our community and in making us the best we can be. But it has gotten to the point to where I can hardly do it all on the little bit (funding) we (Chamber) are getting (from County) because I am having to spend so much time fundraising along with my responsibilities as the Chamber Director, Chamber Secretary, Jamboree Secretary, and grant writer and administrator. I am doing all these jobs. I ask that you seriously consider this request. I promise you will not regret it because I will make sure it comes back to you three or four fold. I have done it consistently over the years,” said Williams.

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