Kick-Off Fundraiser for the 838 Restoration Project to Benefit the Smithville Town Cemetery a Great Success

March 22, 2025
By:

On Thursday we welcomed the first day of spring with a blend of sunshine, wind, and gentle rain. Despite the cool temperatures, the community came together to support the Smithville Town Cemetery’s 1838 Restoration Project, a truly special evening at the Harvester.

Our fundraiser event was a heartwarming success, filled with well-wishers eager to learn more about this historic landmark in the heart of our city. The Harvester venue served as a beautiful backdrop, symbolizing the ongoing revitalization of downtown Smithville. Larry Pinkerton provided a delightful musical backdrop with his groovy tunes, covering classics from Nat King Cole to the Allman Brothers and The Beatles, creating a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. Firemen One BBQ provided the delicious catering for the event.

The silent auction featured a well-curated selection of items, including artwork, live trees, flowers, and gift certificates to local restaurants and resorts. The community’s support was palpable, as attendees embraced the evening with enthusiasm despite the chilly weather.

A preview of the proposed landscape architecture and restoration plans was shared, illustrating our vision for the cemetery’s revitalization. Cornelia Evins Mallozzi discussed her vision and shared her creative and wonderful design, presenting her beautiful landscape renderings and drawings, for the restoration project. Steven Cantrell also spoke about the importance of citizen support and what it means to take pride in our hometown heritage and to our community. Showcasing the committee’s hard work and dedication, brothers Greg and Bert Driver played an active role by planting trees earlier in the year along Congress Boulevard in honor of the cemetery’s restoration.

Bo Thomas led the speaking program, sharing his motivation for the project inspired by Tommy Webb’s vision to repair the cemetery’s fence and wall. He emphasized the historical value and significance of the Smithville Town Cemetery to our community and what a rare opportunity we have in this project.

Bert Driver spoke passionately about the importance of this cemetery, highlighting how it provides an opportunity for our community to come together in a meaningful way creating green space and a place to visit much like a public park. Bert challenged the large group in attendance to spread the word and bring community awareness to the worthy cause. As the gateway to Center Hill Lake and the Upper Cumberland region, Smithville’s history is rich and deserves to be preserved.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Evins family and the trustees for their ongoing commitment to maintaining the cemetery. The success of our kickoff event is just the start of our journey. We look forward to continuing this vital work to ensure that Smithville Town Cemetery is recognized and cherished for its beauty and historical value.

This event marks a significant step in our efforts to raise funds and awareness for the Smithville Town Cemetery, so let’s rally together for the 1838 Project: Smithville Town Cemetery Revitalization and Restoration! Together, we can make a lasting impact on our community! Your participation will ensure that the cemetery receives the attention and respect it deserves as a place of respect and remembrance, and help us honor our past and preserve it for future generations. Let’s work together to preserve the legacy of our town and enhance our downtown community area. Thank you for your support, and follow their progress on the Smithville Town Cemetery Association Facebook page.

For more information to make a donation and to find out how to get involved please contact:
•Bo Thomas
•bothomas5566@gmail.com
•(615) 351-4515
or
•Mary Evins Overton
•maevins@bellsouth.net
•( 615) 521-2084

Together, we can make a difference!

March 20, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

Six months after getting the job Kenneth (K.D.) Smith is out as the Alexandria Police Chief.

By a vote of 4 to 2, the Alexandria Aldermen Thursday night following a disciplinary hearing voted to terminate Chief Smith. Alderman Luke Prichard made the motion which received a second by Alderman Bobby Simpson. Others voting for termination were Aldermen Tiffany Robinson and Jonathon Tripp. Aldermen Sherry Tubbs and Jeff Ford voted against termination.

A week ago, Mayor Beth Tripp issued a written reprimand of Chief Smith and placed him on suspension without pay until Thursday night’s disciplinary hearing before the mayor and aldermen at city hall.

The mayor’s written reprimand or write-ups are based on alleged events which occurred on November 30, 2024, December 14, 2024, March 10, 2025, and March 13, 2025.

The mayor’s written reprimand alleges as follows: “Resident complaints on several occasions; telling residents city information; Making workplace intolerable; Making workers and myself (mayor) feel unsafe (This isn’t the first time. I gave several warnings on your temper and voice getting loud); Body language shows anger; Not following chain of command on several occasions; Talked with you several times trying to get you to calm down; Many residents have complained to me about you”.

During the hearing Thursday night, Chief Smith claimed the mayor’s allegations in the reprimand are without merit and lack any supporting documentation. Smith contends he has not violated any laws, ordinances, or city policies and procedures and was not provided specifics of any complaints even after filing a grievance with the city. Chief Smith went further, claiming the mayor violated state law by denying him his rights under the Tennessee Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act.

“There are no supporting documents available to support these false allegations,” said Chief Smith. “There are no laws or ordinances listed that I violated. I filed a grievance with the city that was turned in on Monday concerning the reprimand. There are some things I requested in the grievance process including a detailed documentation of each citizen or employee’s complaint filed with city hall; detailed documentation of alleged release of city business to citizens; detailed documentation of any alleged chain of command violation; detailed documentation or evidence of intolerable workplace allegations; and detailed documentation or evidence of alleged event dates (noted by the mayor). Detailed documents (in this case) must have included coinciding dates, times, locations, and parties involved and must have been provided by March 18, 2025 at 4 p.m. There have been three days for the city to get the proper documentation that I have requested be provided to me. Nothing has been provided. There is no documentation to support what has been alleged,” said Chief Smith.

“Tennessee Code Annotated Title 38 lays out the due process procedures for law enforcement officers. The mayor has violated this TCA code,” Chief Smith continued. “She has also attempted to fill my position as chief prior to this hearing. The grievance I filed at city hall requesting the detailed documentation also asked that the grievance be heard by a neutral decision-making party that has no vested interest in the outcome of this hearing. I am requesting that the city follow TCA Title 38’s due process rights for a police officer. That is state law. I am also requesting that this hearing be dismissed; that I be reinstated to full active duty to my position so I can continue to run the department to care for the citizens of this town which they deserve; and I request that I get the lost wages from the suspension reinstated to me,” said Chief Smith.

Alderman Jeff Ford questioned the mayor why any complaints regarding the police chief had not been brought to the attention of the aldermen before now.

“How come I found out about this on Facebook and not from you” asked Alderman Ford.

“Because you don’t find out things from me until meetings,” replied Mayor Tripp

“How come we get all this stuff at (this) meeting and not prior,” Ford asked. “So, we are going to vote on this guy’s future based on some stack of papers that you throw in front of us”.  You are not ever going to communicate any personnel issues that is this big of a deal? This much stuff has happened since this man has taken office and we have not discussed it in any meeting?  We have had a lot of meetings since you have been mayor. You have this much stuff and it has never been brought up ever,” said Alderman Ford,

“Like I said you can discuss it among yourselves,” added Mayor Tripp

Chief Smith also took issue with another matter referred to during the meeting which was not specifically noted in the mayor’s reprimand last Thursday and one that he (Smith) had not been prepared to address regarding his spending practices. Among the documents Chief Smith had been given during the hearing was an email message by the mayor which had also previously been sent to him regarding a city purchasing policy stating “I have been informed that any time any department makes a purchase you need to get it approved and once approved, need to get receipts from purchases no matter the amount”.

“Receipts, we don’t ever get any financials here (council meetings)”, said Alderman Ford.

“Yes, we have provided financials before,” answered Mayor Tripp.

“But we haven’t seen any of this though (information about certain police department spending),” added Alderman Tubbs.

“Correct, those are things that were not asked from y’all (aldermen) that was over the amount that should have been spent,” said Mayor Tripp.

In one case, Chief Smith told the local media after the meeting Thursday night that he had two police department vehicles recently serviced and tires replaced at a Gordonsville business rather than one in Alexandria, but Smith claims the mayor knew about it and approved it. “Standing right outside the department was me, two other officers, and the mayor. I told her and she said oh yeah get the tires we have to have them. We were doing business in Alexandria too, but I was trying to help save the city money. The mayor later said the city had a contract with that Alexandria business (servicing patrols cars), but they don’t have a contract. I didn’t know at that time that I had to get approval or inform somebody where I was getting service done to patrol cars because that is my responsibility and part of my duties,” said Chief Smith.

In another case, Chief Smith said “we also got two shipping containers to use for storage given to us from the city of Laverne and we had a tow truck bring them here but that was paid out of the drug fund. I brought that up in a meeting. I even asked her (mayor) about putting them beside the bassoons shop. She said oh yeah,” said Chief Smith.

After the meeting, Chief Smith read through the additional complaints handed to him during the hearing and told the local media that anything brought up after his suspension should have been considered null and void with regard to any action taken by the board last night.

March 20, 2025
By: Brian Cadle

The DCHS Tigers tennis team rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to defeat district rival White County by a score of 5-4 on Tuesday. The Lady Tigers team lost to the Lady Warriors 9-0, with seven matches decided by 3 games or less. The match lasted over five hours, as the four Smithville Golf Club courts were the site of incredibly competitive matches.

White County, led by senior Gabriel Wiles, jumped to a 2-0 lead with victories in #1 and #2 doubles. Wiles then followed suit with a singles victory over Tiger freshman #1 Lance Duke. The Warriors were suddenly leading the Tigers by a 3-0 score. The #3 doubles match began a momentum swing in favor of DeKalb, led by Ethan Brown and Cameron Ramsey. The match started with White County gaining early momentum with a 4-2 lead, but Brown and Ramsey responded with six unanswered points to win. Brown described a strategy change that made a difference. “They were heavy net players, so we started lobbing them and attacking the net ourselves, which pushed them back some.”

After the win at #3 doubles, Ian Barnes, Jackson Mathis, Luke Midgett, and Brown all won their singles matches to secure the victory. Brown was the statistical leader for the Tigers with two total victories out of the five team points. Head Coach Brian Cadle praised his team’s effort, “I am thankful for the depth of our tennis teams this year. Lance had a very tough assignment with Gabriel, a senior who is talented and strong mentally. We needed the rest of our roster to step up and rally the team to victory. I am proud of the team effort, but it was certainly not a match with a quick outcome.”

On the girls’ side, the 9-0 score was not representative of the Lady Tigers’ play. Only two of the nine matches were decided by more than three points. Senior Charlotte Paladino played to a tiebreaker against Marian Swindell, losing 9-8 (8-1). Coach Cadle was very proud of the Lady Tigers’ #1 player, “I told Charlotte that was the best match I have seen her play. She played with confidence and purpose today. I lost count of the winners off her racket. Charlotte was down 4-1 and battled back to take the lead and then into the tiebreaker. She has grown so much as a player and leader for our girls.” Cadle noted the improved play of the girls against the Lady Warriors, “White County has been a difficult loss for the girls the past couple of years. We certainly looked much better against them today and hope to get another chance with them in the district tournament.”

DeKalb and White County have developed a friendly yet competitive rivalry over the past four years. Coach Cadle and Coach Topher Wiles have both developed competitive district teams with a similar formula, working to develop a K-12 tennis program and growing talent from a young age. The current DeKalb County High School team has three players, Duke, Brown, and Mia Bell, who come from the DeKalb Middle School tennis team, which has been in existence for three seasons as a feeder program. The middle school team is led by Coach Chad Ramsey, who is also the top assistant coach for the high school program. Ramsey has two kids in the program, Cameron, who is on the boys’ varsity team, and Abby, who plays for the middle school team.

The Tigers are now 5-1 and the Lady Tigers 3-3. Both teams host York Institute on Thursday at 3:00 pm.

Box Score
Girls: White County 9-0
#1 Singles Marian Swindell (WC) defeated Charlotte Paladino (DC) 9-8 (8-1)
#2 Singles Lilly Colwell (WC) defeated Candice Rico (DC) 8-2
#3 Singles Lorelei Bouldin (WC) defeated Kayce Hale (DC) 8-1
#4 Singles Tegan Rittenberry (WC) defeated Mia Bell (DC) 8-4
#5 Singles Sadie Benningfield (WC) defeated Jayde Lester (DC) 9-7
#6 Singles Olivia Flaminio (WC) defeated Kaylee Hoersch (DC) 9-8 (8-6)
#1 Doubles Swindell/Colwell (WC) defeated Paladino/Rico (DC) 8-5
#2 Doubles Bouldin/Benningfield (WC) defeated Lester/Hoersch (DC) 9-7
#3 Doubles Rittenberry/Olivia Flaminio defeated Hale/Madison Caballero (DC) 9-8 (7-2)

Boys: DeKalb County 5-4
#1 Singles Gabriel Wiles (WC) defeated Lance Duke (DC) 8-3
#2 Singles Ian Barnes (DC) defeated John Durfee (DC) 8-3
#3 Singles Jackson Mathis (DC) defeated Ethan Wiles (DC) 8-1
#4 Singles Luke Midgett (DC) defeated Solomon Hawkins (WC) 8-4
#5 Singles Ethan Brown (DC) defeated James Frady (WC) 8-1
#6 Singles Ben Brogden (WC) defeated Cameron Ramsey (DC) 8-4
#1 Doubles Wiles/Wiles (WC) defeated Duke/Barnes (DC) 8-5
#2 Doubles Midgett/Mathis (DC) defeated Durfee/Brogden (WC) 8-5
#3 Doubles Brown/Ramsey (DC) defeated Hawkins/Frady (WC) 8-4

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