The Harlem Wizards are Coming to Town

December 5, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The Harlem Wizards, the most interactive, fun, community basketball event in the world is coming to Smithville.

The world-famous Harlem Wizards will visit DeKalb Middle School on Thursday, February 29 at 6 p.m. for an evening of great fun and fundraising.  Doors will open at 5 p.m. The Wizards will play a game against a team of DeKalb County School teachers, principals, SRO’s and community leaders. The event is a fundraiser for DeKalb Middle School. Only 850 tickets will be available and all sales will be online at www.harlemwizards.com or https://pretix.eu/harlemwizards/smithvilletn02-29-24-07-00pm/. DMS will get 52% of ticket proceeds. With Christmas coming up, tickets to see the Harlem Wizards may be a great gift idea. Souvenirs and concessions will also be available for sale on game night.

“ Ms. Suzette Barnes (DMS teacher) has been so gracious to plan and organize this awesome event to get us some funds to support our students in the unique ways they need,” said DMS Principal Caleb Shehane.

“We have a lot of plans here at DMS but unfortunately it takes funds and we are trying to raise those funds to give our students more opportunities whether it be through our positive behavior support system, social emotional learning, and to provide students opportunities to maybe see some things outside of DeKalb County, to go on a field trip or maybe to bring some more things to the school as a whole”.

“We have started the early process of a playground,” Principal Shehane continued. “We have the footer poured and the basketball goals up and we have some swings on the way. We hope to add to it little by little just to give the kids a place to play and relax and have some down time. Even though they are middle school students they still enjoy playing so we are trying to do that. We are also trying to offer some field trip incentives to students that may go above and beyond that work really hard with their attendance and grades. We have a lot of different ideas we are going to try to get people motivated”.

“We are trying to encourage students to have good attendance at school and to have positive behaviors, not only in school but in society. If we can use this as a means to do that then we want to do so,” said Barnes.

Hype Trailer from The World Famous Harlem Wizards on Vimeo.

“We have been working on attendance incentives,” added Martha Melching, DMS Counselor. “Some local businesses have been very kind and they have donated some items or funds to help with that but we really want to celebrate the kids who are showing up consistently. That is one of the things we have talked about. We would like to have some really nice prizes and things for that but also some experiences for the kids. We have big ideas. We just need the money to fund those ideas,” said Melching.

The energy at a Wizards game is electric. The laughter is infectious. The dunks are rim-rattling. High-flying and awe inspiring. The hoop artistry, ball-handling, tricks, and teamwork are mesmerizing.

What really takes it to another level is the hometown participation from the kids on court experiences, to the teachers, principals and other community leaders who take on the Wizards as the “hometown heroes”. Besides cheering for their teachers, the kids are involved all night long. They will all have a chance to get on the court!

Throughout the game audience members will be asked to volunteer in different contests and acts. The experience at a Wizards game is the community, the school coming together for a night of good, pure fun and excitement and it’s a fundraiser.

The event will feature a variety of fun interactive extras to complement the Wizards’ dazzling demonstration of hoops artistry: Pregame “Wiz Kids” warm-up, contests, comedy, awesome slam dunks, audience participation, merchandise giveaways, and more. The game will conclude with the Wizards’ signature dance celebration that will have the parents on their feet and the kids moving to the beat.

Members of the DMS team scheduled to take on the Harlem Wizards that night include DeKalb Fire Chief Donny Green, Smithville Mayor Josh Miller, State Representative Michael Hale, General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Brandon Cox, Smithville Elementary Assistant Principal Karen France, Northside Elementary Principal Angela Johnson, DeKalb West School Assistant Principal Seth Willoughby, DeKalb Middle School Principal Caleb Shehane, DCHS Assistant Principal Thomas Cagle, Darrin Vincent of Dailey & Vincent, DeKalb Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell, DeKalb County Mayor Matt Adcock, Casey Midgett of First Bank, DMS teacher Justin Nokes, DMS SRO Joseph Carroll, DWS SRO Billy Tiner, DCHS SRO Chris McMillen, Northside Elementary School SRO Joe Pack, Sign Interpreter Rochelle Davis, NES teacher Trey Jones and possibly others yet to be named.

“We have had the Harlem Wizards here before and its always been a sellout. Its always a big crowd and a packed gym,” said Barnes. “This year we have 850 tickets to sell. Tickets sales this year are a little bit different than in the past. Before we had the paper tickets but this year everything is digital online. Its important to get tickets early. No tickets will be available at the door if its a sellout online. This is a great Christmas present idea. That’s one of the reasons we wanted to launch this announcement now,” Barnes added.

On game day, Barnes said the Harlem Wizards will be visiting all other schools in the county except for the high school. “On game day, depending on the school, the Wizards will either do cafeteria visits with students or 20-minute assemblies doing character traits lessons. At DMS we will do a pep rally and Northside will also do a pep rally but the details at the other schools have yet to be worked out”.

Founded in 1962, the Wizards have played over 15,000 games throughout the US that have raised more than $25 million for schools and charitable causes. The Wizards have also played in over 25 foreign countries on six continents.

Tickets are priced as follows: 850 tickets will be sold.

Advance Student Admission $12.00

Advance General Admission $14.00

Gate Admission (if tickets available) Student and Senior Citizens $14.00. General Public $16.00

Reserved $20.00

Courtside Plus Package $35.00 (60 tickets available)

Courtside Plus Package includes curtsied seating, a pre-game meet and greet for 10 minutes with 2 Wizards, a CS+lanyard, a free Wizards photo for the kids, a $10.00 gift certificate for adults and a $5.00 discount on jerseys purchased in advance.

Courtside Player Package. $110.00 (10 tickets available)

Courtside Player Package includes all the benefits of Curtsied Plus and a jersey for the kids. The kids will join the Wizards and play in a 3-minute game coached by the Harlem Wizards during halftime.

If you want to be a sponsor for tee shirts, etc. call DeKalb Middle School.

December 5, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The Annual Festival of Trees opened Monday night at the county complex for the unveiling of an impressive collection of uniquely decorated Christmas trees.

More than 700 (705) toys were collected for the Last Minute Toy Shop, which was this year’s non-profit beneficiary of the event.

The Christ Point Church took top honors for DeKalb County Tree of the Year with 195 votes (gifts). To be named Tree of the Year, it had to have the most gifts placed under it. Christ Point Church was also awarded as the Most Unique Tree.

Other award winners:
*Prettiest Tree: Center Hill Realty & Chalets
*Best Themed Tree: WJLE (Golden Oldies Theme) decorated by WJLE employee Shawna Willingham
*Most Touching Theme: DeKalb Animal Shelter
*The Tree I want in my Living Room: DeKalb Prevention Coalition

“We had lots of people come thru looking at the trees, voting for their favorite one, and we served food and there were lots of kids that had pictures made with Santa,” said event organizers.

Meanwhile registration for the Last Minute Toy Shop is Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, December 6, 7, & 8 from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. at the county complex in the cafeteria. See the Last Minute Toy Shop Facebook Page for the required paperwork to bring.

You will need ALL of the following:
Proof of DeKalb County residency: (latest water, electric bill, etc)
Photo ID of parent/guardian: (this is the person who will shop for the child/children)
Proof of each child’s age: (child’s birth certificate. )
Proof why assistance needed: (low income housing recpt., families first or food stamp card, or pay check stub with utility and rent receipts showing you cannot afford anything extra, etc.)
NO EARLIER REGISTRATION, PLEASE DO NOT ASK.

Shopping Day is Dec. 16 – you will be given a specific time at registration as well as rules. DO NOT BRING CHILDREN DAY OF SHOPPING. NO EXCEPTION.

DeKalb County, TN children ages birth thru high school (18 years old) are eligible.

Those participating in the Festival of Trees were:

WJLE

Town & Lake Realty

DeKalb Animal Shelter

DeKalb Ace Hardware

Page/Charlie Brown Tree

Meadows/Paparazzi

Brown/Mary Kay

First Assembly of God

Hywater

Justin Potter Library

Outreach Baptist Church

DeKalb Prevention Coalition

Wilson Bank and Trust

Center Hill Realty

Suncrest

DTC

DeKalb Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell

4-H

Christ Point Church

DeKalb Co. Fair

Middle TN Gas Company

First Bank

December 5, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Calling all lifeguards!

The City of Smithville is  in need of lifeguards at least age 15 or older in order for the Municipal Swimming Pool to open on time in May.

Last year the city could not open the pool due to the lack of available lifeguards.

In an effort to help solve the problem this year, the Smithville Aldermen, during its regular monthly meeting Monday night, voted to increase the pay of lifeguards from $12 to $15 per hour and for the city to pay up front the $230 fees for lifeguards to attend classes to become certified. Lifeguards or their parents would be required to sign an agreement (contract) to reimburse the city for the cost if the lifeguards were to fail the test or resign before the season is over.

“I know we did not get to open it (pool) last year but our hope is to open it this upcoming season,” said Mayor Josh Miller.

“I have asked Mr. (Vester) Parsley, city attorney to get a contract together because in the past the city reimbursed lifeguards once they passed the tests. I know this puts a hardship on people having to pay for this out of their pockets. This year what we are going to do and if you are not age 18, you will need a parent or guardian to sign this contract, but the city will pay for you to take the test up front. If you fail the test or if you don’t make it through (work) the season you have to reimburse the city. There has to be some accountability to this,” said Mayor Miller.

“The other thing I would like to ask this council to consider tonight is to up the pay for lifeguards from $12 to $15 per hour. That’s for probably about 10 week out of the year. Of course, our lifeguards are usually high school students and when school starts back we don’t have any lifeguards. That’s why we really can’t open the pool until school is out in May and that is why the pool is not open longer in the summer than it is,” added Mayor Miller.

Gina Cawthorn, pool manager, said at least 15 lifeguards are needed and certification classes are being offered.

“We need at least 15 lifeguards before we can open even for three or four days a week. Right now I am begging for lifeguards”.

“Last year we only had seven come forward. People ask why do you need more than seven lifeguards?. Lets say we are open five days a week, six to eight hours a day, we can’t leave a lifeguard out in the sun over four or five hours. Its not healthy. They need to be relieved every four or five hours,” said Cawthorn.

“I have two former lifeguards coming back and from last year and another who was willing last year but unable to work. She will be with us this year Classes are taking place now in Murfreesboro and Lebanon and there are other options available for taking the classes.

The pool is scheduled to open after school is out usually around Memorial Day weekend.

For more information Call Gina 615-597-6648

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