DESA Thanksgiving Meals
DeKalb Emergency Services Association will be serving their Thanksgiving meal again this year. To get your name on the delivery list call: 615-390-0297 or 615-712-4286 or visit WWW.dekalbesa.com/ If you want to support by donating or volunteering, contact above phone numbers or visit WWW.dekalbesa.com/HELP. To donate or sign up to help cut off for meals sign up will be Nov. 19, 2023.
Smithville Lions Club Pecan Fundraiser
We are selling one pound bag of half mammoths for only $11. All pecans are this year’s crop from South Georgia. All proceeds go to help the citizens of DeKalb County. To purchase stop by Starla Meigs, First Bank, Vester Parsley’s office, or Patty’s restaurant is Smithville. Call, message or text Wendy at 615-390-3567.
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Toy Drive, Nov. 18
The Sheriff’s Department will be collecting gifts for DeKalb County children ages birth to 18 years old. Remember, great gifts for teens are hair dryers, curling irons, gift sets, fishing rods/reel, tackle boxes, skateboards, and bikes, etc. Remember this will be Saturday, November 18 at 515 West Broad Street, WALMART from 9am to 3pm.
53rd Annual Chamber Prayer Breakfast
The 53rd Annual Chamber Prayer Breakfast will be held on Thursday, November 16th, from 7 AM to 8 AM at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center, located at 101 W. Church Street, Smithville. The doors will open at 6:30 AM, welcoming all who wish to attend. The guest speaker will be State Senator Janice Bowling. The event will feature special music and prayers led by members of our community. As an added treat, the Smithville First Baptist Church’s Men’s Group will prepare a pancake and sausage breakfast for all attendees. The Leadership DeKalb Class of 2024 will be on hand to help serve. Tickets for the Prayer Breakfast are available at a nominal cost of $5 per person. To secure your tickets, please contact the Chamber via email at swilliams@dekalbcountychamber.org or send a text message to 615-464-7760 with your name and the number of tickets you need. Payments can be made at the door, ensuring a hassle-free and convenient registration process.
DeKalb County Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blood Assurance Drive
A DeKalb County Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blood Assurance Drive will be November 20 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the County Complex in front of the Senior Citizens Center at 718 South Congress Boulevard. The blood drive will be on the mobile. All donors will receive a pair of “Turkey and Football” socks inspired by Friends! (while supplies last). To schedule an appointment, go to Bloodassurance.org/dekalbco or contact Jimmy Poss at 615-464-7426 or jimposs72@yahoo.com. Please remember to EAT A GOOD MEAL and drink additional water, avoid energy drinks, and bring your ID. Blood Assurance is the SOLE blood provider for our local hospitals. One donation can save three lives.
FBLA Citrus Sale
It’s Citrus time in DeKalb County. The Future Business Leaders of America Club of DeKalb County High School is gearing up for the annual CITRUS SALE. This is tree ripened and orchard fresh Florida Citrus. FBLA members will be out and about taking orders from Nov. 2nd to Nov. 15th, or you can call the school at 597-4094. Delivery will be around the 2nd week of December.
American Legion Meeting
The American Legion and Ladies Auxiliary will meet on Thursday, November 16th. A Thanksgiving meal will be shared before the meeting. The Legion is furnishing the turkey and fixings. All members and spouses are invited to come. The meal will be at 6 p.m. at the Snow Hill Community Center.
UCDD
Are you raising a relative child or need housing assistance? For more information on assistance and support, please contact Melissa Allison at the Upper Cumberland Development District toll-free at 1-0800-275-8233. A support group meeting will be held for relatives caring for relative children during the month. Please contact Melissa Allison at 931-476-4127. If you are interested in attending this meeting. For housing assistance, while caring for a minor child, please contact Myra Walker.
Veterans Service Officer Ready to Assist
Are you a veteran in need of assistance? DeKalb County has a Veteran's Service Officer ready to help you, not only with filing claims, but for conversations about your service.
Retired military service officer Bill Rutherford is located on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse and is ready to offer assistance. He is available for in-office visits each Tuesday and Thursday or can be reached by telephone at any time at 615-560-3610. DeKalb County appreciates the service of all veterans and is proud to provide this service.
Al-Anon & AA meetings
Meetings on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church 105 Edgewood Avenue, McMinnville, TN 37110
DeKalb County Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blood Assurance Drive
A DeKalb County Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blood Assurance Drive will be November 20 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the County Complex in front of the Senior Citizens Center at 718 South Congress Boulevard. The blood drive will be on the mobile. All donors will receive a pair of “Turkey and Football” socks inspired by Friends! (while supplies last). To schedule an appointment, go to Bloodassurance.org/dekalbco or contact Jimmy Poss at 615-464-7426 or jimposs72@yahoo.com. Please remember to EAT A GOOD MEAL and drink additional water, avoid energy drinks, and bring your ID. Blood Assurance is the SOLE blood provider for our local hospitals. One donation can save three lives. Meanwhile, another Blood Assurance Drive will be November 21 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Family Medical Center, 302 North Congress Boulevard, Smithville. The blood drive will be on the mobile. All donors will receive a pair of “Turkey and Football” socks inspired by Friends! (while supplies last).
Sobriety Checkpoints, Nov. 24
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting a Sobriety Checkpoint on November 24, 2023 on State Route 96 in DeKalb County. Impaired driving is a serious crime that kills more than 16,000 people and injures 305,000 others every year in the United States. Troopers will evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment. Troopers will target those who operate a vehicle while impaired and take corrective actions for other violations observed while ensuring the protection of all motorists. The Tennessee Highway Patrol recognizes that sobriety checkpoints are highly visible and effective tools in the battle against impaired driving.
Holiday Closings
All county official offices will be closed including the courthouse for Thanksgiving on November the 23rd and 24th. The complex will also be closed on the 23rd and 24th. The trash collection sites and transfer station will only be closed on Thanksgiving Day the 23rd.
Storytime at Justin Potter Library
Justin Potter Library will host a Thanksgiving Storytime on Friday, November 17 at 10am for pre-school children. We hope you will join us for fun stories and a goody bag for each child that is present.
Justin Potter Library
Justin Potter Libraries will be closed on November 22, 23, and 24 for Thanksgiving and will reopen on November 25.
Alexandria Fire Department All You Can Eat Chili Supper & Silent Auction
Alexandria Fire Department All You Can Eat Chili Supper & Silent Auction
Saturday, November 18th, 2023 11:00AM-6:00PM
Dekalb County Fairgrounds (Kenneth Sandlin Center)
Chili Tickets: ages (13+) $10 ages (7-12) $5 ages (6 under) FREE ALL YOU CAN EAT chili, crackers/cornbread, and 1 drink included!
Desserts and hotdogs will be available for purchase! Different varieties of chili will be available!
All proceeds for the silent auction will go directly towards our 2023 Angel Tree Fund! All other proceeds will benefit Alexandria Fire Department.
The Silent Auction will be hosted by the Alexandria Fire Fighters Association.
If you would like to donate a dessert or item for the silent auction, please contact Diana Blair (615)-529-1334. Please leave a message if no answer. For any other questions contact: Lorrie Merriman (615)-464-7621 or Diana & Bubba Blair (615)-529-1334. Please leave a message if no answer.
DeKalb Foster Children Need Help During the Holidays
A child who has been removed from an abusive or neglectful home will be sharing Christmas with a family of strangers or possibly celebrating Christmas for the first time. Many of the younger children may wonder if Santa will know where to bring their presents or most may even wonder if they will get anything at all!
This year, there are more than 777 children in the Upper Cumberland who are in the care of Tennessee, and approximately 42 are in DeKalb County and these local children need the help of those in their local community.
The Santa for all Season group is requesting assistance to support these children during the season of giving. This organization provides assistance to foster and underprivileged children all year.
If you or your organization is willing to help provide a donation for these children, please contact Annette Greek at 615-597-5023 or make checks payable to Santa for All Season (DeKalb Foster Children’s Fund) and send to the following address: Annette Webb Greek, 1101 South College Street, S
Grand Jury to Convene November 27
The next term of the DeKalb County Grand Jury will meet on Monday, November 27.“It is the duty of your grand jurors to investigate any public offense which they know or have reason to believe has been committed and which is triable or indictable in the county. Any person having knowledge or proof that an offense has been committed may apply to testify before the grand jury subject to the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated 40-12-105. The foreman in this county is presently Ms. Katherine Pack, 1 Public Square, Room 303, Smithville, Tennessee, 37166.” said DeKalb Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin.“The grand jury will next meet on Monday, the 27th day of November, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.. You may be prosecuted for perjury for any oral or written statement which you make under oath to the grand jury, when you know the statement to be false, and when the statement touches on a matter material to the point in question,” she said.
Patchwork Regifting Event December 2
Christmas is the season for giving and children who participate in this year’s 9th Annual Patchwork Regifting Event will have a chance to experience that by doing something special for their parents and total strangers.
Regifting gives children ages 4 to 12 an opportunity to shop for their parents or caregivers at no cost. The gifts are then wrapped, tagged, and prepared for Christmas giving.
This year’s Regifting Event will be on Saturday, December 2 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. or until all gifts are gone at the DeKalb County Complex. Families must pre-register their children in order to be eligible for a chance to receive a door prize. Bring your children to the county complex and wait for them to shop. All children who shop will receive a goody bag.
Donations are collected throughout the year for this event so that those who can’t afford to buy gifts can still share in the joy of giving by regifting something.
The children are then asked to prepare a blessing bag to be given to others.
This year, children will help assemble Blessing Bags for local veterans.
If you need more information or would like to volunteer call or text Chelsye Madden at 931-247-3369 or Joanna Fuson at 615-517-9100. Please no calls after 5 p.m. You may also call Amber Adams at 615-684-5798 from 6-8 p.m. Email patchworkuc@outlook.com or visit Facebook.
