Smithville’s brand-new John Robert Nixon Substation is now online after a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning by the Smithville-DeKalb Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the completion of the facility. Chamber president and local minister Isaac Gray opened the ceremony with a prayer and called for a moment of silence honoring the recent passing of Karen Jacobs, wife of Alderman Shawn Jacobs. Smithville Electric System board members Hilton Conger, Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss, John Robert Nixon, Walter Burton and Tony Hagan lined up for the official cutting.The final breaker putting the station online was flipped by Mr. Nixon himself just after the ribbon-cutting.“Today we celebrate a first for the City of Smithville.