State Lawmakers to Honor Local Church on its 75th Anniversary
by: Dwayne PageApr 02, 2025
State Representative Michael Hale has introduced a resolution in the Tennessee General Assembly to honor the New Life United Pentecostal Church on the celebration of its 75th anniversary.
The resolution is as follows:
“WHEREAS, New Life United Pentecostal Church of Smithville has stood on the rock solid foundation of Christian belief, service, and love for seventy-five years, serving as a bastion of faith and outreach to the people of its community; and
WHEREAS, in 1945, Sister Trudie Colvert was the first to bring the message of Oneness, Jesus’s Name baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, as preached in Acts 2, to the Smithville/DeKalb County area; and
WHEREAS, on May 1, 1949, the church became affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church (UPC) International, with the first building being purchased in 1952 and named the First Pentecostal Church; and
WHEREAS, over the years, several families have served as pastor to spread the good news throughout the community, including Trudie Colvert, EE Cooper, Robert Rutledge, Jesse Plunk, Norman Welcher, Marvin Tidrick, E.A. Calvin, Edward Grace, Sr., Larry Sims, Doyle Neal, Ralph Yarbro, Roger Moore, Howard Smith, C.W. Milam, Paul Sanders, and Dwayne Cornelius; and
WHEREAS, three separate UPC churches existed in the Smithville/DeKalb County area at one time, and New Life emerged from the merger of the three congregations in a special service in August of 1987, when they officially became one congregation under the name of New Life United Pentecostal Church, with Paul Sanders elected as the pastor; and
WHEREAS, Brother Sanders oversaw the building of a new church facility at 860 Congress Boulevard, and the first service was held there in September 1992; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Sanders retired in 2006, and Reverend Dwayne Cornelius was elected as pastor in April 2007; and WHEREAS, a remodel of the original New Life church building took place in 2009; and
WHEREAS, after the purchase of property next to the church, a remodel and conversion of the Pamida building was completed in 2012, adding 36,000 square feet of space to use for God’s glory; and
WHEREAS, upon the completion of that building, a fully accredited children’s program, the Kids Connection Early Learning Center, was established, and the vision of a Christian private school began as DeKalb Christian Academy in 2017; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, a new sanctuary was completed, and the original New Life church building became “The 860,” a facility designed to house the children’s ministry department; and
WHEREAS, the church now consists of two campuses, with three buildings totaling 60,000 square feet and serving over 300 constituents; and
WHEREAS, New Life United Pentecostal Church is one of the great religious institutions and catalysts for positive spiritual change in our State and nation, and the members of this exceptional congregation should be appropriately honored for their exemplary service to their fellow Christians and to the good people of Tennessee; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, that we join with the pastor and congregation of New Life United Pentecostal Church of Smithville in celebrating the seventy-five years they have spent building God’s Kingdom, thank these good people for their notable service to their Lord and the State of Tennessee, and wish them much continued success.
A Rebel without a home! (View Video Here)
by: Dwayne PageMar 24, 2025
A Rebel without a home!
Who could resist “Rebel”? This super sweet cuddle bug is now available for adoption at a discount at the DeKalb Animal Shelter?
“Rebel is about four or five years old. We think he is sort of a Pointer, German Wirehaired mix. He is a good boy, super sweet, and he would be a great hiking partner as well as a great couch cuddle buddy. Rebel is already neutered and up to date on vaccines. He has been dewormed, and he is on flea and tick prevention. He is sponsored so his adoption fee is only $50,” said DAS Director McKenna Frazier
If you are interested in meeting Rebel, fill out an application on the animal shelter website or come in. Visit https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/ or call 615-597-3647.
The shelter is open Mondays-Fridays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Transfer Station Road off Highway 70 east behind Tenneco.
State Announces Bid Notice to build new DeKalb County Health Department
by: Dwayne PageMar 24, 2025
The Tennessee Department of Health and the county are partnering to build a new DeKalb County Health Department complex to be located next to the existing facility on Tiger Drive at Smithville. The new 9,860 square foot building will be constructed at no actual cost to the county. Plans are to break ground 30-60 days after a contractor is selected. Offices and personnel in the current health department building will be moved to the new facility when it is completed.
The projected cost is almost $4.7 million which includes the earmarking of State support of $4,300,500 (previously committed federal ARP funds coming through the state) and the remaining $398,000 in local matching funds (previously committed ARP funds). Total estimated costs $4,698,500.
A bid notice is to be published this week seeking contractors and the purchasing committee of the county commission has scheduled a bid opening on Tuesday, April 1 at 2 p.m. in the lower courtroom of the courthouse.
The bid notice states “the following is an invitation to provide a bid for the construction of a new facility for the DeKalb County Health Department on Tiger Drive, Smithville, TN.
The new facility will consist of a 9,860 square foot structure. Sealed bids will be received by the DeKalb County Mayor at the DeKalb County Mayor’s Office, located at 1 Public Square, Room 204, Smithville, TN 37166, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 2:00 pm (CST). Contract documents, including instructions to bidders can be obtained by contacting AEI, the architect of record. AEI is located at 57 West Broad, Cookeville, TN 38501, (931) 528 6516.
The successful bidder will be required to furnish an acceptable Performance and Payment Bond in the amount of One Hundred Percent (100%) of the contract price. All bidders must be licensed contractors to perform the type of construction described as required by Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 62, Chapter 6, Amended by Chapter 406 of the Public Work Act of 1977.
DeKalb County reserves the right to negotiate with the successful bidder on alternatives or changes to the bid. DeKalb County reserves the right to waive any irregularities or reject any or all bids as deemed in the best interest of the County.
This project is being supported with Treasury, Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Fund grant funding. Therefore, certain restrictions and other federal requirements attach to this opportunity.
DeKalb County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award. DeKalb County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage all small and minority owned firms and women’s business enterprises to participate No bidder may withdraw his bid within (60) days after the actual date of the opening thereof.
A bid bond or certified check for five percent (5%) of the total bid amount must accompany each bid. The successful bidder will be required to furnish a performance bond in the amount of his bid and shall, before entering on the work of said contract, be licensed as a contractor of DeKalb County”.