68 year old Gordon Jessie Dyer of Smithville died Thursday at DeKalb Community Hospital. He was a retired farmer and a Baptist. The funeral will be Saturday at noon at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Dewey Dyer will officiate and burial will be in the Oddfellow Cemetery in Putnam County. He was preceded in death by his parents, Haskell and Flossie Pippin Dyer; and two brothers, Hubert and Franklin Dyer. He is survived by his wife, Priscilla Jean Pollard Dyer of Smithville. A daughter, Melissa and her husband Jimmy Glenn of Woodbury. Three sons, Larry and his wife Shirley Dyer, Gary and his wife Norma Jean Dyer, and Terry and his wife Tammy Dyer all of Smithville. Nine grandchildren, Priscilla, Rosalind, Jessica, Cassandra, Cortlind, and Miranda Dyer all of Smithville, Haley Glenn, Dakota, and A.J. Glenn all of Woodbury. Three brothers, William Dyer of Cookeville, Earl Dyer of Smithville, and Raymond Dyer of Nashville. Six sisters, Stella Clemons of Cookeville, Ella Chaffin of Baxter, Gladys Chaffin of Cookeville, Linda Brown, Reba Turner, and Altie Knowles all of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at noon.
Author Archive: Dwayne Page
Bobbie Jean Slaton
81 year old Mrs. Bobbie Jean Slaton of Smithville died Thursday at her residence. The funeral will be held at the Union Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Sykes on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. J.T. Webster will officiate and burial will be in the Union Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Home on Saturday from noon until 6:00 p.m. The body will be at the church on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. She is survived by two daughters, Lexine Hale of Smithville and Linda and her husband Rob Hudson of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Two grandchildren, Dana Hale of Cookeville and Josh Dickerson of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Three sisters, Helen Messick, Erza Jean Woosley, and Beatrice Sitter. The Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
School Board Adopts 2007-2008 Calendar
The DeKalb County Board of Education formally adopted the school calendar for the 2007-2008 year Thursday night.
Registration for all students will be Monday, August 6th from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. That will be an abbreviated school day.
Tuesday, August 7 will be an administrative day at all schools and all teachers must attend from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Students will not attend.
The first full day of school for all students will be Wednesday, August 8
A system wide professional development day will be Wednesday, August 1 at DCHS and all teachers from all schools must attend from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
All teachers will report to their individual schools Thursday and Friday, August 2 & 3 from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. each day.
Students will not attend on Monday, Labor Day, September 3rd.
Schools will be closed for the fall break October 12-19
Students will be off for the Thanksgiving holiday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, November 21, 22, & 23 and for the winter break December 20 through January 2, 2008. Wednesday, December 19 will be the last day students attend before winter break and that will be an abbreviated school day. Students will return after the holidays on Thursday, January 3rd to begin the third nine week session.
Schools will be closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 21 and for President’s Day, Monday, February 18.
The spring break will be March 21st through 28th
Students will not attend on Thursday, May 22. That will be an administrative day and all teachers must attend.. The last day of school will be Friday, May 23. That will be an abbreviated school day and report cards will be given to the students.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 9 and Thursday, March 13 at DeKalb County High School from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will also be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Thursday, October 11 and Thursday, January 31st at DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary, Smithville Elementary, and DeKalb West School.
Report cards will be sent home on Thursday, October 4th, Monday, January 7th, and Monday, March 10th.
Competency testing at DCHS will be October 9-11 and February 12-14.
Gateway testing at DCHS will be December 4-6 and May 6-8. Gateway test makeup will be December 7th.
Writing Assessment for the 5th, 8th, and 11th grades will be February 5th. Writing Assessment make-up will be February 6th.
TCAP testing of elementary students will be April 14-18.
(Stockpile Days) Professional Development/Instructional Days will be held from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 5th; Friday, April 25th; and Friday, May 9th.
Board member Charlie Robinson, who is also a member of the Tennessee School Board Association’s (TSBA) Board of Directors, presented the local board and Supervisor of Federal Programs Michelle Burklow an award for the recent “Education Celebration.”
The TSBA offers awards for Excellence in Education Programs that are designed to provide creative ways to enhance learning for students.
Robinson said the “Education Celebration,”held August 4, “allowed students to collect various school supplies appropriate to their grade level and provided parents the opportunity to meet with school administrators and teachers to begin a year-long partnership to promote student success.”
“Education Celebration was a means for DeKalb County Schools to take a leadership role in reinforcing and improving relationships among parents, teachers, students and the community. This program involved business partners, local churches, the Director of Schools, school board
members and various community volunteers.”
Robinson personally thanked Burklow, who headed up the project, saying “I am privileged to present TSBA’s Award for Excellence in Education Programs to the DeKalb County Board of Education and to the people of DeKalb County.”
In other business, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby presented his monthly written personnel report to the board.
Those added to the approved substitute teacher’s list include Carolyn Allen, Lisa Bowman, Christina Bowley, Amanda Carlton, Lorrie Evans, Kelly Frazier, Robbie Joan Frazier, Shelly Gibson, Dustin Hendrix, Joyce K. Hendrixson, Brenda Henry, Amy Johansen, Melinda J. League, Tracie Meadows, DeAnn Birdsong-Merrell, Angela Hedge Miller, Todd Miller, Sonya Parsley, and Jeanni L. Watson.
Tommy Darryl Davenport was added to the substitute bus driver list.
Those who have resigned include Beverly Starnes, cafeteria worker; Edith Lasser, Physical Therapy Assistant; and Phyllis Reed, Education Assistant at Smithville Elementary.
Ashley Barnes, Guidance Counselor at DeKalb Middle School, was granted a leave as requested.
Rita Young was transferred to the position of Attendance Clerk at Northside Elementary School and Smithville Elementary School.
Cocaine Investigation Nets Two Arrests
An investigation into the trafficking of cocaine has led to the arrest of two young women.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 25 year old Amanda Hicks and 20 year old Tasha Nicole Bain were arrested during a traffic stop late Tuesday night and charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to sell or deliver. Hicks is also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia (scales) and possession of a schedule II controlled substance (hydrocodone).
Sheriff Ray says officers pulled over a Toyota Camry on South College Street in Smithville and found the women in possession of 16 grams of cocaine and hydrocodone tablets.
Officers seized some cash and impounded the vehicle.
Bond for Hicks is $54,000 and $25,000 for Bain.
They will appear in General Sessions Court October 26th.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by officers of the Smithville Police Department.
B.W. Dirting
84 year old B.W. Dirting of Smithville died Tuesday at NHC Healthcare Center in Smithville. A complete list of survivors and FUNERAL arrangements will be announced later by DeKalb Funeral Chapel.
Bertha Juanita Cantrell
88 year old Bertha Juanita Cantrell of Smithville died Saturday at her home in the Bluff Springs Community. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ at Bluff Springs. The funeral will be Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. at the Chapel of High Funeral Home. Vernon Joines will officiate and burial will be in the Webb Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. She was preceded in death by her husband, W.T. “Bill” Cantrell; and her parents, Venus Glenn and Myrtle Mayfield. Survivors include three sons, Donald W. Cantrell of McMinnville. Douglas A. Cantrell of the Bluff Springs Community, and David R. Cantrell of Summitville. A daughter, Dianna Kay Atnip of Smithville. Seventeen grandchildren and thirty one great grandchildren survive along with two brothers and sisters-in-law, Woodrow and Mildred Glenn of McMinnville, Harold Glenn of McMinnville, and Jean Glenn of Dayton, Ohio. High Funeral Home in McMinnville is in charge of the arrangements.
Henry Curtis Adams
65 year old Henry Curtis Adams of Smithville died Sunday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. He was a carpenter and a member of the Enon Baptist Church. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Clayton Neal will officiate and burial will be in the Mount Holly Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Thomas and Lela Curtis Adams. Survivors include his wife, Dianna Adams of Smithville. Three children, Penny Arnold of Chattanooa, Lee Adams of Smithville, and Scott Adams of Smithville. Seven grandchildren, Terry Arnold, John Curtis Adams, Jessica, Jarrett, Jordan, Zachary, and Jesse Adams. One great grandson, Corbin Arnold. One brother, Sammy Adams of Powell. Several nieces and nephews also survive. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements
Shirley J. Baker
56 year old Shirley J. Baker of Jasper, Alabama died Sunday at her residence. The funeral will be Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Kilgore-Green Chapel in Jasper, Alabama. Edward Thompson will officiate and burial will be in the Boldo Memory Gardens. Visitation will begin Monday at 6:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Talmadge and Birdie Guthrie, two infant children; a daughter, Melissa Ann Baker; a son, Billy Ray Baker, Jr.; one infant brother; and a grandson-in-law, Roger Hubbard. Survivors include a daughter, Shelia Estes and her husband Stevie of Smithville. Granddaughters, Jesecca Hubbard, Christina Murphy, and Stephanie Murphy all of Smithville. A step-granddaughter, Amanda McClure of Smithville; two unborn great grandchildren; a brother, James Guthrie of Jasper; a sister, Brenda Blount and her husband Tom of Smithville, Mississippi, and several nieces, nephews, special friends and other family. The Kilgore-Green Funeral Home in Jasper, Alabama is in charge of the arrangements.
Sparta Man Injured In Monday Morning Accident
One person was injured in a bizarre traffic accident around 9:23 a.m. Monday morning on Highway 70 east.
Trooper Allen England of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 41 year old Timothy Pedigo of Smithville was traveling west in a 2001 Chevrolet pickup truck, when a ladder strapped to the truck bed, came loose and crashed into the windshield of an east bound 1992 Jeep Cherokee, driven by 43 year old Dana Heath Wilson of Sparta.
Wilson was transported by DeKalb EMS to White County Hospital, where he was treated and released.
Pedigo was not injured
Three Suspects Charged In Two Same Day Burglaries
Three people were arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday, October 4th, following break-ins at two homes that day, one on Ferrell Road and the other on New Home Road.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 22 year old Carrie Young of Lonnie Cantrell Road, 28 year old James Freddy Summers of Toad Road, and 25 year old Randy Caldwell of Sparta are each charged with two counts of theft over $1,000 and two counts of aggravated burglary.
The three are charged with breaking into both homes and taking a computer, guns, a DVD player, DVD’s, jewelry, and other items.
Sheriff Ray says the three were arrested about four hours following the second break-in after their vehicle was spotted parked at Mapco Express.
Some of the stolen goods were found in the vehicle.
The defendants will appear in General Sessions Court October 26th.