DeKalb County High School’s ACT scores improved in 2006, according to Supervisor of Instruction Carol Hendrix.
“As we look at the high school and the five year trend, all our ACT scores in every subject area are up this year. English was up 1.5 points, Math up by .9, Reading up by 1.1, and Science up by .8 so we’re doing a good job throughout.”
Ninety-three percent of Tennessee graduates took the ACT in 2006 and achieved an average cumulative score greater than their 2005 peers. Tennessee?s average ACT score in 2006 is 20.7, higher than 12 of the 14 other Southern Regional Education Board member states. Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native students in Tennessee scored higher than their peers nationwide. African American/black and Asian American/Pacific Islander students in Tennessee scored on par with their peers across the country.
?Seeing test scores rise even as the number of students tested increases is a good sign of forward progress,? Education Commissioner Lana Seivers said. ?I am particularly heartened by the strides demonstrated by minority students in Tennessee who are keeping pace with or outperforming their peers nationwide.?
More graduates earned scores considered to indicate college readiness in 2006 than in all past years. Likewise, scores earned by Tennessee 10th graders taking the PLAN, a precursor to the ACT, show continuing upward trends in performance.
Students taking core courses performed significantly higher than students taking less than minimum core requirements as defined by ACT. This core includes four years of English and three years each of math, science and social studies. Sixty-two percent of Tennessee test takers met the minimum core subject requirements recommended by ACT.
?Clearly more students understand the benefits of taking challenging courses throughout high school,? Seivers said. ?While we need to increase the number of students demonstrating readiness for college-level work, Tennessee?s students continue to improve each year over the last.?
Tennessee is trying to provide more students access to challenging courses through the e4TN initiative, a project to develop online coursework for students whose school may not offer advanced level courses. Both the Governor?s Schools in the summer and dual enrollment courses give students an opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. Students may also pursue the Tennessee Scholars Program, which requires four credits each of English and math; three credits of science and social studies; one credit each of wellness, business/computer technology and fine arts; and 20 hours of community service.

The owner and operator of the local Chevrolet dealership has announced plans to retire.
Leon Stribling announced Monday that Friday, September 15th will be the last date for the business operation of Stribling Chevrolet.
In a prepared statement, Stribling said, ” In accordance with the terms of the Dealer Sales and Service Agreement signed by General Motors Corporation and myself as Dealer Operator, I have exercised my rights to terminate my personal services agreement with General Motors”.
The 2006 Chevrolet models will be the last Chevrolets that Stribling’s company will be selling in Smithville.
A replacement dealer has not yet been named.
Stribling says “To our many friends who have favored us with your business over the years, may we say that serving you has indeed been our pleasure.”
Stribling and his brother Tim Stribling came to DeKalb County in 1976 to join Amonett-Nixon Chevrolet, then owned by Leon’s former father-in-law, Jim Amonett and his partner, John Robert Nixon. Amonett was the dealer of record at that time. Leon Stribling says “Being associated with these men of honesty and integrity was quite an honor”.
Stribling Chevrolet, Inc. was formed in January 1984, when Leon Stribling was named by General Motors as dealer for the Chevrolet franchise in DeKalb County. Stribing says ” At that time, my brother Tim, and I purchased the assets of Amonett-Nixon Chevrolet and for the last 22 years, Stribling Chevrolet has served our friends and neighbors”.
Though he and Tim were new to this area, Stribling says the community welcomed them with open arms. ” Tim and I were most impressed by the willingness of the community to let newcomers become involved. One or both of us has served as President of the Smithville Rotary Club, Chairman of the DeKalb County Planning Commission, President of the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, Coordinator of the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree, and member of the Industrial Development Board of the City of Smithville. Additionally, Tim has spent countless hours and days in involvement with the youth of the community in sports related activities. The community would be well served to afford the next Chevrolet dealer the same welcome extended to us 30 years ago.”
Stribling paid tribute to his employees, both past and present, for being the strength of the company through the years and he reminisced about the retired staff members. “Who will ever forget Joe Goodwin who would converse with you for hours and sometimes days and then sell you a car or truck; James “Pig” Trapp, a brilliant man who chose working on automobiles as his profession and how fortunate we all were to have known him; and Walter C. Phillips, long time body man who worked on cars when there was heavy metal steel in them. Walt wore out many a hammer for us.”
Stribling also praised the current staff members, ” Parts Manager Ricky Nixon, our longest tenured employee with 32 plus years of service. Mr. Reliability; Melinda Willoughby, Business Manager for the past 19 plus years. My confidant and shoulder to cry on; Tommy Garrison, talented technician with 22 plus years of service; J.B. Williams and Clay Myers, Service Department personnel with 14 and 7 years of service respectively; and Kitty Thomas, Saturday office staff with 15 plus years of service. What successes have accrued to us, we credit our staff.”
Stribling concluded by saying “As for those who know us best will attest, Tim and I have dedicated the last 30 years to nurturing our customers, our employees, and their families. Tim and I are thankful for the opportunity the community has given us. Thanks for the memories and God bless.”

The Smithville Board of Aldermen Monday night appointed Incumbent City Judge Hilton Conger to a new two year term, effective September 1st.
Conger’s current eight year term as an elected City Judge expires August 31st.
Conger’s salary as City Judge will also be reduced from $1,600 per month to $1,000 per month, because of the lesser responsibilities of the office.
The Municipal Court, up until 2002, had the same jurisdiction in city criminal cases as the General Sessions Court, and the City Judge held court several times each month with the City Attorney serving as Prosecutor.
After changes were made in the City Charter, the City Court’s jurisdiction was reduced to mostly minor traffic offenses and city ordinance violations. The court now convenes only once per month, usually for about one to two hours at a time.
The City Judge is also no longer elected by city voters to an eight year term, but serves at the pleasure of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, appointed to a two year term.
Since Conger was last elected as City Judge in 1998, city officials either could not or chose not to reduce his salary during the term, even though the powers of the city court changed midway through the term.
The changes in the City Charter, regarding the City Court, came following a State Attorney General’s opinion in the fall of 2001 that only the District Attorney General and his staff had the responsibility of prosecuting state criminal action in municipal courts.
Meanwhile, City Attorney Sarah Cripps, uneasy that the city fathers have voted to pay the City Judge $1,000 for two hours work per month, is now asking them to consider giving her a pay raise.
Cripps is complaining that her monthly retainer fee of $1,250 has not been increased since she was hired by the city in 1998.
Cripps’ request will be placed on the agenda for consideration at the next meeting on September 18th.

The Town of Alexandria may be left without police protection by the end of the week.
Interim Mayor David Cripps told WJLE Monday night that Alexandria Police Chief Jim Baker has tendered his resignation effective at the end of his shift on Thursday, August 24th.
Baker is returning to the Smithville Police Department as an officer.
Meanwhile, Cripps says Sergeant Tim Hearn and Officer Josh King have also resigned, effective at the end of their shifts on Thursday and Friday, August 24th and 25th respectively.
Mayor Cripps says all three men are top notch police officers and are apparently leaving despite his request that they reconsider their decisions.
If all three officers leave, Mayor Cripps says the town will be without a police force.
When asked why all three officers plan to resign in the same week, Mayor Cripps declined to respond, saying only that the officers should speak for themselves.
The officers are upset about budget cuts and a reduction in their hours which has left the town without police protection during parts of the day.
The Alexandria Mayor and Board of Aldermen will meet in regular monthly session Tuesday night, August 22nd at 7:00 p.m. but Cripps says until the positions are advertised as open, the city may not be able to fill those jobs anytime soon.

Your county property taxes may be going up this fall.
Just how much hasn’t been determined yet, but the county budget committee is considering recommending to the county commission that the tax rate be increased by 43 cents per $100 dollars of assessed value.
County Mayor Mike Foster met with members of the committee Thursday night and another meeting is set for Monday night to hammer out a proposal.
Foster says if the final proposal is to increase the rate by 43 cents, the distribution would most likely be as follows: General Fund- seven cents, Debt Service-20 cents, School Budget- 13 cents, and Highway Department- 3 cents.
The local road department has never received a share of the property tax rate but Foster says if three cents is allocated to roads, it would be for the purpose of offsetting a loss of state funds.
According to Foster, rising fixed costs is the reason for much of the needed new revenue. For example, in the General Fund, state retirement contributions, as mandated by the state, are up by 59.1% or $40,000; health insurance costs have increased by 14.7% or $16,000; and liability insurance premiums are up 5% or $6,000. Other county departments, including schools, have fixed costs that have also increased and costs of fuel and utilities including natural gas are up.
In addition, Foster says the proposed new budget includes small pay raises of 50 cents an hour for full time employees and 25 cents an hour for part time workers. Other extras include funds to purchase a new ambulance and two patrol cars and $75,000 to build and equip a new fire hall in the Rock Castle community.
The budget committee will finalize the proposed spending plan soon and present it to the county commission for passage, probably in September.

The Board of Directors of DTC Communications announced Friday it will refund $1.2 million this month in capital credits to members. DTC ranks among the highest in the state in member refunds.
The capital credit refunds will be issued to current and former members who paid for service in 1997 from DTC Communications. DTC?s unique structure as a member-owned cooperative gives it the option, based on its financial strength, of offering these capital credit refunds.
?DTC Communications is pleased to be able to provide our members with such a sizeable refund,? said Leslie Greer, CEO. ?It is a tribute to our entire organization that this marks the thirteenth consecutive year DTC?s financial strength has made it possible to distribute a capital credit refund.?
Greer added, ?Members who have moved or changed their names since 1997 should contact our customer service office with the updated information. We want to make sure everyone receives their refunds in a timely manner.?
Current and former members of DTC who paid for service during 1997 should receive checks by the end of August. Members? checks will be based on what they paid that year. Therefore, the amounts will vary from member to member.
Federal guidelines for non-profit telecommunications cooperatives allow the Board of Directors to return periodically to members capital credit refunds in the form of direct payments, when financial strength permits. These accrued reserves, ownership of which is permanently retained by members, are utilized to operate the company, upgrade and expand services, and implement new technologies.