An employee of the DeKalb County Ambulance Service has been named the Upper Cumberland Region’s EMT of the Year.
Misty Green received the award during the Upper Cumberland EMS Directors Association’s Annual Education Symposium held in Cookeville Thursday and Friday, October 8 & 9.
During this conference, the association awarded EMTs and Paramedics from within the Upper Cumberland Region, who have excelled in their patient care and overall performance in service to the counties in which they serve. The nominations for these awards are carefully reviewed and considered by the members of the Director’s Association.
Misty has dedicated more than 20 years to the citizens of DeKalb County and the progression in EMS in the county. She is married to Donny Green, Chief of the DeKalb County Fire Department and they have two children, Kayley and Luke.
The award was presented by Chip Cook, Regional EMS Consultant, and Hoyte Hale, DeKalb County EMS Interim Director. The employees of DeKalb County EMS take pride in their profession and congratulate Misty in achieving this award.

A new member has been named to the DeKalb County Election Commission by the Tennessee Election Commission.
Jackie Smith, a resident of Smithville and a local State Farm Insurance Agent, is replacing Harry Lasser as one of the two democratic members of the local commission. She will serve out Lasser’s term, which expires in April, 2017. Lasser served for four and a half years. He was first appointed in April , 2011.
“I really am excited. I worked elections for several years. It’s a duty that I take very seriously. When I got the call and was asked, I was just thrilled. I am really happy to serve in this capacity. I am looking forward to another venture in my life,” Smith told WJLE.
Since the state legislature is made up of a majority of GOP lawmakers, Republicans have the right to hold majority memberships on the Tennessee Election Commission as well as all county election commissions in Tennessee. The appointments to local commissions are made by the state election commission.
“Democrats and Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly appoint who serves on the Tennessee Election Commission. Those state people from each party have a representative from middle, east, and west Tennessee and they typically consult with the county chairs for each county on who they want on their county election commissions,” said Jordan Wilkins, DeKalb County Democratic Party Chairman.
“Mr. Harry Lasser was one of our Democratic commissioners on the election commission and he called me about two months ago telling me he needed to resign. I want to say I will miss Harry. He was a great commissioner for us. He was always good about representing us on the commission and keeping us updated on what was going on. I thought long and hard about the name of the people I wanted to submit to the state. That name is Jackie Smith. She has been a lifelong member of this party. She has always been very supportive of us. She is very progressive and I am very excited about her representing us,” said Wilkins.
Hearon Puckett is the other democrat on the commission.
The other three members of the DeKalb County Election Commission are Walteen Parker, Barbara Vanatta, and Jim Dean. All three are Republicans. Parker is Chairman.
The term of each member is for two years.

A local man has been charged with domestic assault involving his mother and girlfriend.
35 year old Anthony Doel Atnip of Johnson Chapel Road, Sparta is under a $2,500 bond and he will make a court appearance on October 15.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, October 8 a deputy was sent to a residence on Johnson Chapel Road on an unwanted guest call. While the officer was enroute, central dispatch informed him that the incident had escalated into a physical domestic. Upon arrival the deputy spoke with Atnip’s mother and girlfriend who said that Atnip had assaulted both of them. Atnip’s mother said that Anthony had shoved and struck her in the face as he was trying to take the phone away from her. Atnip struck his girfriend in the head as she got in between him and his mother. Atnip had left the residence before the officer arrived but he was found hiding in the area.
43 year old Glenn Paul Bullington of Murfreesboro is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court October 29.
Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, October 4 a deputy responded to a 911 call of a possible domestic assault at a residence on Coconut Ridge Road. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Bullington and his wife, who both appeared to be intoxicated. The deputy determined that Bullington was the primary aggressor. The woman had physical signs of an assault including a cut on her nose, redness on her neck, and bruising on her right arm where she claimed her husband had grabbed and pushed her. Bullington was placed under arrest.

The DCHS Fighting Tiger Band traveled to the Middle Tennessee Small Band Championship in Chapel Hill Tennessee on the 11th of October.
Despite the poor field conditions the band still had a great performance!
They won the following:
2nd Place Band
1st Place Field Commander
2nd Place Color Guard
3rd Place Percussion
Spirit Award
They will perform Oct. 24th at the Glencliff Colt Classic!
(Photo by Jo Ann Hayes)

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is reporting that foul play is suspected in the death of a McMinnville man, whose body was found in the backseat of a still running car outside Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital Wednesday morning.
The deceased has been identified as 30 year old Jace Brandon Sparkman but the cause of death has not been revealed.
Hospital staff made the discovery and reported it at 2:17 a.m.
According to a prepared statement by Captain Steven Leffew, “On Wednesday, October 7 at approximately 2:17 a.m. the Smithville Police Department was dispatched to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital in regards to a deceased body being found in the backseat of a vehicle in the parking lot. The death was deemed to be of a suspicious nature. District Attorney Bryant Dunaway along with investigators from the District Attorney’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene.
This case remains under investigation by the TBI and Smithville Police

It’s again fire season in Tennessee, and the Division of Forestry is reminding everyone in DeKalb County that if they intend to do any outdoor burning they are required by state law to obtain a burning permit. The free permits are required October 15th through May 15th and can be obtained by telephone or online. A poorly prepared or unattended burning debris pile can, under the conditions common in autumn, escape control and become a destructive wildfire. The Tennessee Division of Forestry asks everyone to be cautious when doing any outdoor burning.
Before doing any outdoor burning:
•First call the Division of Forestry for a burning permit at 615-597-4015 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday (call on Friday for the weekend) or obtain a permit online at www.burnsafetn.org. In Smithville call 615-215-3000. If weather conditions permit you will be issued a burning permit. If the permit is obtained by phone they will also advise you of any weather conditions such as predicted wind, low humidity or other factors which might call for extra precaution.
•Establish wide control lines down to bare mineral soil around brush piles or other piled debris to be burned. The larger the debris pile, the wider the control line needs to be to ensure that burning materials won’t be blown or roll off the pile into vegetation outside the line.
•Keep water, tools, and plenty of help ready in case your fire should attempt to spread.
•Stay with all outdoor fires until they are completely out.
•Be aware of where your smoke is going. Avoid burning when your smoke will be bothersome to neighbors or when near sensitive locations such as highways.
Remember, you as a homeowner have control over the most basic things that will make your house safer from wildfires and allow the local Fire Dept. and the Division of Forestry to protect your home. This includes:
•Clear away flammable brush and other materials at least 30 feet from your house.
•Don’t pile firewood or other flammable materials near your house or on your porch or deck.
•Keep your yard, roof, and gutters free of leaves, pine needles and other debris.
•Keep leaves, pine needles and other debris off of or away from decks.
Materials for which a permit can be issued include: plant materials that were grown on the property (such as brush, leaves, and grass), and untreated and unpainted lumber. Anything else (such as automobile tires, roofing shingles, household garbage, feed sacks, old house trailers, buildings or anything not grown on the property) cannot be legally burned. Failure to obtain a permit or the burning of illegal materials could result in a citation to court and a fine. For more information on this or any other forestry related matter, call the Division of Forestry at the above phone number or visit the Division of Forestry’s wildfire safety web-site at www.burnsafetn.org. And remember, ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES!!

DeKalb County Retired Teachers Association was honored with a special luncheon provided by Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital recently. The theme of the luncheon celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Month for October by providing tote bags and pink gift items for those present. The group pledged to spread the word about the importance of mammograms and early detection to at least five of their friends and family. The guest speaker was Shan Burklow, Director of Marketing for Saint Thomas DeKalb and Saint Thomas Stones River Hospitals. Burklow spoke on the importance of community health, emotional well-being, and the exciting opportunities that being a part of the Saint Thomas Health System will bring to our region. The afternoon ended with a delicious meal and desserts provided by the hospital’s dietary department.
“We were so honored to host the retired teachers luncheon this past week,” said Shan Burklow- Marketing Director for Saint Thomas DeKalb and Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital, “This is a wonderful group of people that do so much good on a daily basis for our county. It was a great way to spend the afternoon. Some of our guests actually taught me in school, and for that, I apologize,” Burklow laughed, “and most of them have become my friends and mentors throughout the years. I feel unworthy to speak to such a wise and caring group.”
Those present took the “Pinky Swear Dare” sponsored by the hospital’s social media campaign supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month, or PINKtober, as the hospital calls it. The ‘Pinky Swear Dare’ asks the public to pledge and spread the word about breast cancer prevention during the month of October to five people. Upon taking the pledge, participants paint their pinky nails pink to share the message that ‘mammograms and early detection saves lives’. Any age can participate in the dare. If someone rejects the dare, they are asked to donate five dollars to the breast cancer charity of their choice.
“It is our hope that this important message will spread across Tennessee and the nation,” said Sue Conley-CEO of Saint Thomas DeKalb and Saint Thomas Stones River Hospitals, “Breast Cancer is such an ugly disease and early detection is key. It is empowering when we come together, unified, in the fight against cancer. Last year, over 178,000 people took the #PinkySwearDare across the nation on social media, and hundreds have already taken the challenge online for 2015, but we don’t plan to stop there. Tell your friends, your neighbors and your family about the importance of self-exams and regular mammograms after the age of forty. It is a simple, yet powerful, message.”
For more information on the ‘Pinky Swear Dare’ for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, join the Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital facebook page. To schedule a mammogram, contact Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital Radiology Department.
Pictured: The Retired Teachers of DeKalb County attended a luncheon hosted by Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by taking the “Pinky Swear Dare”. The dare challenges participants to tell five friends and family the importance of mammograms and early detection after the age of 40. The group received pink gift items in support of the event. (not pictured: Shan Burklow, Teresa Steele, Cassandra Basham of Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital)
Pictured: The ‘Pinky Swear Dare’ campaign that is aggressively growing across social media.

The drive thru mobile food pantry Saturday morning was a huge success.
Food boxes were given to 304 families regardless of their income status. The event, held in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank, was sponsored by the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church as part of its community outreach ministry, but other volunteers also participated.
Unlike most food distributions, those served by Saturday’s mobile pantry did not have to get out of their automobiles. They simply drove thru in a pickup line as volunteers delivered the food directly to their vehicles, placing the food boxes either in the back seat or trunk.
The church expresses its appreciation to the volunteers for their help Saturday and is hoping to have more mobile food pantries in the future.