52 year old Trena Willann Braswell Curtis of Smithville died Thursday at her home. She was a DeKalb County native, a retired 2nd grade teacher with the DeKalb County Board of Education at Smithville Elementary School for 24 years. Trena was a 1987 graduate of Lee University, and a member of the Alexandria Church of God. She loved playing the piano and organ at the numerous churches that she and her husband had the privilege to pastor. She was also a founding member alongside her husband of the DeKalb/Cannon County Amateur Radio Club, and loved to crochet.
The funeral will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Smithville Church of God. Jeff Armstrong, Clifford Spence, and Terry Hart will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. The body will then be moved to the church where visitation will resume until the time of the service at 2 p.m.
Trena was preceded in death by her parents, Truman Allen Braswell and Louise Redman Braswell. She is survived by her husband of 33 years, William Freddy Curtis of Smithville and her four sons, Fredrick Matthew Curtis of Smithville, Trent Braswell Curtis of Morrison, Casey Warren Curtis and Haley of Alexandria, and Evan Madison Curtis of Smithville. Grandchildren, Ella Mae Curtis and Elliott Witt Curtis of Morrison. A brother, Ricky A. Braswell of Knoxville. Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, Fred Earl and Diana Curtis of Alexandria. Brother-in-law, John Curtis and Rachel of Mount Juliet. Two uncles, R.L. Redman and Earlene of Smithville and Charles Braswell of Tunnel Hill, Georgia; and numerous cousins, friends, former students and colleagues of Smithville Elementary School. Donations in Trena’s memory may be made to the Alexandria Church of God-World Missions Fund (209 Edgewood Street, Alexandria, TN 37012), Church of God World Missions (P.O. Box 8016 Cleveland, TN 37320), or a charity of one’s choice in her memory.
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Author Archive: Dwayne Page
Trena Willann Braswell Curtis
52 year old Trena Willann Braswell Curtis of Smithville died Thursday at her home. She was a DeKalb County native, a retired 2nd grade teacher with the DeKalb County Board of Education at Smithville Elementary School for 24 years. Trena was a 1987 graduate of Lee University, and a member of the Alexandria Church of God. She loved playing the piano and organ at the numerous churches that she and her husband had the privilege to pastor. She was also a founding member alongside her husband of the DeKalb/Cannon County Amateur Radio Club, and loved to crochet.
The funeral will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Smithville Church of God. Jeff Armstrong, Clifford Spence, and Terry Hart will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. The body will then be moved to the church where visitation will resume until the time of the service at 2 p.m.
Trena was preceded in death by her parents, Truman Allen Braswell and Louise Redman Braswell. She is survived by her husband of 33 years, William Freddy Curtis of Smithville and her four sons, Fredrick Matthew Curtis of Smithville, Trent Braswell Curtis of Morrison, Casey Warren Curtis and Haley of Alexandria, and Evan Madison Curtis of Smithville. Grandchildren, Ella Mae Curtis and Elliott Witt Curtis of Morrison. A brother, Ricky A. Braswell of Knoxville. Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, Fred Earl and Diana Curtis of Alexandria. Brother-in-law, John Curtis and Rachel of Mount Juliet. Two uncles, R.L. Redman and Earlene of Smithville and Charles Braswell of Tunnel Hill, Georgia; and numerous cousins, friends, former students and colleagues of Smithville Elementary School. Donations in Trena’s memory may be made to the Alexandria Church of God-World Missions Fund (209 Edgewood Street, Alexandria, TN 37012), Church of God World Missions (P.O. Box 8016 Cleveland, TN 37320), or a charity of one’s choice in her memory.
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Sheriff Proposes New Pay Plan for His Employees
Four years ago the county established a four tier wage scale for employees of the Sheriff’s Department to give them more pay and make their wages more competitive with law enforcement officers in other counties of similar size.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said at the time that his deputies and detectives were some of the lowest paid of any county our size in the state.
While the pay plan implemented in 2011 has been good for his department, Sheriff Ray believes its time the scale was brought up to date. During Tuesday night’s meeting, the county budget committee approved the sheriff’s budget request for 2015-16 which includes a new modified scale that adds two more tiers to the plan.
“We’ve had some loyal employees that has been with the county for a long time here at the sheriff’s department and we want to see them make a little more money for being loyal to the county and staying with us. They are good employees and we want to give them an incentive to stay on and also to give our younger people on the first tier something to look forward to. A goal to reach,” Sheriff Ray told WJLE Wednesday.
Although the budget committee gave its blessing for the plan, cuts were made in the Sheriff’s proposed budget to help pay for it. ” Some of the increase was anticipated because of the existing wage scale but I cut $48,480 out of my budget to help offset this (extra costs). Since taking office in 2006 we’ve always been under budget. We’ve never been over budget and we’re going to try our best this next budget year to do the same. We’ve always turned in quite a bit of money back to the county (at year’s end). I appreciate the budget committee working with me on this and the employees here will also appreciate that,” said Sheriff Ray.
Under the new wage scale, Sheriff’s Department employees start out on the first tier either as a Detective, Sergeant, Deputy, Correctional Officer, or Cook.
“After they work one calendar year from July 1, employees are eligible to advance to the second tier the following July 1. Employees may then advance to the third and fourth tier. When employees work at this department for a total of six consecutive years in the same job position, they may advance to the fifth tier. After they work two more years (eight years) in the same job position, employees will move to the sixth tier,” Sheriff Ray said.
The Chief Deputy’s pay will be based on performance rather than the six tier plan. “He is at $40,144 now and will go to $43,365. His tiers are set on performance which means the Chief Deputy will be evaluated on his performance within the Department and will then be raised to the next step accordingly. It is not a year by year tier like the other positions,” Sheriff Ray told WJLE.
The following tier plan for each position is as follows:
Chief Deputy: (Performance Tiers)
$40,144 (Yearly Pay)
$43,365
$44,675
$46,016
Detective:
1st Tier: $35,597 per year
2nd Tier:$36, 603
3rd Tier: $37,676
4th Tier: $38,615
5th Tier: $39,621
6th Tier: $40,628
Sergeant:
1st Tier: $35,597
2nd Tier: $36,156
3rd Tier: $36,715
4th Tier: $37,274
5th Tier: $37,833
6thTier: $38,392
Deputy:
1st Tier: $30,141
2nd Tier: $31,505
3rd Tier: $32,869
4th Tier: $34,233
5th Tier: $35,597
6thTier: $36,961
Correctional Officer:
1st Tier: $26,429
2nd Tier: $27,145
3rd Tier: $27,860
4th Tier: $28,598
5th Tier: $29,269
6thTier: $30,007
Cook:
1st Tier: $20,966
2nd Tier: $21,299
3rd Tier: $21,632
4th Tier: $22,006
5th Tier: $22,297
6thTier: $22,630
The budget committee’s favorable recommendation on the sheriff’s department and jail budget including this new pay plan now goes to the county commission this summer for final approval
Chamber Presents Community Improvement Award to Alexandria Fire Department
The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce recently presented a Community Improvement Award to the Alexandria Fire Department.
The fire department has undergone a complete interior renovation including walls, floors, ceiling, signage, new furnishings and a new TV for weather emergency information and for training purposes. Recently, the ISO Rating for Alexandria dropped from a 7 to a 4 which may translate into lower residential and commercial insurance premiums.
The Alexandria Fire Department also has a 2nd engine now.
(PICTURED): Alexandria Alderman David Cripps, FF Rebecca Partridge, FF Lorrie Merriman, Asst. Chief John Partridge, FF Chris Cavin, FF Justin Avera, Capt. Brent Davis, Alexandria Mayor Tony Tarpley, Chief Brian Partridge, FF Chris Henderson, Alexandria Alderman Bennett Armstrong, Alexandria Alderman John Suggs and Chamber Director Suzanne Williams
School Spending Plan Meets with Approval of County Budget Committee
The proposed budget for schools is on its way to final passage by the county commission later this summer.
The spending plan met the approval of the county budget committee Tuesday night and will be recommended to the commission for adoption.
Members of the budget committee commended Interim Director of Schools Dr. Danielle Collins for her work on the school budget, which has been adopted by the Board of Education, and for her cooperation.
The committee, made up of Chairman Wayne Cantrell and members Larry Summers, Jack Barton, Jimmy Midgett, and Jerry Adcock, amended the school budget, making minor changes or corrections to certain line items to accurately reflect that funding for extended contracts would not be included as intended by the school board.
This was the second attempt by the Board of Education to satisfy the county budget committee on a school budget.
After the budget committee Tuesday night, June 2 rejected the original spending plan offered May 28, the school board made some cuts last Thursday night, June 4.
In the revised version, the school board cut the request for two RTI positions down to one, hoping federal money can be used to fund the other. No local money is included to cover extended contracts which are no longer funded by the state. The board has decided to save $4,100 by no longer having a billboard on the side of the road near the high school, which has been there for the last several years showing a picture of high school graduates with the theme “Education Counts in DeKalb County”. And the board is freezing funding for five positions in the school system, which have been left vacant with the recent retirement or resignation of former employees. While the funding for those five jobs will remain in the budget, the money will not be spent unless the school system’s average daily (student) membership numbers increase, requiring them to be filled. The board is also considering dropping its association with AdvancED for accreditation of the schools which would save the school system money. In the school transportation category, the board had budgeted $250,000 for the purchase of two buses but the cost is not expected to be that much. The board has cut $20,000 from that line item of the budget.
The school budget does include a new computer teacher postion at Smithville Elementary School, a new part time janitor position at DeKalb West School, a new school nurse, technology and equipment upgrades, additional supplies for classrooms and intervention programs, a deaf education contract, a new scrubber, and a few other proposed new expenditures.
The school budget for 2015-16 totals just over $21 million dollars. Anticipated revenues are budgeted at $19.3 million. More than $1.6 million of the school’s BEP and Technology reserves will be needed to balance the budget on paper but the actual number by the end of the fiscal year in 2016 is expected to be in the neighborhood of $250,000 to $300,000.
The school board will be asked to adopt the budget as amended by the county budget committee.
Evalena Turner Redmon
71 year old Evalena Turner Redmon of Smithville died Wednesday at NHC of Smithville. She was a Baptist, member of the Eastern Star, and retired owner of Redmon Nursery. The funeral will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Visitation will be Friday from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m. Eastern Star services will be announced later. She was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Ella Mai Turner; one son, David Ray Redmon; sisters, Halena Driver, and Arlon Rose Cobble; two brothers, Elton and Jerry Wayne Turner; and father of her children, David C. Redmon. Survivors include a daughter, Wetonia “Sissy” Redmon of Smithville. Three grandchildren, Bradley Redmon of Smithville, Ashley and husband Gary Redmon-Murry of Soddy Daisy, and Hailey Redmon of Smithville. Sisters, Helen and Malcom Turner of McMinnville and Ruby Parsley of Smithville. Brother, John and his wife Glenda Turner of Smithville. Great grandchildren survive along with several nieces, nephews, and special nephew, Joey Parsley of Smithville. Special cousin Anita Martin of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Jacob Morgan “J.M.” Bratcher
Jacob Morgan “J.M.” Bratcher age 80 of Woodbury, passed away June 9, 2015 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro. He was born June 5, 1935 to his parents, the late V.E. and Ila Oakley Campbell Bratcher. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 1 son, Jeffery Bratcher; 2 brothers, Donald Bratcher and Jerry Bratcher; 1 sister, Wanda Brown. He was a retired construction worker, attended the Blues Hill Church of Christ and was a U.S. Army Veteran. J.M. is survived by his wife of 47 years, Jonell Bratcher of Woodbury; 3 sons, Barry (Regina) Bratcher of Freystade, Germany, Jason and Joel Bratcher both of Woodbury; 3 grandchildren, Aaron, Jacob and Vanessa Bratcher; half-brother, Barton (Phyllis) Todd of McMinnville; several nieces , nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be conducted 2:PM Friday, June 12, 2015 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bro. Rannie Phillips officiating and burial to follow in Gunter-Grizzle Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation will be Thursday 11:AM until 8:PM and Friday 10:AM until the time of the service. DeKalb Funeral Chapel in Smithville is in charge of the arrangements.
John Robert Underhill
79 year old John Robert Underhill of Alexandria died Tuesday at Quality Care Health Center in Lebanon. He was a DeKalb County native, a member of the Tennessee National Guard, and a retired TVA employee. Underhill was a member of the Cooper’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Thurman Seber and Gary Caplinger will officiate and burial will be in Hillview Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from noon until 8 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. until the service. Underhill was preceded in death by his parents, Shelie Valter Underhill and Cora Owen Patterson Underhill; his wife, Shelvie Jean Willoughby Underhill; and a brother, Morgan Underhill. He is survived by a son, James Robert Underhill of Alexandria. A daughter, Jean Yvonne Campbell of Alexandria. Grandchildren, Ashley Rebekah Roth and husband Caleb of Alexandria, Nicholas Robert Underhill of Alexandria, and Timothy Brian Campbell and wife Shelley of Alexandria. Great grandchildren, Timothy James Campbell, Elizabeth Kaye Roth, Ezra James Roth, and Noah John Roth. Sisters, Joyce Ann Crook and husband J.T. of Lebanon and Patsy Jean Adamson of Smithville. A brother, Jack Underhill and wife Faye of Alexandria. Nieces and nephews. Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria is in charge of the arrangements.
Evalena Turner Redmon
71 year old Evalena Turner Redmon of Smithville died Wednesday at NHC of Smithville. She was a Baptist, member of the Eastern Star, and retired owner of Redmon Nursery. The funeral will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Visitation will be Friday from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m. Eastern Star services will be announced later. She was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Ella Mai Turner; one son, David Ray Redmon; sisters, Halena Driver, and Arlon Rose Cobble; two brothers, Elton and Jerry Wayne Turner; and father of her children, David C. Redmon. Survivors include a daughter, Wetonia “Sissy” Redmon of Smithville. Three grandchildren, Bradley Redmon of Smithville, Ashley and husband Gary Redmon-Murry of Soddy Daisy, and Hailey Redmon of Smithville. Sisters, Helen and Malcom Turner of McMinnville and Ruby Parsley of Smithville. Brother, John and his wife Glenda Turner of Smithville. Great grandchildren survive along with several nieces, nephews, and special nephew, Joey Parsley of Smithville. Special cousin Anita Martin of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Jacob Morgan “J.M.” Bratcher
Jacob Morgan “J.M.” Bratcher age 80 of Woodbury, passed away June 9, 2015 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro. He was born June 5, 1935 to his parents, the late V.E. and Ila Oakley Campbell Bratcher. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 1 son, Jeffery Bratcher; 2 brothers, Donald Bratcher and Jerry Bratcher; 1 sister, Wanda Brown. He was a retired construction worker, attended the Blues Hill Church of Christ and was a U.S. Army Veteran. J.M. is survived by his wife of 47 years, Jonell Bratcher of Woodbury; 3 sons, Barry (Regina) Bratcher of Freystade, Germany, Jason and Joel Bratcher both of Woodbury; 3 grandchildren, Aaron, Jacob and Vanessa Bratcher; half-brother, Barton (Phyllis) Todd of McMinnville; several nieces , nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be conducted 2:PM Friday, June 12, 2015 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bro. Rannie Phillips officiating and burial to follow in Gunter-Grizzle Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation will be Thursday 11:AM until 8:PM and Friday 10:AM until the time of the service. DeKalb Funeral Chapel in Smithville is in charge of the arrangements.