Seven students from DeKalb County High School won this year at the Cumberland Plateau Science and Engineering Fair at Tennessee Tech University.
Callie Crips and Sahara LaFever worked together on a project that won each of the students a scholarship to TTU’s College of Engineering. They also won third place in the senior engineering category.
Taylor Spare won the U.S. Metric Association Award, the ASM Materials Education Foundation Award and second place in the senior physical sciences category.
Marshal Evins won third place in the senior biology category.
Trey Jones, Austin Johnson and Hunter Jennings worked together on a project that won third place in the senior math category.
This was the 61st year of the fair. Prizes were given to students across several age groups in physical and biological science, math and engineering.
Photo ID:
Front row, left to right: fair directory Kelly Ramey, Callie Crips, Sahara LaFever and Taylor Spare. Back row, left to right: Austin Johnson, Trey Jones and Marshal Evins.
_________________________________________________

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce and the DeKalb County Mayor’s office would like to invite residents across the county to participate in the DeKalb County Clean Up campaign on Saturday, May 16th. This event will be held in conjunction with the Keep America Beautiful initiative going on across the country. This organization’s mission revolves around a core belief that beauty is a silent but powerful force that makes communities safer, healthier and more livable.
Suzanne Williams, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, would like to remind everyone that DeKalb County’s peak tourism season is about to begin, so now is a great time to start getting things spruced up for our coming visitors. According to Williams, “I think we are all aware of the value and importance of beautification in our communities to attract newcomers and tourists to our area and to maintain a stable and growing economy.”
To get a head start on clean up, dumpsters will be set up at highly visible and convenient locations a few days prior to the main event. Dumpster locations will be at the Dowelltown Community Center, Liberty Community Center, Alexandria City Parking Lot (behind square), and the County Complex parking lot.
County Mayor Tim Stribling says, “We invite people to come out and help clean up around our communities and highways. Folks are welcome to pick up litter at places of their choice, or we will be glad to assign a safe place for you.”
DeKalb Clean Up volunteers are asked to come to the County Complex, 732 So. Congress Blvd., Smithville on May 16th between 9 AM and 10 AM to sign-in and pick up the provided trash bags, rubber gloves, and bottles of water. We will be taking a group picture at 9:30 AM for the media if you like to participate in that.
For early sign-up, you can stop by the Chamber, located in the Courthouse, Room 201, anytime during regular office hours by May 15th to pick up supplies. Or if stopping by is not convenient, call the Chamber office at 597-4163 to be counted as a DeKalb Clean Up volunteer — just give your name and the general area where you will be working. Whether you’re beautifying your street, a highway, a park, ball field, a stream, or your own home, what a difference we can make through working together!

The Tennessee Legislature has passed a law prohibiting the use of cell phones inside the polling place, except for informational purposes.
“This is something that needed to be addressed by the legislature and codified into law,” said Dennis Stanley, DeKalb County Administrator
of Elections. “Until this law passed, local election commissions could or could not adopt a similar policy, which the local commission did two years ago. Now, the issue is addressed in state law and there is conformity state wide.”
The legislation states a county election commission cannot prohibit a voter from using a mobile electronic or communication device at the polls “for informational purposes to assist the voter in making election decisions.”
However, the measure goes on to say a voter “shall be prohibited from using the device for telephone conversations, recording or taking photographs or videos while inside the polling place.”
The law also gives election commissions the authority to “require that any mobile electronic or communication device be silenced while in use at the polling place.”
“Election commissions all across the state are charged with protecting the integrity of the ballot and this law will help them do that,” Stanley added.
The bill calls for the law to go into effect January 1, 2016.

Smithville Police arrested a man twice last week after he allegedly threatened officers and a judge.
48 year old Marty Brent Tallent is charged with aggravated assault and retaliation for past actions. His total bond is $35,000 and he will be in court again May 1.
According to police, Sergeant Travis Bryant and Officer Joey Myers responded to Tallent’s residence to do a welfare check at 3:26 a.m. on Monday, April 13. Upon arrival the officers identified themselves and asked to speak with him. Tallent told the officers he wanted them to leave or he would get his shotgun and use it against them. Tallent then turned off all lights both inside and out and ran back into the house making loud noises causing officers to be in fear for their safety. After Tallent refused all the officers legal commands, a warrant for aggravated assault was taken against him. He was arrested on Wednesday, April 15.
The next day, Thursday April 16 Tallent appeared in General Sessions Court . According to police, Tallent made a threatening remark as Judge Bratten Cook, II increased Tallent’s bond from $10,000 to $25,000 on the aggravated assault charge and suggested Tallent seek legal counsel. Judge Cook noted in the court recordings that Tallent’s actions were to be considered threatening toward the court causing officials to be in fear for their safety.
Corporal Chip Avera arrested 31 year old Johnny Lynn DeVault for Violation of Bond Conditions and Violation of an Order of Protection on Wednesday, April 15. Corporal Avera received information that DeVault was at the residence of the victim who has an active no contact bond condition against him. Another victim was also at the residence who has an Order of Protection against Devault. His bond is $10,000.
Officer Matt Farmer arrested 58 year old Tim Eugene Mullins for aggravated assault on Saturday, April 18. Police reported that Mullins produced a handgun and a stick displaying them in a threatening manner toward another man causing him to fear serious bodily injury or death. Mullins’ bond is $10,000 and he will be in court May 7.
Lieutenant Matt Holmes cited 20 year old Ashley Nichole O’Conner for criminal trespass on Tuesday, April 21. The day before on Monday, April 20 Officer Andy Snow took a trespassing and vandalism report at the Smithville Golf Course. It was reported that on Saturday, April 18 at approximately 8:40pm two people were spotted on video surveillance entering the Smithville Golf Course after hours and staying approximately one hour. As the intruders were leaving, one of them damaged two holes on the practice green. This case remains under investigation and charges are pending against the other person observed on the video. O’Conner will make a court appearance on May 7.
Officer Lance Dillard cited 38 year old Lynda Michelle Neville for theft of merchandise at Dollar General Store on Wednesday, April 22. Upon arrival Officer Dillard spoke with Neville who was found to have items concealed in her purse she had not paid for. Her court date is June 11.
Neville was arrested again on Thursday, April 23 for a second offense of driving under the influence and cited for possession of drug paraphernalia. At approximately 12:33am Officers responded to Mapco Express in reference to a possible DUI. Upon arrival Officer Joey Myers spoke with Neville who had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person. Neville’s speech was slurred and she was unstable on her feet. Officer Myers asked Neville to perform sobriety tasks. She performed poorly. A computer check revealed that Neville was convicted of DUI in 2005. Neville was believed to have been operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and she was placed under arrest. A probationary search of the vehicle was performed and glass pipes commonly used with marijuana were found. Her bond is $3,000 and she will be in court on May 14.

The DeKalb County Board of Education will have a special called meeting on Monday, April 27 to establish a procedure for selecting the next Director of Schools.
The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Board of Education building. A work session is scheduled prior to the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
As WJLE first reported last week, the board’s policy states that the board must develop a procedure for selecting a new director before it begins a search. “Prior to conducting a search to fill the position, the Board shall initially develop the following:
* A job description
* A timeline
* A process for accepting and reviewing applications
* Selection procedures
Dr. Danielle Collins currently serves as Interim Director.
The policy gives the school board the option of allowing an interim to be a candidate but a board member cannot apply. “An interim director of schools appointed during the time of a search shall not become a candidate unless the Board expressly permits such inclusion in the selection procedures. A board member may not apply for or in any other way be considered for the position of director of schools,” the board policy states.
WJLE will have LIVE coverage of the meeting at 7:00 p.m.