Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John Schroer and the Governor’s Highway Safety Office (GHSO) Director Kendell Poole have announced $21.1 million in grants to Tennessee agencies to support highway traffic safety efforts.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Alexandria Police Department are each receiving a $5,000 High Visibility Enforcement Grant. The Smithville Police Department is getting an Impaired Driving Enforcement Grant in the amount of $20,000.
The funds support the mission of the GHSO. The goal is to save lives and reduce injuries on Tennessee roadways through leadership, innovation, coordination and program support in partnership with numerous public and private organizations.
“Having safe roads is critical to our mission of making Tennessee a better place to live, work and raise a family,” Governor Haslam said. “As we continue our work with local and state agencies, these grants support these important efforts to make our roadways safer.”
There are multiple elements that contribute to a safe roadway system. Some of those aspects are an accurate traffic safety data collection and analysis system, well-trained and well-equipped law enforcement personnel, and effective emergency medical and trauma systems. A major part of roadway safety is educating motorists about laws and good driving behaviors.
“These grants help fund a variety of safety initiatives across the state including speed enforcement, first responder equipment, Specialized Impaired Driving prosecutors and child passenger safety training,” TDOT Commissioner John Schroer said. “These grants will make a difference and help save lives.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides the funding to the GHSO. The grants, totaling 434 for the 2014 funding cycle, were awarded to 370 agencies that successfully applied for funding based on a defined problem and statistical need. Each year, the GHSO accepts applications from agencies across the state for available highway safety funds. Applications are reviewed and scored by the GHSO and external highway safety advocates. The agencies that meet the criteria for funding received awards.
“Grants awarded by our office are provided in areas of need,” GHSO Director Kendell Poole said. “Statistics show our problem areas and we strive to put the funding where it will be most effective. We are dedicated to saving lives across Tennessee and pledge to work with grantees statewide to accomplish our mission.”

DeKalb County High School students celebrated the last day of Spirit Week with a Homecoming Day parade Friday afternoon.
The Tiger football team’s homecoming opponent Friday night is the Cannon County Lions and the floats in the parade had a Tiger versus Lions theme.

The parade featured Homecoming Queen Ashley Medlin and her attendants, the DCHS Fighting Tiger Band, lots of decorated cars and trucks, county and city law enforcement officers, and fire fighters, among others. The event concluded with a pep rally on the square led by DCHS Football cheerleaders.
Winners in the Float Competition were:
First Place: Senior Class- “Tigers Launch the Lions
Second Place: Junior Class- “Tigers Battle the Lions”
Third Place: Freshman Class-” Taking Over, Tiger Pride Rocks”
Fourth Place: Sophomore Class- “Tigers Rope the Lions”
Fifth Place: FCCLA Club- “Ok: Tigers Blow the Lions Away”
Best Decorated Automobiles:
First Place: Cason Oakley
Second Place: Harlli Silcox
Third Place: Kaylyn Thompson

Shan Burklow and Beth Chandler of DeKalb County hosted 26 pageants along with the ‘Tennessee’s Got Talent Competition’ at the Tennessee State Fair recently. Multiple contestants from across DeKalb County participated and placed during the three days of competition as well as donating crowns during a special charity crown ceremony for Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Burklow and Chandler even recruited local experts to help manage and produce the pageants.
“It’s always great to work hard with friends to help raise money for a good cause,” said Burklow following the event, “We are grateful to partner with ‘Crowns for a Cause’ again this year to help every little girl and boy at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital be Queen and Hero for a day. We raised enough money to purchase portable DVD players and rated G DVDs for the children as well as receiving enough crowns for the little girls as well. We raised $2,245.00 in quarter votes alone. How great is that?” Burklow continues, “I host the on-stage part of the events, but I am nothing without a hard working producer (Beth Chandler) and a great team of staff and volunteers to pull it all together. You also need a great gown sponsor like RSG Prom and Pageant!” Burklow laughs, “I am a marketing director by day…and a state fair pageant director by night! I appreciate DeKalb Community Hospital and Stones River Hospital for allowing me to take the time for this great event. I work with some of the best-hearted people on earth.”
The hard working producer, her sister, and long-time business partner – Beth Chandler, as well as the team Burklow talks about includes Angie Meadows along with Denise Page and Melissa Yarborough (DeKalb) who managed the baby and toddler competition. The tabulation team included Vickie Woods of Alexandria along with Cindy Taylor, and Tina Cripps of Smithville. LouAnn Sanders from the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce welcomed contestants at the door. Katie Haggard of Smithville was brought in as assistant producer for her second year. Josh Issac of Smithville provided the entertainment through his signature vocal talent.
“It took a great deal of wonderful people to pull this off! We were so grateful to everyone who came and helped us during the weekend. There were volunteers from Knoxville to Greenbrier, Tennessee,” Chandler comments, “Vickie Woods even developed a computerized tabulation system that allowed us to be on time throughout the weekend. Everyone was amazing and we had a great time working together. I was personally in awe of the generous attitude of all that attended. We would also like to thank channel 2, 4, 5, and Fox 17 News for promoting us throughout the month.”
Over 175 titles and awards were presented during the event including a one year modeling contract with Dan Talent Group of Franklin, TN (Tennessee Top Model Competition). DeKalb County contestants claimed multiple awards including: Queen Supreme Overall – Addison Oakley is the daughter of Clark and Lisa Oakley of Liberty, TN / First Runner-Up TN State Junior Fair Princess – Hayley Hale is the daughter of Chad and Melissa Hale of Smithville, TN / Top Ten Jr. Fair Princess – Liz Qualls is the daughter of Brad and Kim Trapp and Jason and Stormy Qualls of Smithville, TN / Top Ten Little Miss Princess – Natalie Snipes is the daughter of Tim and Michelle Snipes of Smithville, TN / Optional Award Winner – Shelby Clayborn is the daughter of Brian and Holly Clayborn of Liberty, TN.
Pictured: (from left to right) Host Shan Burklow with Queen Supreme Overall Winner Addison Oakley of Liberty, TN; Tennessee Top Model Queen Baylee Nester of Manchester, TN; and Crowns for a Cause Queen Olivia Link of Nashville, TN.
Pictured: Shan Burklow stands with Crowns for a Cause royalty. Former queens Sadie Prater and Emily Burklow get ready to crown their successor.
Pictured: Producers hard at work – Assistant TN State Fair Producer Katie Haggard takes a moment to stand still along with TN State Fair Producer Beth Chandler who managed 27 events at the Tennessee State Fair last weekend.

Two teenage boys accused of forcing their way into the home of a Smithville woman and then assaulting and robbing her late Wednesday night were taken into custody while at school Thursday.
Lieutenant Matt Holmes of the Smithville Police Department told WJLE that the two boys are currently in state custody at the Juvenile Detention Center in Cookeville and have been named in petitions accusing them of committing delinquent acts. The crimes of which they are accused of committing include especially aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and felony theft.
Because the two boys are juveniles, Lieutenant Holmes would not disclose their names. The name of the victim is also being withheld.
According to Lieutenant Holmes, the incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18 at the woman’s Smithville residence. He said the victim, who lives alone, heard something outside and when she opened the door to look outside, the two boys, who were wearing hockey masks forced their way in and assaulted her. ” Upon investigation, I found out that the victim heard a noise outside the back of her residence,” said Lieutenant Holmes. “She looked out but didn’t see anyone. She went to open the door. As she cracked the door open, two masked men forced their way into the residence. One of the suspects tackled her to the ground, pepper sprayed her multiple times, and tried to insert a wash cloth in her mouth to keep her from screaming,” he said
“One of the suspects ransacked the house and stole a 38 caliber revolver and multiple other items,” he said. The total value of the stolen items came to around $600.
The woman, though injured in the attack with cuts, scrapes, and bruises, was apparently not seriously injured and declined medical attention. She remains terrified and still suffers from affects of the pepper spray attack.
Though the two boys were carrying razor knives at the time of the attack, they apparently did not use them on the woman.
“We worked the case until about four in the morning (Thursday) and started back again later in the day,” said Lieutenant Holmes. We went to Walmart and were able to trace the sale of the hockey masks back to the juveniles who had bought them prior to the incident,” he said.
” We located them (the two suspects) at the high school and placed them under arrest in the classroom on Thursday. Our fear was that they may have brought the gun to school but as it turned out they did not have the gun at school. It was found at their home,” said Lieutenant Holmes.
“We found in the attic of their residence the two hockey masks and a loaded 38 caliber handgun and other items that were taken from the victim’s home. We also found some pepper spray,” Lieutenant Holmes continued.
He said the boys live together in the same household but are not related. Neither of the boys is related to the victim. The two boys live in the same area of the city as the victim but police would not disclose the name of the street or neighborhood where the attack occurred.
Lieutenant Holmes, who was assisted in the investigation by Detective Brandon Donnell and Corporal Travis Bryant said police believe the two boys committed the crimes hoping to find money and drugs.
The two boys also allegedly tried to break into another residence in the same area the night before on Tuesday but were unable to make entry.
Lieutenant Holmes urges citizens to call police if you hear or see anything suspicious near your home or in your neighborhood. “If anyone hears something outside, never open your door. Call police and have us check it out,” Lieutenant Holmes concluded.