The DeKalb County School System is reviewing measures to improve security in response to the recent deadly school shooting in Connecticut.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby, during Thursday night’s school board meeting, said letters are being sent to parents to reassure them. ” It (letter) is talking about the things we are doing in DeKalb County, working with our local police, sheriff’s department, and Charlie Parker of the local emergency management,” said Willoughby. “The state has called a Safety Summit meeting to be held at the end of January. Mr. Charlie Parker has also asked to have a meeting in the county during January. We will be discussing safety and emergency procedures,” he said.
One procedure mentioned in the letter is a practice that has already been in place for some time in the school system which is asking everyone visiting a school to come through the main entrance of the building and report to the office. Visitors are to sign-in, obtain a visitor’s badge and proceed to their destination. After they have completed their visit, visitors are to return the visitor’s badge to the office.
The school board apparently plans to meet at each of the schools in the coming months and during that time, the members will be taking a closer look at safety measures there. “Mr. (Johnny) Lattimore (school board chairman) has requested that as we go from school to school, to look at the safety aspects of each school and how to make each school a lot safer,” said Willougbhy. “David Brown of Kaatz Binkley (architects) will do a survey and give us recommendations of what we might want to do. We have also asked some of our police officers and the sheriff’s department to give us some recommendations of what might be good to do in our buildings also. We’re being pro-active. I’d like to say we could make guarantees. We can’t do that. But schools should be one of the safest places for students to be. We want our students to feel safe. We’re going to do our best to take care of them and look out for them,” said Willoughby.
For several years, DeKalb County High School has had a resource officer, who is employed by the sheriff’s department to help address concerns. No other school in the system has one. School officials have not said publicly whether they would ask the county to fund the hiring of more school resource officers.
In the letter to parents, Willoughby wrote that “as a result of the tragic event that occurred in Connecticut, I wanted to reassure you that we are taking extra security measures to ensure the safety of all the students and staff within the DeKalb County School District. At the beginning of each new school year, DeKalb County Schools has made it a practice to review and update safety plans and procedures involving all individual schools as well as every department (transportation, maintenance, etc) in our system”
I have met with local law enforcement, principals, and supervisors recently to discuss and review our Safety plans. I can tell you we have many security measures in place. Some of those measures are visible to you, other measures are not. Our security measures are flexible, and we adapt our security measures to meet any new needs that arise. We routinely seek the advice of our local city police department, sheriff’s department, and our Emergency Management personnel as well as state authorities on how to better safeguard our schools and improve our security measures. Our local police departments continually provide us with immediate and excellent support to keep our schools safe”
“In order to keep all children safe we are asking parents to enter at the main entrance of the building and to report to the office. At this time, you will sign-in, obtain a visitor’s badge and proceed to your destination. When you have completed your visit with us, please return your visitor’s badge to the office.”
“We routinely conduct safety and fire drills in our schools, and we will continue to do so in the future. We also attend safety training sessions to keep current on school safety issues and concerns, and to share ideas on how to better protect our schools.”
“As your Superintendent of Schools, I assure you that we are continually evaluating our school safety and security measures to keep our schools safe. During January, I will be attending two meetings relating with the safety of our schools. The first will be a DeKalb County Emergency Management meeting. The purpose of this meeting is for local representatives to engage in emergency planning, training, and overall emergency preparedness. The second meeting will be the School Safety Summit sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Education in order to receive the most recent updates pertaining to school safety,” wrote Willoughby

An accident involving a tractor trailer rig and a pickup truck hauling a utility trailer caused a detour of traffic for a period of time Thursday afternoon on Highway 70 at Sligo.
Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 22 year old Joseph Suarez of Union City was driving east in a 2008 Ford F250 negotiating a curve when the utility trailer he was pulling crossed the center line and struck a westbound 2007 International Tractor Trailer, driven by 50 year old Thomas Rush of Hermitage. Rush was hauling general freight for Central Transport. The utility trailer hit the left side of the truck, rupturing the fuel tank, and causing the truck to jack knife in the highway. An environmental crew was called to the scene to clean up the fuel spill.
No one was injured but Suarez was charged with violation of due care, violation of the financial responsibility law, and no trailer registration.
In addition to Trooper Johnson, members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office, TDOT highway crew, and Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Charlie Parker were all on site.

The sheriff’s department and Tennessee Bomb and Arson are investigating a suspicious fire Tuesday night in Liberty.
Lieutenant Anthony Boyd of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department told WJLE that firefighters were called to a vacant home at 226 Eckles Heights Street around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night. The home belongs to Debbie Hardaway. The home, which was up for sale, contained some furnishings but no one lived there.
The cause and origin of the fire have not been determined, according to Lieutenant Boyd but the upstairs and the back left side of the home were destroyed in the blaze with heat, water, and smoke damage to other parts of the house.
Members of the Liberty and Temperance Hall stations responded along with the Main Station, and Tanker Truck of the county volunteer fire department. DeKalb EMS and sheriff’s deputies were also on the scene. No one was injured.

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, says the DeKalb FSA County Committee met in regular session on Tuesday, December 4 to canvass and tabulate the ballots received in the 2012 Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 1 County Committee Election. The deadline to return ballots was December 3.
Mary Sanders was re-elected to serve as a member on the Committee representing LAA-2. Her third and final 3-year term began January 1, 2013. Randall West was elected as 1st. Alternate, Bert Driver was elected as 2nd Alternate, and Jeff Carter was elected as 3rd. Alternate to the Committee.
In addition, the Committee met on January 8, 2013 for its Organizational Meeting. The Committee selected Timmie Adcock to serve as Chairperson, Jack Campbell to serve as Vice-Chairperson, and Mary Sanders to serve as Member. The Committee meets quarterly at the DeKalb/Cannon County USDA Service Center located at 647 Bright Hill Rd.
Green says that the DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee and office staff wishes to express their appreciation to voters in LAA-1 who participated in the election by voting and returning their ballots. “The local County Committees are a very important part of Farm Service Agency’s program delivery and administrative processes. I do not know of any other agency providing federal programs that can say that the delivery and decision making efforts are made on the local level by a farmer-elected committee,” added Green.
For more information about FSA’s County Committees or other program inquiries, call 597-8225 (extension 2) or come by the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency office at 647 Bright Hill Street in Smithville. You can also visit the agency’s web site at: www.fsa.usda.gov.

City officials have asked Smithville’s engineering firm, the J.R. Wauford Company, to come up with estimates on what it could cost to make city sewer available to a handful of places in town that don’t have access to the service.
Alderman Shawn Jacobs raised the issue at the city council meeting on November 19. Public Works Director Kevin Robinson updated the mayor and aldermen Monday night. “I’ve been in contact with Melissa at JR Wauford Engineering about the sewer (unserved areas) in town. She came up Friday and we rode around to every one of the spots and she is supposed to let me know and as soon as she does I’ll let the board know what she found out and what its going to cost,” said Robinson.
Alderman Jacobs asked if Robinson could find out more about some new technology available that might be an alternative to pumping stations, if needed to reach those unserved areas. “In addition to pumping stations, there’s some new technology out there that don’t require pumping stations. There’s a couple of alternatives being used besides that so if these figures come back really expensive we might ask her to look at some of the alternatives to see what that would cost us as well. Of course, we’re not looking at making any kind of decision right away anyway but just for planning purposes it would be good to know and see what the new technology offers and if the prices might be coming down on it in the future,” said Alderman Jacobs.
Meanwhile, Todd Bowman, water plant supervisor reported to the mayor and aldermen Monday night that for both the months of October and November, the city recorded a 25% water loss. He also reported that water plant employee Shawn Thomas has passed his grade III exam and is now a certified plant operator. “He is certified in sewer and water plant operation,” said Bowman. “We now have three licensed operators at the plant. Another one (employee) still there without a license plans on going in May to try and get his license,” said Bowman.
Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger reported that the department has received a new K-9 vehicle. “It will soon be outfitted completely with a cage and everything. It really looks good and we’re proud of it. The officers are doing a good job and we want to get our K-9 program going further than what it is,” said Chief Caplinger.
“We also have two new certified meth officers now and we’re real proud of that,” said Chief Caplinger. “We want to try and get as many (certified meth officers) as we can to help curb the drug problem,” he said. “Our in-service training is starting up again this year, probably next month through the end of March. We finished up a grant today. We’ll be taking the money out to supply us with bullet proof vests that we ordered. Those should be coming in a few days. The grant will pay for all the vests except for just a few dollars,” said Chief Caplinger.
Alderman Gayla Hendrix commended Chief Caplinger and others on establishing a crime stoppers program. In response, the chief said the public is already responding to it. “I really appreciate the people we have on our crime stoppers (board). There’s ten people, five from the city and five from the business community. We’re getting a lot of good (public) response from crime stoppers. We’re getting calls and tips coming in and we’re investigating several of them right now. It looks like the program is going to pay off. Its going to work real well. It looks like it will fund itself with the help of the board we have. I think its going to be real good,” said Chief Caplinger
“I also want to thank everyone who was part of our Christmas get together (party) for the (needy) children (December 21). This room (community room of city hall), I don’t think you could have put another person in it,” said Chief Caplinger. “The room was full. Everyone was real appreciative. We had several businesses who stepped forward and wanted to help and did an outstanding job. We hope to continue that (Christmas event) as well as the Halloween event. That’s one of the things the police department wants to do is stay involved with the community. I appreciate the support of the board helping us do that,” he said.
Fire Chief Charlie Parker updated the mayor and aldermen on recent fire department activities. “Highlights of our last quarter, we had a total of 32 incidents. We had 54 hours of working and 142 man hours of training in the last quarter. Also during the last quarter, the month of October was our fire prevention month, ” said Chief Parker. “We held fire prevention activities at the Smithville Methodist Day School, the Church of Christ Day School, Smithville Elementary, LBJ & C Head Start, Rainbow Play School, and at DeKalb Middle School. We also had several boy scout and girl scout groups that came through so we really pushed fire prevention in the month of October. My deputy chief, Hoyte Hale heads that up. We solicit (donations) from several businesses that contribute to the fire prevention materials. We try to provide at least a piece of literature, stickers, or something for every kid through fifth grade. They get coloring books or something depending upon age appropriate. We’ve had a tremendous response from parents. I want to thank Hoyte for doing this and the other firefighters who helped do some of the demonstrations,” he said. “Currently, we are working on our SOG’s for the fire department, looking to update our guidelines and procedures. We’ll have our officer elections the first part of February and then we’ll come back to the board for your approval (of officers). We also have our firefighter appreciation dinner January 19. We’ve had a very big start with the first of the year. I think we’re up to twenty calls already starting the new year,” said Chief Parker.

Motlow College is offering three classes this semester at the county complex in
Smithville, according to Melody Edmonds, director of Motlow’s McMinnville Center.
Classes are Principles of Accounting (ACCT 1020), which will meet from 6 to 8:45 p.m. on
Mondays; English Composition I (ENGL 1010), which will meet from 6 to 8:45 p.m. on
Thursdays; and Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus II (MATH 1720), which meets from 7:45 to 9 a.m. on
Mondays and Wednesdays.
Students wanting to register for these classes need to do so as soon as possible,
Edmonds said. Classes at all Motlow College sites begin on Jan. 17.

The City of Smithville and DeKalb Utility District are expected to share in the cost of conducting a study of the city’s water production operation as the two sides look toward possibly making a deal on a new water contract.
But even if the parties do reach an agreement, the DUD still intends on proceeding with the construction of its own water treatment plant.
City officials last week received a letter from Roger Turney, Chairman of the DUD board of directors addressing the city’s request for a face to face meeting on proposed contract discussions.
In the letter Turney wrote that the DUD is willing to share one-half of the cost of an independent entity to conduct the cost study but that no meaningful contract discussions can be held between the city and DUD until that study is performed since it would address the rate to be included in any such new contract for the purchase of water by the DUD.
During Monday night’s city council meeting, Alderman Tim Stribling said the city should proceed with plans for the cost study. “All of us got a letter from DUD. We need to get on with a cost study,” said Alderman Stribling.
“I got a price quote today on that,” said Secretary-Treasurer Hunter Hendrixson. “They said to budget up to $7500. DUD is going to pay half of that. I’ll confirm it but that’s what the letter says,” said Hendrixson.
“To sit down with them, we need to all find out what it cost to make our water,” added Alderman Stribling.
“I’ve already said from day one, since I’ve been in office, I’m open,” said Mayor Jimmy Poss. “I’m willing to sit down and talk to them. But this is the first response we’ve had back (from DUD). We’re ready to go ahead,” said the mayor.
“We’ve finally got somewhere in the last week or so,” added Hendrixson. ” They’ve given me a cost and we’re budgeted for it, especially for fifty percent of it. I just need to get them some information,’ he said.
In his letter to Mayor Poss, Turney wrote that “While I appreciate your interest in meeting in order to discuss a proposed contract between the City of Smithville and DeKalb Utility District for the purchase of water, as we have pointed out before there does not appear to be any significant information that could be discussed until such time that a cost study is done,” he wrote.
“As we have earlier stated, DUD is interested in entering into a long term water purchase agreement with the City of Smithville. We have earlier provided to you a rather standard agreement for your review and consideration and have heard no response as to whether the terms set forth therein are agreeable or not or of any proposed changes to the agreement. As we had earlier set out, DUD is willing to share one-half of the cost of an independent entity to conduct a cost study of the city’s water production operation but have received no input as to whether that offer is acceptable and if there is any action currently being taken to accomplish such a study. It would seem that there can be no meaningful discussion until such a study is performed since that would address the rate that would be included in any such contract for the purchase of water by DUD. We understand that cost studies are commonly recognized in this industry to establish an appropriate rate.”
“Please be advised that DUD still intends on proceeding with the construction of a water treatment plant but will no doubt still need to purchase water or have the ability to purchase water from the City of Smithville. Therefore, we await word on the progression of a cost study so that we can then meaningfully sit down and further discuss the completion of an agreement between the DUD and the city,” wrote Turney.
The City of Smithville currently sells water to the DeKalb Utility District for $2.05 per thousand gallons and under terms of the contract, the rate increases by five cents per thousand gallons in January of each year. The two parties entered into the contract in 2004 and it expires in 2014.

In his latest report on crime, Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger reports that 19 year old Juan Carillo Perez was cited for simple possession on Thursday, December 27. According to the citation, an officer observed a suspicious vehicle in the Wal-Mart parking lot with two men inside. Due to complaints of drug trafficking in the parking lot, the officer approached the vehicle. Perez was in the driver’s seat. The officer was informed that there was marijuana in the vehicle. A small amount of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was found under the seat. Perez will be in court on January 17.
27 year old Stephen Hunter Pugh was cited for simple possession and possession of drug paraphernalia on New Year’s Eve. A search of Pugh, incident to arrest for an outstanding warrant, produced a small amount of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana and drug paraphernalia. His court date is January 17.
21 year old Clay Andrew Bain was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia on Saturday, January 5. Bain, who was involved in a verbal dispute, made an attempt to dispose of three hypodermic needles. His court date is February 21.
22 year old Daniel Trey Hamilton and 22 year old Kayla N Adams were arrested for domestic assault on Saturday, January 5. Hamilton and Adams got into an argument that turned physical. Both had wounds to their persons. The primary aggressor could not be determined. Both were taken into custody for domestic assault. Bond for each is $2,500 and they will be in court on January 17.
31 year old Chad James Bradshaw was arrested for domestic assault on Sunday, January 6. According to the warrant, an officer spoke to the victim who stated that she and Bradshaw were in a heated argument which became physical. Marks were observed on the victim. Upon speaking with Bradshaw and a witness, the officer determined that Bradshaw was the primary aggressor. His bond is $3,500 and his court date is February 21
25 year old Kristy Lavone Grandstaff was cited for simple possession on Sunday, January 6. Four pills believed to be Lorazapam were found on Grandstaff’s person. She didn’t have a prescription for the pills. Her court date is January 17.
Anyone with information on any criminal activity is asked to please contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.
Any information received that would help Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential