The DeKalb County 4-H Health Rocks team joined 440 youth leaders from across the state at the Tennessee Teen Institute.
The Institute is a five-day youth leadership and prevention camp sponsored by the Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (JACOA). This year marked the 30th Anniversary of the Teen Institute Program in Tennessee. The program addresses teen issues such as bullying, violence, suicide, teen pregnancy, distracted driving, teen health and substance abuse prevention through a five-day, peer-led prevention camp designed to provide teen participants with the skills and education necessary to develop and implement alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs in their own communities. The DeKalb County 4-H Health Rocks teen leaders do after school programs during the school year which address many of these issues for youth. TTI is a comprehensive program that trains, mobilizes and empowers youth to prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and self destructive behaviors in themselves and their peers. TTI prepares students to not only make positive changes, but to be proud advocates of those changes. Students will have the opportunity to grow and learn as individuals, while enhancing their leadership abilities. Because TTI is peer-led, teens are given a unique opportunity to have a “voice” in addressing issues important to them. Giving youth some ownership in this type of program is one of the key factors in the success of enforcing a substance free lifestyle.
Held on the University of Tennessee at Martin campus in Martin, Tennessee, June 18-23th, TTI 2017 hosted approximately 440 teen leaders, adult advisors, and TTI staff. These participants leave motivated not only to make healthy decisions in their own lives, but also committed to work so that others are making healthy decisions as well.
For more information about the Tennessee Teen Institute visit www.tnteeninstitute.net.

DCHS FCCLA joined more than 7,500 FCCLA student leaders, members, and advisers at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN, July 2nd-6th to participate in the annual FCCLA National Leadership Conference (NLC).
The conference provided DCHS FCCLA student opportunities for listening to inspiring speakers, attending learning sessions, competing on the national level, and networking with other leaders. The theme of this year’s conference was “Unlimited Possibilities,” which inspired attendees to discover the unlimited possibilities within their reach while exploring career opportunities, developing leadership skills, and growing personally while making difference in their families and communities.
“We were thrilled to have an attendance of over 7,500 members, advisers, partners, and guests who were committed to discovering the unlimited possibilities available through FCCLA. The relationships and skills developed during this conference have inspired students to make a difference in their own communities and to discover the unlimited possibilities within their reach,” said Sandy Spavone, executive director of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.
Ashley Reynolds from DCHS FCCLA participated in one of 30 Family and Consumer Sciences related Competitive Events offered at NLC, including STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events and the FCCLA/LifeSmarts Knowledge Bowl. These events support foundational, leadership, and workplace skills in areas such as advocacy, culinary arts, and entrepreneurship. Competing with over 4,200 STAR Event participants in Nashville, Ashley Reynolds achieved Silver Recognition in her Advocacy project.
Ashley stated the following about her experience, “Going to National Leadership Conference was honestly a dream come true! I have worked extremely hard on my Advocacy project to help teens become aware of the effects and responsibility of teenage pregnancy, and being able to go to Nationals and showcase everything that I did and be recognized just tops it all off. I will be forever grateful for this experience and couldn’t have done it without the patience, love, and support from my advisors, parents, family, and friends! Hopefully, NLC will see me again next year!”
About FCCLA
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a dynamic and effective career and technical student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA has more than 164,000 members and more than 5,300 chapters from 49 state associations, in addition to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
FCCLA: The Ultimate Leadership Experience is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by members, and it’s the only career and technical in-school student organization with a central focus on careers that support families. Participation in national FCCLA programs and chapter activities helps members become strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities.
For more information on FCCLA, please contact Linda Parris at 615-597-4094 or lindaparris@dekalbschools.net

District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway of Cookeville, Tenn., was elected to represent Middle Tennessee on the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference’s (TNDAGC) Executive Committee.
“It is an honor to be elected by my colleagues to be a part of the Executive Committee,” said District Attorney Bryant Dunaway. “The Executive Committee is committed to meeting the challenges that we face in Tennessee, and I look forward to representing Middle Tennessee.”
Dunaway also serves as chairman of the Conference IT Committee, as a member of the Conference Legislative Committee and Finance Committee. As District Attorney for the 13th Judicial District he serves Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam and White counties.
“General Dunaway is an excellent choice to represent Middle Tennessee, and his leadership is invaluable to the efforts of the District Attorneys General,” said TNDAGC Executive Director Jerry N. Estes. “We are fortunate to have Gen. Dunaway in this role as we look for solutions to the state’s most difficult problems.”
Dunaway was first elected as a District Attorney for the 13th Judicial District in 2014. He received his B.S. degree from Tennessee Tech University and his law degree from Nashville School of Law. He and his wife, LeeAnn, live in Cookeville.
About TNDAGC
The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference was created by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1961 to provide for a more prompt and efficient administration of justice in the courts of this state. It is composed of the District Attorneys General from the state’s 31 judicial districts. The District Attorneys General are elected for a term of eight years and are responsible for the prosecution of criminal cases on behalf of the state. Visit www.tndagc.org for more information or to contact your local District Attorney General.

A 40 year old man has been charged with raping a woman knowing she was mentally challenged.
Brandon Dean Steakley of Bluhmtown Road, Smithville is under a $75,000 bond and his court date is August 10.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Saturday, July 29 Steakley did allegedly unlawfully sexually penetrate a woman without her consent. He also had reason to believe that his victim was mentally challenged.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL- Intakes & Releases From: 7/24/2017 Thru: 7/31/2017)
Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR_32.pdf (3.96 MB)
27 year old Christopher Brock Tatrow of Sparta, an inmate at the jail, is charged with assaulting a fellow prisoner. Bond for Tatrow is $2,500 and his court date is August 17. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, July 28 while incarcerated at the jail, Tatrow came up to another inmate and hit him several times in the face and upper body causing bruising and swelling to the inmate’s face.
29 year old Racheal Lynn Bell of Middleton Street, Nashville was arrested for public intoxication on Saturday, July 29. Her bond is $1,500 and she will make a court appearance on August 17. Sheriff Ray said that while at Pates Ford Marina a deputy found a woman, Bell who was passed out in a utility vehicle. When she was awakened, Bell was observed to be very unsteady on her feet. Her speech was slurred and she had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her person. Bell also appeared to be very disoriented. For her safety and that of the public, she was arrested for public intoxication.
21 year old Kathleen Ann Schwartz of Hazel Drive, Carthage is charged with public intoxication. She is under a $1,500 bond and her court date is August 17. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, July 30 a deputy was called to Pates Ford Marina where a woman was observed walking along the road who appeared to be intoxicated. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the woman, Schwartz. She had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person and her eyes were red and watery. Her speech was slurred and she was unsteady on her feet. Schwartz submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. She was placed under arrest for her safety and that of the public.
47 year old Charles Franklin Kilgore, II of Joelton, Tennessee is charged public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is August 17. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, July 30 while at Pates Ford Marina in response to another complaint, a deputy observed Kilgore who was passed out on the boat ramp. When Kilgore was awakened, he became very unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred, and he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Due to his being in an intoxicated state, Kilgore was taken into custody for his safety and that of the public.
24 year old Zachary Layne Bennett of Hogsfoot Road, Liberty is charged with driving under the influence. Bennett was further cited for simple possession of a schedule VI drug (4.4 grams of marijuana) and for possession of drug paraphernalia (two glass pipes). He is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is August 10. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, July 25 a deputy and detective were called to the intersection of Old Liberty Road and Upper Helton Road where a vehicle had struck a fence. Upon arrival the officers spoke with Bennett, the driver. He had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. His speech was slurred and his eyes were red and watery. Bennett admitted to having consumed four 12 ounce beers and one 25 ounce beer. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. The marijuana and glass pipes were found during a search of Bennett’s vehicle.