Eighteen members of the class of 2010 from Dekalb County High School have received the High Schools That Work (HSTW) Award of Educational Achievement. High school seniors who complete a challenging and focused program of study and demonstrate readiness for employment and for college studies receive the award. Award recipients receiving personalized certificates and congratulatory letters from the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) are Reeves Beller, Payne Denman, Dakota Dexter, Kendra Foutch, Nick Goff, Brandon Haas, Kyle Hogue, Grant James, Sasha Knowles, Layne Mathis, Tejaswi Munagala, Katie Nixon, Amanda Ours, Hunter Poteete, Haley Snyder, Caleb Spencer, Cynthia Woodward, and Tiffany Young.
“These students are to be commended for their efforts,” said Kathy Hendrix. “By taking challenging courses in high school and performing well high on rigorous exams, they have increased the likelihood of success in the workplace and further education.”
Students qualify for the award by completing a college-preparatory course of study in at least two of three subject areas (English/language arts, mathematics or science); completing a concentration in a career/technical area, mathematics/science or the humanities; and meeting readiness goals in all three subject areas on the HSTW Assessment.
HSTW, a Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) initiative, is the largest high school improvement effort in the United States, with more than 1,100 school sites in 31 states, the District of Columbia, and Calgary, Canada. HSTW is supported by member states and grants from organizations, such as the Wallace Foundation, Goldman Sachs Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, Whitehead Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. SREB was founded in 1948 as America’s first multi-state compact for education.
For more information, contact Allison Timberlake, coordinator of assessment for School Improvement, or Emily Kagey, chief editor for School Improvement, at the Southern Regional Education Board, 592 10th St., N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318.

The Smithville Municipal Election is a little over a month away and the voter registration deadline in time for the balloting is Monday, May 17th
Meanwhile, early voting will be May 26th through June 10th. Voting times are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on the first floor of the courthouse. No voting on Memorial Day, May 31st.
A mayor and two aldermen will be elected on Tuesday, June 15th. Each term is for two years. The terms of office for those elected will begin on July 1st.
Smithville Mayor Taft Hendrixson will be challenged for re-election again this year. Hendrixson, who is seeking his third term, will face opposition from former Smithville Mayor Bruce Medley and DeKalb County High School teacher Debi Loring DePriest
Hendrixson was first elected mayor in 2006 and he was re-elected in 2008. Medley, a local livestock producer, served one term as mayor from 1988 to 1990. He did not seek re-election in 1990.
DePriest will be making her first attempt at elected public office.
Meanwhile, Incumbent Aldermen Stephen White and Cecil Burger are seeking re-election. Also in the race for alderman is Shawn Beckham.
White was first elected in 2000 and will be looking for his sixth term as alderman. Burger is seeking his third term as alderman. He was first elected to that office in 2006. Prior to that, Burger served as Mayor from 1990 to 2006.
This is Beckham’s first attempt at elected public office.
Voters who don’t live in Smithville but own property in the city may vote in the municipal election under certain conditions.
The Smithville Charter allows Property Rights Voting. The property must be a minimum of
7500 square feet and the person owning the property must reside in DeKalb County. Proof of ownership and residence must be shown by the following means: (1) A certified copy of the deed and the execution of an affidavit that the person still owns this property and (2) A copy of the most recent DeKalb County real property tax notice, and (3) Proof of residence in DeKalb County. Property rights registrants are entitled to vote but not to hold any municipal office or serve on any municipal board or commission. Proof of ownership and registration form must be provided to the Election Commission office by the May 17th registration deadline.
Meanwhile, Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley reminds voters who have moved since registering to vote that the election commission office needs your current address on file.
“Updating the record is a simple process. All the voter needs to do is fill out a change of address form, which is available at the election commission office. To see if you need to update your record, simply check the address on your voter registration card. If it is different than your current address, you need to update the information with the election commission.”
“Updating the address will make your voting experience go much easier and quicker.” Stanley said,” and will not slow down the line at the polling place during early voting or election day.”

Governor Bredesen has the federal government has authorized a major disaster declaration for 12 additional Tennessee counties, including DeKalb County bringing the total number of counties declared to 42. This action makes federal assistance available to individuals in Chester, Clay, DeKalb, Hardin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, Stewart, Trousdale and Wayne counties.
Bredesen asked President Obama on Monday to declare 52 counties federal disaster areas following the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that struck the state over the weekend. Forty-two counties have received declarations to date. In addition to the 12 counties announced today, counties authorized include: Benton, Carroll, Cheatham, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Madison, Maury, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, Perry, Robertson, Rutherford, Shelby, Smith, Sumner, Tipton, Williamson and Wilson.
“I appreciate that President Obama and other federal officials continue to expedite our requests and announce declarations for additional counties,” said Bredesen. “This will be tremendously helpful to Tennesseans who suffered losses as they work to rebuild, and I look forward to seeing more counties authorized in coming days.”
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance immediately by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
Tennessee suffered 23 confirmed fatalities as a result of the extreme weather and flooding that struck the state April 30-May 2. Numerous evacuations and water rescues were performed as flood waters rose. Many residents lost all of their possessions as homes were destroyed or sustained major damages.
FEMA sent a liaison officer to the state Sunday and opened its regional coordination center in Atlanta to provide support to operations in Tennessee. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate has been in the state twice since the flooding began, touring areas of both middle and west Tennessee.
The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties authorized to date, including both individual and public assistance.
Individual assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Public assistance is also available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures only at this time. In addition, federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Smithville Police took warrants against Johnny Cantrell on Wednesday, May 5th charging him with two counts of simple possession.
K-9 Officer Bradley Tatrow was called to 318 Bell Street to check on a man who had called 911 saying that he was on drugs and felt like he was going to die. Officer Tatrow and Sergeant Randy King made contact with Cantrell who told them that he and a friend were smoking some marijuana and he thought that it was laced with something. Mr. Cantrell was complaining of pain and had very slurred speech. The officers asked him if there was anymore marijuana in the house. Cantrell told them that there was some in the drawer and he pointed to an end table next to the couch. Upon opening the drawer, Officer Tatrow found and recovered a small baggie of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. He also confiscated a small baggie of a white powdery substance believed to be methamphetamine that was in plain sight on top of the end table. Cantrell was transported by DeKalb EMS to the emergency room of DeKalb Community Hospital where he received medical treatment. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department served the warrants upon Mr. Cantrell’s release from the hospital.
28 year old Derek A Daniels of 4635 East Richmond Shop Road, Lebanon was arrested on Saturday, May 1st for a fourth offense of driving on a suspended license. Officer David Phillips pulled over Daniels for speeding and a check of his driver license revealed them to be suspended for failure to satisfy a citation multiple times. Daniels’ bond is $2,500 and his court date is May 12th.
25 year old Ellissa Howard of 306 Jackson Street was arrested on Saturday, May 1st for domestic violence. Officer Scott Davis was called to the residence and saw Howard assault two family members. He pulled Ms. Howard off one of the victims, put her in his patrol car, and later arrested her. Howard’s bond is $2,500 and her court date is May 13th.
46 year old Paul Green Cantrell and 35 year old Tonya Michelle Cantrell both of 523 Riley Avenue were arrested on Monday, May 3rd by Officer Matt Farmer and K-9 Officer Bradley Tatrow. Officer Farmer received a phone call from County Deputy Jody Johnson informing him that Paul Cantrell was coming into the city driving on a suspended license and that he was operating a black Charger. Officer Farmer met Cantrell at the intersection of South College Street and West Bryant Street. Cantrell passed him and continued on to the corner of Oak Street and West Broad Street where he got out of his vehicle and met Tonya Cantrell. When asked why he was driving since he had received a citation earlier, Mr. Cantrell became belligerent and uncooperative. Tonya Cantrell, standing between Officer Farmer and Mr. Cantrell, began yelling and saying that he (Officer Farmer) was not going to talk to Mr. Cantrell nor take him into custody. Mrs. Cantrell was asked to move back several times but she refused. After Officer Farmer placed Cantrell under arrest and began escorting him to the patrol car, Mrs. Cantrell kicked Officer Farmer in the back of his upper left leg knocking him into Mr. Cantrell. Officer Farmer requested back up and K-9 Officer Tatrow responded to the scene where he was informed by Officer Farmer that Mrs. Cantrell was to be arrested for assault. Officer Tatrow advised Mrs. Cantrell that she was under arrest for assault and as he tried to place her left wrist in the handcuffs she jerked away from him violently and began yelling. At that point, Officer Tatrow placed her in an arm bar restraint while trying to affect her arrest. Mrs. Cantrell was charged with resisting arrest. Bond for Paul Cantrell is $1,000. Mrs. Cantrell’s bond is $2,000. They will be in General Sessions Court on May 20th.
20 year old Antonio Santimanez of 225 East Bryant Street was arrested on Thursday, May 6th for domestic assault. Corporal Travis Bryant made the arrest. The victim stated that her boyfriend, Santimanez, tied her up and struck her several times in the face causing her nose to bleed. She also had marks on her arms and forehead from the assault. Bond for Santimanez is $2,500 and his court date is May 20th.
Meanwhile, anyone having information on the following offenses is asked to contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.
On Sunday, May 2nd Ross Peterson reported that he had a .380 Walther pistol stolen out from under the passenger seat of his vehicle while at Town Edge Apartments on Kendra Drive.
Also on Sunday, May 2nd, Connie Armour reported that someone had taken her Snapper push mower from her yard at 425 Jackson Street
Any information received that will help the Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential.

The “Boiling Water Advisory”, which has been in effect since Wednesday night for subscribers of the City of Smithville and DeKalb Utility District, has been lifted.
Hunter Hendrixson, Secretary-Treasurer for the City of Smithville, says the official word came down from the state Friday afternoon. “As of 2:30 p.m. today (Friday), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has lifted the “Boiling Advisory” for water for both Smithville Water Department customers and also for DeKalb Utility District customers so it is safe to drink your water. We have been cleared by the state. Our water samples checked out fine. There was nothing found in them to be alarmed about.”
Hendrixson adds that the water treatment plant continues to pump and water storage levels are rising in the city’s water tanks. “We are seeing water storage levels rising slowly, but hopefully tonight (Friday) and with the weekend coming up, we should be back up to normal storage levels.”

“The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) has received an additional $1,270,760 in energy assistance funding to serve low and moderate income consumers in the Upper Cumberland region announced,” Phyllis Bennett, Executive Director.
The Tennessee Department of Human Services has informed UCHRA that funding for its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been increased to $5,081,257 for the year ending June 30, 2010, a 74% increase over the previous year’s funding. “The increased LIHEAP funds will allow UCHRA to serve in excess of 14,000 households in the 14-county area,” remarked Bennett.
In DeKalb County, 765 households have received assistance totaling $248,703. “We are very pleased that with these funds every eligible household that has applied for LIHEAP assistance will be served,” stated Stephen Bilbrey, Pickett County Executive and UCHRA’s Chairman of the Board of Directors. “I encourage individuals who meet program guidelines to apply for funding this year, even if they have not previously been served,” Bilbrey continued.
During the current year the Federal government has increased the required level of poverty from 125% to 200% for households to be eligible to receive LIHEAP assistance. “Under these guidelines, for example, a household of 4 persons may have an annual income up to $44,100 and qualify,” explained County Executive Mike Foster. The range of payments is $300 – $375, depending upon priority points, which are paid directly to the provider of the eligible household’s primary energy source (i.e. electric, natural gas, propane, coal, wood, or kerosene).
The increase in funds represents a successful effort on the part of the UCHRA Board and staff to provide more LIHEAP program funds for qualifying families. “This infusion of additional funds has come at the best possible time to assist residents in the Upper Cumberland,” remarked Michael Nesbitt, Smith County Mayor and Chairman of the Aging and Community Services Committee.
All UCHRA county offices are accepting LIHEAP applications between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. DeKalb County residents may apply at the DeKalb County office located at 527 West Main Street in Smithville. For more information call 615-597-4504.
CUTLINE: Pictured from left to right: Phyllis Bennett, UCHRA Executive Director; Curtis Hayes, Mayor of Livingston and UCHRA Policy Council Chairman; Stephen Bilbrey, Pickett County Executive and UCHRA Chairman of the Board of Directors; and Lee Webb, UCHRA Community Services Director.