DeKalb Road Supervisor Butch Agee has announced that a portion of Bright Hill Road between Dearman Street and Hooper Road will be closed Tuesday and possibly through Wednesday evening for a tile replacement project. Motorists who normally travel that road should take an alternate route to your destination. The work is to begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 23.

A Smithville man was airlifted after a motorcycle crash Sunday evening on Blue Springs Road.
Trooper Jason Cobble of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 34 year old Jeremy Loader was traveling east on Blue Springs Road heading toward Highway 56 on a Yamaha motorcycle when he lost control and crashed.
Loader was taken by DeKalb EMS to a helicopter landing zone set up in a field near the crash scene. He was airlifted by Life Force.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department were also on site.

Scholarships and other awards will be presented to members of the Class of 2017 at DeKalb County High School during the annual Senior Awards program Monday night, May 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the DCHS gymnasium.
WJLE will broadcast LIVE on AM 1480, FM 101.7 and LIVE streaming at www.wjle.com
Representatives of colleges, universities, branches of the armed services, businesses, civic groups, and other organizations will make the presentations.
Meanwhile, graduation for the DCHS Class of 2017 will be Friday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m. on the high school football field.
(Click link below to view DCHS Class of 2017 Senior Formals)
http://wjle.com/graduation/2017/page1

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce presented a Community Spotlight Award to Mr. Mark Harrell.
After 45 years of service, Mr. Mark Harrell will be retiring from Hardee’s Corporation. Mark started his career in 1972 and worked his way up to Regional Ref Manager then General Manager. He has been responsible for opening new Hardee’s stores in Gallatin, Lafayette, and Sparta. He also worked with stores in Monterey, Livingston, and Smithville.
For 12 years, Mark has been serving as General Manager at the Smithville Hardee’s. During his stay in Smithville, he has made many friends and become a part of many people’s lives. Mark says he has loved his customers and the Hardee’s crew became part of his family.
Mark will be missed by many and as the Chamber Community Spotlight Award says, “Thank You, Mark, for Your Many Years of Great Customer Service, Dedication, and Hard Work. You have been an Important Part of Our Community!”

Another athlete from the DCHS Class of 2017 has signed a letter of intent to play college sports.
Devin Bain signed his name on the dotted line Friday to play football at Cumberland University, in Lebanon. Bain, who played primarily as a defensive lineman for the DCHS Tigers, says he is excited about going to school at Cumberland and becoming a member of the Cumberland University Phoenix.
“I am planning on majoring in nursing and this is one of the best nursing schools around. It’s really close to home and I like being close to family and friends and I still get to play football so that’s the best choice for me,” said Bain.
Tiger Coach Steve Trapp said he is proud to see Devin moving on to the next level. “Devin was a good football player for us. He was here as a freshman and sophomore but then moved out of state for his junior year. We were really fortunate for him to come back his senior year and be part of our program. He is a talented guy and I am proud of him and for him to have the opportunity to continue to play. He does have to understand that he is starting all over. He’ll be at the bottom and will have to work his way up but I feel like he can do that and do a good job,” said Coach Trapp.
“I think he will be a defensive lineman at Cumberland. He is a bigger guy but he can move very well. He played some offensive guard for us and started a couple of games with injuries when we had injuries. But mostly he was a defensive lineman for us. When he moved away and played a year in Virginia he was a fullback so he can move for a bigger guy but they (colleges) like those defensive linemen who are a little bit shorter who can create leverage and also move around pretty good. Devin fits that mode very well,” added Coach Trapp.
Bain said he is grateful to his family and coaches for their support. “DeKalb County High School for me has been nothing but absolutely amazing. I have enjoyed all three years that I’ve been here. I can’t ask for a better coaching staff. I want to thank Coach Trapp for all of his support and all the things he has taught me all these years. I also want to thank all my friends and family for all their support,” he said.

The season for the DCHS Tigerettes came to a close Friday night in Smithville as they lost to Sweetwater 3 to 1 in the Class AA Sectional or Sub State.
DeKalb County finishes the season at 29-6. They claimed the regular season and district tournament championship as well as the region tournament crown again this season. A win for the Tigerettes would have sent them to the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year and for the ninth time in program history.
The Tigerettes scored 1 run on 1 hit and made 6 errors. Sweetwater scored 3 runs on 8 hits and made 2 errors.
Sweetwater scored 1 run in the 2nd, 5th, and 6th innings. The Tigerettes got their only run in the 3rd inning.
Kayley Caplinger, the losing pitcher, gave up 3 runs on 8 hits and struck out 11.
For Sweetwater, Addie Lowe was the winning pitcher. She gave up 1 run on 1 hit and struck out 11.
Kenzie France had a double for the Tigerettes.

Donned in their caps and gowns, DeKalb County High School seniors walked through their old stomping grounds – Smithville Elementary School and DeKalb West School – during the inaugural Senior Walk held today (Friday, May 19).
(VIEW DCHS SENIOR WALK AT SMITHVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BELOW)

School administrators and staff, some showing emotion, joined in and congratulated each of the soon to be graduates upon their arrival by school bus. Many of the elementary students, lined down the halls, greeted the seniors with waves, high fives, confetti, and cheers as they passed by. Some seniors also got hugs from proud parents and former teachers. Cheerleaders at DeKalb West School led cheers to welcome the graduates there.
(VIEW DCHS SENIOR WALK AT DEKALB WEST SCHOOL BELOW)

“The Senior Walk is an opportunity for our students to return to their elementary campuses and parade through the hallways in their caps and gowns while the Graduation Pomp and Circumstance (song) is played over the P.A. While we hope this will inspire our future graduates, we are excited about our seniors being able to see their elementary school teachers one last time before they graduate,” said DCHS Principal Kathy Bryant.

The Smithville Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, Safe Journey and the DeKalb County Health Department to offer a car safety seat checkpoint on June 7, 2017 between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Kids Connection on South Congress Blvd.
This is a free event designed to reduce the likelihood of child related motor vehicle fatalities by insuring that children are properly restrained in their car seat. This event will also help inform parents of any safety recalls and checking to ensure that all car seats have not passed their expiration date.
“We encourage anyone that has questions concerning their car seat to stop by and see us. If you are unable to attend this event, you are welcome to stop by the Smithville Police Department and speak with a certified technician,” said Police Chief Mark Collins.