A total of 166 students at DeKalb County High School will receive their diplomas during graduation exercises Friday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. on the high school football field.
The program will feature remarks by the Valedictorian Kesha Staley, Class President Whitney Moss and Guest Speaker Dave Bennett.
Bennett, a 1986 graduate of DeKalb County High School, is also a 1990 graduate of Tennessee Tech University, where he majored in Finance. He began his career with the State Comptroller of the Treasury in the Division of County Audit in Knoxville. He earned his CPA and in 1996 became a certified government financial manager. In 1999, Bennett became the financial director for Blount County and in 2000, he was appointed assistant county mayor for Blount County.
The prestigious White Rose and Citizenship Awards will be presented to three outstanding members of the class during the commencement program. The DCHS Chorus is expected to perform and the honor students will be recognized including the Valedictorian, Kesha Staley and Salutatorian, Kelly Merriman.
Diplomas will be presented to each graduate by Director of Schools Mark Willoughby.
Students earning “Highest Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.8 to 4.0 include Rosemary Apple, Victoria Bennett, Nicole Burger, Allison Curtis, Justin Dunaway, Josh Emberton, Macy Felts, Krysta Ferrell, Caleb Gash, Carrie Herrin, Jordan Howe, Matthew Lawrence, Rebecca Lawrence, Ryan Leiser, Avarie Maynard, Kelly Merriman, Megan Merriman, Jeff Miller, Megan Osborne, Brooke Pack, Megan Pack, Amanda Price, Amanda Reed, Kesha Staley, Jessica Strickland, Shay Sullivan, Anderson Webb, Thomas West, Tiffany Winchester, and Kara Young.
Students earning “High Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.79 include Russell Ambrose, Adam Arnold, Corey Dodd, Cody Hawkins, Dustin Lattimore, Josh Lester, Anna Little, Malinda Mofield, Nathan Neal, Brandon Owen, Corey Poss, and Nikita Young.
Those earning “Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.2 to 3.59 include Preston Adcock, Emilee Anderson, Kirt Bandy, Carolyn Bass, Brian Bates, Chynna Cade, Courtney DeHoet, Kayla Hale, John Herriott, Shane Hickman, Turner Hobby, Amber Judkins, Lauren Kemp, Alisha Majors, Kimberly Majors, Whitney Moss, Justin Poteete, Jessica Richards, Francisco Rodriguez, Stephen Rogers, Logan Roller, Sonny Sults, Allyson Trapp, and Luke Willoughby.
Members of the DCHS Class of 2009 are as follows:
Preston Thomas Adcock, Russell Whitley Ambrose, Emilee Beth Anderson, Rosemary Neal Apple, Adam B. Arnold, Joshua Caleb Arnold, Emmanuel Arroyo, Cody Ross Atnip, Trista Chantel Atnip
Jessica Bailey, Chelsea Nicole Bain, Linda Sue Bain, James Denton Ball, Kirt Wayne Bandy, Nikki Barrett, Carolyn Annette Bass, Charles O’Brian (Brian) Bates, Zachary Joe Batey, Victoria Lee Bennett, Christopher Scott Bolin, Brittany Lenae Bone, Alli Kristina Bradford, Daniel Jay Brandt, Koby Stanton Bullard, Tiffany Nichole Burchfield, Nicole Clara Burger
Chynna Nicole Cade, Clint Richard Cantrell, Rachael Danielle Cantrell, James Deallen Caplinger, Rebecca Jean Cates, Brittany Nicole Cleveland, Michael Gordon Cockrum, Annie Elizabeth Cook-McSparren, Jessica Lee Cook, Anthony Joshua Cunningham, Elizabeth Elaine Cunningham, Alison Christine Curtis, Benjamin Chad Curtis, John Wesley Curtis,
Jessica Hope Davenport, Dillon Cole Davis, Cory Thomas Dawson, Courtney Nicole DeHoet, Nereyda Garza Delafuente, Corey Tyler Dodd, Justin Alan Dunaway,
Ashmika Shirley Earl, Joshua Lynn Emberton
Macy Celeste Felts, David Thomas Ferrell, Krysta Lynn Ferrell, Shaun Matthew Ferrell, Tayler Marie Foutch, Kiara Nykia Fullilove, Alan Codi Funk
Caleb Bruce Gash, Carla Margaret Gilbert, Justin Lee Goodwin
Jenny Fay Hale, Kayla Brooke Hale, Anthony Wayne Hall, Rickey Dewayne Hall, Travis Glenn Hall, Cody Phillips Hawkins, Hannah Olivia Herman, Samual Louis Herman, Liliana Hernandez, Carrie Elaine Herrin, John Nelson Herriott, Alexander Von Hess, Michael Shane Hickman, Turner Smith Hobby, Jordon Scott Howe, Joshua Johnson, Lisa Darnail Johnson, Stephen Tyler Jones, Amber Lynn Judkins
Lauren Ashleigh Kemp, Mica Brooke Knight, Jackie Renea Knowles, Jonathon Allen Knowles
Dustin Carl Lattimore, Jacob Randall Lawrence, Matthew Lane Lawrence, Rebecca Lynn Lawrence, Ryan Scott Leiser, Joshua Shane Lester, Nicholas Jordan Lester, Megan Lachelle Linder, Anna Katharine Little, Christian Nicole Loftis
Alisha Mae Majors, Kimberly Mae Majors, Jenna Lynn Manning, Shea Matthews, Avarie Elizabeth Maynard, Christopher Paul McCoy, Travis Lane Menix, Kelly Nicole Merriman, Megan Brooke Merriman, Jeffrey W. Miller, Olivia Carol Miller, Susan Jewell Miller, Caleb Lee Minnear, Malinda Sue Mofield, Whitney LaRay Moss
Nathan Neal, Nathan Dallas Nixon, Shanea Marie Nixon, Stephen Dakota Nokes, Stuart Aaron Nunley
Christopher Scott Odom, Megan Alyse Osborne, Brandon Tommis Owen, Holly Rena Owen,
Brooke Elise Pack, Megan Nicole Pack, Stephanie Kaye Page, Justin Aaron Patton, Macrina Perez, Cody Dale Pitt, Corey Brent Poss, Justin Blake Poteete, Shelby Lee Powell, Royce Anthony (Tony) Prater, Amanda Nicole Price, Martha Elizabeth Puckett, Tyler Lee Pyles,
Desiree Nicole Radny, Kirstin Nichole Ramsey, Amanda Michelle Reed, Jessica Gale Richards, Nicole Angela Richards, Crystal Dawn Roden, Francisco Rodriguez, Stephen Michael Rogers, Jordan Shawn Roller, Logan Ray Roller,
Thomas Dalton Silcox, Christopher Joseph Sliger, Kristoffer Alan Smith, Anthony Charles South, Kesha Michelle Staley, Hunter T. Stanfield, Jordan Hunter Stewart, Leslie Nicole Stibil, Jessie Young Strickland, Sonny A. Stults, Shay Nicole Sullivan, Zachary Scott Sumner
John Austin Taylor, Matthew Thomas Tramel, Allyson Faye Trapp, Jalissa Marshay Tubbs
Ashley Leanne Turner
Brittany B. Vickers
Anderson Hudgens Webb, Thomas H. West, Johnny Dakota White, Reba Kaiye Wilkey, Luke Brady Willoughby, Tiffany Shena Winchester
Kara Elizabeth Young, Nikita Carroll Young, and Rebecca Faye Young

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has arrested three men for allegedly stealing potted trees from a local nursery.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 25 year old Bradley Wayne Ferrell of Tubbs Street, Liberty; 23 year old Michael Andrew Snyders of West Main Street, Smithville; and 34 year old Kevin Donald Bogle of Barnes Mill Road, Smithville are each charged with theft of property under $500. Bond for them was set at $1,500 each and they will appear in court on May 28th.
Sheriff Ray says Thursday, May 14th, a deputy was on patrol on South Tittsworth Road, Smithville when he spotted a truck weaving in the roadway. Upon stopping the vehicle, the officer talked with Ferrell, who was the driver, and noticed a smell of an alcoholic beverage on Ferrell’s person. Ferrell submitted to field sobriety tasks which he passed.
The deputy then noticed several potted trees in the bed of the truck and also discovered that the trees had a label on them from one of the local nurseries on Short Mountain Highway. Ferrell told the officer that he had purchased the trees from a man and provided the man’s name. The deputy called the man but he denied selling any trees to Ferrell. Sheriff Ray says Ferrell provided several other names but every time the deputy checked, there was no name or listed phone number for any of those persons.
The officer then talked with Snyders and Bogle, two men who were passengers with Ferrell, but they also told several conflicting stories about the trees. After checking with the local nursery, it was determined that these three men had scaled a fence on Herman Road and took the potted trees.
Meanwhile, in another case, Sheriff Ray says deputies were dispatched to the area of Jacobs Pillar Road on Wednesday, May 13th to answer a possible drunk driver call. Officers saw the vehicle running a stop sign at the intersection of Jacobs Pillar and Turner Road and upon stopping the automobile, found 37 year old Christopher Dale Cantrell of King Ridge Road, Dowelltown in an intoxicated state. Cantrell had slurred speech, was unsteady, and had a smell of alcohol on his person. When Deputies asked Cantrell to perform field sobriety tasks, he refused. Cantrell also refused to take a blood alcohol test. Cantrell was charged with driving under the influence and issued citations for running a stop sign and violation of the implied consent law. Cantrell’s bond was set at $1,500 and he will appear in court on May 28th.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says this last week’s Grand Jury sealed indictment round up where drug defendants and other criminal violators were arrested was a big success. He asks that if you know of someone who is dealing drugs or involved in any illegal activity, to take advantage of the crime tip line or call him directly at the Jail. Sheriff Ray says “We want people to report illegal activity in the county. What some people might think of as insignificant information might be an important clue in solving a crime.” The crime tip line is 464-6400. All calls are kept confidential.”

Fifth graders at DeKalb West School received certificates during the annual DARE graduation ceremony held Friday
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program was conducted by DARE Instructor and Chief Deputy Don Adamson of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
Each student prepares an essay during the course and those with the best essays from each class are recognized and awarded. This year’s essay winners at DeKalb West School are Sam McMillen and Tavia Cantrell.
McMillan was the over-all winner and he read his essay during Friday’s program. In addition to the award, prizes, and recognition, McMillen gets to keep “Daren the Lion” the DARE Mascot. Judge Bratten Cook II also presented him a check for $50.
Sheriff Patrick Ray, who spoke during the DARE graduation, told the students that “D.A.R.E. is a cooperative effort by the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County School System, parents, and the community. I ask you today students, to take this valuable information and apply it to your lives, now and forever.”
Others on hand for the ceremony were DeKalb West School Principal Danny Parkerson, Judge Cook, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby, Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack, Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen, Trustee Sean Driver, Assessor of Property Timothy “Fud” Banks, and County Clerk Mike Clayborn and employees of the Sheriff’s Department

DCHS Students in the Tennessee Scholars Program were honored Friday during Senior Awards Day .
These students have met all requirements for the Tennessee Scholars Program. The Tennessee Scholars program encourages students to take a more rigorous and challenging course of study in high school. Students graduating as Tennessee Scholars have to maintain good academic, disciplinary, and attendance standards as well as volunteer in the community. Tennessee Scholars also choose to take rigorous courses beyond what is required to graduate.
The DeKalb County Education Foundation has generously provided the Tennessee Scholars Medals for the past four years.
The following students graduating as Tennessee Scholars are:
Preston Adcock, Russell Ambrose, Emilee Anderson, Rosemary Apple, Chelsea Bain, Charles Bates, Victoria Bennett, Nicole Burger, Chynna Cade, Brittany Cleveland, Jessica Cook, Allison Curtis, Courtney DeHoet, Ashmika Earl, Josh Emberton, Macy Felts, Krysta Ferrell, Taylor Foutch, Caleb Gash, Jenny Hale, Olivia Herman, Carrie Herrin, Jordan Howe, Amber Judkins, Lauren Kemp, Matthew Lawrence, Rebecca Lawrence, Josh Lester, Nick Lester, Anna Little, Avarie Maynard, Kelly Merriman, Megan Merriman, Jeff Miller, Olivia Miller, Mindy Mofield, Whitney Moss, Megan Osborne, Brooke Pack, Megan Pack, Stephanie Page, Corey Poss, Justin Poteete, Amanda Price, Amanda Reed, Jessica Richards, Francisco Rodriguez, Logan Roller, Kesha Staley, Jessica Strickland, Shay Sullivan, Anderson Webb, Luke Willoughby, Tiffany Winchester, Kara Young, and Nikita Young.

Several members of the Class of 2009 received special recognition for academic achievement during Friday’s Senior Awards Day Program at DCHS.
The awards and the students receiving them are as follows:
Valedictorian- Kesha Staley
Salutatorian- Kelly Merriman
The President’s Volunteer Service Award- Megan Merriman
US Marines
Semper Fidelis-Zach Batey
Distinguished Athlete- Shay Sullivan
Scholastic Excellence-Kelly Merriman
US Air Force
Math & Science Award-Ryan Leiser
Technology & Education Award-Rebecca Lawrence
Student Athlete-Krysta Ferrell
US Army Reserves
National Scholar Athlete-JJ Herriott
National Scholar Athlete-Victoria Bennett
English Department Awards –
Rebecca Lawrence, Emille Anderson, Hunter Stewart, and Kayla Hale
Business Department Award-Luke Willoughby
College Trigonometry Award-Nicole Burger
College Algebra Award-Josh Emberton
Advanced Algebra / Trigonometry Award-Nikita Young
Chemistry II-Anderson Webb
Physics-Jordon Howe
Physics-Victoria Bennett
Honors Database Crook-Kelly Merriman
Honors Vocal Music- Carolyn Bass, Annie Cook-McSparren, Beth Cunningham, Macy Felts,
Carrie Herrin, Amber Judkins, Lauren Kemp, Nicole Loftis, Macrina Perez, Allyson Trapp,
Jalissa Tubbs, Reba Wilkey, Nikita Young, Ashley Turner
FFA- Josh Arnold, Brian Bates, Justin Dunaway, Nathan Nixon, Sonny Stults, Thomas West
FCCLA Lucille Ferrell Award-Beth Cunningham
TN 4-H Council- Megan Pack, Brooke Pack, Victoria Bennett, Megan Merriman, Luke Willoughby, Macy Felts, Kara Young, Carla Gilbert, Nathan Nixon, Amber Judkins
Rotary Math Award- Kelly Merriman $100.00
Rotary Vocational Award- Dillon Davis $100.00
Forensic Science-Alison Curtis
Forensic Science- Jordon Howe
Diagnostic Medicine-Alison Curtis
Anatomy & Physiology-Jordon Howe
Health Science Ed-Kesha Staley
DAR Good Citizen Award-Russell Ambrose
Government/Economics-Kesha Staley
Biology 2-Jordon Howe
Students earning “Highest Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.8 to 4.0 in alphabetical order are:
Rosemary Apple, Victoria Bennett, Nicole Burger, Allison Curtis, Justin Dunaway, Josh Emerton, Macy Felts, Krysta Ferrell, Caleb Gash, Carrie Herrin, Jordan Howe, Matthew Lawrence, Rebecca Lawrence, Ryan Leiser, Avarie Maynard, Kelly Merriman, Megan Merriman, Jeff Miller, Megan Osborne, Brooke Pack, Megan Pack, Amanda Price, Amanda Reed, Kesha Staley, Jessica Strickland, Shay Sullivan, Anderson Webb, Thomas West, Tiffany Winchester, and Kara Young.
Students earning “High Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.79 include Russell Ambrose, Adam Arnold, Corey Dodd, Cody Hawkins, Dustin Lattimore, Josh Lester, Anna Little, Malinda Mofield, Nathan Neal, Brandon Owen, Corey Poss, and Nikita Young..
Those earning “Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.2 to 3.59 include Preston Adcock, Emilee Anderson, Kirt Bandy, Carolyn Bass, Brian Bates, Chynna Cade, Courtney DeHoet, Kayla Hale, John Herriott, Shane Hickman, Turner Hobby, Amber Judkins, Lauren Kemp, Alisha Majors, Kimberly Majors, Whitney Moss, Justin Poteete, Jessica Richards, Francisco Rodriguez, Stephen Rogers, Logan Roller, Sonny Stults, Allyson Trapp, and Luke Willoughby.

The Acteens of Indian Creek Baptist Church recently volunteered their time and efforts to support DeKalb County Habitat for Humanity.
These young ladies displayed posters, made announcements and encouraged church members to donate household items, furniture, building supplies and other items to Habitat’s ReStore Thrift/Building Supplies Store.
Shane Miller helped the effort by transporting the items to the Restore .Donated items will be sold with profits going toward the construction of Habitat’s next house.
The ReStore is a retail business operating as a fundraising arm of DeKalb County’s Affiliate Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. The store is located at 415 Miller Road. Store hours are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 until noon.
If your organization would like to help, please contact Habitat at 615-215-8181.
Pictured standing from left are: Sue N. Puckett-Jernigan, Acteens Leader; Keeli Bullard, Karissa Nolton, Mary Anne Carpenter, Assistant Acteens Leader; and Dana Cantrell Miller. Seated from left: Reddy Munagala and Brianna Nolton.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships were awarded to members of the Class of 2009 at DeKalb County High School during Friday’s annual Senior Awards Day program.
Representatives of colleges, universities, the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines, businesses, civic groups, and other organizations made the presentations.
Victoria Bennett received one of the largest scholarship awards of the day, a $96,000 Athletic & Academic Scholarship to play fast pitch softball at Cumberland University.

Other scholarship awards are as follows:
MTSU Scholarships:
$13,600 Academic Service Scholarship-Anna Little
$8,000 Provost- Alison Curtis
University of Tennessee at Martin:
$14,000 McWhorter Freshman Scholarship- Courtney DeHoet
$6,000 Deans Scholarship-Courtney DeHoet
Tennessee Tech University:
$10,000 Valedictorian Scholarship- Kesha Staley
$16,000 Academic Service Scholarship- Kelly Merriman
$16,000 Academic Service Scholarship- Kara Young
$750 Tommy Burks Memorial Scholarship- Kesha Staley
$10,000 Golden Eagle Excellence- Cody Hawkins
$12,000 Academic Service Scholarship- Brandon Owen
$8,000 Vice President’s Scholarship- Rebecca Lawrence
$600 Phi Delta Kappa- Kelly Merriman
$4,000 Admission Academic Award- Brooke Pack
$750 Tommy Burks Memorial Scholarship- Krysta Ferrell
$4,000 Academic Service Scholarship- Krysta Ferrell
$1,000 Ag Foundation Scholarship- Krysta Ferrell
$4,000 Academic Service Scholarship- Megan Merriman
$2,000 Christine Burks Scholarship- Megan Pack
Motlow:
$4,000 Scholarship- Corey Poss
University of Tennessee at Knoxville:
$6,000 UT Volunteer Scholarship- Jordon Howe
Belmont:
$64,000 Athletic/Academic Scholarship- Shay Sullivan
$20,000 Merit Scholarship- Anderson Webb
Carson-Newman:
$7,500 Academic Scholarship- Luke Willoughby
$2,000 Forensic Speech & Debate Team Scholarship- Luke Willoughby
Vol State Community College:
$3,000 ABC Group Foundation Scholarship- Tayler Foutch
Military Enlistments:
U.S. Army Reserves-
$82,000 to James Ball
U.S. Navy- Koby Bullard, Brian Bates, John Curtis, Stuart Nunley, and Matt Tramel. The value of the college scholarship they’re receiving exceeds $75,000
U.S. Marines-
$80,000 to Emmanuel Arroyo
$8,000 Federal Mogul Corporation Scholarship- Brooke Pack
$8,000 DTC McAllen Foutch Scholarship- Shay Sullivan
$350 Chuck Felts Memorial- Macy Felts
$500 DeKalb Soil Conservation District- Justin Dunaway
$1,000 Kyle & Kenny Robinson Memorial-Victoria Bennett
$250 Class of 1969- Josh Emberton
$1,500 Agee Oil Scholarship- Avarie Maynard
Charlene Morrison Johns Memorial-
$500 each to Rosemary Apple, Carrie Herrin, Megan Merriman, Jeff Miller, and Shay Sullivan
DeKalb Fire Fighters Scholarship-
$500 each to Corey Poss, Rebecca Lawrence, and Kelly Merriman
$1,000 Jolly Angels in memory of Jake Hoover- Megan Merriman
Jolly Angels- $1,000 each to Jessica Strickland and Nicole Burger
$500 Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Scholarship- Matthew Lawrence
$500 DeKalb Republican Women- Amanda Reed
Liberty State Bank Scholarships-
$1,000 each to Jeff Miller and Rebecca Lawrence
$500 Jeff Garrett Memorial- Chynna Cade
Smithville Business & Professional Women’s Club-
$500 each to Trista Atnip and Olivia Miller
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home-
$500 each to Kesha Staley and Tayler Foutch
$500 Alan Hooper Memorial- Anderson Webb
$250 AmVets Scholarship- Preston Adcock
$250 AmVets Auxiliary- Chynna Cade
DeKalb Funeral Chapel-
$500 each to Amber Judkins, Matthew Lawrence, and Krysta Ferrell
$6,000 CIC Scholarship- Corey Poss
$500 First Bank- Avarie Maynard
Smithville Rotary Club-
$750 each to Anderson Webb, Russell Ambrose, and Courtney DeHoet
$1,000 Scottish Rite- Kayla Hale
$500 DeKalb Community Hospital- Courtney DeHoet
$500 Class of 1966- Hunter Stewart
Middle Tennessee Times-
$500 each to Victoria Bennett and Jessica Strickland
$1,000 NADC High School Select- Dillon Davis
$1,000 NADC Scholarship- Dillon Davis
$500 DeKalb Farmers Coop- Krysta Ferrell
Lucille Stewart Memorial-
$2,000 each to Megan Pack and Justin Poteete
$500 Elzie & Nell McBride Memorial- Jessica Richards
$750 Leadership DeKalb- Tiffany Winchester
$200 FCCLA- Shanea Nixon
$250 DCHS Student Council- Brooke Pack
$1,000 Comcast Leaders and Achievers- Russell Ambrose
Eddie Crips Memorial Scholarships- Nicole Richards, Megan Pack, and Brooke Pack
$2,000 Beecher & Wilma Moss- Caleb Gash
DeKalb Retired Teachers-
$500 each to Jessica Strickland and Nikita Young
Smithville Women’s Club-
$500 each to Jessica Strickland and Amber Judkins
$250 Bill Radcliff Scholarship- Luke Willoughby
$1,000 Castle Heights Military Academy Alumni Scholarship- Anderson Webb
$250 Courtney Pirtle Memorial- Shanea Nixon
$500 Hunter Davis Memorial- Dillon Davis
$2,000 Georgia Career Institute- Olivia Miller
$500 Sheriff’s Association Scholarship- Chris Odom
(Top picture- first row, left to right): Megan Merriman, Kesha Staley, Krysta Ferrell, Shay Sullivan, & Victoria Bennett, Kara Young, Brooke Pack, Alison Curtis;
(Second row, left to right): Megan Pack, Luke Willoughby, Corey Poss, Dillon Davis, Brandon Owen, & Cody Hawkins
(Third row, left to right): Jordon Howe, Anderson Webb, Shanea Nixon, Rebecca Lawrence, Courtney DeHoet, & Taylor Foutch
(Bottom Picture-First row, left to right) Kelly Merriman, Megan Merriman, Kesha Staley, Krysta Ferrell, Victoria Bennett, Avarie Maynard, Macy Felts, Nikita Young, & Nicole Burger
(Second row, left to right) Matt Lawrence, Jeff Miller, Russ Ambrose, Corey Poss, Rosemary Apple, Brooke Pack, Megan Pack, Amanda Reed, & Trista Atnip
(Third row, left to right) Amber Judkins, Jessie Strickland, Anderson Webb, Shanea Nixon, Rebecca Lawrence, Courtney DeHoet, Taylor Foutch, Caleb Gash, & Justin Poteete
(Fourth row, left to right) Chynna Cade, Shay Sullivan, Carrie Herrin, Tiffany Winchester, Jessica Richards, Kayla Hale, Preston Adcock, Justin Dunaway, & Dillon Davis
Click this link to see photos from Awards Day.www.luton.us/dchs/dchs.html

24 year old Matthew Randall Sullivan, who was wounded in a shooting at his own home last month on Mountain View Drive, has been charged with reckless endangerment and aggravated assault for threatening the man who shot him.
His bond is $100,000.
Sullivan’s estranged wife, Mandy Sullivan, has also been charged with filing a false report, tampering with evidence, and fabricating evidence. Her bond is $50,000
The cases against both Matthew and Mandy Sullivan were presented to a special session of the Grand Jury on Monday.
The shooting was reported to 911 at 3:24 a.m. on Saturday, April 18th.
After the shooting, Sheriff Patrick Ray says his department was contacted and upon arrival, officers found Sullivan in a wooded area behind the residence.
DeKalb EMS arrived on the scene and a Life Force Helicopter was summoned to airlift Sullivan to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. A helicopter landing zone was set up on Highway 56 north in the Buckner’s Chapel Church area. Sullivan was treated and released a short time later.
Sheriff Ray says through interviews and evidence that was collected at the crime scene, the shooting appeared to have been justified. “Through interviews with the victim and witnesses at the scene, it appears that Sullivan assaulted one man at the residence and then kicked a bedroom door open where another man, female and two small children were present.”
“The man in the bedroom was then approached by Sullivan, who was holding a large knife, and witnesses state that Sullivan began to try and assault the man with the knife. The man, in fear of his life and the safety of the other people in the room, shot at least one round from a 38 caliber pistol which hit Sullivan’s right arm and chest area, exiting his back. Sullivan then left the residence and went out side.”
According to Sheriff Ray, prior to the shooting, Mr. Sullivan had gotten arrested by the Smithville Police Department for driving under the influence. “He bonded out of jail and found out that Ms. Sullivan had some people (two men) at her residence that he was not fond of. Sullivan and his wife (Mandy) had been separated for about a week and a half.”
“He (Matthew) arrives at the residence, goes in and assaults one of the guys pretty badly. He (Matthew) then winds up getting a butcher knife and threatens the other man in the house. The victim stated that he actually jabbed at him one time with the knife and when he jabbed again, he (victim) shot him (Matthew) in self defense.”
“Our evidence at the crime scene shows that the victim was actually the shooter.”
After the shooting, his (Matthew’s) wife (Mandy) goes back in, moves evidence around in the home, hides the knife, takes the gun, unloads it, throws away the spent round, and keeps the other one, hiding it from the officers while they were there. She also gave some false statements, covering for her husband.”

The DeKalb County Board of Education, by a vote of 5 to 2, adopted a tentative budget for the 2009-2010 school year Thursday night which is expected to be presented to the county mayor’s office Friday, May 15th.
Board members Kenny Rhody, Johnny Lattimore, W.J. (Dub) Evins III, Joan Draper, and Bruce Parsley voted for it. Board member John David Foutch and Chairman Charles Robinson voted no.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby calls it a “bare bones” budget since the school system is having to use BEP reserves and federal stimulus money to balance it. There are no local pay raises for employees in the budget, except for the step increases under the pay scale. The budget does includes a one percent increase in health insurance matching for all employees participating in the program.
A few “positions” are being eliminated under the general purpose budget, but the jobs will be saved thanks to the school system’s allocation of federal stimulus dollars, which will be used to fund them.
The school board is not asking for a property tax increase this year, but Director Willoughby did not rule out the possibility that the board might have to ask the county commision for more money, should the system run short for fuel and utilities later in the year.
More capital outlay funds are already being requested in order to obtain two portables, one at the high school, and another for either the high school or DeKalb West School to address overcrowding concerns
In a statement to the board and the public, Willoughby said ” the 2009-2010 General Purpose Budget before you tonight is again a bare bones budget.”
“This year, as in prior years, we have a shortfall in Revenues over Expenditures and have used our reserve funds to balance the budget in order to prevent requesting a tax increase. As the Director of Schools, I am very concerned about the financial impact this will have on the school system if we continue this practice. I fear that our reserve funds will soon be depleted and we will have no money in the bank.”
“We are also using funds from the School Sinking Fund (Local Option Sales Tax) as yearly operating revenues. Originally, this fund was established to fund capital outlay projects for the school system (for items such as new roofs) to avoid the need for notes or bonds. In 1995-96, we received $210,000 from this fund. We are now using $1,538,150. This too is a concern. Our buildings must be maintained. It is anticipated that we will need to replace school roofs at DeKalb Middle and DeKalb West in the next few years. The county will need to consider funding for these items as well.”
“We are eliminating positions in the General Purpose Budget due to insufficient funds. This will allow our system to use the Federal Stimulus Money to retain these positions for the next two years. This is only a temporary fix. After two years, we will need to fund the positions in General Purpose again with local revenues.”
“I would like for everyone to clearly understand that the DeKalb County School System will need additional local revenue, although we are not requesting this for the 2009-2010 school year, it will be needed soon in order to meet the educational needs of the children of DeKalb County.”
“I would also like to remind you that should such items as fuel, insurance, and electricity increase, there may be a need for the Board of Education to request additional funding from the county commission.”
The county commission’s budget committee will now study the school system’s proposal and could make changes of it’s own, before final passage by the full commission later this summer.
In other business, the High School and Jr. Pro Football programs are seeking permission from the Board of Education to build a new field house for the Tiger football program.
Darrell Gill of Jr. Pro Football formally made the request on behalf of Tiger Coach Steve Trapp during the school board meeting Thursday night. Trapp could not attend due to a scrimmage game involving his team.
Gill said the new fieldhouse would be built with high school football and Jr. Pro funds and that the school system would not be asked for any money. He added that most of the construction would be done with volunteer labor.
The new fieldhouse, a 50 x 70 foot block exterior structure with a metal roof, would be located near the existing facility between the practice field and playing field. It would be for the Tiger football program complete with a dressing room area, locker room, training room, utility room, showers and bathrooms, an office for the coach, and two dry storage areas, one of which would be for the youth football league.
Gill says during the football season, visiting high school teams could use the locker room section of the old building to dress and other local football programs could make use of the existing fieldhouse as well including the middle school, youth football, and high school soccer teams.
The school board’s facilities committee will meet next Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. at the high school football field house to determine if there are legal or liability issues. The board will then meet in special session on Thursday, May 28th to formally approve or deny the request.
Supporters say they want to have the building finished by the time football season gets underway this fall.
Meanwhile, sealed bids are being accepted for the sale of a new house, recently constructed by students in the DCHS Carpentry Class.
The house, located at 140 Evergreen Lane, Smithville, has approximately 1,652 square feet of living area with an attached 528 square foot 2-car garage, master bedroom with master bath and walk-in closet, utility room with half bath, kitchen with eating area, and downstairs den area. The upstairs includes two bedrooms, sitting room, and full bath, 12 x 20 deck, 2 central heat and air gas units, gas hot water heater, 5′ x 22′ front porch, concrete driveway, hardwood flooring in the living room and den area, tile in the bathrooms and kitchen, and carpet in the bedrooms.
The minimum bid is $140,000. Bids are to be mailed or delivered to the DeKalb County Board of Education,110 South Public Square, Smithville in a sealed envelope clearly marked as a “Bid” and will be received until 4:00 p.m. June 11th. The house can be viewed by appointment only. Call the Board of Education to request a viewing at 615-597-4084.
The sealed bids will be opened at the next school board meeting at 7:00 p.m. on June 11th.