DeKalb County High School will host College Application Week October 24-28. All DCHS seniors who have not already applied to college or technical school are encouraged to do so during that week.
The schedule is as follows:
*Monday October 24:
Sign up for the week’s events in the counseling office if you have not done so. Ask your counselors about college app week, college application, financial aid, and Tennessee Promise
*Tuesday, October 25:
College/TN Promise
Application Lab-Library 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, & 6th Blocks and 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during Parent-Teacher Conference
First Tennessee Promise meeting for students who are going to use the Tennessee Promise Scholarship. This is the first of two mandatory TN Promise meetings
*Wednesday, October 26:
Scholarship/College Essay Lab-Walteen Parker’s Classroom-4th, 5th, & 6th Blocks
Any senior who is not enrolled in Mrs. Parker’s English classes this semester who would like to sit in on this lesson is welcome to sign up to attend during 4th Block. Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Lori Myrick will co-teach a lesson on how to write a well-written scholarship essay. A well-written essay greatly increases your chances of winning a scholarship. Please take advantage of this assistance.
*Thursday, October 27:
College Shirt Day
All faculty, staff, and students are invited to wear your favorite college shirt
*Friday, October 28:
DCHS 2016 College & Career Fair
All DCHS students will have the opportunity to visit with college and career representatives in the gym. This event will take place during 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and part of 4th Block.

A DeKalb County Tigerette Softball Camp will be held at the Danny Bond Field at 1130 West Broad Street, Smithville on October 11-13 for girls ages 6 to 17. The cost is $50. The camp will feature quality instruction from college and high school coaches and demonstrations from college and high school players. Players will be grouped by age and ability. Contests, t-shirts, and more! Pre-registration is a $25.00 non refundable deposit which must accompany each application and liability form. The balance will be due on registration day. Make checks payable to DeKalb County Softball Booster Club. Registration will take place at the Danny Bond Field on Tuesday morning, October 11 from 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. A concession stand will be open for lunch. Call Coach Danny Fish at 865-742-4079 or email: dannyfish@dekalbschools.net
CLICK LINK BELOW FOR REGISTRATION FORM
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fdSXVgNpQzm_FGcYoK1XE3GgMYotoYoinOWm…

Time is running out to get registered to vote. The deadline to register to vote in the November general election is Tuesday, Oct. 11.
To fill out a voter registration application or check your registration status, visit GoVoteTN.com.
” Now the deadline is approaching. If you plan to vote in the presidential election, your voter registration application must be received or postmarked by Tuesday,” said Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections.
Election Day registration is not available. Early voting runs from Wednesday, Oct. 19, through Thursday, Nov. 3. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Voters should bring valid photo identification. Photo IDs issued by Tennessee state government, including driver’s licenses, or the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.
The easiest way for voters to find their polling locations, view and mark sample ballots, see their elected officials, districts and county election commission information as well as access online state and federal election results is through the GoVoteTN app. The app is free in the App Store or on Google Play.
In addition to casting their ballots, voters are encouraged to participate in Honor Vote program by dedicating their vote to someone who is currently serving, or has served, in the U.S. military. Enrolling allows voters to share their dedication online, across social media and by wearing a commemorative button on Election Day in honor of the veteran or service member they choose.
More information about what types of photo IDs are acceptable, the GoVoteTN app and the Honor Vote program can be found at GoVoteTN.com or by calling the DeKalb County Election Commission at 615-597-4146.

The Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness today announced DeKalb County has been named a candidate for official designation as a Healthier Tennessee Community.
Healthier Tennessee Communities are those that encourage and enable more physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco abstinence at the local level. The program takes a community-wide approach to improving Tennesseans’ health by engaging the local leaders of cities, towns, counties and neighborhoods.
“Research has shown that we are much more likely to change our health-related behavior and establish healthy habits when we are encouraged and supported by others – when we are in community,” Governor’s Foundation CEO Richard Johnson said. “That’s why making health and wellness an integral part of life where you live – and with the people who surround you – makes such a positive difference.”
In Tennessee, one in four adults smokes, and one in five high school students uses tobacco. Approximately 31 percent of the population is classified as obese and an additional 34 percent are overweight, and type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure are at epidemic levels.
“I am very excited about our county working towards the Healthier Tennessee designation. This initiative will personally benefit anyone who takes part in it – mentally, emotional, and physically,” DeKalb County Mayor Tim Stribling said. “For our county, improving the health of our citizens also improves our economy – more industry, fewer work absenteeism and lower health care costs. I encourage you take part in this program in your home, church, workplace and community. By working together, we truly can make DeKalb County a healthier place to be!”
To be designated an official Healthier Tennessee Community, DeKalb County must identify wellness champions to lead the initiative that engages people in workplaces, schools and faith organizations, and then work to initiate and sustain community-wide events and activities that support physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco abstinence.
The community is expected to track and measure outputs and accomplishments of the program. They have one year to complete their work.
Counties currently working to become Healthier Tennessee Communities include: Anderson, Bedford, Benton, Blount, Carroll, Chester, Cocke, Crockett, Cumberland, Dickson, Franklin, Gibson, Giles, Grundy, Haywood, Henderson, Houston, Jefferson, Lake, Lauderdale, Macon, Marion, Marshall, Maury, McNairy, Meigs, Obion, Rhea, Sevier, Tipton, Trousdale, Weakley and Wilson.
The cities taking part are: Arlington, Clarksville, Collegedale, Cookeville, Crossville, and Spring Hill.
Decatur, Dyer, Hickman, Loudon and McMinn counties, Jackson–Madison County and the cities of Franklin, Germantown, Kingsport and Tullahoma have recently received the designation.
Cities and counties interested in becoming Healthier Tennessee Communities should contact the Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness at tennessee@healthierstate.org or (615) 610-1880.
More information on the program and other Healthier Tennessee initiatives is available at www.healthiertn.com.
About the Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness
The Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness is a non-profit corporation dedicated to enabling and encouraging Tennesseans to lead healthier lives. Based in Nashville, the Foundation brings together a statewide coalition of employers, health insurers, hospital systems, local governments, school systems and healthcare-focused foundations and community organizations to effect positive, measurable change. The Foundation’s Healthier Tennessee initiative strives to increase the number of Tennesseans who are physically active for at least 30 minutes five times a week, promote a healthy diet, and reduce the number of people who use tobacco.

Ole Miss Head coach Matt Insell, in a prepared news release, has announced the addition of Joe Pat Cope to the women’s basketball coaching staff as a video coordinator. Cope comes to Oxford from Murfreesboro, Tennessee where he served as an assistant coach for the Riverdale women’s varsity team.
“I am excited to have Coach Cope join our staff,” said head coach Matt Insell. “He’s someone I’ve known and respected for a long time in our game. I couldn’t think of anyone more perfect for this role on our staff and I am looking forward to working with him each day”
Coach Cope served seven seasons as the head coach of the DCHS Lady Tiger Basketball Team until his departure after last school year when he wasn’t rehired.
In his seven seasons as the Lady Tiger Coach, Cope compiled an overall record of 126-102. His district record was 18-68 and his post-season mark was 4-10.
Cope has been heavily involved in film breakdown for the Warriors. Proficient in film breakdown as well as creating highlight reels, Cope is experienced in video programs such as Synergy, Krossover and Hudl.
In addition to DCHS, prior to his stint at Riverdale, Cope served as an assistant boys coach at Lebanon High School. Cope is a two-time graduate of Tennessee Tech with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts.
The Rebels kick off the 2016-17 season on Nov. 11 when they host Southeastern Louisiana at 2:30 pm at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Fans can meet the Ole Miss men’s and women’s basketball teams on Oct. 28 at Dunk or Treat at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The event is free and open to the public from 5:45-7:15 pm.

Quick response by members of the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad, DeKalb EMS, and DeKalb Volunteer Firefighters may have saved the life of a Franklin man who was seriously injured after going off the side of a steep hill on a trackhoe in the Puckett’s Point area Wednesday night.
The mishap occurred in the area of Jordan Lane, a private drive off Puckett’s Point Road. The operator of the trackhoe, Brad Jackson of Franklin suffered internal injuries, a broken back, and a fractured skull. He was airlifted from Highway 56 and Ponder Road to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.
“He was driving a little trackhoe. A mini excavator. A rental machine. He was trying to clear out and widen this old road and it got dark on him but he kept working with lights. Some way or another he got off the edge of the road and went almost straight off over bluffs, trees, and just terrible terrain. The trackhoe rolled approximately 175 feet and lodged up against a tree upside down. The cab door of the trackhoe was ripped off and he was thrown out about 100 or 125 feet down the hill,” said Joe Johnson, member of the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad.
“Two firemen got there first. They tied a rope they had and went down to him and stayed with him. I went down on a rope to him and then other members of the Rescue Squad arrived maybe three minutes later. Kristie Johnson, member of the ambulance service and Rescue Squad, happened to be on the ambulance. She has had rope training so she went down to him with a rope. She immediately gave him something for pain and an IV while we were getting equipment down to him. She also called for an air ambulance to land at the top of the hill on another road. Her response and training probably saved his life. We got him on a backboard and in a stokes basket and then using our rope system and rope team we brought him back to the top of the hill. We got him out fast,” said Johnson.

A ribbon cutting was held Thursday evening to officially rename the Board of Education building the “Ernest Ray Education Center” on the public square.
Ray was on hand for the occasion surrounded by members of his family, the Board of Education, Director of Schools, school staff, Chamber Director Suzanne Williams, along with many friends and former students and co-workers of Mr. Ray.
In July, the Board of Education voted to rename the central office building in honor of Ray, who served more than 30 years as an educator, principal, and Superintendent of Schools.
“I appreciate this. I did not expect it. Director of Schools Patrick Cripps called me and told me it had happened and I told him no but he said it’s too late, it’s already happened. I certainly don’t feel worthy of this but I’m proud,” said Ray.
Mr. Ray began his teaching career 54 years ago in 1962 at Eastside School in Cannon County. He took the job because there was no opening in DeKalb County. He spent two years at Eastside where he taught seventh and eighth grade science, coached girls basketball, and became principal.
In 1964, Mr. Ray became a teacher at College Street School in Smithville where he taught seventh and eighth grade science and again was a girls basketball coach. After eight years there, he moved to Smithville Elementary School where he spent six years as principal.
Ray was transferred to DeKalb Middle School as principal in 1978 and then moved to DeKalb County High School where he served as principal from 1984 to 1992.
After taking a two year retirement, Mr. Ray entered the political arena and was elected Superintendent of Schools. He served one term from 1994-98. He was DeKalb County’s last publically elected Superintendent before the state law was changed to require county school systems to have Directors of Schools appointed by their Boards of Education. He chose not to seek the position of Director after his elected term.
Mr. Ray and his wife Elene now reside near Clarksville, only seven miles from their son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. The Ray’s still have a home in Smithville and visit family and friends here often.

A ground breaking was held Thursday morning for the future home of a new animal shelter for the City of Smithville and DeKalb County.
Members , friends, and supporters of the DeKalb Animal Coalition for the Humane Treatment of Animals gathered at the site located behind Tenneco Automotive and near the county’s soon to open solid waste transfer station.
“We have so many people to be thankful for who have helped with this. We especially want to thank our city mayor and our county mayor. We also want to thank our Smithville Board of Aldermen and our county commission and all the volunteers without whom we could not have done any of this,” said Marsha Darrah, President of the Coalition.
Sue Puckett Jernigan, member of the Coalition, added that while everyone is excited about the progress that has been made, more funds are needed in support of the shelter. “We are really happy about this and we’re looking forward to the finish date. We’re going to see this to the end. This is going to succeed but we still need donations and volunteers because we will be running short on funds,” she said.
Although several potential bidders expressed an interest, Mike Foster said only one bid was received to build the shelter and that was a bit more costly than expected. So the project was awarded to the bidder on a cost plus basis. “Dwayne and Cindy Ward were the only ones who had bid on it. We had seven or eight people who got papers to bid on it but they (Ward’s) were the only ones who bid. We all talked about it and thought it (bid) was high so they (Ward’s) will do it at cost plus. This way we can get the sales tax savings being that the Coalition is a 501c3 organization. Just on the concrete we have put down so far it saved us $490. By the time we pour the slab we will have realized a savings of $21,000. Hopefully, it’s going to save approximately $100,000 doing it this way,” said Foster.
The facility is situated on a four acre site and is expected to be around 4,000 square feet when completed, including outside pens. Foster said the completion date is not certain but could be within the next four months, depending upon the weather.
If you would like to volunteer or make a donation toward the shelter, contact Marsha Darrah, Sue Puckett Jernigan, or any member of the Coalition. Donations may be made by Pay Pal or at Post Office Box 354.
Jim Wood, another member of the Coalition invites you to volunteer or shop at the Coalition’s Resale Store on Walnut Street downtown Smithville on Fridays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. or Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. “Anyone can stop in and volunteer to help us out or look around and see if there is something in there they can’t live without. There are all sorts of things in there people have been donating. You’d be surprised at the number of things that are available that we’re practically giving away. I mean these are yard sale prices. Come in and see what you can find,” said Wood.
The goal of the coalition is for the county to have a permanent and safe location for neglected, abandoned and abused animals; to provide an alternative low-kill policy so these animals receive medical attention, reduce overpopulation, and be cared for until they can be placed in permanent homes.
The City of Smithville and DeKalb County have each donated $75,000 toward construction of the facility. The new shelter will take the place of a smaller one which has been in existence for years on county property but operated by the city behind the DeKalb County Highway Department Headquarters off Smith Road.
TOP PHOTO; Cindy Ward, Dwayne Ward, Alderman Gayla Hendrix, Hector Florez, Marsha Darrah, County Mayor Tim Stribling, David McDowell, Sue Puckett Jernigan, Alderman Jason Murphy, Joyce Poss, Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss, Dr. Hugh Don Cripps, Mike Foster, Jim Wood, and Sue Wright.

Students in need of clothing at DCHS were treated Thursday during the first ever “Tiger Boutique” organized by the Climate Crew.
Members of the Climate Crew collected donations of name brand clothes and set up shop for one day only in the DCHS library for other students to take advantage of for free.
“These kids in the Climate Crew came together and donated amazing clothing and by 10:30 a.m. this morning (Thursday) we had 700 items of clothing selected by over 100 students . A total of 1,555 items of clothing were given away for the day. These are mostly name brand clothes, free of any rips, stains, tears, or odors and are really good clothes for these kids. The students are so excited. We could not believe the outpouring of love from the community in giving us clothes and how many students were actually in need,” said DCHS Librarian Lisa Craig.
“Mrs. Sara Halliburton, a Biology teacher at DCHS, saw that there was a need about a year ago for this and today her vision has become a reality,” said Craig.
“We will also be doing this again in the spring so we will be looking for prom items to be donated to the library,” she added.
The DCHS Climate Crew is made up of students who have a desire to change the school culture at DCHS. “We want to do a lot of good things for kids because there is so much negativity in this world and we just want to help change lives,” Craig concluded.

DeKalb County High School Golfer Isaac Walker competed in the TSSAA Class A-AA Golf Tournament on Tuesday and Wednesday at Willowbrook Golf Club in Manchester.
Walker shot a 77 on Tuesday and a 74 on Wednesday for a two day total of 151. Out of 72 golfers competing, Isaac finished in a tie for 14th place. Walker, just a sophomore, was making his second appearance at the state tournament in as many years.
“I am so proud of Isaac and the way he prepared and competed this week and really all year. He is a such a great kid, a great student, and just a joy to be around. I wish I could take credit for his outstanding golf, but the credit all goes to him. He has tremendous support from his family including his dad, Scott Walker, mom, Misty Walker, and his sister, Hannah Walker. I feel Isaac’s best golf is in front of him, and there is no limit to how far he can go,” said DCHS Golf Coach John Pryor.
Walker earned his way into the state by finishing 3rd in the district tournament and 2nd in the region.
Kyle Cottam of Knoxville Catholic was the runaway winner with a score of -6.
“Isaac improved a lot at State from last year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he made a run at a state championship in the next couple of years,” said Coach Pryor.