Although he will remain employed by the school system in a new position this fall, longtime educator Danny Bond has announced his retirement as the DCHS Tigerette Softball Coach, a position he has held for 31 years since the program began in 1985. His successor has not yet been named.
DCHS Principal Kathy Bryant announced Tuesday that Bond will succeed Marshall Ferrell as the Alternative Learning Center Director. Ferrell recently retired from the position.
In the letter announcing his retirement as coach to Director of Schools Patrick Cripps, Principal Bryant, and to members of the School Board, Bond expressed his appreciation for the support shown him and pledged his continued support to the program. “I have given my heart, mind, and soul to the student athletes and softball program. My blood runs black and gold as deep as anyone. I will continue to be a strong supporter of the Tigerette Softball program, its athletes, and the school system. My loyalty and dedication to DeKalb County High School will remain relentless. I retire from this position with no ill feelings toward anyone. I hope to receive your support and respect in this decision,” wrote Coach Bond.
Bond has been an educator for more than 35 years having taught Physical Education, Health, Lifetime Wellness, and Personal Fitness. His career began as a P.E. teacher at DeKalb West School in 1980. He started the school’s first P.E. program and also served as an assistant coach to DCHS Tiger Basketball Coach Harold Luna until 1984. In 1985 Bond left DeKalb West School for the high school where he became P.E. teacher developing what he described as a “quality” physical education program for the school. He also took over from Mike Braswell as head coach of the Tiger basketball program that year and later became coach of the Tigerette fast pitch softball team in its inaugural season. Bond resigned as boys basketball coach in 2002 having recorded an overall win-loss record of 256-220 in 17 seasons. He stayed on as girls softball coach.
In his 31 seasons as softball coach, Bond compiled an overall win-loss record of 680-258-1 (.725). His District win-loss record was 293-56 (.840)
Other Achievements:
*17 Regular Season District Titles
*15 District Tournament Titles
*24 Region Tournament Appearances
*6 Region Tournament Titles
*12 Sub-State Appearances
*8 Sub-State Titles
*8 State Tournament Appearances
*1 State Final Four Appearance
*11 District Coach of the Year Honors
*1 Mid-State Coach of the Year Honor
*1 T.A.C.A. Coach of the Year Honor
*District 8-AA Softball Hall of Fame (2006)
*DCHS Softball Field Named in Honor (2014)
“I want to give my appreciation to the past and present Directors of Schools, School Board members, Administrations, and fellow Coaches that have given me the opportunity to coach softball. I offer my deepest gratitude to the personnel, the many players, and their families for allowing me to be a part of their lives. I sincerely thank my family and friends for their support and encouragement over the years. I leave the softball program with a solid foundation and a bright, promising future,” wrote Coach Bond.

The DeKalb County Board of Education adopted a revised tentative budget for the 2016-17 year during a special meeting following a work session Monday evening at the Board of Education Building.
The new school budget includes $258,000 from the state to cover pay raises for certified staff. That amounts to about a $1,000 increase per employee. Plans are to give a local $500 pay raise to members of the support staff/non certified personnel.
The Board of Education has also budgeted an increase for themselves in the per diem each member receives for attending regular meetings and work sessions. Currently, board members get $50 per regular meeting and $15 per work session. The proposed increase would put their pay more in line with the county commission, members of which receive $150 per regular meeting and $75 per committee meeting/workshop. This budgetary line item in the school spending plan would increase from $6,000 to $18,900 for the year.
The proposed school budget is almost a half million dollars less than the original plan previously adopted and submitted to the county commission’s budget committee earlier this month.
The vote was 4-1-1. Board members Shaun Tubbs, Kate Miller, Doug Stephens, and Jim Beshearse voted to make the cuts in adopting the revised budget. Board member Jerry Wayne Johnson voted no and Board member Danny Parkerson passed. Board Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins, III was absent.
The school board also voted to move $5,000 within categories of the proposed budget to begin the process of addressing coaching supplement pay inequities particularly for the football, basketball, and cheer coaches at the high school, whose supplements rank below coaches in other counties in the district and across the state. A pay plan to help rectify the inequities has not yet been approved. The vote to make the $5,000 transfer was adopted 4-2. Board members Jerry Wayne Johnson and Danny Parkerson voted against it.
Fearing that proposed expenditures might put the school budget too deeply in the red next year, the county budget committee recently rejected the original spending plan and sent it back to the Board of Education asking that cuts of at least $480,000 be made.
During Monday night’s special meeting, the school board complied, cutting a total of $480,712 including $100,000 for the cost of purchasing one new school bus and $7,500 in supplement pay for a new athletic director position. But the largest cut was $373,212 in projected increased costs for employee medical insurance. School officials originally budgeted a six percent increase for the upcoming year but have not yet been given a confirmation on actually how much the increase will be. Funds remain in the revised budget to cover some increase in costs for medical insurance and school officials hope it will be enough.
Other proposed new spending in the school budget includes:
*Funding for two and a half new positions including a new Math and RTI (Response to Intervention) teacher at DCHS and an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher.
*Funding for an additional Educational Assistant at DeKalb West School
*Funding to address inequities in supplement pay particularly for football, basketball, and cheer coaches at DCHS (pay plan yet to be determined)
*Funding to purchase one new school bus (instead of two buses)
*Funding for a new Soccer Field at DCHS
The county’s budget committee will meet Wednesday, June 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the courthouse to consider the revised school budget.

Casey Vickers from DeKalb County attended Harding University’s 60th Annual National Leadership Forum in Searcy, Arkansas June 5-10. Casey was sponsored by DeKalb County Farm Bureau as a delegate to the Forum, which is presented by the University’s American Studies Institute.
Area Farm Bureaus and civic clubs selected the delegates, who were instructed in the values and qualities of leadership and learned how our country has developed its leaders.
Young people attending the Forum were taught about comparative economic systems and ways to defend our society and its freedoms. They heard presentations by such leaders as Dean Sikes, Spirit of America Foundation, who addressed “Discover Your Destiny”; John Foppe, motivational speaker on “Life is an Attitude”; and Pat Socia, who encouraged the delegates to be leaders in sexual morality.
More than 200 people from five states attended this year’s National Leadership Forum. Harding University, with an enrollment of over 7,000, is the largest private university in Arkansas.

Northside Elementary School 4th & 5th graders performed the play “The Daring Excape of Henry Box Brown” Friday. The play was about an slave that escaped to the North when friends helped ship him to Pennsylvania in a crate. Students in the 2nd & 3rd grade also performed.
(TOP PHOTO)
Students pictured in no particular order: Brandon Silva, Erick Soto, Lindsey Nokes, Jose Carillo, Sayla Cantrell, Damien Perez-Soto, Jared Fultz, Paige Mahler, Harrison Pryor, Cristian Avalos, Eli Humphrey, Carlos Garcia, Moutaz Nunez, Nate Bain, Makyra Farris, Skylar Savage, Sierra Sobotka, Logan Ellis, Toby Hayes, C.J. Lewis, & Maggy Godinez. Directors: Alisha Day, Elizabeth Miller, Melissa Hale, & Josh Isaac.
Students in the 2nd & 3rd grade performing were as follows:
(SECOND PHOTO FROM TOP)
“The Bremen Town Musicians” -Hunter Mahler, Maite Rivera, Abril Rangel, Kaylee Liggett, Haven Sams-Leach, Jazmin Carrillo, Adrianan
Evans, & Logan Farris. Teachers: Kristy Lasser, Thelma Martin & Patty Hale
(THIRD PHOTO FROM TOP)
“Duck for President,” Front Row: Peyton Evans, Candace Smith, Hayley Gibbs; Back Row: Kimberly Rico, Zachary Holland, Emily Simmons, Bryson Moore,Teacher: Jessica Hale
(BOTTOM PHOTO)
“Pop Poppity Pop” Front Row: Leauna Cullum, Alisha Armour, Marleth Godinez Silva; Back Row: Charles Holland, Melissa Russell, Antonio Chavez, Jose Muniz Guzman, Jayden Sturdivant, Angel Lomas, Gracie Summers, Brayden Sprague, Brayan Bustillo, Violet Nunez, Teacher: Sandy Willingham

A local man has been charged with ten counts of forgery for allegedly passing forged checks stolen from a family member at two banks and a market from May 25 through June 7.
Matthew Adam Cubbins of Toad Road, Dowelltown is under a $25,000 bond and he will be in court June 23.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Cubbins allegedly passed forged checks at Wilson Bank & Trust in Smithville for $300 on Wednesday, May 25; for $200 on Thursday, May 26; for $300 on Friday, June 3; for $300 on Monday, June 6; and for $300 on Tuesday, June 7; at Regions Bank in Smithville for $250 on Friday, May 27; for $200 on Tuesday, May 31; and for $300 on Wednesday, June 1; and at Shiny Rock Market for $200 on Sunday, May 29 and for $300 on Tuesday, June 7.
36 year old Amanda Lynette Davis of Seven Springs Road, Smithville is charged with vandalism. Her bond is $1,500 and she will make a court appearance on June 30. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, June 12 Davis allegedly fired a handgun in close proximity to her neighbor who also lives on Seven Springs Road. A shot fired from Davis’ weapon penetrated the back glass of the neighbor’s pickup truck causing over $350 in damages. The spent round was recovered from inside the vehicle.
Michael Brandon Redmon of Holcomb Road, McMinnville is charged with assaulting a correctional officer at the jail. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court June 30. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, June 12 Redmon assaulted a correctional officer by scratching his face and neck and the inside of his lip while the officer was getting a mop bucket from Redmon’s cell.
33 year old Derrick Randall Dalton of Evins Mill Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault and resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search. His bond is $4,000 and he will make a court appearance on June 30. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, June 13 a deputy responded to a 911 physical domestic in progress at a residence on Evins Mill Road. Upon arrival the officer spoke to a woman who said that her boyfriend, Dalton, had hit her in the nose. The deputy saw that the woman had blood around her nose and on her pants and that the bridge of her nose and left eye had been bruised and were swollen. She was taken by DeKalb EMS to the emergency room of the hospital. The investigating officer determined that Dalton was the primary aggressor. The following day, Tuesday, June 14 an officer went back to the residence on Evins Mill Road to serve warrants on Dalton. As the deputy arrived Dalton fled the home on foot. He ran out the back door and through a field behind the house. The officer identified himself and called for Dalton to stop but he refused to obey the deputy’s commands and kept running until the officer caught up with him.

Two DCHS Tigerettes, who graduated last month, put pen to paper Monday signing to play for the Roane State Community College Raiders softball team next spring.
Tigerette catcher Dani Meadows and center fielder Hannah Walker were joined by their parents, fellow high school players, and coaches for the signing at DCHS. Jessica Hackworth, Assistant Softball Coach represented Roane State.
Walker and Meadows said they fell in love with the school and softball program during a recent visit there.
“Dani and I went on a visit to Roane State on a workout type thing and fell in love with the girls, coaches, and the house they live in. The softball team all live in one house. We thought that was really cool. I knew when we went down there that’s what I wanted to do (go to Roane State),” said Walker.
“I fell in love with the program. I really love the coaches. They are actually a lot like Coach Danny Bond and Coach Danny Fish. I fell in love with the house, the school, and with all the girls. I think it is the best fit for me,” said Meadows.
“We are adding two great extraordinary student athletes and young ladies to our program who will help us reach that next level to get a championship this coming year and we are excited to have them join our program. They have very strong defensive and offensive strengths that will contribute to our success,” said Coach Hackworth.
“We are a junior college program located in Harriman, Tennessee. We play with a nationally recognized conference (Tennessee Community College Athletic Association) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). We have a lot of nationally ranked teams in our conference. We have a lot of student athletes that go Division I, Division II and NAIA. We help our student athletes reach their next level at four year school programs,” added Coach Hackworth.
The head coach of the Raiders is Sue Niemi.
“Dani was our catcher for three and a half years. Being behind the plate is like being a coach on the field pretty much. The catcher sees everything. Hannah played in the outfield for the last two years after being a role player for the first two years. Probably this year was her (Walker’s) best year of those four years. She really came on as an outfielder. Being a center fielder, she was kind of the coach of the outfield. My hats off to both of them not just for softball but for their academics and doing what’s right both on and off the field,” said Tigerette Coach Danny Bond.
The Tigerettes completed another successful season in May finishing 4th in the state in the TSSAA Class AA Softball Tournament with an overall season record of 35-6-1. It was their third consecutive state tournament appearance and eighth in program history.
(TOP PHOTO) SEATED: DCHS Tigerette Coach Danny Bond, Assistant Raider Coach for Roane State Community College Jessica Hackworth, Hannah Walker, Dani Meadows, and Assistant Tigerette Coaches Melissa Ruch and Danny Fish. STANDING: Misty and Scott Walker (Hannah’s parents), Pat and Tracie Meadows (Dani’s parents)
(BOTTOM PHOTO) SEATED: DCHS Tigerette Coach Danny Bond, Assistant Raider Coach for Roane State Community College Jessica Hackworth, Hannah Walker, Dani Meadows, and Assistant Tigerette Coaches Melissa Ruch and Danny Fish. STANDING: Tigerette players Joni Robinson, Myranda Bailiff, Kendal Taylor, Kayley Caplinger, Madison Whitehead, and Leslie Hembry.

The annual DeKalb County Fair 5K and Fun Run will be July 16 as a fund raiser for Run Down to bring awareness to Down Syndrome.
(CLICK LINK BELOW FOR REGISTRATION FORM)
Scan0005_1.pdf (325.83 KB)
Registration begins at 6:00 pm at the Fairgrounds. The Run will start at 6:30 PM. Pre-registration available by contacting Matt Boss at 615-464-8627. Pre-registration guarantees a DeKalb County Fair 5K T-Shirt. The entry fee is $20 for youth and $25 for adults. Parking available behind Fair Office.
(VIEW VIDEO OF LAST YEAR’S RACE BELOW)

Jordan Wilkins of Smithville has won the DeKalb County Fair 5K and Fun Run the last two years.
Wilkins ran the course last year in 24 minutes and 15 seconds.
Carly Vance of Smithville took second place in the race at 26:41 and Kelly Pyburn of Alexandria came in third place at 27:01.
Fun Run winners were:
1st place: Conner Vance at 5:34
2nd place: Jordon Agee at 9:20

RunDown 5K for Down Syndrome Awareness recently presented over $1000 in games, tools and other educational supplies to benefit children with Down Syndrome and other special needs to both DeKalb County School system special needs programs and Smith County special needs programs.
RunDown 5K and FunRun was started in the Spring of 2015 by Addison Oakley, who at the time was an 8th grade student at DeKalb West Elementary in Liberty. Addison and her family have been blessed with connections to Down Syndrome children, who are close friends and family members and wanted to bring awareness in rural areas to the need to provide resources to children with Down Syndrome and other special needs that are often missed by not living in a larger metropolitan area. They have worked with support in DeKalb & Smith County as well as the support of Down Syndrome Association of Middle TN (DSAMT) and would hope to reach out into other rural counties as well in the future. Through the help of friends, family, and strangers, they had over 200 participants and strong sponsors for our 2015 5K & Fun Run and were also able to give $250 scholarships to DeKalb, Gordonsville, and Smith County High Schools.
If you are interested in helping this cause, or would like to donate or become a sponsor, please contact us at rundown5k@gmail.com or Clark Oakley @ 615-548-4624. Our 2016 5K and FunRun will be October 1st taking place at DeKalb West Elementary, 101 Bulldog Ln, Liberty, TN. Mark your calendars and look for more info to come!

The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency has been awarded funds to help people having difficulty paying their utility bills.
Applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally-funded program designed to assist low-income households meet home energy needs and supplement energy costs for eligible households, will begin taking applications for the new program effective July 1.
Priority for service is not “first come, first served,” but instead is based upon a point system.
Documentation of all household income will be required for the application process. This includes check stubs for 13 weeks, or six paystubs if by-weekly or bi-monthly, Social Security or pension award letters, or unemployment benefit letters. If self-employed, an applicant should provide a tax return.
Applicants must also provide a copy for 12 months of the household’s electric and/or gas bills (if residing at a current address is less than 12 months, a printout of all energy usage at this address is required). Proof of all Social Security numbers is required for all household numbers. Some additional documentation may also be required to process applications.
Assistance provided to households ranges from $300-$600, depending upon total points. Once an application has been submitted by a household, it will be notified by mail within 90 days of the status of the applications.
Households awarded assistance are required to continue paying their energy bills until the awarded payment has been received by its designated utility provider, and when the benefit is exhausted, the household will return to paying for the energy costs.

Ten seats on Tennessee’s state-level courts are up for retention elections on August 4, 2016. Three seats on the Tennessee Supreme Court join three seats on the Tennessee Court of Appeals and three seats on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.
The supreme court justices at large standing for retention are Holly Kirby, Jeff Bivins, and Roger A. Page.
The appeals court judges standing for retention are Kenny Armstrong, Brandon O. Gibson, and Arnold B. Goldin (All Western Division)
The court of criminal appeals judges standing for retention are J. Ross Dyer (Western Division) Timothy L. Easter (Middle Division), Robert L. Holloway,Jr. (Middle Division), and Robert H. Montgomery, Jr. (Eastern Division)
Voters will be asked to either “retain” or “replace” each judge or justice.