All DeKalb County School buses on regular routes have passed state inspection.
State Troopers Darryl Winningham and Ronnie Simmons of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, inspectors for this district, completed their evaluation this week of all the buses in the fleet including the substitute buses.
“We do a complete level one inspection on the buses. We go from the bottom to the top and inside, outside. We check every bolt. Every nut, tire tread, brake pads, seats. We make sure the dash works and all the lights inside. We want to make sure everything is safe. We check tie rod ends. Everything about the vehicle. The buses are in pretty fair shape but we’re always going to find something. No matter how minor we still want to find everything we can find to get it all repaired. But they have done a great job here. The buses are in good shape. What little issues we are finding they are repairing on the spot,” Trooper Winningham told WJLE.
“We check the exhaust systems. We look for fuel leaks. Anything like that we check to make sure there’s none of that happening. All your emergency systems, we check those to make sure they are functioning properly. We go from the top to the bottom and front to the back. We check seat cushions, everything,” said Trooper Simmons.
Because of its age, one of the substitute buses has been removed from service.”One of the older buses was removed but it was just getting to the age where it needed to be pulled off,” added Trooper Winningham.
The inspectors conduct an annual inspection for three days in January but spots checks may be made during the year.”We spend three days now but we’ll be here more than this once a year. We also do 10% spot checks throughout the year. We just pull in and walk through the lot and say we want to check this bus or look at that bus. They pull them in and we’ll do a complete inspection on them again,” said Trooper Winningham
“We’ve got thirty eight buses in the fleet. We took one out of service due to age. It’s a 2001 model. This is the last year it would be on the road but with the miles on it and its age we decided it would be best to pull it out of service. It is a bus we used in substitute status. When we have a bus in the shop being repaired we keep some buses on the lot that we use as sub buses and this bus is one of those. We have four regular route sub buses and one special education sub bus,” said Transportation Supervisor Jimmy Sprague.

The DeKalb Prevention Coalition will be having a Recovery Church planning workshop Friday, January 22, 2016, at the DeKalb Community Center in the History room at 12:00 noon. The event will include lunch and is to help the interested churches fill out the application to become a certified recovery church as well as to answer any questions or overcome any obstacles your church or faith based organization may be facing in this process.
Monty Burks, who is the Director of Faith Based Initiatives for The State of Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) will be there along with a Certified Recovery Church Pastor to help.
When you successfully complete the certification process, you will be added to the statewide recovery support network, and most importantly, opening your arms to individuals seeking substance abuse services. Church and Faith-Based Organization leadership will be trained in the following areas:
•Providing Spiritual/Pastoral Support.
•Viewing addiction as a treatable disease, not a moral issue.
•Embracing and support people in recovery and walk with them on their journey.
•Providing a visible outreach in the community.
•Sharing recovery information.
•Hosting recovery support groups.
If your church or faith based organization is interested in becoming a Certified Recovery Church please go to http://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/topic/Faith-Based-Initiatives and fill out the questionnaire or you can contact Norene Puckett at 615-215-8690 or norene.drugcourt@gmail.com.
*An RSVP is not required, but appreciated, please contact Norene Puckett.

Six months after taking over as Director of Schools, Patrick Cripps is expected to be evaluated on his performance by the Board of Education before the end of the month.
A date and time for the work session to conduct an evaluation has not yet been set.
According to Cripps’ contract with the Board, the evaluation of the Director shall occur no later than January 31 each calendar year during the term of the contract. The board shall review with the Director his performance, progress toward established goals, and the working relationships between the Director and Board, the staff, students, and community at large; and any other matters relative to the employment of the Director.
In accordance with state law, the school board is required to develop and implement an evaluation plan to be used annually for the director of schools. Last year, board members used a four page evaluation form to rate former Director Mark Willoughby (1-5) in each of 60 areas from eight categories including on his relationship with the Board, the Community, Staff and Personnel, Educational Leadership, Business and Finance, Personal Qualities, Strategic Planning Skills, and Tennessee Specific questions. It’s not known yet if the board will use the same form to evaluate Cripps.
Under last year’s evaluation plan a rating of “1” meant the Director’s performance was “Consistently Below Expectations”. A “5” rating signified that the director “Met All Expectations”. A rating with an asterisk (*) symbol meant he “Exceeded Expectations” (and a score of 6 was used on the overall report).
Other ratings were:
“2”-Meets Few Expectations
“3”-Meets Some Expectations
“4”-Meets Most Expectations
Last year each board member scored the Director in all areas from the categories on the form. The scores were then averaged to arrive at the grand total score.
School board members last year held one-on-one evaluation meetings with the Director.
Following the meetings, each board member scored the Director using the evaluation form. The forms were then sent to officials of the Tennessee School Boards Association where the scores were tabulated and averaged.
Board member Jerry Wayne Johnson said Thursday night during the monthly school board meeting that he intended to evaluate Director Cripps on “things we (school board) wanted him to do when he became director”.
By a unanimous vote of 7-0, the Board of Education met in special session Thursday night, July 16 and named Cripps the next Director of Schools. Cripps accepted the board’s offer of a two year employment contract and took over as Director immediately but the final agreement wasn’t ready to sign until August 17.
Under Board policy, the School Board is also to conduct a self evaluation each year. The Board did not do that last year. “We didn’t do a board self evaluation last year because five members of the board hadn’t been on here long enough to be evaluated or to evaluate themselves” said Board Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins, III.
Those five members of the board referred to by Evins were elected in August 2014 and took office in September that year.

DeKalb County teachers and non-certified staff are getting a pay raise in the form of a 2% bonus thanks to an allocation of $276,000 in state funding to the school system.
The Board of Education Thursday night adopted a budget amendment to fund the bonuses, which will amount to $700 for every teacher or certified staff member and $250 per person for non-certified personnel. No local tax dollars are being used to fund it. The vote was 6-1 in favor. Board member Jerry Wayne Johnson voted no.
Board Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins, III said under this plan everyone in the school system would get more money “Every penny that came in from the state has gone into this (bonus plan). There is no extra money to go into any other category. We’re not going to do that. Instead of a straight pay raise, we’re giving a bonus. If we were to put this in the form of a pay raise and next year our ADM (Average Daily Student Membership) were to go down and the state were to decide that we should get less money we would have to take a pay cut,” said Evins.
Governor Bill Haslam promised almost $100 million for teacher pay in his annual State of the State address last January, and the legislature approved additional spending of just under $98 million in April as part of the state’s 2015-16 budget. The additional funding was billed as giving teachers a 4 percent teacher pay raise, although its impact would vary from district to district.
The State Board of Education last summer approved a new salary schedule intended to raise the minimum annual pay for Tennessee teachers by just under $1,000, but did not translate into an across-the-board 4 percent pay raise for all Tennessee teachers.
Officials with the board and the state Department of Education emphasized that the additional $98 million in state funds allocated for teacher salaries in this year’s state budget was to provide districts with additional funding for teacher compensation. However, local districts have discretion over exactly how that money is spent on teacher compensation.
In other business, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps announced in his monthly personnel report that Mary Mathis has been hired as a custodian at DeKalb West School and Heather Shehane, a teacher at Smithville Elementary School, has been granted a leave of absence as requested.

The DeKalb County Election Commission has issued petitions to four more persons this week for offices on the August ballot.
The latest to pick up qualifying papers are Jason Ray-Liberty Alderman for a four year position; Barry Mabe-School Board 5th District; Josh Miller-Smithville Alderman; and J.D. Bratten- Liberty Alderman for one year position.
Five petitions were issued last Friday including the following:
Kate Miller—School Board 4th District; W.J. (Dub) Evins—School Board 5th District; Doug Stephens—School Board 6th district; Shawn Jacobs—Smithville Aldermen; and Eddie Dwayne Blair—Liberty Alderman for a four year position.
Persons may qualify for School Board in the 4th, 5th, and 6th district, three aldermen positions in Smithville, a mayor and two aldermen in Dowelltown, four aldermen seats in Liberty and for State Representative in the 40th and 46th districts.
The qualifying deadline is NOON April 7.

An exciting, national wellness initiative is launching across the country on February 15th and our community is invited to join the MOVEment! Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital’s annual Weight Loss Challenge is partnering with the Smithville-DeKalb Chamber of Commerce to bring you the Biggest Loser Community Challenge. NBC and The Biggest Loser are launching The Biggest Loser Community Challenge for 2016. Teams of four are invited to join this eight-week, online health & wellness community challenge. The challenge is for people of all fitness levels and is designed to get the community moving, eating better and having fun!
You can sign up for the Biggest Loser Challenge online through January 31st, or sign-up at the event kick-off on Tuesday, January 26th at the DeKalb Community Complex Building anytime from 5pm to 7pm. Weigh-ins are optional, but will give you additional opportunities for cash and prizes. Although the Biggest Loser Challenge focuses on healthy changes, good eating habits, and getting fit, NBC is awarding 10,000 prizes at random for participating in the challenge, not for losing weight, while Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital will be providing a local cash prize for the DeKalb County team that loses the highest weight loss percentage overall. So, whether you just want to get healthier or lose those extra pounds, there are great prize opportunities for everyone.
“We are proud to partner with NBC, the Biggest Loser, and our local Chamber of Commerce for this healthy community-wide event,” said Shan Burklow – Director of Marketing for Saint Thomas DeKalb and Stones River Hospitals, “After three years of hosting the Weight Loss Challenge, we are looking forward to continuing our mission of a healthier DeKalb as we work with our local Chamber of Commerce to add additional prizes to recognize the team that loses the most weight together. This is a fun and healthy way to get active and fit for 2016, and we encourage anyone to start a team and join the challenge. Be sure to weigh-in at the DeKalb County Complex anytime January 26 through January 31st to be eligible for the weight loss portion of this event.”
“Businesses are encouraged to register teams of employees to represent their company in the challenge, along with anyone in the community that would like to start a team,” said Suzanne Williams – Executive Director of the Smithville-DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, “For only $100 for a team of four ($25 per person), this exciting wellness opportunity is an affordable and fun way to kick start the new year for all of us looking to get fit and have a healthier year. Anyone with questions is welcome to call the Chamber anytime. We are here to help.”
Past contestants of The Biggest Loser will guide teams through eight weekly challenges. Challengers will also receive weekly motivation and nutrition tips from trainer, Dolvett Quince. Participants will earn points for each minute of activity they engage in, as well as additional points for completing weekly tasks and logging additional challenge activities designed to improve nutrition and overall wellness. Each participant will have access to their own private wellness account and mobile app, where they will journal challenge activities, access weekly health guidance and keep their eye on friends and competitors on live leaderboards.
Prize drawings will be made each week, with over 10,000 prizes to be won across the country!
More information, online registration and key dates can be found online at www.BiggestLoserCommunity.com
Healthy People. Healthy Companies. Healthy Communities!

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, says the DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee met in regular session on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 to canvass and tabulate the ballots received in the 2015 Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 1 (DeKalb County) and LAA # 5 (Cannon County) County Committee Elections.
In the DeKalb County LAA # 1 election, Steve Officer was elected to serve as Committee Member. Randall West was elected as 1st Alternate Committeeperson and Bert Driver was elected as 2nd Alternate Committeeperson. In the Cannon County LAA # 5 election, Bob Melton was elected to serve as Committee Member, and Martin Daniel was elected to serve as 1st Alternate. All elected members began their terms on January 1, 2016.
The DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee met on January 12, 2016 to conduct its Organizational Meeting. The Committee selected Jack Campbell as the Chairperson, and Javin Fann as the Vice-Chairperson for 2016. R.V. Billings, Jr, Bob Melton, and Steve Officer serve as members of the Committee. The Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at the DeKalb/Cannon County USDA Service Center located at 647 Bright Hill Rd.
Green says that the DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee and office staff wishes to express their appreciation to voters in LAA’s # 1 and # 5 who participated in the elections by voting and returning their ballots. “The local County Committees are a very important part of Farm Service Agency’s program delivery and administrative processes,” added Green.
For more information about FSA’s County Committees or other program inquiries, call 597-8225 (extension 2) or come by the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency office at 647 Bright Hill Street in Smithville. You can also visit the agency’s web site at: www.fsa.usda.gov.

Two members of the Smithville Police Department have been commended for “Outstanding Service” in the line of duty.
Sergeant Brad Tatrow and Officer Joey Myers were recognized by Chief Mark Collins during a meeting of police department staff Tuesday evening at city hall. Mayor Jimmy Poss and Alderman and Police Commissioner Jason Murphy were also there for the occasion.
Sergeant Tatrow was commended for taking time to talk to a man he arrested. A conversation which caused the man to change his life. Officer Myers received a commendation for making motel accommodations for a homeless man.
Sergeant Tatrow’s commendation reads ” On behalf of the Smithville Police Department, I would like to commend you for making a difference in someone’s life by taking the time to have a conversation with him.
On December 29, 2014 you arrested a man and while processing his paperwork you took the time to talk with him about the decisions he was making in his life. Because of that conversation his life has been changed forever and for the better.
You went above and beyond your duties to help a member of this community and gave him hope for his future. These are the qualities that this and other police departments around the country are looking for.
Thank you and congratulations on a job well done”.
Officer Myers’ commendation reads ” On behalf of the Smithville Police Department, I would like to commend you for your compassion and understanding that you have shown to your fellow man.
On December 16, 2015 you came into contact with a homeless person at Wal-mart trying to find a warm and dry place until housing was available for him after the first of the year. After trying to locate accommodations for him and not being able to do so because of the late hour of the night, you rented this man a room for a week at a local motel.
You went above and beyond your duties to help a member of this community and gave him hope. These are the qualities that this and other police departments around the country are looking for.
Thank you and congratulations for a job well done”
The commendations to both officers were signed by Chief Collins, Mayor Poss, and Police Commissioner Murphy.

A deputy of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department lost control of his patrol car and crashed early Tuesday morning during a pursuit of another vehicle on Highway 56 north near Hurricane Bridge.
The accident occurred at around 2:00 a.m.
Officer Joseph Carroll was taken by DeKalb EMS to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital where he was treated for bruises and abrasions and then released. Carroll was in pursuit of a suspicious vehicle seen leaving the area of Lakeside Resort when his patrol car went out of control on a curve and struck a guardrail and tree.
After the crash, the Tennessee Highway Patrol arrested 33 year old Joseph Wayne Judd of Doyle, the driver of a pickup truck which had also been observed at Lakeside. Judd was found with 7.7 grams of methamphetamine.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that the story began around 1:41 a.m. as Central Dispatch received a call from someone at Lakeside Resort complaining that trespassers had driven into the area. “They asked us to come and check it out and two deputies from the Sheriff’s Department, Officers Carroll and Stephen Barrett responded to the call, said Sheriff Ray.
“As the deputies entered one of the parking lots at Lakeside, they saw a vehicle stop and then proceed to approach them. When the vehicle passed them, Officer Carroll turned around to initiate a traffic stop as Officer Barrett drove down further to check on another vehicle he had spotted. After the vehicle Officer Barrett was checking on began to speed away, he (Barrett) radioed for help from Officer Carroll. Deputy Carroll gave up on trying to stop the automobile he was following and turned around to render assistance to Officer Barrett. Officer Carroll spotted the fleeing automobile and gave chase. The pursuit continued out of Lakeside Resort and north on Highway 56 (Cookeville Highway) until Officer Carroll wrecked. The fleeing automobile did not stop,” said Sheriff Ray.
Meanwhile as Deputy Barrett stopped at the crash site to tend to Officer Carroll, a pickup truck approached the deputies, believed to have been the other vehicle seen earlier at Lakeside that Officer Carroll had first tried to pull over. The officers flagged down the truck and found the driver to be Judd. While the crash was under investigation, officers detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside Judd’s vehicle. A search of his truck revealed about 7.7 grams of a substance believed to be meth. It was packaged in three separate baggies. Judd also had a set of digital scales to weigh the narcotics and a metal tube used to inject the drugs.
Sergeant Dewain Jennings of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, who investigated the deputy’s accident, filed charges against Judd for driving while in possession of methamphetamine, possession of a schedule II drug for resale (meth), and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Judd’s bond is $30,500 and he will be in court on January 28.
The investigation continues and authorities hope to find the driver of the other vehicle who left the area after the crash involving Officer Carroll.

A chimney fire caused some damage to a home in Alexandria Tuesday morning.
Members of the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to the home of David Cole at 216 Church Street at 8:20 a.m.
According to Fire Department Captain Edward Brooks, the Cole family called for help after spotting smoke in the living room.
Firefighters quickly responded and contained the fire to the chimney and living room area. The fire also burned through some siding into the attic.
No one was injured.
Members of the Liberty and Temperance Hall Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded to back up Alexandria firefighters under the automatic aid agreement between the County and Town of Alexandria.
An Alexandria couple, Steven and Diana Blair came to the scene in support of the fire departments offering rehab services including re-hydration and nourishment to firefighters .
DeKalb EMS was there as well.