DeKalb County Students will register for the new school year on Monday, August 3
Tuesday, August 4 will be an administrative day for teachers only
The first full day of school for all students will be Wednesday, August 5
A system wide in-service day will be Tuesday, July 28
All teachers will report to their individual schools on Wednesday and Thursday July 29 and July 30
Meanwhile, the annual First Day of School Education Celebration will be Monday, August 3 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on the public square
Sixth grade orientation for new students and parents only will be Tuesday July 28 at DeKalb Middle School. Students with last names beginning with A-M orientation will be at 6:00 PM and students with last names beginning with N-Z orientation will be at 7:00 PM.
Smithville Elementary School will have Kindergarten Open House on Tuesday, July 28 at 5:30 p.m. for all kindergarten students who pre-registered in the spring.
All Kindergarten students who Did NOT pre-register will need to wait and come on Registration Day, Monday August 3. The first full day of school is Wednesday, August 5.
Northside Elementary School will host “Meet Your Teacher “night for rising 2nd and 3rd grade students on Thursday, July 30 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The body of a woman was found in Center Hill Lake Sunday afternoon.
Sheriff Patrick Ray told WJLE that 911 received a call at 4:43 p.m. that a fisherman had found a body in the lake near Still Point Boat Ramp across from Pates Ford Marina.
“The body recovered was that of a young lady. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. It doesn’t appear to be foul play,” said Sheriff Ray.
The name of the woman has not yet been released. According to Sheriff Ray she was last seen alive Saturday night.

DeKalb County property owners will have to ante up a little more when their tax bill comes due this fall.
The county commission Monday night, by a vote of 9-4, increased the overall property tax rate to $1.78 cents per $100 of assessed value, as recommended by the budget committee. That’s a sixteen cent increase from the current rate of $1.62.
The new budget totaling $40,936,094 was also approved.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW THE 2015-16 BUDGET IN ITS ENTIRETY)
DeKalb-16 Budget WITH 16 CENTS 7-7-15.pdf (229.82 KB)
According to Steve Bates, the county’s financial advisor, the primary reason for the tax increase is to keep the county from digging too deeply into fund balances to operate. “If we don’t increase the revenue this year then more than likely you’re going to start having to borrow money in order to just meet payroll. That is not a position that DeKalb County has ever been in and doesn’t want to be in,” Bates told the commission earlier this month
Bates said the county’s budget woes are primarily due to a stagnant economy in recent years in which revenues have been down while the cost of government has increased. Extra added costs due to the Affordable HealthCare Act (ObamaCare) and lower than anticipated receipts from the ambulance service are also factors.
Four commissioners voted against the sixteen cent tax increase, Joe Johnson, Betty Atnip, Elmer Ellis, Jr. and Jimmy Midgett. Ellis said while he had respect for the budget committee, he could not vote himself a tax increase. Midgett, a member of the budget committee, had previously voted for the proposed budget and tax increase when it came out of committee earlier this month.
The nine commissioners voting for the sixteen cent tax hike were Mason Carter, Jack Barton, Bradley Hendrix, Wayne Cantrell, Anita Puckett, Jerry Adcock, Jeff Barnes, Kevin Robinson, and Larry Summers. Jonathon Norris was absent.
Prior to the vote on the tax levy, the commissioners voted 10-3 in favor of the appropriations resolution for the 2015-16 fiscal year. All voted in favor except for Johnson, Midgett, and Atnip. Both Hendrix and Puckett, who are employed by the school system as teachers declared that while they had a conflict, they were representing their constituents and voting their conscience in supporting the resolution which includes school appropriations.
Meanwhile all thirteen members voted in favor of funding various non-profit groups, as is done each year, and in favor of the consolidated budget, which brings all individual funds under one spending plan.
Prior to the meeting, a public hearing was held. Only one person addressed the commission in opposition to the tax increase, asking what the new revenues would be used for. Several members and supporters of the DeKalb Animal Coalition also addressed the commission asking that the county commit funding to help start a new animal shelter. The City of Smithville has already budgeted $75,000 for this purpose. County Mayor Tim Stribling and Commissioner Jack Barton said the issue would be addressed at the next county commission meeting in August.
The new tax rate is divided up as follows:
County General Fund: 94 cents (a 12 cent increase)
General Purpose Schools: 57 cents ( a 2 cent increase)
Debt Service: 12 cents
County Highway Department: 4 cents ( a 1 cent increase)
Capital Projects Fund: 11 cents ( a 1 cent increase)
The solid waste fund, under this budget as in recent years, will not receive any property tax money but will continue to be supported by revenues derived from payment-in-lieu of taxes, local option sales tax, hotel-motel tax, state revenue sharing-TVA funds, alcoholic beverage tax, bank excise tax, and the state and wholesale beer tax.
Full time county general and sheriff’s department employees due a pay raise under the existing step wage scales will get them under this budget. The sheriff’s department budget includes a new modified pay scale that adds two more tiers to the plan. Some funding in the sheriff’s department budget was reallocated to help offset the costs. The budget also includes a $500 per month increase in pay for the county attorney.
The school budget includes funds for a new computer teacher position at Smithville Elementary School, a new part time janitor position at DeKalb West School, a new school nurse, technology and equipment upgrades, additional supplies for classrooms and intervention programs, a deaf education contract, a new scrubber, and a few other proposed new expenditures.
The county volunteer fire department budget includes funds to start an incentive pay plan based on a points system intended to help retain members and recruit new ones.
Under the incentive approach, firefighters may accumulate points for performing duties or services within the department. The more points accumulated, the greater the reward. The cost is $50,000 but only $15,000 in new money will be needed to fund the program. “We’re basically deleting the training incentive program and the fuel reimbursement program and putting it all (funding from these two programs) toward the points system as a more comprehensive approach to provide different incentives to volunteers,” said Chief Donny Green in previous meetings.
Three fire trucks in the fleet which have failed pump tests will be repaired using $33,670 from the Capital Projects Fund. And $25,000 in seed money will be set aside toward developing a new fire station in the Four Seasons community at some point in the future.
Work will continue toward completion of the new solid waste transfer station. The county has budgeted $475,000 for paving to the facility. After the transfer station is in operation the county will close its existing Class I landfill but develop a Class III/IV site on the same property for the disposal of construction material, household furniture, and other non-household garbage.
Capital projects fund expenses for the year total $373,670 including:
*”Motor Vehicles” Ambulance- $95,000
*”Other Equipment”$12,500
*”Motor Vehicles” Patrol Cars-$82,500
*”Other Equipment”- Fire department (repairs to fire trucks) $33,670
**”Other Construction”- Striping $15,000
*”Building Construction” Omega Building $40,000
**Building Construction”(seed money for Four Seasons Fire Station) $25,000
*”Solid Waste Equipment” Skidsteer/Backhoe $70,000 (landfill)
The county will be making appropriations of $146,681 to the following non-profit organizations:
Upper Cumberland Development District- $2,000
Tennessee Division of Forestry-$1,500
DeKalb County Rescue Squad- $16,821
Plateau Mental Health-$7,180
Families First-$750
Senior Citizens Program-$25,839
DeKalb Soil Conservation District-$33,166
DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce-$17,500
Imagination Library- $7,200
Genesis House- $1,500
Veterans Honor Guard-$2,000
Upper Cumberland Child Advocacy Center- $1,780
DeKalb County Fair- $1,500
WCTE-TV- $5,000
Prospect Incorporated-$12,500
Upper Cumberland Human Resources-$1,200
UCHRA Assessment-Homemaker Aide, etc-$9,245

The man accused in the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend in February is now facing a more serious charge.
The DeKalb County Grand Jury on Monday indicted 42 year old Anthony (Tony) Tyrone Crews on a charge of first degree murder in the death of 28 year old Ashley Bain, whose body was found lying on the floor of a bedroom at the home she and Crews shared at 3870 Cookeville Highway, Smithville on Thursday afternoon, February 5. At the time of his arrest on the evening of the stabbing, Crews had been charged with second degree murder.
Crews will be arraigned in Criminal Court on August 10.
The indictment alleges that “Crews, on February 5, did unlawfully, intentionally, and with premeditation, kill Ashley Bain, constituting the offense of first degree murder”.
Bain was stabbed numerous times about the upper body. It’s not known exactly how long she had been dead by the time authorities were notified but she had been seen alive earlier in the day. A knife, believed to have been the murder weapon, was found in the home.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Crews called 911 at 2:33 p.m. on February 5 to report that he had discovered Bain’s body when he entered the residence. Sheriff Ray and members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were alerted and quickly arrived on the scene. The TBI and District Attorney General’s Office also joined the investigation. Sheriff Ray said authorities determined that Crews had committed the crime and made up the story about finding the body.
One week later, Crews made his first court appearance under tight security at the DeKalb County Courthouse.
During the brief hearing in General Sessions Court covered exclusively by WJLE, Judge Bratten Cook, II increased Crews’ bond from $250,000 to one million dollars. He also appointed the District Public Defender’s Office to represent Crews.
Before increasing the bond amount, Judge Cook questioned Crews about his background. Crews said he was from New York and had relocated to McMinnville three years ago. He is married and had once served in the military. At the time of his arrest, Crews was enrolled as a student at MTSU and had worked at Shiroki in Smithville. He admitted to having a misdemeanor criminal past for simple assault in New York but claimed the charges against him there were dismissed. Crews said he is not currently on parole or probation for any other offense.
After being appointed to represent Crews, Assistant District Public Defender Allison Rasbury West asked that his bond be kept at $250,000 saying that amount was sufficient. However Judge Cook raised it to one million dollars. Upon hearing the judge’s decision, Bain’s father, who was in the courtroom along with other family members, called out “Thank you Judge”.
Crews’ second appearance in General Sessions Court was for a preliminary hearing on March 26.
Following the hearing covered exclusively by WJLE, Judge Cook ordered the case bound to the grand jury and increased Crew’s bond from one million to two million dollars.
Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong called two persons to testify during the March 26 hearing and they were questioned by both Strong and Assistant Public Defender Allison Rasbury West , who is representing Crews.
Amy Tucker, a clerk at Village Market Marathon on North Congress Boulevard, testified that Crews was a regular customer and bought beer there on the day that Bain was killed. ” He was a pretty steady customer. He came in usually two or three times a day every day and bought beer,” she said.
During his testimony, TBI Special Agent and Criminal Investigator Lance Walker said surveillance video from Village Market showed Crews making a beer purchase around 1:00 p.m. on the day of the murder and an empty beer bottle and a bloody knife, believed to have been the murder weapon were found later that afternoon inside a Village Market bag at the crime scene. “We had heard that he had gone to Village Market and we retrieved a receipt (from the store) that matched up with beer sales of Mr. Crews purchasing 2-24 ounce Bud Ices and a Steel Reserve with a time stamp on the receipt at 1 p.m. The store video showed him making the purchase. When we got to the scene back in the bedroom where Ms Bain’s body was found, there was a plastic bag consistent with the bags that Village Market uses and in the bag was an empty Steel Reserve bottle and next to the bottle in the bag was a knife that had been bent from the force used upon it covered in reddish brown stains. There was also blonde hair appearing to belong to the victim on that knife. The knife was recovered and sent for testing,” Walker testified.
Agent Walker said that he was notified of the stabbing at around 2:00 p.m. that day and arrived on the scene at around 3:30 p.m. He described what he observed . ” I arrived on the scene after I received the call. We set up a perimeter for the crime scene. Mr. Crews (who was on the scene) was transported to be interviewed by another agent. I conducted a crime scene investigation. The first thing we noticed was that the front door was ajar. The frame was off the door. We went through the house and saw reddish brown stains which we assumed to be blood throughout the house leading back to the back left bedroom. And then we encountered Ms. Bain’s body. She was found on the left side of the bed, near the foot of the bed close to the wall. The manner of death (according to the autopsy) was multiple stab wounds. They could confidently say that there were at least fifteen (stab wounds). They could not establish the estimated time of death,” testified Agent Walker.
” Mr. Crews (who was at the scene) was disheveled. He was repeating himself over and over again. He appeared to be incoherent and he had a strong odor of alcohol on him. My understanding was that he and Ms. Bain were in a relationship and he stayed at the house at times throughout the week off and on. His clothing had what appeared to be blood. His long sleeved shirt, pants, and shoes all had reddish brown stains on them. His hands had what appeared to be dried blood. His clothing was sent to the lab for testing,” said Walker
“Samples of blood were taken from designated areas inside the home and sent to the crime lab for analysis including from the floor of the hallway, bedroom, dining/kitchen area, and a number of other items such as the knife and Bain’s wallet, which was found between two trash bags filled with trash (one on top of the other) in the kitchen. The wallet had about $1,400 in it. We also found more money (another $1,600 or $1,700) that appeared to come from the same source in the bedroom,” Walker testified.
As for the broken front door, Agent Walker said Crews had reported to the Sheriff’s Department in January that it had been damaged in an attempted break-in. “The Sheriff’s Office let me know that a report had been filed on January 26 for a supposed break-in. I think Crews filed the report that somebody had broke the door. I re-secured it before I left. It seemed secure,” Agent Walker testified.
Following the hearing, Crews was transported back to a facility in another county where he is being held.

An outburst during a March court hearing in a murder case has resulted in a Grand Jury indictment.
23 year old Clay Andrew Bain of Lakeview Drive, Smithville was indicted Monday by the DeKalb County Grand Jury for disrupting a meeting or procession and two counts of assault. He will be arraigned on August 10 in criminal court.
The incident occurred at the end of a General Sessions Court preliminary hearing in the second degree murder case against 42 year old Anthony (Tony) Tyrone Crews, who is charged in the February 5th fatal stabbing of 28 year old Ashley Bain. The woman was found dead in the home she and Crews shared at 3870 Cookeville Highway, Smithville. Clay Bain is the victim’s brother.
As WJLE first reported at the time, after Judge Bratten Cook, II ordered the case bound to the grand jury, Bain stood up and walked toward the door as if to exit the courtroom. When Judge Cook asked him to return to his seat, Bain walked past where Crews was seated and took a swing at him with his fist, hitting Crews in the head. A deputy standing beside Crews, Sergeant Brian Williams, suffered an injury to his left hand as Bain was trying to get to Crews. After being hit, Crews, who was handcuffed, stood up and turned toward Bain but he was quickly grabbed by officers and taken out of the courtroom. Bain was also escorted out. During the outburst, others in the courtroom, believed to be members of the Bain family began shouting and yelling obscenities at Crews.
The assault charges against Bain are for his attack on both Crews and Sergeant Williams.
WJLE has obtained a copy of the indictment.
Count 1 alleges that “Bain, on March 26, with intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting, procession, or gathering, did substantially obstruct or interfere with the meeting, procession, or gathering by physical action or verbal utterance, constituting the offense of disrupting a meeting or procession.”
Count 2 states that “Bain, on March 26, did knowingly cause physical contact with Brian Williams, and a reasonable person would regard the contact as extremely offensive or provocative, constituting the offense of assault.”
Count 3 states that “Bain, on March 26, did knowingly cause physical contact with Anthony Crews, and a reasonable person would regard the contact as extremely offensive or provocative, constituting the offense of assault.”

A Liberty mother is the first person to be indicted in DeKalb County under a new law, which took effect last summer that allows the state to seek criminal charges against a woman who uses illegal drugs while pregnant.
The DeKalb County Grand Jury on Monday indicted 27 year old Lindsey Paulette Davenport of Woodbury Highway, Liberty on one count of assault on a viable fetus.
She will be arraigned in criminal court on August 10.
Sheriff Patrick Ray told WJLE that on January 21, Davenport gave birth to a baby boy whose urine tested positive for opiates. Blood drawn from the umbilical cord tested positive for Suboxone, Methodone, and Morphine.
WJLE obtained a copy of the indictment which states that “Davenport, between the 1st day of March, 2014 and the 21st day of January, 2015 intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly did cause bodily injury to a viable fetus, by illegally using a narcotic drug while pregnant, and the child was born addicted to and/or harmed by the narcotic drug and the addition and/or harm was a result of her illegal use of a narcotic drug taken while pregnant, constituting the offense of assault on a viable fetus.”
Faced with a growing number of babies born addicted to drugs in Tennessee, state legislators enacted the new law, sponsored by Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, with the intention of reducing the problem.
Signed by Governor Bill Haslam, the law became effective July 1,2014. It allows prosecutors to pursue criminal assault charges and potential jail terms if women bear children who are addicted or suffer other injuries because of the mom’s drug use. The Governor said at the time that the new law had been carefully considered and is intended to encourage law enforcement officers and prosecutors to push pregnant women with substance abuse issues toward treatment.

Two men have been arrested by Smithville Police in an investigation into a rash of recent car burglaries.
Captain Steven Leffew said 22 year old Dra Dewayne Watkins and 25 year old Garrett Buckmaster are each charged with three counts of burglary and two counts of theft. Buckmaster is also charged with one count of unlawful possession of a weapon. Watkins is under a bond of $27,500. Buckmaster’s bond is $65,000. They will make an appearance in General Sessions Court on August 6.
According to Captain Leffew, the arrests resulted from an investigation by Lieutenant Matt Holmes, Detective Brandon Donnell, and Officer Lance Dillard. Many victims came forward within the last two weeks to report damage to and missing items from their vehicles. Items from some of these thefts were recovered at the home where Watkins and Buckmaster were residing. Detective Donnell made the arrests on Wednesday, July 22.
50 year old Janice Lynn Johnson was arrested on Friday, July 10 for DUI and cited for violation of the implied consent law. Officer Lance Dillard responded to Taco Bell in reference to a possible drunk driver sitting in the drive through. Upon arrival, he spoke with Johnson who appeared to be unsteady on her feet and she had slurred speech. Johnson submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court on August 6.
43 year old Marina G. Skinner of Dixon Springs was arrested for public intoxication on Friday, July 17. Officer Andy Snow was called to a fight in progress and found Skinner sitting outside in a chair. She was belligerent, unreasonable, uncooperative, unsteady on her feet, and she had a smell of alcohol on her person. Skinner was determined to be a nuisance to other people in the neighborhood. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court on August 6.
20 year old John T. Mason was arrested for domestic assault on Saturday, July 18. Officer Will Judkins and Sergeant Brad Tatrow were dispatched to an area of Jackson Street due to a fight in progress. Upon arrival they observed Mason hitting a woman several times in the face with his fist. After refusing the officers orders to stop, Mason was apprehended by Sergeant Tatrow, who used a taser due to the volatility of the fight and as it appeared Mason was going to flee on foot. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on August 13.
52 year old Rita Gail Houk was cited for vandalism and theft on Thursday, July 23. The citation was issued by Sergeant Brad Tatrow. Houk allegedly took property from a business without the owner’s permission and in the process damaged another item. She will make a court appearance on August 27.

Before you start your back to school shopping, mark August 7-9 on your calendar.
That’s this year’s tax-free weekend in Tennessee, where shoppers won’t have to pay sales tax on clothing, school and art supplies that cost $100 or less per item and computers that cost $1,500 or less
During these three days Tennessee shoppers can save nearly 10 percent on certain purchases.
“I want to encourage Tennessee families to take advantage of the Sales Tax Holiday because it was created with them in mind,” Gov. Bill Haslam said. “The weekend provides savings for families, especially as students are starting the new school year, and the holiday can provide relief on clothing, school and art supplies and computer purchases.”
The holiday begins Friday, August 7 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, August 9 at 11:59 p.m. During the designated three-day weekend, consumers will not pay state or local sales tax on clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less.
Please visit the Sales Tax Holiday Web site at www.tntaxholiday.com to learn more about the items exempt from sales tax.
Examples of exempt items include:
•Clothing: Shirts, dresses, pants, coats, gloves and mittens, hats and caps, hosiery, neckties, belts, sneakers, shoes, uniforms whether athletic or non-athletic and scarves
•School Supplies: Binders, book bags, calculators, tape, chalk, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, pens, pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, rulers and scissors
•Art Supplies: Clay and glazes; acrylic, tempera and oil paints; paintbrushes for artwork; sketch and drawing pads; and watercolors
•Computers: Central processing unit (CPU), along with various other components including monitor, keyboard, mouse, cables to connect components and preloaded software (Note: While the CPU may be purchased separately, other items must be part of a bundled computer package in order to be eligible.) iPads and other tablet computers are eligible for tax exemption, while smart phones and video game consoles are not.

Winners of the annual Toddler Show were announced Friday evening at the DeKalb County Fair.
First place winners received a blue ribbon. Red ribbons went to those receiving second place.
This year’s recipients are as follows:
Twins (13-47 months)
Emma and Will Marshall, the 31 month old children of Melonie Lemons of Liberty.
Boys (13 to 18 months)
Winner: Brylan Hutchings, the 18 month old son of Jeremy and Kristin Hutchings of Young Ridge, Road.
Runner-up: Bryan Paul Parker, the 15 month old son of Mandi Johnson and Paul Parker of Smithville
Other participants:
Brody Elliot Odom, the 13 month old son of Chris and Tiffany Odom of Smithville
Elijah Alexander Redmon, the 15 month old son of Nelson and Kimberly Redmon of Smithville
Spencer Allen Nix, the 16 month old son of Braxton and Kristina Nix of Smithville
Isaac Ray Caldwell, the 15 month old son of Isaac Ray Caldwell of Smithville
Ian Davis, the 16 month old son of Nelson and Jennifer Davis of Smithville
Girls (13 to 18 months)
Winner: Ireland Beth Hobbs, the 16 month old daughter of Ashley Beth Hobbs of Smithville
Runner-up: Eden Donnell, the 17 month old daughter of Travis Donnell and Amber Scurlock of Alexandria.
Other participants: None.
Boys (19 to 24 months)
Winner: Abram Gray Bratten, the 20 month old son of J.D. and Mollie Bratten of Liberty.
Runner-up: Parker McKain Ward, the 22 month old son of Kimberly Ward of Smithville.
Other participant: Zaxtin Skinner, the 19 month old son of Cassondra Skinner and Anthony Skinner of Smithville
Girls (19 to 24 months)
Winner: Katy Jo Bowen, the 20 month old daughter of Joseph and Kimberly Bowen of Smithville.
Runner-up: Ayla Shae Brown, the 19 month old daughter of Karah and Dustin Brown of Smithville.
Other participants
Adalyn Elizabeth Cook, the 19 month old daughter of Cora Beth Rhody and Dustin Cook of Smithville
Harmony Arms, the 24 month old daughter of Shannon Arms of Alexandria
Mia Brooke Gibbs, the 19 month old daughter of James Gibbs and Jana Gibbs of Alexandria
Kendall Reese Allen, the 21 month old daughter of McKayla Poss and Skylar Allen of Smithville
Boys (25 to 30 months)
Winner: Levi Bryson Nixon, the 26 month old son of Nathan and Jessica Nixon of Dowelltown.
Runner-up: Noah Bradley Hall, the 28 month old son of Bradley and Lacy Hall of Alexandria.
Other participants:
Braxton Levi Knowles, the 27 month old son of Justin and Mary Knowles of Smithville
Cainnan Humphrey, the 25 month old son of J.D. and Cathleen Humphrey of Smithville
Girls (25 to 30 months)
Winner: Raven Nicole Fay Jenkins, the 29 month old daughter of Rachel and Michael Lawrence of Smithville
Runner-up: Averi Gracella Speaks, the 25 month old daughter of Justin and Donna Speaks of Smithville
Other participants
Caroline Farmer, the 28 month old daughter of John and Tabitha Farmer of Smithville
Addison Lee Colwell, the 25 month old daughter of Justin Colwell and Sarah Hoilman of Smithville
Alliona Marie Gibbs, the 27 month old daughter of Jackie Gibbs of Liberty
Izzabella Mai Askew, the 27 month old daughter of Robert Askew and Tia Boner of Alexandria
Boys (31 to 36 months): NONE
Girls (31 to 36 months)
Winner: Arraya Jenae Taylor, the 34 month old daughter of Angie Taylor of Smithville.
Runner-up: Zadah Marie Miller, the 34 month old daughter of Shane Miller and Brandy Cox of Dowelltown.
Other participants:
Averie Cheyanne Winchester, the 35 month old daughter of J.J. and Amanda Winchester of Dowelltown
Lillian Rose Dillard, the 36 month old daughter of Anna and Edward Dillard of Dowelltown
Boys (37 to 47 months)
Winner: Jacob Trenton Sprague, the 40 month old son of Jimmy and Johnna Sprague of Smithville.
Runner-up: Zailan Martinez, the 45 month old son of Michelle and Michael Martinez of Smithville.
Girls (37 to 47 months)
Winner: Callen Alizabeth Tramel, the 47 month old daughter of Caleb and Hillary Tramel of Smithville
Runner-up: Charley Loren Prichard, the 47 month old daughter of Andy and Chrissy Prichard of Liberty.
Other participants
Alexis Nicole Graham, the 39 month old daughter of Derek and Andria Graham of Smithville
Addison Bailey Peden, the 41 month old daughter of James Peden and Amanda McClure of Smithville
Lyra Dell McMinn, the 40 month old daughter of Nathan and Amanda McMinn of Smithville
Natalie Rose Johnson, the 40 month old daughter of Rachel Johnson and Jason Ferrell of Smithville
Zoie Dee Ashburn, the 42 month old daughter of Trista Johnson of Smithville
Brooklyn Marie Ring, the 47 month old daughter of Kenneth and Kelly Ring of Alexandria
Kimber Davis, the 38 month old daughter of Jared and Kelli Davis of Smithville
Hannah Lynnlee Hubner, the 39 month old daughter of Amanda Hutchinson and Charlie Hubner of Alexandria
Tonight at the Fair:
Saturday, July 25: Blind Draw Horseshoe Tournament at the Tot Kelly barn at Noon.; Gospel Singing at the Lions Club Pavilion at 6:00 p.m.; Super Tractor and Truck Pull at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena: and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Memory Lane Stage Events:
Saturday Night July 25
6:30-7:30 pm— Mid State Cloggers
7:45-8:45 pm— Evermean Evergreen Cloggers
Rides on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company. Unlimited rides for $18.00 on Saturday.
Admission to the fair is $4.00 per person. Children age four and younger will be admitted free! Gates open at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. The exhibit building is open from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Parking is Free!
For more information, call 529-FAIR or visit on-line at www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com.

Ascension, parent organization of Saint Thomas Health, has signed a definitive agreement with Capella Healthcare to acquire four Middle Tennessee hospitals previously jointly owned by Capella Healthcare and Saint Thomas Health. Upon completion of the transaction, the hospitals will become a part of the Ascension Tennessee ministry, Saint Thomas Health.
Under the agreement, River Park Hospital in McMinnville, Highlands Medical Center in Sparta, DeKalb Community Hospital in Smithville and Stones River Hospital in Woodbury would become full members of the Saint Thomas Health network. The four hospitals have been part of an innovative joint venture relationship between Capella and Saint Thomas since 2012.
“This change furthers Ascension’s goal of creating clinically integrated systems of care to better meet evolving community needs, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable,” said Robert J. Henkel, FACHE, Executive Vice President, Ascension, and President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension Health. “We look forward to finalizing this transaction and welcome the associates and physicians of these hospitals to Saint Thomas Health and Ascension.”

“Saint Thomas Health is passionately committed to improving the health of Middle Tennessee’s communities by providing holistic, faith-based care to individuals,” said Karen Springer, Saint Thomas Health President and CEO, Senior Vice President, Ascension Health/Tennessee Ministry Market Executive. “To achieve this, we have focused on building and expanding a connected system of care across our region. Because of our existing partnership with Capella and our historic service to these communities, gaining full ownership of these important community providers of healthcare will allow us to better serve our patients close to where they live and work.”
During the multi-year partnership, Capella-Saint Thomas Health has expanded the services in each community, enhancing cardiac, stroke and telemedicine services.
“Since our partnership with Saint Thomas Health in 2012, we’ve further enhanced services in the Upper Cumberland region, with our four hospitals becoming part of the Saint Thomas Stroke Network, adding new telemedicine capabilities, and broadening access to physicians,” said Michael A. Wiechart, president and chief executive officer of Capella Healthcare. “To take care to the next level, we have been exploring with Saint Thomas how our partnership could best evolve to achieve our shared goals. With Saint Thomas’ national recognition for quality and their recent partnership with UT’s primary care residency program, we know that this evolution in our relationship comes at the best possible time.
We are proud of the work we have done together and know that Saint Thomas is the right choice to continue to shape the future of healthcare in these communities and across Middle Tennessee.”
The four hospitals will become full members of Saint Thomas Health at a later date, subject to customary closing conditions.
ABOUT SAINT THOMAS HEALTH
Saint Thomas Health is Middle Tennessee’s faith-based, not-for-profit health care system united as one healing community. With more than 6,500 associates, Saint Thomas Health is focused on transforming the health care experience and helping people live healthier lives, with special attention to the poor and vulnerable. The regional health system includes – Saint Thomas Hospital for Spinal Surgery, Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital and Saint Thomas West Hospital in Nashville, Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro and Saint Thomas Hickman Hospital in Centerville – as well as four hospitals in the Capella-Saint Thomas Health network. A comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities complement the hospital services and cover a 68-county area. Saint Thomas Health is a member of Ascension, a Catholic organization that is the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States. For more information, visit www.STHealth.com.
ABOUT CAPELLA HEALTHCARE
Capella Healthcare partners with communities to build strong local healthcare systems that are known for quality patient care. Based in Franklin, Tenn., Capella currently owns and/or operates 13 acute care and specialty hospital facilities in six states. With the philosophy that all healthcare is local, Capella collaborates with each hospital’s medical staff, board and community leadership to take care to the next level. The company has access to significant leadership and financial resources, investing 100% of net cash flow in its family of hospitals to strengthen and expand services and facilities. The company was recognized in 2012 and 2013 by Modern Healthcare as one of the nation’s fastest growing health care companies. For more information, visit the website, www.CapellaHealthcare.com. Twitter: @CapellaHealth
ABOUT ASCENSION
Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, Ascension is committed to delivering person-centered care to all with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. In FY2014, Ascension provided $1.8 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. More than 150,000 associates and 35,000 affiliated providers serve in 1,900 sites of care – including 131 hospitals and more than 30 senior care facilities – in 23 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to healthcare delivery, Ascension subsidiaries provide a variety of services and solutions including physician practice management, venture capital investing, treasury management, biomedical engineering, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascension’s own group purchasing organization.