Being physically active is one of the best things you can do to improve and maintain your health, yet nearly two-thirds of Americans aren’t getting the activity they need. Consider taking up walking with friends or your family by participating in Walk Across Tennessee, which is an eight-week program that will spark some friendly competitions in DeKalb County. The event is being conducted by the University of Tennessee Extension office in partnership with DeKalb Community Hospital. Beginning Thursday, March 19th teams of eight will compete to see who can log the most miles walking, jogging, biking, and other forms of exercise in their community. Biking or jogging teams can have a team of four. The miles walked are not literally across the state, but reported on a map posted at the UT Extension Office, Greenbrook Park, Smithville Review and online.
Since everyone participates in a variety of sports, the Walk Across Tennessee program also has an exercise conversion chart so that participants can count aerobics, swimming, weight lifting, etc. For example, 16 minutes of high intensity aerobics would equal one mile. To make the contest more fair participants are not allowed to count any exercise done while on the job.
The Walk Across Tennessee kickoff for DeKalb County is set for Thursday, March 19 at Greenbrook Park at 6:00 PM. “Teams will keep track of their miles, which will be posted in the Extension office, Greenbrook park, Smithville review, and online. Teams can be composed of coworkers, teachers, students, neighbors, etc. This is an excellent team competition for the workplace, neighborhoods, and families” said April Martin, DeKalb County Extension Agent. For general reporting purposes, 20 minutes will equal one mile, but people can use a pedometer or measure out their distances.”
According to Martin, “There will be cash and other prizes for the winning teams and individuals. There is a small $10 registration fee for each team member. At least half of each team should be residents of DeKalb County to participate.”
To participate in Walk Across Tennessee, first get a team together. Biking and jogging teams are limited to four people. Choose a team captain and name your team. Team captains need to download a captain’s packet, available at the UT Extension of DeKalb County website at http://dekalb.tennessee.edu, at the DeKalb County UT Extension Office or County Complex located at 722 South Congress Blvd. in Smithville. Packets will also be available the day of the sign up on March 19.
Each team member will need to complete a registration form which is included in the team captain’s packet or online. Individual as well as team forms should be returned to the Extension office. Cash awards and prizes will be given to the individuals who walk the most miles as well as the team who walks the most miles.
For more information, call the Extension office at 597-4945 or visit the website.

Members of the DeKalb Animal Coalition for the Humane Treatment of Animals are seeking financial support from the County and City of Smithville to help build an animal shelter.

Sue Puckett Jernigan, a member of the Coalition addressed County Mayor Tim Stribling and members of the County Commission in an informal workshop meeting Thursday night at the courthouse. Other members of the Coalition in attendance were President Marsha Darrah, Jason Ray, Dr. Hugh Don Cripps, and Renee Ferguson. David McDowell and Jason Murphy, also members of the Coalition, were unable to attend.
The Coalition, a 501 (c) 3 charity organization, is reaching out to city and county leaders for help in next year’s budgets but also plans to have fundraisers and seek grants and tax deductible donations from the public to obtain the money needed to build and start up a shelter.
The Coalition’s goal 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 Coalition would like to build a shelter on a four acre site near the solid waste transfer station, behind Tenneco off of Highway 70 east. The property is currently owned by the Smithville Industrial Development Board.
In her remarks Thursday night, Jernigan asked county leaders to consider partnering with the city and share in the estimated cost of $150,000 to build a shelter. The Coalition would raise money for the furnishings. Under the proposal, the city and county would share in the cost of hiring two persons to staff the facility.
“I’m really excited about our DeKalb Coalition for the Humane Treatment of Animals,” said Jernigan. “This has been a headache for the city and county for many years and it’s the aim of our Coalition to assume the burden of the operation for a suitable animal shelter that is yet to be built.”
“We hope to locate the building over behind Tenneco. There’s a few acres over there that would be just perfect for us. We’re hoping that the city and county will share in the approximate cost of $150,000 estimate for constructing the building. This is not going to be any frills building. It’s just going to be bare essentials that’s necessary to do what it is supposed to do. It’s going to be about 3,500 square feet. It would house 28 dogs and I don’t know how many cats because cats are not as big as dogs so we can have more of those,” she said.
” We hope to assume the responsibility of raising the funds to furnish the interior of the facility and that would be the cat cages, the washer, the dryer, the tub, the office equipment, doors, beds, bowls, and things like that which would be a substantial cost of $75,000 to $100,000 but our coalition will assume that cost”.
“Once we have the building we’ll be eligible for grants to defray some of the operating expenses. We’re hoping that the city and county will cooperate and join together in a way that will be acceptable to both entities to have two qualified energetic hard working employees for the shelter. We would assume oversight of the employees and carefully help screen them for the day to day operation of the facility,” she said.
“We want to have an active fostering and adoption program as well as an animal control operation. We will have a spay and neuter program which we are in the process of applying grants for at this time and we will have a very active education program”.
“We would appreciate any help you can give us. We’re all in this business together. We’re in a county that we love and cherish and we want to take care of God’s little creatures,” said Jernigan.
Following Jernigan’s remarks, members of the commission asked some questions of the Coalition.
Sixth District Commissioner Betty Atnip: “Why this location?”
Sue Puckett Jernigan: “It’s an Ideal place with easy access. There are no residents around where neighbors would be complaining about dogs barking. It’s a perfect site we would hope to use”
Atnip: How did you arrive at the $150,000 figure?
Marsha Darrah: “We had a contractor go over this roughly for us. Our next step is to meet with Mary Johnson in Cookeville. She was the architect for the Cookeville Animal Shelter and she has volunteered to help us with some things. We’re hoping that she will do a little free service with us since ours is going to be so small compared to what they did there. We’re hoping that from our meeting with her we’ll be able to get some renderings . But whatever we say (cost estimate), a building is going to have to be put out for bids so it’s only going to be what the acceptable bid is.”
Second District Commissioner Joe Johnson: “What is your time frame?”
Dr. Hugh Don Cripps: “Realistically we were looking at a completion maybe by the end of this year. I don’t know how long it will take to build a building but it’s going to be a shell. We’re hoping that between the county and city they will appropriate enough money to do that then we will individually and through personal donations and money raising events raise enough money to put the inside part to it and that’s probably going to run about as much as the building. Everything said and done it would probably be $300,000. We hope to be able to help staff it with volunteers. We have lots of people who want to volunteer. I know things have been started in the past and not followed up on but we intend to follow up on this even if it’s just us against the world. We’ll try to raise the money. But we hope that you will help us by realizing your responsibility.”
Betty Atnip: “What type of grants are available?”
Renee Ferguson: “There are grants available that would allow us to buy certain equipment. There are grants available for spay and neuter programs. There are grants available for food. There are grants for education purposes. There are lots of grants available but we must have a physical address to apply for a lot of these grants”.
Betty Atnip: ” Who would these people report to? Who would be their boss?”
Marsha Darrah: “We envision it being with the Coalition simply because I doubt that the county would want to fool with the day to day operations of an animal shelter. I know the city is tired of it. We would assume the oversight and let them report to us. That way nobody could call you up and complain. The complaints would go to us”.
Fifth District Commissioner Jerry Adcock: “Who would do the hiring?”
Marsha Darrah: ” We would hope that the city and county would do the hiring but that they would let us (Coalition) have an opportunity to recommend or review their employment”.
Joe Johnson: “I think any hiring and firing should be left to you. I don’t think the county and city should be involved in the hiring and firing. Just let you be a separate entity and if we give you the money, you take care of it. It would be best to let you have control of that. I think you could make better decisions than we could”.
The county commission’s budget committee will soon begin work on the 2015-16 budget but whether funding for this project will be included has not yet been decided .
Meanwhile, the public is invited to attend monthly meetings of the DeKalb Animal Coalition which are held on the first Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Smithville city hall building

Sixty-one students entered their projects into the annual DeKalb West School Science Fair. Held March 12 and 13, students in Kindergarten through 8th grade participated in one of three categories– research, experiment or model.
There were several intriguing entries. For the experiments students tested their hypothesis. Jaxon Humphrey investigated the practical question of “Which Carpet Cleaner Works Best?” while Dawson Bandy wanted to find out how two different candies, Skittles and Mentos, would perform in Diet Coke. Aniston Farler made a sharp point with her bed of nails experiment that demonstrated the importance of weight distribution. Students researched volcanoes, where electricity is derived, stinging insects, and whether Atlantis was fact or fiction, and numerous other topics. Mileena Rodriguez decided to compete in the model category with her “Earth Layers.” Mariah Mofield had a model of “Organs of the Digestive System” and Hailey Bogle explored the solar system. While there were many excellent entries, judges picked the following students as the official winners.
Here are the results from K-2 grades (Research): 1st place, Michael Justice with “Rocks of Tennessee” and 2nd place, Caitlin Shoemake with “Trees”; K-2 (Experiment) tied for 1st place, Kenson Moss with “Inside Out Easter Egg” and Thomas Damron with “The Science of Hot Wheels”, and tied for 2nd place, Chaylea Lunsford with “Rainbow Water” and Conner Talley with “The Super Magnet.” There were no model entries in the K-2 grade band.
Here are the results from 3-5 grades (Research): 1st place, Isaac Brown with “Stinging Insects,” 2nd place, Luke Driver with “Gardening in New Ground,” and 3rd place: Devon Maxwell with “Life Cycle of a Butterfly”; 3-5 (Model): 1st place, Gavin Conger with “Two Ideas for Setting a Single Circuit,” 2nd place, Izzy Haugh with “Volcanoes,” and 3rd place, Jarrod Smith with “Life Cycle of a Tadpole”; 3-5 (Experiment): 1st place, Zoi Hale with “Tooth or Dare,” 2nd place, Matt Nokes with Gears: Torque vs. Speed, and 3rd place, Madison Martin with “Rocket Car.”
Here are the results from 6-8th grades (Research), 1st place, Holly Evans with “How Do Some Body Noises Occur,” 2nd place tied between Callie Mulloy with “Mercaptopurine and You” and Grayson Redmon with “Sea Frogs,” and 3rd place, Haley Dies with “The Heart”; 6-8 (Model): 1st place, Garrett Driver with “Electricity,” 2nd place, Janelle Rodriguez with “Organization of Life,” and 3rd place, “Hailey Bogle” with “Our Solar System”; 6-8 (Experiment): 1st place, Christian Trail with “Heart Health,” 2nd place tied between Emma Damron with “Walking on Water” and Peyton Harris with “Re-evaluate Your Drinks,” and 3rd place, Elijah Aucoin with “Glowing Water.”
Receiving Honorable Mention from all grades were Mariah Mofield, Cody Woodham, Jaxon Humphrey, John Ellis, Brayden Antoniak, Kortnee Skeen, Aly Griffith, Noah Evans, Aniston Farler, Jake Christian, Bonnie Hale, Ellie Vaughn, Cameron Bailey, and Bralin Moss.

Hundreds of people from DeKalb County and other areas will be able to obtain free health care services on Saturday and Sunday, March 28 & 29 in Smithville
Remote Area Medical will be setting up a Free Health Care Clinic at DeKalb County High School for anyone including those without medical insurance, or those who are un-insured, under-insured, unemployed, under-employed, and/or who cannot afford to pay for services.
(VIEW VIDEO BELOW)

The clinic operates on a “first-come, first-served basis” and will open for registration at 6:00 a.m. each day. Patients may show up as early as 3:00 a.m. to obtain a ticket. Be prepared for a long wait.
The following services will be available at this RAM clinic: Dental (cleaning, fillings, and extractions), Vision (eye exams, eyeglass prescriptions, and eyeglasses made on-site – as time and supplies allow), and Medical (general medical consults, women’s health exams).
“Patients needing care will be seen on a first-come, first served basis regardless of income qualifications,” said County Mayor Tim Stribling. “Patients will have to choose between dental and vision services but they will be able to seek women’s health or a general medical consultation in addition. They will be doing pap smears for women. They’re talking about maybe being able to do mammograms. They are not for sure yet. They will be giving flu shots. Dental care is limited to cleanings, extractions, and a small number of fillings. Vision care will involve an eye exam, with glasses often made on site depending on the complexity of a patient’s prescription,” he said.
Remote Area Medical (RAM) is a non-profit, volunteer corps dedicated to serving mankind by providing free health care, dental care, eye care, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States and the world.
Founded in 1985, Remote Area Medical is a publicly supported all-volunteer charitable organization. Volunteer doctors, nurses, and support workers participate in expeditions (at their own expense). Medical supplies, medicines, facilities and vehicles are donated.
“The number (patients) to be served depends upon how many medical professionals they have. The more dentists they have on site the more tickets they can give out. The same way with the vision. The more doctors they have there to do eye tests the more tickets they will be able to give out. I talked with them Wednesday and they plan to have a good general support staff coming and they look for a good clinic,” said County Mayor Stribling.
Medical professionals along with anyone else wishing to volunteer may sign up at www.ramusa.org. or you may call the County Mayor’s office at 615-597-5175.
The county will be responsible for making sure the medical professionals and staff who visit here have a place to lodge for two nights and that their meals are provided. “We are going to feed them and we’ve got some churches and organizations that have volunteered to do that. On Saturday morning, the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church will be feeding breakfast. Lunch on Saturday will be by the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department. Supper on Saturday night will be by the Smithville Church of God. Then on Sunday morning the Smithville First Baptist Church will provide breakfast and lunch will be by the Smithville Church of Christ. We must house the doctors and their staff. We’ll be doing that at Lakeside Resort. We’ll put them up Friday and Saturday night. They will try to finish by noon or 1:00 p.m. Sunday so they can pack up all their equipment and move off campus by about 4:00 p.m.” County Mayor Stribling said.
Anyone who wants to make a donation may contact the County Mayor’s Office at 615-597-5175. “We’ve had some businesses and civic organizations that have donated. None of the money donated will go to pay medical professionals. It’s just to house and feed them and for other expenses while they are here,” said County Mayor Stribling

Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger is apparently ready to fight for his job.
(VIEW VIDEO OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING BELOW)

During a special meeting of the Mayor and Aldermen Tuesday evening, Caplinger appeared with his attorneys, Sarah Cripps and Brandon Cox seeking due process after being placed on suspension pending termination by Mayor Jimmy Poss last Friday. Speaking on his behalf, Cripps said that Caplinger, a veteran law enforcement officer, has done nothing wrong and will not resign. A contingent of Caplinger supporters filled the meeting room to back the embattled Police Chief.
Since no action could be taken by the aldermen on a severance package, the reason for which the special meeting was called Tuesday evening, Mayor Poss now has the option of sending a letter to the chief informing him that he is being terminated. If so, Caplinger has seven business days to request a hearing before the entire board of aldermen who has the power to sustain or overturn a termination . Caplinger’s request for a hearing must be made to the mayor. The mayor then has five business days to respond. If the process were to get that far, both Mayor Poss and City Attorney Vester Parsley say Caplinger would be granted a hearing.
Saying he felt the department needs new leadership, Mayor Poss took the action to suspend Chief Caplinger Friday with the support of Police Commissioner Jason Murphy. Both Alderman Murphy and City Attorney Parsley were at the meeting.
According to Cripps, the Chief was first presented a letter of resignation at that meeting with the mayor but Caplinger refused to sign it. “On Friday March 13 suddenly and without any foreknowledge, Mr. Caplinger was presented a letter of resignation prepared beforehand by city officials of whom we know not. He was requested to sign that at a meeting attended by Mayor Poss, City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson, Police Commissioner and Alderman Jason Murphy, and Attorney Parsley. At that time he (Caplinger) declined to sign the letter presented to him,” said Attorney Cripps.
But Parsley told the Aldermen Tuesday evening that Caplinger brought up the subject of a buyout in consideration for his resignation at the Friday meeting. “We met with him last week. He requested that he appear before the board and ask that they consider a payment of six months to a year of his upcoming salary in consideration of his resignation,” said Parsley.
According to Parsley, the reason for the special called meeting Tuesday night was to consider the “buy out” or “severance pay” option since only the aldermen can make that decision. Parsley, however said he would not recommend authorizing a “buy out” because Caplinger does not have an employment contract with the city and that it sets a bad precedent for the future. “I would point out first of all that we don’t have a written contract with the Chief and in the past we have not paid anyone an annual salary when they weren’t actually working. That being the case I think it does set a bad precedent for the city to pay someone who isn’t on a written contract. Therefore he is an employee at will. It would be my recommendation that the city not do that,” said City Attorney Parsley.
Cripps said Chief Caplinger has not tendered a resignation nor has he been given a reason for his suspension. ” Chief Caplinger spent 30 years in public service with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and then came to this job in May 2010 desiring to continue to serve the public. As I address you tonight, Chief Caplinger and his counsel still have not been apprised of the reason or reasons behind his sudden suspension without pay that occurred on March 13. Chief Caplinger comes here tonight asking very little of you. He will not resign under a cloud and he will not go quietly into the dark night. Chief Caplinger wishes to make it clear to everyone who is here that he categorically denies wrongdoing in any shape, form, or fashion. Moreover, he stands before you tonight ready, willing, and eager to defend himself in a public forum with zeal and energy and to allow the chips to fall where they may and upon whomsoever they will.”
“The foundation and the cornerstone upon which our American Judicial System is founded is the concept of due process and that encompasses a few key elements. One of those is a written statement notifying the accused or in this case the person who is being asked to resign of the allegations and charges against him. Secondly, written notice of a hearing that is scheduled to hear these matters. Finally and maybe most importantly, an opportunity to be heard and to state his case in a full and fair hearing. We welcome that scrutiny. We demand due process because for 30 years with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and almost five years as Police Chief for the City of Smithville, Chief Caplinger has not received any reprimands. He has not been the subject of disciplinary action by this honorable board nor by officials in the State of Tennessee’s government. In closing, as I stated we will not resign. We demand due process and I’d like to ask all of those present who support the Chief to stand and be heard,” said Cripps
The crowd attending the meeting then rose to their feet and applauded and cheered their support for Chief Caplinger.
Both Aldermen Josh Miller and Shawn Jacobs expressed frustration for not being made aware of the decision on Chief Caplinger until after he was suspended. “Friday a board member called me and told me about what had taken place with Chief Caplinger. I was in the dark about this,” said Alderman Miller. ” I did not know until after the fact. I immediately started making phone calls to find out why and what for. I wanted to know. I think I have a right just like everyone else. I started hearing about a list. Later that evening I also found out that many city police officers and many city employees knew this. I was one of the board members who did not know this. In business or anything in life if someone goes behind my back deliberately I question the motive. I met with Mr. (Hunter) Hendrixson yesterday (Monday) and I saw the list and after I read it I immediately asked him for any write-ups on Mr. Caplinger. I did not get any. All I want is facts. I don’t care what “he” says or “she” says. I want facts. People have put their trust in us as a board and its our duty to make sure that the motives are pure and clean,” said Alderman Miller.
“”I was caught totally by surprise. I actually think I was the last Alderman to be notified of the Chief’s suspension,” said Alderman Jacobs. ” I heard that from Mr. Miller who called me at work Friday. I was totally shocked. I had no idea this was coming down. I really did not know what to think. I really felt betrayed. I am the longest serving member on this board. I have been police commissioner. But no one took the opportunity to discuss it with the rest of the board before anything was done or at least with Mr. Miller and myself. I just think that this is not good government. That does not smell like good government to me. I think its reprehensible that something like that occurred in a vacuum without us being able to sit down together as ladies and gentlemen and discuss things. I’m not really aware of any problems at all with Chief Caplinger’s performance. No one is perfect. I think the Chief has done a good job for us. The biggest complaint I have heard is about morale in the police department which is a huge shock to me because we have not lost but one police officer in almost five years. We’ve been retaining our officers. May I say I would like to compliment the entire department. They have been doing a fantastic job. Even if morale is low the department has been doing a fantastic job in my opinion under the Chief’s leadership be it good or bad. And if you have a morale problem, I don’t think firing someone is necessarily the way you address that every time. It’s not always from the top that morale is set. I am truly bothered by the way this has gone down. I am truly bothered by the fact that it almost happened in a vacuum without input from other members of the board. I know this is a responsibility that the mayor does have. The mayor and the department head do have that option to do that (suspend) but given the magnitude of this position and given the fact that for ten years we’ve had a rotating chair in there with police chiefs, it’s time it stopped. It’s time we have a chief and allow him to build and run his department. If I am presented with evidence that shows that Mr. Caplinger has done something atrocious that deserves dismissal I might change my mind. But at the moment I think this has been a terrible rush to judgment and I think it has been a slap in the face not only to Mr. Caplinger but especially to this board which is duly elected by the citizens of this city, and of course to the great citizens of this city itself,” said Alderman Jacobs.
Alderman Gayla Hendrix stressed that the reason for the special meeting Tuesday night was not to make a decision on terminating Chief Caplinger but to consider action on a severance package had he chosen to tender a resignation, which he did not do. “I appreciate Mr. Jacobs and Mr. Miller’s comments but this is not a termination hearing. It’s not a public forum. I was notified that the mayor, the administrator, and the commissioner did meet with the chief and that the chief expressed his desire to resign or retire and that he asked for a severance package, which they do not have the authority to grant or deny and that we (aldermen) were having a special called meeting tonight specifically for that reason. There has been no reason for anyone to give us any kind of information of wrongdoing. Nobody has told me anything of the Chief doing anything wrong. The only thing I have heard is that he resigned or retired and asked for a severance package. We’re here tonight and people are bringing up things that are not on this agenda for this special called meeting. What I understand is that his attorney has announced that he is withdrawing a resignation or retirement, whichever it was. Therefore we have no reason to meet,” said Alderman Hendrix.
“My understanding is he is not asking for a severance package at all tonight and if he is not requesting that then there is no other business that can be conducted tonight,” added City Attorney Parsley.
“I just want to make clear that I was never officially notified of tonight’s meeting but I did indeed know that this was merely a meeting to consider the severance package. I know we could not take any other action tonight. I just think the people have a right to know the way this was carried out. It was very distasteful to me. This is public policy. People have a right to know what is going on in government. It is an open meeting,” Alderman Jacobs said in response to Alderman Hendrix.
“I agree with you on that Mr. Jacobs and when we get to a due process hearing I think all of that needs to be presented to us but at this point the only information I had was that the Chief was either retiring or resigning and its none of our business why he would do either one. There is no reason to look into that today,” replied Alderman Hendrix.
Attorney Cripps repeated that Chief Caplinger has not tendered a resignation.

Property owners in Liberty may see an increase in their annual tax bills this fall.
In order to bring in more revenue to a general fund budget which has been showing a shortfall, the Liberty Aldermen Monday night voted 4-1 to double the city property tax rate from .0915 to .1830 per $100 of assessed value for the 2015-16 budget year.
Aldermen Jason Ray, Todd Dodd, Joe D. Bratten, and Howard Reynolds, Jr. all voted for the increase. Alderman Paul Neal cast a vote against it. WJLE was at the meeting.
If approved by the aldermen on second reading in April, taxpayers would see their bills double in October, which for some would only amount to a dollar or five dollar increase per year. While the aldermen were reluctant to vote the increase because of the impact it could have on the town’s residents, especially the elderly and those on fixed incomes, they felt it necessary to help get the town’s financial house in better order.
For year ending June 30, 2014, General Fund expenditures exceeded revenues by $20,982. In order to balance the budget, city officials had to appropriate $20,982 from the town’s fund balance (reserves).
Over the years as costs to operate have increased, the town’s revenues have not kept pace. ” We’re getting less money from the state and interest rates have dropped to nothing. That was one of our big incomes because of the CD’s we have”, said one city official.
According to town leaders this proposed tax increase may be the first in Liberty’s history. Even at eighteen cents, the rate is the lowest among the town’s in the county that have a property tax rate. Still, the new money derived from the proposed tax hike won’t erase the shortfall. Currently, the town receives $4,273 from its tax rate. That would go to $8,660 with the increase. City officials may have to consider cuts in services in the future as a further option to reduce costs and save money
The mayor and aldermen will hold a town hall meeting or public hearing at the next council meeting on Monday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m. at town hall to give residents a chance to comment on the proposed tax increase. The aldermen are then expected to take action on second and final reading.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is placing the final concrete to complete a barrier wall in the main dam embankment of Center Hill Dam this week. These concrete pours complete the $115 million foundation barrier wall, a key component of the Center Hill Dam Safety Remediation Project.
“The barrier wall provides a permanent ‘barrier’ to potentially harmful seepage beneath the main dam earthen embankment,” said Linda Adcock, project manager. “Completion of this phase of the project significantly increases the safety of the dam.”
Adcock explained that the concrete barrier wall is approximately 2.5-feet thick constructed vertically along the embankment in overlapping rectangular columns as deep as 308 feet from the top of the dam and deep into the solid-rock foundation.
Bauer Foundation Corporation performed the work to protect the earthen portion of Center Hill Dam. The “first bite” of a giant auger drill rig turned up the first dirt of the project July 11, 2012.
This is the second of three contracts to remediate the Center Hill project. The third and final contract expected to be awarded later this year involves the installation of a concrete berm downstream of the auxiliary dam embankment. The auxiliary dam is a secondary earthen embankment that fills a low area in the landscape just east of the main dam.
The lake levels continue to be operated between elevation 630 feet above mean seal level in the summer and no lower than elevation 618 MSL during the late fall and early winter.
Center Hill Dam is rated in the Corps’ “Dam Safety Action Classification I,” which is the most urgent category for Dam Safety modification in the Corps. Even though the concrete barrier wall is complete, the classification of the dam cannot be changed until the third and final contract is completed, the remediation works are assessed and the project is reclassified. The final reviews are expected to be completed in 2018; the lake level is expected to be raised in time for the summer recreation season.
(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorpsand on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.)
Photo Cutline: Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District and Bauer Foundation Corporation put the finishing touches on the last concrete placement of the Center Hill Dam Remediation Project at Lancaster, Tenn. The Corps of Engineers and its Contractor Bauer Foundation Corporation installed a 2.5-feet thick concrete barrier wall vertically along the embankment in overlapping rectangular columns as deep as 308 feet from the top of the dam deep into the solid-rock foundation. The placement completes the $115 million foundation barrier wall project that began July 11, 2012. Enough concrete was placed into the embankment to build a four-foot wide sidewalk 200 miles or about the distance between Nashville and Knoxville in Tennessee. (USACE photo by Lee Roberts)

Although he still has more than two years left in his contract with the Board of Education, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby has decided to retire, effective June 30, 2015.
Willoughby called a meeting with his central office staff and department heads Monday morning at the Board of Education building to make the announcement. WJLE was present for the meeting.
Willoughby then sent an electronic notice to members of the Board of Education. “My notice to the school board is Please let this serve as notice of my retirement as of June 30, 2015. Thank you Mark Willoughby”. ” I think it is in the best interest of the children,” said Willoughby to the staff.
During the meeting Willoughby spoke of his relationship with members of the school board, most of whom were elected in August and took office September 1.
“I had a real good working relationship with the board for eight years. It’s no secret that since September a couple of members of the board and I haven’t gotten along very well. Hopefully their interest is in the best of the children. My interest has always been for the best of the children. I have fought for all the children of DeKalb County. But I don’t think it is good for the Director of Schools and Board to have conflict. I think it is good for them to get along,” Willoughby told the staff.
Willoughby has served as Director since July 1st, 2006. Just over a year ago, he was offered a new three year contract by the board of education. Board members at that time John David Foutch, Charles Robinson, Kenny Rhody, and Chairman Johnny Lattimore voted in favor. Members Billy Miller, Doug Stephens, and W.J. (Dub) Evins, III voted against it, preferring a one year contract instead.
Today, the school board has five new members. Four of them were elected last August including Danny Parkerson, Jerry Wayne Johnson, Jim Beshearse, and Shaun Tubbs. Billy Miller was re-elected from the fourth district but resigned later due to job obligations. His wife Kate Miller was then appointed by the county commission to Miller’s position until the August 2016 election. The other two members are W.J. (Dub) Evins, III and Doug Stephens.
Willoughby’s relationship with the new board has not been the same as the former board as was reflected in his annual performance evaluation in January when the new board found that Willoughby was not meeting their expectations. With a possible numerical rating of up to 6, Willoughby’s overall average score was 2.92 as a result of the evaluation.
Since the evaluation, Willoughby told the staff that he has been asked to renegotiate his contract. Willoughby said he did not feel that would be respectful to the past board members especially Kenny Rhody, who has since passed away.
Willoughby concluded the meeting by thanking the staff for their support. “When you work with people in the same building it’s like you become family. I love you and I think you are super, wonderful individuals and I am glad to call you part of my family,” said Director Willoughby.
“I want to thank the Board and all the people of the county for allowing me to work with DeKalb County schools for almost nine years. I think there has been a lot of things accomplished. I am proud of the accomplishments that’s been made. We’ve got some of the best employees that there are in the state of Tennessee,” said Director Willoughby in an interview with WJLE after the staff meeting.
“After the elections things have changed but I don’t think it’s that unusual with school systems. After an election new board members come on and they’ve got new ideas and different thoughts. I hope as they search for a new director, the board will find someone they will feel good about and take that director’s advice and do what’s best for our children. I think that’s what every director would want in any school system throughout Tennessee but that’s especially what I want for our children in DeKalb County. I’d like for our board to do their best to try to find the best candidate possible and then work with that candidate and get advice from educators. I think that is the best thing for our children,” added Director Willoughby.
Asked for a response to Willoughby’s announcement, Board Chairman Evins told WJLE “I feel it is my fiduciary responsibility to call a “Special Called Meeting” as soon as possible, in order to allow the entire Board the opportunity to consider and act on Director Willoughby’s retirement announcement and timeframe”.

The VFW POST 7623 is apparently gone for good.
Because of inactivity in recent years, the local VFW charter has been revoked by the State Commander, pending final approval by the national VFW organization.
A meeting was held Saturday at the county complex to give VFW members a chance to show their concern for saving the POST but only one active member showed up. “We revoked the charter as of today (Saturday). It now goes on to our national organization with our explanation,” said State VFW Commander William (Bill) G. Crawford who was in Smithville for the meeting Saturday. Crawford spoke with WJLE in an interview after the meeting.
Several weeks ago Crawford sent a letter to Ron Miller, the Acting Commander for VFW POST 7623, informing him that the charter was being suspended pending possible revocation because the local POST had failed to hold meetings and elect officers in violation of the national VFW BY-Laws. “They were suspended because there was no activity. There were no meetings and no community and VFW programs. Officers were never elected and there was some people not involved anymore so we (State VFW) took a stand two years ago and said we have to get it moving. It hasn’t been moved so we’re asking them to surrender their charter,” said State Commander Crawford.
While the POST will cease to exist, Commander Crawford said local VFW members may join other POSTS in the area. A new POST could even be started here in the future at a different location if at least one hundred members join. “The members will be able to switch to another POST in the area or district. They also have the opportunity to get a VFW POST back in DeKalb County with at least one hundred members. They’ll be able to start another POST if they get one hundred members who want to participate,” said Commander Crawford.
The existing property on Sparta Highway will be sold but the monument and cannons on the grounds of the local VFW POST could be placed in the care of the city or county to be put on display at other locations. “We’re going to work with the city and county to try and place them where the community can see and respect them,” said Commander Crawford.
An effort will also be made to dispose of pictures and other things inside the POST building according to Miller. “There are a tremendous amount of pictures that belong to residents of DeKalb County that need to be returned to them. There are some items in there that people may want. A lot of people built that place. There may be some sentimental things (their families) may want which they are welcome to. It needs to be passed on to the descendants of those people,” said Miller.
You may call Miller to inquire at 931-761-2307. Leave a message and Miller will return your call.
If the property is sold, the state VFW would have to place funds from the sale in a trust which could be used to obtain a new charter or start another POST within two years should there be any interest, according to Miller. “Even though they have pulled the charter on this we’ve got two years to make a decision. If the property is sold, it could still be put in a trust. They can’t mess with the funds for two years. If the POST acquires 100 members to start a charter back up again, it should all go to them,” said Miller.
The VFW POST 7623 was established in 1961.

Members of the DeKalb County Republican Party met Saturday morning at the courthouse to elect officers to serve for the next two years.
Local attorney Mingy Colwell Bryant was elected Chairman of the Party.
Other officers are Vice Chairman Clint Hall, Secretary Sharon Rhoten, Treasurer Tom Chandler, and Assistant Treasurer Dustin Estes. The new officers were nominated as a group and elected by acclamation with no other names placed in nomination.
Bryant thanked the party faithful for the confidence and trust they have placed in her to lead the local GOP. “I greatly appreciate this opportunity. I consider it a great honor. We have a lot of new and innovative ideas. We have a great board. We have new members as well as members who have been on for a while which is going to guide us and keep us on the right track. A lot of people, and I’ve seen the Democratic Party do this, they will say our goal and job is to grow our party. Well our party is big. Our party, I think is a really good size, we just need more involvement from our party. We need more structure to where we all stand together not only at the state level but also at the local level. We need more people to stand up. One person by their self will just drift away but if we can get together as a group, we can make a change. We can get the bills passed that we want passed. We just have to stand together and have our voices heard and not just wait and hope somebody else takes that torch. Thank you for all your support,” she said.
Last year Bryant ran for General Sessions Judge.
State Senator Mae Beavers and State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Mark Pody attended the meeting and spoke briefly on issues before the general assembly. Jennifer Winfree, State Committee Woman and former DeKalb Party Chairman was also recognized along with local elected Republican officials Sheriff Patrick Ray, Trustee Sean Driver, Road Supervisor Butch Agee, and Fifth District County Commissioner Jerry Adcock.