For decades, a bustling downtown was the social, cultural and financial lifeblood of communities across America. With today’s interstates spidering through land that used to be thought of as “out there,” Main Street’s shops and diners, once filled with familiar faces, have been competing with big box stores and parking decks in sprawling bedroom communities. Here in Tennessee, we’re not ready to let downtown become a memory.
Smithville is among the communities seeking to revive its downtown districts. In December, 2010, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced that Smithville was among 12 communities selected to participate in Tennessee Downtowns, a competitive community improvement program for cities and counties seeking to revitalize traditional commercial districts. Communities with central business districts at least 50 years old are eligible to apply for a downtown revitalization package, which includes a site visit, attendance at a two-day downtown revitalization workshop, ongoing technical assistance and an innovation project grant.
Mini-grants are available to local downtown business owners who want to join in the effort.
The new Tennessee Downtowns Design Committee will be taking applications for downtown Smithville building owners who will invest a minimum of $1,000 in exterior improvements to their buildings. If your application is approved by the committee, you will be eligible to receive $500.
The deadline for filing your application is June 30. Your project must be completed within 60 days of the date of approval. After a design committee inspection and Chamber receiving receipts, a $500 reimbursement should be expected within 30 to 60 days.
Fore more information, contact the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce at 597-4163
Tennessee joins a growing national movement to improve the business climate in America’s traditional downtowns. Main Street works with these communities to provide technical assistance, training and guidance to improve the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of traditional commercial districts. The “Main Street Approach to Revitalization”™ guides communities to develop strong, broad-based local organizations and to create a road map for implementation and management of the revitalization process.
In the middle 1980s Tennessee Main Street Program joined the National Main Street Center as a coordinating partner. Since then our program has engaged with towns and cities across Tennessee, spreading the national methodology and language of “Main Street” , developed more than 30 years ago and successful in more than 2,500 communities across America.
The National Main Street Center’s © “Main Street Approach to Downtown Revitalization” comprehensive downtown revitalization advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment and the rebuilding of traditional business districts based on unique assets such as distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment and local ownership. In other words, we believe in community-driven, common sense solutions to make our downtowns safe, appealing and vibrant places where folks want to shop, live and make memories.
Downtowns play an important role in a community’s economic development strategy. These commercial cores usually account for as much as 30 percent of a community’s jobs and 40 percent of its tax base. Downtown is also a community’s crossroads – a place in our hearts and minds that evoke strong emotions and help define our identity.
The benefits of downtown revitalization are clear:
Revitalization protects the existing tax base. Private investment in banks, businesses and commercial property and public investment in streets, sidewalks and water and sewer lines are protected and enhanced.
Revitalization provides an incubator for new business. A viable downtown offers opportunities and incentives for the new entrepreneurs such as lower rent and technical assistance.
Revitalization helps attract industrial development. Downtown reflects the overall image a community projects to potential investors. An invigorated downtown makes a very positive statement about the whole community.
Revitalization provides a point of focus and stability. A vibrant downtown gives the whole community and region a sense of pride and positive self-image. It also serves as an anchor that holds the community together and provides the stability necessary for economic growth.

More than one million dollars in scholarships were awarded to sixty nine members of the Class of 2012 at DeKalb County High School during Thursday’s annual Senior Awards Day program.
Representatives of colleges, universities, branches of the armed services, businesses, civic groups, and other organizations made the presentations.
Heather Vidal, the Class Salutatorian, received more than $108,000 in scholarships, the largest total award presented to any student during the program. Vidal was presented a scholarship of $84,820 from Union University and the $24,000 Ned McWherter scholarship.
Meanwhile, Adam James, the Class Valedictorian, was presented an award for perfect attendance during the 2011-12 school year. Honor students, Tennessee Scholars, and students who have received the High Schools That Work Award of Educational Achievement were also recognized.
Other scholarship recipients are as follows:
Lela Ambrose
University of Tennessee at Knoxville: $30,600
Joseph Angaran:
Anthony Duane Trapp Memorial: $1,000
Christian Atnip:
Smithville Women’s Club: $350
Jessica Ball:
DTC Communications McAllen Foutch Memorial: $8,000
Thomas Beltz:
U.S. Marines Enlistment
Dustin Brown:
DeKalb County Children’s Service Council: $500
Chelsea Cantrell:
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home: $500
Megan Cantrell:
DeKalb Fire Fighters: $500
Tiffany Cantrell:
DeKalb Funeral Chapel: $500
Michael W. Caldwell:
Jolly Angels: $1,000
DeKalb County Scottish Rite: $1,000
Yesenia Cintron:
U.S. Marines Music Award
Erin Colwell:
David Wayne Alexander Memorial: $1,000
DeKalb Funeral Chapel: $500
Smithville Rotary Club: $750
Jakob Craven:
Dailey & Vincent Scholarship: $1,000
Alex Cripps:
U.S. Navy Enlistment: $85,000
Chelsea Crutcher:
U.S. Army Enlistment: $71,500
Jonathan Edwards:
University of Tennessee at Knoxville: $23,200
CIC Foundation: $10,000
Jolly Angels: $1,000
DCHS Beta Club Scholarship: $500
Matthew Elliott:
U.S. Marines Enlistment
Katy England:
Class of 1966: $500
Whitney England:
Tennessee Tech University: $16,000
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home Allen D. Hooper Memorial Award: $500
Jolly Angels: $1,000
DCHS Beta Club Scholarship: $500
Jeremie Ferdelman
U.S. Navy Enlistment: $85,000
Sloane Garrett:
Jeff Garrett Memorial: $500
AmVets Auxiliary: $250
Jolly Angels: $1,000
Jessica Garrison:
Tennessee Tech University: $10,000
Liberty State Bank: $1,000
Leadership DeKalb
Zachary Goldstein:
Universal Technical Institute Imagine America Foundation: $1,000
Katelyn Goodwin:
First Bank: $500
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home: $500
Todd Hasty:
Mentors Association Scholarship: $5,000
Tiffini Hendrixson:
Covenant College: $12,000
U.S. Marines Athlete Award
Johnna Hensley:
Dailey & Vincent Scholarship: $1,000
DeKalb Community Hospital: $500
FCCLA: $200
Heather Hughes:
Mentors Association Scholarship:$5,000
Brooke Hutchings:
Covenant College: $12,000
DeKalb Funeral Chapel: $500
Adam James:
Belmont University: $40,000
Sarah Jones:
Tennessee Tech University: $3,000
DeKalb County Soil Conservation District: $500
Doyle & Melford Smith Scholarship: $1,000
Stephanie Jones:
Martin Methodist:$25,000
Ally Judkins:
Kyle & Kenny Robinson Memorial: $1,000
Danielle Knowles:
DeKalb PTO: $300
Smithville Rotary Math Award: $100
Monse Leon:
Martin Methodist:$41,600
Tammy Li:
Liberty State Bank: $1,000
DCHS Student Council: $500
Elzie & Nell McBride Memorial: $500
Allison Little:
Tennessee Tech University: $4,000
Sarah Lomas:
Dailey & Vincent Scholarship: $1,000
Laura Martinez:
Tennessee Tech University: $10,000
U.S. Marines Scholar Award
Alex Meadows:
Lucille Stewart Memorial: $2,000
U.S. Army Athlete Award
Mason Merriman:
Kyle & Kenny Robinson Memorial: $1,000
Smithville Rotary Club: $750
Dustin Netherton:
U.S. Marines Enlistment
Tevin Owens:
Agee Oil Scholarship: $1,500
DeKalb Firefighters: $500
Jacob Odom:
University of Tennessee at Knoxville: $30,600
U.S. Army Athlete Award
Laura Pafford:
Mentors Association Scholarship: $5,000
Tennessee Tech University: $4,000
Hailey Perry:
DeKalb Republican Women: $500
Sebastian Phillips:
Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Scholarship: $500
AmVets: $250
U.S. Marines Athlete Award
Chris Powell:
U.S. Navy Enlistment: $85,000
Kidman Puckett:
DeKalb Funeral Chapel: $500
Stephanie Rackley:
Smithville Rotary Club: $750
Smithville Business & Professional Women’s Club: $500
Cora Beth Rhody:
Smithville Women’s Club: $350
Louis Richards:
Smithville Rotary Vocational Award: $100
NADC
Martin Riley:
U.S. Army Enlistment: $71,500
Yazmin Rivera:
Martin Methodist: $41,600
Sydney Robinson:
First Bank: $500
Leadership DeKalb
Johnna Roller:
Tennessee Tech University Cheerleading
Elizabeth Sanders:
Eddie Crips Memorial: $1,000
DeKalb Funeral Chapel: $500
Leadership DeKalb
Russell Storey:
U.S. Navy Enlistment: $85,000
Laura Sullivan:
Motlow State Community College: $4,000
DeKalb Retired Teachers: $750
Victoria Tatrow:
Tennessee Tech University: $10,000
Jolly Angels: $1,000
Zach Thompson:
MTSU: $16,000
Briana Vidal:
Cedarville University: $42,000
Comcast: $1,000
Heather Vidal:
Union University: $84,820
Ned McWherter Scholarship: $24,000
Krystal White:
MTSU: $16,000
Ashlee Whitehead:
Smithville Business & Professional Women’s Club: $500
Jacob Williams:
U.S. Marines Enlistment
Austin Wilmore:
Tennessee Tech University: $4,000
Alyssa Young:
Dailey & Vincent Scholarship: $1,000
Smithville Rotary Club: $750
Riley Young:
Tennessee Tech University: $3,000

Although she has lived elsewhere for much of her life, DeKalb County is the place Carol Williams and her husband Don have called home now for about fifteen years.
For the past seventeen years, Williams has been a special education Algebra teacher at DeKalb County High School, a position she will be giving up at the close of the school year when she retires.
Williams, who has family ties in DeKalb County, lived here for a while herself as a child. “I am related to the Trapp family. All of my mother’s family graduated from high school here,” said Williams. ” I went to first grade here at College Street Elementary. We lived here when I was sixteen months old until the end of my first grade year. My father was Chief of Flight Service at the airport when the Civil Aeronautics Administration, which is now the Federal Aviation Agency, was in the airport here over on Smith Road. They later closed this CAA down and moved it to Crossville, so we moved to Crossville and from second grade to high school I finished at Cumberland County High School,” said Williams.
Williams said she knew early in life that she wanted to become a teacher, having been inspired by family members who were educators. “My goal in life was to be a teacher because my great aunt, Lillie Trapp Spencer, taught here for many years. An aunt and an uncle also taught here for a period of time until their job moved them elsewhere,” she said.
When she took the job at DCHS in 1995, Williams taught both special education English and Math. “We split English and Math but as standards changed, it was hard to prepare lessons for two subjects. I’ve been teaching Algebra alone for four or five years,” said Williams.
As a special education teacher, Williams has helped students master a subject that often poses challenges. ” I love seeing the students start believing in themselves. They come in here thinking that they can’t do the Algebra because its such a scary word. But over time that I have them in class, they begin to develop more self confidence and a majority of the time, they pass the tests and they feel better about themselves. I think its more than just educating math. Its also trying to build self esteem and knowing that, even though they do have some disabilities, how minor they may be, they have learned that they can be better than what they think they can,” she said.
Williams and her husband Don, who is from Livingston, had lived in Cookeville for some twenty years before moving to DeKalb County, looking for a good place to retire. “Our plan was to retire. We had lived in Cookeville and our plan was to retire to DeKalb County. My husband worked for the state and got to know the people at the courthouse and he really liked the community too. That’s why we moved here. It’s a good place to retire and has great memories for me,” said Williams.
Williams plans to stay busy, even in retirement. Her immediate plans are to help Judy Fuson and Ria Baker do some research for another DeKalb County history book. “I plan on spending more time with my husband who has been retired for twelve years. I plan to work with Judy Fuson and Ria Baker and another lady on trying to find the displaced people from Center Hill Lake. It’s a new book that we will be working on, trying to find all the properties and families of the people who lived on Center Hill Lake, where they moved, where the cemeteries moved. We’ll be looking for any pictures we can find and any type of memorabilia that has been handed down through the years as to what happened on the river and how their families adjusted to moving off the river. So that will take quite a bit of time. Plus, I enjoy bird watching. I have been doing the DeKalb County Christmas bird count for quite a number of years. I am going to be busy I’m sure,” said Williams.

In an effort to raise awareness about what Memorial Day is all about, Coleman Ruiz, a former Navy Seal, and his Carry the Load relay team will be passing through DeKalb County this week as part of their 1,700 mile march from West, Point New York to Dallas, Texas.
They began their cross-country journey on May 1 as a way of honoring the service and sacrifice of American troops past and present. The relay team will enter DeKalb County early Thursday morning, May 17 at around 1:00 a.m. coming from White County on Highway 70 through Smithville, Dowelltown, and Liberty and then onto Highway 96 toward Rutherford County.
The idea for the relay came about last year after Ruiz and other members of Carry the Load, a Dallas-based nonprofit, organized a Memorial Day relay in Dallas as a charity fundraiser. This year’s relay wraps up in Dallas on May 27, the day before Memorial Day.
Proceeds from the relay go to such charities as the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, which offers support to the families of fallen troops.
The team hopes to find volunteers to walk each leg of the round-the-clock relay, divided into five-mile stretches. They walk the miles themselves otherwise.
Some carry tokens in honor or in memory of friends or strangers. Ruiz carries the badge of New York Fire Department Capt. Harvey Harrell, who died in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

After 40 years of dedication to the profession she loves, Dixie Crook will be ending her teaching career this year at DeKalb County High School, the same place it all began for her in 1972.
As the longest serving teacher currently on the staff at DCHS, Ms Crook has announced her retirement, effective at the close of the school year. “I’m thinking about sitting back for a little while, relaxing, and taking it easy. I love to read. I hope to maybe get out and do some things I haven’t been able to do. Maybe spend a little more time with family,” she said.
During her four decades at DCHS, Ms. Crook has worked with dozens of teachers, taught hundreds of students, and served under nine principals. “The teachers that I have had the pleasure to work with have just meant so much to me. A lot of faculty and staff have gone through here. Ms Harriet (Cantrell) and I have been friends for a long time and her friendship is among those I treasure the most. Ms (Ina Ruth) Bess and I are a little bit kin, and we always had a big time together.(Ms. Bess retired a few years ago). I appreciate everyone’s help throughout the years. There’s been a lot of principals I’ve learned a lot from including Mr. Ernest Ray. I always liked the way he did things. Kathy (Hendrix) has been a Godsend. I have enjoyed serving under her these last seven years. She has worked hard and I think we have all profited from her hard work,” said Crook.
In reflecting on her life, Ms. Crook talked about how she quit school as a teenager to start a family but later returned to further her education. It was during this time that she began thinking of becoming a teacher. “I quit school when I was a sophomore and had two children. I came back and finished two years of high school. During that time, I was more focused. In the back of my mind, I had always thought I would like to teach. I had Ms. Ann Puckett as a teacher. She encouraged me. That last summer I worked for Congressman Joe L. Evins and he also encouraged me to pursue my dream. So I went to Tennessee Tech and completed my BS degree.. Then I attended MTSU and completed my Masters in Business Education,” said Ms. Crook.
After finishing college, Ms. Crook was hired by the school system and went to work at DCHS in 1972. “Throughout all the years I have taught different subjects but its always been in the business field. When I first started teaching, it was VOE (Vocational Office Education). Then everything changed a bit. Right now the classes that I am teaching are database, e-business, and administrative management. Those are the classes that I am teaching this semester. But everything has always been in business,” she said.
Today, Ms. Crook’s title is Business Technology/Computer Teacher. She is also one of the local school system’s career level III teachers, an accomplishment only few have achieved.
As times have changed and new technologies have developed, Ms. Crook, like many other teachers, have had to adapt. “I started out with a few old electric typewriters. I had three rows in my room and one row had electric typewriters so to try to make it as fair as I could (for all the students), we rotated. The other two rows were manual typewriters. That was all we had at that time,” said Ms. Crook.
“After they built this new (vocational) building, they bought all new IBM selectrics and that was the top of the line typewriters at that time. We progressed from those to an electronic typewriter which had a little bit of memory. And then computers came into the picture,” she said.
Ms. Crook also enjoyed her club work and beamed with delight anytime one of her students excelled achieving special honors or recognition. “When I first began, the club I was affiliated with was the Office Education Association (OEA). I was fortunate enough to have a lot of students over the years that worked really hard. Several years ago I had the first national officer of any of the clubs here at DCHS, Ella Jane Parkerson Williams. Later our club merged with FBLA and she went on to be an FBLA officer as well,” she said.
Whether it was helping organize high school graduations, proms, homecomings, or cheerleading activities, Ms. Crook found everything she did to be a labor of love. ” I did graduation for quite a few years. I did the yearbook. I worked with cheerleaders and that was back in the day when I had both squads. I also helped with the proms and homecomings. We saw many a parade go by. I’ve enjoyed it all,” she said.
As her career draws to a close, Ms. Crook said it has been a privilege to teach and to have perhaps made an impression on the lives of her students. ” I look back and I see all those students that I had over the years. Its been real rewarding when they come up and say, I remember when we did this, or you taught me how to do that, and I appreciate it. That means a lot when students come up and tell you that. I think in teaching that’s one of the most rewarding things is seeing your students succeed. Over the years, there have been quite a few and I have enjoyed every single minute of it,” she said.

A total of 177 students make up the Class of 2012 at DeKalb County High School and the seniors will receive their diplomas during graduation exercises Friday, May 18th at 7:00 p.m. on the high school football field.
CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY OF ALL AVAILABLE PHOTOS OF THE CLASS OF 2012 AT DCHShttp://www.wjle.com/image-gallery/dchs-class-2012
The program will feature remarks by the Valedictorian, Adam James and Class President Victoria Tatrow. Motivational speaker Micheal Burt will deliver the commencement address.
The prestigious White Rose and Citizenship Awards will also be presented by DCHS Principal Kathy Hendrix to three outstanding members of the class. Honors students will be recognized. Diplomas will be presented to each graduate by Director of Schools Mark Willoughby. The DCHS Chorus will perform.
Meanwhile the DCHS Senior Awards Day program will be Thursday, May 17 at 8:30 a.m. at the gym. Scholarship awards will be presented. WJLE will have LIVE coverage of awards day on AM 1480/FM 101.7 and LIVE streaming at www.wjle.com.
During the graduation exercises, the honor students will be recognized including the 2012 Valedictorian Adam James and the Salutatorian Heather Vidal.
Students among the top twenty five senior academic ranking from numbers one to twenty five are as follows:
Adam James, Heather Vidal, Whitney England, Laura Martinez, Briana Vidal, Hailey Perry, Heather Hughes, Jessica Garrison, Jonathan Edwards, Erin Colwell, Jessica Ball, Alex Meadows, Victoria Tatrow, Riley Young, Lela Ambrose, Katie Merriman, Laura Pafford, Abigail Hendrix, Allison Little, Mason Merriman, Talisa Cantrell, Elizabeth Sanders, Brooke Hutchings, Sydney Robinson, and Joseph Angaran
Students earning “Highest Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.8 to 4.0 are:
Adam James, Valedictorian 4.0; Heather Vidal, Salutatorian 4.0, Jessica D. Ball 4.0, Erin L. Colwell 4.0, Jonathan D. Edwards 4.0, Whitney N. England 4.0, Jessica B. Garrison 4.0, Heather M. Hughes 4.0, Laura E. Martinez 4.0, Hailey D. Perry 4.0, Victoria D. Tatrow 4.0, Briana Vidal 4.0, Christopher R. Young 4.0, Lela E. Ambrose, Joseph L. Angaran, Talisa M. Cantrell, Taylor M. Cantrell, Morgan S. Garrett, Abigail Hendrix, Nicholaus T. Henry, Morgan B. Hutchings, Allison Little, Alexandria Meadows, Katie L. Merriman, Mason B. Merriman, Jacob A. Odom, Laura S. Pafford, Sydney Robinson, Elizabeth Sanders, Krystal T. White, and Austin T. Willmore
Students earning “High Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.79 include Chelsea L. Cantrell, Megan L. Cantrell, Yesenia L Cintron, Alicia D. Crook, Jamie Florence, James D. Freeney, Tiffini Hendrixson, Johnna G. Hensley, Sarah L. Jones, David S. Phillips, Kidman D. Puckett, Lindsay B. Snyder, Erik Z. Thompson, and Alyssa A. Young.
Those earning “Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.2 to 3.59 include Christian J. Atnip, Michael W. Caldwell, Tiffany D. Cantrell, Tiffany A. Celestino, Emily B Dawson, Jasmine M. Dimas, Katy J. England, John B. Foster, Quinton R. Harbaugh, Allyson R. Judkins, Danielle L. Knowles, Mary F. Knowles, Monserrat Leon, Xing (Tammy) Q. Li, Renny A. Mason, Preston S. Melton, Lorrie M. Merriman, Kalli A. Mitchell, Samanvi R. Munagala, Tevin M. Owens, Bradley C. Pack, Stephanie C. Rackley, Johnna R. Roller, Kayla D. Self, Laura A. Sullivan, and Ashlee M. Whitehead
Members of the DCHS Class of 2012 are as follows:
Alexander J. Ader, William A. Ader, Lela Ambrose, Joseph Angaran, Jordan Arnold, Christian Atnip, Andrew Atnip, Justin Avera
Terry Bain, Jessica Ball, Thomas Beltz, Macie Bouldin, Micheal Braswell, Dustin Brown, Jennifer Butler,
Michael Caldwell, Chelsea Cantrell, Megan Cantrell, Talisa Cantrell, Taylor Cantrell, Tiffany Cantrell, Austin Carlson, Juan Carrillo, Tiffany Celestino, Yesenia Cintron, Erin Colwell, Jakob Craven, Alex Cripps, Jackson Cripps, Alicia Crook, Chelsea Crutcher, Adam Cubbins,
Tanner Davis, Emily Dawson, Jasmine Dimas, Rebecca Duffield,
Jonathan Edwards, Matthew Elliott, Katy England, Whitney England, Gage Estes,
Jeremie Ferdelman, Zacharias Ferrell, Jamie Florence, Brady Foster, Dylan Freeney, Caleb Furnival,
Benjamin Gard, Sloane Garrett, Jessica Garrison, Jordan Gash, Zachary Goldstein, Katelyn Goodwin, Clayton Gott, Joseph Gray, Hannah Green, Lucas Griffin, Jonathan Griffin,
Steven Haas, Kara Hackett, Quintin Harbaugh, Todd Hasty, John Hayes, Abigail Hendrix, Tiffini Hendrixson, Nicholaus Henry, Johnna Hensley, Taylor Hensley, Jessie Herman, Savannah Hershman, Heather Hughes, Hunter Humphrey, Brooke Hutchings,
Adam James, Jessie James, Kaitlin Jennings, Matthew Johnson, Garrett Johnson, Ian Johnson, Kenneth Johnson, Sarah Jones, Heather Jones, Stephanie Jones, Allyson Judkins
Alexander Keith, Clay Kilgore, Danielle Knowles, Mary Knowles, Tabitha Knowles,
Jeremy Landsem, Steven Lawrence, Amanda Laxton, Monserrat Leon, Tammy Li, Allison Little, Aurora Little, Sarah Lomas, Erika Lucio,
Zachery Malone, Laura Martinez, Renny Mason, Wesley Mason, Andrew McCoy, Cheyenne McDaniel, Alexandria Meadows, Preston Melton, Corey Merriman, Katie Merriman, Lorrie Merriman, Mason Merriman, Kalli Mitchell, Terry Mollinet, Justin Moore, Samanvi Munagala, Alex Murphy,
Raul Narvaez, Teddy Nelson, Dustin Netherton,
Jacob Odom, Tevin Owens,
Bradley Pack, Christopher Pack, Laura Pafford, Tiffany Pease, Ashley Pedigo, Hailey Perry, David Perry, Trey Petty, Sebastian Phillips, Westly Poss, Christopher Powell, Kayla Presley, Kidman Puckett,
Stephanie Rackley, Brenda Ramirez, Dylan Reagan, Deshon Reeder, Blake Reffue, Cora Beth Rhody, Louis Richards, Collene Riley, Martin Riley, Gabrielle Ritchie, Yazmin Rivera, Sydney Robinson, Johnna Roller, Makenzie Roller,
Elizabeth Sanders, Kayla Self, Justin Skinner, Brooke Snyder, William Sowell, Corey Spare, Daniel Stanley, Mark Stanley, Russell Storey, Laura Sullivan,
Billy Tate, Victoria Tatrow, Ashley Taylor, Zachary Taylor, Destiny Thomas, Zachary Thompson, Billy Tiner,
Nicholas Underhill, Jonathan Upton,
Gabriella Vanatta, Briana Vidal, Heather Vidal,
Brian Waggoner, Tia Ward, Krystal White, Ashlee Whitehead, Jacob Williams, Breanna Williams, Austin Willmore,
Alyssa Young and Riley Young.

DeKalb County Schools participated in the Fuel Up to Play 60 Breakfast contest during the month of March through the School Nutrition Department. The contest was a huge success with 4,000 more breakfast served during March than during the month of February. Although DeKalb County did not win the contest, the School Nutrition Department feels that it was a huge success by having more students participate in breakfast and win some really great prizes from local businesses/sponsors. The School Nutrition Department would like to give a huge THANK YOU to the local businesses/sponsors for all the wonderful prizes. The businesses/sponsors included:
SPONSORS
Kwik-N-Ezy, Inc., DeKalb County Tigers Football Team, Wilson Bank and Trust (DeKalb), DeKalb County Tigerettes Softball Team, DeKalb County Soccer Teams, Kilgore’s , Verizon, Foutch Eye Care, Mapco, DCHS Annual Club, DCHS FFA, Los Lobos Mexican Restaurant, Federal Programs, Wal-Mart, DCHS, NES, DWS, DMS PTO’s, DMS, Mr. Randy Jennings-Principal at DMS, Mrs. Kathy Hendrix-Principal at DCHS, Bumpers, Subway, Pizza Hut, Coordinated School Health, Ramsey’s Signs and Shirts
WINNERS
The prizes were presented each week to the students who ate breakfast that week. Their name was put in a drawing every Friday for a prize. The winners included:
Smithville Elementary School
Week One: Claytin Fish-Pre-K and Tori Hensley-2nd grade
Week Two: Brayden Murphy-Kindergarten and Elizabeth Gaines-1st grade
Week Three: John Cook-1st grade and Alexa Hernandez-Dragustinovis-Kindergarten
Week Four: Adriana Shirley-Pre-K and Alexis Soto-2nd grade
Northside Elementary School
Week One: Hunter Murphy-5th grade and Kayla Van Dyne-3rd grade
Week Two: Jenna Cantrell-2nd grade and Rodriqo Sosa-Santillan-4th grade
Week Three: Takota Prinsloo-4th grade and Chelsea Bennett-4th grade
Week Four: Maddison Parsley-5th grade and Isaac Martin-3rd grade
DeKalb West School
(Four Students were chosen: two (boy &girl) from Pre-K-4th grade and two (boy & girl) from 5th-8th grade)
Week One: Sydnee Hendrixson-3rd grade, Jackson Hale-2nd grade, Cody Goff-5th grade, Jayrah Plattenburg-7th grade
Week Two: Brooklyn Sutherland-Kindergarten, Bralin Moss-1st grade, Savannah Anderson-Howell-7th grade, and Samuel Claiborne-6th grade
Week Three: Jayra Plattenburg-7th grade, Preston Clark-4th grade, Jasmen Chapman-Kindergarten, and-Will Mathis-1st grade
Week Four: Savannah Anderson-Howell-7th grade, JD Ashford-Kindergarten, Christian Cryer-6th grade, and Allie Overstreet-Kindergarten
DeKalb Middle School
Week One: Victoria Greer-7th grade and Ethan R. Cantrell-6th grade
Week Two: Elizabeth Cripps-7th grade and Hunter Speaks-6th grade
Week Three: Kelly Armour-8th grade and Jesse Ferrell-6th grade
Week Four: Angeles Soto-8th grade and Shaun Bain-7th grade
DeKalb County High School
(Each week a student from each grade was chosen excluding Week Four due to the amount of prizes)
Week One: Nicole Hunt, Hunter Parkhurst, Laddie Jerrells, and Zach Goldstein
Week Two: Erasmo Godinez, Chris Cameron, Brandon Sells, and Zach Goldstein
Week Three: Bobby Calahan, Annatasia Alexander, Matthew Adcox, and Destiny Thomas
Week Four: Samantha Hayes, Jonathan Munoz, Shannon Freeman, Kaylee Hale, Shaun
McGinnis, Karah Allen, Samuel Giles, Jose Alvarez-Tinajero, and Terry Mollinet,
DCHS had a grand prize winner for the student who ate everyday for the month of March. The winner was Andrew McCoy! He won a $65 Yearbook!
Thanks for all the support from the community, schools, teachers, parents, and students during this event!

If you don’t think a teacher can have an impact on your life, just ask Harriet Cantrell, Family and Consumer Science Teacher at DCHS.
As she looks toward retirement after thirty three years, Ms. Harriet said she has a former high school teacher to thank for influencing her decision to become an educator. “My high school Home Ec teacher is the one who really steered me in this direction,” said Cantrell. ” She was a wonderful person and just got me so interested in this area and this is what I chose.”
Cantrell’s teaching career began in 1979. After graduating from high school and earning her college degree, she spent the first few years working at the local hospital before becoming a Home Economics instructor at DCHS. “I graduated from high school in Nashville at Two Rivers and then I got my degree from Middle Tennessee State University. I worked at DeKalb General Hospital for seven years before I started my teaching career. I moved to DeKalb County High School in 1979 and have been here ever since,” said Cantrell.
Over the years, the class she teaches has changed courses and has even undergone a name change. “It changed from Home Economics to Family and Consumer Science. We’ve moved a lot from the year long classes to semester classes and I’ve taught pretty much everything in the curriculum since I’ve been here. The courses have changed. We’ve dropped some and added some and we’re still doing that. Its changing year by year,” she said.
Ms. Harriet has enjoyed her job and being around the students, which she said, has always made her feel young at heart. “I have loved my job. Its never been a chore for me to come to work and do my job. My classroom has always been my salvation. The students have always kept me young and young at heart. My class is more like a family life skills class. Its teaching them skills that they can use everyday and I’ve had a lot of contact with students after they’ve graduated who have come back and talked to me to let me know that things they learned in my class have been very useful. It has been very rewarding for me,”said Cantrell.
Along with her teaching duties, Cantrell has been involved in other school activities over the years. “I’ve done a little bit of everything since I’ve been here. I was a cheerleading sponsor for fifteen years. I did the prom for about ten years. I’ve done graduation with Ms. Dixie (Crook) for a long time. Just a little bit of everything out here that had to be done, we’ve always filled in and done it,” she said.
As she leaves DCHS after this school year, Ms Harriett said she will take with her many pleasant memories. She takes pride in having watched many of her former students become successful in their own careers “There are lots of students who have made really strong impressions on me, Danielle Collins is one that I can think of. Dr. David Foutch is one of my former students. There’s just a lot of people in this area who have gone on to great things who I have had the opportunity to teach. There’s so many, they’re hard to name,” said Cantrell.
Cantrell is very grateful to all her friends and family who have supported her. “I would love to thank my DCHS students that I have worked with all these years, the faculty and staff and all of their families, and my family and everyone who has touched my life in so many ways over these last three decades,” she said.
As for what’s next in her life, Ms. Harriet said we’ll just have to wait and see. “I’m going to enjoy my retirement. I’m not sure that I’m going to do anything special for a while. I know that God has something else for me to do. I would love to work with young people in something but I don’t know we’re just going to see what opens up,” she said.

Fifth graders at DeKalb West School received pins and certificates during the annual DARE graduation ceremony held today (Monday).
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program was conducted by DARE Instructor and Chief Deputy Don Adamson of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
Each student prepares an essay during the course and those with the best essays from each class are recognized and awarded. This year’s essay winners at DeKalb West School are Addison Grace Oakley and Thomas Tippin . The fifth grade teachers are Jeana Caplinger and Jane Watson.
Oakley was the over-all winner and she read her essay during Monday’s program. In addition to the award, prizes, and recognition, Oakley gets to keep “Daren the Lion” the DARE Mascot and she received a $50 check from Judge Bratten Cook II.
Sheriff Patrick Ray, who spoke during the DARE graduation, told the students that “D.A.R.E. is a cooperative effort by the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County School System, parents, and the community. I ask you today students, to take this valuable information and apply it to your lives, now and forever.”
Others on hand for the ceremony were DeKalb West School Principal Danny Parkerson, Assistant Principal Sabrina Farler, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby, General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II, Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong, Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack, County Mayor Mike Foster, Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen, Trustee Sean Driver, and employees of the Sheriff’s Department.
The following is Oakley’s essay:
“DARE. While I have been in DARE I’ve learned that drugs can really ruin your whole life and that even if it sounds good cause all your friends do it, it’s not. Just think, “why smoke”. Smoking causes breathing problems and no one wants that. It also causes heart problems and no one wants that. It also causes heart disease, lung cancer. Its really not worth it. Scientists have found over 200 poisons in cigarette smoke. You also can harm or kill the person that you love just by letting them breathe your smoke. That’s called second hand smoke. So just remember, if someone offers you a cigarette, say “No”. Its better for everyone.”
“Marijuana is illegal, so if someone has it, tell an adult fast. Its very dangerous. It can also cause breathing problems. Marijuana affects your brain and your body. Some examples are: short-term memory loss, loss of the ability to concentrate, slow coordination, and reflexes.”
“Drinking is not the smart thing to do. If you are with others who are drinking, there is an increased risk of injury, car crashes, and violence. Alcohol can also damage every organ in your body. So any bad drugs are never good to use so try to keep your body healthy because if you have big dreams, like playing NBA or NFL, you might want to have a backup plan. If drugs can kill people, they can easily kill dreams. Chief Don has taught us that just because your friends or your family does, it doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. Things I learned at DARE.
D. Define
A. Assess
R.Respond
E. Evaluate.”
(Pictured: left to right- FRONT, Addison Grace Oakley and Thomas Tippin; BEHIND, DARE Instructor and Chief Deputy Don Adamson, Judge Bratten Cook, II, and Sheriff Patrick Ray)

Office hours of three DeKalb County Post Offices would be reduced under a new nationwide cost cutting strategy announced by the U.S. Postal Service last week.
Under the proposal, the current daily retail hours of the Alexandria, Liberty, and Dowelltown Post Offices would be reduced from eight hours to six hours. The Smithville Post Office was not among those listed for reduced hours. The new strategy would be implemented over a two-year, multi-phased approach and would not be completed until September 2014.
Hundreds of post offices across the country would be impacted by the strategy designed to keep the nation’s smallest Post Offices open for business, while providing a framework to achieve significant cost savings as part of the plan to return the organization to financial stability.
Unlike the previous efforts to halt mail delivery on Saturday, which requires congressional approval, the Postal Service can reduce hours on its own.
The plan would keep the existing Post Office in place, but with modified retail window hours to match customer use. Access to the retail lobby and to PO Boxes would remain unchanged, and the town’s ZIP Code and community identity would be retained.
“Meeting the needs of postal customers is, and will always be, a top priority. We continue to balance that by better aligning service options with customer demand and reducing the cost to serve,” said Postmaster General and CEO Patrick R. Donahoe. “With that said, we’ve listened to our customers in rural America and we’ve heard them loud and clear – they want to keep their Post Office open. We believe today’s announcement will serve our customers’ needs and allow us to achieve real savings to help the Postal Service return to long-term financial stability.”
Once implementation is completed, the Postal Service estimates savings of a half billion dollars annually.
“The Postal Service is committed to serving America’s communities and providing a responsible and fair approach for our employees and customers,” said Megan Brennan, Postal Service Chief Operating Officer. “The Post Offices in rural America will remain open unless a community has a strong preference for one of the other options. We will not close any of these rural Post Offices without having provided a viable solution.”
The Postal Service will provide an opportunity for the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to review this plan prior to making any changes. The Postal Service intends to file a request for an advisory opinion on the plan with the PRC later this month. Community meetings would then be conducted to review options in greater detail. Communities will be notified by mail of the date, time and location of these meetings.
This new option complements existing alternatives, which include:
Providing mail delivery service to residents and businesses in the affected community by either rural carrier or highway contract route;
Contracting with a local business to create a Village Post Office; and
Offering service from a nearby Post Office.
A voluntary early retirement incentive for the nation’s more than 21,000 non-executive postmasters was also announced.
Survey research conducted by the respected Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) in February, showed 54 percent of rural customers would prefer the new solution to maintain a local Post Office. Forty-six percent prefer one of the previously announced solutions (20% prefer Village Post Office, 15% prefer providing services at a nearby Post Office, 11% prefer expanded rural delivery). This strategy would enable a town to possibly have a Post Office with modified hours, as well as a Village Post Office.
The Postal Service has implemented a voluntary moratorium on all postal facility closings through May 15, 2012. No closings or changes to Post Office operations will occur until after that time.
In addition to maintaining a retail network of more than 31,000 Post Offices, the Postal Service also provides online access to postal products and services through usps.com and more than 70,000 alternate access locations. Nearly 40-percent of postal retail revenue comes from purchases on usps.com and through approved postal providers such as Wal-Mart, Staples, Office Depot, Walgreens, Sam’s Club, Costco, and many others.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.