The lab in the Science/Chemistry department at DeKalb County High School hasn’t been updated in many years and members of the board of education believe its time for a change.
A workshop meeting was held Monday evening at DCHS where Director of Schools Mark Willoughby and board members Charles Robinson, John David Foutch, Kenny Rhody, Billy Miller, W.J. (Dub) Evins, III, and Johnny Lattimore met with principal Kathy Hendrix and teachers Dylan Kleparek, Kevin Burchfield, Amanda Fuller, and Kelly Daniels to view the lab and discuss the need for newer facilities. County commissioners Jimmy Poss and Jerry Adcock also attended the meeting.
Existing Science-Chemistry Lab at DCHS from dwayne page on Vimeo.
After the meeting, Kleparek, who is a physical science, chemistry, and physics teacher at DCHS spoke with WJLE about the condition of the existing lab. “Our lab is very outdated. It (same lab facilities) were here when we originally built the school. Its not very safe. The lab tables are all the way around the room and there is no place for the teacher to really instruct from. I think we need a better facility in which the students are all facing in one direction. We need updated facilities so that the labs can be better performed. We need safer situations because the current situation is not very safe, ” said Kleparek.
Kleparek offered an option for school officials to consider that would modernize the lab and classroom and make it more functional and user friendly. “I’ve been to several workshops and talked to several different companies that design and build labs and found what I feel would be the best setup. We could have eight basic islands that the students are at, four students per island, to accommodate 32 students. Each island would be equipped with gas, water, electricity and hopefully computer resources as well. Those stations would be lab stations and a classroom station so this room could still be used as a classroom and when its lab time we can put away the classroom things and bring out the lab components,” said Kleparek.
Board members have talked about asking the county commission for a budget amendment to get the upgrades done before school starts this fall. This issue may be discussed further at the school board meeting Thursday night, April 14th at 7:00 p.m. at Smithville Elementary School.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has arrested 42 year old Kenneth Lee Moore of Midway Road, Smithville for the rape of a child.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Moore allegedly raped his twelve year old niece on November 15th. The child, who was living with Moore at the time, awoke from sleep to find Moore making sexual contact with her.
Moore’s bond is $50,000 and he will be in court on April 21st.
Meanwhile, 30 year old Joseph Daniel Richardson of Church Street, Liberty is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $10,000. 30 year old Nena Renea Chapman of Gentry Avenue, Smithville is charged in the same case with theft of property.
Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, April 4th, Richardson allegedly entered a residence on Dry Creek Road with the intent to commit a theft. Richardson apparently made entry by pushing on the locked back door with his shoulder. Items taken were twenty five dollar gold pieces on a chain, two and a half dollar gold pieces on a chain, five dollar gold pieces on a chain, approximately one hundred fifty pieces of miscellaneous items, a medicine organizer, and a quilt. All items were valued at $15,070 dollars. Chapman allegedly took some of the jewelry and sold it at a local business.
Bond for Richardson is $40,000. Chapman’s bond is $25,000. Both will appear in General Sessions Court on May 5th.
45 year old Dayna Lamay Johnson of Andrew Street Smithville is charged under a grand jury sealed indictment with sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Morphine). Her bond is $30,000. Johnson’s indictment and arrest comes after an undercover drug investigation by the Smithville Police Department and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
47 year old Morales Jesus Alarcon of Vinewood Road, McMinnville is charged with reckless endangerment. Alarcon was also issued citations for improper passing on a double yellow line, no drivers license, and violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance). His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court May 5th. According to Sheriff Ray, Alarcon was operating a motor vehicle on Highway 56 last Wednesday, April 6th when he almost hit a deputy head-on while passing two vehicles on a double yellow line.
Juan M. Hualos of Short Mountain Highway, Smithville was issued a citation on Wednesday, April 6th for no drivers license and expired registration. While patrolling on Jacobs Pillar Road. a deputy saw Hualos’ vehicle traveling south and noticed that the tags on the car were expired. He pulled over the automobile. A computer check revealed that Hualos had no drivers license. His court date is set for June 16th.
51 year old Lonnie Ray Dyer of Patterson Road, Smithville is charged with abuse of 911. Dyer’s bond is $2,500 and his court date is April 28th. According to Sheriff Ray a deputy went to Dyer’s home on Thursday, April 7th to speak with him. Dyer had called 911 twice that day to report that his neighbors had stolen from him and that they had been shooting at him. Dyer allegedly threatened to shoot anyone who came onto his property including the officers. Sheriff Ray said that Dyer has called 911 several times within the last week to make these types of complaints but each time the deputies responded to investigate, they could find no evidence to support Dyer’s claims. Dyer has also refused to give a more complete report or file charges against anyone.
Terri Lynn Poss of Poss Road, Smithville was issued a citation on Friday, April 8th for failure to use a traffic control device, four counts of simple possession of a schedule II controlled substance, and one count of simple possession of a schedule IV drug. Her court date is May 5th. Sheriff Ray said that Poss failed to use a signal light (blinker) at the intersection of Hooper Road and Four Seasons Road. After the deputy pulled over the car, he conducted a search of the vehicle and found nine percocet pills, four xanax pills, nineteen methodone pills, and four oxycodone pills. She had no valid prescription for them.
49 year old Randall Scott Curtis of Liberty is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,000 and he will be in court on April 28th. Curtis was also served with a capias for failure to appear in court on two counts of violation of probation. He is being held without bond on the capias.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, April 8th a deputy was dispatched to Highway 70 west near DeKalb Market to check on a person who was standing in the roadway. Upon arrival the deputy made contact with the man, Curtis, who was standing in the roadway facing oncoming traffic. Curtis had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was very unsteady on his feet. Curtis’ speech was also very slurred. Curtis told the officer that he had drank twelve beers and had smoked some marijuana. Curtis also told the deputy he was hoping to get hit by a car. Due to his intoxication and being a danger to himself, Curtis was placed under arrest.

One local bridge project is in progress and another is about to begin.
In February, the Tennessee Department of Transportation awarded a bid to Mountain States Contractors, LLC of Mount Juliet in the amount of $505,991 to build a new concrete box beam bridge on Tramel Branch Road over Helton Creek near Alexandria. The project includes grading, drainage, and paving.
Construction is now underway and Tramel Branch Road is closed to traffic at the point of the bridge site. The work is to be completed on or before November 30th.
TDOT has also awarded a bid to Roads, LLC of Brentwood in the amount of $623, 963 to build a concrete I-Beam bridge on Pea Ridge Road over Dry Creek. The project includes grading, drainage, and paving. Construction on this project has not yet begun but should be starting soon. The work is to be finished on or before November 30th.
Road Supervisor Kenny Edge told WJLE that both projects are to be funded with 80% federal funds and 20% local matching money, including 14% from the DeKalb County Highway Department budget (state aid) and 6% from the county general fund.

AT&T will have to find somewhere else in town to erect a telecommunications tower.
The Smithville Board of Zoning Appeals Thursday evening denied AT&T’s application for a “Special Exception” variance to install a tower and associated utilities within the M-I General Industrial District at the intersection of Kendra Drive and Short Mountain Street.
During a public hearing, several residents in the area and city officials expressed opposition to the proposal.
Members of the BZA board are Sandra Wall, Janie Knowles, Wade Smith, Jr. W.J. (Dub) White, and Jimmy Ervin. Mr. Ervin was absent.

The Smithville Police Department has released its weekly update on city crime news.
Chief Randy Caplinger reports that 47 year old William Howard Bogle of Estes Street was arrested on Monday April 4th for driving under the influence. According to the warrant, Sergeant Randy King went to Wal-Mart to check out a complaint about someone who had been driving under the influence but had parked in the fire lane. Upon arrival he saw the suspect, Bogle, come out of the store. Upon speaking with him, Sergeant King said he could smell an odor of an alcoholic beverage on Bogle’s person. Bogle was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. Sergeant King asked if he had anything to drink and Bogle replied that he had been drinking. Bogle refused to perform sobriety tasks. Bond for Bogle is $1,500 and his court date is May 5th.
50 year old Grover Lamont Jones of Sparta Highway was arrested by Sergeant Randy King for shoplifting at Mapco and Save A Lot on Monday April 4th. Sergeant King saw Jones put items in his pockets at Mapco. Police later discovered that Jones had also taken some items from Save A Lot. Bond for Jones is $3,000 and his court date is May 5th.
Officer Bradley Tatrow cited 23 year old Amy Beth Washer of McMinnville Highway on Wednesday April 6th for simple possession of a schedule III controlled substance. While conducting a search of a wanted suspect, Officer Tatrow saw an unmarked bottle lying in the floor with three pills in it believed to be a schedule III drug Washer’s court date is April 28th.
Officer David Phillips cited 27 year old Chasity Lynn Carter of Brush Creek for shoplifting on Wednesday April 6th. Ms. Carter had concealed items on her person that belonged to Wal-Mart. Her court date is April 28th.
Officer Bradley Tatrow arrested 30 year old Bratten Hale Cook III of Bryant Street on Thursday April 7th for two counts of simple possession and theft. According to the warrants, Officer Tatrow went to Roses to check out a complaint about a shoplifter. Upon arrival he spoke to Cook and found items belonging to Roses on his person. Also found on Mr. Cook’s person was a schedule IV and VI drug and paraphernalia. Cook was cited for the paraphernalia. Bond for Cook is $ 4,500 and his court date is April 14th.
Anyone with information on any offense is asked to please contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.
Any information received that will help the Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential.

In celebration of the 38th annual National Volunteer Week, the American Cancer Society recognizes and celebrates the efforts of its more than three million volunteers nationwide who have helped make a difference for people facing cancer since 1913. In DeKalb County, over 200 volunteers give their time and talent to fight back against this disease either through being a Relay For Life Committee Member or being on a Relay For Life Team.
“Volunteers are the foundation of the American Cancer Society,” said Denise Hackett, ACS Community Representative. Volunteers have been crucially important in enabling the American Cancer Society to help people facing cancer since we were founded in 1913. As we celebrate this week, I want to thank each of our volunteers in DeKalb County for dedicating their time and energy to our cancer-fighting mission. We are so grateful for the Society volunteers of yesterday, today and tomorrow, as they are helping save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays for future generations to come.”
Volunteers contribute to helping people stay well, get well, find cures and fight back against cancer through a variety of roles, efforts and American Cancer Society programs, including:
•Relay For Life- More than three million Americans (including 500,000 cancer survivors) participate nationally in the Society’s signature overnight community event. Volunteer teams celebrate the lives of those touched by cancer, remember loved ones and fight back against a disease that takes too much.
•Patient programs and services- Dedicated Society volunteers provide direct assistance and service to help people stay well and get well in a variety of ways. Our volunteers provide one-on-one support as survivors to newly diagnosed patients through our Reach To Recovery program. Our volunteers also help women with the treatment related-side effects by teaching them skills to help their appearance through our Look Good…Feel Better program. We also provide a camping experience for children who have cancer and their siblings at Camp Horizon each year.
•Legislative advocacy- The Society’s advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, has grassroots volunteer networks of hundreds of thousands of volunteers who successfully work to fight back against cancer and send strong messages to lawmakers about issues that matter to people touched by cancer.
The American Cancer Society listens, shares, heals and nurtures a spirit of hope and a culture of caring through volunteerism. To learn more about how you can save lives while fulfilling your own through volunteering, visit our Web site, www.cancer.org/volunteer.
Please join us in our Fight Against Cancer on Friday, June 3rd for The DeKalb County Relay For Life at Greenbrook Park in Smithville.
(Pictured Above left to right: Carolyn Reynolds, Ivadel Randolph, Violet Fuson, Ron Gray, Jeff McMillen, Eva Willoughby, and Barbara Ashford)

The Smithville Police Department recently conducted an undercover drug investigation as well as a joint operation with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department which has resulted in several grand jury sealed indictments and arrests.
Evidence from the undercover operations were presented to the DeKalb County Grand Jury Monday resulting in sealed indictments against fourteen defendants.
Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger said he is pleased with the outcome of this effort. “This is one of the first efforts we had on undercover drug buys in a long time with the City of Smithville (police department). It was very successful. We also had a joint operation with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department. I couldn’t ask for anybody better to work with than Sheriff Ray and his detectives. Detective (Matt) Holmes with the City of Smithville (police department) worked diligently on these cases along with his men (officers). We hope to continue this partnership together and work these cases for the people here in DeKalb County and Smithville. On the roundup, we also had assistance form the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. TBI Agent (Billy) Miller from here in DeKalb County was there to assist and we appreciate all the help in this whole operation and the roundup,” said Chief Caplinger.
Sheriff Patrick Ray added that he was happy to work in cooperation with the Smithville Police Department on several of these cases. “This was a joint operation between the Smithville Police Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department. We got with them and done undercover drug buys. We’re proud and honored to be able to do that and this is just one of many I hope to do with the City of Smithville (police department). Our last drug round up was done with the City of Alexandria. We want to continue working with our law enforcement agencies in the county, whether its the city or state agencies. I’d like to thank Chief Randy Caplinger and Detective Matt Holmes. Its been a pleasure working with them through all this. We’re excited to get started again doing undercover drug operations with them. We’ve also been working with Detective Holmes on other criminal investigations. My detectives have been working with them. If we can join forces with other law enforcement agencies in the county then it just makes us stronger where we can go out and serve justice to the people and especially the victims here in our county,” said Sheriff Ray.
Those arrested so far in cases made by the Smithville Police Department include the following:
36 year old Andre Wakefield of Foster Road, Smithville- indicted charges of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Cocaine). His bond is $60,000.
23 year old Brian Thomason (incarcerated in the DeKalb County Jail)- indicted on charges of sale and delivery of a schedule III controlled substance (Suboxone). His bond is $30,000.
36 year old Christopher Scruggs of Big Hurricane Road, Smithville- indicted on charges of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Methamphetamine). His bond is $30,000
39 year old Donald Perry, Jr. of Foster Road, Smithville- indicted on charges of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Cocaine). His bond is $30,000.
23 year old Lesley Lawrence of Foster Road, Smithville- indicted on charges of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Cocaine). Her bond is $30,000.
Meanwhile those arrested so far in cases made as a result of the joint investigation by the Smithville Police Department and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department include the following:
28 year old Brandon Gurley of Bell Street, Smithville- indicted on charges of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance ( Methamphetamine). His bond is $30,000.
23 year old Jamie Lee Hodges of Old Bildad Road, Smithville-indicted on charges of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Methamphetamine). Her bond is $60,000.
55 year old Susan Jean (Jeana) Brown of East Broad Street, Smithville- indicted on charges of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Morphine)
50 year old Terry Lee Price of East Bryant Street, Smithville- indicted on charges of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Morphine). His bond is $30,000. In addition to the charges in the indictment, Price was found with drugs on him at the time of his arrest and he was further charged under a state warrant with possession of a schedule II controlled substance (Dilaudid) with intent to resale. His bond is $2,500. Sheriff Ray said that Price had in his front pocket a black pill container which held three dilaudid pills. He also had $383 in cash in denominations of $20’s, $10’s, $5’s, and one dollar bills. Price could not explain how be obtained the money. The cash was seized.
36 year old Sharon Groshon Malone of West Point Road, Smithville- indicted on charges of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Morphine) and (Dilaudid). Her bond is $60,000.
All those indicted will appear for arraignment in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday, April 11th.

A new member has been named to the DeKalb County Election Commission by the Tennessee Election Commission.
Harry Lasser, a resident of Smithville and Cookeville attorney, is replacing Nolan Turner as one of the two democratic members of the local commission. Turner served for 32 years. He was first appointed in 1979 and is completing his sixteenth and final term.
Kenneth Moore, the other democrat on the commission, has been reappointed. Moore has served since 1980.
The other three members of the DeKalb County Election Commission, Walteen Parker, Barbara Vanatta, and Jim Dean, have also been reappointed by the Tennessee Election Commission. Vanatta and Dean are beginning their second terms. Parker has served since 1992. All three are republicans.
Lasser was born in New Jersey but his family moved to the Lancaster community in 1982. Lasser is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and the UT College of Law. An attorney since 1996, Lasser has had his law office in Cookeville for the last ten years. Lasser is a member of the Smithville First United Methodist Church and a youth league soccer coach.
Lasser and his wife Claudette have three children including Elizabeth, a student at DeKalb County High School; Alex, a DeKalb Middle School student; and Nate, a student at Northside Elementary School.
“I am honored to have been appointed to the election commission,” said Lasser. “I believe the commission’s tasks are of the utmost importance. Nothing is more important to our democracy than to ensure fair and transparent elections. I undertake this task with seriousness of purpose,” said Lasser.
As for the man he is succeeding on the commission, Lasser added “I respect the service of Mr. Turner. He should be commended for his service to the voters of DeKalb County,” said Lasser.
The state election commission made these appointments on Monday April 4th. The term of each member is for two years.
Since the state legislature is made up of a majority of GOP lawmakers, Republicans have the right to hold majority memberships on the Tennessee Election Commission as well as all county election commissions in Tennessee. The appointments to local commissions are made by the state election commission.
Regarding the political division of county election commissions, state law states that ” three members shall be members of the majority party and two members shall be members of the minority party”.
“The members of the majority party on the state election commission shall appoint the persons who are required to be members of that party on county election commissions.”
“The members of the minority party on the state election commission shall appoint the persons who are required to be members of that party on county election commissions.”
“When members of another statewide political party are required to be appointed to a county election commission, they shall be nominated by the party’s state primary board.”
“Before appointing county election commissioners, the members of the state election commission shall consult with the members of the general assembly serving each of the counties as to the persons to be appointed to the county election commissions”.
Meanwhile, the DeKalb County Election Commission will hold its monthly meeting April 19 at 5 p.m. at the Election Commission Office in the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse.
Items on the agenda include, but are not limited to, reorganization of the board as per state law and the appointment of an Administrator of Elections as per state law.
Anyone interested in applying for the position of administrator of elections should send a resume to: DeKalb County Election Commission, P.O. Box 543, Smithville, TN 37166 or hand-deliver a copy to the election commission office in Room 104 of the DeKalb County Courthouse by NOON Friday, April 15, 2011.

The Smithville Municipal Swimming Pool is under repair by the Langley and Taylor Pool Corporation of Nashville
In February, the aldermen voted to accept a bid from Langley and Taylor in the amount of $83,649 to replace the fiberglass coating of the pool.
In his bid package, Taylor Dobbs of Langley and Taylor, wrote that the existing fiberglass coating is extremely thin (about 1/16 of an inch) and that it is already deteriorating in several areas. Under the proposal chosen by the city, Langley and Taylor will remove the fiberglass coating of the pool, plaster the pool with white marcite plaster and tile the gutters with 1×1 white tile.
The pool repairs should be completed by May 10th.

A local man accused in a rash of car burglaries in November has been indicted by the Grand Jury.
Brian Thomason is under indictment on seven counts of auto burglary, eight counts of theft under $500, vandalism under $500, and criminal simulation.
Detective Matt Holmes of the Smithville Police Department told WJLE after Thomason’s arrest in December that these crimes occurred on Whaley and Cill Street.
According to Detective Holmes, Thomason is believed to have broken into and stolen items from vehicles parked at homes on 420 Whaley Street, 407 Whaley Street, 613 Cill Street, 620 Cill Street, and 701 Cill Street. The break-ins are believed to have occurred during the early morning hours of Tuesday, November 23rd before daylight.
The residents at all these addresses called police to report the break-ins and thefts later that morning after making the discoveries. Some people in the neighborhood also reported seeing a suspicious man on foot walking through the area that day carrying several bags.
After an investigation, Detective Holmes said Thomason was identified as a suspect in the case and that he was staying at a rent home on Dry Creek Road, which was supposed to be unoccupied at that time. Police were told by the owner that no one was to be in the residence and he assisted the officers in obtaining access to the home. Thomason and his girlfriend were found there along with nearly all the items reported stolen from the car burglaries on Whaley and Cill Streets.
Detective Holmes said Thomason admitted to committing the burglaries.
The criminal simulation indictment against Thomason stems from an incident in which he allegedly tried to pass a phony $100 bill at Pizza Hut on November 27th.
Thomason will appear in criminal court for arraignment on Monday, April 11th at 9:00 a.m.