DeKalb County and Putnam County Volunteer Firefighters are on the scene of a fire at Edgar Evins State Park.
Officials say at least two and possibly a third cabin is on fire in the park.
Members of the Cookeville Highway and Short Mountain Highway Fire Stations are on the scene along with the equipment and tanker truck. The county is also receiving mutual aid back up support from a Putnam County Fire Station.
DeKalb EMS is also on the scene as a precaution.
The fire was reported at 4:56 a.m. today (Thursday).
Meanwhile a storage trailer behind Basement Sales caught fire Wednesday night. It was reported at 10:46 p.m. Firefighters were sent to the scene.

Less than six months after being named Smithville Police Chief, Agustin Clemente, Jr. has resigned, citing differences with the City Administration.
Clemente has also leveled certain allegations against both Mayor Taft Hendrixson and Secretary-Treasurer Burnace Vandergriff, which they both have denied.
Before turning in his badge Wednesday afternoon, witnesses say Chief Clemente vented his frustrations directly toward Vandergriff in a verbal display of anger, shouting obscenities and allegedly threatening physical harm to Vandergriff.
As Clemente was cleaning out his office, city officers and a county deputy were summoned to city hall as a security precaution, but there was no further incident.
In a letter addressed to Police Commissioner Aaron Meeks on Wednesday, Clemente wrote that “with much regret, I hereby submit my resignation effective immediately as the Senior Law Enforcement Officer for the City of Smithville.”
Clemente makes specific allegations, in the letter, accusing both Mayor Hendrixson and Vandergriff of “inappropriately and constantly using their positions to interfere with police operations”.
However, several Smithville Police Officers, including Sergeant Steven Leffew, say Clemente became difficult to work for; that he was verbally abusive and degrading to city officers, constantly shouting and cursing at them over little things, sometimes in the presence of the public; and that he was paranoid and suspicious that others were out to get him.
Mayor Hendrixson says based on officers complaints, he met with Clemente about two to three weeks ago and warned him to stop the verbal assaults against his staff.
Officers were apparently told by Clemente that he was their supervisor, and that they should not take their concerns to either Vandergriff or to Mayor Hendrixson, and any time Clemente saw the officers talking to either of the two men, he would often become angry and would verbally reprimand them.
Such was the case on Wednesday when Clemente saw Sergeant Leffew coming out of Vandergriff’s office at city hall.
According to Vandergriff, when Leffew stepped out of his office, an angry Clemente entered and began screaming and shouting at Vandergriff.
Vandergriff says he asked Clemente to calm down, but Clemente kept getting louder, until Vandergriff escorted him out of his office and into the hall.
Later that afternoon as Vandergriff was getting in his truck to leave for the day, Clemente, who was standing near the side entrance to city hall by the police station, again began shouting and cursing at Vandergriff, and allegedly threatened to whip him.
Vandergriff, who claims he had pretty much kept his cool during his previous confrontation with Clemente , decided he had heard enough and challenged Clemente to go ahead and follow through on his threat. Vandergriff says after a barrage of shouts, obscenities, and threats, Clemente instead turned and walked away.
Clemente was unavailable for comment on the incidents.
Among the allegations cited in his letter, Clemente says ” On two recent occasions, the Mayor, who also works as a 911 Dispatcher, has placed calls from the dispatch center while working there to officers on the scene of a traffic stop or investigation in an attempt to sway the officers into not ticketing a violator due to the Mayor’s personal affiliation with the subject or family.”
Mayor Hendrixson says there is no truth to Clemente’s assertion. “I have not asked any officer to do anything about a ticket and won’t”.
Clemente, in his letter, writes that ” a large number of qualified police applicants have submitted their resumes to my office indicating their immediate availability for employment. I have advised the Mayor and Secretary about these qualified personnel only to have these individuals harshly rejected due to their family affiliations and religious beliefs. Recently, I was ordered by the Mayor to hire two individuals that had been fired or demoted by the Smithville Police Department and or board of alderman in the past.”
Mayor Hendrixson denies that allegation. “I certainly have never ordered him to hire or not to hire anyone. The officers are leaving here as fast as they are coming in and they say it’s because of him.”
Clemente, who is a Cuban-American, charges that “the Secretary-Treasurer has continually and publicly ridiculed me using racial slurs about my heritage to other individuals. The most recent comment is that ?I am going to buy that Cuban a boat and send him back to where he came from’. While I was deeply troubled over these racially prejudiced comments, I felt my new position would be in jeopardy if I were to say anything. I have been in the presence of the Mayor when he has made similar remarks about other Smithville employees.”
Mayor Hendrixson denies making any racial slurs about Clemente or any city employee, and Vandergriff says both he and Clemente would often engage in some good natured joking back and forth when Clemente first became chief, but that he never, and would never, intentionally humiliate him about his race.
Clemente alleges that there is “ongoing misappropriations of drug fund finances currently being managed by the Treasurers Office”.
According to Vandergriff, all city drug funds are properly spent and accounted for. “Money from the drug fund is supposed to be divided with the General Fund, but since there has been so little money in the drug fund, I have been leaving 100% of the money in the drug fund and there has been no misappropriation of it whatsoever. I welcome anyone to examine the records. All monies have been properly deposited and receipted.”
In fact, Vandergriff says, most of the money spent from the drug fund lately has been at Clemente’s request to purchase a certified drug dog, a truck and cage to haul it in, and for the training of an officer.”
With Clemente’s departure, the city is faced with having to name a new Police Chief, which would be it’s fifth in the last three years.
Former Chief Richard Jennings, who held the position for nine years, was replaced by Jim Baker in November 2003. Nine months later in August, 2004, Baker was replaced by Sam Dunbar. In January, 2006, Dunbar resigned amid a cloud of controversy, and was replaced in March by Clemente.
Jennings, now a Lieutenant, remains with the police department and Baker, who has just resigned his position as Police Chief in Alexandria, has rejoined the Smithville Department as an officer.
No word yet on when a new Chief will be named by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

Student Enrollment in the DeKalb County School System is up by 53 students compared to this same time last year, largely because of a sizeable kindergarten class and a new pre-K class at Smithville Elementary School.
Clay Farler, Attendance Supervisor, told WJLE Wednesday that system-wide, DeKalb County has an enrollment to date of 2,901, compared to 2,848 in late August 2005.
Enrollment is up by 63 students at Smithville Elementary School and 24 students at DeKalb Middle School. However the numbers are down by 15 students at DeKalb West School, 13 students at Northside Elementary, and 6 students at DeKalb County High School.
The enrollment numbers for August 2006 and 2005 at each school are as follows:
DeKalb County High School-
Year 2006- 834
Year 2005- 840
DeKalb Middle School-
Year 2006- 520
Year 2005-496
Northside Elementary-
Year 2006-514
Year 2005-527
Smithville Elementary School-
Year 2006-636
Year 2005-573
DeKalb West School-
Year 2006-397
Year 2005-412

Defendants indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury this month appeared for arraignment Monday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
After entering not guilty pleas to their charges, defendants in most cases were ordered to return to court on October 27th or November 10th, by which time they must be prepared to settle their cases or have them set for trial.
Among those appearing were former county deputy David Sharp, indicted on two counts of rape and official misconduct, and one count of sexual battery and official oppression.
Sharp entered a not guilty plea and will be back in court October 27th.
Ceylon Eugene Taylor, Senior charged in a sealed indictment with aggravated rape of a child, was also arraigned. He is accused of sexually penetrating a four year old girl between November 2005 and March 2006.
Three others charged in sealed indictments, Marty Ray Jones, Troy Lynn Woodlee, and Richard Lee Fleisher, were arraigned on a charge of theft over $60,000. They are accused of obtaining or exercising control over property, including, but not limited to welding, wire, mufflers, and converters valued at over $60,000 belonging to Tenneco, with intent to deprive the owner.
Meanwhile, in another case, 46 year old Shirley Smith Zimmerman pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule III controlled substance. She was granted judicial diversion for a period of three years. Under terms of her probation, she must perform 100 hours of community service, pay a $2,000 fine and $45 restitution to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.
Bond for 26 year old Tina Rose Bain, indicted in April on charges of first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, felony murder, and theft over $1,000, was reduced from $2-million dollars to $1-million dollars following a hearing in criminal court.
A co-defendant ,33 year old Michael E. Johnson of Sparta, recently entered a guilty plea to first degree murder. Judge Leon Burns, Jr. gave him a life prison sentence under a negotiated settlement with state prosecutors.
Johnson and Bain were charged in the shooting death of 21 year old David Anthony Welch of Sparta and the wounding of 23 year old Heather Trapp of Smithville. Both Welch and Trapp were shot at Trapp’s home during the pre-dawn hours of January 6th on Webb Lane.
Trapp testified during the hearing Monday that Bain is the person who shot her.
Bain’s case is set for trial in December unless a settlement is reached before then.

The Alexandria Mayor and Board of Aldermen is pledging to keep the Police Department operating as soon as new employees are hired.
The council met Tuesday night and formally accepted the resignations of Police Chief Jim Baker, Sergeant Tim Hearn, and Officer Josh King, who will be leaving this week.
When Alderman James Keyes asked Chief Baker why the entire three member department is resigning at the same time, he responded by saying, “I can’t speak for the others, but I promised this town I’d do the best job I can, but it’s come to the point to where I can’t do it anymore. Part of it is because of the budget and not being able to run the department myself without micro-management.”
The Chief, officers, and some residents and business persons of the town are apparently upset that the city, because of budget constraints, has eliminated the day shift and assigned the officers to work nights.
Alderman Charles Griffith, during Tuesday night’s meeting, said “We can’t afford a day shift and a night shift because of the budget. I think we need more coverage at night.”
Griffith says most of the crime threat, such as burglaries, vandalism’s, etc, is greater at night than the day time, and the town could rely more on county deputies to come to the city’s aid during the day, if needed.
However a couple of pharmacy and bank employees, who attended Tuesday night’s meeting, expressed their concerns that if they should need a law enforcement officer during the day time, they may have to wait 30 to 45 minutes for a county deputy to arrive, if there is no city officer on duty.
Renee Hale, an employee of F.Z.Webb & Sons Pharmacy in Alexandria, addressed the council. “If we have a forged prescription come in, we have to wait for the county (deputies) or if we were to be robbed, we’d have to wait. It’s real comforting to know that we have somebody down here (city officers) that could back us up at our own back door.”
Both Mayor David Cripps and Alderman Sarah Walker agreed that day shift officers are needed, if the city can afford them, but Walker says thanks to the overspending of a prior administration, the city was left in a deep financial hole.”When we came in here (took office), we had to cut the employees back to four days a week. The prior administration (prior to September 2005) had spent $244,000 on payroll in one year and with matching funds it was about $260,000. So we had to cut in order to survive. We’re trying to survive. That’s all we’re trying to do. We’re not trying to be mean to anyone.”
In the meantime, Mayor Cripps says city officials will be trying to resolve the problem. ” We’re going to try our best to get this worked out. I’ll agree we need police protection 100% more in the day time than at night. We’ll be interviewing people. We’ll try to have a police force back as soon as possible and we’re going to try to have the best one we can have. We’re a small town, we’ve got a small budget, and we’re going to do the best we can do. We’ll get this matter resolved as soon as possible.”
In other business, the council appointed Cripps as Mayor until the next city election in September, 2007. At that time, someone will be elected mayor to fill the remainder of former Mayor Clara Lee Vantrease’s unexpired term, which ends in 2009. Vantrease recently resigned
Alderman Roy Scott recently resigned and Cripps, by taking on the mayor position, had to give up his seat as alderman. To fill those two vacancies, the council Tuesday night appointed Jim York and former Alderman Jimmy Mullinax.

The DeKalb County School System met all necessary benchmarks this past year in all schools based on the latest Average Yearly Performance results, according to Supervisor of Instruction Carol Hendrix.
Under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), schools and school districts are measured on whether the students meet performance benchmarks in math, reading and attendance for grades 3-8 and math, English and graduation rate for high schools. Schools that do not meet the achievement standards for two years are deemed high priority.
DeKalb County High School remains a High Priority School based on a low graduation rate two years ago, but Hendrix says this past year the graduation rate improved. ” A school must meet the benchmark for two years before it comes off the High Priority list. This is the first year that the high school has met all the benchmarks. The year before last, DCHS didn’t meet the graduation rate, but this past year the school met all the academic benchmarks as well as the graduation rate. This is the first year. If the school meets all the benchmarks including the graduation rate for a second year, it will no longer be a high priority school.”
Hendrix says based on the local AYP results ” This is a clear indication that teachers and principals are working hard to ensure that students receive an appropriate education and are able to reach their fullest potential.”
“The progress of schools statewide is a clear indication that Tennessee’s improvement strategies are working,” Education Commissioner Lana Seivers said. “I commend the hard work of the teachers and principals responsible for helping these schools meet their goals. We will continue to provide every support available to ensure all schools can improve student achievement.”
AYP status is also calculated each year for the following student subgroups: White, Hispanic, African American, Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Economically Disadvantaged, Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners.
New This Year:
? For the first time, student performance for grades 3-8 is included in the AYP calculations where previously the law required only three grades in K-8 to be used.
? Tennessee is one of two states permitted to apply a growth model to allow schools to demonstrate progress. Eight schools met the AYP standards using this new method.
? This is also the first year Tennessee high schools are being measured by the graduation rate for the prior school year. The one-year lag allows schools and districts to receive credit for summer graduates, which aligns with No Child Left Behind’s standard of graduating in four years and a summer.
NCLB identifies schools that have missed a federal benchmark in the same category for two consecutive years. Tennessee elects to alert schools and districts that are at-risk of becoming a high priority school under NCLB. These schools receive additional support and assistance from the state in order to avoid the NCLB high priority list. Schools that have missed one or more benchmarks for one year are considered target schools. This year, 229 Tennessee schools will receive state support as target schools.

DeKalb County High School’s ACT scores improved in 2006, according to Supervisor of Instruction Carol Hendrix.
“As we look at the high school and the five year trend, all our ACT scores in every subject area are up this year. English was up 1.5 points, Math up by .9, Reading up by 1.1, and Science up by .8 so we’re doing a good job throughout.”
Ninety-three percent of Tennessee graduates took the ACT in 2006 and achieved an average cumulative score greater than their 2005 peers. Tennessee?s average ACT score in 2006 is 20.7, higher than 12 of the 14 other Southern Regional Education Board member states. Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native students in Tennessee scored higher than their peers nationwide. African American/black and Asian American/Pacific Islander students in Tennessee scored on par with their peers across the country.
?Seeing test scores rise even as the number of students tested increases is a good sign of forward progress,? Education Commissioner Lana Seivers said. ?I am particularly heartened by the strides demonstrated by minority students in Tennessee who are keeping pace with or outperforming their peers nationwide.?
More graduates earned scores considered to indicate college readiness in 2006 than in all past years. Likewise, scores earned by Tennessee 10th graders taking the PLAN, a precursor to the ACT, show continuing upward trends in performance.
Students taking core courses performed significantly higher than students taking less than minimum core requirements as defined by ACT. This core includes four years of English and three years each of math, science and social studies. Sixty-two percent of Tennessee test takers met the minimum core subject requirements recommended by ACT.
?Clearly more students understand the benefits of taking challenging courses throughout high school,? Seivers said. ?While we need to increase the number of students demonstrating readiness for college-level work, Tennessee?s students continue to improve each year over the last.?
Tennessee is trying to provide more students access to challenging courses through the e4TN initiative, a project to develop online coursework for students whose school may not offer advanced level courses. Both the Governor?s Schools in the summer and dual enrollment courses give students an opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. Students may also pursue the Tennessee Scholars Program, which requires four credits each of English and math; three credits of science and social studies; one credit each of wellness, business/computer technology and fine arts; and 20 hours of community service.

The owner and operator of the local Chevrolet dealership has announced plans to retire.
Leon Stribling announced Monday that Friday, September 15th will be the last date for the business operation of Stribling Chevrolet.
In a prepared statement, Stribling said, ” In accordance with the terms of the Dealer Sales and Service Agreement signed by General Motors Corporation and myself as Dealer Operator, I have exercised my rights to terminate my personal services agreement with General Motors”.
The 2006 Chevrolet models will be the last Chevrolets that Stribling’s company will be selling in Smithville.
A replacement dealer has not yet been named.
Stribling says “To our many friends who have favored us with your business over the years, may we say that serving you has indeed been our pleasure.”
Stribling and his brother Tim Stribling came to DeKalb County in 1976 to join Amonett-Nixon Chevrolet, then owned by Leon’s former father-in-law, Jim Amonett and his partner, John Robert Nixon. Amonett was the dealer of record at that time. Leon Stribling says “Being associated with these men of honesty and integrity was quite an honor”.
Stribling Chevrolet, Inc. was formed in January 1984, when Leon Stribling was named by General Motors as dealer for the Chevrolet franchise in DeKalb County. Stribing says ” At that time, my brother Tim, and I purchased the assets of Amonett-Nixon Chevrolet and for the last 22 years, Stribling Chevrolet has served our friends and neighbors”.
Though he and Tim were new to this area, Stribling says the community welcomed them with open arms. ” Tim and I were most impressed by the willingness of the community to let newcomers become involved. One or both of us has served as President of the Smithville Rotary Club, Chairman of the DeKalb County Planning Commission, President of the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, Coordinator of the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree, and member of the Industrial Development Board of the City of Smithville. Additionally, Tim has spent countless hours and days in involvement with the youth of the community in sports related activities. The community would be well served to afford the next Chevrolet dealer the same welcome extended to us 30 years ago.”
Stribling paid tribute to his employees, both past and present, for being the strength of the company through the years and he reminisced about the retired staff members. “Who will ever forget Joe Goodwin who would converse with you for hours and sometimes days and then sell you a car or truck; James “Pig” Trapp, a brilliant man who chose working on automobiles as his profession and how fortunate we all were to have known him; and Walter C. Phillips, long time body man who worked on cars when there was heavy metal steel in them. Walt wore out many a hammer for us.”
Stribling also praised the current staff members, ” Parts Manager Ricky Nixon, our longest tenured employee with 32 plus years of service. Mr. Reliability; Melinda Willoughby, Business Manager for the past 19 plus years. My confidant and shoulder to cry on; Tommy Garrison, talented technician with 22 plus years of service; J.B. Williams and Clay Myers, Service Department personnel with 14 and 7 years of service respectively; and Kitty Thomas, Saturday office staff with 15 plus years of service. What successes have accrued to us, we credit our staff.”
Stribling concluded by saying “As for those who know us best will attest, Tim and I have dedicated the last 30 years to nurturing our customers, our employees, and their families. Tim and I are thankful for the opportunity the community has given us. Thanks for the memories and God bless.”

The Smithville Board of Aldermen Monday night appointed Incumbent City Judge Hilton Conger to a new two year term, effective September 1st.
Conger’s current eight year term as an elected City Judge expires August 31st.
Conger’s salary as City Judge will also be reduced from $1,600 per month to $1,000 per month, because of the lesser responsibilities of the office.
The Municipal Court, up until 2002, had the same jurisdiction in city criminal cases as the General Sessions Court, and the City Judge held court several times each month with the City Attorney serving as Prosecutor.
After changes were made in the City Charter, the City Court’s jurisdiction was reduced to mostly minor traffic offenses and city ordinance violations. The court now convenes only once per month, usually for about one to two hours at a time.
The City Judge is also no longer elected by city voters to an eight year term, but serves at the pleasure of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, appointed to a two year term.
Since Conger was last elected as City Judge in 1998, city officials either could not or chose not to reduce his salary during the term, even though the powers of the city court changed midway through the term.
The changes in the City Charter, regarding the City Court, came following a State Attorney General’s opinion in the fall of 2001 that only the District Attorney General and his staff had the responsibility of prosecuting state criminal action in municipal courts.
Meanwhile, City Attorney Sarah Cripps, uneasy that the city fathers have voted to pay the City Judge $1,000 for two hours work per month, is now asking them to consider giving her a pay raise.
Cripps is complaining that her monthly retainer fee of $1,250 has not been increased since she was hired by the city in 1998.
Cripps’ request will be placed on the agenda for consideration at the next meeting on September 18th.