Following a long week of Homecoming activities, the DCHS Band traveled to Lebanon on Saturday to compete in the Blue Devil Marching Invitational. Attendance at the Lebanon contest has become a staple for the Fighting Tiger Band over the past few years.
After six taxing performances for the Homecoming activities on Friday, the band met at the band room on Saturday morning for another intensive rehearsal in preparation for the contest later that afternoon. Although this rehearsal was hot and mentally and physically exhausting, the band’s dedication and sacrifice proved to be worth the effort. The results of the contest showed it.
Field Commander, Dustin Estes, won not only the Medium Class award with a score of 94, but the score sheet reflected he had outscored all other field commanders in the entire contest, including both Large and Small Division bands. Dustin was recognized as the winner of this award for the 2nd consecutive year.
The Percussion Section outscored their competition in the Medium Class and brought home the First Place trophy. Their scores also reflected a tie for 3rd place in the Small Division.
The Color Guard placed 2nd in Class, trailing Chattanooga Central High School by only two points.
The DCHS Band brought home the first place trophy in the Medium Class by outscoring Kenwood High School, Glencliff, Stewart County, Chattanooga Central, and Hunters Lane.
The band also won the Sweepstakes award for the Small Division. The Small Division is comprised of the Small and Medium Classes combined. Eleven bands in all were in the Small Division. The Sweepstakes award is based on 50% band score, 25% percussion score, 20% color guard score, and 5% field commander score.
Directors, Kristin Reagh and Rebecca Purdue, and the entire staff referred to the performance as a “Goosebump Performance.” Mrs. Reagh said, “The kids were pumped when they went on the field. In addition to their responsibilities during Homecoming, they worked very hard to prepare for this contest. It was a long, hard week for them. I’m extremely proud of these students for sticking with it and giving what it takes.”
Next week the band travels to Vanderbilt University for the Vanderbilt Marching Invitational. To learn more about the band, its activities, and schedules, log onto www.DeKalbBand.com

The City of Smithville will be accepting bids for the sprinkler system at the Smithville Golf Course. Specs may be picked up at City Hall during regular working hours. Bids will be opened at City Hall,, 104 East Main Street, Smithville, Tennessee on October 15th, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Regular City Council Meeting. The City reserves the right to reject or refuse any and all bids.

In 2005, Interstate 840 was named the “Tennessee National Guard Parkway” as a lasting tribute to the brave men and women who fight and die for our country. Friday, September 28, a formal unveiling ceremony took place at the Lebanon National Guard Armory, dedicating each bridge along I-840 to an individual fallen soldier from the mid-state area. The Stewarts Ferry Pike Bridge was dedicated to Sergeant Shannon D. Taylor of Smithville, who was killed in the line of duty while serving in Iraq. The Bridge will now be known as the “Sergeant Shannon D. Taylor Memorial Bridge.”
State Senator Mae Beavers (R – Mount Juliet) attended the ceremony and presented the Taylor Family with a Senate Resolution honoring Sergeant Shannon D. Taylor for his service and ultimate sacrifice for this country.
“I am honored to be a part of this special day for the Taylor Family. Sergeant Taylor exemplified his strong sense of pride and true love for this country through his sacrifice. Because of his actions and those of his fallen comrades, we are able to enjoy our rights and freedoms here in America,” stated Beavers.
“I also believe this is a time to recognize the families of the soldiers and the sacrifices they have made in their own lives. Sergeant Taylor gave his life so that others may continue to enjoy freedom in America, but his actions were a direct refection of the love and support he received from his family and friends. I thank the family for all they have done for our country,” continued Beavers.
The memorial ceremony featured remarks from Governor Phil Bredesen and Major General Gus L. Hargett, Jr., Tennessee Army National Guard Adjutant General. Several legislators and local government officials were also on hand for the dedications.

Three elderly people were involved in a two vehicle traffic accident around 3:20 p.m. Friday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 56 south and Keltonburg Road.
Trooper Brian Raymond of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 90 year old Atwood Cantrell of Keltonburg Road was south on Highway 56 in a 1994 GMC Sonoma, attempting to turn onto Keltonburg Road, as 88 year old Ora Cox of Rolling Mill Road, Old Hickory was northbound, approaching the intersection in a 2008 Mercury Sable.
Cox and a passenger of her car, 85 year old Mattie Stalcup of Gribble Street, McMinnville were injured and taken by DeKalb EMS to the hospital for treatment.
Cantrell was not injured.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has implemented a new CITIZENS ALERT SYSTEM.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says “the CITIZENS ALERT SYSTEM is designed to inform the citizens of DeKalb County, via email and fax, of anything going on in the county that might affect you as a citizen and also add more eyes to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department in knowing about potential problems before they happen to you.”
The CITIZENS ALERT SYSTEM informs businesses and citizens about criminal activity,
wanted persons, missing persons, security and safety issues 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sheriff Ray says the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has established a CITIZENS ALERT SYSTEM that links the citizens and businesses and the county’s law enforcement agency through an email and fax communication system located at the Sheriff’s Office. ” This email and fax database allow us to quickly alert businesses and citizens to criminal activity and important information that is relevant to the security and safety of all citizens, business operations,
employees and customers, twenty-four hours a day.”
If you would like to participate in this program, you may go to the Sheriff’s Department’s website at www.dekalbsherifftn.com and click on the CITIZEN ALERT SYSTEM selection in the menu and complete the form at the bottom of the page. You can sign up for your home or your business, or both. If you don’t have Internet access and want to sign up for the CITIZEN
ALERT SYSTEM by fax, send the following information to the sheriff by regular mail: Your Name, Complete Home Address, Home Phone Number, Home Fax Number, Business Name, Complete Business Address, Business Phone Number, and Business Fax Number.

A 53 year old DeKalb County woman, who was also a Warren County Middle School teacher, died from injuries she received in a one car crash around 7:29 a.m. Friday morning on Greenhill Road in Warren County.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol reports that Patsy Ann Rachel of Smithville was driving a 2001 Lincoln south on State Highway 287 when she went off the right shoulder, traveled about 50 yards, came back into the right lane, crossed into the left lane, and then went off the road and struck a tree.
She was taken to River Park Hospital in McMinnville where she was pronounced dead.
The accident was investigated by Troopers Daryle Gribble and Ronnie Simmons and Sergeant Billy Prater of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
According to the accident report, Rachel was not wearing her seat belt.

Seven persons have applied for Chief of Police for the City of Smithville, while twelve have filed an application for the job of Public Works Director, and five are in the running for the position of Secretary/Treasurer.
Noon Friday was the deadline for interested persons to submit their applications at city hall.
Those who have applied for Police Chief are former Chief and now Lieutenant Richard Jennings, Danny Nelson Holmes of Baxter, Mike Dennis Foster of Winchester, Kenneth D. Smith of Watertown, John C. Lowe of Apple Creek, Ohio, Phillip Bruce Robinette of Rogersville, and Tony Jones of Smithville.
Jennings began his law enforcement career with the City of Smithville in 1976. He joined the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department in 1977 working for then Sheriff Dwight Mathis until he left office in 1986. Jennings rejoined the Smithville Police Department in 1986 and was appointed Police Chief in 1994, a position he held for nine years before being re-assigned by the city council in November, 2003.
Holmes worked for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department from 1976 to 2006 and is now a security officer for the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He also served as a D.A.R.E. instructor.
Foster served as Sheriff of Franklin County from 1998 until 2006 and is now security director at TEPRO Incorporated of Winchester. He has a B.A. degree in administration of justice from Columbia College and he has a Masters degree in criminal justice administration from MTSU.
Smith is currently employed with the Mount Juliet Police Department. He worked for the Lebanon Police Department from 1986 to 2006.
Lowe, who worked for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department from 1983 to 1993, is now employed by the Apple Creek, Ohio Police Department.
Robinette was Chief of the England City Police Department from 2006 to 2007. Prior to that, he worked for the Rogersville Police Department from 1991 to 2004 and the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Department from 1979 to 1990.
Jones is a former member of the United States Air Force where he served 22 years with the Military Police.
Applicants for Public Works Director are as follows:
Myron Rhody, Phillip Eugene Wilkey, Bobby Wayne Pinegar, Lewis Donald Cantrell, Avent Ray (Buck) Mooneyham, Gary Wayne Prater, Albert Lourn Rice, Clarence Bradley Trapp, Jimmy Randall Taylor, Kenny Waynon Dyal, Wallace Dale Caldwell, and Kevin Erbie Robinson all of Smithville.
Applicants for Secretary/Treasurer are as follows:
William Hunter Hendrixson, Robert Dennis Schafer, and Gary Wayne Prater all of Smithville, Jennifer Michelle Hight of Alexandria, and Lisa Carole McMillin of Watertown.
The Smithville Mayor and Board of Aldermen will review the applications for each position and hire successors to former Police Chief Thomas J. Stufano and former Secretary/Treasurer Burnace Vandergriff.