Relay For Life is set for Friday, May 11th at Greenbrook Park.
It’s is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs of your American Cancer Society. During the event in DeKalb County, teams of people gather at Green Brook Park and take turns walking laps around the walking trail. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times.
Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.
The theme for this year’s Relay for Life will be “Amazing Race” .
The all night event begins Friday at 5:00 p.m. at Green Brook Park featuring lots of food, fun, and entertainment. Local cancer survivors will be introduced at 6:00 p.m. and each one will give a testimony and mention how long they have battled and survived the illness. The introduction will be followed by a Cancer Survivors Walk around the trail.
Thirty three teams specializing in various fun filled activities and food booths will be set up throughout the park, all raising money for the event. And then at 9:00 p.m. a special luminaria ceremony will be held to remember those who have lost the fight against cancer as well as the survivors.
You may order a luminaria in honor or in memory of a friend or loved one today by calling Violet Fuson at 597-4483 or Ivadell Randolph at 597-5296. You may also purchased them during Relay for Life Friday evening at the park.
Last year’s event raised $100,000 dollars. The goal this year is $105,000.

A total of 154 students at DeKalb County High School will receive their diplomas during graduation exercises Friday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m. on the high school football field.
The program will feature remarks by the Valedictorian, Courtney Rhody; Salutatorian, Kendra Adcock; Class President, Ashlee Moss; and Principal Kathy Hendrix. The prestigious White Rose and Citizenship Awards will also be presented to three outstanding members of the class. Diplomas will be presented to each graduate by Director of Schools Mark Willoughby.
The honor students will also be recognized including the Valedictorian and the Salutatorian
Both Rhody and Adcock have compiled a 4.0 grade point average.
Other students earning “Highest Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.8 to 4.0 include Andrew Moore, Kristen James, Nickole Macy, and Jordan Atnip each with a 4.0; Annica Vettraino 3.9, Angel Lindsay 3.9, Zach Davidson 3.9, Ashleigh Wright 3.9, Justin Nokes 3.8, Chris Young 3.8, Tera Menix 3.8, and Ashley Rowland 3.8.
Students earning “High Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.79 include Heather Cantrell 3.7, Joey Driver 3.7, Sarah Fury 3.7, Thomas Hale 3.7, Brandon Shaw 3.7, Rebecca Hendrixson 3.6, Gwenevere Michaels 3.6, Chase Tramel 3.6, Colby Kilgore 3.6, Brittney Bell 3.6, Josh Nokes 3.6, Danny Pirtle 3.6, and Josh Howe 3.6.
Those earning “Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.2 to 3.59 include Amy Ashford 3.5, Tera Campbell 3.5, Kristina Heriott 3.5, Kelli Bess 3.5, Kelli Twilla 3.5, Mikey O’Conner 3.5, Tiffany Walls 3.5, Holly Hughes 3.4, Anna Trapp 3.4, Billy Fuson 3.3, Sarah Nunley 3.3, Roberta Applegate 3.3, Ashley Burchfield 3.3, Richard Schilt 3.3, Ashley McCormick 3.3, Carolina Noyola 3.3, Claire Garrett 3.3
Members of the DCHS Class of 2007 are as follows:
Alicia Dale Adams, Kendra Michelle Adcock, Tiera Danielle Anderson, Roberta Eileen Applegate, Anthony Ashburn, Amy Marie Ashford, Jordan D. Atnip, Justin C. Atnip
Anthony Lee Bain, Jessica LeAnn Bain, Curtis McAustin Barlow, Bradley Hunter Barrett, Mary Allison Batson, Brandi M. Begley, Brittney Jean Bell, Jessica Skye Berry, Kelli Michelle Bess, Mary Beth Bly, Cory Alan Bradford, Avery Kennedy Bratcher, Kasha June Bratcher, Justin Elliott Brooks, Tiffany Christine Brown, Ashley Michelle Burchfield, Keshia Meachealle Byford,
Tera Beth Campbell, Heather Danielle Cantrell, Jessica Lauren Cantrell, Nikki Leigh Cantrell, Keith J.B. Carter, Randall Kyle Centers, Ryan Lee Childers, Bobby Joe Chrisman, Crystal Diane Conners, Patrick Franklin Counts, Terry Ray Cowart, Samantha Hope Cox,
Samantha Caitlyn Daniel, Zachary Alan Davidson, Amanda Jean Dawson, Jose Rolando Delafuente, Trenton Matthew DeMilly, Amber Leigh Dickerson, Allison Diane Driver, Joey Marie Driver,
Loni Mileah Easterwood,
Terra Danielle Farler, Ashley Nicole Farris, Brittany A. Ferguson, Chelsie Lei Ford, Ashley Nichole Foutch, Kelsey Leigh Foutch, Jordon Paul Funk, Sarah Ann Fury, William Paul Fuson,
Emily Claire Garrett, Ryan Lee Garrett, Rachel Elizabeth Garrison, Stacee Marie Giles, Steven Nicholas Gilpin, Brittany Michelle Gingerich, Carolina Godinez, Coty Brandon Griffin,
Justin Allen Hale, Thomas Layne Hale, Tara Jade Hannah, Alexander Charles Harrah, Anthony Edward Hasemann, Farron L. Hendrix, Phillip Ross Hendrix, Rebecca Lucille Hendrixson, Dustin Lynn Herndon, Bradley Herriott, Kristina Lee Herriott, Joshua Stanton Howe. Holly Nicole Hughes,
Kristen Leigh James, Derek Allen Johnson, Jamie Nicole Johnson, Keith R. Johnson, Jonathan Judkins,
Michelle Keenan, Joshua Glen Kerley, Colby David Kilgore, Kayla Paig Kilgore, Amanda Michelle Knowles,
Angel Louise Lindsay, Kelly Lynn Little,
Nickole Marie Macy, Casaundra Rena Maple, Whitney Ashton Maples, Ashley Michelle McCormick, Tera Rebecca Menix, Gwenevere Amanda Michaels, Jeremy Ray Mooneyham, Andrew Levi Moore, Ashlee Nichole Moss, Christina Beth Murphy,
Karrie Lynn Neal, Amber Nichols, Eden Adora Nokes, Joshua Bradley Nokes, Justin Tyler Nokes, Carolina Renee Noyola, Sarah Alexandra Nunley,
Christopher Michael O’Conner, Matthew Bryant Orcutt, Stefany Eiliana Ortega, Kayla Renee Ottinger, Thomas K. Owens,
Shawna Leann Parsley, Joshua Lindsey Perry, Ross Matthew Peterson, Eric Danial Pettis, Danny Hearl Pirtle, Jr., Lucas Dylan Prichard, Jennifer Ashley Pyles,
Henry Clay Ratleph, Phillip Robert Redmon, Courtney Lauren Rhody, Christopher Rigsby, Martha Ilean Robertson, Gary Heath Robinson, Lance Edward Rollings, Ashley Dawn Rowland,
Kayla Rena Sanders, Richard Brandon Schilt, Wendy Michelle Scott, Brandon Kyle Shaw, Nicholas Reese Smith, William Cody Snyder, Michael Felix Sosa, Kristie Ann South, Joshua Eugene Stone, Crystal Beth Street, Brandon Christopher Sullivan,
Nathan Dale Thomason, Sarah Jessica Torres, Chase A. Tramel, Derrick Reed Tramel, Joshua Lane Tramel, Anna Leigh Trapp, Kelli Jon Twilla,
Brittany Allison Vandergriff, Drake Colton Vaughn, Annica Christine Vettraino,
Tiffany Marie Walls, Allen L. Wilkerson, James Ray Williams, Jeffery Wayne Winchester, Ashleigh Dawn Wright,
Heather Ann Yoskovich, Michael Anthony Yost, and Christopher Ryan Young.

A 26 year old Smithville man has been arrested by the Police Department on rape charges.
Smithville Police Chief Thomas J. Stufano says Derek Charles Riggs of 329 Smith Road was arrested Friday on two counts of Rape of a Child and two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery of a Child under age 7.
According to Chief Stufano, “Smithville Investigators assigned to the Sexual Assault unit had received information from a family member that Riggs was having sexual contact with his two biological children ages 4 and 6 in a motor home he was staying in on Smith Road. Through a series of interviews with family members and the juvenile victims along with forensic information, Investigators were able to determine that Riggs had sodomized and raped his four year old daughter and six year old son on a number of occasions. Smithville Police conducted a taped interview with Riggs who did admit to the sexual contacts. Riggs was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $400,000 bond. The children will remain in the custody of their mother. ”
Chief Stufano says “This is the second high profile case involving the rape of infant and minor children within recent months. Smithville Police have created a specialized unit to handle sexual assaults and are working very closely with the Department of Children Services, the DeKalb County School system, and the District Attorney’s Office. It is incumbent upon everyone to report suspicious activity involving our most precious resource, our children. The citizens of Smithville have been extremely helpful in detecting suspicious activity in our city neighborhoods. Neighborhood Crime Watch is working!

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, conducting a drug investigation at a Bell Street residence on Saturday, arrested two people.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 26 year old Samer Abdalla of East Marthona Street, Madison is charged with unlawful possession of a schedule II controlled substance (Dilaudid) and possession of drug paraphernalia and 23 year old Megan Lann of Bell Street, Smithville is charged with unlawful possession of a schedule III controlled substance (Hydrocodone) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sheriff Ray says deputies, during their investigation at Lann’s residence, found four dilaudid pills on Abdalla and paraphernalia including straws containing a yellow and white powdery residue. Officers also found on Lann, white pills believed to be hydrocodone and paraphernalia including straws and hypodermic needles.
Bond for Abdalla is set at $12,000, and $5,000 for Lann. Both will appear in General Sessions Court on the charges May 10th.
Meanwhile, in other cases 29 year old Lonnie Miller of Asbury Park Apartments in McMinnville is charged with theft over $1,000.
Sheriff Ray says Miller is charged with stealing from a residence on Bright Hill Road a 14 foot utility trailer loaded with sheet rock . The theft occurred on March 16th.
In a separate case, Sheriff Ray says a deputy stopped a vehicle on Highway 70 east on Sunday, April 29th and arrested 35 year old Alberto Cedillo of Pleasant Shade Highway, Carthage. He was charged with a first offense of driving under the influence and cited for violation of the implied consent law. His bond is $1,500.
Meanwhile, another person has been picked up on a sealed indictment returned by the Grand Jury in April as a result of the Sheriff’s Departments undercover drug investigation. Sheriff Ray says 25 year old Amber Johnson is charged with sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance and sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance over .5 grams (cocaine). Her bond is $20,000.

A total of 520 DeKalb County voters have cast ballots with one day left of early voting on the proposal to increase the local option sales tax from 1.5% to 2.75%.
A total of 70 voted on Friday, April 27th including personal appearance and by mail ballots, 21 voted on Saturday, 36 -Monday, 46- Tuesday, 38- Wednesday, 44-Thursday, 42-Friday, 31-Saturday, May 5th, 34-Monday, 31-Tuesday, 41- Wednesday, 57-Thursday, and 29 on Friday
If approved, the overall state sales tax rate in DeKalb County would go from 8.5% to 9.75%, however the county commission has pledged to reduce the property tax rate by nineteen and a half cents.
The rate was increased by 39 cents last September.
Early voting on the referendum continues through Saturday, May 12th. The special election day will be Thursday, May 17th.
All early voting will be done in the basement courtroom of the DeKalb County Courthouse.
Voting hours are from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
On election day, May 17th, the polling places at all sixteen precincts will open at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
The wording on the ballot will read:
“SHALL RESOLUTION 21-2-2007-1 PASSED BY THE DEKALB COUNTY COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 26, 2007 PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE LOCAL SALES TAX FROM 1.5% TO 2.75% WITH ONE-HALF (1/2) REQUIRED BY LAW AND THE REMAINDER AS PER AGREEMENT CONTRACTS, BE APPROVED?