Students in grades 3-8 will be taking the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) Achievement Test this month.
Dr. Carol Hendrix, Supervisor of Instruction for Grades 7 to 12 and Testing Coordinator, says TCAP testing is conducted each spring. “The Achievement Test is a timed, multiple choice assessment that measures skills in Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Student results are reported to parents, teachers, and administrators later in the year.”
“Testing dates for this year are April 15th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 21st, & 22nd. This year the state allowed six consecutive school days to be used for testing instead of the usual five days which allowed our school system to have a weekend between subjects allowing students to rest between tests.”
“On April 15th, we’ll have Reading and Language; on April 16th, we’ll have Math, and then April 17th will be a makeup test day for those two areas as well as any tests that special education students take. April 20th will be Science; April 21st, Social Studies; and April 22nd will be the final makeup test day.”
“The TCAP Achievement Test includes only Criterion-Referenced items for students in grades 3 through 8 in Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies.”
“Criterion-Referenced items measure a student’s performance according to specific standards, rather than to the performance of other test takers. The Achievement Test assesses student performance on items directly aligned with the State Curriculum Content Standards. Performance information is grouped by Reporting Categories. Each Reporting Category measures student performance on items linked to specific State Performance Indicators. The TCAP Achievement Test Reports provide information in terms of three Performance Levels: Below Proficient, Proficient, and Advanced.”
“A brochure created to assist parents in understanding the reports they receive after their student has taken the TCAP Achievement Test will be sent to each parent along with specific scores.”
Dr. Hendrix adds that there are specific things parents can do days before the testing to assure that the students do well. “See that your child is rested and eats a good breakfast, see that your child arrives at school on time and is relaxed, and encourage your child to do the very best possible. If your child is sick, I would send my child to school (on testing day), I’d wait until one of the make-up days. These are just some of the things parents can do to assure that their child does well on the tests.”

It’s been at least three or four years and maybe longer since the City of Smithville fluoridated it’s water supply and many believe it’s time the fluoride treatment was started again.
City officials say the machine that feeds the fluoride into the water system broke down a few years ago and was never repaired or replaced.
Smithville physician Dr. Steven Cooper and dentist Dr. Mitchell Tatum addressed the Smithville Mayor and Board of Aldermen Monday night asking that the fluoridation be re-activated for the benefit of the citizens.
Dr. Cooper says fluoridation is needed “The reason I’m concerned about this is because if we’re not fluoridated, then we need to make this known to the physicians in the community because, especially in well child exams, we’re supposed to be supplementing fluoride, giving vitamins that contain fluoride or supplementing fluoride in areas where the water supply isn’t fluoridated. Of course, I can do that and I have already given out some vitamins with fluoride supplements but I think that would penalize people who are uninsured or people who are lower income who can’t afford these supplements. I would ask the board to consider voting to make sure that the fluoridation is reinstated. Water in the United States has been fluoridated since World War II and it’s cut the cavity rate by 50%. It’s a lot easier and cheaper to prevent a cavity than to go back and fill a bunch of cavities. As far as the costs, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) says on average in the U.S. it costs about 72 cents per person per year to fluoridate. If you don’t fluoridate, you double the dental costs in most communities. That’s been studied. Fluoridation is very safe in the proper concentration. Obviously, too much of anything can be bad. If you eat too much salt, that could be bad for your blood pressure, too much sugar, diabetes, whatever. It’s the same with fluoride. If you ingest too much it can be harmful but not in the proper concentrations, which in the city water system that would vary between .7 and 1.2 parts per million. To give you an analogy, if you equated that to distance, that would be equivalent to an inch per sixteen miles so it’s a very tiny concentration and done properly it would be very safe with no adverse affects.”
Dr. Tatum added that “Nearly 100 national and international organizations recognize the public health benefits of community water fluoridation in preventing cavities. Some of them are the American Dental Association, the American Dietetic Association, the World Health Organization, the National Cancer Institute, the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the CDC which has named fluoridation as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century in the United States. That’s just to name a few. I would also like to quote some of the past Surgeon Generals including Dr. C. Everett Koop, the Surgeon General of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He stated that fluoridation is the single most important commitment a community can make to the oral health of it’s children and future generations. Dr. Audrey Manley, Acting Surgeon General from 1995 to 1997, stated that data consistently has indicated that water fluoridation is the most cost effective, practical, and safe means for reducing the occurrence of tooth decay in a community. Water fluoridation continues to be the cornerstone of community oral disease prevention. Fluoridation has been the standard and the policy of Smithville and the State of Tennessee for many years. It is not a mysterious substance. It is not an experiment. It is safe. It is cost effective and it is needed for this community. There is no credible organizations that are against it. Water fluoridation has been studied for over 50 years. It occurs naturally in our water and there has never been one study that has said that it’s a health risk. That’s from the CDC’s website.”
The aldermen voted 4-0 to have city officials research the feasibility and costs of re-implementing the fluoridation treatment, and check to see whether any state assistance is available. The issue will be revisited at the next city council meeting on April 20th at 7:00 p.m. at city hall.

Smithville Police have made several arrests within the past few days.
31 year old Amy J. Lawson of Smithville is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $500. Her bond is $35,000 and she will be in court April 30th.
Investigator Jerry Hutchins, Jr. reports that “on or about December 12th, 2008, Lawson did enter the residence of Will Cantrell at 1315 South College Street with intent to commit a theft. Entry was gained without consent. She allegedly took an antique lamp valued at about $650.
Lawson was arrested on Thursday, April 2nd.
27 year old Andrea Nicole Bass of Smithville is charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond is $1,000 and she will be in court April 9th
Officer Bradley Tatrow reports that “on March 27th, he stopped a vehicle on Jennings Lane for window tint. Upon making contact with the driver, Christopher Walls and the passenger Andrea Nicole Bass, Officer Tatrow received consent to search the vehicle. While searching the vehicle he saw Ms. Bass digging in her purse at the rear of the vehicle. Fearing what Ms. Bass was retrieving, the officer went to the rear of the vehicle and saw Ms Bass’ open purse in her hands with a hypodermic needle laying inside a makeup pouch. Upon a further search of Ms. Bass’ purse, Officer Tatrow recovered two cigarette lighters, a blue straw with a white residue, four alcohol swabs, and a white pill container. Ms. Bass was placed under arrest and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. The driver of the vehicle was released with a verbal warning for window tint.
Meanwhile 22 year old Rebecca Marie Biggs of Smithville is charged with child neglect. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court on April 9th
Officer Randy King reports that “on March 23rd, he responded to Royal Oak Apartments in Smithville to a small child that was lost from his parents. Upon arrival, he was advised that the child had been out for about fifteen minutes and could not show anyone where he lived. After another twenty minutes someone could be heard calling for the child. Upon further investigation, Officer King learned that the mother and child had laid down to take a nap and the child woke up and got out while the mother was still asleep. The wind was gusty and the temperature was 54 outside at the time.
In another case, 39 year old Miguel Sagahon of Smithville is charged with a first offense of driving under the influence and violation of the implied consent law. He will be in court April 9th
Officer Randy King reports the he observed a vehicle on West Broad Street traveling from one side of the roadway to the other. The vehicle stopped for the red light and while the light was still red, the vehicle then proceeded to turn left on South Mountain Street. Officer King activated his blue lights and the vehicle traveled onto White Street. Upon speaking to the driver, Officer King noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. He was asked to perform several field sobriety tasks in which he performed poorly. He also refused a blood alcohol test.
29 year old Nina Jean Mayfield of Woodbury is charged with public intoxication. Her bond is $1,000 and her court date is April 9th.
Officer Nathan Estes reports that on Wednesday, April 1st he responded to DeKalb Community Hospital to an intoxicated person. Upon arrival and speaking to someone at the nurses station, Officer Estes was taken to a hospital room where he found Mayfield. While speaking to her, the officer saw that she had very slurred speech and was very unsteady on her feet. She also had a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person. She was placed under arrest for her own safety and the welfare of the public at large.
21 year old Tiffany A. Satterfield of Smithville is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Her bond is $2.500 and she will be in court April 9th.
Officer Matt Farmer reports that Satterfield turned herself in at the police department Wednesday, April 1st where she was charged on a warrant issued previously for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The minor was a runaway that went with Ms. Satterfield to Florida without the consent of the child’s parents. According to Officer Farmer, Satterfield did have knowledge of the child’s intent to runaway and assisted her in the plan.
31 year old Pamela Jo Kelley of Livingston is charged with a first offense of driving under the influence and violation of the open container law. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court on April 16th.
Officer Matt Holmes reports that on March 25th, he responded to a possible intoxicated driver on West Broad Street in front of the high school. The vehicle was parked on the sidewalk and hanging out in the roadway. Upon arrival, he found Kelley sitting behind the wheel. The car keys were in the ignition but the engine was not running. Upon speaking with her Officer Holmes noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person. She performed poorly on several field sobriety tasks. She did not submit to a blood alcohol test. A six pack of beer was found in the back seat of the car with one open container of beer between the passenger side seat and the console.
30 year old Samuel M. Muniz of Smithville is charged with a first offense of driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on April 9th.
Officer Bradley Tatrow reports that on March 29th he observed a vehicle on South Congress Boulevard failing to maintain the proper lane of travel. He attempted to stop the vehicle but it continued 1.5 miles before stopping at Jewel’s Market. Upon speaking to the driver, Officer Tatrow noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was very unsteady on his feet. Due to the language barrier, no field sobriety tasks were given. He did submit to a breathalyzer and the result was .228.
18 year old Jaymie K. Zimmerman of Red Boiling Springs is charged with vandalism. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court April 9th.
Officer Steven Leffew reports that on March 24th he responded to Short Mountain Trailer #2 in Smithville to a vandalism. Upon arrival, he spoke to Jaymie Zimmerman who stated she was mad and threw a block through a windshield of a vehicle at this residence.
26 year old Valentino Antonio Suarez of Smithville is charged with a third offense of driving under the influence, a second offense of driving on a revoked license, and criminal impersonation. He was arrested on March 29th and he will be in court April 9th. His bond totals $10,000.
Officer Randy King reports that on March 29th, he was advised of a reckless driver coming into the Smithville city limits on Highway 56 and that the vehicle was traveling from one side of the road to the other. Officer King followed the vehicle for about one fourth of a mile and saw that it was swerving very erratically from one side to the other causing a hazard to approaching traffic. According to Officer King’s report, “I stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Highway 56 & 70. I approached the vehicle and immediately noticed a strong odor of a fermented beverage coming from the car. I asked the driver for identification and proof of insurance. Antonio Galeva could not provide any of these. There were three open containers in the floor of the vehicle and the floor of the vehicle was soaked. Antonio admitted that he been drinking. An interpreter aided in administering field sobriety tests and the man performed poorly. He was placed under arrest for DUI and violation of the implied consent law. At the time of the arrest, he stated on numerous occasions that his name was Antonio Galeva. Upon being taken to the Sheriff’s Department, he was identified as Valentin Antonio Suarez. A computer check also found that his license was revoked for DUI on August 1st, 2008 in DeKalb County.”
48 year old Gregory Dewayne Martin of Smithville was charged with disorderly conduct on March 24th. His court date is April 9th. He is under a $1,000 bond. The arresting officer was Matt Farmer.

Smithville Mayor Taft Hendrixson will have to try again if he wants to appoint Tim Stribling to the city industrial development board and Walter Burton to the Smithville Electric System Board.
The aldermen voted 4-0 Monday night to set aside those appointments after City Attorney Vester Parsley, Jr. issued an opinion that the mayor should have first notified the aldermen in writing of his intentions before making the appointments, according to the city charter
During the March 16th city council meeting, Mayor Hendrixson appointed Burton to fill the unexpired term of the late John Bill Evins on the Smithville Electric System Board. He also appointed Stribling as a member of the Smithville Industrial Development Board, to serve out the remaining term of his brother Leon Stribling, who recently resigned.
The aldermen, at the March 16th meeting, voted 4 to 0 to approve the appointment of Stribling. However the board was split 2 to 2 on Burton’s appointment. Mayor Hendrixson cast the tie breaking vote in favor of Burton. Aldermen Steve White and Cecil Burger voted for Burton but Aldermen Tonya Sullivan and Jerry Hutchins, Sr. voted no. Alderman Willie Thomas was absent.
Alderman Sullivan, during the March 16th meeting, complained that the appointments of Stribling and Burton were not included on the agenda and that the mayor may have violated the city charter by not presenting his request in writing to the aldermen.
Both Sullivan and Mayor Hendrixson later asked City Attorney Vester Parsley, Jr. to render a legal opinion on whether the appointments were made properly.
Parsley, during Monday night’s meeting (April 6th), said be believed the mayor should have given written notice to the board and recommended that the appointments of Stribling and Burton be set aside until written notice is given. Based on Parsley’s opinion, the board voted 4-0 to set aside the appointments. Alderman Steve White was absent.
In a letter to the mayor and aldermen, Parley wrote that “After the regular March 16th, 2009 meeting with the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, I was asked to give an opinion regarding the appointment of Mr. Tim Stribling to the City of Smithville Industrial Board and Mr. Walter Burton to the Smithville Electric System Board without written notification to the board.”
“The Charter for the City of Smithville under Section 6 provides as follows: It shall be the duty of the Mayor, by written communications, to lay before the Board any information coming to his attention which, in his judgment, demands the consideration of said Board. It is my opinion that although the charter does not specify how that written communication should be given, the charter does require some type of written communication, be it by placing same in the minutes or a letter to the Board of Alderman. Therefore, these appointments would require some type of written notification to the board before passage.”
So, the positions which would have been filled by Stribling and Burton will remain vacant for now until Mayor Hendrixson formally gives written notice to the aldermen of his appointments.
In other business, Mayor Hendrixson reported to the aldermen Monday night that the city water and sewer operation is currently operating at a deficit, mainly due to higher electricity costs, and that rate adjustments may be needed in the near future.
Mayor Hendrixson provided a monthly break down of water and sewer electric expenses from September, 2007 to February, 2009. “These are for the water intake, water plant, and sewer plant. In September 2007, the total bill for the three was $19,883. In January, 2009 it was $33,422 and in February it was $32,875. That is an increase of approximately 59% from a year and a half ago. That is causing the water and sewer operation to operate at a deficit. We have covered the deficit and have no problem doing that but the state will not let us continue operating the water system at a deficit. If we do they’ll come in and set the rates for us. The water rates have not been increased since 1998. That’s eleven years that the water rates have been the same. But the cost of chemicals, electricity, and everything has gone up tremendously in the last eleven years. The last time the sewer rates were increased was in 2005 and I think the state mandated that be done. I just want to make you aware that the water and sewer operation, mainly because of the electricity costs, is operating at a deficit this year. It will have to be addressed in the near future.”
Under the current rate structure, City water customers pay $3.50 for the first one thousand gallons of water usage plus $3.50 for each additional one thousand gallons of usage. Rates for customers outside the city limits are 50% higher.
The rate the city charges the DeKalb Utility District is $1.85 per thousand gallons. Those rates (DUD) are evaluated annually based on cost.
City sewer customers pay the flat usage rate of $3.62 plus $3.25 per thousand gallons thereafter.
The City of Smithville has 2,344 water and 1,877 sewer customers.

A DeKalb County man, charged with a December 2nd robbery at the Sonic Drive-In of Smithville was indicted by the Grand Jury Monday.
42 year old Eddie Leroy Taylor of A.B. Frazier Road will appear in criminal court on the robbery indictment Monday, April 13th.
Sheriff Patrick Ray, at the time of the arrest, said that Taylor, who was dressed in camouflage and wearing a mask, attacked a 17 year old car hop who was serving a customer. Taylor allegedly grabbed the employee’s money belt and threw the car hop to the ground. Taylor then dragged the employee across the concrete parking lot until the money belt broke lose causing bodily injury to the car hop. Taylor then fled with the money belt which contained approximately $75 in cash.
In addition to the robbery indictment, Taylor was also indicted on charges of burglary and theft under $500 in a separate case.
According to detectives, Taylor took a drill on December 12th belonging to a work crew doing electrical work on the First Baptist Church recreation building on Church Street in Smithville. At last report, the drill had not been recovered.

The April term of the DeKalb County Grand Jury convened Monday and indicted 39 people on various charges including three people who were named in sealed indictments.
All those indicted will appear for arraignment in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday, April 13th at 9:00 a.m.
Those indicted and their charges are as follows:
Alfaro Linares-Alejandro- no drivers license, violation of the seatbelt law, and violation of the financial responsibility law
Joshua L. Batey- possession of a schedule VI controlled substance with intent to sell or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia
William A. Cantrell- possession of drug paraphernalia
Clinton L. Cope- driving under the influence, DUI per se over .08%, failure to maintain lane, and underage consumption
Donna Sue Estes- possession of drug paraphernalia
Robert Ewing Ferguson- driving under the influence, DUI per se over .20%, DUI with a child passenger, reckless endangerment, and violation of the open container law
Mark Anthony Graham- initiation of a process to manufacture meth, manufacture of a schedule II controlled substance-meth, possession of a schedule II controlled substance for sale and delivery, possession of a schedule III controlled substance for sale and delivery, simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia
Jason Thomas Harris- driving under the influence, violation of the implied consent law, violation of the open container law, violation of the light law, and violation of the registration law
Shannon Ray Herman- criminal littering
Craig A. Hill- burglary and theft over $1,000
Johnny Michael Howard- driving under the influence (2nd offense), violation of the implied consent law, and failure to exercise due care
Eric Zachary Jarvis- forgery, criminal impersonation, obtaining drugs by fraud, and theft of services over $1,000
Brad Elliott Johnson- possession of a schedule II controlled substance
Clessie Jones- 4 counts of harassment
Edward L. Judkins, Jr.- burglary, theft over $10,000, and theft over $500
James LeDuc- 2 counts of worthless checks
Jeremy D. Loader- aggravated assault, theft over $1,000, and evading arrest with a motor vehicle
Robert Howard Mattox-aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000
Mitchell Merriman- 3 counts of worthless checks
Steve R. Merriman- driving under the influence and violation of the implied consent law
Billy Paul Mooneyham- shoplifting
Johnny D. Murphy- assault and theft under $500
Willie R. Murphy- 2 counts of assault
James Edward Pack II- domestic assault (2 counts), assault (2 counts), especially aggravated burglary, and aggravated assault
Phillip G. Parker- driving under the influence (2nd offense), DUI per se over .08%, DUI with a child passenger, underage consumption, violation of the no passing zone, and violation of the stop sign law
Kimberly A. Patterson- forgery and theft under $500
Timothy W. Patrick- possession of a schedule II controlled substance
David L. Pirtle- possession of a schedule VI controlled substance with intent to sell or deliver
Nichole M. Reynolds- possession of a schedule IV controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia
Amanda M. Riley- initiation of a process to manufacture meth, manufacture of a schedule II controlled substance-meth, possession of a schedule II controlled substance for sale and delivery (2 counts), possession of a schedule III controlled substance for sale and delivery, and possession of drug paraphernalia
Scott Lynn Sykes- aggravated burglary, theft over $1,000, and possession of burglary tools
Eddie LeRoy Taylor- burglary, theft under $500, and robbery
Jack D. Taylor, Jr.- aggravated sexual battery
Billy Ray Thomas- attempted aggravated burglary and unlawful carrying of a weapon
Richard B. Turner- public intoxication
Jonathon R. Young- forgery (2 counts) and theft under $500 (2 counts)
Sandy Deone Wheeler- public intoxication

A change in the makeup of the DeKalb County Election Commission, and all other election commissions in the state, was announced Monday by the Tennessee Election Commission
Takeover of the state legislature by Republicans last year made it possible under state law for county election commissions to have a GOP majority this year.
According to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website, the DeKalb County Election Commission will be made up of three Republicans, Walteen C. Parker, James F. (Jim) Dean, and Barbara J. Vanatta, and two Democrats, Nolan R.Turner and Kenneth R. Moore.
Parker, Turner, and Moore have been members of the election commission for several years but Dean and Vanatta are new members. Longtime members, Vester Parsley, Jr., a Republican, was not re-appointed and Ruth White, a Democrat, will not be returning.
The newly appointed election commission will meet soon to re-organize.