The Tennessee State Fire and Codes Academy has recognized DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department as the # 1 volunteer fire department in Tennessee for it training efforts. Additionally, DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department ranks # 6 overall considering all 732 fire departments in Tennessee, both paid and volunteer.
All 5 of the higher ranking departments are career-paid departments and are as follows:
Johnson City Fire Department———————- 7,821 hrs.
Smyrna Fire Department—————————- 5,773 hrs.
Memphis Fire Department————————– 5,401 hrs.
Murfreesboro Fire Department——————— 4,571 hrs.
Cookeville Fire Department———————— 3,607 hrs.
DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department—–3,203 hrs.
DeKalb County Mayor Mike Foster commended Chief Donny Green, Assistant Chief Roy Merriman, who also serves as the Department’s Training Officer, and all the officers for their leadership in making DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s training program such a success. “It is amazing to see the level of commitment that we are getting from our volunteer firefighters who work hard and train hard to make sure our citizens have good fire protection here in DeKalb County. These rankings make it very clear that we have an excellent group of men and women who are willing to do whatever it takes to be ready to respond to the emergency needs of our citizens,” says Mayor Foster.
Chief Donny Green says he wants to personally commend Assistant Chief/Training Coordinator Roy Merriman and Lieutenant/Training Officer James Pennington for their determination in making our training program one of the best. “Properly trained firefighters are the best tools a fire department has. Without training, good equipment is useless,” says Chief Green. The Tennessee State Fire and Codes Academy will be presenting a Certificate of Achievement to the Department in the near future and he hopes to make an official presentation and the next DeKalb County Commission Meeting.
If you are interested in learning more about the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, or would like information on how to be on our team and become a volunteer firefighter, you can visit the Department’s website at: www.dekalbfire.com or call the Main Station at 615-597-2609 and leave a message.

20 year old Amanda Bee Martin of Smithville is the 2010 Fairest of the Fair.
Martin, daughter of Lynn and the Late Freddie Martin, was chosen from among six contestants for the title Monday night in Alexandria.
Martin succeeds the 2009 Fairest of the Fair, Rosemary Apple, the 19 year old daughter of Nick and Claire Apple of Smithville
18 year old Breanna Hendrixson was named first runner-up. She is the daughter of Tim and Loretta Hendrixson of Smithville.
17 year old Camry Lou Colvert White, daughter of Stephen and Lou Ann White of Smithville was named second runner-up in the pageant.
Click here to see video clip of Jordyn Mallory Performing on Memory Lane Stage Monday at Fair
Third runner-up went to Jessica Agee, the 17 year old daughter of Mike Agee of Watertown. She was also named Extreme Queen, sponsored the Extreme Looks Design Team.
18 year old April Michelle Hale of Smithville, daughter of Kevin and Judith Hale was named Miss Photogenic.
Miss Congeniality went to 17 year old Ciara Roehner, daughter of Christina and William Roehner of Pea Ridge Road.
Also on Monday night Lucy Leasure of Alexandria was the winner of $1,000.
The little miss and mister pageants, go-cart racing and a horse show will be featured tonight (Tuesday) at the DeKalb County Fair in Alexandria.
Broken Vessel and Zack Allen will also be performing on Memory Lane Stage.
The Kenneth Sandlin Center will be open Monday through Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 4:00 p.m.. until 9:00 p.m.
DeKalb County Fair Memory Lane Stage Line-Up:
Tuesday Night July 20
6:00 – 7:00 p.m- Broken Vessel
7:15 – 8:00 p.m.. Zack Allen
The following events are scheduled:
Tuesday, July 20th: the Little Mr. and Miss Pageant for contestants ages 4-6 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion with a concert by Doug Collins to follow; Go-Cart Racing at 6:30 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; and a Horse Show at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; $1000 cash giveaway at 9:30 p.m.
One thousand dollars in cash will be given away each night, through Saturday at 9:30 p.m. at the Lion’s Club Pavilion and you must be present to win. If no one presents the winning ticket within three minutes, the money will be saved and given away on Saturday night in increments of $1,000. Your fair admission ticket is your ticket for the cash drawing.
ALL NEW RIDES on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company. Unlimited rides will be available each night for $16.00.
Admission to the fair is $3.00 per person. Children age four and younger will be admitted free! Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Parking is Free!
For more information, call 529-FAIR or visit on-line at www.dekalbcountyfair.us.
(Top Picture left to right: 1st runner-up Breanna Hendrixson; Fairest of the Fair Amanda Bee Martin; 3rd runner-up Jessica Agee; 2nd runner-up Camry Lou Colvert White)
(Middle picture: Extreme Queen Jessica Agee, Miss Congeniality Ciara Roehner, and Miss Photogenic April Michelle Hale)
(Bottom picture: Fairest of the Fair Amanda Bee Martin)

The 2010 Junior Fair Princess of the DeKalb County Fair is 16 year old Victoria Dawn Tatrow of Smithville, daughter of Corey and Vicki Funk and the late Shawna Tatrow.
Tatrow succeeds the retiring Junior Fair Princess, Katie Sue Haggard, the 16 year old daughter of David and Vicki Haggard of Smithville. Tatrow was also named Miss Photogenic of the pageant which was held Monday night at the DeKalb County Fair in Alexandria.
The first runner-up was Taneah Brooke Cantrell, the 13 year old daughter of Scott and Tammy Cantrell of Smithville.
Second runner-up was 14 year old Sarah Elizabeth Edwards of Liberty, daughter of Tena and the late Clay Edwards.
14 year old Taylor Cantrell was the third runner-up. She is the daughter of the Jeff and Deborah Cantrell of Smithville.
Heather Jewell Scott of Smithville, the 13 year old daughter of David and Reba Scott was named Miss Congeniality.
Click here to view video clip of fairgoers enjoying one of the rides Monday
Others in the top ten were Makalee Beth Ruch, the 13 year old daughter of Joe and Melissa Ruch of Smithville; Zoe Elaine Whaley, the 14 year old daughter of Celia and Scott Whaley of Smithville; 16 year old Jasmine Marie Dimas, daughter of Lynda Hamilton and Refugio Dimas of Smithville; 13 year old Lauren Elizabeth Colwell, daughter of Trent and Christie Colwell of Smithville; Haley Marie Hale, the 13 year old daughter of Chad and Melissa Hale of Smithville; and Amy Lynn Hastings, the 15 year old daughter of Tommy and Paulette Clark of Liberty and James and Lanna Hastings of Florida.
The “Extreme Queen” sponsored by Extreme Looks Design Team went to 13 year old Darrian Lanay Turner, daughter of Shane and Regina Turner of Smithville.
A total of 36 young ladies competed in the pageant.
(Top picture: Junior Fair Princess Victoria Dawn Tatrow)
(Middle Picture left to right: 1st runner-up Taneah Brooke Cantrell, Junior Fair Princess Victoria Dawn Tatrow, 3rd runner-up Taylor Cantrell; and 2nd runner-up Sarah Elizabeth Edwards)
(Bottom picture left to right: Extreme Queen Darrian Lanay Turner; Miss Photogenic Victoria Dawn Tatrow; and Miss Congenality Heather Jewell Scott)

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has apparently solved a rash of recent burglaries in the Lakeview Mountain Estates area with the arrest of a 23 year old Smithville man.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Kenny Waymon Dyal, Jr. of Floyd Drive, Smithville is accused of breaking into a total of fifteen homes between March 30th and July 10th. He is formally charged with fourteen cases of aggravated burglary, twelve cases of theft of property, and one count of vandalism.
Dyal was arrested last Monday, July 12th and he appeared for a bond hearing in General Sessions Court on Thursday, July 15th where Judge Bratten Cook, II doubled his bond to $1-million, 070-thousand dollars. Dyal will be back in General Sessions Court on July 29th.
Sheriff Ray says all these break-ins were assigned to a detective to investigate. Dyal was later identified as a suspect in the case and was arrested. According to Sheriff Ray, Dyal has admitted to committing all the break-ins, some of which were at weekend homes, and others at permanent residences.
Some of the items taken in the burglaries have been recovered. If you have purchased anything from Dyal or believe you may have bought something that you suspect may be stolen, Sheriff Ray is asking you to contact the Sheriff’s Department at 597-4935 to let officers check it out to make sure.
Sheriff Ray says Dyal is accused of committing the following crimes:
On March 30th, Dyal allegedly took two rifles, valued at $620, from a home on Floyd Drive. He is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $500
On March 29th, Dyal allegedly took TV’s, a DVD player, chain saw, camping equipment, and DVD’s from a home on Oak Drive, valued at $4,020. He is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $1,000
On April 4th, Dyal allegedly broke into a house on Oak Drive and took a camera and jewelry valued at over $500. He is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $500.
On April 4th, Dyal allegedly broke into a house on Mullican Drive but did not take anything. He is charged with aggravated burglary.
On April 8th, Dyal allegedly tried to break-into a home on Poplar Place, causing damage to the home. He is charged with vandalism.
On April 21st, Dyal allegedly broke into a home on Lake View Drive and took TV’s and a DVD player, valued at $950. He is charged with aggravated burglary and theft over $500.
On May 17th, Dyal allegedly broke into a home on Mullican Lane and took TV’s, radios, DVD players, household items, a chain saw, and tools, all valued at over $6,688. He is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $1,000.
On May 17th, Dyal allegedly broke into a home on Mullican Lane and took a TV, DVD player, weed eater, flashlights and household items, valued at over $1,020. He is charged with aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000.
On May 30th, Dyal allegedly broke into a home on Lakeview Drive and took a flat screen TV, and a DVD/VCR combo, valued at over $500. He is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $500.
On June 4th, Dyal allegedly broke into a home on Neil Drive and took a TV and DVD player valued at over $200. He is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property under $500.
On June 11th, Dyal allegedly broke into a home on Oak Drive and took numerous tools, a DVD/VCR player, DVD’s and loose change, valued at over $625. He is charged with aggravated burglary and theft over $500.
On July 2nd, Dyal allegedly broke into a home on Floyd Drive and took a TV and cable box, valued at over $250. He is charged with aggravated burglary and theft under $500.
On July 9th, Dyal allegedly broke into a home on Cleveland Way by going through a kitchen window. The victim was at home asleep at the time. The victim heard a noise, woke up and turned on a light, and saw the burglar in the kitchen. The intruder stated he made a mistake and ran out of house. Dyal is charged with aggravated burglary in that case.
On July 10th, Dyal allegedly entered a home on Oak Drive and took various pistols, rifles and shotguns and jewelry, valued at $2,250. He is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $1,000.
On July 10th, Dyal allegedly broke into a home on Neil Drive and took a flat screen TV and jewelry, valued at $1,230. He is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $1,000
Sheriff Ray says more arrests are pending.
Meanwhile, in another case a 25 year old woman was arrested Sunday, July 18th after a county deputy found some methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia while serving a warrant.
Scarlet Lawrence is charged with unlawful possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court on July 29th.
Sheriff Ray says the officer made contact with Lawrence, who was at a campsite near a bridge on New Bildad Road, not far from her home. He says the deputy was there to serve the warrant and to investigate the presence of a possible meth lab.
According to Sheriff Ray, the officer asked Lawrence if there were any illegal substances around. She instructed him to go over and check by the stove. He did and found a pouch that contained a baggie of a white powdery substance believed to be methamphetmine. The officer also found two hypodermic needles and a straw.
In another case, 34 year old Lonnie Wheeler of Lincoln Street, Smithville was arrested on Sunday, July 18th for leaving the scene of an accident. Bond is set at $3,500 and Wheeler will be in court on August 5th.
Sheriff Ray says on Sunday a deputy responded to complaints of a hit and run on Keltonburg Road and Belk Road. He says on Belk Road, someone had struck a state road sign and a mailbox while on Keltonburg Road, a truck was found to have struck an embankment. It was left abandoned near a bridge. The truck was totaled. Wheeler was later identified as the owner of the vehicle and he was located and arrested.

The DeKalb County Highway Department’s Rock Crusher should be back in operation by tomorrow (Tuesday).
Road Supervisor Kenny Edge says lightning during the weekend of the flood on May 1st and 2nd completely burned out the electrical box putting the rock crusher out of commission.
Since then, Edge says his department has had to purchase rock from Rogers Group.
A brand new $30,000 electrical box has been installed at the rock crusher, which also includes costs of parts and labor. Edge says the expense of replacing the electrical box was covered by insurance.
Meanwhile, repair work continues on local bridges as a result of the May 1st and 2nd flood. Road Supervisor Edge says the local road department is getting federal and state assistance to help fund those repairs.
Wingwalls at a small bridge on Oakley Hollow Road collapsed during the flood and are now being replaced. According to Road Supervisor Edge, creek water rose about eight feet over the road during the flood and drifts were in the trees.
Edge says Jewel’s Construction was recently hired to bring in a track hoe to dig out around the bridge where concrete can be poured for the new wing walls. The work is still underway on the project. Edge says the bridge remains open and is safe to travel.
Meanwhile, work has been done at a bridge on Lower Helton Road over Smith Fork creek. Edge says this bridge received the most surface damage and it costs $11,162 to repair the guardrails and re-pave the road on the approaches to the bridge.
Another repair was required at the Dismal Bridge over Smith Fork. Edge says this bridge received the most debris damage and it costs $11,561 to re-pave part of the road to the bridge, and to repair the guardrail posts, where the flood washed out around them. Edge says he also had to cut a road under the bridge in order to be able to access all the debris which accumulated there during the flood.
Edge says debris at the Dismal Bridge, two bridges at Sink Creek, and one bridge at Dry Creek will be removed once the state issues a permit, giving the road department authority to proceed.
According to Edge, the federal government will pay 75% and the state 12.5% for the repairs through grant funds and the county will have to match the remaining 12.5%

The Purple Pride Caravan is rolling again, with stops planned at seven communities around the region plus two events in Cookeville, all in anticipation of Tennessee Tech’s 2010 football season.
The Purple Pride Caravan is scheduled to visit Smithville on Tuesday, July 20, visiting the Save-A-Lot store from 4 until 6 p.m.
The Purple Pride Caravan is making stops across the region during July and August, giving football fans in those areas a chance to grab a hot dog and a drink, meet Golden Eagle head coach Watson Brown, pick up schedule cards and poster, win free tickets to the first game and register to win other prizes.
The Purple Pride Caravan will hold a tailgate event in each town to promote the upcoming football season with free hot dogs and Pepsi in a tailgate atmosphere.
Following its stop in Smithville, the Purple Pride Caravan will also visit Monterey, Livingston, Gainesboro, McMinnville and Sparta, before it wraps up with two September dates in Cookeville. The first is Aug. 31, with the final Caravan on Sept. 14, two days before the opening game in Tucker Stadium.
The first 50 fans at each caravan stop will receive a free pair of tickets to the first game against Lane College. Fans can register to win an autographed TTU helmet signed by Head coach Watson Brown, to be given away at each stop along the route, along with other prizes.
Fans visiting the Caravan will get the chance to meet the TTU mascot, Awesome Eagle, and members of the dance team and cheer squads for a true tailgate atmosphere.
The Caravan visits are held each Tuesday afternoon from 4 until 6 p.m. Six of the visits will take place at the Sav-A-Lot store in each community and three events will be at First National Bank branches.
For additional information on the caravan or to purchase season tickets for the upcoming football season, call (931) 372-3940.
2010 Purple Pride Caravan Schedule
Tuesday, July 13 – Celina (Sav-A-Lot)
Tuesday, July 20 – Smithville (Sav-A-Lot)
Tuesday, July 27 – Monterey (Sav-A-Lot)
Tuesday, August 3 – Livingston (First National Bank)
Tuesday, Aug. 10 – Gainesboro (Sav-A-Lot)
Tuesday, Aug. 17 – McMinnville (Sav-A-Lot)
Tuesday, Aug. 24 – Sparta (First National Bank)
Tuesday, Aug. 31 – Cookeville (Sav-A-Lot)
Tuesday, Sept. 14 – Cookeville (First National Bank)

County officials have found a way to recycle nursery greenhouse plastic and keep it out of the landfill.
DeKalb County Mayor Mike Foster says this past week the county landfill employees and nursery workers have made use of a device at the garbage collection convenience site on Highway 56 south that rolls up plastic so it can be shipped out for recycling.
Foster adds that the device works so well, he would like for the county to have one of it’s own. “The University of Tennessee has some equipment and we’re trying to get a grant to buy one so that the local nurseries would have it available to them as they take the plastic off of their greenhouses each spring. It rolls those sheets of plastic up and puts them in a real neat roll and you can put pressure on the machine and make the roll tighter. After you get them complete, those rolls weigh about 400 to 450 pounds. By rolling the plastic, we’re keeping it from having to go into the landfill. That plastic builds almost an impermeable layer in there (landfill) that the water can’t permeate down through. So we’re trying to keep that out of the landfill. It also helps the nurserymen because they can roll this plastic up and get it recycled. Mark Holcomb from McMinnville, who works primarily with the nurseries, got this machine for us to look at and they’re doing it(rolling plastic) in McMinnville too. We’re going to try and get a grant to buy one, or have U.T. Extension get us one to where we could have it available for the nurserymen.”
“As far as what we’re doing right now, it looks like it’s going to be about 14,000 pounds of plastic total when we get through. A trucker out of Arkansas will come and pick that up to be recycled. That benefits us at the landfill so we don’t have to put that in there and it’s a good thing for the environment too because it gets it recycled.”

Construction is progressing on the new addition to the Webb House Retirement Center in Smithville and the work should be finished within a few weeks.
Lora Webb says the new 8,000 to 9,000 square foot addition will include more new suites and a chapel, among other amenities. “Right now the Webb House (addition) is about 75% finished with construction. We are finalizing some painting and getting ready to put floor covering in and cabinetry. We’re just really excited about it.”
“We’re going to have a lot more space to do activities and exercise. The residents are going to love this new area we have to play cards in. It’s just a quiet little nook.”
“The thing we are most thankful for and excited about is our chapel. It can hold probably 50 to 60 people and it is like none other. It just gives us cold chills to take the residents there and give them a little tour of it right now and just to visualize the usage that the residents are going to get out of this area. It’s going to be a real special amenity to our home.”
“The buildings are tied together and the new one looks just like the existing building. We have nine new rooms. We don’t want to get too big that we lose the home feeling. We have four different style suites including our studio and alcove one bedroom apartments. We also have a new room. It’s a companion room. It gives people a price break. In this companion room, they’ll have a roommate. They will have a lot of private space but they share the living space.”
“We’ve moved our laundry room. The kitchen needed to expand so we are expanding the kitchen and moving the laundry room. We have a new storage room. We have a couple of new offices, another public restroom, and we’ve increased our walking track outside which is really nice.”
“We’re looking for a huge grand opening probably in early fall.”
“We just invite people to come out. It’s pretty much at the stage now where you can see where we’re going with this. This next month is really going to wrap up things.”
The addition is being built by Brindley Construction Company of Pulaski. Concrete work is being done by Bimp’s Concrete and Construction.