“Imagine a world with more birthdays” is the theme for the 13th annual Relay for Life, which begins Friday evening, June 4th at Greenbrook Park.
Chris Summers, Community Representative for the American Cancer Society, says thanks to funds raised through efforts like Relay for Life, more cancer survivors are celebrating more birthdays. “Our theme is “Imagine a world with more birthdays” The reason we chose that theme is because through our research and patient services, we help provide more birthdays for cancer survivors. We want cancer survivors to have more birthdays with their families and in our communities. So our theme this year is “Imagine a world with more birthdays.” At the campsites when you come to Relay we’ll be doing birthday parties. I personally love our theme. It’s been very well received. How cool is that to say that we help provide birthdays for more cancer survivors? Cancer survivors are surviving longer. There are more battles being won. It’s very humbling. I am proud to play a role in that and so is our entire Relay for Life planning committee and our teams.”
Casey Midgett, the 2010 DeKalb County Chairman for Relay, says this year’s program will start with entertainment at around five o’clock. “We have groups coming in to sing from five o’clock all the way til past midnight. Every possible variety of music will be included. We’re also going to have some drama teams there. It’s going to be something that everybody will enjoy. There is truly something for everybody. Of course, we’ll have all the booths again this year with all the wonderful food that everyone looks forward to each year. All of our main stays are back plus we’ve picked up a couple of new teams this year. I look forward to it being a lot of fun. Some of the teams are going to do things a little different this year. We’re going to have a lot more for the kids. We’ll have some big inflatables, bounce zones, and some slides. It’s just going to be a lot of fun for the whole family. For the teams that participate, it’s also going to be a lot of fun. As teams stay all night long, we’ve got a lot of stuff planned for them. It’s just going to be a lot of fun. It always is.”
Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society’s signature event, is a fun-filled overnight experience designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer. At Relay, people from within the community gather to celebrate survivors, remember those lost to cancer, and to fight back against this disease. Relay participants help raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society in its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health issue. During Relay For Life events, teams of people gather and take turns walking or running laps. The events are held overnight to represent the fact that cancer never sleeps. Through the survivors’ lap and the luminaria ceremony, the people who have faced cancer first hand are honored, and those who have been lost to this disease are remembered.
But, Relay isn’t about taking laps — it’s about coming together in the fight against cancer. It’s a time to remember those lost to this disease and celebrate those who have survived. It’s a place where people connect with others, share the cancer experience, and find comfort and solace. And it’s an opportunity to build hope for a future where cancer no longer threatens the lives of the people we love.
As volunteers and donors, your efforts support research, education, advocacy, and services that allow the American Cancer Society to offer help and hope to people across the country when they need it most. By joining together at Relay, we celebrate life, friendship, and an opportunity to work to defeat cancer for future generations.
On June 4th, the community will gather together as one group to help in the battle against cancer. At Greenbrook Park in Smithville, dozens of teams, volunteers, community leaders, and citizens will enjoy the annual Relay for Life event. Plans are to have lots of entertainment and food available that evening. Planning for the Relay is a year round event and the organizers hope that you will enjoy what they have in store for you. Relay is the largest community event held in DeKalb County. Please join in for this special night and have lots of fun helping raise money.
For more information about participating in Relay for Life, contact Casey Midgett, Chris Summers, Lynn Miller, Iva dell Randolph, or any member of the planning committee.
Meanwhile, on the second weekend in June, a 5K and One Mile Fun Run will be held to benefit Relay for Life. “It’s the Relay 5K and it’ll be held on Saturday, June 12th, the weekend after Relay for Life”, said Lynn Miller. ” It’s a 5K and a one mile Fun Run. All the money from that event will go to Relay for Life. If you’re interested in participating in the 5K and Fun Run, you can come by and see me at Regions Bank to pick up a form or you may contact Casey Midget. Forms are also available at other locations.”

Smithville Police made two arrests last week for DUI and one for public intoxication.
23 year old Cipriano Petriz of 1532 Vaughn Lane was arrested on Sunday, May 23rd for a first offense of driving under the influence. Officer David Phillips saw Petriz driving without his headlights on and not maintaining proper lane of travel. Upon stopping and speaking with Petriz, Officer Phillips smelled a strong odor of a fermented beverage coming from him. Petriz also had slurred speech and he was unsteady on his feet upon exiting his vehicle. Due to the language barrier and his intoxicated state, field sobriety tasks were not performed. Bond for him was set at $1,500 and his court date is June 17th.
58 year old Keith Michael Upton of 2488 Turners Bend Road, McMinnville was arrested for driving under the influence on Tuesday, May 25th. Corporal Travis Bryant responded to a possible drunk driver on West Broad Street. Upon making contact with Upton, Corporal Bryant suspected him to be under the influence of something. Upton was asked to perform several field sobriety tasks and he performed poorly on all tasks. Upton submitted to a blood alcohol test and admitted taking medication, Xanax earlier. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is June 10th.
40 year old Robert Roy Atnip Jr of 205 South 1st Street was arrested for public intoxication on Tuesday, May 25th. Officer Matt Holmes responded to a suspicious person that had left K & M Jewelry on West Broad Street. Officer Holmes made contact with Atnip who was unsteady on his feet and almost stumbled into the roadway. Upon speaking with Atnip, Officer Holmes noticed him to have a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and his speech was slurred. Bond is $1,000 and his court date is June 10th.
On Thursday, May 27th, Officer Scott Davis arrested 28 year old Christina L Johnson of 530 Miller Road on a warrant for failure to appear.
Any information received that will help Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential.

A 28 year old man was injured in a car wreck Friday evening on Highway 56 near the DeKalb/Warren County line.
Central dispatch received the call at 6:32 p.m.
Trooper Dewaine Jennings of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Shaun Travis Hill of Johnson City was traveling north on Highway 56 in a 1990 Chevy Lumina Mini-Van when he crossed over the center line into the oncoming lane, went off the left shoulder, and struck a mail box post. The mini-van then traveled north a short distance in a ditchline and struck a culvert, causing the vehicle to roll over on it’s passenger side. The accident occurred just inside the DeKalb County line.
A passerby stopped to render assistance to Hill until EMS arrived. Members of the DeKalb County Fire Department responded to perform extrication services, cutting out the windshield so that Hill could be removed on a backboard and treated at the scene by EMS. Hill was later airlifted on site by a Life Force helicopter ambulance. He was believed to have been flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
Trooper Jennings says charges are pending against Hill.

DeKalb County’s April unemployment rate was unchanged from March at 10.9% and only slightly higher than the rate for April, 2009 of 10.7%
The local labor force for April was at 9,630. A total of 8,580 were employed and 1,050 were unemployed.
DeKalb County and Macon County tied for having the fourth lowest unemployment rates in the Upper Cumberland region for April at 10.9%.
The other counties ranked as follows from highest to lowest:
Pickett- 15.2%
Van Buren- 13.2%
White- 13.1%
Clay- 13.1%
Warren- 12.4%
Smith- 12.4%
Jackson- 12%
Fentress- 12%
Overton-11.3%
DeKalb-10.9%
Macon-10.9%
Cumberland 10.8%
Putnam-9.6%
Cannon-9.6%
Meanwhile, Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April was 10.5 percent, down from the March rate of 10.6 percent. The United States unemployment rate for the month of April was 9.9 percent.
County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for April show that the rate decreased in 89 counties, increased in three counties and remained the same in three counties.
Lincoln County registered the state’s lowest county unemployment rate at 7.1 percent, down from 7.4 percent in March. Scott County had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 20.3 percent, up from 19.8 in March, followed by Marshall County at 17.3 percent, down from 18.4 percent in March.
Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate of 8.2 percent, unchanged from March. Davidson County was 9.0 percent, down from 9.1 in March. Hamilton County was at 9.0 percent, down from 9.4 in March, and Shelby County was 10.3 percent, down from 10.5 in March.

The DeKalb County High School Tigers were eliminated from the TSSAA Division I Class AA state baseball tournament Thursday afternoon in Murfreesboro, losing to Knoxville Gibbs 12 to 2 in five innings.
Gibbs scored twelve runs on eleven hits while the Tigers scored two runs on five hits. Neither team committed an error. The game ended in the fifth inning due to the ten run rule.
Gibbs scored one run in the first inning, three runs in the second inning, six runs in the third, one in the fourth, and one in the fifth inning.
DeKalb County scored two runs in the fourth inning.
Hunter Graham the losing pitcher, went one inning, faced nine batters, and gave up three earned runs on one hit. He walked three and three were hit by a pitch. Chris Powell came in for one and a third innings and faced nine batters. He gave up five runs (4 earned) on four hits. He struck out one and walked one. McCullough Wallace went two thirds of an inning. He faced seven batters and gave up two earned runs on two hits. He walked one and there was one hit by a pitch. Evan Curtis then came in for one inning and faced eight batters. He gave up two earned runs on four hits and there was one hit by a pitch.
Hits:
Corey Atnip had two singles
Tyler Kent, single
Tyler Caldwell, single
Andrew Atnip, a single and an RBI
Steven Howell, RBI
The Tigers went 2-2 in the tournament, losing to David Lipscomb 2 to 1 in ten innings on Tuesday night, beating Jackson Southside 5 to 0 on Wednesday morning, defeating David Lipscomb 2 to 1 on Wednesday night, and losing to Knoxville Gibbs 12 to 2 on Thursday in the final four or semi-finals.
The following is a summary of the other three games the Tigers played in the State Tournament beginning with the match against David Lipscomb on Tuesday night in which DeKalb County lost 2 to 1 in ten innings.
David Lipscomb scored one run in the fifth inning and one run in the tenth inning. DeKalb County scored one run in the third inning.
Garrett Hoke, the losing pitcher, went nine and a third innings and faced 38 batters. He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits. He struck out eight and walked four.
Hits:
Destry Wiggins, single
Shane Salley, single
Tyler Caldwell, two singles
Cody Puckett, single
Andrew Atnip, single
On Wednesday morning the Tigers defeated Jackson Southside 5 to 0 in the loser’s bracket. DeKalb County scored one run in the first inning, two runs in the second inning, and two runs in the fourth inning.
Cody Puckett, the winning pitcher, faced 29 batters. He gave up four hits, struck out three and walked three. Two batters were hit by a pitch.
Hits:
Tyler Kent, single
Corey Atnip, a double and RBI
Tyler Caldwell, two singles
Cody Puckett, single
Andrew Atnip, single
Travis Neal, single and RBI
Stephen Howell, double and RBI
On Wednesday night, the Tigers had a rematch with David Lipscomb and won 2 to 1.
DeKalb County scored one run in the third inning and one run in the fourth inning. David Lipscomb scored one run in the fourth inning.
Shane Salley, the winning pitcher, faced 29 batters. He gave up one earned run on five hits. He struck out four and walked three.
Hits:
Destry Wiggins, single
Shane Salley, double and RBI
Tyler Kent, double
Tyler Caldwell, single
Andrew Atnip, single
Travis Neal, single
The Tigers conclude the season with an overall record of 21-7. They finished second in the regular district season, won the district and region tournament championships, won their sub-state game, and finished in the final four of the Division I Class AA state baseball tournament.