The Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad was called to an area close to the Center Hill Dam on the Dale Ridge Road to rescue a cow that was stuck in the lake.
The cow was rescued sucessfully and was not injured.
This is the second incident within the week. Early Monday morning, (last week) the rescue squad was called to Evins Mill Road for a horse that was stuck in a pond. The horse was also successfully rescued , without injury.
(Story and photo by Dustin Johnson)

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department made one arrest for child abuse last week while five others have been charged in various theft investigations.
In his weekly report on crime, Sheriff Patrick Ray says 23 year old Jo Carol Summers of Students Home Road Smithville was arrested Tuesday, January 12th for child abuse of a 4 year old. Through an investigation, deputies learned that Summers struck a 4 year old child with a paint stir stick, hitting the youngster several times on the back and buttocks areas with the stick, causing bruising to those areas. Bond for Summers was set at $5,000 and she will appear in court on January 28th.
27 year old Jacob L. Tramel of Whaley Street Smithville was arrested on Tuesday, January 12th for theft of property over $1,000.. Detectives received a report of a theft on Short Mountain Road, Smithville where the victim stated that on December 15th a diamond ring, valued at over $1,000, was taken from the victim’s residence without consent. Tramel sold the stolen ring to a jewelry dealer in Smithville. Bond for Tramel was set at $10,000 and he will appear in court on February 4th.
26 year old Thomas Jacob Sims of Snow Hill Road, Dowelltown was arrested on Wednesday, January 13th for aggravated burglary and theft of property over $1,000. Detectives received a report of a theft on January 10th in which someone had stolen a freezer, food, television, and a microwave. These items were taken from a home on Robinson Road without the owner’s consent. Entry was made through a back door to the residence. Though an investigation, detectives identified Sims as a suspect in the crimes. The stolen items have since been recovered. Bond for Sims was set at $50,000 and he will appear in court on February 4th.
On Thursday, January 14th, detectives received a report of a burglary, theft, and vandalism which occurred on January 11th on Cherokee Drive in Smithville. As a result of the investigation, detectives learned that 22 year old Travis Dewayne Rich of Bear Hollow Road, Liberty had broken into the home and stolen a 32 inch television, cable box, sink faucets, and parts to two central heating and air units. During the crime, Rich cut the faucets off from the water lines causing over $10,000 worth of water damage to the homes’ structure and furnishings. Rich was charged with aggravated burglary, theft of property over $10,000 and vandalism over $10,000. Bond for Rich was set at $45,000 and he will appear in court on February 18th. Rich is also a suspect in other break-ins in the county where items such as copper, and televisions, among other items were taken. If you have bought anything from Rich, you are urged to contact DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department detectives or Sheriff Ray at 597-4935.
32 year old Steve A. Stanley and 45 year old Jeffery S. Ponder both of Old Mill Hill Road Dowelltown were arrested on Saturday for burglary and theft of property over $500. After receiving a complaint call of a break-in, deputies caught both men taking items out of a storage building on Dale Ridge Road. Both men had entered a storage building by forcing open a front door and loaded a propane tank, 2 stoves, an electric pump, catalytic converter, and other scrap metal into a truck that they were in. Bond for both men was set at $35,000 and they both will appear in court on February 4th.

Members of Cub Scout Pack 347, Den 9 visited WJLE on a field trip Saturday.
WJLE Manager Dwayne Page gave the scouts a tour of the station and interviewed them LIVE on the radio.
(Pictured- left to right: Seated below and wearing cap- David Robinson, Kneeling at right- Jamie Waggoner; Kneeling left- Eric Birmingham; Seated in chairs- Cody Robinson, Nicholas Birmingham, and Darren Waggoner)

Members of the DeKalb County Republican Party held a Mass Meeting Saturday morning at the Courthouse.
The purpose of the meeting was to select delegates to the January 30th DeKalb County Republican Convention and to give potential candidates an opportunity to formally announce their candidacies.
Republican incumbents Sheriff Patrick Ray, Trustee Sean Driver, Road Supervisor Kenny Edge, First District County Commissioner Mason Carter, and Second District County Commissioner Bobby Joines all announced their intentions to seek re-election.
Click here to listen to candidate announcements
In his remarks to the party faithful, Sheriff Patrick Ray, who is running for his second term, said he is thankful for their support and believes he has fulfilled his pledge to the people of DeKalb County. “Four years ago I stood before you asking for the nomination for the office of Sheriff. With your nomination and vote and the votes of the DeKalb County voters in August, 2006 I was elected to that office. Since taking the office of Sheriff, I’ve worked hard to improve the quality of life to the citizens by providing them with accountable and professional law enforcement. During my time as your Sheriff, I have fulfilled my campaign promises, which was to run a professional and accountable Sheriff’s Department, to spend our tax dollars wisely, to work hard on the trafficking of illegal drugs, and to provide responsive and respectful law enforcement services to the citizens and visitors of DeKalb County. Under my leadership, the Sheriff’s Department has provided cooperative relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. I’ve worked closely with civic organizations throughout the county and I have tried to make myself available to you at all times. I would like the opportunity to continue to lead our Sheriff’s Department in a forward direction. I have enjoyed serving as your Sheriff. While a lot of things have changed over the last four years in our communities, my commitment for professionalism and accountability has not changed. It is my desire to continue to work for the citizens of DeKalb County. With that said, at this time I humbly ask for the nomination for the office of Sheriff in the August 2010 General Election.”
Trustee Sean Driver, seeking his second term, says the Trustee’s office is now more computer friendly and he has made sound investments of the county’s money. “Thank you for your nomination in 2006 to run for this wonderful office, the Trustee’s Office. It has been such a privilege and an honor just to do that job and to give everyone my best ability to do that job to the best of my knowledge. I do want to ask you once again for your nomination for the 2010 nomination. I want to tell you a little about what I have accomplished in these last three and a half years. I have brought the office up to a modernization level. We are on full computer now. I do have a lot of ideas that I want to get accomplished in the next four years if I were to be elected and nominated. We are of the understanding that our offices may be moved out to the Food Center shopping center and I have a lot of ideas as to where I could take the office if I were to get this nomination. I have invested the money wisely and I give reports on a monthly and tri-monthly basis as to where that money is being spent and being invested. As of this date and finishing out the four years, I will have brought the money back into the county at around the two million dollar mark. So investments have worked well for this county and we’re very pleased with that. I thank you so much.”
Road Supervisor Kenny Edge, who was first elected in 1990, said he would continue to serve the county as best he could with the money he is allocated by the state. “I ask for your vote and nomination in being re- elected for four more years. I’ll continue to do like I have in the past, I’ll do the best job that I can do on what tax monies I get without asking for more or raising the taxes. In the past I borrowed a million dollars. That’s never been done. I paid every bit of it back with my own gas tax money and I’m out of debt. I’ve got a little bit ahead but the next four years is going to be a challenge because people are not burning as much fuel on account of the cost of it. My money is staying basically the same but everything I’m buying, inflation is killing us. I mean when we’re paying over two dollars a gallon for diesel and then paying $10,000 a load for oil to tar a road with, where we used to get it for three thousand dollars a load. It’s a challenge. But I’ll continue to do the best that I can do on what I can get and I appreciate any help that you all can help me with.”
First District County Commissioner Mason Carter, seeking his second term, asked for the support of the first district delegates. “If it would be your pleasure I’d like to run again.”
Second District County Commissioner Bobby Joines, running for his third term, said he would continue to help spend the taxpayers money wisely. “I came here going on eight years ago asking for this same position. We made it and I would like to ask for your help again. I’m only one of fourteen commissioners but I’ve tried to take care of tax dollars and handle it as if it was my own because I’m a taxpayer too. So I would appreciate your help for another four years in nominating me.”
In addition to the local candidates, Kerry Roberts of Springfield announced his candidacy for 6th District Congressman in the August State Republican Primary. Click here to listen to his comments
or click the following link to read more about him. http://www.kerryroberts.com/landing/#a_bio
Jennifer Winfree, Chairperson of the DeKalb County Republican Party, announced that the convention will meet on Saturday, January 30th at 10:00 a.m. at the courthouse to formally nominate candidates to run in the August General Election. She added that other potential candidates have until January 30th to make their intentions known. “We will meet back in this room two weeks from today at the same time to let the delegates from each district vote for the candidates for each of these offices. On January 30th, we will hold our convention and vote on each Republican candidate. Any Republican who wants to seek an office can announce as late as January 30th.”
Winfree also urged her fellow Republicans to join the effort to keep DeKalb County “red”.”I appreciate what you do and thank you for being an important part of our party. “Next year will be an exciting year for our party. It will take all of us in this room and others who could not attend today to hold true to our conservative principles as Republicans and keep this county red. We have some great candidates seeking office. They are talented individuals who seek to serve and better DeKalb County. I thank them for their public service.”
Delegates selected during the Mass Meeting are as follows:
1st district: Tom Chandler, Laura Chandler, Mason Carter, Jerry Childress
2nd district: Sandy Brown, Don Adamson, Charles Robinson, Donny Green, (alternate Darry Driver)
3rd district: Taft Hendrixson, Karen Caplinger, Vester Parsley, George LeFevre (alternate J.C. Carter)
4th district: Joe Collins, Bertha McBride, and Joan Draper
5th district: Larry Green, Jerry Adcock, Kiki Brown, Wink Brown (alternate Becky Oliver)
6th district: Grady Ray, Tracy Ray, Roy Ray, Patsy Ray (alternate Melvin Ray)
7th district: Todd Lassiter, Misty Lassiter, James Cantrell, Johnny Lattimore (alternate Amy Gay)

Smithville Police have charged two men with theft of property belonging to a local industry.
34 year old Melvin Leon Crips, Jr. of 148 Winter Drive and 39 year old Tracy Lynn Haynes of 529 Frazier Street were arrested Wednesday, January 13th by Detective Jerry Hutchins and charged with theft of property over $500 and $10,000. Police say around January 9th, several pieces of welding equipment and power supplies were stolen from Tenneco’s (Walker’s) warehouse at 415 Miller Road. On January 11th, maintenance manager, Johnny Pridmore reported to Officer Matt Farmer that he was informed that some of Tenneco’s equipment may be at Ivy Bluff Salvage. Pridmore went to Ivy Bluff Salvage and found equipment belonging to Tenneco. Pridmore returned to the warehouse on January 11th to find a truck with a bumper trailer attached. On the trailer were two items belonging to Tenneco. He approached the men in the truck and requested their names and asked what they were doing. The driver stated his name was Melvin Crips. While Mr. Pridmore called the police, the two men unloaded the two items off the trailer and left. After further investigation, Detective Hutchins arrested Crips and Haynes. Bond for each is set at $27,500. Their court date is March 8th.
57 year old Elizabeth Anne Puckett and 31 year old Stephen Shea Puckett both of 362 Smith Road, Smithville and 36 year old Jena Vantrease of 502 Madison Drive, LaVergne were charged Friday, January 8th for disorderly conduct. Officer Matt Holmes made the arrests. Bond for each is $1,000. They will be in court on February 4th.
20 year old Farron Lee Hendrix, II of 823 Riley Avenue and 20 year old Carrie Leanna Cooper, of 366 Imperial Drive, Sparta were arrested Friday, January 8th for simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. 20 year old Gary Heath Robinson of 3460 Coconut Ridge Road was also arrested for unlawful possession of a weapon. Officer Scott Davis was dispatched to 630 Miller Road, Apartment C-19 in answer to a complaint of loud music and possible drug use. During a search of the residence, police found Hendrix and Cooper hiding in the bathroom. Marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found behind the shower curtain. Others were present in the apartment and while Officer Davis and Sergeant Joey Jones were checking them for illegal drugs, Robinson asked if they wanted his pistol. He handed Officer Davis a 9mm Hi-point semi automatic pistol. Robinson told WJLE that the police account of the pistol incident is incorrect. He says officers asked everyone present if they had anything they were not supposed to have. Robinson told them he had a pistol and the officers asked him to turn it over to them. Bond for each was set at $2,500 and their court date is February 4th.
On Tuesday, January 12th, K-9 Officer Bradley Tatrow cited 29 year old Crystal Margaret Berninger of 104 Highland Drive for simple possession.
On Thursday, January 14th, Corporal Travis K Bryant cited 41 year old William A Cantrell of 299 Redman Road for shoplifting. While in Wal-Mart, Cantrell took off his old shoes and put on new shoes belonging to the store and put his old shoes back in the box. His court date is February 4th.
42 year old Billy Joe Cripps and 40 year old Staci Lynne Cripps of 398 South College Street were arrested Friday, January 15th by Sergeant Randy King for child neglect. According to the report, Officer King responded to the corner of East Main Street and Highway 56 North in response to a small child walking alone next to the road. The caller reported that the child had been picked up by someone in a white mini-van. Upon arrival, police spoke with witnesses Jeanie Poss and Todd VanDyne who reported that the child was first seen walking east on Don Cantrell Way and then toward Highway 56 and East Main Street. Poss picked up the child until police arrived. Both witnesses said that the child told them that he was told to get out and find his own way to school. The outside temperature was approximately 30 degrees. The child was not wearing any socks when he was picked up. The youngster was taken to Smithville Elementary School by Lieutenant Steven Leffew.
42 year old Doyle Edwin Mooneyham and 51 year old Melba Olline Finley both of 957 Manus Town Road, Woodbury were arrested Friday, January 15th by Sergeant Randy King and Officer Matt Farmer. A call was dispatched to NHC concerning a possible public intoxication and drug traffic. Upon arrival, police saw four persons. Sergeant King spoke with Mooneyham who was unsteady on his feet and had an odor of a fermented beverage about his person. Sergeant King asked Mooneyham if he had been drinking. Mooneyham replied that he had drunk one beer. Sergeant King then asked him if he had taken any medication. Mooneyham said he had taken his medication earlier and produced three prescription bottles. Mooneyham was arrested at that time for public intoxication. During this time, Officer Farmer was questioning and searching three other people at this location. A small blue football shaped pill with GG over 258 on one side of it was found on Melba Finley. Ms. Finley stated that it was a Xanax and that she had a prescription for it but she could not produce a prescription for the pills. Finley was arrested for simple possession of a schedule IV controlled substance. Bond for each was set at $1,000 and they will be in court on February 11th.
Meanwhile, anyone having any information on the following offenses is asked to please contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.
On Friday, January 8th, Ronnie Walker, an employee of the City of Smithville reported to Corporal Travis Bryant that someone had busted out the back window and kicked in the door to the guard shack at Green Brook Park. Walker stated that the last time he knew the guard shack to be intact was on Wednesday, January 6th. Walker said damage had to have occurred sometime on or after that date.
Any information received that will help Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential.

The DeKalb County Board of Education Thursday night approved a proposal by the Upper Cumberland Regional Health Office to set up school clinics to administer H1N1 vaccinations. A team of nurses and health department staff will be manning the clinics
In order for children in the school system to receive the immunizations, their parents or guardians would first have to complete and sign a form, giving permission. The immunizations will be free of charge.
Deanna Pursinger, School Health Coordinator, says she is still waiting on confirmation from the health department but tentative dates for the clinics are Tuesday through Friday, February 16th- 19th and the following Monday through Thursday, February 22nd-25th. She says the hope is to complete visits to all the schools in the county in a week or less.
Pursinger says the school system, nor the board of education would be held liable since “children are covered through malpractice insurance through the health department, just the same as if they went to the health department themselves.”
The vaccinations would not just be available to children. Pursinger says others could receive the immunizations as well. ” Not only is this H1N1 flu vaccination and or mist available to our students, its also available to any adult, faculty or staff member, a younger sibling, or parents as long as they fill out the form. They (health department) are going to have plenty of vaccinations while they are at the school so anybody can get this for free. There’s no cost, they just have to fill out the form and sign it.”
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby says he hopes this is the beginning of a stronger partnership with the health department. “We would hope that this is a bridge in order to work with the health department even more in administering immunization shots and things like that, especially for our pre-school kids and kindergarten kids, so hopefully by doing this we can be building a bridge to work more and more with our health department in the future.”
A consent form and the following letter will be sent to parents and guardians from the Upper Cumberland Regional Health Office:
“As you may have heard, a new influenza virus, called the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, was first identified in the United States in late April 2009. The virus has caused illness ranging from mild to severe, including hospitalizations and deaths in adults and children. Many children have gotten H1N1 infection and there have been large outbreaks in some schools across the country. Flu is unpredictable and activity can rise and fall throughout the season, but flu is likely to continue for months, caused by either 2009 H1N1 viruses or regular seasonal flu viruses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that children and young adults be vaccinated against H1N1.”
“Vaccination is the best way to protect your child from this potentially serious disease. The health department is working with your child’s school to give the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine to children at school. A vaccination clinic will be held at your child’s school in the month of January or February 2010. Please complete the consent form along with your signature giving permission to vaccinate your child.”
“Children under age 10 need two doses of vaccine spaced one month apart to provide adequate immunity. Only one dose is required for children age 10 and older or for children that obtain the first dose at age 9 and will turn 10 before the second dose is due. If your child meets the criteria for a second dose, it will also be administered at school to fulfill the requirement. There will be no cost to you for this vaccine.”
“If you have any questions about the vaccine or the vaccination clinic, please call your local health department from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please visit the CDC’s H1N1 web site at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/and http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/parents for information especially for parents.

The DeKalb County Board of Education formally adopted the school calendar for the 2010-2011 year Thursday night. The monthly meeting of the board was held at Smithville Elementary School.
Registration for all students will be Monday, August 2nd. That will be an abbreviated school day from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, August 5th will be an administrative day at all schools and all teachers must attend from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
The first full day of school for all students will be Tuesday, August 3rd. Wednesday, August 4th will also be a full day of school.
A system wide professional development day will be Monday, July 26th at DCHS and all teachers from all schools must attend from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
All teachers will report to DCHS from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 27th . All teachers will then report to their individual schools Tuesday, July 27th from noon until 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday, July 28th & 29th from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Students will not attend on Monday, Labor Day, September 6th.
Schools will be closed for the fall break October 11-22 (The first week will be intersession)
Students will be off for the Thanksgiving holiday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, November 24th, 25th, & 26th and for the winter break December 20th through December 31st. Friday, December 17th will be the last day students attend before winter break and that will be an abbreviated school day. Students will return after the holidays on Tuesday, January 4th to begin the third nine week session.
Schools will be closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 17th and for President’s Day, Monday, February 21st.
Schools will be closed for spring break March 21st-25th and for Good Friday, April 22nd.
Students will not attend on Wednesday, May 25th. That will be an administrative day and all teachers must attend. The last day of school will be Thursday, May 26. That will be an abbreviated school day and report cards will be sent home.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 5th and Tuesday, March 15th at DeKalb County High School from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will also be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Thursday, October 7th and Thursday, March 17th at DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary, Smithville Elementary, and DeKalb West School.
Report cards will be sent home on Monday, October 4th, Thursday, January 6th, and Monday, March 14th.
AYP-EOC/Gateway Testing at DCHS will be Tuesday through Thursday, December 7th-9th and May 3rd-5th at DCHS and a make-up AYP-EOC/Gateway Test will be Friday, December 10th and May 6th.
ACT Test for the 11th grade will be Tuesday, March 8th
Writing Assessment for the 5th, 8th, and 11th grades will be February 1st. Writing Assessment make-up will be February 2nd..
TCAP testing of elementary students will be April 13th-20th
(Stockpile Days) Professional Development/Instructional Days will be held from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2nd, Monday, January 3rd, and Friday, March 18th. Students will not attend on those days.
In other business, DCHS Principal Kathy Hendrix issued an appeal to parents to take a look at your sons and daughters report cards, which were released Thursday. “We passed our report cards out today. Parents, please look at those report cards. If there are any incompletes or grades that aren’t up to passing, please encourage your sons and daughters to get to the guidance office and get signed up for credit recovery or the Tiger Academy, whatever it is they need to do. Senior parents, make sure you look at those report cards. If they (students) need these classes to graduate, you need to be checking to make sure they get all this work completed and get their credits because we want everybody to graduate on time.”
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby updated the board on personnel moves since last month.
The following were employed:
Tamara Murphy, RN, substitute school nurse
Janice Tanner, LPN, substitute school nurse
Deborah Knowles, Educational Assistant (Job Coach) DCHS
Dustin Estes and Martha Conger Hale as substitute teachers
Brittany Willoughby, Spanish teacher at DCHS
Seth Roberts, Spanish teacher at DCHS
Rebecca Hawkins, substitute bus assistant
Jeanette Allen, Health Occupations teacher DCHS
Transfers:
Mary Foutch, transferred to full time cafeteria position at SES
Wanda Bradford, transferred to part-time cafeteria position at DCHS
Resignations/Retirement:
Linda Dean, Spanish teacher DCHS retired
In other business, the board of education adopted a resolution expressing appreciation to Food Service employees.
The resolution states as follows:
WHEREAS, food service workers rise early every school day to provide a nutritious breakfast and lunch for students and staff in our schools; and
WHEREAS, many of them dish out advice, encouragement and good humor along with the nutritious meals they serve daily; and
WHEREAS, food service personnel create a friendly atmosphere in our schools by demonstrating a positive, upbeat attitude with warm greetings and smiles to students and staff; and
WHEREAS, they do their best to prepare healthy and tasty meals with limited budgets and food products supplied in bulk by the USDA; and
WHEREAS, they display patience and understanding as students anxiously crowd the service line; and
WHEREAS, they consistently give priority to student health, welfare and safety; and
WHEREAS, our cafeteria staff members work hard without complaining and faithfully show up to work every morning through whatever weather may present itself; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the DeKalb County Board of Education hereby declares January 14, 2010 as Food Service Personnel Appreciation Day in DeKalb County Schools; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Board expresses deep appreciation and heartfelt thanks to all food service workers in our school system; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Board encourages all staff, students and parents to join with us in expressing appreciation for the outstanding contribution our food service staff has made and continues to make to the success of our school system and to the lives of our students.
Meanwhile, Director Willoughby read a proclamation by Governor Phil Bredesen designating January 24th-30th as School Board Appreciation Week in Tennessee.
The proclamation reads ” Whereas, an excellent public education system is vital to the quality of life of our communities; and
Whereas, school board members represent a tremendous resource as local decision makers, responding to the challenges of creating 21st Century schools that meet Tennessee’s higher education standards; and
Whereas, school board members serve their communities by representing the interests of school children and preparing them for the future; and
Whereas, the men and women elected by the people as members of our local school boards deserve recognition and thanks for their countless hours of service to public education in Tennessee;
Now, Therefore, I, Phil Bredesen, Governor of the State of Tennessee, do hereby proclaim the week of January 24th-30th as School Board Appreciation Week in Tennessee and encourage all citizens to join me in this worthy observance.”