Local boards of education heard updates on education reform in Tennessee, earned honors for their professional development activities, and recognized a dedicated school volunteer and an outstanding student at the Tennessee School Boards Association’s (TSBA) Upper Cumberland Fall District Meeting, held Sept. 15 at Livingston Academy in the Overton County School District.
Members of the DeKalb County Board of Education attended including Board Chairman Charles Robinson, Kenny Rhody, Johnny Lattimore, and John David Foutch. Director of Schools Mark Willoughby was also present.
The Upper Cumberland District meeting was one of nine similar sessions held
annually in each of TSBA’s development districts. The evening’s program included an update on this year’s session of the Tennessee General Assembly, a discussion of moving from collective bargaining to collaborative conferencing, a review of the new teacher and principal evaluations and an update on tenure reform. The meeting also included recognition of school board members who have achieved honors over the past year, a school volunteer who is a finalist for a grant to their school of choice and a local student who is a finalist for a college scholarship.
Each year TSBA honors one student from each of its nine districts who has achieved distinction in the areas of academics, community leadership, and engagement as part of its Student Recognition Award program. One of those nine students will win the statewide Student Recognition Award to be presented at the TSBA Annual Convention in November, which will include a $2,000 scholarship. The 2011 Upper Cumberland Student Recognition Award
Winner is Abigayle Claflin of Cumberland County.
This year TSBA will honor one school volunteer from each of its nine districts who have distinguished themselves by demonstrating exceptional commitment to volunteerism in a local school district. The district winner has exhibited exemplary leadership, creativity, cooperation and hard work in their service to a school. One of those nine volunteers will win the statewide School Volunteer Recognition Award to be presented at the TSBA Annual Convention in November, which will include a $1,000 grant to the school of their choice. The 2011 Upper Cumberland School Volunteer Recognition Award winner is Guy Pinckley of Allardt, TN.
Several Upper Cumberland District school board members earned TSBA Boardsmanship Awards in 2011. The awards are presented to individual board members who have achieved one of five levels of boardsmanship standards over the past year. The program is designed to recognize school board members for participation in board activities beyond the local level through a commitment to training, willingness to participate in workshops and a volunteer spirit. The Boardsmanship Award honors not only the quantity, but also the quality of participation. Levels I-IV are given at Fall District Meetings, while Level V Boardsmanship is awarded at the association’s annual convention in November.
A statewide, nonprofit organization, the Tennessee School Boards Association is a federation of all the state’s school boards. TSBA’s mission is to assist school boards in effectively governing school districts. Through the years,TSBA has helped school boards and their members reach their highest potential through Association programs, meetings and services. TSBA also provides school board members a collective voice in matters of legislation and public education concerns. For more information about TSBA, visit our website at: www.tsba.net.

A 50 year old Woodbury man is in trouble with the law for allegedly stealing property from three different locations and selling most of those items at a local scrap yard.
Perry Alton Stembridge of Good Ridge Road, Woodbury is charged with one count of theft of property under $500 and two counts of theft of property over $1,000. He was also issued a citation for driving on a suspended license. He was arrested on September 14. His bond totals $30,000 and he will be in court October 13.
Sheriff Patrick Ray reports that on Monday, August 29 Perry allegedly entered property on Luna Mill Road and took a three point hitch plow, four circular saw blades, a metal stove, winch parts for a dozier, and parts from a 535 John Deere baler, all valued at $1,200.
Two days later on Wednesday August 31 Stembridge allegedly went to a barn on Indian Creek Road and took one thousand square feet of metal roofing, two chest freezers, and two wood burning stoves, valued at $4,110.
Almost two weeks later on Tuesday, September 13 Stembridge allegedly went to a location on Antioch Road and took a fireplace insert and a hot water heater, valued at $150.
Stembridge allegedly sold most of those stolen items to a local scrap yard.
Meanwhile, 30 year old Nena Renea Chapman of Church Street, Liberty is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $500. Her bond is $7,500 and she will be in court on October 13.
Sheriff Ray reports that on Tuesday, September 13, Chapman allegedly entered a residence on Church Street in Liberty and took an xbox console, three xbox 360 game controllers, and eight xbox games, valued at $570.
24 year old Jamaal Ahmad League of Smith Road, is charged with burglary. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court September 29.
Sheriff Ray reports that on Wednesday, September 14 League allegedly entered a vehicle on North Congress Boulevard without the owner’s consent with the intent to commit a felony. He allegedly removed cigarette butts inside the vehicle. Upon his arrest, League had five cigarette butts of the same brand as those from the vehicle in his pocket.
19 year old Joshua Edward Hammonds has been charged with a first offense of driving under the influence and issued citations for underage drinking and violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance). His bond totals $1,500 and he will be in court September 29.
According to Sheriff Ray, on Wednesday September 14 a deputy was called to a club on Sparta Highway, where someone had reportedly become violent. Before the deputy arrived, the man left the club in a blue Chevy truck. While enroute, the officer spotted the truck and saw it go off in a ditch, almost hitting a mailbox. The deputy stopped the truck and detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. Hammonds, the driver, submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed. Hammonds was very unsteady on his feet. He also allegedly admitted to drinking liquor and smoking “fake weed”.
47 year old Kevin D. Young of Alex Lane, Smithville is charged with a first offense of driving under the influence. He was also issued citations for violation of the light law, failure to maintain his lane of travel, and violation of the implied consent law. His bond totals $1,500 and he will be in court on October 13.
Sheriff Ray reports that on Sunday, September 18 a deputy saw a vehicle with a headlight out on Highway 70. Upon turning around to follow, the deputy saw the automobile swerve from lane to lane and then make a sharp turn back into his lane. After stopping the vehicle, the officer had the driver, Young, get out of the automobile. Young was very unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred, and he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Young performed poorly on several field sobriety tasks. He refused to submit to a blood alcohol test. Young allegedly admitted to drinking four or five beers. He also had a flask on him containing whiskey.

For the third straight year, the DeKalb Co Fighting Tiger Band won first place at the Hendersonville Golden Invitational Marching Band Contest. Additionally, the band also picked up first place trophies in the areas of Best Color Guard, Best Percussion, and Best Horn Line in their class.
Hendersonville Golden Invitational was the first of four contests this season. The students have been working hard to prepare to take on other bands around the state in addition to their normal duties as “students” and as “band members.” Band Director Jonathan Wright said, “we had a great rehearsal on Thursday. We then represented and supported our football team very well at the game on Friday.”
It was around 11:30 Friday night when the band returned to the High School from the football game in Smith County, only to have to return at 8:00am for a mini-rehearsal on Saturday morning before boarding their bus to Hendersonville. “Our band is very young this year. We only have four seniors,” Mr. Wright pointed out, “but they are very hard workers.”
The DeKalb Fighting Tiger Band invites you to attend their three remaining contests this season. They will be competing in the Blue Devil Marching Band Invitational located in Lebanon on October 1st. Then, on October 8th, they will travel to Chapel Hill to compete in the Middle Tennessee Small Band Championship. For their final competition of the season on October 29th, they will be in Alcoa for the Alcoa Marching Band Competition.
The band also invites you to come to DeKalb County’s home football games to show your support to our Tigers and to watch the band in action during the halftime show. Home games are scheduled on October 14 against Upperman, and on October 28 against Livingston Academy. Both games will begin at 7PM.
For more information, find the band on Facebook or check out their website at www.DekalbBand.com.

The DTC Board of Directors introduced their new Chief Executive Officer, Craig Gates, at their Annual Meeting held on Saturday, September 17th. Gates is a 27-year veteran of the telecommunications industry.
Gates started his career in 1984 and served most recently as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Project Mutual; a cooperative located in Rupert, Idaho.
“Craig distinguished himself with his industry experience and expertise. We are fortunate to have him join us, and welcome him and his family to Tennessee,” said Dwight Vinson, President of DTC.
Gates holds a Bachelors of Science Degree from Indiana Institute of Technology and a Masters of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. He and his wife, Suzette, will be relocating to the area. They have three grown children.
“I’m proud to be at DTC. I look forward to working in the community and ensuring that DTC maintains its commitment to our members,” Gates said. “With the technological and economic challenges that face our industry today, DTC must present itself to be the premier service provider for our members.”
In a telephone interview with WJLE Monday, Gates said his grandfather was from Smithville so he knows the area well ” I was born in Ohio. My grandfather was actually from Smithville. He was born in Smithville. His name is Howard Snow. During the depression he left the area and met my grandmother. He worked all over the country. My first time here was in 1976. I was at the Fiddlers Jamboree. I really enjoyed it. He came back here for a short while after he (grandfather) retired so I got to spend some time down here. I went to some of our family reunions and really liked the area. I’ve been all over the country as an employee. I’ve worked for the former GTE and Verizon. Of late I was at the Project Mutual Telephone up in Idaho. When this opportunity came up I thought it would be a great chance for me to get back here to the great folks of this area,” said Gates.
“DTC has some great opportunities. This valley has always taken care of its own. I think the heritage that DTC has with its members is great. I think that we need to continue that heritage. I believe that the technology we offer at DTC can help this community economically as well as bring everybody broadband who would like it. DTC has done a great job of ensuring that everybody gets what they need and we need to continue that. We also need to make sure that we try to help bring economic development into the valley. I guarantee you that I will try my darnedest to make sure that happens whenever we can.,” said Gates.
“From the company’s standpoint, I think we’re on the right track. We’ve become highly competitive. The industry has become highly competitive. You can get the Internet several ways now. I’m sure DTC was one of the first to bring Internet to this valley. Now we’ve got everybody trying to bring it in. We’ve got conglomerates that compete against us which makes it hard because they have a lot of money behind them but we’re hoping that we can continue to offer the best service, not just service, to our members and allow our members to realize that. We will always try to be the most economical but if we can’t I hope that they (members) remember that unlike some of the conglomerate companies, we’re actually feeding your neighbors and are highly involved in the community. We hope to continue that support,” he said.
“I am very glad to be here. I think it’s a great community. I can see why my grandfather loved the area so much and the people have been so warm and nice. Its been very good. I can’t wait to get settled.,” added Gates.
The National Telephone Cooperative Association worked with DTC in conducting the search, in which local, regional, and national candidates were considered.

Three members of the DTC Communications Board of Directors were re-elected Saturday during the annual meeting in Alexandria.
Charles Dwight Vinson of Milton, Terry McPeak of Norene, and Greg Rogers of Woodbury ran unopposed.
Vinson received 159 votes, McPeak 152, and 151 for Rogers. A total of 175 members voted in the election. Each term is for three years.
Members of the Board of Directors, in addition to Vinson, McPeak, and Rogers are Roy N. Pugh of Auburntown, Randy Campbell of Liberty, Ronnie Garrison of Smithville, James H. Dillard, Jr. of Gordonsville, Bennie Curtis of Alexandria, Jimmy Oakley of Temperance Hall, and David Parker of Woodland.