If you know of a teenager or adult battling drug or alcohol addiction, Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland could be the answer for that person.
Teen Challenge is a 12 to 15 month faith-based program which helps those with addictions by ministering to them.
In order to help support the program, the Buckner’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Smithville is hosting a benefit yard sale on Saturday, August 13 from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and you’re invited to participate.
Tim McLauchlin, Executive Director of Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland, said Teen Challenge has been helping change lives since 1958. “Teen Challenge is a fifty four year old ministry. It was started by David Wilkerson in Brooklyn New York in 1958 to help those who were struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. After about five or six years, they realized that if this program has this much success with teenagers then why can’t it help adults? So now there are over 230 Teen Challenge Centers in the United States. Most of those centers also help adults and that’s what we do. We help adults in the Upper Cumberland area who are struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. We are a long term faith based program that ministers to these individuals and helps them to learn to live a life free from drugs and alcohol and a life that is pleasing to God,” said McLauchlin.
“We get a lot of people who come to us right off the street who have heard about us. They want help. They understand that its only through Christ that they can get true deliverance. We also get a lot of referrals through the courts and legal system. I visit a lot of individuals in jail who have written us letters saying they need long term help from more than just a thirty or sixty day program”, according to McLauchlin.
“Teen Challenge is a discipleship program. It’s a ministry. It’s not outpatient. It’s long term residential. Most Teen Challenge programs are twelve to fifteen months long. The people actually live there and go through a Bible school process where they learn to transform their minds to the things of God instead of the things of this world”, said McLauchlin
“Teen Challenge is not a medication treatment program. For those who are looking for medication to get off medication, Teen Challenge is not for them. Teen Challenge is strictly faith based. We teach them that if you will rely on God and trust in him, He will deliver you from your addictions. As a former addict myself several years ago, there were several ways I tried to get off (substances) but it was only through Christ that I truly got deliverance,” he added.
“Teen Challenge has an 87% success rate for those who are willing to commit to it. A lot of the courts work with us. They can order people to go to Teen Challenge but really you have to be willing to do it for twelve to fifteen months and if you do, 87% of those who go through the program never go back to a life of drugs and alcohol,” said McLauchlin
“You live at the Teen Challenge program. They take care of your food and your clothing. Your whole day is filled with Bible studies and chapel worship time. There are chores you have to do during the day but your whole time is filled with studying the word in some form or fashion,” he said.
“Because it is a faith based program, insurance companies will not cover it so we do try to get grants but most people do have to pay for it. But if you look at some of the standard programs out there, they run from $8,000 to $15,000 for a 90 to a 120 day program. Most Teen Challenge Centers can help people for less than $1,500 for a full twelve month program,” according to McLauchlin.
“We have a lot of churches that support us monthly. We also do a lot of fund raising. This Saturday, August 13 we’re going to be having a fund raiser yard sale at the Buckner’s Chapel United Methodist Church on Highway 56 in Smithville from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and all proceeds from this yard sale will go directly to helping us fund the Teen Challenge Program in this area,” said Mclauchlin.
If you have any questions about Teen Challenge you can find us on the web at www.teenchallengeuc.org or you can call toll free at 1-888-688-0470.

A former store employee of Potters Home Center on East Broad Street has been charged with forgery and felony theft over $1,000 in a scheme to allegedly steal money from the business by taking advantage of the store’s policy on returning merchandise.
32 year old Jason Brian Jones is under a $20,000 bond and he will be in court on August 18.
According to Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger, on several occasions from June 7th through July 30th, Jones allegedly forged the names of people on return slips, then made out a check from the store for the returns to the names on those slips. He then allegedly forged their names on the backs of those checks, cashed them in-store, and kept the money. The total amount of money taken in the scheme amounts to several thousands of dollars. All of the return slips were bogus, meaning that no merchandise from anyone named on the slips was actually brought to the store for a return.
During the investigation, Police questioned Jones who allegedly confessed to the crimes. He is also no longer an employee of the store. Chief Caplinger said the investigation continues.
Meanwhile, the Smithville Police Department has arrested two local women on drug charges after they allegedly sold dilaudid to a confidential source in a recent controlled drug buy operation.
Chief Caplinger said 43 year old Kimberly Patterson and 39 year old Wanda Carol Mathis are each charged with one count of unlawful possession of a schedule II controlled substance for sale and delivery. The women allegedly made the sale from the car they were in at the time. .
Patterson and Mathis were not immediately arrested after making the sale but instead were taken into custody on another day, Monday August 8 after police pulled over their vehicle at the BP convenience market on West Broad Street. Police also seized the car.
Bond for each is $25,000 and they will appear in court August 18.
Two people were picked up by the police department on Sunday, August 7 after being found with drugs in their vehicle in the parking lot of a local business.
Chief Caplinger said 31 year old Russell Shannon Estes is charged with public intoxication and simple possession of a schedule II, IV, and VI controlled substance. He was also cited for possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond totals $7,000. 36 year old Lisa Marie Arnold was issued citations for simple possession of a schedule II, IV, and VI controlled substance. Both Estes and Arnold will appear in court on August 18.
According to Chief Caplinger, police were notified that two people had been seen in their automobile parked at Neo’s restaurant on West Broad Street. He said it appeared as though they were snorting drugs. Police arrived and saw Estes and Arnold in the vehicle preparing to roll a green leafy substance, believed to be marijuana, into a cigarette. They were also found in possession of a container with twenty six pills, believed to be percocet, two pills thought to be hydrocodone, and twelve pills suspected to be xanax. A white powdery substance could be seen on the car seat. Estes was charged with public intoxication after he was found to be unsteady on his feet and had slurred speech. A citation was issued against him for possession of drug paraphernalia after police found a pill organizer, pill bottle, metal container, and a straw.
24 year old Serena Lattimore of 114 Juniper Lane has been charged with child neglect after police found her seven year old daughter walking alone down the street near DeKalb Community Bank on Friday, August 5th.
A passerby spotted the child and called police. The youngster told the officer that she was walking to school after she found her mother asleep at home and could not wake her. The Department of Children Services was notified and began an investigation. Lattimore’s bond is $3,500.
43 year old David Dixon was picked up for violation of probation on Wednesday, August 10. During a search incident to his arrest, police found a pill on him. He was charged with simple possession of a schedule IV controlled substance. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on August 25.
27 year old Roxanna Landis was arrested recently after being found slumped over while sitting on the sidewalk in front of Rite Aid Pharmacy on South Congress Boulevard. Police were called and found that Landis had slurred speech and was unsteady on her feet. Landis allegedly told police that she had taken hydrocodone. A syringe was found in her wallet. Landis was charged with public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond is $3,500.
22 year old Thomas Owens was cited for theft on August 4 after a shoplifting incident at Walmart. He is accused of trying to steal $112 worth of merchandise from the store. He will be in court on August 18.
29 year old David Hollingsworth has been charged with domestic assault. Police were recently called to a residence on Dearman Street to check out a domestic complaint in which a man and his wife were arguing. Police found signs of an assault on the woman’s left arm and determined that Hollingsworth was the aggressor. His bond is $3,500.

Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons and Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott on Wednesday announced the appointment of the first female Major of the Highway Patrol. This is the highest rank held by a woman in the history of the Highway Patrol.
Betty Blair, who has served as Captain over the Inspectional Services Bureau (formerly the Office of Professional Responsibility) has been named Major and will be assigned as the Executive Officer to the Colonel. Major Blair has been part of the Inspectional Services Bureau (ISB) since 1999, first as a trooper assigned to the Accreditation Team. She rose through the ranks of sergeant and lieutenant of the Staff Inspection and Accreditation Team, becoming Captain over the entire ISB in 2009. Blair started her career with the THP 1994 as a Road Trooper assigned to the Cookeville District. Prior to her service in the THP, Blair worked for the Department from 1983-1993 as a Driver License Examiner, Training Coordinator, and Issuance Manager. Blair is a graduate of the Northwestern Police Staff and Command School and was nominated by her classmates and instructors to receive the Kremel Leadership Award. She completed the Reid Technique of Interviewing and Interrogation and Advanced Reid Technique Interviewing and Interrogation courses.
“Betty Blair has been instrumental in the THP’s accreditation process. She has helped us raise the bar as a law enforcement agency, and I am proud to promote her to Major,” Col. Trott said. “With her administrative knowledge and experience, I know Major Blair will further be an asset to me and the entire command staff,” he added.
Commissioner Gibbons and Colonel Trott also announced the appointment of Captain Vic Donoho to the Inspectional Services Bureau, a position he previously held from 2007-2009 before being named Captain of the THP’s Nashville District headquarters. Donoho has held various other positions throughout his career as a state trooper, including a year in Washington, DC, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He also served as Administrative Lieutenant in the Cookeville District, a Road Lieutenant in Robertson, Davidson, Macon, Trousdale, Smith, and DeKalb Counties, and as a Lieutenant in the Planning and Research Division. Donoho spent four years assigned to Executive Security Detail at the Governor’s Residence, where he was promoted to Sergeant. Donoho began his career with the THP in 1989 as Road Trooper in Van Buren and White Counties. He is a graduate of the NHTSA Officer Leadership program, a graduate of the Northwestern Police School Staff and Command and attended Volunteer State Community College. Donoho also completed 40 hours of Internal Affairs training conducted by the Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM), and the Reid Technique of Interviewing and Interrogation and Advanced Reid Technique Interviewing and Interrogation courses.
“Leading the Inspectional Services Bureau is one of our most important assignments. With the promotion of Major Blair, I believe Captain Donoho’s leadership and investigative skills are needed to fill this vacancy and maintain the level of professionalism the Department has earned over the past several years,” said Commissioner Gibbons.

Over 2,000 voters will have to fill out a special form in order to vote next year if they do not make contact with the election commission office in advance of election day.
Dennis Stanley, DeKalb County Administrator of Elections, said his office recently completed the state-mandated Address Confirmation Program and over 2,000 voters were mailed letters asking them to confirm or update
their residential and mailing addresses. “If a voter has not voted since November 4, 2008 or had any kind of
contact with the election office, they were mailed the letter asking for address confirmation or an update of their address,” Stanley said. “Contact” means voting or filing a duplicate voter registration form, or notifying the election commission of an address, or name change.
Voters were provided with a form and a postage-paid envelope to send back a confirmation or change of address to the election commission “Once they were sent the letter, their voting status was changed to inactive, meaning unless they return the form provided or make other kinds of contact with the election office before they wish to vote again, they
will have to fill out a ‘Fail-Safe’ form on election day,” Stanley said. “That will result in a delay at the polls and could even mean the voter will be sent to another voting precinct, depending on where they now live. It will be much more convenient for the voter to return the Address Confirmation letter mailed recently than to go through a possible inconvenience on election day,” he added.
Nearly 200 voters have taken the time to return the letters with either a confirmation or address change, Stanley said.
“The real concern is that over 600 (or about 25%) of the letters have been returned by the Post Office with insufficient addresses or with a notation the voter moved and either did not leave a forwarding address or the forwarding time has expired,” he continued. “All voters really need to let us know if they have moved and give us their current address or they could experience some delay and inconvenience when going to vote next year.”
If you think you have moved from the address used for your voter registration or changed the mailing address given to the election commission, please call us as soon as possible and we’ll check it out,” Stanley said.
The Election Commission office can be reached by calling 597-4146. You can mail them at P.O. Box 543 Smithville, TN 37166.

For the third consecutive year, DeKalb County Fire Department has been recognized as one of Tennessee’s elite fire departments for outstanding training achievement.
Last year, the department was awarded the Gold Level Award and was the #1 volunteer fire department in Tennessee for training hours. This year, the department logged 1,393 training hours and was recognized as a Silver Level fire department in Tennessee for its 2010-11 training efforts. Additionally, DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department ranks #33 overall considering all 732 fire departments in Tennessee, both paid and volunteer.
DeKalb County Mayor Mike Foster commended the department’s members and leaders for making DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s training program such a huge 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 Department’s training was a core element in the recent Insurance Services Office (ISO) evaluation that resulted in a dramatic improvement to DeKalb County’s Public Protection Classification Rating of Class 6. This translates in significant savings to DeKalb County homeowners’ insurance premiums.
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. You can also visit the Department’s FaceBook group page.

DeKalb County property owners will have to ante up a little more when their tax bill comes due this fall.
The county commission Monday night, by a vote of 12-2, increased the overall property tax rate to $1.62 cents per $100 of assessed value, as recommended by the budget committee. That’s almost a ten cent increase above the new certified tax rate of $1.5214 set by the state after reappraisal this year. A nickel of the tax hike will go to schools and the other five cents will be for the county general fund. County commissioners Jimmy Poss and Jerry Adcock voted against the ten cent tax increase.
Supporters, including a large group of educators, showed up during a public hearing prior to the special meeting to back the school board’s request for a bigger tax hike for schools. Several members of the audience addressed the county mayor and commissioners asking them to do more for education. But their pleas failed to win over any support for the plan as the commission unanimously rejected the school board’s proposal and instead adopted a plan put forth by the budget committee, which gives schools more money, but not as much as the board of education had sought.
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By a vote of 14 to 0, the county commission turned thumbs down on the school board’s request for passage of a revised budget which County Mayor Mike Foster said included an 11.54 cent tax hike for schools and an additional $169,000 in funding from the sales tax/sinking fund. Four members of the commission, Marshall Ferrell, Bradley Hendrix, Jimmy Poss, and Jack Barton declared that while they had a conflict, they were representing their constituents and voting their conscience on the school budget. Ferrell, Hendrix, and Poss work for the school system and Barton’s wife is a teacher. The school board wanted the extra money from the proposed tax increase to fund some new positions in the school system without having to dip deeper in reserve funds to pay for them..
Instead, the county commission voted 13-1 to adopt the consolidated budget, as recommended by the budget committee which includes an overall ten cent tax increase. Seventh district commissioner Jimmy Poss voted against it. The five cent increase for schools equates to about $210,000 which is expected to be enough to cover pay raises for school personnel.
Among those speaking in support of the school board’s request for more money during the public hearing was Mandy Dakas, a teacher at Northside Elementary School. “As a teacher and mother, I definitely have a vested interest in the welfare of our school system. We are and have always been a county that cares about our children. But we only care as far as giving the minimum amount to get by. My whole life I have heard of how proud we are to have such low property taxes, but I can tell you that mentality has made the children and youth of our county suffer over and over again, decade after decade. I hear of statements such as, “I’ve never had a child in this school system. Why should I have to pay for it?”. And all I can think is…You may have never needed the service of the fire department or police department, but your taxes pay those services. And I’ll bet you will be praying that they are certified and know what they’re doing if and when you need their service. The fact is…the education of our children will directly impact the future workforce and economy of DeKalb County,” said Dakas
“So whether it’s a property tax increase or a wheel tax or something else, we need to work together as a county and put education at the forefront of everything we do. There is no project more important! So please know that this is not a “we versus them” type of statement. Everyone knows that these are hard times for many people and that tough decisions have to be made. Just please understand that when there are state and federal mandates that require each local education agency to enforce certain teaching methods or observations, and we are not funded in such a way to meet those needs, then we are defeated before we even begin,’ said Dakas

In addition to Dakas, others addressing the county commission and county mayor in support of schools during the public hearing were Lindy Jenkins, John Pryor, Beth Gill, Leah Ingram, Jordan Wilkins, David Graham, Danny Parkerson, Luke Willoughby, James Hale, George Sperry, and Jamie Cantrell. Director of Schools Mark Willoughby also made one last request for approval of the school board’s revised budget.
Former sixth district county commissioner Danny McGinnis, who claimed he was speaking for the concerned taxpayers, said now is not the time to be raising taxes. “I’m here tonight for the concerned taxpayers of the county. Look at your town. Our town. How many businesses has left?. All your ideas (school board) are very good. But this is not the time for a tax raise. With people losing their homes, losing jobs, losing businesses, the county commission does not have the taxes coming in to give you all what you want. I’m speaking for the concerned taxpayers, the ones who are on a fixed income. When you raise their taxes, what are they going to do? They might lose their homes because they can’t pay the taxes. Their social security is not going up. Look how many homes around DeKalb County are for sale. What’s that the cause of? Economic slowdown,” said McGinnis.
Under its revised budget plan, the school board had proposed to add a new fifth grade teaching position at Northside Elementary School (which will be funded); an additional math teacher at DeKalb County High School; an assistant band teacher; a support staff site coordinator at DCHS; a special education teacher at DCHS; and three new assistant principals (one at each DeKalb West, Northside Elementary, and Smithville Elementary School. The budget also sought to add local funding back to the general fund for three teaching positions and an educational assistant, which for the last two years have been paid for with federal stimulus or American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds that have now been exhausted. Positions which were originally proposed but later dropped from the budget were a new physical education teacher at Northside Elementary School; an instructional coach; and two assistant soccer coaches.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby told WJLE Monday night that even though the school board’s proposed revised budget was rejected by the county commission, some of these positions may still be filled using reserve funds this year.
Under the consolidated budget adopted by the county commission, certified and non-certified school employees will get a pay raise. The spending plan includes a 3.2% increase for support staff or non-certified personnel and a 1.6% local increase to match the state’s 1.6% pay hike for certified personnel (teachers).
Prior to the vote, Chuck Cagle of the Tennessee School Boards Association, who represents the DeKalb County Board of Education as legal counsel, asked the county commission to fully fund the school board’s request. “We are now facing in education things that we’ve never had to face before and things about which we have very little control like the state diploma project which was adopted by the state board of education about two years ago but there was no state appropriation to go with it. The cost of that is significant. That proposal added a requirement for math and science and we now find ourselves trying to meet that requirement in order that the high school seniors in this county can meet the minimum graduation requirements of schools,” said Cagle.
“Next I want to get to the evaluation system that’s been adopted by the state. Every school principal in your district has just watched the evaluations that he or she must perform increase by ten times. Prior to this evaluation system we evaluated tenured teachers twice in ten years and we evaluated probationary teachers for the first three years until they were eligible for tenure. Now, every teacher in DeKalb County schools will be evaluated annually, tenured teachers four times a year and probationary teachers six times a year. There is absolutely no way to accomplish that with the current staff that you have. This proposal (school board budget) calls for the appointment of assistant principals and those folks are vital to accomplishing the rules and regulations along with the goals that the state has sent down in it’s evaluation plan. It’s not optional, you have to get it done,” said Cagle
“The cost of fuel has gone up significantly and the cost of utilities and textbooks is going up as we speak. We’re also faced with testing requirements and graduation requirements under No Child Left Behind and training students who don’t have proficiency in the English Language. Our drop out rate is always a concern. None of this gets any cheaper from year to year,” according to Cagle
“As a percentage of the budget over the past ten years or so, DeKalb County schools takes less and less in property taxes. It may take half the sales tax but that’s by statute. The Tennessee Code says that 50% of all sales tax collected has to go to the education enterprise. But their share of the county property tax continues to decline. Yet we are faced with a continuing escalation in all of our charges. For many years and several years in a row, we’ve balanced the school system’s budget using their reserve account. Balancing their budget using the savings account. The budget you have before you is not a Christmas tree. It’s not filled full of ornaments. They have asked for the basics. The budget that the DeKalb County Board of Education has presented to you is reasonable. Yes, it restores some of that property tax funding that they have lost over the years. It pays for some things the state has mandated and it gives children in this district an educational opportunity to which they deserve,” said Cagle.
County Mayor Mike Foster, prior to the vote on the consolidated budget, explained to the county commission why the budget committee felt a need to recommend a tax increase, yet not go along with the school board’s request.”With much discussion, the budget committee found it necessary and advisable to call for an increase in the property tax levy. The tax levy resolution and the consolidated budget document increases the property tax levy to $1.62 per $100 of assessed value and reflects a 9.86 cent increase from the equalized rate of $1.5214 cents and was only considered after making projections and considering long term financial stability. The driving force behind the increase was anticipated future requirements in meeting the school maintenance of effort as well as meeting the local match portion for the state’s BEP funding formula,” said Foster.
“The consolidated 2012 budget document changes the school board’s approved general purpose school funds budget only by lowering the amount of local revenues requested by the school board, which was above what the budget committee deemed necessary. Although the budget committee submitted a tax rate resolution which increases the tax levy for the general purpose school fund by five cents on an equalized basis of seven cents when compared to the prior year. The budget committee believes that expenditures in the general purpose school fund budget which has been approved by the school board cannot be sustained over a long term basis unless the board of education takes immediate steps to correct deficiencies. The budget committee made no effort in trying to identify expenditure cuts which should be the responsibility of the school board and believe that non recurring revenues are being used for recurring expenses,” continued Foster.
In addition to addressing the school spending plan, County Mayor Foster said the consolidated budget also includes a five cent increase for the county general fund. “The consolidated budget document also increases the levy for the general fund by five cents. A pay scale system was presented by the sheriff and implemented into the budget in order to maintain qualified law enforcement personnel with longevity pay for the sheriff’s department being cut out. Pay raises for county employees are budgeted at $1,000 per year with spending cuts being made by office holders in order to offset some of the additional expenses. Increases in utilities, worker comp, liability insurance are included with particular emphasis on utilities which is a best estimate due to the anticipated occupation of the new county administration building. Although the budget projects a decline in cash fund balances for the general fund, the budget committee does not believe the decline will be as steep as presented. The largest outlays are unknown such as ambulance service revenues and expenditures as well as declines in revenues due to the recession but the budget committee is confident that actions taken in prior budget years have been successful and will carry the county through the current economic downturn and projects fund stability within two budget cycles. The budget committee recommends approval of the consolidated budget and rejection of the school budget as approved for the general purpose school fund,” said Foster
The new property tax rate as adopted by the county commission breaks down as follows:
County General: 83 cents
Highway/Public Works: 3 cents
General Capital Projects- 9 cents
Debt Service-12 cents
General Purpose Schools- 55 cents
The solid waste fund does not receive any property tax money. The fund is supported by revenues derived from payment-in-lieu of taxes, local option sale taxes, hotel-motel tax, bank excise tax and wholesale beer tax, etc. Up until two years ago, the solid waste fund was supported by a portion of the property tax rate. Since then the tax rate previously designated for solid waste, 20 cents, has been added to the general fund.
One cent of the tax rate generates $42,389 in local money with a 5.85% delinquency rate figured into the equation.
The new budget includes a new four tiered salary pay scale for employees of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department to bring their salaries more in line with other law enforcement agencies in the area. All other full time county employees are budgeted a $1,000 pay raise for the year, which equates to about a 50 cent per hour increase.
Last year, the county budgeted money to fund an animal control officer but that position was not filled. This year funds for that position, $25,000, will be re-allocated to fund a director position at the new county administrative office complex still under construction on South Congress Boulevard. Four county officials from the courthouse, the Register of Deeds, Assessor of Property, Trustee, and County Clerk and their staffs are scheduled to move to their new offices in the old Town and Country Shopping Center location on Thursday, August 18.
The costs to the county for the new administrative building including purchase price and renovation expense is expected to be $3.2 million unless other change orders or add-ons are required before the entire project is finished. The re-payment schedule on the five million dollars borrowed to pay off previous obligations and to purchase and renovate this building is for fifteen years at a locked in rate of three percent. Yearly payments are to be $409,000 compared to $469,000 under the previous six year debt repayment schedule at 5.8%. The county is scheduled to receive $50,000 a year in rental payments from tenants in a portion of the building, including UCHRA. General fund utilities expense for county buildings combined is budgeted to go from $75,000 last year to $150,000 in the new budget. County Mayor Foster said about $50,000 of the increase for utilities is due to the new administrative building.
Three cents of the property tax rate, $127,169 helps support the county highway department along with a mineral severance tax, $25,000, Other than that, Foster said all of the county road department’s budget is funded by state allocations, mostly state gas tax revenues
The budget again provides local property tax relief of up to $50 for those who qualify for the state property tax relief program.
Capital projects fund expenses include:
“Motor Vehicles” Ambulance-$80,000 (to re-do an existing ambulance, placing a new chassis with an old box remount)
“Furniture and fixtures” (shopping center building)-$150,000 (carry-over expense from last year)
“Motor vehicles” category for patrol cars and or fire truck- $80,000 (money allocated for any emergency vehicle needed during the year)
“Law enforcement equipment” fire department- $31,000 (carry-over expense from last year to be used to purchase an older model equipment truck for the county fire department)
County Fire Chief Donny Green’s request for $180,000 to purchase a new fire pumper to replace the Midway engine which is a 1979 model will not be met for now. The truck has not been included in the budget. But in addition to an older model equipment truck, the department may also get to fund replacement of a portion of turnout gear and breathing cylinders.
“Other construction” is caution lights- $30,000 (to purchase and install caution lights at the intersection of State Highway 83 and U.S. 70 near Kilgore’s Restaurant)
“Building Construction” Administration Building- $1,300,000 (carry over-expense from last year- About $700,000 to $800,000 left to be spent from remaining borrowed funds to finish rehab construction work on county administrative building)
“Solid Waste Equipment”- $145,000 (to purchase roll back garbage truck)
“Other construction” for various projects-$18,000 (for roof repairs to Omega Apparel building and for work to be done to 911 building)
Total: $1,834,000
A total of $183,053 in gifts and contributions to local libraries, which have been previously kept in a bank account, must now be accounted for as a line item in the county general budget for libraries by recommendation of state auditors.
The county commission also Monday night adopted a resolution making appropriations of $133,243 to the following non-profit organizations:
DeKalb Sparks Softball- $150
Upper Cumberland Development District- $3,411
Tennessee Division of Forestry-$1,500
DeKalb County Rescue Squad- $11,500
Plateau Mental Health-$7,180
Families First-$750
Senior Citizens Program-$26,325
DeKalb Soil Conservation District-$29,281
DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce-$15,000
Imagination Library- $7,200
Genesis House- $1,500
DeKalb County Fair- $1,500
WCTE-TV- $5,000
Prospect Incorporated-$12,500
Upper Cumberland Human Resources-$1,200
UCHRA Assessment-Homemaker Aide, etc-$9,245
Dues and memberships:
Upper Cumberland Tourism Association- $300
Tennessee County Services Association- $1,223
Tennessee County Officials Association- $1,985
Tennessee County Sheriff’s Association- $1,500
Tennessee County Commissioners Association- $1,350
Upper Cumberland Development District- $3,000
Association of Tennessee Valley Governments- $400
Total dues and memberships- $9,758

A Smithville man is charged with two counts of theft after allegedly taking things from two residences on Chapman Hollow Road last month.
Sheriff Patrick Ray reports that 47 year old Scott A. Ferrell of Cookeville Highway, Smithville is charged with two counts of theft of property over $500. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court September 22.
According to Sheriff Ray Ferrell allegedly stole several items from a residence on Chapman Hollow Road on Tuesday, July 26. Items taken included a turning plow, six foot drag disk, chains and booms, with a total estimated value of $610. The drag disk was later recovered from a local metal recycling business.
On the same day, July 26, Sheriff Ray said that Ferrell allegedly stole several items from another residence on Chapman Hollow Road including a tobacco trailer, MTD 38 inch cut lawn mower, two hay rings, and a lift, with a total estimated value of $775. The tobacco trailer was later located but due to damage, it could not be recovered.
Meanwhile, 48 year old Gale Edward Winne, Jr. of Smithville is charged with vandalism. His bond totals $1,500 and he will be in court on August 18.
Sheriff Ray reports that on Sunday, August 7 deputies were called to a residence on Dearman Street where a man had kicked open a door and entered the home. Upon arrival and speaking to the homeowner and others at the residence, the officers found the man, Winne, inside the kitchen area. Winne allegedly admitted to kicking open the garage door, which caused damage to the door and the frame. According to Sheriff Ray, the incident arose due to an argument among persons at the residence. Winne became angry, left the home, but returned later. When no one answered the door as he knocked, Winne kicked it in. The homeowner said the door is valued at $150.
36 year old Jamie Ray Myers of Soddy Daisy is charged with public intoxication, the illegal use of inhalants and violation of the habitual motor vehicle offender law. His bond totals $8,500 and he will be in court on August 18.
Sheriff Ray reports that on Tuesday, August 2 a deputy was called to check out a suspicious person who was reportedly knocking on doors, telling people he had run out of gas. Upon arrival, the officer found the man, Myers, at Terrell Road and Highway 70 east. Myers told the deputy that he had run out of gas here while enroute from Dunlap to Whitwell. Myers was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. The officer asked Myers if he had consumed any drugs or alcohol. Myers replied that he had been huffing paint thinner. Due to his actions and for his safe being, Myers was placed under arrest for public intoxication. Myers gave consent to search his vehicle and the officer found a two liter bottle of a clear watery liquid and a plastic bag containing a clear liquid, which Myers claimed was paint thinner. The deputy also asked Myers to produce his drivers license, but Myers said he didn’t have one because he is an habitual offender. A computer check revealed that on March 18, 2002 Myers was convicted as an habitual offender in Hamilton County.
34 year old Lisa Rosita Seibers of Doyle, Tennessee is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license. Her bond is $6,000 and she will be in court September 1.
Sheriff Ray reports that on Sunday, August 7 a deputy responded to a location on Highway 70 east at the request of a TWRA officer, who had been following a vehicle with a flat tire. After the automobile was stopped, the deputy spoke to the driver, Seibers. Her speech was slurred and she was very unsteady on her feet. When asked if she had anything to drink or had taken any medications that day, Seibers replied no but added that she had taken a xanax and consumed some alcohol the night before. Seibers submitted to and performed poorly on several field sobriety tasks. She also submitted to a blood alcohol test. Seibers had a prior DUI charge in 2010.

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) is upgrading the DeKalb County Fire Department’s service area rating from a Class 9 to a Class 6, effective November 1 which is expected to result in lower homeowners insurance premiums for many families across the county.
County Fire Chief Donny Green made the announcement Sunday afternoon during a meeting of county volunteer firefighters at the department’s main station on King Ridge Road. County Mayor Mike Foster was also present for the announcement.
Chief Green issued the following prepared statement for the local news media:
The fire-protection services of DeKalb County Fire Department’s entire service area, as evaluated and rated by Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), has improved from Class 9 to Class 6. In 2009, the department improved the rating for residents of the cities of Liberty and Dowelltown. In March 2011, the department underwent another intensive and comprehensive ISO survey to collect and evaluate the fire protection capabilities of the remainder of the county. On Friday, August 5 the department was officially notified of the rating improvement.
Effective November 1, 2011 all areas serviced by the DeKalb County Fire Department will be classified as an ISO Class 6 protection area. If your property is within 5 road miles of one of the department’s eleven fire stations and a fire hydrant or credited alternative water source is located within 1,000 feet of your property, you will receive a Class 6 Protection Rating. This improvement will save residents in these areas an estimated $200 annually on their homeowner’s insurance premiums. This rating does not affect the current ratings for residents in the cities of Smithville and Alexandria.
DeKalb County Mayor Mike Foster said “I am tremendously proud of the level of fire protection and efficiency provided by our fire department, water system, and 911 Center. The fire department, as evident by this evaluation, has made significant strides in improving fire protection in DeKalb County’s communities. The financial impact of this new rating is very important, but just as important is the fact that our communities should enjoy the reassurance that the DeKalb County Fire Department is providing a level of service, using an all-volunteer staff, that many communities would love to have. Residents and property owners of DeKalb County should know that their dollars are spent very efficiently. The hard work put forth by our fire department has resulted in this improved rating that positively affects everyone, especially those living on fixed income.” In 2009, Mayor Foster commended the fire department for improving the ISO rating for the cities of Dowelltown and Liberty and stated that ” our ultimate goal is to improve our fire protection ratings countywide.” With this recent announcement, that goal has been achieved.
DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green pointed out that this rating improvement was no small task. “I want to personally recognize our department’s officers and members who made enormous time sacrifices to make this happen. In addition, it took support and assistance from the water utility districts that serve DeKalb County, the DeKalb County 911 Emergency Communications District, Mayor Mike Foster, and the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. Our ability to improve our PPC classification was positively influenced by our increase in training activities, updated equipment, the DeKalb County 911 Emergency Communication District’s efficiency in receiving and handling fire alarms, and the ability of our water systems to deliver sufficient water flows. DeKalb County will become one of only 205 fire departments in Tennessee to achieve a Class 6 rating according to the latest information from ISO. Of the 1,011 fire departments in Tennessee, the majority, 311 are ranked as Class 9 fire departments according to ISO. This is a huge step,” said Chief Green.
ISO collects information on municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data using its Fire Suppression Rating Schedule. The company then assigns a Public Protection Classification from 1 to 10. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area’s fire-suppression program doesn’t meet ISO’s minimum criteria.
ISO will advise its subscribing insurers of this classification change, The rating becomes effective November 1, 2011. DeKalb County homeowners should check with their insurance companies after that date to make sure these savings are applied.

As Monday night approaches, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby and members of the board of education are hoping that the county commission will see fit to increase local funding for schools.
The county budget committee is asking the county commission to adopt a new school budget which gives the school system a five cent increase in the property tax rate which equates to $210,000. But Willoughby, in an interview with WJLE Thursday said that would only be enough to cover proposed pay raises. “The five cents basically takes care of the 1.6% raise (local match) that the state is giving to all certified employees. We as a system are giving a 1.6% raise to all certified employees. We as a system are also proposing to give a 3.2% salary increase to all non-certified employees. On the part of the certified personnel, that (local match) is on the state portion of the salaries. That is not on the state portion plus the local portion. So the five cent increase that the budget committee has proposed to the full county commission just takes care of the pay raises,” said Willoughby
Because the school budget is so complex, Willoughby said it is difficult for many people to understand. “We have money coming from many different sources. We have grants. We have local funds, federal funds. We became aware just a few days ago that we are going to get another grant but we don’t yet have the specifics of how much that is going to be but it could be up to around $200,000. We have a Jobs Grant which I’m concerned about in this budget. The Jobs money in this grant is over $660,000 but I doubt very seriously if that will be in the budget next year. So if we use over $900,000 of our reserves to balance our budget this year and the $660,000 Jobs Grant money goes away next year, then we’re looking at close to $1.6 million (needed to balance the budget next year) if everything stays the same. I do want to say though that revenues have come in more than expenditures in the past, which has been good. We were able to end our school year this year with more than $700,000 to the good. But each year, if you didn’t have to use your reserves to balance the budget, it could be like building up a savings account. We do have reserves in there for things like if we had to have a roof in an emergency situation, we could use those reserves for that. But we do not need to use our reserves for day to day operations like we’ve been having to do. It has become a tradition for us to use reserves to balance our budget each year. I wish we didn’t have to do that,” said Willoughby
In recent years, the county has been budgeting more money ($1,540,000 this year) from the special school sinking fund or local sales tax money for school operation. Willoughby said he believes the sinking fund should be reserved for capital projects. “We really don’t like to use the sinking fund for our general operating budget. We would like to use that for capital outlay projects. We have two schools that definitely need a new roof. Of course the Smithville Elementary cafeteria got one (roof) because of the May storm damage but that was from the insurance. But DeKalb Middle School and DeKalb West School are both in need of a roof. As long as we use our sinking fund for operating expenses, its difficult to hold that money back for capital outlay projects. We would like to have a budget where we do not have to use reserves,” said Willoughby
Willoughby said that while the school system has received an increase in local funding from sales tax money and in the state allocation of Basic Education Program (BEP) funds in recent years, the percentage of local property tax money designated for schools has declined. Based on per capita statistics, Willoughby said he believes DeKalb County can afford to do better for schools. “Out of fifteen counties in the surrounding area, Van Buren, Pickett, Fentress, White, Macon, Clay, DeKalb, Cannon, Jackson, Overton, Warren, Putnam, Cumberland, Smith, and Wilson, DeKalb County ranks ninth in per capita income at $17,306. Looking at the property tax rate, we rank twelfth at $1.46. The next county up from us happens to be Overton county at $1.80. Our sales tax rate is a little bit higher than their’s (Overton county). Their’s is 9.5% and ours is 9.75% but they have a $30 wheel tax and I don’t know where that $30 wheel tax goes to. But based on property taxes, if you have a $100,000 piece of property in DeKalb County, you’re paying $365 in property taxes. If you have a $100,000 piece of property in Overton County, you’re paying $450 in property taxes. In Clay county, its $775 (property taxes) on a $100,000 piece of property. I do want to point out though that one cent (property tax rate) in DeKalb County brings in more money than some of these other counties but vice versa, one penny in other counties brings in a lot more than in DeKalb County,” said Willoughby
Director Willloughby said he believes the county should appropriate a greater share of local property tax dollars for schools. “In DeKalb County, of the tax rate and assessments for 2010-11, the percentage that the school gets is 32.88%. But when you go back to 1993, the school system received 67.22% of the local property tax in the budget. In the year 2000 it was 60%. In 2003 it was 48.47%. In 2007 it was 38.42%. This is a percentage of the property tax rate and assessment for schools. I do want to point out though that more money is actually coming into the school system and the county because of the increase that one cent of the tax rate brings in. But our increase (for schools) has actually come from sales tax not from the property tax increase. So the more people buy, the more money we get. So that’s where these percentages come from. This just shows how it (percentage of property tax fundsfor schools) have decreased over the years. Property tax is one of the things that is consistent. Sales tax is not consistent. We feel like the school system should be getting more of the property tax dollars while we do realize that the school system, over the years has received more sales tax dollars as the sales tax has increased. We (schools) get two thirds percent of the sales tax,” said Willoughby.
As for schools, County Mayor Mike Foster insists that the county is adequately funding schools with local money at more than $4.5 million dollars and is exceeding the state’s BEP required local match for schools by close to $200,000.
“Schools have gone from over $11- million dollars nine or ten years ago to $19.9 million dollars today and that does not include the $2.8 million federal budget that goes in there for the cafeteria fund,” said Foster.
The General Purpose Schools budget totals $19,932,993. The property tax rate for schools as recommended by the budget committee is 55 cents per $100 of assessed value, five cents more than last year but not as much as the school board has requested. In addition to the $2-million 331-thousand 429 for schools generated by the 55 cent tax rate, the county commission is expected to transfer $1-million 540 thousand from the local purpose tax fund (sinking/local sales tax fund) to help operate schools this year along with $570,645 to fund the school debt service for payment on the Northside Elementary School and roof at Smithville Elementary School. The school system also gets $55,954 from Trustee’s Collections (prior years), $30,309 from Clerk and Masters collections (prior years), $12,823 in interest and penalty, $8,603 in pick up taxes, and $1,000 in bank excise taxes. The total appropriation of local funds for schools is $4,550,763. The state BEP allocation for schools is $13-million 198-thousand dollars, an increase from last year’s budget of $12,508,000. The school system also receives, according to County Mayor Foster, some $2.8 million in federal funding in addition to local and state appropriations.
Director Willoughby is still holding out hope that the county commission Monday night will adopt the board of education’s revised budget proposal for schools, which asks for a larger tax increase than the proposal offered by the county budget committee.
Even if the county commission doesn’t approve the school board’s revised budget, Willoughby said pay raises and some new positions could still be funded, while other needs would have to wait. “My hope is that the county commission would pass the revised budget that we sent over. In that revised budget, we had already taken out, in some particular situations, monies in that revised budget. One of the places we had taken out was the county wide instructional coach. The P.E. teacher at Northside Elementary, we had taken that particular spot out. We had also taken the (assistant) soccer coach (positions) out. We’re doing a lot of renovation with the chemistry/science lab at the high school. We had added $250,000 in the budget for the science lab at the time when we did that (planned it). We did not know (at that time) exactly how much that was going to cost. We now know that’s going to be less than the $250,000. We have actually taken $250,000 out of capital outlay (for the project),” said Willoughby.
Some new positions, Willoughby said, are almost a must, given new state requirements being imposed on local school systems. “Let me give you an example of how this year is different than past years. A significant amount of money is in the budget this year, which hasn’t been in the budget before and that’s for three new assistant principal positions. That’s estimated at close to $230,000 and that’s not talking about the take home pay. By the time we meet the matching requirements we have to meet, the retirement with the benefits, insurance and everything, that is where we come up with the $230,000. Elementary principals, such as Smithville Elementary, (are especially being affected by new evaluation requirements). Last year, Mr. (Bill) Tanner had to do twenty eight observations of his staff. This year with the new guidelines, he tells me that he will have to do two hundred and eight observations. There’s just no way that can take place. There’s no way he can do that without help. I think we should have had assistant principals a long time ago, but these are particular things which have come down and are mandated that we have to do to get those observations taken care of,” said Willoughby.
Willoughby said that the three new assistant principals, including one at Northside, Smithville Elementary, and at DeKalb West Schools, can help ease the burden of conducting those extra observations and evaluations.
As for other new positions, Willoughby said “At the high school, we asked for one new position for a site coordinator. That’s basically to take care of on-line dual credit courses and distance learning classes. We have thirteen different classes that are going on in the lab and there’s a minimum of sixty students. Try to take care of that and increase the dual enrollment and increase the on-line classes. That’s the only way we’re going to meet those needs. We also have students who are taking Spanish III, now that’s not a dual credit class, but they’re taking the course (on-line) from a class in Cookeville. We had also offered Advanced Placement (AP) History so students in Cookeville could take our History class (on-line). We’re trying to do more of that back and forth which helps out both school systems. Financially it helps out our system by not having to hire a full time teacher to do that. That’s what a lot of rural school systems are having to do in order to ease the budget demands. What is needed at schools now is completely different than what was required as recent as eight or ten years ago such as our technology requirements, our on-line courses, and our dual credit classes. Next year, its going to be a requirement that all students take four math classes, one math class per year. So by doing that we will have to have another math teacher in there. This year with the way the budget is, if we can get by one more year without doing that (adding a math teacher) we will but its not the best for the children. What we try to propose in a budget to send to the county commission is what is best for children. I don’t have the exact numbers but I think since 2003-04 to today, we have increased in enrollment by probably over 400 students. That requires a lot of money. For example, math books this year cost an average of about eighty dollars so with 130 more students, that gets over $10,000. In our budget we do have those three assistant principals but we haven’t hired them yet. We had in our budget the one extra teacher at Northside Elementary because we thought we were going to have to have that for numbers (due to an increase in the number of students). I can tell you now we have to have that teacher and we’ve already hired that particular teacher. As far as the other things in the budget we haven’t made the new hires yet until after we get our budget passed. But we feel that what we have in this budget is extremely important,” said Willoughby.
The school board initially adopted a tentative budget requesting a seventeen cent property tax rate increase for schools to fund pay raises for personnel and to add some new positions in the new budget. The county budget committee rejected the request for new money, except for pay raises. The committee asked the school board to make cuts in their proposed budget. The school board later revised its proposed budget and brought back a proposal asking for an eleven cent tax increase and more money from the sales tax or sinking fund to meet their budget request. The county budget committee again rejected the proposed spending plan but voted to recommend a consolidated budget that includes a five cent tax increase for schools to send to the county commission. Although neither the budget committee nor the county commission can dictate how the school board spends the money, the proposed five cent tax increase is just enough to cover the proposed pay raises for school personnel.
The overall proposed property tax rate recommended by the county budget committee is $1.62, which is ten cents above the certified tax rate. Five cents of the proposed increase would go for schools and the other nickel would be for the county general fund. County Mayor Foster has said that if the school board’s revised budget plan is adopted, the overall property tax rate would have to be $1.72.
The school board has proposed a 3.2% pay raise for support staff or non-certified personnel and a 1.6% local increase to match the state’s 1.6% pay hike for certified personnel (teachers)..
The school board, according to its revised plan, seeks to add the following new positions:
A new fifth grade teaching position at Northside Elementary School.
An additional math teacher at DeKalb County High School
An assistant band teacher
A support staff site coordinator at DCHS
A special education teacher at DCHS
Three new assistant principals (one at each DeKalb West, Northside Elementary, and Smithville Elementary School)
The school board’s revised budget adds local funding back to the general fund for three teaching positions and an educational assistant, which for the last two years have been paid for with federal stimulus or American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds that have now been exhausted
Also remaining in the spending plan are requests for the following increases:
Textbook adoption (Math)- $40,000
Minimal increase in utility costs- $6,000
Increase in maintenance of plant supplies- $23,000
The county commission will be asked Monday, August 8 to either approve or reject the school board’s revised budget request or to approve or reject the county budget committee’s recommendation. That special meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. following a public hearing on the proposed budgets and tax rate at 5:00 p.m. in the basement courtroom of the courthouse
Meanwhile, Willoughby and members of the school board are still at odds with County Mayor Foster and members of the county commission over the county’s decision in August 2007 to cut the local property tax rate for schools by sixteen cents and to give back to the school system an equal or greater amount of local funding from the sinking or sales tax fund for school operation
That decision by the county commission came after the voters of DeKalb County, in May 2007, approved a referendum, increasing the local option sales tax rate from 1.5% to the maximum level of 2.75%
Some claim they were under the impression that the entire sales tax increase, as approved by the voters in the referendum, would immediately go directly to schools, in addition to the property tax rate that was in place for schools at that time. However Foster said that was never the intent. It was always intended, he said, to be a direct tax swap from property tax to sales tax revenues for schools. While the exact amount of the property tax cut to schools wasn’t made specific before the sales tax referendum, Foster insists that it was explained to the public that property tax payers would be getting an overall 19 or 20 cent property tax break, with the passage of the sales tax referendum. “That was the intent. It was the design that the sales tax would take the place of part of the property tax rate for schools. We made that clear in the (public) meetings and when it (referendum) was voted on and that’s exactly what was done. That’s why you saw a decrease of sixteen cents in the property tax rate for schools at that time (2007),” said Foster.
Foster added that since the sinking fund is only designated for schools, the rest of county government could not legally have taken money from that fund in a tax swap. He said the tax swap could only have been made with schools.