The fourth annual Relay for Life 5K and One-Mile Fun Run is set for Saturday, May 19 and the deadline for pre-registration is next Friday, May 11. Race entries will also be accepted on the morning of the race at the check-in location at Green Brook Park in Smithville.
The event is sponsored by and raises money for the American Cancer Society.
The entry fee is a donation of at least $20 for pre-registration and $25 for those registering after May 11. The race begins promptly at 7:30 a.m. RAIN OR SHINE at Green Brook Park on Saturday, May 19. All pre-registered participants must check in by 7:00 a.m. All others must register by 7:00 a.m.
Age divisions for the 5K Run are as follows:
12-18
19-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60+ (women)
60-69 (men)
70+ (men)
Tee shirts will be given to all participants on the day of the race. Awards will be given to the male and female individuals with the overall best times in the 5K Run and the best times in each 5K age divisions.
The Relay 5K Registration Form includes a place for your name, phone number, address, city, state, zip code, your email address, your T-shirt size, your age, and your sex. Check on the form whether you are participating in the 5K Run or the One-Mile Fun Run Walk.
Mail your registration to: Relay for Life 5K Run, 403 South 3rd Street, Smithville, TN 37166. For more information email: bashford55@gmail.com or call Barbara Ashford at 615-417-6563 or Judy Redmon at 615-597-6240. Make checks payable to Relay for Life.
Registration forms are available at the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce and Smithville area banks.

USDA Rural Development has approved loan and grant funding for DeKalb Utility District’s proposed water treatment plant.
During a DUD board meeting Thursday, Chairman Roger Turney announced that Congressman Diane Black has confirmed that the water utility will receive a $5,000,000 loan and a grant of $1,250,000. The terms of the loan are forty years at 2.75% interest. The remaining $4,250,000 needed to build the $10.5 million facility will be funded through a bond issue.
Buddy Koonce, Jr. of Goodwyn, Mills, Cawood, the DUD’s utility engineer said that plans are being drawn up and will be sent to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Once funding is all in place and the state approves the plans, bids can be let on the project. That could come as early as this summer.
But as the DUD board moves forward with its plans, officials of the City of Smithville and others want more answers as to why another plant is needed for the county.

Hunter Hendrixson, Secretary-Treasurer for the City of Smithville, addressed the DUD board Thursday asking why they felt a water plant was needed when the city can sell them all the water they need at cost. “From the city’s standpoint, our plant is a four million gallon a day plant, and with DUD as a customer we’re at fifty percent capacity and have been for many years,” said Hendrixson. “Our contract with you (DUD) doesn’t expire until December 31, 2013. The city would have been open to renegotiating the contract. I just wish the DUD and the city could have had a little better communications.I think the city sells water to you very cheap. I’d say its basically a break even. We’re not making a fortune off of it. I’d just like to ask the question, why build a plant?”
Turney said the county would be better served by having another water plant. “One of the reasons is to be able to control our own destiny. To determine where we can go and where we can’t go,” said Turney. “Over the last several years, several things have happened worldwide that has made it imperative that whenever possible, it makes good sense for areas to have backup water supply systems. If you say, well nothing has happened in years, look what happened in Nashville just a few years ago. They were flooded by a one hundred year flood. They came so close. If there had not been interconnections between other utility districts around them, Tennessee would have had a disaster unmanageable. We think its beneficial for the whole county, Smithville, our customers, and everyone to have a second treatment plant in a day and world we live in today because who knows what could happen. Something might happen to both of us. Its entirely possible,” he said.
According to Turney, other cities would like to have access to Center Hill Lake for their water supply and if the DUD doesn’t take advantage of this opportunity, some other utility may. “Center Hill Lake, I think, is the best water supply in the State of Tennessee. The Corps of Engineers, over the years, is getting more and more restrictive because a lot of people are drawing out of that lake. Cookeville and other areas want more and more water all the time. We looked that over and decided if we don’t get in line and get our piece of the pie in reserve, it may be gone. If we don’t do this now, ten years from now we may say we want to build a plant, and the Corps of Engineers could say I’m sorry there’s no water allocated for you and you can’t do it. That could well happen,” said Turney.
“This is an historical period in our history,” said Turney. “Interest rates are at the lowest people have ever remembered. We’ve got loans committed to us. Just today we received from Congressman Diane Black’s office confirmation of our $5 million loan and a $1.25 million grant to help fund this project. We are honestly not doing this to try to punish Smithville and we’re not dumb. We realize its going to cost a little bit and our customers will have to pay a little bit more because of this initially. But we’ve had at least three different organizations look at our finances and look at the projections for what’s going to happen over the next few years with the assumption that the (water) rates of Smithville continue to increase (to the DUD) about five cents (per thousand gallons) every year. Everything that’s come back to us has said that financially in terms of our customers, in the long run they will benefit financially. Their (DUD customer) rates will be lower, because we will have more control,” he said..
“We know that most industries like to have backups because if something happens to the water treatment plant that supplies them water, if they shut down, they lose. They love to have a backup. That would be a benefit,” said Turney.
“We’ve been dealing with this for years now and we just think it’s the time to go. Everything is in place at the right time. I honestly believe that DeKalb County, the City of Smithville, and everybody involved will be glad that this project was undertaken. We hope with the economic conditions we have now that we’ll get some excellent bids because people are wanting jobs right now. That’s kind of our rationale. That’s not everything but that’s some of the high points we looked at in determining whether or not to go on. We’re trying to decide what’s best for our customers and the whole county. And not just DeKalb County, but all the counties that we serve,” said Turney.
Hendrixson asked Turney if the DUD had plans of expanding its reach into other areas.
Turney didn’t rule it out. “With another water supply, if we had the water supply available, I know Rutherford County would give anything in this world if they could tie into Center Hill Lake,” he said. “We’re less than a half a mile from their water lines. The City of Woodbury, their water supply source is dwindling, going away. We’re positioning, that if we had a water supply for them, they could tie on. Alexandria, we’ve wanted to serve Alexandria for years. We could tie them on. It may be a long time down the road, but I could see Dowelltown and Liberty. Eventually, they may want to tie on. I think there is potential for growth,” said Turney.
Local resident Billy Hale expressed concerns about rate increases.
Turney responded that while rate increases would be necessary, they would not be as high as some have speculated. “There’s been a tremendous amount of misinformation given out here recently,” he said. “No where along the line have we talked about going up fifty percent on our rates. We had to justify and show to the state the potential income to pay for these loans and grants. They don’t just give you the money on your word. You have to verify it with documents. At our last board meeting, we projected a seven percent increase this year, next year, and the next year. Three years running. That seven percent will be enough to pay for the water treatment plant. Our minimum bill now is $17.50. It will go up to $19.00. It will then go up to $20.30 and then to $21.75 over the next three years. We also figured our average customer’s bill is now about $44.00. That will go up to $47.75. The following year, it will go up to $51.08 and then the following year to $54.55. On the minimum bill, that’s $4.25 over four years. That’s not even one cell phone call. That’s insignificant in the times that we’re living in. We’re not talking about major income hardships on anyone,” said Turney.
Tracy Foutch, owner of Foutch Industries, asked if the DUD and the City of Smithville could share their water supply to keep rates down. “Is it possible to share the water, since you both have a limited number of customers, where both the city and county could still supply the same customers and dilute the water rates for both and feed the same water towers from both ends?”
” I don’t know of anywhere in the world, where that is done. That doesn’t seem like something that would work,” said Turney.
Rural Development funds will be used to construct a new Raw Water Intake, Raw Water Transmission Line, Water Treatment Plant and distribution system improvements. The proposed plant will be constructed near Holmes Creek Road and will have a capacity of three million gallons per day. The intake will be on Center Hill Lake, the Transmission Line along Holmes Creek Road and distribution lines will be along Allen’s Chapel, Game Ridge, Turner, South Tittsworth, and Big Rock Roads, and Wheeler Lane.
The DeKalb Utility District serves parts of a four county area, DeKalb, Cannon, Smith, and Wilson.
Members of the DUD board are Roger Turney, Chairman, from Auburntown; Joe Foutch, Jimmy Womack, and Hugh Washer all from DeKalb County, and Danny Bass from Smith County.
Meanwhile, the Calvert Street Group, a public relations firm hired by the City of Smithville, has launched a campaign trying to convince DUD customers through telephone calls, on-line petitions, and other means that a new water plant is a bad idea and that it will result in large increases in water rates. The group seeks to rally vocal public opposition to DUD’s plans.

An educator from DeKalb County High School was named “DeKalb County Teacher of the Year” Thursday night during the fifth annual Teacher of the Year banquet at the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church.
Donna Emmons received the honor and a check for $150 from Liberty State Bank, the sponsor of the banquet. The presentation was made by Director of Schools Mark Willoughby and Roy Nelson Pugh of Liberty State Bank.
Emmons was among five local educators who were recognized during the banquet for being chosen by peers as “Teacher of the Year” at their schools. The others were Beth Cantrell from Smithville Elementary School, Karen Pelham from DeKalb Middle School, Jane Watson from DeKalb West School, and Bethany Rigsby from Northside Elementary School.
Three of the educators, earlier this year, were selected “Teachers of the Year” locally and competed for regional honors in the Tennessee Teacher of the Year Program.
Michelle Burklow, Supervisor of Instruction for Pre-K through sixth grade, explained how the Teachers of the Year are selected. “Every year DeKalb County participates in the Tennessee Teacher of the Year program. Each school picks a Teacher of the Year from their school. That teacher is sent to the county level and we also participate in the regional by picking a teacher in Pre-K through 4th grade, a teacher in the 5th through 8th grade, and a 9th through 12th grade teacher. This year we sent nominations over (for regional competition) and we also sent the names of all five teachers of the year where a committee made up of several supervisors from the Upper Cumberland scored our county applicants based on the Rubric scoring guide,” said Burklow. The overall Teacher of the Year from DeKalb County was chosen by this committee.
Emmons teaches English I, Journalism, and advises the student media program, Tiger Media. She has been a teacher in the freshman academy since its inception (now in its 6th year). Cantrell is a kindergarten teacher at Smithville Elementary School; Rigsby, a third grade teacher at Northside Elementary School; Pelham, an eighth grade teacher at DeKalb Middle School; and Watson is a fifth grade teacher at DeKalb West School.
Each principal introduced the Teacher of the Year at his or her school and remarked on how they deserved the honor.
The guest speaker for the banquet was Dr. John Carpenter, Pastor of the Smithville First United Methodist and Bright Hill United Methodist Churches.
(Top Photo: Roy N. Pugh of Liberty State Bank and Director of Schools Mark Willoughby with DeKalb County Teacher of the Year Donna Emmons of DCHS)
(Bottom Photo: Roy N. Pugh of Liberty State Bank (left) and Director of Schools Mark Willloughby (right) with Teachers of the Year: Karen Pelham, Beth Cantrell, Jane Watson, Donna Emmons, and Bethany Rigsby)

The VFW Club will soon be serving beer again.
In a brief meeting at the courthouse Thursday night, the DeKalb County Beer Board gave the okay for Quartermaster Thomas Skelenka to pick up the permit at the County Clerk’s Office.
County Attorney Hilton Conger said since the license had never been revoked, the beer board could simply give it back.
The VFW Club had to surrender its permit in March following an undercover investigation into allegations of illegal sales of liquor. Agents of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission raided the club on the Sparta Highway March 15 seizing gambling machines, a raffle prize, and cash.
Operators of the VFW Club allegedly kept selling liquor, even after letting their liquor license expire.
During the April beer board meeting, Sheriff Patrick Ray said he was instructed by former beer board chairman Mack Harney to take the VFW’s beer permit after operators of the club were issued citations for selling liquor without a license and for possession of gambling devices. Sheriff Ray said he retrieved the permit and surrendered it to the county clerk, pending a final decision by the beer board.
Last month, Skelenka told the beer board that the club could not survive financially without a beer permit. He said membership participation had dropped off and unless business picked up and new members could be recruited, the VFW, which has been in operation since 1946, could go bankrupt and have to close its doors.
Beer Board members last month voted to have county attorney Hilton Conger attend the May 3rd meeting to render a legal opinion on how to handle the situation with the VFW since the allegations had to do with liquor and gambling, something the beer board has no control over. The question beer board members wanted to know is whether the actions of the VFW constituted a violation of their beer permit and whether the beer board should impose further sanctions or civil penalties.
As a result of the investigation, bartender Brian Foye was cited for unlawful sale of alcohol and quartermaster Thomas Skelenka was issued citations for storage of alcohol for sale and possession of gambling devices. All are misdemeanor offenses.
Foye appeared in General Sessions Court on Thursday, April 12 and received a six month sentence but was placed on good behavior probation. He was fined fifty dollars and court costs.
Skelenka’s case has been continued until May 17th
Meanwhile two other businesses were granted an on and off premises permit to sell beer, the Company Store on Dale Ridge Road near Cove Hollow and the Sharp Lodge on the Cookeville Highway near Silver Point. The Company Store already had an on premises permit, but with this approval, can now sell beer for consumption off the premises as well.
The board also accepted an application for an on and off premises permit from Pablo Gonzales, the new owner of the former Stop Market , LLC at 3794 Short Mountain Highway, Smithville. Final action will come at the next meeting on June 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the courthouse.
(Top Photo: Beer Board Chairman Edward Frazier (right) tells VFW Quartermaster Thomas Skelenka (left) that he can pick up the VFW Beer Permit at the County Clerk’s Office)
Bottom Photo: Members of the DeKalb County Beer Board- LEFT TO RIGHT: Jim Stagi, Robert Rowe, Edward Frazier, Leonard Dickens, Johnny King, Bazel Dick Knowles, and Frank Thomas)

The DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department may soon get a newer pumper for the Midway station.
The county budget committee met Tuesday night and approved a budget amendment appropriation of up to $180,000 from the capital projects fund for a fire truck. The recommendation will go to the county commission for final approval. Bids will soon be advertised for the truck.
As WJLE first reported last month, County Fire Chief Donny Green addressed the county commission during an all committees meeting April 19, renewing a request he made last summer with the county budget committee.
Chief Green, last year, asked that $180,000 be budgeted to purchase a fire pumper to replace the Midway engine which is a 1979 model. By doing this, Green said “we can take the 1975 model truck out of service at the Austin Bottom station and place the 1979 Midway truck at Austin Bottom. This station (Austin Bottom), he said has a low call volume and the 1979 truck should be adequate to “hold them over for a few more years”. Green said the county is looking at major expenses if it continues to keep the 1975 truck at the Austin Bottom Station.
Green’s funding request last summer was not included in the budget this year but he was told that the issue could be revisited later. Chief Green urged the county commission to follow a regular replacement schedule on fire department vehicles, or risk several of them having to be replaced at once.