DeKalb County has received approval for a $9,200 Used Motor Oil Collection Grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Solid Waste Management.
Funds from the grant will be used to acquire tanks, canopies, pads, and absorbents.
DeKalb is among twenty seven counties or cities to receive the grants totaling $444,300 to establish, upgrade or replace existing equipment or establish a new collection center.
County Mayor Mike Foster said funds from the grant will be used to establish a used oil collection point at one and possibly two county garbage collection convenience sites. The landfill and five of the convenience sites already have places to collect used oil. Some also have places to collect used anti-freeze.
“Educating citizens on the proper disposal of used motor oil can have a direct impact on the water quality of Tennessee’s lakes, streams and groundwater,” TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau said.
Tennesseans who change their own motor oil generate more than one million gallons of used oil each year, which can pollute soil and water and interfere with the operation of sewer systems when not properly disposed. The General Assembly authorized the Used Oil Collection Act of 1993 to assist local communities in collecting used oil and reducing its negative effects on the environment. Tennessee’s Solid Waste Management Act requires counties to have at least one place in the county where used oil can be properly disposed. Used oil collection grants are funded by a two cent deposit on every quart of oil purchased in the state.
Used Motor Oil Collection Grants assist local governments in improving and expanding used oil infrastructure for the collection of used oil from do-it-yourselfers. Equipment purchased through the Used Motor Oil Collection Grants may include containers, used oil heaters, containment structures, shelter covers and other items. Tennessee counties, cities, solid waste authorities and counties having a metropolitan form of government are eligible for funding consideration.
The priorities for receiving a grant include upgrading or replacing equipment to bring used oil collection centers up to the standards of the Used Oil Collection and Recycling Grant Program requirements. An additional priority is the establishment of a new do-it-yourself used oil collection center.

Many needy families were treated to a dinner, entertainment, and gifts at the second annual Cops for Kids Christmas party held Friday night at the First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center.
The party, sponsored by the Smithville Police Department and organized by records clerk Beth Adcock, is held each year by invitation only for families who are experiencing a difficult time around the holidays due to illness, loss of income, or other circumstances.
The New Life United Pentecostal Church Choir performed during the party and church pastor Dwayne Cornelius read passages of scripture from the Bible about the birth of Christ.
Santa, Mrs. Claus, and three of his elves showed up to hand out presents to the delight of everyone, especially the children.

Three of four people named in Grand Jury sealed indictments have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and raping a woman they thought stole money and suboxone strips from them.
Savanah Arnold, Abigail Vogel, Johnny Devault and another woman (not yet arrested) are co-indicted on charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated rape, and theft under $500.
According to Smithville Police, the four defendants held the victim against her will at Arnold’s home on October 24. Arnold and the other woman then strip searched the victim, penetrated her body cavity looking for the money or drugs, and stole her clothes. The next day, October 25, Arnold allegedly dressed in the victim’s clothes, went to a local industry where the victim was employed and tried unsuccessfully to pick up the victim’s paycheck.
The victim came to the police department the day after the assault, October 25 to report the kidnapping, rape, and theft.
Lieutenant Matt Holmes related the story to WJLE on Wednesday, December 18 at the police department. “The victim said that on October 24, she went to Savanah Arnold’s house to watch the kids of some friends. While there, Arnold, Vogel, Devault, and the other woman showed up allegedly intoxicated on drugs and accused her of stealing from Arnold $575 and 60 suboxone strips. The victim denied it.
According to Lieutenant Holmes, Arnold and the other woman took the victim to a back room and strip searched her. “One of the suspects placed a trash bag on her hand and penetrated the victim, searching for the money or drugs. She did not find anything. The victim resisted the assault and asked if she could leave. They refused to let her leave and took her cell phone so she couldn’t call anyone. Johnny Devault allegedly threatened to assault the victim if she continued to resist. They stole the victim’s clothes, placed her in a car half dressed, drove off and then dumped her out on the side of the road,” he said.
The next day, October 25 Arnold dressed in the victim’s clothes and went to the victim’s place of employment. She entered the industry, walked up to the counter wearing the victim’s ID and asked for her paycheck, representing herself as the victim. An industry official noticed that Arnold was not the victim and asked why she was there. Arnold then changed her story stating falsely that she was there to pick up the paycheck for the victim who was in a Nashville hospital. When the industry official told her the victim would have to come and get the check herself, Arnold left. The industry later received a call from a female, falsely identifying herself as the victim, saying it was okay for them to give her paycheck to whoever came to pick it up.
Industry officials alerted Smithville Police to a possible identity theft. Lieutenant Holmes and Officer James Cornelius responded to the call. Arnold was taken into custody at the industry and charged with identify theft.
WJLE has obtained a copy of the indictment concerning the kidnapping, rape, and theft which alleges that Arnold, Vogel, Devault, and the other woman (not yet arrested) unlawfully and knowingly did confine the victim on October 24, so as to interfere substantially with her liberty, with intent to terrorize the victim or another, constituting the offense of Aggravated Kidnapping.
Count two of the indictment alleges that Arnold and the other woman did accomplish sexual penetration, unlawfully, while being aided or abetted by another person and through the use of force or coercion.
The third count of the indictment alleges that Arnold knowingly did obtain or exercise control over certain property, to wit: $20 and clothing being under the value of $500, the property of the victim, constituting the offense of theft.
Meanwhile, in a separate case Smithville Police have charged a Lebanon woman with theft over $10,000 for allegedly using the credit card of a local business to pay her personal bills over a ten month period from January to November, 2013.
42 year old Stacy Dawn Lannom, who works for a Watertown accounting firm, is under a $10,000 bond and she will be in court January 9.
21 year old Nathan Theodore Harmon is charged with burglary and theft over $500. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court January 9.
Chief Randy Caplinger reports that on November 25, Harmon and a juvenile allegedly broke into a building on South College Street through a window and took a large tool box and air conditioning duct work valued at $550. The stolen items were sold for recycling.
The juvenile will appear in juvenile court on a petition for committing a delinquent act.
40 year old Chrissy Evans was cited for shoplifting at Walmart on December 1. Chief Caplinger said a store employee told police that Evans was suspected of putting items in her purse. After she paid for some things, Evans was stopped. She produced several items she had not paid for in the amount of $149.50.
25 year old Joshua Ledale is cited for possession of schedule IV and VI drugs. He will be in court on January 14. Chief Caplinger said while responding to a fight call on December 3, an officer made contact with Ledale. The officer found a small bag of a green leafy substance that Ledale had thrown on the ground. After requesting and receiving consent to search, the officer also found a small plastic wrapper on Ledale’s person which contained a pill believed to be Xanax.
38 year old James Scott Hall is cited for speeding and charged with a second offense of driving on a revoked license. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court on January 8. Chief Caplinger said Hall was operating a motor vehicle when he was stopped for speeding. He could only produce an ID. A computer check revealed his license were revoked for a DUI. Hall was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
32 year old Rhonda Williams is cited for shoplifting at the Dollar General Store on December 9. Chief Caplinger said an officer was dispatched to the store in reference to a shoplifter. The store manager told the officer that Williams was seen putting items in her purse. She was stopped outside the store where she produced the stolen items from her purse.
37 year old Lynda Neville is cited for theft of merchandise at Walmart. Chief Caplinger said that on December 11 an officer was informed by a loss prevention employee that Neville had been seen placing items in her purse. The officer made contact with Neville, who allegedly admitted to taking several items from the store.
33 year old Jayme Denise Hendrixson is cited for shoplifting at Walmart. She will be in court on January 15. Chief Caplinger said Hendrixson was seen allegedly concealing items from the store in her shirt sleeves, pockets, and purse. Items from the store were found in her jacket.

Second Graders of Smithville Elementary School performed in a Musical called “Christmastime Around the World” at the County Complex auditorium on Wednesday.
The performance was open to the public
(VIEW VIDEO HERE FEATURING SOME OF THE STUDENTS)

The DeKalb County School System’s BackPack Program began a few years ago as a means of providing essential foods to needy children over the holidays to keep them from going hungry. Since then the program has grown and now, needy children get food to take home every week for the weekend when school is out.
With the holidays coming up and school being out for a longer period, volunteers and supporters of the Back Pack program have been busy this week preparing bags and boxes of foods that contain a little more to get the children through the Christmas season.
“This is an example of what one school is going to get,” said Dee Anna Reynolds, School Health Coordinator, pointing to a stack of food boxes in the corner of a room in the Central Office building Wednesday. “This is what kids from Northside will get this weekend. You’ve got food boxes there that came from Food Lion, which they donated. They have donated those the last three years. We get that along with the other food that we have purchased through donations in our community and the small grant that we got through the community foundation. Those food boxes will go home with the kids on the bus this week,” she said.
More than two hundred needy children from schools throughout the county benefit from the Back Pack program including fifty seven this year who will get a home visit with a little extra food supply for Christmas. “This is additional food for families who the school health coordinators have identified as a little more needy,” said Reynolds. “In addition to the food they’re already getting this weekend to take home, we’ll deliver to their homes on Friday. We also have for them a bag of goodies, such as play-doh, coloring books, crayons, matchbook cars, gloves, hats, etc. They’ll get a turkey and some fresh fruit to go with their boxes so they’ll have everything they’ll need over the holidays,” said Reynolds.
“For the home deliveries, the children selected are the most needy in the county. We have one family who has nine children. We have families who have one child but those are the ones who are having the biggest struggle this year,” said Cindy Childers, Assistant School Health Coordinator.
“They (children who get the home deliveries) are already on our backpack program, but we’re giving them a little extra. They’ll get their regular weekly backpack with extra in it for the break. We also like to make the home deliveries ourselves because it makes it a little more personal,” added Reynolds.
With much of the foods, children can easily open the packages without adult supervision. “Its food that a child as young as a kindergarten student can just open and eat. Its peanut butter and crackers, gummy fruit, pudding, instant oatmeal, peanuts, and things like that,” said Childers.
“We have a population of homeless people here that we’re trying to serve right now. Some don’t have stoves or refrigeration and those kids don’t have the access so we’re trying to make sure they have a little something to eat and drink to get them through the weekend or holidays,” she said.
“The foods are prepackaged. There are Slim Jims for protein. Peanuts for protein. Peanut butter and crackers for the good carbs, things like that,” said Reynolds.
“We’ve also got Ramen noodles and foods that came from Second Harvest which Food Lion donated to us. That actually has complete meals in it. Plus oatmeal and things like that, which if they (children) have access to water, they can eat it even without heating it up,” Childers added.
The BackPack Program is supported by donations and it will continue weekly as long as donations keep coming. “The Backpacks go home every weekend. The first large donation we got was from a local person who wanted to stay anonymous. It was his request that we do it every week until the money runs out. The money has not run out yet. For some strange reason, when we get to that last few dollars, the good Lord sends somebody in with more money so we can continue on,” said Childers.
“A lot of the food that we’re delivering has also been donated by individuals, churches, and the hospital,” added Reynolds.
Transportation Supervisor Jimmy Sprague is a big supporter of the BackPack Program and both Reynolds and Childers say they appreciate his help. “We’re not sure of his connections but he has been able to help us the last two or three years. This year he got us eight to ten pound Butterball turkey breasts donated for each family. Each family will receive a turkey breast. Two years ago he helped us with some canned hams. We delivered fifty canned hams. We were able to give some families more than one. He also helped us with getting fruit last year,” said Reynolds.
Sprague also helps with some of the deliveries. “Because he knows the roads in DeKalb County, he takes care of everything under the hill that is kind of obscure. He makes sure he takes care of that after all the children have been delivered home. He is on the road helping us out a lot more than people would imagine,” Childers said.
“I will be delivering “Turkey Boxes” to twenty one families In DeKalb county on Friday,” said Sprague. “This year we have been provided “Honeysuckle” turkey breast from our local supporters, Mr. Jamie Turner and Larry’s Discount Grocery. This is a great program that provides meals and snacks for the children that could go without over the Christmas break if it were not for this program. I would like to thank all the people that have helped with this program. From the donations to the groups that pack the boxes each week. We have been blessed with local churches, youth groups, and local businesses that have stepped up to help with this program. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all who have helped in any way big or small,” Sprague said.
Many volunteers pitch in and help to make the program successful. “We have some great volunteers here at the office that help us every week to get the food in and out and we’ve got some people who are going to be helping us with the home deliveries,” said Childers.
Reynolds said the BackPack program is meeting a great need in our county and the families served are grateful for it. “We have always known the need was there. This is our fourth year for home deliveries. That first year for me was an eye opener. I realized how much we do have that need. It’s become a passion between Cindy and I and every year we’re able to do a little bit more,” she said.
“I know that people think fifty seven children are not many for our county but that’s fifty seven children that would not have food. If you line those up, fifty seven children is a lot to go hungry, especially at Christmas in a community where we profess to be such a loving and giving community. This proves that we are. People have stepped up. They don’t want glory for it. They just want to help out our kids. If you have given, we truly appreciate you,’ said Childers.
“The families really appreciate it. You can tell that,” added Reynolds.
“The need is here. We’re trying to fulfill it. I know that we’re missing some. If you know of somebody out there who is in need please give us a call at the Board of Education. We want to help those people,” concluded Childers.

DeKalb Community Hospital recently donated a check to Eagle Scout Ethan Judkins for the completion of a handicap ramp and viewing platform at the DeKalb County Fair.
“This project was very important to Ethan and he has worked very hard to raise the funds necessary to build this platform,” said Mom– Melanie Judkins, “It is our hope that this will make coming to the fair more enjoyable for those needing handicap assistance.”
“I would like to thank DeKalb Community Hospital for supporting my project along with the other businesses and individuals who helped me,” said Ethan Judkins, “I am so glad that the project is finished and I look forward to using the ramp next year at the fair.”
The viewing platform and ramp is located at the hilltop arena and will be available for use during the 2014 DeKalb County Fair in Alexandria, TN.
Pictured: Sue Conley– CEO of DeKalb Community and Stones River Hospital presents a check to Eagle Scout Ethan Judkins for his recent handicap accessibility project.