Many veterans are said to have little or no understanding of all the benefits due them.
In an effort to boost awareness locally, officials of the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs will hold a meeting Thursday night, July 18 at 6:00 p.m. at the VFW Post 7623 on the Sparta Highway in Smithville. All military veterans and their spouses are urged to attend. Please bring with you a copy of your DD214 (retirement or discharge form) or other proper military service information if you are interested in learning more about benefits to which you may be entitled.
Among those planning to be present to answer questions are County Service officer Paul Cantrell along with Sarah Tinch of Putnam County and Jack Bussell and Matthew Elmore of White County.
Officials say veterans are eligible for a wide range of benefits, from access to the VA’s well-regarded medical system to lifetime payments for disabilities suffered during military service to access to education, life insurance and home loan programs, among others.
“DeKalb County veterans are lacking on a lot of benefits (due them). A lot of spouses or widows of veterans can still receive some benefits, ” said Ron Miller, VFW Post Commander. Benefits have changed within the last three to ten years and most veterans, spouses, and handicapped people who are 100% disabled have no idea what they are eligible for,” said Miller.
“For example, if they (veterans or spouses) are unable to use a shower or tub, they go up to about $7,500 (benefits) to improve their bathroom just to get it fixed,” said Miller. “Most of the residents of DeKalb County need to know about all of this and the only way they can be informed of it is to meet in a forum where they can discuss it,” he said.
“DeKalb County (veterans) received about $3.5 million in (benefits) during 2011-12. They could receive more,” said Miller. “We’ve only got 1,100 (veterans) in the county”. In one way or another, from compensation to the veterans or from subsidies, it could be from anything as long as it’s used for the veterans,” he said.
“I would appreciate it if everybody (veterans and spouses) would come if they need it. Even if you don’t understand what benefits you may be eligible for, come to the meeting and ask the questions,” said Miller.
For more information, call Ron Miller at 931-761-2307

All five DeKalb County Schools may soon have a School Resource Officer.
Funding for four new SRO positions is included in the county’s proposed consolidated budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year which will take effect upon passage by the county commission. The vote is set for the next regular county commission meeting, which has been rescheduled from Monday, July 22 to Tuesday, July 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse.
(CLICK PDF LINK BELOW TO VIEW THE PROPOSED 2013-14 CONSOLIDATED BUDGET FOR ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS)
DeKalb-2014 Consolidated Budget 7-13-13.pdf (206.35 KB)
The county budget committee met briefly Monday afternoon to act on the budget again after a few omissions were discovered in the spending plan following Friday night’s vote by the committee. The corrected document will now go to the full county commission for approval.
The county has been funding one School Resource Officer at the high school for several years. The other four schools in the county have never had an SRO.
Under this proposed spending plan, two of the new School Resource Officers will be funded (salaries and benefits) in the county general budget while the other two new SRO’s (salaries and benefits) will be paid for out of the school budget. Money to equip and train all four new SRO officers will be included in the county general budget and the four extra used patrol cars for the officers will be paid for out of the county general’s capital projects fund. The officers are to be hired by the sheriff and will work out of his department.
In addition to passage of the budget, the county commission will also keep the property tax rate status quo for the 2013-14 fiscal at $1.62 per $100 of assessed value.
According to County Mayor Mike Foster, plans are in the making this budget year for the development of a Solid Waste transfer station. “It will be in this budget year,” said Foster. ” We already have funding in place for it. We have saved money through the years to build it but we don’t have it in there (budget) yet because we don’t have an engineer report on it. We will do a budget amendment to the enterprise fund (when needed). If we don’t do a transfer station then we will have to develop a new landfill within the next year because the one we’re in will be full by this time next year,” said Foster.
Funds to offer health insurance to full time county general employees under the Affordable Health Care Act remains in the county general budget, even though the penalty provision of the federal law will not be enforced this year. The so-called employer mandate, which penalizes employers with more than 50 employees if they fail to provide a minimum standard of affordable health insurance, was set to kick in during 2014, but now will take effect in 2015.
The fire department plans to apply for grants to purchase a tanker truck and other equipment. The budget includes a total of $17,500 in local matching funds under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. If awarded, a $12,500 local match (5%) will be required for the purchase of a tanker truck and a $5,000 local match (5%) will be needed for equipment. The fire department budget also includes $6,000 to purchase new pagers to replace some old pagers; $8,000 for reimbursement of in-service training costs for the last half of the fiscal year (after grant funds are exhausted); $23,000 for annual replacement of nine sets of turnout gear and eight breathing cylinders) to avoid a major one-time purchase in the future; and a Capital Project funding request for a one-time expenditure of approximately $20,000 to place a new roof and doors on an existing building at the Main Station.
Two years ago, a step wage scale was adopted for full time employees of the sheriff’s department. Last year, a step plan was put in place for full time county general employees. According to County Mayor Foster, a wage scale will be developed later this year for full time employees of the ambulance service after passage of the budget. Apparently no other pay raises are budgeted.
Total budget appropriations for the fiscal year 2013-14 come to $42,208,422.
One cent of the tax rate generates $42,953 in local money with a 7.7% delinquency rate figured into the equation.
The proposed tax rate is broken down as follows:
County General: 82 cents
Highway/Public Works: 3 cents
General Capital Projects: 10 cents
Debt Service: 12 cents
General Purpose Schools: 55 cents.
The solid waste fund, under this budget, would not receive any property tax money but would continue to be 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.
Capital projects fund expenses for the year include:
*Motor vehicles (Patrol Cars for Sheriff’s Department)- $131, 000 ($50,000 of this amount for 4 used patrol cars for new SRO officers)
*Other equipment (Fire Department Turnout Gear)- $23,000
* Building Improvements (Rescue Squad)- $1,700 (to purchase a roll up door)
*Building Construction (Veterans Building) $30,000 (repairs)
*Building Construction (Omega Building) $68,000 (repairs)
*Building Construction (Courthouse) $50,000 (repairs)
*Building Improvements (Fire Department) $20,000 (place a new roof and doors on an existing building at the Main Station)
*Building Improvements (Rescue Squad) $8,700 (adding shed to cover a boat)
The county commission is also expected to adopt a resolution July 30 making appropriations of $145,734 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- $16,821
Plateau Mental Health-$7,180
Families First-$750
Senior Citizens Program-$26,934
DeKalb Soil Conservation District-$34,062
DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce-$15,000
Imagination Library- $7,200
Genesis House- $1,500
Upper Cumberland Child Advocacy Center- $1,780
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
DeKalb-2014 Consolidated Budget 7-13-13.pdf (206.35 KB)

Two children were among those injured in a two vehicle crash Monday afternoon on Highway 70 in Alexandria.
Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said 57 year old Litta Murphy of McMinnville was driving west in a 2003 Ford Taurus when she experienced a medical episode which apparently caused her to cross the center line and into the path of an eastbound 2004 Ford F250, driven by 71 year old James Wair of Lebanon.
Murphy’s relatives, a six year old and a seven year old, were back seat passengers of her vehicle. The seven year old was taken by DeKalb EMS to a helicopter landing zone setup nearby on Highway 53 where she was airlifted to Vanderbilt hospital. Both Murphy and the six year old girl were transported by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community hospital. Murphy was later transferred by ground ambulance to Vanderbilt Hospital. Wair was taken by a private vehicle to UMC Medical Center in Lebanon.
Murphy is to be cited for violation of due care.
In addition to Trooper Johnson, the Alexandria Police Department was on the scene helping direct traffic. The Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department set up the helicopter landing zone.

Two people have been arrested on drug charges after a sheriff’s department detective discovered meth related items in their truck during a traffic stop last week and then finding more incriminating evidence at a residence in Dowelltown.
34 year old Bradley Harold Pugh and 31 year old Rhonda Michelle King are each charged with initiation of a process used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Bond for Pugh is $50,000 and King’s bond is $25,000. They will be in court July 25.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday July 11 a detective of the sheriff’s department stopped a pickup truck in Dowelltown for a traffic violation. The truck, driven by King, turned west onto Highway 70 from West Main Street without stopping at a stop sign. Pugh was a passenger. After making the stop, the detective saw a straw in the console. Pugh, who is on probation, was searched and under his seat a metal container was found which held scales and methamphetamine. The rest of the vehicle was searched and found were several components used in the manufacture of methamphetamine including lithium batteries, drain opener, coffee grinder, ph strips, rock salt, empty blister packs, cut lithium batteries, used lithium strips, and a one pot plastic bottle.
After the truck was searched, Pugh gave consent for the detective to search his home, according to Sheriff Ray. The detective accompanied Pugh and King to the Dowelltown residence. At the home was King’s thirteen year old son. The detective also found two one pot bottles along with a twenty pound bag of ammonium nitrate, one gallon of muriatic acid, liquid drain opener, and a gasser. Pugh and King were arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
55 year old Carl Reich of High Street, Alexandria is charged with criminal trespassing. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court July 25. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, July 8 Reich parked his vehicle in the back yard of a residence on Brush Creek Road. He went to the door of the residence and banged on it several times. The victim asked Reich several times to leave the premises but he refused until the victim’s father showed up with a gun. Reich then left the home and parked his vehicle at a store in Alexandria. Reich was arrested and brought to the jail for the safety of himself and the public.
30 year old Joseph Huff Ray of Belk Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $1,000. His bond is $5,000. He will be in court on August 12. Ray was arrested on Tuesday, July 9. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, June 27 Ray allegedly took a 1988 Ford Ranger pickup valued at $5,000 from a residence on Game Ridge Road. He allegedly wrote a statement admitting to taking the truck. The case was investigated by a criminal detective of the sheriff’s department.
24 year old Jessica Anne Jenkins of Fall Creek Drive, Smithville is charged with theft of property under $500. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court August 8. She was arrested on Tuesday, July 9. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, June 24 Jenkins allegedly took two handguns valued at less than $500 from a residence on Felts Road. The case was investigated by a criminal detective of the sheriff’s department.
33 year old Carlos Lynn Godsey of West Green Hill Road, McMinnville is charged with failure to appear. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court July 25. Godsey was arrested on Thursday, July 11. Sheriff Ray said that a criminal court judge had granted Godsey a furlough from jail to keep a doctor’s appointment for Wednesday, July 10 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. The medical provider was called just after 5:00 p.m. and reported that Godsey never showed up for his appointment. Godsey did not return to jail until the following day, Thursday, July 11.
31 year old Renee Lynn Simpson of Church Street, Dowelltown is charged with disorderly conduct. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court July 25. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, July 14 Simpson called 911 to report unwanted guests at her residence. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Simpson and asked her several times to be quiet. She was subsequently arrested for disorderly conduct. Simpson was at the jail for some five hours before giving officers her name.

A 34 year old woman was injured Sunday evening after she lost control of her car on Jefferson Road.
Sergeant Eric McCormick of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Amy Craig was eastbound on Jefferson Road in a 2006 Buick when the car ran off the right shoulder and rolled over coming to rest on its side.
Craig was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital where she was treated and released. She is to be charged with driving under the influence, violation of the implied consent law, expired registration and failure to stay in her lane of travel.
The crash was reported to THP at 7:45 p.m.

No bids have yet been received on the latest home built by students in the DeKalb County High School Construction Technology (building trades) program
The board of education Thursday night voted to extend the period for accepting sealed bids on the purchase of the house. The minimum bid is $17,100.
The home, built on campus at DCHS, is described as a 26′ x 56′ or 1456 square foot (dried-in) house with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms with shower units, living room, kitchen, utility room, three walk-in closets, and a 25 year three tab shingled roof. The house has no plumbing or electric. The purchaser must move the home off the school property within thirty days or be subject to a $100 a day penalty.
The house expenditures totaled $14,829.
Meanwhile, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby, in his report on personnel, announced that long time DCHS teacher and former high school baseball coach Joey Reeder has been named to replace Clay Farler as the attendance supervisor for the school system. Farler has retired.

Parents working on checklists to get their children ready for the start of school have an important health item to include: required immunizations. In Tennessee, children enrolling in school for the first time and all children going into 7th grade must provide schools with a state immunization certificate before classes start as proof they have had immunizations necessary to protect them and their classmates from serious vaccine-preventable diseases.
Kindergarten students and those who will be entering the seventh grade next month must have their immunizations up to date or their parents risk those children not being enrolled in school. “If you don’t have your shots (immunization record complete), you’re not going to get to come to school and If you don’t come to school, our new attendance supervisor Joey Reeder will be making a visit and filing petitions on students for not being in school,” said Director of Schools Mark Willoughby during Thursday night’s school board meeting.
Tennessee students are required to have a number of immunizations for school attendance, and parents are urged to make appointments now for needed vaccinations to avoid the last-minute rush to get them when the new school year starts.
“We got off to a great start Thursday with our pre-k registration and we have partnered with the health department to help us check those (immunization) records,” said Dee Anna Reynolds, School Health Coordinator. They (health department) will be out at seventh grade registration on August 1 to check records for us. They will also be making appointments for us that afternoon and all day on Friday to get those kids into compliance and they will be doing some immunization clinics for seventh graders,” she said.
“The health department has been super, great to work with this year,” said Willoughby. “They are going to make an appointment with the child and their parents on when they can come to the health department and get their shots. Like state law says, they are not going to be allowed to attend school (without their immunizations being up to date). Three or four years ago we worked through that and let some people come (to school without up to date record of immunizations) and we really weren’t supposed to. But the people that still don’t have their shots, they have received letters and phone calls,” said Willoughby
“We don’t want to see children turned away from school on the first day because they lack their completed immunization certificates, but unfortunately this can and does happen,” said Kelly Moore, MD, MPH, director of the Tennessee Immunization Program. “Tennessee parents can avoid the stress of trying to get into a health care provider’s office at the last minute by taking care of immunization needs now.”
Specific immunizations are required for children entering child care or pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and seventh grade, and for any children in other grades enrolling in a Tennessee school for the first time. For a list of required immunizations, visit http://health.state.tn.us/CEDS/required.htm. School certificates may be obtained from your child’s healthcare provider or from a local health department. Questions about school policies on when or how immunization certificates must be provided should be directed to local schools.
Full-time college students in Tennessee are also required to have immunizations, including a new state law effective July 1, 2013, requiring freshmen younger than 22 years of age who attend state colleges and will live in campus housing to provide proof of immunization against meningococcal disease.
“Getting vaccinated is a safe and simple way to protect us all from potentially deadly diseases,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “Vaccination also helps ensure students don’t miss important classroom time due to preventable illnesses, and that parents don’t have to miss work to care for sick children.”
Vaccines prevent disease from occurring rather than treating existing illnesses. High rates of routine vaccination in the United States protect the population from diseases that are still common in other countries, such as measles. The Tdap booster required for students entering seventh grade is especially important, given the resurgence of pertussis, or whooping cough, in the United States. TDH supports and promotes all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for childhood and adolescent vaccinations as an important primary prevention measure to protect public health.
Immunizations required for school are available from a variety of health care providers, including county health departments. Children may be eligible to receive free vaccine if they have no insurance, are enrolled in TennCare, have private insurance that does not cover vaccines, or are American Indian or Alaska Native. There is a separate charge for administration of the vaccine which may be discounted for children with no insurance, who are American Indian or Alaska Native, and children with private insurance that does not cover vaccines.
Parents with insurance for their children that covers vaccines should contact their child’s primary care provider to get immunizations. If the private provider does not have vaccines available for older children or adolescents, parents may call their local health department for an appointment. There may be charges associated with this service.
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. For more information about TDH services and programs, visit http://health.state.tn.us/.