The DeKalb County Board of Education is apparently looking to fund at least one School Resource Officer position, if the county commission is willing to fund three more SRO’s. That would put an SRO in each of the five schools.
Although not specifically addressed yet in the proposed budget for the 2013-14 year, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby said Monday night during the special board of education meeting that he has discussed the issue with school board members and that some money could be found for at least one SRO. “We talked in the workshop about using some state school money and seeing if we could come up with some money to at least help out with one SRO officer,” said Willoughby.
During a meeting last Thursday night, members of the county budget committee discussed funding from two to four SRO’s in the new county general budget. To fund all four, the county would need to come up with $236,969.
As WJLE first reported last Friday, a majority of the budget committee members, Wayne Cantrell, Jerry Scott, and Larry Summers suggested cutting that back to two new SRO officers, which would slice the cost in half to $118,485.
Committee members Jack Barton and Marshall Ferrell preferred leaving four new SRO officers in the proposed county general budget.
Willoughby said Monday night that $15,000 may be available through a Safe Schools grant to help fund an SRO. The school system, he said, could probably come up with another $15,000. The cost to fund an SRO for the first year would be around $30,000.
“I can see where using some of the state funds that we have, we can hopefully come up with one more SRO officer and hopefully the county would come up with ( funding for the others). Rather than having three (funded by the county) and us coming up with one, making four, if we come up with one and they would (fund the rest) then we could have one SRO at each school. I would hate for us to have an SRO at some of our schools and not an SRO at the other schools,” said Willoughby.
“I think it’s very important that we come together as a community and make sure that we provide those (SROs) to our students,” said Board member Billy Miller. “That’s the most valuable commodity we have and I think it’s our responsibility as leaders of the community, as adults and as parents of our children to make sure they (children) can go to school safely everyday and that they don’t have to worry about that. I think it’s very important for the safety and well being of our students,” said Miller.
DeKalb County currently has one School Resource Officer assigned to the high school.

The Board of Education met in special session Monday night to revise its proposed budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year but didn’t do much cutting.

In fact, most of the new spending for extra teacher and supplement positions were left in the budget. In order to meet requirements of the federal Affordable Health Care Act, the board budgeted funds to offer single coverage health insurance to all full time classified employees (support staff) who want it, beginning January 1, 2014. Employees who take the school system up on its offer will have to pay ninety dollars per month. The school system will cover the rest. No additional insurance benefit will be offered to certified personnel. The vote was 7-0 to include funds in the budget for the insurance.
“If our guidelines change of course we would have to come back and change this, ” said Director of Schools Mark Willoughby. “We still do not know what the Affordable Health Care Act is going to entail. We’ll be learning more about that as the months go on. I don’t think there is anyone in Tennessee that really knows how this is going to affect them,” he said.
Currently Certified employees who have either a single or a family plan pay 36% and the school system picks up 64%. Support staff currently pay 49% of their coverage and the school system pays a 51% matching portion. While the school system apparently already meets the affordable health care requirements for certified personnel, it would be subject to penalties unless it does more for support staff.
The revised budget calls for certified employees to receive a one time bonus instead of a 1.5% pay raise. Director Willoughby said approximately $40,000 in state funds will pay for the bonuses which comes to about $160 per employee. “What I am recommending at this time is the 1.5% pay raise for certified employees to be as a bonus and to take that $40,000 that we receive from the state and split that among all certified employees. That is nothing from local money. If it comes in $41,000 then we’ll split $41,000 but it’s all straight flow through money from the state,” said Director Willoughby.
During Monday night’s meeting, Director Willoughby recommended budgeting the bonuses along with funds to create some new positions he felt the school system could not do without in the coming year. All board members voted for Willoughby’s recommendation except for Charles Robinson who wanted to give a pay raise rather than a bonus.
Willoughby’s recommendations included the following:
Two new teacher positions at DeKalb Middle School: $90,000 total
One new P.E. teacher at Northside Elementary School: $45,000
One new extra teacher position (instead of two) which may or may not be needed depending upon enrollment at the elementary school level: $45,000 (position not to be filled if not needed)
Two federal teacher positions moving to general purpose schools (local budget): $90,000 total
Under the Gifted Education Program: One new gifted position: $45,000
Under Special Education Program: A half time psychologist: $27,000
Gone from the budget is an athletic director $5,000 supplement position for the school system; a stipend for teachers attending in-service, $35,000 (that will now be funded with federal money through Professional Development), and $5,000 for a part time clerical employee.
Board members Billy Miller and Doug Stephens voted for creating the athletic director job but the other five members voted against it.
The other new supplement positions were voted on one by one and were adopted. Board members Johnny Lattimore and John David Foutch voted against most of them, saying they felt like the school system could not afford them at this time. Concerned about potential pay inequities, W.J. (Dub) Evins,III voted against adding two new assistant soccer coaching positions at DCHS. Evins said if the same person were hired to be the assistant coach for both spring and fall soccer then he or she would make more in supplement pay than the high school football coach.
Other new positions included in the budget:
Assistant band director (working primarily at DeKalb West School), $5,000. (The vote was 5-2 in favor)
Two new Middle School Soccer Coaches: $2,785 each (The vote was 5-2 in favor)
One baseball coach at DeKalb West School: $2,785 (The vote was 5-2 in favor)
Two new assistant soccer coaches at DCHS: $2,785 each (The vote was 4-3 in favor)
One new Cross Country Running coach: $2,785 (The vote was 5-2 in favor)
The original proposal was for the Transportation Supervisor’s salary to increase by $12,440 but some board members felt that was too much of a pay raise in one year. Instead, the board voted to plug in a pay raise of $4,150 this year. Their intention is to possibly increase the pay for that position again for the next two years, subject to funding to bring the salary in line with other school transportation supervisors in the area. The vote was 6-1 in favor.
Although it was not specifically addressed in the budget, Director Willoughby said the school system might be able to come up with funds for one school resource officer, if the county could fund three new positions. That would put an SRO at each school in the county. Willoughby said $15,000 could be available through a Safe Schools grant to help fund an SRO. The school system, he said, could probably come up with another $15,000. The cost to fund an SRO for the first year would be around $30,000.
In order to balance this revised budget, the school board has voted to include $84,000 in new BEP revenues. The board is also asking the county to appropriate another $350,000 from the special school sinking or local option sales tax fund for school operation. The rest of the $1.2 to $1.4 million needed would come from the school system’s reserve fund. This time last year the school system was anticipating budgeting $1.2 million of the reseserve to balance by the end of June 30, 2013. But the deficit is actually expected to be around $300,000.
The school budget, as revised, now goes to the county budget committee for review. If the committee approves it, the spending plan will go before the county commission for a final vote this summer. If the budget committee does not approve, the proposed budget will come back to the school board for further revisions.
(Pictured above: left to right- Charles Robinson, W.J. (Dub) Evins, III, Kenny Rhody, John David Foutch, Johnny Lattimore, Billy Miller, Doug Stephens, and Director of Schools Mark Willoughby)

Two people were airlifted after being involved in a rollover crash Monday night on Highway 56 just south of Seven Springs Road.
Central dispatch received the call at 9:18 p.m.
Trooper Jeremy Wilhite of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 21 year old Michael Briley of Blue Springs Road, Smithville was driving north on Highway 56 in a 2003 Nissan Altima when the car crossed over the center line, went off the left side of the road, struck an embankment , overturned and hit the end of a guardrail. A sixteen year old female passenger was also injured.
Both Briley and the girl were treated by DeKalb EMS and then taken to meet Life Flight and Life Force helicopter ambulances which landed in a field near the scene. They were believed to have been flown to Vanderbilt hospital.
Trooper Wilhite was assisted in the crash investigation by Trooper Craig Wilkerson.
Members of the Keltonburg and Blue Springs Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were also on the scene along with officers of the sheriff’s department.

A drug detective of the Sheriff’s Department found a rolling meth lab during a traffic stop last week.
27 year old Brandon Keith Thomas of Evins Mill Road, Smithville is charged with initiation of a process in the manufacture of methamphetamine. He was also issued a citation for driving on a revoked license. His bond is $50,000 and he will be in court June 13. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday, June 4 Thomas was operating a motor vehicle on Highway 56 south when he was stopped by a drug detective for driving at a high rate of speed. After stopping, Thomas allegedly pulled from his pocket a bag of marijuana and a hypodermic needle and laid it on the vehicle. Inside the automobile was a backpack containing a plastic bottle with a rubber tube protruding from the top of it (gasser), drainout (lye), Coleman fuel, coffee filters, and other items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Thomas told the detective to go ahead and take him to jail because the meth lab in the backpack belonged to him. He was arrested and brought to the jail for booking. Thomas’ drivers license were found to be revoked for a prior DUI.
35 year old Jason Kenneth Cline of Ford Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. He was also issued citations for violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance), (failure to give) immediate notice of accident, (failure to exercise) due care, and failure to maintain his lane of travel by not driving on the right side of the roadway (causing him to wreck). His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on June 13. Cline was arrested on Wednesday, June 5. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, May 14 Cline was operating a motor vehicle and was involved in a crash on Bright Hill Road. He had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he could not stand on his own. Because of his level of intoxication, Cline could not perform field sobriety tasks. He did submit to a blood test.
52 year old Clifton Eugene Brown is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court July 25. Brown was also issued citations for simple possession of schedule II, IV, & VI drugs (methamphetamine, Xanax, & Marijuana). Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, June 7 Brown was found passed out behind the steering wheel of his vehicle in the parking lot of the Handlebar Restaurant on Highway 70. The keys to the automobile were in the ignition. As the deputy approached, he smelled an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. He awoke Brown and found him to be intoxicated. Brown had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. Brown admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. Brown reached into his pocket and tried to throw away a container which held a small amount of methamphetamine and four and a half blue pills believed to be Xanax. Brown also had on his person a small bag of marijuana. He performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and submitted to a blood test. Brown was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
49 year old Timothy Ross Bogle of Walker Drive, Smithville is charged with a third offense of driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license. His bond is $12,500 and he will be in court on June 20. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, June 8 Bogle was operating a motor vehicle on Highway 70 when he was stopped by a deputy, who had prior knowledge that Bogle’s drivers license were revoked. Bogle had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. Bogle told the officer that he was unable to perform field sobriety tasks but he did submit to a blood test. He was arrested and brought to the jail for booking. A computer check revealed that Bogle’s license were revoked for a DUI on November 29, 2012.

The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department was called to a grease fire at a trailer home on West Main Street Sunday afternoon.
Chief Charlie Parker said the resident left something unattended cooking on the kitchen stove for a few minutes and discovered the fire when he returned. The fire department was notified and arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the trailer.
The fire, confined to the kitchen, was quickly extinguished. It burned the stove hood and charred cabinets around it. No one was injured.

DeKalb County 4-H Wildlife Judging Team Members recently competed in the Central Region 4-H Wildlife Judging Team competition held at The University of Tennessee Knoxville.
The senior team as well as the junior high team placed sixth in the regional event.
Senior team members include: Justin Bass, Preston Cripps, and Eli Oliver. Junior High team members included: Will Stephens, Wyatt Martin, Cody Goff, Caitlyn Lawrence, and Derek Young.
In wildlife judging, 4-H members learn to identify wildlife species, interpret wildlife habitat from aerial photographs and make recommendations for on-site wildlife management practices for landowners. Wildlife judging gives young people the opportunity to develop their decision making skills.
A special thanks goes to the coaches for the team which includes TWRA officer Joe Fortner, Army Corp. of Engineers Ranger Terry Martin, Co-Op Crops Advisor Gilbert Martin, and Extension Agent April Martin.
The University of Tennessee Extension offers several 4-H judging team opportunities throughout the year for 4-H members in grades 6 – 12 to learn decision making skills.
(DeKalb County 2013 4-H Wildlife Judging Team. Pictured, left to right: Derek Young, Wyatt Martin, Preston Cripps, Will Stephens, Caitlyn Lawrence, Justin Bass, Cody Goff, and Eli Oliver (photo by April Martin)

A surprise award ceremony was held for a local hometown hero Saturday night during his 40 year high school reunion at the First United Methodist Church Christian Fellowship Center in Smithville.
Sergeant Major Eddie N. Evans, US Marine Corps, whose military career spanned 30 years from 1974 to 2004, was formally recognized for receiving the Bronze Star Medal in 2004. Evans’ fellow 1973 DCHS Classmates and teachers attending the reunion rose to their feet as Captain Nathaniel McClung, US Marine Corps, made the presentation.
“We have an American Hero here in our midst,” said Captain McClung in an interview with WJLE. “This is a certificate for the Bronze Star Medal that was previously received by Sergeant Major Evans at the end of his service in 2004. We wanted to bring this certificate to this 40 year class reunion and honor him in front of his hometown,” said Captain McClung.
Sergeant Major Evans said this recognition was quite a surprise. ” I came here to attend my 40 year reunion and I wasn’t expecting this since I received it (Bronze Star Medal and citation) in the mail when I retired. It was a good honor and a surprise in what they did in recognizing this. I have not seen most of these people (classmates) in 40 years,” said Sergeant Major Evans in an interview with WJLE.

Having his mother, siblings, and other family members attend the ceremony made the evening even more special for Sergeant Major Evans. “I was surprised for them being here but it was good to see everybody because I don’t get a chance to come up here and see my family that often. I live in Rockwood, Tennessee,” he said.
In making the presentation, Captain McClung read from the following certificate: “The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Bronze Star Medal to Sergeant Major Eddie N. Evans, United States Marine Corps for service set forth in the following: For heroic achievement in connection with operations against the enemy as Regimental Sergeant Major, Regimental Combat Team-2, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, while assigned to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, from January 6 to June 24, 2003.”
“During movement, to secure two vital bridge heads in An-Nasiriyah, Iraq Sergeant Major Evans, along with security vehicles and the Regimental Commander, moved up to 1st Battalion’s 2nd Marine Regiment area of operations to check on their progress in securing the southern Euphrates River Bridge and northern Saddam Canal Bridge.”
“During this movement, the Regimental Commander came under direct fire from Iraqi positions from the west of the railroad bridge south of An-Nasiriyah that included small arms fire and rocket propelled grenade fire. Sergeant Major Evans, without regard for his personal safety, directed the movement of the security element and the Regimental Commander’s vehicle to a more secure position. His quick and selfless actions ensured the safety of the Regimental Tactical Command Post and ensured the Regiment’s ability to continue to fight, resulting in the Regimental Combat Team’s completion of their first objective. He significantly contributed vast experience and expertise gained from previous combat operations.”
“By his zealous initiative, courageous actions and exceptional dedication to duty, Sergeant Major Evans reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United State Naval Service.”
“The combat distinguishing device is authorized. For the President, James T. Conway, Lieutenant General, US Marine Corps, Commanding General, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.”

This past month, DeKalb Community Hospital completed a successful stroke drill and training with Saint Thomas Health to make them the newest member of the St. Thomas Health Stroke Network. This affiliation comes from hard work in an effort to expand accessible, quality care to stroke patients in outlying areas.
The Saint Thomas Stroke Network was introduced in 2009 as an expansion of network services currently provided by the Saint Thomas Chest Pain Network.
“We are proud to announce the partnership with DeKalb Community Hospital,” said Amy Howard, Clinical Coordinator with the Saint Thomas Stroke Network. “We work with community hospitals to develop the protocols to effectively treat stroke patients, which will ultimately benefit the community at large.”
As part of the partnership, DeKalb Community Hospital and Saint Thomas held a stroke drill that started at the DeKalb County Complex and included the 911 call all the way to the hospital treatment protocols. The stroke drill was a collaborative effort between DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services, DeKalb County Complex, Saint Thomas Health, and DeKalb Community Hospital and allowed all parties to showcase the stroke education Saint Thomas Health has provided over the past several weeks. The stroke drill began at the complex with DeKalb Community Hospital Infection Control Director, Linda Gagne, playing the role of stroke victim. The drill outlined the stroke network procedure from start to finish, with all parties acting out their roles in the drill as realistically as possible.
“I was happy to participate in the drill,” Gagne said. “This kind of training makes us an even better hospital and it is educational to the community to bring awareness in how to identify a stroke.”
During the drill, Gagne was transported to DeKalb Community Hospital, where she “received” the appropriate stroke screenings and treatments. The stroke drill not only provided a practice opportunity for DeKalb Community Hospital’s stroke readiness under the new partnership, but also served to educate the public on the warning signs of a stroke and how to respond. To remember the signs of a stroke, you have to act F.A.S.T – Face Drooping, Arm Weakness, Speech Difficulty, and Time to Call 911. Just like a heart attack, the faster you respond to the symptoms of a stroke, the better your chances of recovery.
“Our partnership with the Saint Thomas Stroke Network is an important step for DeKalb,” said Sue Conley, CEO of DeKalb Community Hospital. “We would like to thank Saint Thomas Health for their efforts in education and their commitment to quality patient care. We appreciate the support we will receive from being part of the Stroke Network, and the efforts of Saint Thomas in being a recognized leader in regional stroke care.”
“The drill was a great success,” said Marketing Director, Shan Burklow, after the drill was completed. “I know I learned a lot about the effort it takes on all parts to provide excellent care. I believe in this partnership between DeKalb Community Hospital and Saint Thomas Health Services and am excited about the future of stroke care here in DeKalb County. The earlier a stroke is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances are of full recovery. We want to assure the community that we are fully equipped to handle stroke patients and that we have the capabilities to provide rapid treatment and support through our partnership with Saint Thomas Health – giving patients the best opportunity for positive outcomes.”
Photo: Linda Gagne (Volunteer stroke patient) is wheeled in to DeKalb Community Hospital from the ambulance as part of a community stroke drill. DeKalb Community Hospital is the newest member of the St. Thomas Health Stroke Network.

One man has been arrested in an undercover drug investigation by the Smithville Police Department.
47 year old Anthony Bullard is charged with two counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (dilaudid). His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court on June 20
Chief Randy Caplinger told WJLE Friday that detectives of the Smithville Police Department conducted undercover drug buys on November 14th and 15th in the parking lots of two local businesses using a confidential source. In both cases, Bullard allegedly sold two small round yellow pills believed to be dilaudid to the confidential source. The undercover buys were videotaped and audio recorded.
Meanwhile, 21 year old Kristen N. Waggoner is charged with five counts of forgery. More charges may also be pending against her.
Chief Caplinger said Waggoner allegedly stole several checks in May belonging to a former roommate and passed them at local businesses totaling more than $2,000.
Waggoner is under a $25,000 bond.
In other cases, 27 year old Joshua Bain is cited for simple possession. Chief Caplinger said Bain was stopped by police on Saturday, May 25 for an equipment violation on his vehicle. After being questioned, Bain gave the officer consent to search the vehicle and found were two grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in the glove box compartment.
41 year old Patsy Estes is charged with public intoxication and simple possession of a schedule III controlled substance (Suboxone). She is under a $5,000 bond and will be in court on June 13. Chief Caplinger said that on Saturday, May 25, police were called to a local business where a woman, Estes was alleged to have been harassing customers. The officer spoke to the store manager who pointed out Estes as the person responsible. According to the officer, Estes was hostile and confrontational. She had slurred speech and was unsteady on her feet. For her safety and that of the public, Estes was arrested. While walking into the police department, a plastic bag fell out of her pants, containing two plastic strips believed to be suboxone
35 year old Christopher Douglas Griffith is cited for theft. He will be in court on July 25. Chief Caplinger said that on Friday, May 24 Griffith was allegedly caught shoplifting from Walmart. When confronted, Griffith allegedly admitted to taking a pair of Wrangler blue jeans and a pack of three Hanes tee shirts.
39 year old Jared Lee Hendrixson is cited for shoplifting. He will be in court on June 13. Chief Caplinger said that on Thursday, May 23 an officer was called to check out a shoplifting incident at Walmart. The officer spoke with the manager and an employee. Hendrixson was confronted about some missing items and he allegedly admitted to taking them, valued at almost $300.
18 year old Kellyie Wilkey is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court on June 13.
Chief Caplinger said that on Saturday, June 1 Wilkey allegedly assaulted a family member at a residence on Earl Avenue by hitting her in the head with her hand.