The DeKalb County School System has announced it’s “Teachers of the Year” at the building level of the five schools in the county.
This year’s honoree are Amanda Rhoady, a first grade teacher at Smithville Elementary School; Sandy Willingham, a third grade educator at Northside Elementary School; Tammy Payne, a fourth grade teacher at DeKalb West School; Suzette Barnes, a seventh grade educator at DeKalb Middle School; and Joey Reeder, a History teacher at DeKalb County High School.
Lisa Cripps, Supervisor of Instruction for 7th through 12th grades said “Again this year, we’re going to participate in the Teacher of the Year program, which begins on the school level, moves to the system level, the regional level, and finally to the state level,” she said.
Competition for system-wide and regional levels will continue throughout February. Should these teachers win at the regional level, they will represent DeKalb County at the state level in March.
The Tennessee Teacher of the Year Program is designed to promote recognition, respect and appreciation for teachers; to stimulate interest in teaching as a career; and to encourage public involvement in education.
This program is sponsored annually by the Tennessee Department of Education and the Niswonger Foundation.
The Tennessee Teacher of the Year represents Tennessee at the National Teacher of the Year competition, which is sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic, Inc.
Teachers of the Year are selected competitively through five cycles: Building, System, Field Service Center Region, Grand Division and State; and from three categories (levels of teaching); Grades Pre K-4, 5-8, 9-12.
Teachers selected at each cycle receive local recognition and awards underwritten by local sources. State recognition/awards include a banquet honoring the nine State Teacher of the Year finalists and certificates of appreciation from the Governor. In addition, the State Finalists and the State Teacher of the Year receive cash awards from the Niswonger Foundation.

DeKalb County High School has released the names of this year’s Honor Students including the 2013 Valedictorian Taylor C. Leach and the Salutatorian Phillip J. Carroll
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO SEE PHOTOS OF HONOR STUDENTS)
http://www.wjle.com/image-gallery/dchs-class-2013-honor-students
Students among the top twenty five senior academic ranking from numbers one to twenty five are as follows:
Valedictorian Taylor Leach, Salutatorian P.J. Carroll, Kristen Campbell, Hunter Collins, Zach Martin, Jacob Parsley, Cassi Lester, Jessica Acuna, Kayley Green, Grace Webb, Ben Pafford, Erin Cantrell-Pryor, Annieka Norton, Taylor Poston, Lauren Craig, Chelsea Lewis, Haley Keck, Alex Hayes, Martha Martin, Katie Haggard, Samantha Leiser, Jessica Harbaugh, Caleb Cantrell, Casey Alderman, and Cecilia Maciel Ortega.
Students earning “Highest Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.8 to 4.0 are:
Valedictorian Taylor C. Leach (4.0), Salutatorian Phillip J. Carroll (4.0), Daniela J. Acuna (4.0), Casey J. Alderman, Kristen R. Campbell (4.0), Caleb B. Cantrell (4.0), Sarah E. Cantrell, Erin Cantrell-Pryor, Hunter T. Collins (4.0), Lauren E. Craig (4.0), Emily R. Davidson, Savannah P. Dexter, Benjamin G. Driver, Hayden R. Ervin, Christina Ferguson, Makayla S. Funk, Callie A. Gash, William G. Graham, Kayley B. Green, Katie S. Haggard (4.0), Jessica L. Harbaugh, Amy L. Hastings, Alexander D. Hayes (4.0), Haley Keck(4.0), Elizabeth A. Koegler, Mandee R. Lattimore, Samantha R. Leiser (4.0), Cassandra L. Lester (4.0), Chelsea A. Lewis (4.0), Cecilia Maciel Ortega, Martha L. Martin (4.0), Zachary R. Martin (4.0), William M. Molander, Annieka M. Norton (4.0), Benjamin P. Pafford (4.0), Johnathon K. Page, Haley D. Parchman, Jacob E. Parsley (4.0), Taylor B. Poston (4.0), Martelia L. Tallent, and Rebekah G. Webb (4.0)
Students earning “High Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.79 include Kaylee S. Cantrell, Mykaela O Duke, Alyssa K. England, Marissa E. Garmer, Cory A. Kijanski, Spencer B. Maynard, Taylor B. Monette, Lucas D. Phillips, Skyar J. Ritchie, and Dalton H. Vaughn.
Those earning “Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.2 to 3.59 include Connor N. Apple, Emily K. Blackwell, Matthew W. Boss, Matthew C. Bouldin, Brittany N. Brakeall, Ashley S. Brandt, Benjamin F. Brandt, Cohen W. Brown, Downing E. Burke, Abbey L. Caldwell, Paige L. Cantrell, Austin L. Certain, Evan M. Curtis, Rachel L. Edge, Fantasia M. Erdman, Cain A. Evans, Krestin M. Evans, Lydia M. Foutch, Ashlee M. Gunter, Kelsey R. Hale, Alex C. Hall, Laddie B. Jerrells, Jason A. Judkins, Harley D. Lawrence, Walter L. Lewis, Quenton P. McSparren, Derek C. Parsley, Bindiya R. Patel, Elijah C. Poss, Nathan A. Sexton, Ethan D. Shaw, Spencer E. Stanfield, Cheyenne L. Stanley, Lindsey M. Taylor, Elijah G. Turner, Zachary D. Vincent, Emily J. Webb, and Zoe E. Whaley.
The Class of 2013 at DeKalb County High School will graduate on Friday, May 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Kayla Belk, a seventh grader at DeKalb Middle School, won the 10th annual DeKalb County Spelling Bee Monday night at the county complex auditorium.
Belk, the 12 year old daughter of ChrisAnne Belk and Andrew Fults of Smithville was among forty students from the fourth grade to the eighth grade who participated in the contest.
Eleven year old Holly Evans, a fifth grader at DeKalb West School, was the runner-up. She is the daughter of Mike and Amy Evans of Alexandria.
Belk and Evans were the last two contestants in the sixth round. Evans misspelled the word “trek” which opened the door for Belk to claim the championship by correctly spelling the next two works “gardenia” in the sixth round and “futon” in the seventh round.

Students from DeKalb Middle School, DeKalb West School, and Northside Elementary School recently competed at the school level to become eligible for the county competition. Along with winners in thirty-nine other counties, Belk and Evans will compete in the Middle Tennessee Regional Spelling Bee sponsored by Middle Tennessee State University. The regional bee will take place on Saturday, March 2 at 9:30 a.m. at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. The winner of the Regional Spelling Bee will compete in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.
(VIEW THE ENTIRE SPELLING BEE BY PLAYING THE VIDEO BELOW)
spelling bee from dwayne page on Vimeo.
The purpose in sponsoring the County Wide Spelling Bee is to “help students improve Spelling skills, increase vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives”.
Participants in this year’s County Wide Spelling Bee were:
DeKalb West:
Cayden Kyle, Jordan Crook, Holly Evans, Ashton Sensing, Phillip Coats, Jaime Alexander, Cody Hale, Jayra Plattenburg, Casey Vickers, Jacob Billings, Rosa Payne, and Paige Snyder
Northside Elementary:
Briona Agee, Alexis Cudney, Julia Curtis, Yessi Dragustinovis, Kenzie France, Skylar Fuson
Kiersten Griffith, Savannah Jackson, Duncan Johnson, Karly Knowles, Raiden Martin, Makenzie Poss, Laynie Rippee, Carly Vance, Justin Washer, MyKenzie Wilson, and Jayden Worley
DeKalb Middle
Kayla Belk, Timothy Cassinera, Baylie Davis, Malone Fletcher, Olivia Fuson, Kyle Justice, Reagan Patton, Skylar Pease, Ashley Phillips, Alec Reynolds, and Alyssa Sewell.
Twenty four students made it to the second round including Rosa Payne, Duncan Johnson, Cayden Kyle, Yessi Dragustinovis, Raiden Martin, Alec Reynolds, Jordan Crook, Karly Knowles, Makenzie Poss, Alyssa Sewell, Olivia Fuson, Malone Fletcher, Jayden Worley, Paige Snyder, Holly Evans, Justin Washer, Briona Agee, Kayla Belk, Ashton Sensing, Kiersten Griffith, Skylar Pease, Julia Curtis, Ashley Phillips, and Carly Vance.
Eleven students advanced to the third round including Duncan Johnson, Yessi Dragustinovis, Alec Reynolds, Olivia Fuson, Paige Snyder, Holly Evans, Justin Washer, Kayla Belk, Skylar Pease, Ashley Phillips, and Carly Vance.
Six students competed in the fourth round including Duncan Johnson, Yessi Dragustinovis, Olivia Fuson, Holly Evans, Justin Washer, and Kayla Belk.
The fifth round featured five students, Duncan Johnson, Olivia Fuson, Holly Evans, Justin Washer, and Kayla Belk.
The sixth round was narrowed to two spellers, Holly Evans and Kayla Belk
Belk claimed the championship in the seventh and final round.

A Smithville woman, recently arrested on a marijuana charge, apparently produced more drugs from her body while in custody and tried to swallow them to avoid detection.
Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger said that 37 year old Autumn Danielle White was charged on Friday, February 1 with simple possession and possession with intent to resell a schedule II controlled substance after drugs were found on her person. According to the warrant, White was placed under arrest at the police department after she was found with marijuana at Wal-Mart. After being placed in custody, White was searched by a female correctional officer at the police department and a baggie was found on her person. Authorities later noticed that Ms. White, while still in custody, appeared to be trying to recover something from her body. As officers approached her, she attempted to swallow a plastic baggie containing pills and eight small bags containing less than one gram of methamphetamine with a total weight of three grams. Bond for White is $11,500 and she will be in court March 14.
Meanwhile, 30 year old Nicholas Alton Hollingsworth, a passenger in White’s vehicle, consented to a search. A small baggie with a white substance was found on Hollingsworth along with a used hypodermic needle which belonged to him. Hollingsworth was cited for simple possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. He will be in court on March 14.
53 year old James D Roberts was arrested for violation of an order of protection. The warrant against him stated that on Sunday, February 3 at Food Lion, Roberts was with his girlfriend. She has an active order of protection against him. Bond for Roberts is $2,500.
33 year old Robert Charles England was cited for simple possession on Tuesday, February 5. During a traffic stop, an officer recovered from England, 5.5 pills believed to be hydrocodone. He will be in court on March 14.
37 year old Jason Mark Watts was arrested Wednesday, February 6 for a first offense of driving under the influence and evading arrest. According to the warrant, an officer was on routine patrol when he saw a vehicle failing to maintain his lane of travel. The officer activated his blue lights and siren to get the vehicle to stop near the high school. The man, Watts stopped near DeKalb Market. As Watts got out of the vehicle, the officer saw that he was unsteady on his feet and that he was slow to comply with verbal commands. Watts had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Watts refused to submit to any field sobriety tasks but he did submit to a blood alcohol test. His bond is $3,000 and his court date is March 14..
Anyone with information on any criminal activity is asked to please contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.
Any information received that will help Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential.

Three people were caught at the scene of the crime by sheriff’s department deputies after allegedly breaking into a barn on Joins Road last week
35 year old Andy Joe Certain of Bright Hill Road, Smithville and 34 year old April Lee Hollingsworth and 53 year old Kelly Lee Hollingsworth both of West Main Street, Smithville are each charged with burglary and theft of property over $1,000. Bond for each is $11,500 and they will be in court February 14. April Hollingsworth was also issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia after officers found needles, straws and a spoon while conducting an inventory of her vehicle before it was towed. She allegedly admitted to officers that those items belonged to her.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Certain and the two Hollingsworth’s allegedly entered the barn on Joins Road through the barn doors and took numerous old and antique farm equipment, valued at $1,500.
According to Sheriff Ray, deputies arrived at the scene before the three intruders left and the stolen property was unloaded from their vehicle and returned to the owner.
Meanwhile in a separate case, a semi-truck was pulled over for speeding near Dowelltown last Friday and the driver was found with drugs.
50 year old David Ray Johnson of Old Blue Springs Road, Smithville is charged with unlawful possession of a schedule III drug for resale (hydrocodone), unlawful possession of a schedule IV drug for resale (xanax), and unlawful possession of a schedule VI drug for resale (marijuana). Johnson was also issued citations for speeding and for failure to maintain his lane of travel. His bond is $11,500 and he will be in court February 28.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday February 8, Johnson was stopped for speeding in a semi-truck by a sheriff’s department drug detective. While observing traffic on Highway 70 at Dry Creek Road near Dowelltown, the detective spotted a semi-truck, driven by Johnson traveling west and passing other vehicles. The semi was clocked at 74 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone. The detective got behind the truck and activated his lights and sirens. He said the truck was weaving all over the roadway. The semi continued traveling about a half mile to a mile before pulling over. When Johnson got out of the truck, the drug detective smelled the odor of marijuana on him and saw rolling papers in the passenger side floor board of the truck. The passenger side window was rolled down. After observing Johnson taking his hands in and out of his pockets several times, the detective asked for and received consent to search. Four oblong pills were found in Johnson’s left front pocket. In his right front pocket was a bottle that contained nine oblong pills. These pills are believed to be hydrocodone. Johnson did not have a prescription bottle for these pills. Lying beside the truck on the ground were more rolling papers. A search of the area turned up a large pill bottle containing two plastic bags with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. One of the plastic bags held eight blue pills thought to be xanax. Johnson allegedly admitted to tossing those items from the truck saying he got scared and that this would ruin him.
22 year old Christopher Justin Garrett of Clear Creek Road, Liberty is charged with evading arrest. His bond is $5,000. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, January 18, Garrett was operating a motor vehicle on Highway 70 when a sheriff’s department drug detective spotted him driving erratically. The detective tried to pull him over but Garrett refused to stop. He turned onto Dale Ridge Road and traveled about three miles before the detective terminated the pursuit. Garrett’s vehicle was recovered sitting in the middle of Carter Road at Temperance Hall. Witnesses in the vehicle with Garrett later identified him as the driver. Garrett was arrested on Monday, February 4.
33 year old Christopher Shannon Mooneyham of Green Acre Drive, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. He was further issued a citation for driving on a revoked license because of a DUI. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court on February 14. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, February 6 a sheriff’s department drug detective saw a vehicle traveling very slowly in the middle of the roadway on Broad Street in Smithville. The automobile made a left turn onto Short Mountain Highway and crossed both lanes traveling at approximately 25 miles per hour in the 40 mile per hour zone. The detective pulled over the vehicle on Green Acre Drive. Mooneyham was the driver. The officer reported that Mooneyham’s speech was very slurred and slow and he was unsteady on his feet. Mooneyham submitted to but performed poorly on several field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to a blood alcohol drug test. His prior DUI offense was on March 26, 2009.

The driver of a semi freightliner escaped unharmed after the truck caught fire on Blue Springs Road Sunday night.
County Fire Chief Donny Green said Calvin Lankford had just left home to go hook his truck up to a trailer when a fire started in the engine compartment while he was driving down the road, only about a half mile after leaving his residence.
Lankford told firefighters that the engine stalled a couple of times and then flames shot up through the dash. Heat from the flames singed Lankford’s hair and beard. He brought the truck to a stop and got out safely.
The truck was a total loss.
Central dispatch was notified at 5:39 p.m. and members of the Blue Springs and Short Mountain Highway stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded along with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.