Members of the DeKalb Middle School Student Council are collecting aluminum cans in an effort to raise money for construction of an outdoor “pavilion type” classroom for science projects and other purposes. The can drive is open to the public. You may drop off your aluminum cans in the recycling bin which is located on a trailer in front of the school by Highway 70.
The student council’s recycling committee came up with the idea for the can collection drive. “We wanted to make our community a lot greener and to help with the environment. We have a recycling committee and they came together and brought up the idea of having a recycling bin. We have it up front where you can put your aluminum cans. That money will be going to our outdoor classroom (at DMS) which will resemble the pavilion at (Greenbrook) park. Our goal is to get that built and get that started with the money from the can recycling,” said Dulce Maciel, an eighth grader and President of the DMS Student Council.
Suzette Barnes, DMS seventh grade science teacher and Student Council sponsor, said an outdoor classroom would be ideal for science projects and for other classes. ” It doesn’t have to be just for science classes. It could benefit every student in the building. We could have a signup sheet in the office where teachers could sign up to use it on certain days and class periods. Our goal is to eventually have a sink and water out there and picnic tables so that if you are doing a messy science experiment, you could do it outside versus inside. But if a math class wanted to go out there one day, they could sign up for it and have their math class just to get the students out of the building for a day,” she said.
The project would be done in stages as funds are available. Once permission is sought and granted from the school board, construction could begin. ” Because of the money, we’ll have to do this in stages. Our goal is to get the concrete slab poured this spring. It’s going to be a 20′ x 30′ platform. If we can get the concrete poured this spring then our goal for next school year is to raise the funds to cover the materials. We’re hoping to work with the building trades class at the high school to where they would actually construct the building for us and we would just buy the materials,” said Barnes.
Although the outdoor classroom project is the major goal for the DMS student council, it is by no means the only one. The student council has various committees that focus on other initiatives including the school beautification and landscaping committee. ” They’re in charge of putting down fresh mulch and pulling weeds,” said Barnes.
A fruit garden is also in the planning stages. “We hope have a blueberry garden. Our goal is to sell blueberries with the money going to the student council account. We had five students sign up to do the fruit garden. They have called on a local nursery to check on the costs of the blueberry bushes. They plan to research the planting of those bushes, what time of year to plant, how to prep the soil for planting, and they will do a soil test to see what nutrients need to be added to the soil. Once they plant the bushes, the students will tend to them and when the bushes bear fruit, they will pick the berries and sell them with the money going to the student council account,” Barnes said.
Members of the student council render aid to teachers during planning periods and encourage student involvement and support at DMS sporting events by selling half price tickets to fill a designated student section at ballgames. And when new students enroll at DMS, members of the student council “adopt the students” by serving as a guide in helping them to get to know their way around the school.
In support of the Correspondence with Soldiers Initiative, the Student Council is seeking names of DMS students who have family members in a branch of service. “If DMS students can submit to the office the names (of their families who are in the military), when we start corresponding, we will be doing it with our students families,” said Barnes.
Along with being active at school, the DMS Student council seeks to be more active in the community as well. “We want to be really involved in the community. If any organization in town needs help, such as clothing closets and food pantries, etc. just contact us at school and we will be glad to get a student council group together to help them work their event. We want to serve in a leadership role,” Barnes concluded.
The DMS Student Council is made up of 39 students in the 6th-8th grade.
(TOP PHOTO: DMS Student Council President Dulce Maciel and DMS 7th grade Science Teacher and Student Council Sponsor Suzette Barnes)
(BOTTOM PHOTO: DMS Student Council Recycling Committee: Raiden Martin, Eli Cantrell, Bill Miller, Anna Chew, Katherine Malone, and Dulce Maciel)

The DeKalb County Board of Education will conduct its annual performance evaluation of the Director of Schools in a work session on Monday, January 26 at the Board of Education Building.
The workshop on Director Mark Willoughby’s evaluation will be held at 5:30 p.m.
The evaluation is performed annually in January in accordance with board policy and Director Willoughby’s contract. The board has used the same basic instruments for making the evaluations and itself for several years.
Willoughby’s contract states that the evaluation of the Director shall occur no later than January 31 each calendar year during the term of the contract. The board will review the Director’s performance, progress toward established goals, and the working relationship between the two parties.
During the workshop, the school board members will evaluate Director Willoughby on his relationship with the board, community relationships, staff and personnel relationships, educational leadership, business and finance, and strategic planning skills. Board members are to make a check mark on the four page evaluation form in each of 52 areas, if they determine expectations have been met. Spaces are also provided on the form for board members to write comments.
Willoughby’s current contract with the board is scheduled to expire June 30th, 2017. He has served as Director of Schools since July 1st, 2006.

In celebration of his 25th year in music, country singer Aaron Tippin is teaming with Stonehaus Winery to release his very own brand of wine. Stonehaus Winery’s “Aaron Tippin Country Jam” wine is set to make its shelf debut this Valentine’s Day. The new barrel select blackberry wine, taste-tested and approved by the “Hardest Workin’ Man in Country Music” himself, is being bottled especially for Tippin as a commemorative 25th anniversary item.
On February 14, 2015, Valentine’s Day, Tippin will host a special release party at the Stonehaus Winery in Crossville, Tennessee. The event is free and open to the public and will offer fans a chance to meet Tippin and have their purchased “Aaron Tippin Country Jam” bottle autographed by its namesake. During the event, Tippin will personally unveil his new wine and may even bring along his guitar. Tippin’s new wine will be available for purchase at the event.
“Come out and toast to 25 years of music and wine with me!” says Tippin.
“I couldn’t be happier about our partnership with Aaron,” says Stonehaus Winery Vice President, Rob Ramsey. “Besides being a world-class performer, Aaron truly knows his wine and is one of the most genuine people you could ever meet. I just have to say, ‘you love his music, now taste his wine!’ By happy coincidence, we at Stonehaus Winery are celebrating our 25th year in business. What a perfect pairing – 25 years of music and wine!”
The event will also offer a special Valentine’s Day dinner package which includes dinner for two at The Butcher’s Block at Stonehaus, a bottle of “Aaron Tippin Country Jam” wine, a box of Stonehaus Winery Cabernet Fudge and a long stem rose for that special someone. A limited number of tickets (75) for the Valentine’s Day dinner package are available for purchase ($125.00 – tax and gratuity included) and go on-sale today. Tickets can be purchased online at www.stonehauswinery.com or by calling 931-484-9463.
The free and open to the public meet and greet begins at 5:00 PM. Dinner for purchased package ticket holders begins at 6:30 PM. The Stonehaus Winery is located at 2444 Genesis Road #103, Crossville, TN, 38571.
Tippin’s new wine will be available for purchase at Stonehaus Winery (phone: 931-484-WINE) and online (www.stonehauswinery.com) this Valentine’s Day and will be available in liquor stores on February 16, 2015.
About Aaron Tippin
Aaron Tippin’s fame was launched in 1990 with the release of his uncompromising single, “You’ve Got to Stand For Something.” He followed with other major hits including “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly,” “There Ain’t Nothing Wrong with the Radio” and “Kiss This.”
For more information on Aaron Tippin, visit www.aarontippin.com.

The DeKalb County Board of Education Thursday night voted to create a new speech language pathologist position. A contract with Bright Beginnings, which has been providing the service, will be terminated, effective March 15.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby and Gina Arnold, Supervisor of Special Education explained that the reason for the request was that a hired position would be less expensive than a contracted service and that the sooner the required 90 day notice of termination is given to Bright Beginnings, the quicker the school system can realize savings from the move.
But Second District School Board member Jerry Wayne Johnson asked that action be delayed until the board had more time to consider it.
Johnson was upset that the board received notice of this request two days before the Thursday night school board meeting (when a minimum five day notice is required by board policy) and that the 90 day notice of termination to Bright Beginnings had been given on December 15, a full month before the board was to consider creating a SLP position. “I’d love to see us wait until we have a workshop on it and maybe vote on it at the next board meeting. I don’t think two days is enough time to consider and act on a new position. I didn’t get my agenda until Tuesday and talking with some of the other board members I don’t think they did neither. I just don’t think two days is enough time to make up your mind,” said Johnson.
Director Willoughby explained that agendas were mailed out on the Friday prior to the Thursday night meeting. “From what I understand everybody got their agendas on Tuesday. We did mail those on Friday. We always try to mail out our agendas on Friday. I don’t know why they did not get there until Tuesday,” he said.
As for the December 15 notice of termination to Bright Beginnings, Arnold explained that the move was done in an effort to save the school system money. “Our present contract with Bright Beginnings was $69,440 per year and we pay it divided into 10 monthly invoices of $6,944 per month. The salary for a Speech Language Pathologist with a Masters Degree and six years experience would be $3,366 per month. The difference in the two amounts totals $3,577 per month in savings for a Masters Degree employee with six years experience. That’s roughly $11,782 in savings for the remainder of this school year, but for the upcoming school year at 12 months we would realize total savings of roughly $29,044 for the year by hiring this employee,” wrote Arnold in remarks prepared for the board.
During the meeting Thursday night, Arnold further addressed the board saying that by waiting another month to act on creating an SLP position, the person being considered for the job might not be available. “What I would like to share with the board about waiting (until the next meeting) is that the prospective employee that is interested in being hired has to give a 45 day notice at their present job and I don’t know that they would be inclined to do so if there was not a position for them to come to,” she said.
Arnold stressed that no new money is being requested to fund this SLP position, only a transfer from one line item in the budget to another. “When we terminated the contract with Bright Beginnings we did so in an effort to have this cost savings. It is not new money and it is not a new service. It’s just shifting money from one line item to another. It wasn’t that we were asking for something new. What we are asking for the board to do is to allow us to transfer funds from a contract line to an employee line that would save $11,782 this school year and there would be even more substantial savings in years to come,” said Arnold.
“I do agree with you Mr. Johnson and we will not be losing any money (by waiting another month). That would be one reason to look at it later (since the contract with Bright Beginnings doesn’t expire until March 15) and I would be inclined to wait (until next month) but in the interest of what you (Arnold) have said about (prospective new SLP employee) maybe it is unfair to ask her to wait another month if she does have to give 45 day’s notice (to her current employer). It puts her in limbo. But it’s obviously going to save us money (by hiring SLP),” said Board Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins, III.
The board voted to approve the request to create the new position and for a budgetary line item transfer to fund it. Johnson voted against it.
In other business, the board set the date for the 2015 DCHS graduation commencement ceremony for May 22 at 7:00 p.m.
In his monthly report on personnel, Director Willoughby announced that longtime central office employee Teresa Miller has retired. Board Chairman Evins thanked Miller for her years of service to the school system. “I’d like to express my appreciation and my regrets to Ms. Teresa Miller. She has been a lot of help to the board and me over the years and I certainly hope she enjoys her retirement. She did a fantastic job,” said Evins.

The Harlem Wizards will bring their trick-hoops and alley-oops back to DeKalb County on Tuesday night, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. but this year the event will be held at the DeKalb Middle School gym. Gates open at 6:00 p.m.
The Wizards, a show basketball team, will play local personalities to raise funds for the DeKalb Middle School Softball Team field construction.
“The Harlem Wizards have been here twice at DCHS and both years we sold out and I expect this year to sell out as well” said DMS teacher Suzette Barnes. “Proceeds from this event will go to the DeKalb Middle School Softball Team. We started construction of a softball field on the campus of DeKalb Middle in 2011. We played our first game there in the spring of 2012 and if you have driven by and seen the field we still have a long way to go. We are still in need of a concession stand and press box area with restrooms and facilities like that. Eventually we will need lights. So this is a fundraiser for our softball team to complete the project we started,” Barnes said.
At a Harlem Wizards game, fans witness amazing basketball talent combined with hilarious comedy. When you’re in the stands, you’re more than a spectator, you’re part of the show with loads of audience participation throughout the game.
Fans will experience a magical display of tricks, coordinated ball handling, fancy passing, and aerodynamic athleticism combined with high-energy comedy and audience interaction. The experience can only be summed up in two words: Awe-Inspiring!
(SEE PROMOTIONAL VIDEO BELOW)

General admission tickets will be available in advance or at the door. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase in advance for reserved seats as well as courtside plus seating. “For this fundraiser we have 850 tickets available at DeKalb Middle School. It’s a little smaller seating capacity than the high school. We’re doing it a little bit different on ticket prices this year. All of our general admission tickets are $10.00 in advance or $12.00 the night of the event. General admission is first come, first served as far as seating. Something new this year is we’re adding reserved seats. We only have 100 of these tickets available and they are $15.00 purchased in advance. They will not be available the night of the event. We’re also offering courtside plus. With courtside plus, you get courtside seating along with a meet and greet with the Wizards players before the game and a free poster. We only have 25 of those tickets and they are $25.00 each. Tickets may be purchased from any DMS softball player or at Kilgore’s Restaurant, DC Fitness beside Food Lion, or if you are an employee at Star Manufacturing contact Sonya Parsley or Jamie Cripps at SW Manufacturing. Tickets may also be purchased at DMS after 3:00 p.m.” said Barnes.
Ticket order forms will be sent home with students at SES, NES, and DeKalb West.”Those will be sent home with the students around mid-February, about a week before the event. So if parents want to order tickets, they may fill out the ticket order form and then send back to the school with their child the ticket order form and a check made to DeKalb Middle School Softball. We will pick those up and send the tickets back home with the child. We’re trying to make this very easy and convenient for people to pick up tickets, ” said Barnes.
The Wizards will take the court against a DeKalb Middle School team which will include DMS Principal Randy Jennings, DMS teachers Tad Webb, Justin Nokes, Josh Agee and Justin Poteete; DeKalb West Assistant Principal Joey Agee; SES teachers Leah Magness and Ashley Barnes; NES teachers January Agee and Mike Crockett, DCHS SRO Officer Keneth Whitehead, DeKalb County School Board member Shaun Tubbs, TWRA Officer Tony Cross, DeKalb County School Bus Supervisor Jimmy Sprague; NHC Administrator Clint Hall, Jason Winningham of Legacy Athletics; Casey Agee of DeKalb Community Hospital; Jonathan Norris of Southern Landscape Supply and Fourth District County Commissioner; and Helping Hands Foundation and three time Grammy nominated Bluegrass Entertainers of the Year Dailey and Vincent.
For students who can’t attend the show, the Harlem Wizards will be making a personal appearance at four of the schools in DeKalb County for a gym assembly program on the day of the event. Members of the Wizards will be at Northside Elementary and Smithville Elementary Schools at 1:00 p.m. and at DeKalb Middle School and DeKalb West School at 2:00 p.m.

Firefighters battled a blaze Sunday afternoon at an Alexandria residence but were unable to save the home.
Central dispatch received the call at 1:47 p.m.
The 201 Church Street home, which belonged to Charles and Cathy Quarles, was being rented. Brenda Acorn and Patsy Keyes lived there and were at home when the fire started but they were unharmed.
According to Assistant Chief John Partridge of the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department, firefighters were on the scene within minutes of the call but the blaze spread quickly and the home was lost along with family belongings. Two dogs also perished.
Assistant Chief Partridge told WJLE that the fire is believed to have started from an electric heater in a bedroom, which may have caught some bedding or clothing on fire.
Alexandria firefighters were assisted in fighting the blaze by members of the Liberty and Temperance Hall stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department under the recently approved “automatic aid agreement” between the city and county. The Watertown fire department was also summoned. One Alexandria firefighter was transported to the hospital for exhaustion. Two others were treated for exhaustion at the scene.
(PHOTOS ABOVE PROVIDED AS A COURTESY OF ALEXANDRIA POLICE OFFICER DAVID WARD)