“Don’t limit a child that has Down syndrome. They can learn just as well as a normal child can.” That’s the message that Brandy Pipes would like for other people to understand. She and Brandon Alvis are the parents of Jase Alvis, 4, the youngest of Pipes’ four boys.
“He’s a loving child,” she says. “He loves people. He’s a happy child.”
Jase, who is enrolled at First Baptist Church Mother’s Day Out in Alexandria, was the face of the race at the 3.21 Run for Down Syndrome 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run that was held Saturday, Oct. 1 at DeKalb West School in Liberty.
“It means a lot to know that everybody is supporting your son that has something a little extra special about him,” Pipes says.
According to the National Down Syndrome Society, one in every 691 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome. Pipes say she didn’t know that Jase had D.S. until after he was born.
At first I was upset,” she admits. “I thought he wouldn’t be able to have a normal life. But he’s taught me that I’m not going to put a limit on him.”
The genetic disorder occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21, which alters the course of development.
“With my other children, they could walk at a year old,” Pipes said. “It took him until he was 2 ½. It’s just a waiting period, but it’s worth it.”
Jase likes to play ball, dance, and listen to music. He also enjoys practicing sports with his older brothers and cheers them on from the sidelines during the games.
“They (Jase’s brothers) don’t treat him any different. They get out there, and they play with him. They already said if somebody makes fun of him, they’ll take care of it,” she adds with a laugh.
Proceeds from Saturday’s race will go to benefit special needs children in DeKalb and Smith Counties. More than 135 racers participated in the event including Team Beckett, a group of race supporters who ran for 2-year-old Beckett, who has Down syndrome.
“They’re the most precious children you can ever imagine to be around, and I wouldn’t change them for the world, say Courtney West, Beckett’s mom.
The overall female winner of the race was Diana Moon with a time of 22:44. Matthew Sinclair, 11, was the overall male winner with a time of 20:18.
The following are the race results by age category:
9 & Under 10-15
1st Thomas Damron 1st Cody Antoniak
2nd Caroline Crook 2nd Cole Miller
3rd Emily Young 3rd Brayden Antoniak
16-20 21-30
1st Austin Brown 1st Cody Webb
2nd Devon O’Brien 2nd Kalah Donnell
3rd Landon Woodcock 3rd Michelle Lorio
31-40 41-50
1st Josh Miller 1st Bonnie Grandstaff
2nd Cedron Moon 2nd Karen Hatchett
3rd John Barlog 3rd Jarrett Pistole
51-60 61-70
1st Kim Foutch 1st Mary Ray
2nd Randy Queen 2nd Lene’ McKinney
3rd Deborah Bane 3rd Galen Fish
71+ 1 Mile Fun Run Results
1st Mary Jane Brown Carson Davis
2nd Carolyn Poteete Mia Foutch
3rd Ron Poteete Addison Miller

A break-in at DeKalb West School last Sunday, September 25 has resulted in the arrest of a man and woman. It turns out that the two, 30 year old Brian Clinton Howell of Vantrease Road, Brush Creek and 25 year old Shauna Melissa Fleetwood of Martha-Leeville Road, Mount Juliet, are also believed to be responsible for burglaries at elementary schools in Wilson and Smith Counties.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, video surveillance showed that Fleetwood, driving a green Ford Taurus, pulled up at DeKalb West School and dropped off Howell. He then used a pry bar to enter a side door and broke into a soft drink vending machine, taking $20.00. Fleetwood later returned to pick up Howell and they drove away.
After being contacted by the Principal, Sheriff Ray said his department started an investigation. “We got a report Sunday that somebody had broken into DeKalb West School and vandalized a coke machine. The intruder got into the machine and stole money out of it. A detective went down to the school, reviewed the video, and got a good description of the intruder and the vehicle which dropped him off,” Sheriff Ray told WJLE Saturday.
After learning that a school in Watertown had also been recently burglarized, the detective contacted authorities there and during their joint investigation discovered that burglaries had occurred in Smith County as well and that a “BOLO” had been issued for area law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the suspects. On Thursday evening, September 29, Wilson County Sheriff’s Department deputies and Lebanon Police Department officers located the suspects, Howell and Fleetwood, at the Traveler’s Inn in Lebanon.
In the DeKalb County case, Sheriff Ray said Howell is charged with burglary, vandalism, possession of burglary tools, and theft under $500. Fleetwood is charged with burglary and theft under $500 for being involved in a burglary in which she dropped off Howell in her vehicle , went to a gas station nearby, and then returned to pick him up. Both have admitted to detectives their involvement in the crimes.
Bond for Howell is $15,500 and Fleetwood’s bond is $12,500. Both will make an appearance in DeKalb County General Sessions Court on October 27. At last report, Fleetwood was still incarcerated in Smith County and Howell is in jail at Wilson County.
According to the “Smith County Insider”, the three elementary schools burglarized in Smith County were New Middleton Elementary, Forks River Elementary, and Carthage Elementary; and in Wilson County, Tucker’s Crossroad Elementary and Sam Houston Elementary. The burglaries took place between September 17th and September 28th.

A 5th district member of the DeKalb County Commission, charged with a first offense of driving under the influence in June, was sentenced in General Sessions Court Friday.
65 year old Jerry David Adcock of Four Seasons Road, Smithville entered a plea to the offense and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation. He will spend 48 hours at the Rutherford County Alcohol Education Center. Adcock was also fined $360 . He must pay court costs and he will lose his driver license for one year
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, June 9 a sheriff’s department deputy observed a Ford pickup truck failing to maintain its lane of travel on Sparta Highway. The officer stopped the truck and spoke with the driver, Adcock. While speaking with Adcock, the deputy noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. According to the warrant, Adcock admitted to having consumed four or five alcoholic beverages earlier in the evening. Adcock submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Adcock’s eyes were bloodshot. He was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slow. Adcock also submitted to a blood alcohol test.
Adcock is in his second four year term as a county commissioner from the 5th district. He has served since September 2010.
Meanwhile, a cocaine charge has been dropped against a woman arrested in March by Smithville Police.
36 year old Martha Conger Hale was charged with sale and delivery of a schedule II drug (cocaine) but the state prosecutor moved to dismiss the case against her. The case against a co-defendant, 42 year old Steve Mabe, Jr. remains active and has been continued until November 29.
Hale entered a plea to a separate charge of simple possession of a schedule VI drug and violation of probation. She received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation in the drug case to run consecutive to the VOP but the term could be furloughed if she is accepted into the Recovery Court Program.
Hale and Mabe, believed to have been involved in the sale and delivery of illegal narcotics, were arrested at their home on Charity Lane on March 16 as the result of an investigation by the Smithville Police Department. Each were charged with sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (cocaine). Mabe, a convicted felon, was also charged with illegal possession of a firearm. Hale was further charged with violation of probation.
According to Police Chief Mark Collins, the evidence against the two was discovered during a probation search at the residence. “Hale was on probation from a DUI conviction but probation officers had taken warrants on her for probation violation after she failed a drug test. We (Smithville Police) accompanied the probation officers to Hale’s home on Wednesday, March 16 to execute a probation search on Martha. During that search we found illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia, guns and a safe in their bedroom which they (Hale and Mabe) refused to open. Martha was arrested that day (March 16) on a charge of violation of probation. She later posted bond and was released,” he said.
Police seized the safe and later obtained a search warrant to open it. ” The search warrant on the safe was executed Thursday, March 24. In that safe we found 16 grams of cocaine, a large sum of money, personal documents belonging to both Martha and Steve and other miscellaneous items including jewelry, coins, and things like that. Based on what we found in that safe we had reason to believe there was more evidence in their house so we obtained another search warrant which was later executed,” said Chief Collins.
Judge Tiffany Gipson of Jackson County heard these and other cases Friday for Judge Bratten Cook, II, who had a conflict.

DeKalb County High School students celebrated the last day of Spirit Week with a Homecoming Day parade Friday afternoon.

The Tiger football team’s homecoming opponent Friday night is the Sequatchie County Indians and the floats in the parade had a Tiger versus Sequatchie County theme.
The parade featured Homecoming Queen Kaitlyn Roller and Attendants Susan Webb, Bailey Redmon, Emme Colwell, Nalia Ramos, and Madison Judkins; class and club floats, lots of decorated cars and trucks, county and city law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and other emergency vehicles, among others.
The event concluded with a pep rally led by DCHS Football cheerleaders and a performance by the DCHS band on the square.
Winners of the float competition were as follows:
First Place: Sophomore Class-“Tigers Roast the Indians”
Second Place: Junior Class-“Tigers Smoke Out Sequatchie”
Third Place: Freshman Class-“DeKalb Will Reign Over Sequatchie”
Best Decorated Automobiles:
First Place: Cynthia May
Second Place: Alexis Roller
Third Place: Kristena Bain
DCHS Field Competitions:
First Place-Sophomore Class
Second Place-Senior Class
Third Place-Junior Class
Fourth Place-Freshmen Class

The DeKalb West School Junior Beta Club led the student body in the voluntary assembly, “See You at the Pole” on Wednesday, September 28. Students across the globe gather around the flagpole on the last Wednesday in September each year to pray for their school, friends, families, churches, and communities.
Hannah VanDyne opened the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by Music Teacher Emily Phillips and the first grade classes leading the National Anthem. Grace Griffith read the First Amendment while Levi Driver opened in prayer. Garrett Hayes and T.J. Alexander read scriptures, and SRO Lewis Carrick delivered a rousing inspirational message on religious liberties. Jaden Johnson closed the event in prayer.

A 27 year old Cookeville woman is facing charges after leading a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department Detective on a high speed pursuit from Dowelltown to Watertown early (today) Thursday morning.
Cassandra Dianna Viamonte of East Tenth Street, Cookeville is charged with driving under the influence and evading arrest. Her bond is $11,500 and the court date is October 27.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that a Sheriff’s Department Detective was traveling east on Highway 70 early this morning (Thursday) when he spotted a vehicle traveling west crossing into oncoming traffic. He attempted to conduct a traffic stop at the intersection of West Main Street, Dowelltown and Highway 70 but the automobile took off heading westbound on Highway 70 at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. The vehicle continued on Highway 70 to Watertown where it turned onto south Statesville Road and then to north Statesville Road before coming to a stop on east College Street in Watertown. According to Sheriff Ray, Viamonte pulled onto a dead end street and drove around a house, before running into the side of the officer’s patrol car causing minor damage to the car. No one was injured.
Once the vehicle was stopped, the officer spoke with the driver, Viamonte. She had a strong odor of alcohol on her person. Her speech was slurred and she was unsteady on her feet. She performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks. After being placed under arrest, Viamonte was then taken to the hospital for a blood withdrawal and then to the sheriff’s office for booking.

DeKalb County Coordinated School Health and the School Nutrition Department held their first Family Health Night on September 27, 2016. There were physical activity sessions, nutrition sessions, and various agency exhibits.
Elise Driver, Coordinated School Health, and Amy Lattimore, School Nutrition Supervisor, would like to extend their gratitude to the principal and the great staff of volunteers at Northside Elementary, the agencies, the students and their parents, who made our first Family Health Night a huge success! They hope that everyone who came to participate had a fun and informative time. They look forward to serving our students, their families, and the community with many more fun filled educational events in the future.

“Get out the Vote,” a special program sponsored by the DeKalb County Election Commission is coming up Monday on WJLE.
Designed to be both informative and entertaining, the program will air from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday October 3rd. Dennis Stanley and Shawn Jacobs, both former WJLE announcers, will host the one-hour special event.
“This program will be used to remind voters about the importance of keeping their address up to date with the election office, the voter registration deadline, and about the dates of early voting,” said Stanley, who is also the local Administrator of Elections. “We will also be playing popular music from the 60s and 70s to keep the listeners entertained.”
“We thought this would be a unique, fun, but effective way to get important information out to the voters,” Stanley and Jacobs said. “So many times people put things off and then realize by election day they are not registered or can’t make it to the polls and missed taking advantage of early voting. This program will constantly remind the listeners of the registration deadline, the early voting dates, and the importance of keeping your address up-to-date with the election office.”
Again, the program will air Monday, October 3 from 5 to 6 p.m. on WJLE.

DeKalb County has been approved for a grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to help fund extension of water lines to a portion of the county.
The Community Development Block Grant is in the amount of $500,000 with a local match of $120,000 to be funded by the DeKalb Utility District.
County Mayor Tim Stribling told WJLE Wednesday that the project is to serve around 40 households on Tramel Branch, Oakley Road, Carter Lane, Old Givens Hollow, and the Dismal to Alexandria Road. Many of these residents have poor quality water or little or no water. “When we applied for it there were about 43 houses that it would serve including 135 to 140 people,” he said.
“Tuesday morning I received a phone call from State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver saying that our application for a Community Development Block Grant for the water line extension project had been funded. On Wednesday morning, I received a letter from Commissioner Randy Boyd of the Department of Economic and Community Development saying that Governor Haslam has approved our 2016 CDBG application in the amount of $500,000 for this water line extension project,” said County Mayor Stribling.
The county mayor has sent a letter to each affected household informing them of the grant and also letting them know that it will be next spring at least before any work is done. “As you are aware, this is a long and tedious grant process, and we must follow the State and Federal guidelines to be successful. It will be late spring before construction will begin so please be patient with us as we work through the grant process. I will be working with the DeKalb Utility District to send out information regarding water taps in the spring,” wrote County Mayor Stribling.
The DeKalb County Commission adopted a resolution in January authorizing the filing of the grant application.
The county had applied for and been denied the grant twice within the previous two years. But this time in order to improve its chances, the county asked for a little less grant money while the DeKalb Utility District committed to ante up more in its local match commitment. The total project cost is the same.
Amanda Mainord of Grassroots Planning & Consulting, is the grant administrator for the project.

County Mayor Tim Stribling was re-elected Chairman of the county commission Monday night.
All fourteen members voted in favor.
Seventh District member Larry Summers was returned as Chairman Pro Tempore.
The county commission must annually elect a chairman and a chairman pro tempore. The commission may elect the county mayor or a member of the body to be the chairman, although the county mayor may refuse to serve. If the county mayor is chairman, he or she may vote only to break a tie vote. If a member is chairman, the member votes as a member, but cannot vote again to break a tie. If the county mayor is not chairman, he or she may veto most resolutions of the county legislative body, but this veto may be overridden by a majority vote. The majority vote that is required for this and the passage of resolutions or other measures is a majority of the entire actual membership of the county legislative body, and not a majority of the quorum, nor a majority of the authorized membership.
The county commission consists of fourteen members, two from each of the seven districts in the county.
The make-up of the county commission is as follows:
Julie Williams Young and Mason Carter from the first district; Jimmy Midgett and Joe Johnson from the second district; Jack Barton and Bradley Hendrix from the third district; Wayne Cantrell and Jonathon Norris from the fourth district; Jerry Adcock and Anita Puckett from the fifth district; Jeff Barnes and Betty Atnip from the sixth district; and Larry Summers and Kevin Robinson from the seventh district. Their terms are for four years and will expire August 31, 2018.