The DeKalb County Prevention Coalition encourages all DeKalb County residents to join the effort to reduce the risk of prescription drug abuse by participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. This event will be held on the public square in front of the Smithville City Hall on Saturday, April 30 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The DeKalb County Prevention Coalition urges DeKalb County residents to come out to this event and drop off any unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription medication for safe disposal. This is confidential and no names or information will be collected.
The DeKalb County Prevention Coalition is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, in association with the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and the Office of Diversion Control in providing this service.
On Saturday, April 30, in communities across the state, Tennesseans have the opportunity to take part in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs from homes and offices.
“This is a chance for everyone to contribute, and become part of the solution to our state’s prescription drug abuse epidemic that has hurt so many of our loved ones, friends, and neighbors,” said E. Douglas Varney, Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. “Every person in our state has been touched by this epidemic, in one form or another. We have lost too many to this disease of addiction. If you have unused medications, do your part and join in Take-Back Day. Ask others to do the same.”
In 2015, the Tennessee Department of Health released some very sobering statistics on the impact of substance use in Tennessee revealing: The number of Tennesseans who die each year due to drug overdoses increased again in 2014. The total number of overdose deaths rose by nearly 100, from 1,166 in 2013 to a record-setting 1,263 in 2014. If those numbers are hard to comprehend, consider this: more people died from drug overdoses in Tennessee last year than were killed in motor vehicle accidents.
“For most of this decade we have witnessed the fall-out from prescription drug abuse,” said Commissioner Varney. “In addition to unintended deaths and overdoses, as access to prescription pain medications has become more difficult, many people are feeding their addiction by others means, switching to heroin and other drugs. They’re putting themselves and their loved ones at great risk.”
“Once again this year we are pleased to be partnering with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), which provides the drop-off boxes,” said Commissioner Varney. “And what’s especially helpful is the online interactive map TDEC has created, which pinpoints the exact location of every drop-box in Tennessee, accessible to everyone.”
TDEC began the Pharmaceutical Take-Back initiative as a pilot program with the City of Knoxville in 2011. Today the project has a total of 155 Take-Back Box locations in 85 counties. In partnership with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Department of Homeland Security, Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse and local law enforcement agencies, the collection program offers a safe and easy way to dispose of unwanted medication, and creates opportunities for Tennesseans to promote environmental protection and safer communities.
“In addition to being a health hazard, throwing medication away with household garbage or flushing it is harmful to our environment,” said Lori Munkeboe, director of the TDEC’s Office of Sustainable Practices. “We hope National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will create awareness of the viable disposal options across the state to keep drugs out of our water and off the streets.”
With that in mind, participating in Drug Take-Back Day becomes an opportunity for all Tennesseans to fight back, to keep our bodies and environment free of harmful substances and to become part of the solution, rather than contributing to the growing epidemic of prescription drug abuse.
The response to the September 2015 Take-Back event resulted in more than 350 tons (the equivalent of more than 702,000 pounds) of prescription drugs collected nationwide at more than 5,000 sites operated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and another 3,800 locations managed by state and local authorities.
“This is a terrific partnership with law enforcement. It’s free, anonymous and no questions asked,” said Commissioner Varney. “We need to do all we can to encourage people to participate, as the rate of prescription drug abuse in Tennessee keeps rising, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses.”
Take These Steps to Remove Prescription Drugs From Your Home or Office
•Check for unused prescriptions in medicine cabinets, bathroom, closets, bedside tables and kitchen drawers, under the sink, and in closets, purses, handbags, and containers.
•Remove all labeling and packaging on bottles and containers before disposing to ensure the protection of your privacy and personal information.
Keep in mind: the majority of Tennessee’s Take-Back Boxes are in locations that are accessible seven days a week, 24 hours a day. While there is special focus on take-back events each year in April and October, most boxes are located in law enforcement buildings and offices, where they are available for safe disposal anytime you need them.
“It is so important to properly discard unused prescription medications from your home to ensure they are not obtained, misused, or abused by family and friends,” said Commissioner Varney. “By joining in Drug Take-Back Day, you will be taking the best approach in removing unused, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs.”
“Every pill that’s not properly disposed of is a chance it will result in an unintended overdose or death or addiction,” said Commissioner Varney. “I urge all Tennesseans to take part in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, so these unused drugs don’t harm those we love and care for the most.”
If you or someone you care for is in need of substance use treatment, call the Tennessee REDLINE anytime at 1-800-889-9789 for help now. Resources are available across the state.

Approximately 329 middle school and high school students from Upper Cumberland schools participated in the 60th Annual Tennessee Mathematics Teachers’ Association Mathematics Contest on the TTU Campus on April 12.
The following students placed for DeKalb County High School.
Hunter Robinson – 9th place in Calculus
Madi Cantrell – 1st place in Algebra 1
Louise Dillen – 3rd place in Calculus

Members have been appointed to the DeKalb County Equalization Board.
The county commission, during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, reappointed Russell Watson, Carl Dwayne Webb, and Phillip Hendrix to serve on the five member board. Robert Robinson will be a new member.
County Mayor Tim Stribling said Ronald Ashburn and Bobby Reynolds, who were appointed to the board two years ago, no longer wished to serve.
One other position remains to be filled. Stribling said he will find a candidate and make the appointment by the next county commission meeting in May.
Until 2014, the equalization board was made up of seven members, one from each district of the county. But under state law, there can be no more than five members. According to Tennessee Code Annotated (state law) “The county legislative body of each county shall, at the April session of each even year, from the different sections of the county, elect, for a term of two (2) years, five (5) freeholders and taxpayers who shall constitute a county board of equalization.”
Based on population, the City of Smithville can have one member on the board. Russell Watson has been serving in that position. Stribling said Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss told him he was okay with Watson being reappointed
According to state law, county equalization boards across the state are to meet each year on June 1 (or the next business day if the 1st falls on Saturday or Sunday). The county board is authorized by law to receive and hear appeals of current year property tax assessments as fixed by the county assessor of property. Generally an assessment must be appealed to the county board of equalization to preserve the taxpayer’s right to further appeal.
The DeKalb County Equalization Board will meet this year on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, June 1, 2, & 3 and Monday and Tuesday, June 6 & 7 at the county complex in the office of the Assessor of Property.

A Dowelltown man has been charged with child abuse for allegedly smacking and leaving a bruise on a four year old youngster.
27 year old Barrett Clay Tipton of Circle Drive, Dowelltown is under a $10,000 bond and he will make a court appearance on May 5.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Saturday, April 16 Tipton allegedly inflicted injury on a four year old at his residence on Circle Drive by smacking the child in the face with enough force to knock the youngster to the ground. A few days later during an interview, officials of the Department of Children Services noticed bruising on the left side of the child’s face. When they asked the youngster what happened to cause the bruising, the four year old said Barrett did it. The alleged assault was also captured on video.
34 year old Willie Ray Murphy of West Bryant Street, Smithville is charged with resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest or search. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, April 2 a deputy went to Walmart to arrest Murphy on a Smith County warrant for violation of probation. As the officer placed Murphy under arrest, he tensed and tried to pull away from the deputy. He was taken into custody and transported to the jail.
21 year old James Nathaniel Pettit of Locust Street, Alexandria is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will make a court appearance on May 5. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, April 23 a deputy responded to a residence on Locust Street due to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Pettit and his wife. Pettit was determined to have been the primary aggressor in that he laid on the woman, restricting her movements and then kicked her out of bed. He also allegedly broke the door to a closet where she had been hiding when calling 911.
32 year old Veronica Lucille St. Hilaire of Dry Creek Road, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and driving on a suspended or revoked license. She was further cited for no insurance, violation of the implied consent law, violation of the open container law, for her automobile lacking a vehicle identification (VIN) number, and for criminal impersonation. She is under a $5,000 bond and her court date is May 5. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, April 24 a deputy responded to Highway 70 at the old Spinners Diner location where someone was found slumped over the steering wheel of her vehicle in the roadway. Upon arrival the officer found that EMS personnel had already arrived and were talking to St. Hilaire. Her speech was slurred and she was unaware of her whereabouts. Inside her vehicle, the deputy found an open bottle of vodka in a cup holder next to the driver’s seat. An empty vodka bottle was found in the back seat. St. Hilaire did not have a valid driver license. A computer check confirmed that her license were revoked for a previous driving under the influence offense. St. Hilaire refused to submit to a blood test. Her vehicle did not have a VIN number plate on the dashboard showing proper registration. She also falsely identified herself to the officer as Monica Gonzales.
27 year old Les Paul Miller of Barnes Mill Road is charged with being a fugitive from justice. His bond is $500,000. He will make a court appearance on April 28. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, April 24 a check of warrants revealed that Miller is wanted in Michigan on an outstanding warrant for being a parole absconder. Miller was placed under arrest.

A Lebanon man who claimed to have a t-shirt printing business and swindled hundreds of dollars from five local businesses and a member of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department has been charged with six counts of theft.
59 year old Greg Keith Oxendine was arrested on Wednesday, April 20 and he will make a court appearance on May 5. Oxendine was brought here after being incarcerated in another jail for similar offenses.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Oxendine’s crime spree locally took place in October, November, and December 2014 when he went to B&G Supply, Sue’s Taxidermy, Center Hill Nursery, Turtle’s Bar & Grill, AEI Recycling, and a member of the DeKalb County Fire Department and collectively swindled a total of $1,723.90 from them.
In each case, Oxendine purported to have a printing business and took orders and down payments for caps, t-shirts, and hoodies but he never produced the merchandise and wouldn’t answer calls when the victims tried to contact him by phone.

Acting on complaints of illegal Sunday sales of beer, the Sheriff’s Department cited an employee of Maggie’s Landing Sunday, April 24 after she sold an alcoholic beverage to someone working undercover.
50 year old Lisa Sowell Dulley of Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville was issued a citation for unlawful sale of alcoholic beverages.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, the undercover operative entered Maggies Landing Sunday where Dulley allegedly sold him an alcoholic beverage. After making the purchase, he left the business with the beverage.
Dulley’s court date is May 26th.

The death of a 20 month old boy is under investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the District Attorney General’s Office.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and EMS responded to a stranded motorist on Highway 70 Saturday evening where they found an unresponsive child in the vehicle.
The child, Mason Snyder, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.
The case remains under investigation and no arrests have been made.
27 year old Les Miller, the boyfriend of the child’s mother, was taken into custody on Sunday on unrelated charges of being a fugitive from justice out of the state of Michigan. He is under a $500,000 bond.

Contributing to a national celebration of small businesses, DeKalb County Mayor Tim Stribling has signed a proclamation declaring Small Business Week in DeKalb County to be May 1 through May 7, 2016.
Communities all across the nation and the Upper Cumberland are joining together to celebrate the wonderful contributions made by small businesses to their communities. Suzanne Williams, Executive Director of the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, was on-hand to witness the signing. Williams stated “Small businesses are the life-blood of our community and the chamber makes every effort possible to assist them in succeeding.”
Williams and Stribling recently started a partnership with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Tennessee Tech University to encourage growth and development of the DeKalb county business community. John Woodard, Assistant Director of the center stated, “We are so excited to be working in DeKalb County! Our center believes we can bring a lot to the table to assist the local community and provide guidance to small business owners.”
Woodard and his team are organizing the first annual Upper Cumberland Small Business Week, which is offering several events for small business owners throughout the Upper Cumberland and encouraging communities to shop local for Mother’s Day, graduations, etc. Mayor Stribling commented, “It is really great to see programs like these that are willing to support our communities and encourage growth of our local economies. I am really excited to see what all the TSBDC can offer our community in the future.”
Individuals wishing to find out more information about and register for the events are encouraged to explore the event website: www.tsbdc.org/ucbizweek or contact the TSBDC’s TTU Center at 931-372-3648.

From its remarkable yet humble beginnings, the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life has grown into a national, even international, phenomenon. Starting in 1985 with only one event, today more than 4 million people in over 20 countries raise much needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer through the Relay For Life movement.
At Relay for Life, you can find healing, comfort, and support from others who have faced cancer or who have lost a loved one to the disease. You have a chance to meet people in the community who are equally as passionate about finding an end to cancer in our lifetime.
This year’s theme is ““Paint Your World Purple”
Come share the Relay experience at Green Brook Park on Friday, May 6 and take pride in knowing that you are working to create a world where this disease will no longer threaten the lives of our loved ones or claim another year of anyone’s life.
The 19th annual Relay for Life begins with musical entertainment at 5:00 p.m. followed by the opening ceremony at 6:00 p.m. featuring personal testimonies from cancer survivors and then a Survivors’ Lap, during which those who have survived the struggle circle the track together to help everyone celebrate what has been achieved against cancer.
As the sun sets, Luminaria bags lining the track illuminate the night and then a hush falls over the event as Relay participants, survivors and caregivers gather together for a Luminaria Ceremony at 9:00 p.m. to remember loved ones lost to cancer and to honor those who have battled the disease.
As participants walk the track lined with Luminaria bags in reflection, a caregiver who has lost a loved one may find comfort from a fellow caregiver who has faced a similar loss.
Meanwhile, a survivor gains hope and strength from others who have followed the same journey and survived. All resolve to keep fighting to save more lives so no more Luminaria bear the names of those lost to the disease.
Teams take turns doing laps, but there must be one member from each team on the track at any given time during the relay event. There is a lot of fundraising as well, through concessions, games, and other activities.
As volunteers and donors, your efforts support research, education, advocacy, and services that allow the American Cancer Society to offer help and hope to people across the country when they need it most. By joining together at Relay, we celebrate life, friendship, and an opportunity to work to defeat cancer for future generations.
For more information, please contact Marlene at 931-235-6286 or visit www.relayforlife.org/dekalbtn.

Sober Living Services in collaboration with the DeKalb Prevention Coalition will host speaker Rodney Williams Monday, April 25 at 6:00 p.m. in the History Room of the DeKalb Community Center. This a free event and open
to the public.
Williams is an ordained pastor, author of the book, Club Meth to Christ, and founder of Club Meth to Christ Ministries. His goal is to help those who struggle with the devastating bondage of addiction experience lasting freedom. Rodney lived as a drug addict and alcoholic for over twenty years of his life but that all changed the night he was set on fire in a crystal meth lab explosion. That night he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ and from that point on Rodney began following Jesus. Rodney entered the Home of Grace drug rehabilitation program after months of skin grafts and burn treatments then wrote the book Club Meth to Christ. He then obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from the University of Mobile. Rodney was pastor to a small congregation in South Mississippi for eight years before entering full time evangelism. Rodney’s story has been featured on the 700 Club, Pacific Garden Mission’s radio drama, Unshackled, and American Family Radio. He has spoken at countless evangelical and secular events using his story to warn audiences about the danger of drugs and give hope to those trapped in the bonds of addiction. Rodney and his wife, Jennifer, live in South Mississippi with their four children.

Visit http://www.clubmethtochrist.com for more information.