DeKalb Road Supervisor Butch Agee has announced that a portion of Bright Hill Road between Dearman Street and Hooper Road will be closed Tuesday and possibly through Wednesday evening for a tile replacement project. Motorists who normally travel that road should take an alternate route to your destination. The work is to begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 23.

A Smithville man was airlifted after a motorcycle crash Sunday evening on Blue Springs Road.
Trooper Jason Cobble of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 34 year old Jeremy Loader was traveling east on Blue Springs Road heading toward Highway 56 on a Yamaha motorcycle when he lost control and crashed.
Loader was taken by DeKalb EMS to a helicopter landing zone set up in a field near the crash scene. He was airlifted by Life Force.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department were also on site.

Scholarships and other awards will be presented to members of the Class of 2017 at DeKalb County High School during the annual Senior Awards program Monday night, May 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the DCHS gymnasium.
WJLE will broadcast LIVE on AM 1480, FM 101.7 and LIVE streaming at www.wjle.com
Representatives of colleges, universities, branches of the armed services, businesses, civic groups, and other organizations will make the presentations.
Meanwhile, graduation for the DCHS Class of 2017 will be Friday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m. on the high school football field.
(Click link below to view DCHS Class of 2017 Senior Formals)
http://wjle.com/graduation/2017/page1

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce presented a Community Spotlight Award to Mr. Mark Harrell.
After 45 years of service, Mr. Mark Harrell will be retiring from Hardee’s Corporation. Mark started his career in 1972 and worked his way up to Regional Ref Manager then General Manager. He has been responsible for opening new Hardee’s stores in Gallatin, Lafayette, and Sparta. He also worked with stores in Monterey, Livingston, and Smithville.
For 12 years, Mark has been serving as General Manager at the Smithville Hardee’s. During his stay in Smithville, he has made many friends and become a part of many people’s lives. Mark says he has loved his customers and the Hardee’s crew became part of his family.
Mark will be missed by many and as the Chamber Community Spotlight Award says, “Thank You, Mark, for Your Many Years of Great Customer Service, Dedication, and Hard Work. You have been an Important Part of Our Community!”

Another athlete from the DCHS Class of 2017 has signed a letter of intent to play college sports.
Devin Bain signed his name on the dotted line Friday to play football at Cumberland University, in Lebanon. Bain, who played primarily as a defensive lineman for the DCHS Tigers, says he is excited about going to school at Cumberland and becoming a member of the Cumberland University Phoenix.
“I am planning on majoring in nursing and this is one of the best nursing schools around. It’s really close to home and I like being close to family and friends and I still get to play football so that’s the best choice for me,” said Bain.
Tiger Coach Steve Trapp said he is proud to see Devin moving on to the next level. “Devin was a good football player for us. He was here as a freshman and sophomore but then moved out of state for his junior year. We were really fortunate for him to come back his senior year and be part of our program. He is a talented guy and I am proud of him and for him to have the opportunity to continue to play. He does have to understand that he is starting all over. He’ll be at the bottom and will have to work his way up but I feel like he can do that and do a good job,” said Coach Trapp.
“I think he will be a defensive lineman at Cumberland. He is a bigger guy but he can move very well. He played some offensive guard for us and started a couple of games with injuries when we had injuries. But mostly he was a defensive lineman for us. When he moved away and played a year in Virginia he was a fullback so he can move for a bigger guy but they (colleges) like those defensive linemen who are a little bit shorter who can create leverage and also move around pretty good. Devin fits that mode very well,” added Coach Trapp.
Bain said he is grateful to his family and coaches for their support. “DeKalb County High School for me has been nothing but absolutely amazing. I have enjoyed all three years that I’ve been here. I can’t ask for a better coaching staff. I want to thank Coach Trapp for all of his support and all the things he has taught me all these years. I also want to thank all my friends and family for all their support,” he said.

The season for the DCHS Tigerettes came to a close Friday night in Smithville as they lost to Sweetwater 3 to 1 in the Class AA Sectional or Sub State.
DeKalb County finishes the season at 29-6. They claimed the regular season and district tournament championship as well as the region tournament crown again this season. A win for the Tigerettes would have sent them to the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year and for the ninth time in program history.
The Tigerettes scored 1 run on 1 hit and made 6 errors. Sweetwater scored 3 runs on 8 hits and made 2 errors.
Sweetwater scored 1 run in the 2nd, 5th, and 6th innings. The Tigerettes got their only run in the 3rd inning.
Kayley Caplinger, the losing pitcher, gave up 3 runs on 8 hits and struck out 11.
For Sweetwater, Addie Lowe was the winning pitcher. She gave up 1 run on 1 hit and struck out 11.
Kenzie France had a double for the Tigerettes.

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce and the DeKalb County Mayor’s office would like to invite residents across the county to participate in the DeKalb County Clean Up on Saturday, May 20th. The DeKalb Clean Up event will be held in conjunction with the Keep America Beautiful initiative going on across the country.
County Mayor Tim Stribling says, “We invite people to come out and help clean up around our communities and highways. Folks are welcome to pick up litter at places of their choice, or we will be glad to assign a safe place for you.”
Suzanne Williams, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, would like to remind everyone that DeKalb County’s peak tourism season is about to begin, so now is a great time to start getting things spruced up for our coming visitors. According to Williams, “I think we are all aware of the value and importance of beautification in our communities to attract newcomers and tourists to our area and to maintain a stable and growing economy.”
To get a head start on clean up, dumpsters will be set up at highly visible and convenient locations a few days prior to the main event. Dumpster locations will be at the Dowelltown Community Center, Liberty Community Center, Alexandria City Parking Lot (behind square), and the County Complex parking lot.
DeKalb Clean Up volunteers are asked to stop by the DeKalb County Complex on May 20th between 9 AM and 10 AM to sign-in and pick up the provided trash bags, rubber gloves, and bottles of water. We will be taking a group picture at 9:30 AM for the media if you like to participate in that.
For early sign-up, you can stop by the Chamber, located in the Courthouse, Room 201, anytime during regular office hours by May 19th to pick up supplies. Or if stopping by is not convenient, call the Chamber office at 615-597-4163 to be counted as a DeKalb Clean Up volunteer — just give your name and the general area where you will be working. Whether you’re beautifying your street, a highway, a park, ball field, a stream, or your own home, what a difference we can make through working together to make our communities safer, healthier and more livable!

Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County will raffle an 11 foot Jackson Riviera Kayak on Saturday, May 27. The drawing will be held on WJLE Radio at 10:00 a.m.
All proceeds will go toward construction of the next partner family home by Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County.
Purchase tickets at Kilgore’s Restaurant, DeKalb Ace Hardware, DeKalb County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss, DeKalb Farmers Coop, or at Wilson Bank & Trust. The ticket prices are one for $5.00 or 5 for $20.00.
Habitat Board Members Pictured: Michael Martin, Gary Johnson, Dick Kinsey, Jordan Atnip, Alex Woodward, Marie Blair, Diane Lynch, and James L. (Jimmy) Poss. Not Pictured: Chad Driver, Gina Denman, John Carpenter, Glenda Davis, and Rhonda Harpole