WJLE Radiothon Raises Almost $10,600 for DCHS 2021 Project Graduation (View video here)

April 2, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

It truly has been a Good Friday for the DCHS Class of 2021

During a three hour WJLE radiothon which was also LIVE streamed on the DCHS 2021 Project Graduation facebook page, the community rallied in support of the class with pledges and donations totaling $10, 593 for the 2021 Project Graduation event which will be held following the graduation ceremonies on Friday, May 14.

Although the fundraiser didn’t top last year’s record breaker of $11,609, it did exceed the $10,000 goal.

The radiothon was hosted by DCHS Teacher Chris Vance and many members of the class and their parents took part in the program either on air or from behind the scenes. A special thanks to Jordan Atnip and Daniel Leslie who set up the LIVE facebook streaming broadcast from the WJLE Studios which was telecast on the DCHS 2021 Project Graduation facebook page and shared by others.

Shan Stout, Co-President of the Project Graduation Committee, said the group could not have been more pleased with the outcome of the radiothon.

“I’m not shocked that the community stepped up again. We know we have one of the most giving counties that I have ever seen. After the giving started it did not stop and we went all the way to the 12 o’clock hour and raised $10,593. We were just floored at all of the people, businesses, and organizations who all reached out and with all the hilarious challenges. It was just a lot of fun,” said Stout.

To add extra fun and excitement, members of the class and parents agreed to gulp down sardines, spoonfuls of baby food, eat marshmellows while talking, and a few even took a pie in the face to meet the challenges from callers in order to up the ante..

“We did a wheel of unusual challenges so if you donated $50 you could select a senior or a parent on our committee to be part of the challenge and it included everything from eating sardines to baby food. They also did marsh mellows and all kinds of fun stuff and we had churches who challenged other churches to step up and donate, county officials challenging city officials, and then we had one of our city aldermen give gift cards so if you were the next caller you got a gift card from a restaurant for a donation. There were just a lot of fun things going on,” said Stout.

In addition to the radiothon, other fundraisers have been held for Project Graduation throughout the year.

“We did a facebook donation campaign. We also did tee shirts and that raised over $3,000 which helps every senior get a tee shirt for Project Graduation. Saturday, April 3 we will have a car show starting at 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the high school. Go to our facebook page and look up all the information for that. We have just tried everything we could to give these seniors a fantastic opportunity for a safe night on graduation” she said.

Project Graduation is an all night drug-free, alcohol-free graduation party for members of the DCHS Class of 2021 committed to having a safe, wholesome, yet entertaining celebration together for the last time as a class. This year’s event will be held at the County Complex from 10 p.m. May 14 to 6 a.m. the next morning, Saturday May 15.

“Its all about keeping our kids safe. Prom and graduation nights are perhaps the two most perilous times for teenagers to be on the road. We worry about what they are doing, where they are, and about them being safe. Project Graduation gives every senior an opportunity to spend not only one last night with their friends that they have graduated and spent their whole high school career with but we know that they are safe. It is drug free, alcohol free, and every kid goes home with prize money. It helps them have that first little foot of financial freedom and it gives them a little money for books, gas, and spending money as they get ready to go to college, trade school, or maybe they need a uniform in starting a new job. These kids appreciate that first little boost,” Stout said.

If you missed your chance to make a pledge during the radiothon you may still donate at the DCHS 2021 Project Graduation facebook page.

“Thank you so much. We are so very grateful because every dollar matters,” said Stout

April 1, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Jail and Annex are being recommended for state certification again this year.

Bob Bass, Deputy Director of the Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI) shared the news with members of the DeKalb County Commission during an informal meeting Tuesday night at the county complex.

In a letter to Sheriff Patrick Ray on March 23, William Wall, Executive Director of the TCI wrote “The Tennessee Corrections Institute recently inspected/re-inspected the DeKalb County Jail and Annex. The inspection revealed that this facility does not meet all applicable minimum standards. However, the assigned Detention Facility Specialist is recommending that your county corrections partnership’s formal Plan of Action be submitted and approved by the TCI Board of Control at the next meeting scheduled on June 9, 2021 to be held electronically to consider granting certification to this facility. After approval from the Board of Control, you will receive a Certificate”.

Fourteen months ago Bass held his first meeting with a jail committee of the county commission to begin the process of addressing mostly physical plant (building) deficiencies at the jail and annex. Since then the process has largely been put on hold with TCI having been shut down due to COVID-19.

“Its been tough on us (TCI). We just started (inspecting jails) again in March this year because we were locked down. Last year we were locked down in March, April, May and June before we started. We have to inspect 129 jails across the state and if they need to be re-inspected some of those are done twice,” said Bass.

In the fall of 2019, the county entered into a partnership with TCI and the County Technical Advisory Service to develop a plan of action to show measurable progress in rectifying deficiencies to keep the jail and annex certified.

Although no measurable progress has to be shown this year to maintain jail certification due to continuing COVID 19 concerns, Bass said the problems will eventually have to be solved.

““We just inspected your jail and rest assured you will be certified this year. We are going to continue your plan of action and you don’t have to show measurable progress this year,” said Bass.

“The particular standards you are in trouble with are physical plant. How the jail was built. It has nothing to do with what the sheriff’s department has done or the staff when it comes to operation. In fact its one of the cleanest jails I have been in. Even the part you shouldn’t be operating (the oldest building) is clean and well organized. You are not overcrowded. You just don’t meet TCI standards in some areas,” he said.

The oldest building, which has been in operation since 1959 and houses prisoners in its basement, poses perhaps the greatest concern.

“That basement has no natural light. You must have skylight. Windows that produce natural light. You must have an 8 foot ceiling height. Your basement ceiling is 7 feet, 6 inches. Its not sprinkled. Sprinklers are not part of our standards unless you are building a new facility but old facilities like yours are not grandfathered in and you have a cage down there which serves as a makeshift cell for trustees with a 12 inch gap on top of it. That is unauthorized housing. An inmate could come over that gap and have access to appliances, water heater, chemicals, etc,” said Bass.

The basement cells each have 10 beds but the square footage only exists for six inmates and while the cells have porcelain sinks and toilets the state requires they be stainless steel. The cells also have no floor drains and conduit is exposed.

Cells for females in another part of the jail have similar issues.

As for the jail annex, which has been in operation since 2001, there are 46 beds with adequate space for only 32 inmates.

According to Bass new and existing facilities must have at least a minimum size multiple-occupancy cell for 2-64 occupants with twenty-five (25) square feet of clear floor space for each occupant in the sleeping areas, and a ceiling elevation of not less than eight (8) feet. At least thirty-five (35) square feet of clear floor space must be provided for each occupant when the occupant is confined for more than ten (10) hours per day.

Bass suggested that the county authorize a needs assessment study as the next step in the process of bringing the jail and annex up to standards.

“We have identified what our problems are and must now figure out a way to come up with a solution. You don’t have to be in a hurry. We’re here to help and we will get you through this. My suggestion is to reconvene and start strategizing about what options you have. You can’t do anything about the basement in the old jail building. You will have to come out of that basement. It could be used for storage but not for housing inmates. A needs assessment needs to be performed. Take a look at your growth and see how many beds you need. We want to help you fix the problems but until we get them fixed I am going to fight to keep you certified. That’s my job. I will go in front of the board and plead your case,” said Bass.

April 1, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is closing Center Hill Lake Recreation Area, also known as Ike Park. The ramp, shelters, and restroom facilities are scheduled to be closed 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 7 through April 8, 2021 for a Corps of Engineers hosted event.

Alternative launching ramps closest to Center Hill Recreation Area includes: Floating Mill Recreation Area, Edgar Evins State Park, Hurricane Bridge Recreation Area, and Center Hill Marina.

The recreation area will be fully reopened to the public April 9, 2021. If inclement weather conditions with lighting are predicted, the ramp will remain open to the public April 7 and 8.
For additional information, please feel free to contact the Center Hill Lake Natural Resource Manager’s Office at 931-858-3125.

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