School Resource Officer Lewis Carrick graduated on Friday, June 15 from an intense 2 week DARE School.

He will be teaching DARE for the Sheriff’s Department.

DARE is taught to 5th Graders at Northside Elementary and DeKalb West School.

D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) teaches children that popularity can be found in positive behavior, that belonging need not require them to abandon their values, that self-confidence and self-worth come from asserting themselves and resisting destructive temptations. D.A.R.E. teaches students not just that they should refuse drugs and alcohol, and not participate in violent activities, but how to do so. D.A.R.E. goes beyond traditional drug abuse and violence prevention programs. It gives children the skills needed to recognize and resist the subtle and overt pressures that cause them to experiment with drugs or become involved in gangs or violent activities.

Pictured: Sheriff Patrick Ray, Chief Deputy Robert Patrick, SRO/DARE Instructor Lewis Carrick, and Sergeant Scott Staggs DARE Trainer for the State of Tennessee.

Two new laws concerning recreational boating will become effective July 1 that are hoped to help increase safety on Tennessee waters.

As of July 1, a requirement similar to the “Move Over” law on land will go into effect. As written, the new law will require boaters to slow to no wake speed within 100 feet of a law enforcement vessel that is displaying flashing blue lights.

Also effective July 1, there will no longer be an exemption from boating education for renters of watercraft.

Tennessee residents born after Jan. 1, 1989 are required to pass a boater education exam administered by an approved representative of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in order to operate any motorized vessel over 8.5 horsepower. Out of state residents born after Jan. 1, 1989 must show proof of successful completion of a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved boating safety course. Non-resident certification may be from their home state or any state issued course.

Persons who have already made reservations or entered into contracts with marinas are encouraged to continue with their plans, but are asked to complete an approved boater education course before renting again.

Tennessee residents born after the Jan.1, 1989 can purchase a Type 600 Exam Permit online or from any hunting and fishing license vendor for a cost of $10 and go to a testing location to take the exam or take a class. Locations for testing and for classes can be found on the TWRA website under the boating section. For study materials telephone (615) 781-6682.

A man charged in a Liberty burglary was sentenced last Tuesday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

36 year old Joshua Kevin Vickers of Liberty entered a plea by criminal information to aggravated burglary. He received a 6 year sentence on TDOC probation. The term is to run consecutive to a sentence in DeKalb County General Sessions Court and concurrently with a Cannon County sentence against him. Vickers is to make restitution of $975 to the victim.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 18, 2017 Vickers broke into a garage and a residence on Sweetwater Road in Liberty and took an HP computer with a monitor and a Primo game camera. The total value of the items taken was $400. In breaking into the garage and the home, Vickers damaged or destroyed windows and doors. The total amount of damage was $575.

The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.