School Board Sets DCHS Graduation Date for Class of 2025 (View Video Here)

November 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The commencement for the Class of 2025 at DeKalb County High School will be Friday night, May 16.

The Board of Education officially set the date for the graduation during Thursday night’s monthly school board meeting. While the board does not set the time and location for the graduation it is typically at 7 p.m. on the high school football field.

Although the school district is actually the recipient of sales tax revenue the board signaled its support of a move by the cities and county to extend their sales tax agreements through the year 2055 in order for the county to have the resources to build a new elementary school using only sales tax proceeds. Parties to the agreement include the cities of Smithville, Liberty, Dowelltown, and Alexandria, DeKalb County, and the DeKalb County Board of Education. Under state law half of the cities’ local option sales tax collections go to the county but by agreement, the cities actually turn over two thirds to the county to help fund school operation and school debt. Smithville and Liberty have already approved the extension along with the county. Smithville added a condition that the county must issue bonds for construction of a new school within 12 months. The parties have until January 1 to act on extending their agreements.

“It’s local sales tax collections by these municipalities. Its nothing that we are giving. Its just saying that we are in agreement with the proposal that has been made,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.
All board members present voted in favor including Alan Hayes, Megan Moore, Jim Beshearse, Jason Miller, Eric Ervin, and Chairman Shaun Tubbs. Board member Danny Parkerson was absent

In other business, Director Cripps gave his monthly report on personnel.

Those employed since last month are Shay Ashford, Educational Assistant at Northside Elementary School and Rebekah Brock, teacher at Northside Elementary School.

Rosemarie Lotspeich, has transferred from a substitute position to Educational Assistant at DeKalb Middle School.

Taylor Spare has resigned as teacher at Northside Elementary School.

Director Cripps, on behalf of Anita Puckett, Principal at Smithville Elementary School thanked Wilson Bank & Trust and Lucas Phillips of LP Creative for the new digital sign at SES.

Cripps also paid tribute to Veterans on this week of Veterans Day.

“On behalf of the school board and myself, we want to say thank you for your service. We are able to live in a great country because of your sacrifice and your families’ sacrifice. Thank you for all you have done for our country,” said Director Cripps.

November 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Foster Children Need Help During the Holidays. You can help by supporting “Santa for All Seasons”.

“Christmas is a time for hope and celebration. It is a time when family and friends enjoy being together, for giving and receiving,” said Trista Pirtle Bond.

“But for children in foster care, it can be especially painful and lonely. They have experienced losses, inconsistency and conflict. Their family traditions have been ripped away and despite the love and safety of their foster home, fundamentally everything is different and out of their control,” added Brandi Keith.

“One way for our community to give back to these children is by donating to “Santa for all Seasons”. A child who has been removed from an abusive or neglectful home may wonder if Santa will still find them and bring them gifts. This year there are more than 800 children in the Upper Cumberland who are in state’s custody and more than 40 of those children are from DeKalb County. They need our help,” Bond continued.

The “Santa for all Seasons” group is requesting assistance with funds to support these children during this season of giving. This provides assistance to foster and underprivileged children all year. Christmas is a time for hope and joy to triumph over adversity, and you can be a part of that for these foster children,” said Keith.

“If you or your organization is willing to help provide funds, please contact Beth Chandler, Brandi Keith or Trista Pirtle Bond. Checks can be made payable to “Santa for all Seasons” and sent to the following address: 545 Golf Club Drive, Smithville, TN 37166,” said Bond.

November 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Tree trimming season has arrived and the City of Smithville is passing along a friendly reminder about a policy that was implemented three years ago concerning the removal of brush and tree limbs.

Under the guidelines, city residents will only be entitled to two free pickups of brush and tree limbs from their properties per year provided they do their own cutting and trimming. No commercial tree cutting debris will be collected by the city.

Other provisions of the policy are as follows:

*The pile of brush must be close to the edge of the road and piles must be kept away from mail boxes and other structures to avoid damage to the structures.

*The maximum diameter of limbs must be no more than six inches. Anything thicker than that will not be picked up.

*The butt ends must be facing the road.

*Nothing longer than 10 feet.

*Residents will only get two pick-ups per year.

*No vines or root balls.

*No building materials, trash, plastic, metal, wire, cardboard, paper, or glass.

*No commercial tree cutting will be collected by the city. If you have hired someone to do the cutting, you must have them haul off the debris. The city is not responsible for picking up anything cut by a trimming or cleaning service.

*City will only collect brush or limbs free for residents who do their own trimming, cutting.

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