
News
Trio of 12th graders named DCHS Students of the Month for November
December 16, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
A trio of 12th graders has been awarded “Students of the Month” for November at DeKalb County High School.
Jackson Mathis, Luke Midgett, and Ian Barnes were selected for the help and friendship shown to a deserving freshman student throwing him a birthday party.
Each received a certificate from the school and a gift card for a meal from F.Z. Webb & Sons Soda Fountain. A different restaurant offers a meal gift card to each month’s honorees. The Student of the Month award is voted on by the teachers at DCHS.
To help their friend celebrate, Jackson gave him a cat as a gift. Ian provided the cake and Luke had a birthday card for him.
Mathis is the son of Chad and Amanda Mathis. Midgett’s parents are Casey and LeVaughnda Midgett, and Barnes is the son of Adam and Ashley Barnes.
All three are members of FBLA and the high school tennis team.
After graduation both Mathis and Barnes plan to attend Tennessee Tech. Mathis said his plans are to go into nursing. Midgett will be attending Faulkner Christian University in Alabama to become a youth minister.
Alexandria Christmas Parade Delights (View Video Here)
December 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
The Alexandria Christmas parade delighted holiday lovers of all ages Saturday afternoon.
This year’s grand marshals of the parade were three veterans including 92-year-old Billy McClanahan, who served as a US Army Private First Class in the Korean War and Army Sergeant Dora Stranathan and her husband Air Force Sergeant Michael Stranathan. Their float stopped in front of the reviewing stand and the veterans were recognized from the stage for their service by Alexandria Mayor Beth Tripp who had gifts for each of them including American flags donated by State Representative Michael Hale and a Korean War patch presented by Mayor Tripp to McClanahan.
The parade also featured many crowd favorites including the DCHS band, Smithville’s Frosty Flakes led by Bee Tubbs Trigueros, vintage automobiles, horseback riders and horse drawn wagons, pageant royalty, and of course Santa.
After the parade, drawings were held for prizes, most of them donated by Mayor Tripp.
Smithville Police Charge Faulk with Child Abuse After Fight with Juvenile
December 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Smithville Police recently broke up a fight at the county complex and charged one man with child abuse.
Chief Mark Collins said 21-year-old Dakota Faulk of Alexandria was taken into custody.
According to Chief Collins police were called to the county complex on November 17 due to a fight and upon arrival they talked to witnesses and determined that Faulk was the primary aggressor in a fight with a juvenile. Faulk was placed in custody and his bond was $3,500.
42-year-old Jeremy Tucker of Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and cited for driving on a revoked license and violation of the open container law.
Chief Collins said that on November 9 police responded to an accident on Bryant Street and upon arrival spoke with the drivers involved including Tucker who smelled of alcohol. His speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. Tucker admitted to having consumed alcohol earlier but he refused to submit to field sobriety tasks. He was then placed in custody. His bond was $2,000.
20-year-old Kevin Martinez-Soto is charged with underage driving while impaired.
Chief Collins said that on November 12 police were summoned to an automobile accident on Walnut Street and upon arrival spoke with the driver, Soto who smelled of alcohol. He admitted to having consumed a couple of beers prior to the accident and he performed poorly on all sobriety tasks. Soto was then taken into custody. His bond was $3,500.
44-year-old Nathan Wilbert of Smithville is charged with public intoxication.
According to Chief Collins, police responded to Anthony Avenue on November 20 where a man was spotted in the roadway acting erratically. Upon arrival, officers confronted the man, Wilbert but they were unable to communicate with him because was as still acting in an erratic manner. Wilbert was placed in custody and his bond was set at $1,500.
