Budget Committee Cuts Back on Proposed New Local Funding for Schools

June 7, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Board of Education may have to cough up more money on its own to fully fund its proposed pay raises for school employees.

During Thursday night’s meeting, the budget committee vote 4-1 to take back a portion of what it had voted on Tuesday night to give schools in new local money for the 2024-25 fiscal year subject to final approval of the full county commission. Voting in favor were Chairman Jeff Barnes, and members Glynn Merriman, Tom Chandler, and Sabrina Farler. Member Tony (Cully) Culwell voted against the move. Two members, Mathias Anderson and Susannah Cripps were absent

While the proposed 10 cent property tax increase for schools as recommended by the budget committee Tuesday night was left in place, which would generate $620,000 in new money for schools, the committee basically rescinded the move it made Tuesday allocating schools another $370,000 from the local purpose (sales tax) fund.

Budget committee member Glynn Merriman, who made the motion, said his reason was essentially that he believes the school board still has a healthy fund balance or reserves of up to $10 million from which the proposed pay raises could be funded for at least one year and that the board of education had not asked for any specific amount of new local money in its proposed budget. Since the local purpose (sales tax) fund is also used partly to support school debt service, Merriman said that the $370,000 should be left in that account to go toward future planning of a school building program.

Schools already get an annual contribution from the county’s local purpose fund of $1,540,000 for yearly school budget operation. The extra $370,000 would have put the annual contribution from the local purpose (sales tax) fund for schools at $1,910,000. Even with the added funds of $620,000 from the proposed 10 cent tax increase, the school budget would apparently still be about $1.1 million short of fully funding the $1.72 million cost of the pay raises with matching benefits as presented to the budget committee last week by Director of Schools Patrick Cripps. However, the difference could possibly be made up from the school budget’s reserves.

According to the proposed school budget, as adopted by the board of education last month, a $2,000 pay increase would go to school employees with up to 9 years of service (155 employees); $5,000 for those with 10-19 years (104 employees); and $6,000 to staff with 20 or more years (108 employees).

June 6, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Step right up and get your season gate admission passes to the fair!

The DeKalb County Fair Board of Directors has announced that a limited number of $30 season passes are now on sale for gate admission to the 2024 Grandpa Fair of the South to be held Monday-Saturday, June 24-29 . Each season pass includes six admission tickets that fairgoers can use any day during the week whether it be (for example) one admission ticket per night, two tickets for three nights, or all six tickets in one night. With general admission to the fair this year at $7.00 per ticket (except for children ages four and younger who will be admitted free) the purchase of a $30 pass is a savings of $12 for the week if you plan to attend each night of the fair.

Season passes to the 2024 DeKalb County Fair can be purchased at the offices of the Smithville Review, UT/TSU Extension at the county complex or from the following members of the DeKalb County Fair Board of Directors

Matt Boss – President
Judy Sandlin – Vice President
Jada Moss – Secretary
Pat Parkerson – Treasurer
Jeff McMillen – Fair Manager
Angie Meadows
Ron Paschal
JoDee Prichard
Johnny Barnes
Bobby Lee Hale
Caleb Taylor

The DeKalb County Fair, a non-profit organization, normally held in July, has been scheduled earlier this year featuring a new carnival James Gang Amusements based in Andalusia, Alabama.

Ride Arm Band Prices for the week of June 24-29 will be Monday-$20, Tuesday- $18, Wednesday -$20, Thursday-$18, Friday- $20, and Saturday- $20.

Although the fair won’t officially begin with all the shows and events until Monday, June 24, fairgoers can get a jump start on the fun in a pre-fair warm-up on Friday through Sunday, June 21-23 as the fairgrounds will be open (Friday & Saturday from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.) with free gate admission to anyone who wants to purchase a ticket or armband for carnival rides and games on the midway by James Gang Amusements. Armband prices for those three days only, June 21-23 will be $20 each day. Food vendors will be on site.

Since 1856, the DeKalb County Fair has been offering entertainment, Midway rides, food, exhibits, pageants, livestock shows and other action-packed events. Now in its 168th year, the Grandpa Fair of the South continues to live up to its 2024 theme of “Celebrating What Makes a Community Great.”

New fair events during the week this year include a Bump N Run Derby, Monster Truck Show, and Rodeo along with other old favorites, a demolition derby and motorcycle and ATV racing, among others. Lions Club Pavilion entertainment will feature David Turner and Friends, Center Hill Ramblers, Zone Status Band, Relentless Youth, Harvest Moon, and Square Dancing by Smithville Select, Caney Fork Circle Eight, DeKalb Dancing Delights and Center Hill Hoedown Square Dancers, among others.

The schedule of Fair events each night is as follows:

Monday, June 24:
Cattle Show-Ag Center- 6:00 p.m.
Junk Car/Bump N Run- TC McMillen Arena – 7:00 p.m.
Jr. Fair Princess (13-16)- Lions Pavilion – 6:00 p.m.
Fairest of the Fair (17-20)- Lions Pavilion – following
Miss Fair Queen (21-54)- Lions Pavilion – following
Lip Sync Battle (Round 1)- Lions Pavilion – following
Open Poultry Show (All Week)- Barn
Cash Drawing-Lions Pavilion – 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 25:
Little Mister & Miss (4-6)-Lions Pavilion – 6:00 p.m.
Mrs. Fair Queen (up to 54)- Lions Pavilion – following
Miss Senior Fair Queen (55 & up)- Lions Pavilion – following
Corn Hole Tournament- Ag Center – 7:00 p.m.
ATV/Motorcycle Racing- TC McMillen Arena 7:00 p.m.
Relentless Youth-Lions Pavilion– 8:00 pm.
Open Poultry Show (All Week)- Barn
Cash Drawing- Lions Pavilion – 9:30 p.m

Wednesday, June 26:
Lamb Grilling– 6:00 p.m.- Ag Center
Little Miss Princess (7-9)- Lions Pavilion – 6:00 p.m.
Miss Sweetheart (10-12)- Lions Pavilion – following
Kiddie Tractor Pull- Ag Center – 7:00 p.m.
ATV/Motorcycle Racing-TC McMillen Arena– 7:00 pm
David Turner and Friends-Lions Pavilion – 8:00 pm
Cash Drawing-Lions Pavilion – 9:30 p.m.
Open Poultry Show (All Week)- Barn

Thursday, June 27:
Senior Day & Century Farms- Ag Center – 9:00 a.m.
Junior Goat Show-Ag Center – 6:00 p.m.
Baby Show (up to 12 months)- Lions Pavilion – 6:00 p.m.
Zone Status Band- Lions Pavilion – 7:00 p.m.
Monster Truck Rides followed by Monster Truck Exhibition Show- TC McMillen Arena – 6:00 pm
Cash Drawing- Lions Pavilion – 9:30 p.m.
Open Poultry Show (All Week)- Barn

Friday, June 28:
Toddler Show (13-48 months) -Lions Pavilion – 6:00 p.m.
Farmer for a Day-Ag Center – 6:00 p.m.
Lip Sync Battle (Finale)-Lions Pavilion – following Toddler Show
Rodeo-TC McMillen Arena – 7:00 p.m.
Center Hill Ramblers- Lions Club Pavilion- 7:45 p.m.
DTC Games (Ages 3-12)-Ag Center –7:00 p.m.
Cash Drawing-Lions Pavilion – 9:30 p.m.
Open Poultry Show (All Week)- Barn

Saturday, June 29:
Square Dancing (Smithville Select, Caney Fork Circle Eight, DeKalb Dancing Delights, and Center Hill Hoedown Square Dancers – Lions Club Pavilion-6:00 p.m.
Harvest Moon –Lions Club Pavilion- 7:00 pm
Pet Show- Ag Center – 6:00 p.m.
Demolition Derby- TC McMillen Arena – 7:00 p.m.
Cash Drawing- Lions Pavilion – 9:30 p.m.
Homemade Ice Cream Contest -Ag Center-6:00 p.m.

Gates and Midway open at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. The exhibit building is open from 5:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Perishable exhibit items ONLY will be accepted Saturday, June 22 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. while non-perishables may be brought Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to the Kenneth Sandlin Center on the fairgrounds.

Parking at the fair is again free this year. Students in a DeKalb Middle School organization assist in directing the parking and that club is given a donation by the fair for their help.

Visit the DeKalb County Fair website at the link below for further information at www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com/

Fair Radio sponsors listed below:

June 5, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has announced the return of the Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day Saturday, June 8.

All Tennessee residents and visitors of any age can fish for free without a license in public waters across the state. Additionally, children aged 15 and younger can fish free for the entire week starting Saturday, June 8 through next Friday, June 14. There will also be several free fishing day events held across Tennessee including the Kids Fishing Rodeo at the big pond on Ferrell Road at Pea Ridge.

“Everybody regardless of age can fish without a license legally on Saturday, June 8. We will be having our annual Kids Fishing Rodeo at the big pond in the Pea Ridge Wildlife Management Area,” said TWRA officer Tony Cross.

“The fishing for kids only through age 16 will start at 7 a.m. until about noon on Saturday morning. We will probably have some prizes to give away. The ladies from the DeKalb Prevention Coalition will be there with snacks and drinks for the kids. We may also have some bait but just in case bring your own bait for catfish. The pond will be freshly stocked with channel catfish this week,” said TWRA officer Cross.

“You can arrive as early as 6 a.m. to find a good spot around the pond. A parking area is available. The pond is about an acre and a half or two acres. We can easily accommodate up to 100 kids. After 12 noon adults can also fish the pond. Typically, we have several adults who bring their kids”.

“Directions to the pond, take Short Mountain Highway (Highway 146) from Smithville into Cannon County, then turn onto Pea Ridge Road, look for Ferrell Road and follow the signs to the pond,” said Officer Cross.

Free Fishing Day is named in honor of Bobby Wilson who retired in 2022 after more than 40 years of service to the TWRA.

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