Chamber Welcomes Sober Living of Tennessee As New Member

July 2, 2019
By:

DeKalb County has another resource for those needing treatment and recovery support services. Sober Living of Tennessee, Inc. was welcomed by the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce as a new member Thursday, June 27 with a ribbon cutting ceremony commemorating the newly opened Intensive Outpatient Program (also known as IOP).

IOP is a primary treatment program recommended in some circumstances by a clinical and medical assessment. IOP may be recommended for those who do not need medically-supervised detox. IOP can also enable people in recovery to continue their recovery therapies following successful detox, on a part-time yet intensive schedule, designed to accommodate work and family life.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017.

(https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2017-nsduh-annual-national-report)

In 2016, there were 1,631 drug overdose deaths in Tennessee – 1,186 were from opioids. It is no secret that illicit and prescription drugs have risen to a national emergency, but there is now more help locally.

This is the first time for citizens in DeKalb County to have access to an intensive outpatient program without having to travel to a neighboring county for similar treatment. IOP is offered for both adults and adolescents on Tuesday-Thursday from 9:00am-12:00pm for adults and 4:00pm-7:00pm for adolescents. There is also a low intensive outpatient program (LIOP) for both adults and adolescents on Friday’s at 2:00pm for adults and 3:00pm for adolescents.

In addition to IOP, Sober Living of TN offers a variety of services including anger management and helping individuals get in to inpatient treatment as well as provide housing for individuals who need recovery in a supervised environment. Sober Living of TN began as a way to serve a need in the community for a safe, stable environment that nurtures sobriety and encourages the individual to maintain a healthy, happy, and productive life. More information on all the services provided can be found at https://www.soberlivingservices.com.

For those interested in receiving treatment services, you can either call Sober Living of Tennessee 615-318-1337 or stop by the office 115 West Market Street in downtown Smithville. TennCare and commercial insurances accepted.

Pictured L-R

Suzanne Williams Smithville-DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Director, Lisa Cripps DPC Coordinator, Kathy Hendrixson Librarian Justin Potter Library, Kate Arnold DeKalb County Recovery Court Coordinator, Katherine Pack, Steve Hume Lead Therapist, Tom Vickers Vice-President Sober Living of TN, Bob Kelsey Clinical Director, Jackie Vickers President Sober Living of TN, Janice Bean Officer Manager Sober Living of TN, Leigh Fuson DeKalb Extension/4H, Josh Miller City of Smithville Mayor, Attorney Sue Puckett, & Beth Adcock Smithville-DeKalb Chamber President

July 2, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb Middle School Saint Bernard Clothing Market is in need of donations in time for Back to School.

Donations will be accepted for the third annual market at DeKalb Middle School on July 3, July 12, and July 26 from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.

If you would like to drop off donations are other times please email Suzette Barnes at suzettebarnes@dekalbschools.net to let her know.

Barnes and Angela Johnson, sponsors of the DMS Student Council said the clothing market was started two years ago as a way of serving students who were in need of clothes and shoes.

“We saw a need at the beginning of the school year a couple of years ago where students needed clothes and shoes so we felt like it was a worthy cause. We started working together to get people to help us volunteer to make it happen,” said Johnson.

“We collect clothes during the summer so if you are cleaning out from a yard sale and you have good items you would like to donate to students here at DeKalb Middle School we will take them. We will set up a store in our gym on registration day later this summer where the students can shop,” said Barnes

“It has really been successful in the previous two years we have done this. We even have grandparents who are raising their grandchildren and they need clothes and supplies so we have been able to supply them during their times of need when they bring the kids in to register for school,” Barnes continued.

“This is for Middle School sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students and we allow their families to shop too if they need clothing or materials. Any child is eligible. We open it up for our entire school. Any of our students can come and participate in it. We try to furnish shoes, jackets, and any type of clothing as well as backpacks. Of course we can’t do it without donations. If people in the community would like to donate things they think teenagers would wear we can take those donations during the drop off times,” said Barnes.

“It seems we need the smaller and larger sizes of clothes more than anything and shoes. We also collect personal hygiene products and try to send some of those home with the students such as deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.,” added Johnson.

“We don’t take household items. We stay away from that but we do need clothes in youth large to adult extra large sizes including anything that has elastic waistbands like sweatpants or leggings. Those come in handy because we can use them on different sized students,” added Barnes.

Although cash donations can be accepted for purchase of clothes it is not preferred.

After the clothes are collected, the school will set aside times during registration for the new school year when students in the sixth through eighth grade at DeKalb Middle can shop for clothes and shoes free of charge.

“When sixth graders come in to register they will get to go in and shop and then August 1 seventh and eighth graders can shop at that time,” said Barnes.

July 2, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville is in search of a new airport manager.

Joe Johnson, who has held the position for three years, is stepping down as of July 26.

Mayor Josh Miller made that announcement during Monday night’s regular monthly city council meeting but asked the aldermen to appoint Johnson to the city’s airport advisory board. The vote was unanimous.

Johnson, who was also at the meeting, said that while he is retiring he will still be available to help his successor if needed.

“My intentions are to leave July 26 but I know hiring an airport manager may take a week or two longer so it’s okay if I need to stay longer. But when you do hire a new airport manager, I’d like to see the airport continue on the way it’s been going. It’s been progressing and doing good. I think we broke even on it this year for the first time in years. I’d like to keep it rolling so I’ll be available to the new airport manager to help him,” said Johnson.

During his three years as manager, Johnson has helped the city qualify for several grants to improve the airport operation including plans for a new parallel taxiway, which is still in the making.

“You have outdone yourself at the airport Joe. I think we would all agree with that. There are big shoes to fill,” said Mayor Miller.

“We’re sorry to see Joe retire. The city is really going to miss him as airport manager. I’m not sure the citizens will ever really understand what all he has done for the city at the airport. It’s a great loss but he will be part of the transition and he will help train whoever the new airport manager is going to be. With him still being around as part of the airport board that will be a tremendous asset to the city. He will never know how much we appreciate what he has done,” said City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson.

Johnson said he is not due all the credit and thanked others for their support. “What has happened at the airport is not all me. It’s you (mayor, aldermen, and city attorney). Without your support the airport wouldn’t be where it’s at. I’ve never asked for anything I didn’t need but I have never been turned down for anything. I want to thank you for the support you have given me,” said Johnson.

The city will begin the process of accepting applications and resumes which will be reviewed by the airport advisory board for a recommendation to the mayor and aldermen.

In other business, Mayor Miller and the aldermen, without a vote, agreed that the DeKalb County High School Golf Team should not have to pay the fees for using the city golf course to play their regular season or tournament matches and practices as a team. The same waiver had already been extended to the DCHS tennis teams using the city’s tennis courts.

The aldermen, acting on the mayor’s recommendation, also voted to make a change in the city’s vision insurance coverage for employees. Under the current insurance plan, no local optometrists were included in the network.

“We can switch plans at a cost to the city of less than $600 a year and it will cover everyone (city employees) and our local doctors will be in the network,” said Mayor Miller.

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