Temperance Hall Station Getting Newer Fire Truck

February 27, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The Temperance Hall Fire Station is getting a newer truck thanks largely to USDA Community Facility Grant funding.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission adopted a $33,800 budget amendment covering the purchase of the truck at $27,655 and the remainder of the grant but all except for $2,800 of it will be reimbursed to the county through the federal grant program.

The truck, a 1996 International Model 4900 with 22,000 miles, is being purchased online through govdeals. It will be stationed at the Temperance Hall Fire Station. The fire hall itself is also undergoing some upgrades including the installation of a new roof, guttering, block repair, etc.

This is the third fire truck the county has been able to purchase through this grant program according to County Mayor Tim Stribling. The first truck, a 1992 model with 17,000 miles, was purchased from the City of Smithville last April for $30,000 and located at the Cookeville Highway Fire Station. The second truck, a 1993 model with less than 25,000 miles was purchased in October for $25,000 from a fire department in Connecticut to be located at the new Four Seasons Fire Hall when it is completed.

“A couple of years ago we received two grants from the USDA amounting to $88,800. The local match on the grants was $57,800. The way this works is we (county) have to spend our local match first ($57,800) and any amount above that up to the full grant amount of $88,800 will be reimbursed to the county ($31,000) through the grant program. To date we have spent $55,000 for the two fire trucks and will be spending another $27,655 for the third truck. We will still have left to spend $6,145 to finish out the grant,” said County Mayor Stribling.

February 27, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The Dodge Ball Last One Standing Dodge Ball Challenge will be Saturday, March 9 to benefit the DCHS Tigerette Softball program.

The event had been scheduled for this Saturday, March 2 but has been postponed for a week due to the DCHS Lady Tigers’ being in the sub-state on Saturday, March 2.

Games begins at 11 a.m. at the DCHS gymnasium. Registration is at 10 a.m.

Divisions: 6th to 8th grade, 9th to 12th grade, Women (all female teams will play in women’s high school division) Men’s (co-ed teams welcome).

For more information call Renee Walker at 931-808- 0169 or Jamie Cripps at 931-319-1981.
Find/follow this event on facebook-Last One Standing Dodge Ball Challenge-DCHS Tigerette Softball.

February 27, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Second in series of five stories. 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Almost 40 years ago Vicky Hawker embarked on a career path that she has thoroughly loved and enjoyed and today her passion for teaching is just as strong as when she began.

Hawker is this year’s Teacher of the Year at Smithville Elementary School and she is among four other educators being considered for DeKalb County Teacher of the Year.

IMG_4402 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Born and raised in DeKalb County, Hawker was educated in the school system here from first grade to high school and then went on to college where she earned a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and an Education Specialist (EdS) degree from MTSU.

Although she has changed classrooms three times, Hawker has taught at the same school her entire career working with first graders. “I teach reading, math, spelling, phonics, language, writing, and we combine science and social studies in with the reading,” she said.

Although changes in teaching methods and standards have come along the way, Hawker said she has been able to adapt. “Teaching has been more challenging in the last 10 years with the new technology, report cards, evaluations, and portfolios but I still love teaching and I love the kids,” she said.

Asked how she reacted to having been named Teacher of the Year at Smithville Elementary, Hawker said “I was really excited that my peers voted for me. That was a great honor”.

And if she were to be selected as the DeKalb County Teacher of the Year, Hawker said that would be even more special. “It’s already been great to be selected at the school level but for DeKalb County that would be really awesome,” added Hawker.

When she began her career, Hawker said her goal was to teach for at least 40 years but don’t look for her to retire anytime soon. “ I am not thinking about it right now. I haven’t decided to go yet,” concluded Hawker.

In addition to Hawker, this year’s honorees are Justin Nokes, seventh grade World History teacher at DeKalb Middle School; fifth grade teacher Cheryl Vandagriff at Northside Elementary School; Jessica Antoniak, a sixth grade math and science teacher at DeKalb West School; and Linda Parris, a family and consumer sciences/culinary arts teacher at DeKalb County High School.

WJLE will be featuring each of the five Teachers of the Year at the school level through next Tuesday. A feature on Justin Nokes aleady appears further down this page under local news.

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