Safety Sphere Bollards Installed at Smithville Elementary, Northside, and DeKalb Middle School

February 14, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Safety sphere bollards have been put in place at the entrances of Smithville Elementary, Northside Elementary, and DeKalb Middle School as a security measure.

The purpose of the bollards is to serve as a barrier to prevent anyone from using an automobile to crash into the front of the buildings. Bollards are currently not planned for the entrances at the high school and DeKalb West School because it is already difficult for an automobile to make a direct hit on those buildings. However bollards may yet be placed near the entrance of the West School gym

The bollards and other security devices recently added to the school buildings were funded as part of $83,570 in grant money awarded to the DeKalb County School District from the state.

The grant funds were also used to install a key fob entry system at the high school, to purchase more surveillance cameras at all schools to monitor activity inside and outside the buildings and to provide school staff with more walkie talkies for better communication.

All high school students and faculty have been assigned an electronic key fob to gain entry to the buildings while school is in session. Except for class changes, all doors to each building are kept locked during the school day. The students’ key fobs are active only from 7:45 a.m. until 3 p.m. week days and from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. for the faculty. Administrators may use their key fobs at all times.

Visitors to DCHS, like the other four schools in the county, don’t have access to a key fob. Upon arrival they punch a button to alert the office of their presence. The door is unlocked and they are allowed to enter. Once inside, visitors must sign in. Unlike the other schools, DCHS poses more security challenges because there are so many other ways to gain entry by way of the vocational and agriculture/band room buildings in addition to the main entrance.

When students arrive for school each morning, the school doors are open. The students gather in the cafeteria and wait for the bell signaling them to go to their first class.  Once they are in the classrooms, the entrance doors to all buildings are locked.

Because the key fobs are programmed by computer, each students access can be limited to only the buildings they need to enter during the day and their use of the key fobs can be tracked through the system.

These security and safety needs of the school system were identified by a team assigned to make those assessments as a requirement for obtaining the grant.

Participating in those assessments locally were Director Patrick Cripps, Federal Programs Supervisor Dr. Danielle Collins, Attendance Supervisor Joey Reeder, Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins, Sheriff Patrick Ray, Smithville Fire Chief and Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie Parker, Alexandria Police Chief Chris Russell, and Earl Jared and Aaron Young of the District’s Maintenance Department.

February 14, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Northside Elementary School students found time to celebrate their love for Valentine’s Day Thursday afternoon.

IMG_4266 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

The children from second to fifth grade enjoyed refreshments and fun with their classmates, teachers, and families.

February 14, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County has lost another of its brave World War II veterans.

95 year old Joe Goodwin of Smithville passed away Tuesday at NHC Smithville. Mr. Goodwin was a Sergeant in the United States Army and served in World War II and was a Prisoner of War.

A native of White County, Joe had been a resident of Smithville since 1958. Joe loved sports and was himself a high school athlete.

Joe enlisted in the Army on March 11, 1943 and was honorably discharged on December 30, 1945. He was captured in Germany on December 16, 1944 and liberated by allied forces on April 30, 1945.

In this video documentary below, produced by Lori and Ashli Chew, Joe recounted his years of military service including the months he endured as a POW.

For his service to the country, Joe earned many accolades, medals, and ribbons including, among others, the American Theater Campaign Ribbon, an Eamet Campaign Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star, the Good Conduct Medal, a Purple Heart, the Victory Medal, and a Prisoner of War Medal. Years later, Mr. Goodwin was awarded an honorary degree from Cumberland University, and also was awarded an appreciation letter from the American Legion for his bravery in the face of battle.

Over the years Joe attended many veterans and memorial day observances and, when asked to speak, would often give an emotional account of his horrifying experiences as a Prisoner of War.

Joe was a member of the American Ex Prisoners of War, American Legion, VFW, and a University of Tennessee VFL (Vol for Life). He was also a retired car salesman with Stribling Chevrolet.

Joe was a dear friend to WJLE and for many years was a regular on the Fearless Forecasters College Football Talk Show where he would often share memories of Tennessee football games from decades past.

The awards WJLE presents every year to the top Fearless Forecasters are now named in honor of Joe.

The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Morgan Wallace will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from 12 noon until 3 p.m. and then the family will take a two hour rest period during which time they will not be present but visitors are still welcome. The family will return from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Daisy Goodwin and two sisters, Mildred Brent and Marie Hester. Survivors include his wife of 67 years Ann Simms Goodwin. Six children, Ronnie and Deborah Goodwin, Elizabeth and Tom Newkirk, Bill Goodwin, Joey and Kathy Goodwin, Pam and Gary Green, and Jill and Doug Omer. Nine grandchildren, Scott and Amanda Goodwin, Matt Goodwin, Grant and Taylor Goodwin, Katelyn Goodwin, Wesley and Melissa Young, Tom and Dena Newkirk, Michael Newkirk, Olivia Sloane Omer and Hope Omer. Seven great grandchildren, Cooper and Kiptyn Goodwin, Wyatt and Lanie Young, Jordan, Kaitlin, and Wyatt Newkirk.

Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lighthouse Christian Camp or to the Ex-Prisoners of War.

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