Church Offers Shelter from the Cold

February 14, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church will open their fellowship hall tonight (Friday) as a warming shelter to the homeless or individuals and families without heat.

You are invited to seek warmth, shelter, and rest. The doors will be open starting at 7 p.m.

The church is located at 201 South College Street.

February 14, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

One day after a fire claimed a home on Prater Road, another blaze swept through a mobile home this morning (Friday) at 183 Kings Court Circle but the man living there got out safely.

According to County Fire Chief Donny Green, Jason Moore, who was renting the trailer from Melissa King, had gone to bed after doing some cooking and later awoke to a room filled with smoke. When he got up he found fire coming from the kitchen stove. Moore tried unsuccessfully to extinguish the blaze and ran next door to call for help.

Central dispatch was alerted and paged out members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department who arrived on the scene to find the home fully engulfed in flames. The trailer could not be saved but firefighters were able to keep it from spreading to another mobile home only eight feet away where a handicapped resident was living. The occupant was safely evacuated by neighbors and members of the sheriff’s department.

February 14, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Sealed bids are now being accepted from anyone wishing to purchase a Tiny House recently built by students in the DCHS Residential and Commercial Construction Class .

During Thursday night’s monthly meeting, the Board of Education set the minimum bid at $22,600 and will receive bids over the next month with a bid opening expected at the March meeting. The minimum bid would cover the costs of the project of $22, 530.

Brad Leach, DCHS Career and Technical Education Director had asked that the board consider establishing the minimum bid at $26,000.

Plans are to schedule an open house at a later date to give the public a chance to get an up close look at the Tiny House inside and outside.

The 8’ x 24’ Tiny House stands up to 13 feet and 6 inches and sets on a modified trailer that can be anchored or moved from place to place.

Accommodations in the Tiny House, although compact include a living room, kitchenette, bathroom, and sleeping space.

Specific features are as follows:
● Mobility by use of a trailer
● Central heat and air unit
● Cooktop
● Solid wood cherry cabinets
● Loft bedroom
● Cherry laminate flooring
● Bathroom with shower
● Metal roof
● Cedar wood siding ( stained and finished)
● 200 square feet including loft

For more information about the Tiny House call 615-597-4084.

In other business, the Board voted to contract with school psychologist Judy Malone to finish out the school year and entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Tennessee School for the Deaf to provide services.

In a brief personnel report, Director Patrick Cripps announced that Bethany Rigsby has been granted a leave of absence and that Walteen Parker, a teacher at DCHS, will be retiring as of June 30.

“She will be sorely missed. Ms Walteen has a special place in my heart. She is dearly loved. Ms Parker was also a cheerleading sponsor for many years and affected kids that way but she has affected a lot of us in the classroom too by showing her love to each student who walked through her doors,” said Cripps.

Smithville Elementary School Principal Summer Cantrell gave a brief report to the board on activities at her school.

“Our spring book fair is coming up the last week of February (February 24-28) and we want our families to know about that. Family night is Thursday night, February 27 from 3-6 p.m. and we will have our first annual family night with a lot of activities for our students in addition to the book fair”.

The board also adopted state rates for in-state mileage, per diem, and lodging after a recommendation in a federal audit finding.

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