A Memorial Day Weekend Remembrance (View Video Here)

May 26, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Remembering!

Members of the community joined the American Legion Post #122 in observing Memorial Day during a program held Saturday at the county complex.

The event featured patriotic music by Susan Hinton, a welcome by Ronnie Redmon, presentation of Colors by the Marine Corps League’s Bobby Ray Detachment #1377 of McMinnville, the Pledge of Allegiance and then a performance of the Star-Spangled Banner by Emily Phillips, a prayer by local minister Larry Green, and the introduction of the speaker by Judy Redmon.

Ralph Vaughn, the featured speaker, spoke of heroes who paid the price throughout our country’s history to make it possible for Americans to enjoy the freedoms of today and he called on the community to carry on their legacy of service.

“Scripture tells us to honor those whom honor is due,” said Vaughn. “That’s why we are here today to pay tribute and honor to the befallen soldiers who gave the supreme sacrifice that you and I could be here today”.

“While those fallen soldiers, men and women fought with great valor and gave the supreme sacrifice, we also want to honor today our law enforcement, all of our first responders, and everybody who has contributed to the cause of freedom for America,” Vaughn continued.

“Memorial Day in America began as Decoration Day. When the Civil War ended in the spring of 1865 communities throughout America began having Decoration Day,” explained Vaughn. “The reason it was chosen for May is because flowers would be in bloom. They could take those flowers and decorate the graves of fallen soldiers, Union and Confederate. The first real large observance of Decoration Day was in 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery where approximately 5,000 participants decorated the graves of some 20,000 Civil War soldiers, Union and Confederate. Memorial Day later evolved to be held on the last of May to honor the fallen soldiers that decorate the graves. Congress later made Memorial Day official on the last Monday in May as we know it today to honor fallen soldiers of all wars,” he said.

Vaughn mentioned his own family’s connection to the Civil War with the service of his great great grandfather who served in the Tennessee Army and was wounded in the battle of Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga in 1863. Although he survived, Vaughn said his courageous great great grandfather bore the scars of the war the rest of his life.

Throughout the nation’s history, Vaughn said many great heroes have stood tall such as George Washington, Alvin C. York, George Patton, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower and many more but there were lesser known heroes who were just as courageous. “There are many people we stand on the shoulders of today including those who never made national headlines but they served and because of their service we are here today,” he said.

“We are to pass the torch,” Vaughn said. “You and I are to serve in some kind of capacity. It may be in the military, community service, law enforcement, or as a first responder. We all have a responsibility. We are here to serve. The Lord made us for His purpose. Lets give thanks today and may we never forget why we celebrate Memorial Day. May God Bless us. May He Bless our military, our law enforcement, first responders, and anyone who is committed to the cause of freedom,” said Vaughn who closed his remarks with a prayer.

After the program, the group gathered at the site of the veterans memorial monument outside the courthouse where a wreath was placed for the occasion followed by the Marine Corps League’s 3 Volley Salute and then Taps.

About the guest speaker:
Ralph Vaughn was home grown in DeKalb County. He managed and was broadcaster for radio station WJLE for 15 years from 1970-85. Vaughn was one of the original committee members of the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival and he served as emcee and voice of the Jamboree for 25 years.

Ralph later became President of Chambers of Commerce in Rutherford County, at Madison Georgia, and the Tennessee Christian Chamber of Commerce for a combined total of 18 years.

Vaughn was the personal assistant to Ronnie Barrett in Murfreesboro, the inventor of the shoulder fired 50 caliber rifle that is used by every branch of the United States military and allied countries around the world.

Ralph served six months in the U.S. Army and finished his military career with the 130th Military Police Company of the Tennessee Army National Guard. He and his wife June, another Smithville native, now live in Nashville.

May 25, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County’s local option sales tax collections for April, 2024 were up significantly compared to March but not quite as strong as April 2023’s numbers.

According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue, DeKalb County collected $170,469 in local option sales taxes in April, 2024, a big jump from the $145,744 generated in March, 2024, but slightly below collections of $171,314 in April, 2023.

Smithville’s collections for April were $426,387, a significant increase from March’s number of $371,116, and up from $392,905 in April, 2023.

Alexandria’s local option sales tax collections stood at $29,610 in April, up from $26,942 in March but below collections of $31,408 in April 2023.

Dowelltown’s collections for April were $3,342, slightly under March’s haul of $3,524, and just barely better than April 2023’s collection of $3,306.

Collections in Liberty stood at $13,575 in April, down from $14,130 in March, but stronger than $10,655 taken in during April 2023.

Net collections for the county and cities combined for April were $643,385, an increase from $561,458 in March, and better than the collections of $609,590 in April 2023.

April collections reflect activity for the previous month.

May 24, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Sheriff Patrick Ray has released the activity reports from School Resource Officers at all five schools in the county for the 2023-2024 year.

The reports from each school are as follows:

DeKalb West School SRO Billy Tiner
Traffic Accident- 1
Assisted School Staff- 296
Advisory Session with Public-1
Classroom Lectures- 8
School Meetings- 5
Community Meetings- 2
Ballgames Attended- 34
Arrest for weapons- 1
Removal of Students off School Grounds- 1
Student Searches- 1
Total- 350

Smithville Elementary SRO Roger Whitehead
Traffic Accident- 2
Assisted School Staff- 45
Assisted Patrol Division- 1
Medical Assists- 6
Motorist Assists- 15
Advisory Sessions with Students- 18
Advisory Sessions with Parents- 10
Advisory Sessions with School Staff- 35
Advisory Sessions with Public- 10
Law Enforcement Assists- 12
Ballgames Attended- 45
Student Searches- 1
Total 200

Northside Elementary School SRO Joseph Pack
Offense Reports Taken- 3
Assisted School Staff- 135
Assisted Patrol Division- 2
Medical Assists- 2
Motorist Assists- 2
Advisory Sessions with Students- 26
Advisory Sessions with Parents- 19
Advisory Sessions with School Staff- 64
Advisory Sessions with Public- 2
Law Enforcement Assists- 5
Ballgames Attended- 30
School Meetings Attended- 3
Student Arrests- 4
Student Searches- 6
Total 303

DeKalb Middle School SRO Joseph Carroll
Incident Reports- 4
Assist School Staff- 273
Assist Patrol- 15
Medical Assists- 10
Motorist Assists- 4
Advisory Sessions with Students- 247
Advisory Sessions with Parents- 21
Advisory Sessions with School Staff- 35
Law Enforcement Assists- 9
Classroom Lectures- 12
School Meetings-6
Ballgames Attended- 55
Alcohol Citations- 3
Theft Petitions- 1
Assault Petitions- 1
Tobacco Petitions- 4 (second time offenders)
Student Searches- 30
Locker Searches- 3
Knife Confiscations- 2
Alcohol Confiscations- 1
Cigarettes/Dip/Vape Confiscations- 10
Recovered Stolen Property- 5
Student Transports- 1
Total 752

DeKalb County High School SRO Chris McMillen
Offense Reports-1
Accident reports- 5
Assist School Staff- 129
Assist Detective Division- 7
Motorist Assist- 11
Advisory Sessions with Students- 236
Advisory Sessions with Parents- 67
Advisory Sessions with School Staff- 100
Advisory Sessions with Public- 10
Law Enforcement Assists- 31
Classroom Lectures- 1
Ballgames Attended- 43
Drug Petitions- 7
Theft Petitions- 1
Assault Petitions- 4
Tobacco Petitions- 3 (second time offenders)
Student Searches- 47
Vehicle Searches- 3
Drug Confiscations- 5 (marijuana vapes)
Cigarettes/Dip/Vape Confiscations- 15
Student Transports- 1
Total 727

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