Recent Wrecks Keep THP Busy

August 13, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A McMinnville woman was airlifted after a two vehicle crash Monday morning at the intersection of Highway 70 and Dale Ridge Road on Snow Hill.

According to Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol 44 year old Sarah Murphy was traveling west on Highway 70 in a 2014 Chevy Equinox when her vehicle was hit in the passenger side by a 2005 Chevy Tahoe, driven by 31 year old Kyle Mecham of Lancaster who was turning east onto Highway 70 from Dale Ridge Road and failed to yield the stop sign. Four minors were passengers with Mecham.

After hitting the Equinox, Mecham’s Tahoe then went across all lanes of travel and over a steep embankment. She was cited for failure to obey a traffic control device and violation of financial responsibility.

Murphy was airlifted from near the scene and flown to Vanderbilt Hospital. No one else was transported to the hospital.

Members of the DeKalb EMS, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and DeKalb Volunteer Fire Department were on the scene.

Meanwhile a Smithville man is facing charges after a truck crash Thursday on Allen Ferry Road.

According to Trooper William Jackson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol 46 year old Mark A. Mason, Jr. was east on Allen Ferry Road in a 2002 Chevy S-10 when he failed to maintain the proper lane and ran into a ditch off the left side of the roadway striking a fence line and a utility pole. The truck came to a final rest in a pasture.

Mason was not believed to have been seriously injured and reportedly refused transport by DeKalb EMS to the hospital. Members of the DeKalb County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene

Mason was charged with failure to exercise due care, failure to carry and exhibit drivers license on demand, and violation of financial responsibility.

August 13, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A retirement reception is scheduled Friday, August 17 for Katherine Pack, who steps down at the close of business August 31 after 16 years serving as DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk.

The five-hour reception will be from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the auditorium of the DeKalb County Community Center at 712 South Congress Boulevard, Smithville. Family, friends, and DeKalb County elected officials would like to invite you to help celebrate Katherine’s retirement. Refreshments will be served.

Katherine was first elected in 2002 and is completing her fourth term. She chose not to seek re-election.

“I am still upset with her that she is leaving but I understand. She has devoted virtually her entire life to public service and she deserves to enjoy retirement and not be tied to a schedule and all the obligations that her office has entailed,” said General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II.

“I have known Katherine for many years. Prior to her becoming Circuit Court Clerk she was the probation officer for misdemeanor offenders through the UCHRA program and before that she worked at the jail for many years. During her time as Circuit Court Clerk, Katherine has operated the office with courtesy, efficiency,  and every single lawyer that ever walks into that door will tell you that there is not a clerk’s office that they have ever been to that was as courteous , friendly, and cooperative as Katherine’s and that is a testament to her. She is a blessing to our community and everyone that knows her or has come in contact with her I think feels the same way. She is a gift to us. I want to wish her well in her retirement but I am going to miss her tremendously,”  said Judge Cook.

Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen said he could always count on Katherine for sound advice especially  in helping solve problems.

“She is more than a friend. She is like a family member to me. I have known her since her husband at the time, Kenneth Pack was elected Sheriff for the first time in 1986. That was the same year I was first elected Register of Deeds. She worked for him at the sheriff’s office and over the years she became like family. She is just a great person and has been a mentor of mine. The thing I will always appreciate about her is that she always looked for a solution to a problem. Sometimes when we did have issues I would always go to her and ask for her advice on what we needed to do because she was always level headed. I appreciate her friendship and its good to know she is still just a phone call away if I need her advice on something,” said McMillen.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said he also has a close working relationship with Katherine

“She and I both were born and raised in the Belk Community, so I have known Katherine my entire life.”

“I really got to know her on a personal level when I started with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department in 1989. She was a great person to work with at the Sheriff’s Department and we have continued our working relationship with each other while she has served as Circuit Court Clerk and me serving as Sheriff,” said Ray.

“She has always been someone I could go and talk to about things that were happening in my profession as a law enforcement officer and my personal life as well. She has always tried to give ne Godly advice about whatever problem I was having,” he said

“Katherine is a wonderful person that I will miss seeing on a daily basis. I wish her the best in her retirement and in her future endeavors,” added Sheriff Ray.

“She has paid her dues and its time for her to relax and make those good coconut cakes and Elvis Presley cakes she makes me every year for my birthday and she had better keep doing it,” concluded Judge Cook.

August 12, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps updated the Board of Education Thursday night on personnel moves since the July meeting.

Those employed are as follows:

Kelly Agee, teacher at DCHS, replaces Jane Rice

Sean Antoniak, teacher at DeKalb West School, replaces Cynthia Wilson

Brooke Anderson, teacher, Special Education

Thomas Blumette, teacher at DCHS, replaces Justin Burum

Tina Cantrell, cook

Clarie Cloyd, teacher, Special Education

Michael Corser, bus driver

Kayla Cowan, teacher, Smithville Elementary School, Pre-K

Gates Craighead, music teacher, Smithville Elementary/ Northside Elementary, replaces Dalton Hawkins

Heather Gilliam, art teacher, DeKalb Middle School/DeKalb West School

Jessica Griffith, teacher at DCHS, replaces William Jarvis

Danyelle Hawkins, teacher at DCHS, replaces Marilyn Roberts

Rachel Hernandez, teacher at DeKalb Middle School, Special Education

Sherry Hobbs, custodian at DeKalb West School, replaces Kathy Malone

Jonathan Holland, music teacher at DeKalb West/DeKalb Middle School, replaces Emily Phillips

Samantha Leiser, teacher at DeKalb Middle School

Kristen Lynch, teacher at DeKalb Middle School, Special Education

Kady Moffett, teacher at Smithville Elementary, Special Education

Holly Moore, educational assistant at DCHS

Hunter Poteete, teacher at DeKalb Middle School

Lindaey Pullum, teacher at DCHS replaces Andrew Cook

Kathy Ramsey, teacher at Northside Elementary School

Joe Ruch, teacher at DCHS, Special Education

John Sanders, teacher at DCHS

Sandra Saracho, teacher at Northside Elementary

Brent Simpson, teacher at DCHS, replaces Nallely Prater

Danni Stahlke, Librarian at DeKalb Middle School

Martha Taylor, CSH Assistant, part-time

Gabby Turner, teacher at Smithville Elementary School

Lisa Woods, Occupational Therapy Assistant, county-wide

Brandi Womack, educational assistant at DeKalb West School

Chris Young, teacher at DeKalb Middle School.

Substitutes:

Guylene Atnip, Victoria Bennett, Lisa Bowman, Shannon Cantrell, Cindy Childers, Michael Corser, Liz Cripps, Jacque Lynn Drake/Corley, Donna Davis, Linda Dean, Sue Driver, Donna Evans, Amanda Ford, Annette Greek, Carol Hale, Keshia Hale, Charlene Hallum, Brenda Holloway, Jean Hope, Brandi Johnson, Dale Johnson, Kathy Kelly, Regina Kent, Jill Lane, Constance Medley, Kenzie Morris, Patti Norris, Grace Odom, Angela Osment, Pat Parkerson, Logan Pierce, Jessica Rackley, Judy Redmon, Alyssa Reeder, Virginia Rose, Nancy Stanley, Emilee Stephens, Patricia Tallent, Kim Taylor, Luanna Tollett, Allyson Trapp, Zachary Vincent, Tommy Washer, Mary Williams, Belinda Woodham, Megan Yates, Wanda Vickers, Kim Young, and Samantha Young.

Eric Gaw and Patrick Pichey, custodian

Leave of Absence granted as requested: Whitney Brelje, Diana Moon, Ginger Wenger, and Crystal Young

Transfers:

Brooke Atnip, transferred from educational  assistant at DeKalb West School to DCHS Alternative Learning replacing Doris Graham

Ria Baker, transferred from substitute to educational assistant at DeKalb West School

Kortney Blaylock, transferred from substitute to educational assistant at Northside Elementary School

Amanda Goodwin, transferred from substitute to educational assistant at Northside Elementary School

Paulette McDonald, transferred from educational assistant at DCHS to Smithville Elementary School

Debbie London, transferred from substitute bus assistant to full time, replacing Judy Wiggins

Bethany Poss, transferred from substitute to  educational assistant at Smithville Elementary School

Doris Graham, transferred from alternative learning assistant to Secretary at DeKalb Middle School

Joy Tronsoco, transferred from substitute to educational assistant at Northside Elementary School

Resignations:

Vickey Atnip, educational assistant at DCHS, Special Education

Eden Nokes, educational assistant at Smithville Elementary, Special Education

Laura Patterson, educational assistant at DCHS

Nallely Prater, teacher at DCHS

Amelia Randolph, educational assistant at Smithville Elementary

Marilyn Roberts, teacher at DCHS

Jessica Styer, teacher at Northside Elementary School

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