Phillips wins Macon Bank and Trust Invitational

August 24, 2021
By:

DCHS freshmen, Mylie Phillips showed no signs of intimidation at her first high school cross country meet Saturday at the Macon Bank and Trust Invitational. Phillips set the pace for the field of fifty eight runners and claimed the victory seventeen seconds ahead of the second place finisher in the three mile race with an impressive time of 21:53. Emily Young (26:17), Cadee Griffith (27:01), Madeline Martin (27:38), and Kaylee Mullican (29:04) also completed the three mile course.

In the boys race, Aaron Gottlied finished sixth with a time of 18:07. Ian Colwell also medaled finishing 18th with a time of 19:40 in the field of eighty three athletes. Caleb Gray (20:25), Cooper Brown (20:40), Andrew Tramel (21:29), Kaleb Spears (23:02), Cale Brown (23:11) also competed for the tigers. Luke Robinson of Hume Fogg won the race with a time of 17:06.

In the JV race Xavier Parker (24:15), Sam Harris (24:21), Cesar Gaspar (27:23), Evan Carmichael (28:10) and Mason Taylor (35:07) raced against a field of 44 runners.

Athletes from Station Camp, Hume-Fogg, Cookeville, Macon County, Heritage High, Riverdale, Lebanon, Westmoreland, White House, Providence Christian Academy, and Portland High School competed in the event.

The high school team will compete this Saturday, August 28 at Voyles Classic in Hermitage, TN.

August 24, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A new company will be providing nurses around the clock, seven days a week for inmate healthcare at the DeKalb County Jail starting in September.

During Monday night’s monthly meeting, the County Commission adopted a recommendation of the Health, Education & Public Welfare Committee to enter into a contract with Fast Access of Chattanooga to provide 24/7 nurses at the jail. The annual cost will be $377,880, which is an increase of $134,223 above what the county pays under its current contract with Advanced Correctional Healthcare of Franklin for providing a 12 hour, seven day a week nurse for inmate healthcare at the jail. The deal expires August 31.

Since the 2021-22 county budget had already been adopted last week with $243,657 appropriated for 12/7 nursing care for inmates at the jail, the extra funds ($134,223) needed to pay for this new 24/7 service will be allocated through a budget amendment from the county’s fund balance reserves. The County Commission adopted the budget amendment after voting to enter into the contract with Fast Access Monday night.

Although it will cost more on the front end, Sheriff Patrick Ray recommended that the county sign on with this new company to provide 24/7 nursing care at the jail. He formally made the request at the Health, Education & Public Welfare Committee meeting on Monday, August 9 and representatives of three companies including Advanced Correctional Healthcare were also there to present proposals for the county to consider.

The committee voted to recommend that the county commission enter into a contract with Fast Access of Chattanooga to provide 24/7 nurses at the jail at an annual cost of $377,880.

Fast Access’ proposal was the least expensive of the three submitted. Advanced Correctional Healthcare offered to provide 24/7 nursing care for $421,679 including $20,000 pool money while Quality Correctional Healthcare presented a plan for $420,348.

During last Thursday night’s county commission committee meeting of the whole, Sheriff Ray said the liability risk to the county is too great not to have 24/7 nurses at the jail and in the long run it could save the county money.

“Currently during the 12 hour period when the nurse is not there, our correctional officers have to fix the inmates’ medications, draw insulin out of a bottle, take blood pressures, and do assessments on inmates for the doctors. We are going beyond the scope of what our expertise is as correctional officers at the jail. I am very concerned about the liability of our department taking on medical things. To cover the county, myself, and my department we ask for a 24 hour nurse and while it costs more there will be cost savings later in terms of emergency room visits. A lot of ER visits we make are due to inmate chest pains when the nurse is not there because they (prisoners) know we have to send them to the ER. An average ER bill is now probably $5,000 to $7,000 and if there are any extras the bill goes up from there. We can buy an EKG machine at a discounted rate from them (Fast Access) and let them do the EKGs in the jail instead of having to carry them to the emergency room to do them. I think that will save us some money on ER trips. I also called our insurance carrier for liability insurance and it will save us some money on our premiums next year by having 24 hour nurses,” said Sheriff Ray.

Although Sheriff Ray was unable to attend Monday night’s meeting, Chief Deputy Robert Patrick stressed the need for 24 hour nurses at the jail.

“When its time for the nurses to go home, the inmates tend to get sick. Last month we had to send someone to the ER for a tick bite. When the nurse is not there we have no other choice  but to call the doctor and since the doctor is not there to see the inmate  we have to simply send them to the ER because our staff is not medically trained to assess an individual correctly, take blood pressures or anything like that and I feel you are putting the county at a great liability by asking a young adult or somebody  who does not have training in the medical field to make those decisions,” he said.

Before the vote Monday night First District Commissioner Julie Young recommended that going forward this and any other contract changes be made prior to the budget for the year is finalized so the costs are known and accounted for without having to approve a budget amendment later.

August 24, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Dr. Denise Dingle is the new DeKalb County Medical Examiner.

She has been appointed by County Mayor Tim Stribling to take over the position which was held for many years by Dr. J.C. Wall, who passed away recently.

“Dr. J.C. Wall passed away July 31. He was the DeKalb County Medical Examiner for years but he was also my friend and neighbor. He was a friend to a lot of people. We send our condolences to his wife Sandra and Dr. Wall’s family. I ask that you continue to lift them up in prayer,” said Stribling during Monday night’s monthly county commission meeting.

The term of Medical Examiner is for five years through August 23, 2026. Dr. Dingle has agreed to accept the position. The county commission Monday night confirmed the appointment.

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