Smithville Fire Department Joins Effort to Promote Fire Prevention Week Campaign

September 18, 2023
By:

The Smithville Fire Department is teaming up with State Farm and the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week™ campaign, “Cooking Safety Starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.” This year’s campaign, which runs Oct. 8-14, works to educate families about simple but important steps they can take to keep themselves and others safe.

NFPA quote: “Cooking fires are the leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign works to highlight when and where cooking fires happen most often, along with simple ways to minimize those risks,” said Lorraine Carli, VP of Outreach and Advocacy.

Smithville Fire Department and Smithville State Farm Agent Mallory Pfingstler encourage all residents to cook with caution. In support of those efforts, Pfingstler recently donated a Fire Prevention Week kit to the fire department, which includes home fire safety and prevention activities and information for children and adults.

“State Farm encourages homeowners to make fire prevention an important part of their overall home safety plan. Fire Prevention Week reminds that cooking with caution should be at the top of the list. This also is a good time to check your smoke alarms to ensure they are functioning,” said Pfingstler.

Smithville Fire Department shared the following cooking safety tips through this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign:

•Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to prevent spills and burns.

•Always keep a lid nearby when cooking on the stove. If a small fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.

•Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

•If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

•Keep kids and pets 3 feet (1 m) from the stove/oven and where hot foods and liquids are being served.

•Watch what you heat. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

•Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.

•Be alert. If you are tired or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove/oven.
For more information about Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay Attention to Fire Prevention.”, visit www.fpw.org.

September 17, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Three incumbent directors of DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC Communication) were re-elected without opposition Saturday during the annual membership meeting.

Jim Vinson of the Milton exchange received 97 votes, Terry McPeak of the Norene exchange garnered 97 votes, and Brian Alexander of the Woodbury exchange tallied 100 votes.

Each of the three re-elected directors thanked the members for their support in the election.

In addition to Vinson, McPeak, and Alexander, members of the DTC Board of Directors are Bennie Curtis of Alexandria-President, James Dillard, Jr. of Gordonsville-Vice President, Randy Campbell of Liberty-Treasurer, Kathy Pugh of Auburntown, Ronnie Garrison of Smithville, Kurt Bass of Temperance Hall, and David Parker of Woodland. McPeak is the board secretary.

In his address to the members, DTC CEO Chris Townson reflected on the cooperatives recent progress and achievements in the improvement of services.

The text of his remarks follows:

“DTC Communications’ 2022 was shaped by innovation, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to our community. The story of our cooperative continues to unfold, and it’s driven by the core mission of improving the quality of life for our members and the communities we serve”.

Operational Highlights and Successes of 2022
“Reflecting on our 2022 operations, I’m proud to share that our cooperative has seen significant progress and achievements:

• Fiber Network Expansion: We extended our mainline fiber network in excess of 450 miles and provided access to more than 4,700 new locations. The continued build-out project is on target to be completed by 2024, more than three years ahead of our original schedule.

• Increased Connectivity: Our commitment to world-class broadband solutions was evident as we connected more members than ever, ensuring that our community remains ahead in a rapidly advancing technological landscape.

• Economic and Community Development: Our efforts went beyond connecting households to advancing work on several strategic grants. DTC completed work on a USDA Reconnect-2 Grant covering portions of Smith, Trousdale and Wilson Counties. Additionally, with the award of a TNECD Emergency Broadband Fund – American Rescue Plan Grant, and grants from Cannon, DeKalb, Smith, and Wilson Counties, we’ve cemented our joint role in economic development and community betterment.

• Investment in Education: We continue to empower the next generation, upgrading primary broadband access to 10 Gig for our local schools, by investing in local classrooms, and also by promoting student advancement in various fields such as video production”.

Resilience in a Changing World
“In our more than 70-year history, we have witnessed the technological transformations that have redefined human connectivity. We’ve grown from being a provider of telephones to a facilitator of an interconnected world where video calls, streaming, social media, and internet-connected devices are essential parts of daily life”.

“As we navigated the complexities of the global landscape in 2022, we’ve been agile and proactive. We’ve met the ever-increasing demand for bandwidth and contained costs while also minimizing the impacts of global supply chain issues”.

Continuing Our Human-Centric Mission
“Amid the technological advancements, our human-centric mission remains unchanged. From our early days of putting the first telephone lines on poles to our current cutting-edge fiber optic network, we have been, and will always be, about making meaningful connections”.

“We understand that reliable communication is essential for individuals, businesses, schools, and governments, especially in our rural community. The terrain may be challenging, and the equipment expensive, but we are committed to excellence, fairness, and dependability”.

“Our Gig-capable broadband service provides high-speed internet and unlocks possibilities for economic development, e-commerce, e-healthcare, and entertainment. As we are on the cusp of introducing multi-gig services, we will maintain affordability and reliability”.

Looking Towards the Future
“As we look towards the future, our focus remains steadfast on our collective community in beautiful Middle Tennessee. We will continue to work with local, state, and federal leaders to open doors for growth and opportunity”.

“Our strength lies in the active participation and engagement of our members. We’re not just providing services; we’re shaping futures. The power of our cooperative is in the diverse, personal ways our members utilize the platform and services we supply”.

Conclusion
“Every day at DTC Communications, we work to bring you critical resources, and our efforts in 2022 are a testament to our dedication. Your Board of Directors continues to put members first as they direct the cooperative to financial and operational health, while DTC’s employees work diligently to deliver world-class services and products that improve the quality of life in our communities. Still, none of this would be possible without you”.

“I extend heartfelt thanks from our board of directors, company management, and employees to our members. Together, we’re making meaningful connections”.

“Here’s to another year of innovation, growth, and community. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey,” said Townson.

September 17, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Charges are pending against a Pennsylvania man, formerly of Smith County, who placed a false call reporting a stabbing and shots fired at an Alexandria residence Thursday, September 14.

Alexandria Police Chief Travis Bryant said 18-year-old Kaleb Rose of Indiana County, Pennsylvania is facing felony warrants. He has been apprehended in Pennsylvania and is awaiting extradition back to Tennessee to answer these offenses.

Chief Bryant explained what happened in this incident.

“On Thursday September 14 at approx. 2:05 p.m. officers from the Alexandria Police Department and the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to a residence on Shady Lane in reference to a female being stabbed by another female suspect. The caller also stated that the female had a handgun and rifle and had been firing shots inside the residence. The caller also said that the suspect would fire on responding law enforcement officers. Upon arrival, officers were able to make contact with the individuals at the residence. There were no indications of a shooting or assault that had occurred. The individuals on scene stated that nothing had happened and cooperated with officers in determining the facts of the case,” said Chief Bryant.

“Soon after law enforcement’s arrival it was determined to be a false call. Through the course of the investigation, it was discovered that a male subject, later identified as Kaleb Rose of Indiana County, PA, had made the call and knew the information to be false. His intention was to utilize law enforcement in a manner to scare and intimidate the individuals at that residence through police action. Kaleb Rose is a former resident of Smith County and knew the individuals at that residence. At no point were residents in the area in any danger and it appears to be an isolated incident,” said Chief Bryant.

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