DWS Junior Beta Places Third at State Convention

November 26, 2019
By: Bill Conger

The DeKalb West School Junior Beta Club finished third in one of the competitions at the state convention in Nashville this past weekend. The technology team of Kolton Slager, Bradley Pelham, and Riley Fuson earned the honor and the right to move on to the National Junior Beta Convention in Texas next summer.

“I am very proud that the Technology Team placed third out of all the schools attending convention,” said DWS Jr. Beta Co-sponsor Nadina Martel. “The video they created portrayed the theme “Broadening Beta’s Vision” very well. The team created a video that showed how Beta students can serve in small and big ways. They showed ideas of service growing from helping out at home, at school, in the community, the state, and the world.”

All three judges gave the DWS team scores in the top two levels of the rubric for all areas including a perfect “20” score in one category.

Twenty-eight students attended the three day event at Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Competing in the Performing Arts group were Alyssa Crook, Tess Barton, Brynn Harvey, Blair Gipe, Jaxon Humphrey, Kayleigh Overstreet, Xavier Parker, Brooklyn Sutherland, Maressa Rose, Jordyn Turbeville, Emily Young, Caroline Crook, and Wesley Kent. Tess and Caroline also performed as a duo this year. The rest of the club in attendance assisted with props for the performance.

“They took the stage and owned it the entire time they performed!” says Mary Puckett, who oversaw the team. “With only a few mistakes that were quickly corrected, the group gave western DeKalb County something to be proud of. The routine was based around “stepping” or step dancing. That type of dance uses the body and feet as a percussion instrument to make that complex rhythms and sounds with combinations of stomps, claps and slaps. Learning to step is a complex task that takes many hours of practice. The Bulldog step team was up for the challenge.”

Caleb Lawson entered the math contest, and Jackson Vantrease applied his talents in the Creative Writing contest. On the robotics team were Alex Antoniak, Marshall Farler, Brayden Carter, Thomas Damron, Evan Prichard, and Wesley Kent. The Book Battle students were Kenson Moss, Daniel Stiffler, and Presley Finocchiaro. The Living Literature team included Caleb Lawson, Jackson Vantrease, Presley Finocchiaro, and Daniel Stiffler. On the Engineering team were Ella Hendrixson, Grant Buterbaugh, Tess Barton, Brayden Carter, and Alex Antoniak.

“Each one of them worked hard to prepare for the convention, and I am so very proud of them all,” says Lead DWS Jr. Beta Club Sponsor Jessica Antoniak.

November 26, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

After two years of talking about building a new school, the Board of Education may be ready to act.

During a special called meeting set for Thursday, December 5 at 6 p.m. the board may act on the purchase of land and new school construction. Although the board has the authority to select what type of school to build the county commission would have to be brought in for approval of funding.

In September, 2017 the school board hired Upland Design Group to conduct a school facilities study and in December of that year the architects came back with a recommendation that Smithville Elementary School be replaced and repurposed for other uses. A variety of construction options were offered for consideration. Since then the Board has had a series of meetings and workshops to reach a consensus on a plan and in October, 2018 voted to seek funding for the construction of a new elementary school for students in pre-kindergarten to 2^nd grade to replace Smithville Elementary School. Upland Design then went to work on developing proposed site plans for the school to be built on the campus of Northside Elementary School which they unveiled in March, 2019. But sensing that more space might be needed to adequately accommodate a new school and for future development, the Board set out in search of property to buy.

At least five locations have been considered in recent months but so far the Board has not acted. Also at least one school board member and even a few county commissioners have questioned the wisdom in building a Pre-K through 2 elementary school when there are also other needs. Some say the better plan would be to build two schools for pre-kindergarten to 8^th graders. Something that would most likely require zoning.

During a workshop with the school board earlier the month, an architect from Upland Design shared updated estimates on the cost of building a new Pre-K- 2nd grade School for 900 students ($30,170,500) versus construction of two new Pre-K to 8^th grade schools for 700 students each ($48,685,000) total. He added that the actual cost per square foot could range between $200-$220 depending on the construction market at the time of the bid. This value would also fluctuate based on actual site conditions.

Prior to the special called meeting on December 5^th, the school board will have a work session at 5 p.m. to again consider their options and has invited members of the county commission to join them in the discussions.

November 26, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A suspected drunk driver believed responsible for a fatal head on crash in March on South Congress Boulevard was named in a sealed indictment returned by the DeKalb County Grand Jury Friday.

39 year old James Christopher Vaughn is indicted for driving under the influence, vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, simple possession of a schedule VI drug (Marijuana), and failure to maintain lane of travel. He is under a $100,000 bond and will be arraigned in Criminal Court on December 10.

The crash occurred on Sunday, March 31. 65 year old Bessie Blevins was seriously injured and died two months later.

According to Smithville Police, Vaughn was driving north on South Congress Boulevard in a Chevy Cobalt when he crossed into the southbound lane and struck a Mercedes SUV driven by Billy Blevins near the intersection of Congress and Bryant Street. Bessie Blevins was a passenger.

After impact, Vaughn’s car came to rest in the center of the road and burst into flames. The SUV stopped in the grass on the west side of Congress Boulevard.

Vaughn, though seriously injured in the crash, was not believed to have suffered any burns. He apparently got out of his car before it caught fire. Before going to the hospital, Vaughn submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Vaughn’s speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. He also had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. Vaughn agreed to a blood test. He was taken by DeKalb EMS to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital and then airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Bessie Blevins was taken by EMS to the hospital. Mr. Belvins went to the hospital by private vehicle. Bessie passed away Wednesday May 29 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro

The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department was also on the scene.

The crash was investigated by Smithville Police Sergeant Travis Bryant

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