DeKalb West School Holds Elementary Career Day

April 5, 2019
By: Bill Conger

Normally, ventriloquist David Turner might get upset if someone called him a dummy.  But that was just what he was going for when he visited DeKalb West School students on Monday, April Fool’s Day. Turner, who is an entertainer, was one of several speakers that visited the school for the annual Elementary Career Day. He dressed to create the illusion that he was the ventriloquist doll while the dummy looked to be the human being.

D.W.S. students in PreK-5^th grades were able to learn about a variety of jobs. Sarah Lincoln of Cool Doggie Doo’s brought her mobile grooming bus to show students how she takes care of pets. Erica Garrett from the Village Hair Salon and Barbers in Alexandria demonstrated the work of a cosmetologist.  Luke and Jody Prichard of Prichard’s Excavation and Trucking gave students in Kindergarten through 5^th grade the chance to climb aboard a Bobcat while Cassie Brown, a Registered Dietitian with Summit Hospital in Nashville, told about she helps people make good food choices that will help their health. The DeKalb County Fire Department and Sparky also came out to tell about learning to fight fires.

A Career Day for DWS students in 6^th-8^th grades will be held in May.

April 5, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is set for Saturday, April 27. As part of this major health and safety initiative, the DeKalb Prevention Coalition will host this take-back event at Smithville City Hall and the Alexandria City Hall from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m..

Community members are encouraged to stop by these local take-back locations to drop off their unused or expired medications, especially pain relievers and other prescription drugs. Health Care and law enforcement officers will be on hand to accept the medications and safely dispose of them, no questions asked.

Many people cleaned out their medicine cabinets for the last disposal in October. In fact, 46 pounds of prescription drugs were collected that day in Smithville.

The event was supported by the DeKalb County Health Department, Department of Children Services, and local constables.

“Two-thirds of Tennesseans said the main sources of prescription pain pills for those who abuse them are family members or friends,” said Lisa Cripps, Coordinator of DPC. “Take-back days are a safe and easy way to get these drugs out of your home.”

“Count It! Lock It! Drop It! is a comprehensive community program for prescription drug abuse prevention. The program’s focus is for all Tennesseans to count their pills, keep them locked away, and safely drop them in an official drop box to prevent others from accessing them,” said Kristina Clark, co-founder of Count It! Lock It! Drop It!^TM.

“With 52 percent of individuals statewide having concerns about a loved one’s becoming addicted, we want to provide more opportunities for people to safely dispose of their medications. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day occurs twice a year, so we can better prevent these addictive drugs from getting into the wrong hands.”

If you can’t make it to a take-back event, visit http://countitlockitdropit.org/drop-box-finder/ to find a drop box in your community.

About CLD

Count It! Lock It! Drop It!^TM (CLD) is a comprehensive community program for prescription drug misuse prevention based in Coffee County, Tenn. With support from the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association, and the community at large, the program is leading a statewide education effort to combat the misuse and abuse of prescription pain medication. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, 7,636,112 opioid prescriptions were written in 2016, and it is CLD’s mission to make the community aware of the risks and dangers associated with the prescription drug misuse epidemic.

About DEA Take-Back Events

In April 2017, Americans turned in more than 900,000 pounds of prescription drugs at almost 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Tennesseans discarded 31,183 pounds of prescription drugs. In its 12 previous take-back events, the DEA and its partners have collected more than 6.4 million pounds – about 3,200 tons – of pills. For more information on the National Take-Back Initiative, visit https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.

April 4, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The county is being asked to fund a full time director’s position for the Alexandria Senior Citizens Center as it does for the Smithville Senior Center.

Judy Sandlin, Chairman of the Governing Board for the Alexandria Senior Center, made the formal request during Wednesday night’s county commission budget committee meeting.

Although the county budgeted $6,000 to help support the Alexandria Center for the 2018-19 fiscal year, it provides no money for the director’s salary. Funding for the position currently comes through contributions from the Upper Cumberland Development District, United Way, and year-round fundraising activities.

If approved, the director would be paid $21,291 as a first year employee plus benefits for a total budget impact of $28,051. The Smithville Senior Director earns $23,352 a year plus benefits as a level 4 employee on the county’s wage scale.

“The demands on this (Alexandria) position have outgrown the customary funding through the UCDD, United Way, and traditional fundraisers. It no longer can be limited to 24 hours per week; the demands extend to 40 hours each week,” said Sandlin.

“In addition to the Alexandria Senior Center being open and serving meals 5 days a week (up from 4 days), more advanced skills and experience have become necessary. The position independently manages the facility, volunteers, finances, and inventory, as well as researches, implements, and develops programs to enhance the health and well-being of the senior citizens in the county. Additionally, knowledge of service networks and the ability to communicate (both in writing and verbally) with clients and sponsors alike takes this well above the minimum wage pay grade,” She said.

Up until January, 2019, the Alexandria Senior Director was paid $7.75 per hour for 24 hours per week with no benefits.

Sandlin also provided the committee other “relevant statistics”:

*Attendance (Alexandria Senior Center) has gone from an average in 2017-18 of 20 members per day to 27 per day. This figure is expected to rise steadily in the coming year.

*2016 figures for DeKalb County put the age 60+ population at 22%, with 72% below the poverty line (website DataUSA.io)

*The 94 registered members come from all areas of DeKalb, Liberty, Dowelltown, Temperance Hall, Smithville, etc.

*The City of Alexandria funds the building’s electricity, water, and gas.

*The center relies heavily on volunteers for meal service, facility cleaning, and maintenance.

The Director of the Alexandria Senior Center is Sandy Brown. Pam Redmon is Director of the Smithville Senior Center.

The budget committee will act on Sandlin’s request at a later meeting.

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