DeKalb West School Holds Science Fair

October 5, 2018
By: Bill Conger

Students at DeKalb West School went beyond the classroom to learn more about the first aspect of STEM education. At this year’s DWS Science Fair, students made models, tested hypotheses and conducted experiments. They made models of chemical compounds and planets and explored electricity, how to make a battery using lemons, paper plane aerodynamics, and even asked which gum blows the best bubble among a variety of other topics.

Here is a list of the winners. In PreK-2: Grady Thomason placed first followed by Levi Reynolds with 2nd and Karson Mullinax, 3rd; Bane Averitt, Maddox Pyburn, and Mrs. Amanda’s Encore group received Honorable Mention. In 3rd-5th Experiments: Autumn McElhaney won first place. Ben Barton was 2nd, and Charlotte Cripps took home 3rd place. Honorable mention went to Chloe Boyd, Mary Scott, Timothy Campbell, DeShay Carter, and Matt Shahan. In 3rd-5th Model: Averly Moss was first while Andrew Cook and Adin Hernandez tied for 2nd place; Akacia Walker and Peyton Blair both received Honorable Mention. In 6th-8th Experiments: Marshall Farler took the top prize followed by Jaxon Humphrey in 2nd and Jourdyn Dalton was 3rd. Hunter Cannon and Blair Gipe received Honorable Mention. Alyssa Crook won a first place award for her 6th-8th grade Model entry

October 5, 2018
By: Bill Conger

Six scouts from Smithville Troop 347 advanced in rank during a Court of Honor ceremony held October 4 at the Rotary Club building.

Life Scout Will Stevens cleared the final hurdle for Eagle Scout during a board of review meeting earlier in the afternoon. Friedrich Dodge will be moving up to Eagle Scout. Carter Dias and Kaleb Wildes both advanced from 2nd class to 1st class while Jaden Wildes earned his Tenderfoot rank. Brandon Sobotka is at the Scout level.

Other scouts receiving merit badges were Jonathan Birmingham—Citizenship in the Nation and Camping; Zackary Cantrell—Swimming, Archery, Fish & Wildlife Management, Geology, and Nature; Gavin Conger—Wilderness Survival; Carter Dias—Wood Carving and Fish & Wildlife Management; Friedrich Dodge—Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the World, and Personal Fitness; Cody Robinson—Swimming, Personal Fitness, and Fish & Wildlife Management; Brandon Sobotka—Electricity and Fish & Wildlife Management; Arthur Sullivan—American Heritage and American Cultures; Kaleb Wildes—Wilderness Survival and Archery; Jaden Wildes—First Aid, Wood Carving, and Indian Lore.

October 5, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The case against a man accused of setting fire to the courthouse over two years ago has again been delayed.

56 year old Gary Wayne Ponder made an appearance in DeKalb County Criminal Court today (Friday) but Judge Gary McKenzie granted another continuance until November 26 to give state prosecutors an opportunity to review results of Ponder’s medical evaluation when they become available. The evaluation took place only two days ago and the District Attorney General’s Office has not yet been provided results of the tests.

The last trial date for Ponder was set for May 9th but was postponed after Assistant District Public Defender Scott Grissom, who is representing Ponder, filed a motion on April 25 asking for the continuance (postponement) of the trial in order for Ponder to undergo an evaluation by a clinical and forensic psychologist to determine if Ponder’s medical condition could be affecting his mental state.

The court granted the motion.

In the pleadings, Grissom states that “as grounds for this motion, the defendant (Ponder) would show that on April 2, 2018, a letter from Sherry Wright, ANP-BC of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was received and it states that Mr. Ponder suffered from heptic encephalopathy as a result of cirrhosis. The defense would argue that the evaluation is essential to determine whether the defendant was suffering from a mental disease or defect at the time of the incident that could provide a defense pursuant to (state law)”.

Ponder was deemed to be competent after his first evaluation several weeks after the fire.

Smithville Police charged Ponder on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 after he was observed on the courthouse surveillance video system intentionally lighting fire in a newspaper recycling bin on the first floor vestibule. The video showed that on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 Ponder grabbed newspapers from the recycling bin and started the fire by lighting them with a cigarette lighter.

The fire damaged the wall behind the recycling bin and cracked a window in the vestibule near the first floor entrance of the courthouse.

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