After 28 years of teaching, DWS 8th grade teacher Cynthia Wilson is going out in style. Earlier this year her peers nominated the educator who is retiring at the end of this school year for the Teacher of the Year award.

“The thing that makes this award so special to me is that my fellow teachers determine this,” Wilson said. “That says it all!”

The English Language Arts/Social Studies teacher started her career after graduating from Bryan College in Dayton, TN with a B.S. in Elementary Education.

“I was 21 years old, and my first class consisted of 36 first graders,” Wilson said. “I have taught not only first grade, but third, fourth, fifth, seventh, and finally eighth grade.”

Wilson stepped away from the profession for a decade to raise her three small children, who are now adults–Ricky Preston, 32, Paige Preston Lang, 30 (son-in-law Richard Lang), and Robby Preston, 27 (daughter-in-law Jordan Preston).

“I knew when they were all school age, I would return to teaching, and I was anxious to do so.”

Wilson, the former Cynthia Judge, grew up in Orlando/Kissimmee, FL area, the daughter of a dairy farmer. She loved going to school and was quite the social butterfly.

“My report card often had the comment “talks too much” from my teachers,” she remembers with a playful frown.

Wilson knew from a very young age that teaching was her calling.

“When I was a little girl, I played school with my sisters (Stephanie, Jennifer, Priscilla, and Melanie, a former 8th grade teacher at DWS), and I was always the teacher,” she recalls. “I always loved children, and I knew teaching was my gift. I think I owe this mostly to the wonderful teachers that I had.”

Since those younger years, the veteran teacher has witnessed a lot of changes in the profession.

“There are now much greater expectations on the students, there are so many new and different teaching strategies, and the accountability for both students and teachers are at the highest.”

“My role as an 8th grade teacher is somewhat different than other teachers. Most of my students have attended DWS for nine years where they have been taught, disciplined, and loved. In the 8th grade this goal remains the same, but we also purpose to prepare the students for their transition to high school. While the students are given a bit more freedom in some ways, they are also given much more responsibility. The main point I want them to embrace is that they are responsible for their own education. Their teachers and administrators can only do so much… the rest is up to them.”

As the clock winds down on her final days in education, Wilson is ready for an enjoyable retirement with her husband, Mark Wilson. Perhaps she’ll be able to make more time for her hobbies of calligraphy, reading, playing the piano, cooking and entertaining friends. And she has one adventure that she wants to enter her life.

“It is my greatest hope to have grandchildren in the very near future!”

The Smithville Town Cemetery is in need of clean-up and repairs and members of local Girl Scout Troop 750 are taking on the effort as they work toward obtaining a Silver Award.

The Silver Award is the second highest award of the Girl Scouts of the USA, and the highest award that a Girl Scout Cadette can earn.

Girl Scouts, leaders, and volunteers spent their day Saturday doing cleanup work in the cemetery. Although progress has been made, the job is not yet complete and will take more time. When the work is finished, the Troop plans to host a Community Day to invite the public to visit and learn more about the historic cemetery.

“We originally planned to have a History Day and Scavenger Hunt but when we started looking at all that we realized what a mess the cemetery was in. During the process of cleaning, we found two head stones that were buried. Some tombstones are broken, the iron fence is in need of repair, and trash, leaves, and limbs are scattered about the cemetery. We’re going to have to schedule several days over a period of time to clean up and we have invited other girl scout troops and volunteers to help us. Troop 3094 came to help today (Saturday) and we also appreciate the Ramsey family for coming out and working so hard with their chainsaws. We want to get everything cleaned up looking pretty so we can have that big day to invite the community to come in and learn more about the cemetery,” said Joanie Williams, who is a Troop 750 Co-Leader with Amy Cripps.

In addition to working toward a Silver Award, the Girl Scouts hope to raise community awareness about the history and needs of Town Cemetery which was founded in 1838 and is the final resting place for several veterans including civil war soldiers, a former Congressman and his wife, and the founder of the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, among many others.

PICTURED-SEATED LEFT TO RIGHT: Kayce Hale, Alexis Bennett, Madison Hammock, Jenna Wright, Katie Patterson, Zoe Cripps, Layla Walker, Katherine Gassaway, Emma Hancock. STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Tonya Hale, Joanie Williams, Julianna Gassaway, Jane Ramsey, Jake Ramsey, Darrah Ramsey, Rob Ramsey, Penny Walker, Marie Blair, and Amy Cripps.

A 36 year old Smithville man faces charges by both the Sheriff’s Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol after he tried to outrun a deputy before crashing his car into a utility pole.

(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL- Intakes & Releases From: 4/30/2018 Thru: 5/07/2018)

Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR_2.pdf

Willie Ray Murphy of West Bryant Street, Smithville is charged by the sheriff’s department with driving under the influence, driving on a restricted license, evading arrest, and resisting stop frisk, halt, arrest or search. His bond on those charges is $16,000. The THP has Murphy charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and being involved in an accident resulting in property damage. His bond on these offenses is $3,000. His court date on all the charges is June 21.

According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, a deputy tried to stop Murphy on Sunday, May 6 for driving on a revoked license after spotting him traveling on East Broad Street. Murphy tried to outrun the deputy by turning onto several city streets and running stop signs before driving through the Bill Page ballfield and crashing into a utility pole on West Bryant Street. Murphy abandoned his car and tried to escape on foot but the deputy caught up with him. Murphy was placed under arrest. The officer noticed that Murphy’s speech was slurred. His eyes were glassy and he was staggering. He refused to submit to field sobriety tasks and a search warrant was secured to obtain a blood sample from him.

During an investigation of the crash, a state trooper found inside Murphy’s car, a metal blue pipe containing residue of plant material.

33 year old Robin Lynn Woodard of Hogan Road, Gordonsville is charged with a second offense of driving while license revoked and possession of methamphetamine. Her bond totals $8,500. She also faces two charges for failure to appear and her bond for that is $50,000. Woodard’s court date is June 14. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, May 6 a deputy stopped a white Nissan Maxima at the intersection of Dry Creek Road and Old Dry Creek Road due to a wanted person (Woodard) inside the vehicle. Woodard was the driver. A check through central dispatch revealed that her license were revoked for a 2009 driving under the influence offense in Wilson County with no reinstatement. She also has a prior offense against her for driving on a revoked license in Smith County. While she was being placed under arrest, the officer asked Woodard if she had anything illegal on her person and she turned over to him a baggie containing 1.5 grams of a clear crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine.

20 year old Tevin Shimontay Cartwright of East Bryant Street, Smithville is charged with driving while license revoked. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on May 17. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, May 3 a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a silver Chevrolet Impala because it did not bear the correct license plate. A computer check confirmed that the driver, Cartwright had a revoked driver license. It was revoked in Davidson County on June 7, 2017 for failure to pay fines and costs.

29 year old Ricky Lee Mason of Mabry Court, Lebanon is charged with burglary and theft of property. His bond is $7,500. Sheriff Ray said that on December 24, 2017 Mason broke into a vehicle and took $100 as well as $170 from victims at the complainant’s home.

36 year old Julian Guerrero Soto of Meridian Drive, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving on a revoked license. Sheriff Ray said that on April 30 a deputy spotted a Mercury Grand Marquis failing to stop at the intersection of Blue Springs Road and Bethel Road. The officer stopped the car and spoke with the driver, Soto. A check through central dispatch revealed that his license were revoked for DUI on October 16, 2009 in DeKalb County with no reinstatements. Soto also had a revocation in DeKalb County on February 18, 2016 with no reinstatement.

39 year old Gregory Wayne Roberts is charged with a third offense of driving on a revoked license. His bond is $3,000 and he will make a court appearance on May 17. He was further charged with two counts of violation of probation in General Sessions Court. He is being held without bond for those offenses. Sheriff Ray said that on April 3 a deputy spotted Roberts operating a vehicle on Page Drive. Knowing that Roberts had no drivers license, the officer conducted a traffic stop. A computer check confirmed that Roberts’ license were revoked for DUI in 2013. He also had prior charges against him in DeKalb County for driving while revoked in 2015 and 2016.

27 year old Clint Allen Fann of Sugar Tree Knob, Liberty is charged with driving under the influence. His court date is May 17. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, May 5 a deputy was behind a gray Pontiac car and observed it fail to maintain its lane of travel several times. The officer stopped the car and spoke with the driver, Fann who had on his person a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. Fann’s speech was slurred and he was very unsteady on his feet. Fann submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly.

22 year old Destiny Leshea Herron of McMinnville Highway, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. She was also cited for driving on a suspended license, no insurance, and simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana). Her bond is $1,500 and her court date is May 17.

Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, May 5 a deputy responded to Turtles’ Bar & Grill due to a fight in progress. While the officer was enroute, central dispatch gave a description of the persons involved and reported that they had left the scene in a red car. The deputy spotted the car and conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. He spoke with the driver, Herron. She had a strong odor of marijuana and an alcoholic beverage coming from her person. Herron’s eyes were bloodshot. Her speech was slurred and she was very unsteady on her feet. She refused to submit to field sobriety tasks. Herron admitted to having marijuana hidden in her bra. A computer check revealed that her driver license were suspended and she could not provide proof of financial responsibility (insurance).