Judge Brandon Cox Presents Idea for Tighter Courthouse Security

April 11, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Although he will make a formal request later, DeKalb County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Brandon Cox has informed the budget committee that he has a plan for increased courthouse security.

Judge Cox made the suggestion last Monday, April 3 while presenting his budget requests for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

“I am going to ask for changes as far as courthouse security. We have a very open building. Its not the safest situation for anybody. I plan to ask that public access to the courthouse be limited to the first-floor entrance and that a full-time security position be funded with a metal detector to screen all persons entering the courthouse at all times when the courthouse is open. Key cards could be assigned to courthouse public officials and office personnel, attorneys, and judges for them to gain access through the other courthouse doors”, he said.

That issue will be discussed in more detail at a later budget committee meeting.

Meanwhile in his budget requests, Judge Cox has asked for an increase in pay for the Juvenile Court Youth Service Officer and a hike in the county’s appropriation for the DeKalb Recovery Court Program, much of which is grant funded.

Judge Cox said the youth service officer is already an important full-time position, but it will take on more responsibilities in the future.

“I hope to have our current youth service officer Richard Williams a while longer before he retires but for the next person who takes that position, I have set some new expectations including being a part time clerk, part time probation officer, part time on-call officer, part time advocate and full-time gatekeeper of the juvenile court. My expectation is for the youth service officer to be in the office each day from 8 to 4:30 p.m. although they will occasionally have to be out of the office for certain activities. Of course, they will be on call all the time,” said Judge Cox.

The current salary of the Juvenile Court Youth Service Officer is $42,360 a year.

The county currently budgets $46,700 per year in support of the DeKalb County Recovery Court. Judge Cox wants to increase that by $20,000 mostly to help meet increased costs for travel and contracted services.

Recovery Court, a 12-month program, provides an alternative to incarceration for eligible non-violent offenders, who are deemed substance dependent and who are seeking a life free of alcohol and drug abuse. Team members oversee the program locally in addition to Judge Cox and Recovery Court Coordinator Kate Arnold.

Judge Cox said the Recovery Court has proven successful and he would like to see it grow to serve more people in need.

“Our program is successful and one I take pride in. We are serving more participants than when I started but we don’t have a lot of resources locally, so we have to outsource them to help get people back on their feet. It’s not 100% successful but for those who do come in and graduate it can and has led to a change in not only their lives but in the lives of their children and families. We have had some participants come through and see their mother, father and other relatives get clean and sober. It has a far-reaching impact and I believe that dollar for dollar it is well worth spending in the community. My goal is to expand this program to reach as many people as possible,” said Judge Cox.

April 11, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce is asking for more financial support from the County.

Chamber Director Suzanne Williams addressed the county budget committee last Monday, April 3 at the courthouse asking for an increase from $25,000 to $60,000 in the county’s annual contribution to the chamber, a non-profit organization, established to promote local economic development and tourism. The Chamber is governed by its own board of directors and officers. Three years ago, the county raised its annual contribution to the Chamber from $17,500 to $25,000. The City of Smithville provides $15,000 each year. The Chamber is also supported by membership dues and fundraisers.

Chamber Director Williams said DeKalb County’s Chamber remains one of the lowest funded in the state and could use the extra money to support its budget and mission. In addition to promoting DeKalb County and raising funds for the Chamber Williams said she also spends much of her time writing and administering grants for the county among other tasks.

“Despite the fact that we have such high tourism dollars and bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money and save $75,000 being in the state’s Three Star Program, the DeKalb County Chamber is one of the most underfunded Chambers in the whole state. For example, Smith County has $10 million in tourism dollars, and they give their Chamber $42,500. Clay County gets $4.76 million in tourism dollars and their Chamber gets from them over $140,000. The Clay County Chamber gets all the county’s hotel/motel tax including a tax on houseboat rentals,” said Williams.

“I ask you to seriously consider contributing $60,000. That money you invest is not a donation. Although the Chamber is listed under donation (in county budget) we are anything but a donation. You (county) will get that back several times over (tourism and grant dollars),” Williams added.

Williams said Tourism in DeKalb County grew by 30% in 2021 and ranks third among the 14 Upper Cumberland Counties behind Putnam and Cumberland.

The budget committee has not yet acted on the request.

April 10, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Another record breaker!

During a three-hour WJLE radiothon Monday morning, April 10 which was also LIVE streamed on the Awakening facebook page, the community rallied in support of the DCHS Class of 2023 with pledges and donations totaling a record breaking $13,390 for the next Project Graduation event which will be held following the graduation ceremonies on Friday, May 12. The fundraiser broke the previous Project Graduation radiothon record of $12,785 set last year.

The radiothon was hosted by DCHS Teacher John Pryor and former high school teacher Chris Vance. Many members of the class took part in the program either on air or from behind the scenes. A special thanks to Jordan Atnip and Daniel Leslie who set up the LIVE facebook streaming broadcast from the WJLE Studios which was telecast on the Awakening facebook page and shared by others.

To add extra fun and excitement, members of the class agreed to take challenges to sing, do pushups, and to gulp down pickled pigs feet and spoonfuls of baby food, dog food, and more.

Students and parents said they could not have been more pleased with the outcome of the radiothon and wish to thank all the local banks and businesses as well as churches, and others in the community for the tremendous support and pledges.

“Project graduation is a night for all of our seniors to get together after graduation in a safe environment to hang out with their friends and celebrate all they have done the last four years,” said Ally Atnip, Secretary of the parent committee. “ We have been meeting along with the seniors about every month and some of our fundraisers we have had this year include strawberry sales, signs you may see on the side of roads or in front of houses, cutlery, wreaths, goodies with Grinch over the Christmas break, and we have a car show coming up Saturday, April 15 at the high school parking lot,” said Atnip.

“For this year’s Project Graduation, the kids will come in between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. after graduation. We will have a lot of fun things for them. We will have food, a 40-foot obstacle course, a 50-foot two lane slide and New Frontiers will come out and set up archery and regular laser tag, nine squares, and life size jenga. It’ll be a great time for the kids to hang out and be together,” said Atnip.

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