DeKalb Fire Department awards more of its own

January 19, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Volunteer Firefighter Alyssa Harvey of the Liberty Station is the department’s DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC) Rookie of the Year for 2021 while Midway Station Commander Steve Repasy has earned the Allen’s Allstars “Git R Done” award. The Liberty Fire Station has repeated as the department’s FirstBank “Station of the Year. Station Commander Bill Brown accepted that award on behalf of the Liberty Station.

The Rookie award was presented by Captain Brian Williams during Saturday’s night’s annual DeKalb Fire Department Awards Program while Lieutenant Matt Adcock awarded the “Git R Done” honor. Lieutenant Kristie Johnson made the Fire Station of the Year award presentation. Wilson Bank & Trust was the headlining sponsor.

Captain Williams said training is the sole criteria used in the Rookie of the Year selection.

“DeKalb County Fire Department has a rich legacy of being recognized for its excellent training programs. For the 13th consecutive year, DeKalb County Fire Department has received statewide recognition for being an elite training department. The department’s leadership feels basic and continuous training are the best tools to give rookies when they enter the fire service. Consequently, training is the sole criteria use for selecting the “Rookie of the Year”, said Captain Williams.

“We certainly want to recognize all members who have demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment to training. Today, we especially want to recognize Firefighter Harvey for completing 187.75 hours of training during her 12-month rookie period”.

“DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC) is honored to announce that Alyssa Harvey, firefighter with the Liberty Station, is the 2021 DTC Rookie of the Year,” said Captain Williams.

Lieutenant Matt Adcock, who presented the “Git R Done” Award, said Repasy was selected for the honor based on a variety of factors.

“Nominations were evaluated and scored based on the following “Git R Done” award criteria:

•Community service.
•Special projects within the fire department, other than fire calls.
•Special events such as: Fundraisers, Halloween, and Christmas Parties; and
•Actions/accomplishments above and beyond normal to promote the success and image of the fire department.”

“The firefighter selected as this year’s GIT R Done Award is no stranger to being recognized for getting things done! He is dedicated and loyal to participating in training functions and incident responses. When we have been challenged in staffing our part-time position, this firefighter has always stepped up and filled the void. In addition to this, he exceeds expectations by doing a phenomenal job assisting our Equipment Officers with maintenance and record keeping for our loose equipment. He spends countless hours on engineering projects such as our fire boat project, the hose rack project with the High School’s General Metals Class, food booth, and so many other projects for our department. His ingenuity and relationship with the General Metals Class has saved our department thousands of dollars over the years on various projects,” said Lt. Adcock.

“He instructed a great online training class on apparatus and equipment maintenance that was one of our monthly training drills in 2021. When we conduct our yearly SCBA fit/flow tests, we know we can always count on him to be there the whole day making sure our SCBA’s are properly serviced and tested. He works closely with our Equipment Officers to support them in any way they need. No matter how big or small the project, he always has a “can-do” attitude and gets the job done”.

“As for community service, you would be hard pressed to find an individual that does more for his community. He serves as the President of the Smithville Lions Club where he takes on many service and leadership projects. He’s also a local community disaster volunteer for our local Red Cross chapter. He is President of the DeKalb Emergency Service Association and leads the free meal delivery program each Thanksgiving and Christmas. In addition, you can see him out assisting church groups build wheelchair ramps for the needy of our community”.

“Although Steve Repasy would never be motivated to do any of this for recognition, his service history speaks for itself. Steve has received the DCFD GIT R Done Award three times, and the DCFD Firefighter of the Year Award five times. Our department and community are better because of Steve Repasy! His continued loyalty to service in our department and community is unparalleled and promotes a positive image of our department”.

“Fittingly enough, we are honored to present Firefighter Steve Repasy with the 2021 Allen’s Allstars “GIT R DONE” Award,” said Lieutenant Adcock.

In presenting the Fire Station of the Year Award, Lt. Johnson said the honor exclusively selected for one of the 12 stations of the DeKalb County Fire Department based upon the following criteria:

•Station work sessions that go above and beyond the normal expectations for station and equipment maintenance

•Community service the station completed as a group

“We certainly want to recognize all stations that have demonstrated pride in making the county-wide department accountable and ready to respond. However, we especially want to recognize a station that has outstanding achievement in meeting the criteria for this award,” said Lt. Johnson.

“The Liberty Station is the FirstBank 2021 Station of the Year, and we congratulate all members of Liberty Station for your commitment to pride and service to our department and your community”, she continued.

“Specifically, the Liberty Station conducted numerous work sessions as a group to keep their station, apparatus, and equipment in good operating condition and status. It’s easy to look at their station and equipment and see they take great pride in their work and commitment to service for their community”.

“As for community service group projects, the Liberty Station coordinated and delivered multiple community service projects in their service area. For example, they sponsored families for holiday food and gift donations and donated their personal time and equipment to help residents clean up after ice storm and windstorm damage. They also coordinated a Back-to-School Welcome for the first day of school at DeKalb West School. Lastly, the Liberty Station members advocated and offered assistance to the City of Liberty to renovate and maintain the basketball and tennis courts behind the Liberty Community Center,” said Lt. Johnson.

“It has been said “no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” It’s obvious the Liberty Station cares about their community and goes beyond emergency response to show it”.
“We are honored to recognize the Liberty Station of the DeKalb County Fire Department as the First Bank 2021 Station of the Year,” added Lt. Johnson.

January 18, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps has announced the 2021-22 Teachers of the Year at the building level of the five schools in the county.

This year’s honorees chosen by their peers are kindergarten teacher Cristy Spears at Smithville Elementary School; 5th grade math and science teacher Sarah Storey at Northside Elementary School; Amanda Mullinax, library and media specialist at DeKalb West School; Teresa Jones, a seventh grade math teacher at DeKalb Middle School; and Gary Caplinger, a CTE residential and commercial construction teacher at DeKalb County High School.

Mullinax has completed 20 years of teaching, Jones 19 years, Spears and Storey have completed 4 years, and Caplinger is completing his 10th year as an educator.

“Our district’s Teacher of the Year program recognizes and honors outstanding teachers in DeKalb County. We applaud teachers who care about our children, who devote their professional lives to enriching the lives of DeKalb students, and who demonstrate exceptional gains in student achievement. We are not just exceptionally proud of our Teachers of the Year, but we are also grateful for all of our educators in DeKalb County,” said Director Cripps.

According to Michelle Burklow, Supervisor of Instruction, “Competition for the district-wide John Isabell Teacher of the Year award continues through February and will be announced this spring. Additionally, a DeKalb County teacher will be chosen by a committee to compete at the regional level in March, and if selected the teacher will represent DeKalb County at the state level competition.”
Teachers of the Year are selected competitively through five cycles: Building, System, Field Service Core Center Region, Grand Division and State; and from three categories (levels of teaching); Grades Pre K-4, 5-8, 9-12.

Teachers selected at each cycle receive local recognition and awards underwritten by local sources. State recognition/awards include a banquet honoring the nine State Teacher of the Year finalists and certificates of appreciation from the governor. In addition, the State Finalists and the State Teacher of the Year receive cash awards.

Dr. Kathy Bryant, Supervisor of Instruction, concludes, “The Tennessee Teacher of the Year Program is designed to promote effective teaching practices by recognizing and rewarding outstanding teachers while encouraging others to join the teaching profession.”

January 18, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Two men have been charged in separate cases of aggravated assault resulting from domestic disputes during which they allegedly pointed weapons at their female victims.

21-year-old Stephen Charles Clark of Backbone Road, Sparta is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court January 27 while 58-year-old Charles Glen Lewis of Medley Amonette Road, Buffalo Valley is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $7,500 and he will make a court appearance January 27.

In the case against Clark, Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 7 a deputy was called to a residence on Backbone Road due to a report of domestic violence. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who said that Clark had struck her on the face and other parts of her body and pointed a gun at her. A .22 caliber revolver was found on the scene.

As for Lewis, Sheriff Ray said that on January 12 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Medley Amonette Road due to a domestic incident involving a firearm. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who said that she and her husband, Lewis got into an argument which led to Lewis going into the bedroom and grabbing a firearm before returning and pointing the weapon at her stating he would “end this”. Lewis admitted to the deputy that he had pointed a Springfield Hellcat 9-millimeter pistol at her causing the woman to fear imminent danger.

In other cases, 53-year-old Elwood Lamar Benefield of Acworth, Georgia is charged with being a fugitive from justice. His bond is $75,000 and he will make a court appearance January 20.

Sheriff Ray said that on January 4 a deputy arrested Benefield locally on a felony violation of probation warrant out of Bartow County, Georgia. He was determined to be trying to flee from justice to keep from being prosecuted.

25-year-old Bobby Ray Murphy of Dale Ridge Road, Dowelltown is charged with fraudulent use of a credit card. His bond is 3,500 and he will make a court appearance January 20.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 6 Murphy used someone else’s credit/debit card without consent from November 24 to December 6 totaling $732.34. The card was taken from a residence on Dale Ridge Road.

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