Any parent interested in applying for the Pre K program for their child may pick up an application at the DeKalb County Board of Education central office downtown.

Children need to be 4 years old on or before August 15.

Parents/Guardians should bring the following items for their child:

*Original Birth Certificate
*Current Physical Examination
*Current Certification of Immunization
*Proof of Income for all Household Members
*Proof of Residency

The DeKalb County School System has been awarded $488,551 from the Tennessee Department of Education to fund five voluntary Pre-K classes to serve up to 100 students for another year.

“We are excited to receive this news”, said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps. “With the funding, the school system will continue to offer four Pre-K classes at Smithville Elementary and one class at DeKalb West School,” he said.

Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced in May that 18,320 students in 916 classrooms across the state will benefit from the Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) program in the 2018-19 school year. Nearly 95 percent of districts in Tennessee will receive VPK funding designed to serve 4-year-olds who are at-risk and those in high-priority communities.

A special Summer Edition of Reeling in the Years will air Saturday on WJLE.

The program, hosted by former WJLE announcers Dennis Stanley and Shawn Jacobs, will air from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday (July 14th) and will feature pop/rock music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

The show is very fast paced, informative and will include a few of “summer oriented” songs that will bring back many memories for listeners.

Mark your calendars and put the time in your smartphones now for Reeling in the Years, this Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on WJLE

Four years ago, DeKalb Countians elected a new Road Supervisor. This year they will do it again.

Incumbent GOP Road Supervisor Wallace “Butch” Agee announced last October that he would not be seeking re-election to a second term. His official last day in office will be August 31, 2018.

Two men, Danny Hale and Jimmy Sprague, have stepped up to take Agee’s place and one of them will be elected on Thursday, August 2

Hale, who secured the Republican nomination earlier this year, is a resident of Liberty.

Danny and his wife Donna have two sons and daughters-in-law, Joshua and Connie Hale and Justin and Julie Hale along with four grandchildren, 11 year old Zoi, 4 year old Silas, 2 year old Josie, and 2 year old Zalie.

Hale is a 1976 graduate of DeKalb County High School and he and his family are members of the Cooper’s Chapel Baptist Church in the Dismal community.

Danny is owner and operator of Hale and Sons Dozier Service and he has done this type of work for 22 years.

Sprague, a resident of Smithville, ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination in May. He is a former 10 year employee of the office but for the last nine and a half years has worked for the DeKalb County School System as the Transportation Supervisor. Jimmy is a US Army Veteran with an honorable discharge and received numerous awards and citations during his six year enlistment. He and his wife are the parents of three children, Shelby, Evan, and Jacob.

Road Supervisor Agee said he appreciates the opportunity to have served the people of DeKalb County.

“It has been a true honor and privilege to serve the residents of DeKalb County as their Road Supervisor. Being an elected official has been a wonderful experience, but I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and enjoying my retirement. I would like to thank my family and friends for their love and support, and all of the staff at the Road Supervisor’s Office. They are professionals and serve our county well.”

Agee, a Republican, was elected in 2014 to succeed longtime Road Supervisor Kenny Edge. Agee is married to Cynthia Agee. They have two sons, Joey (Casey) and Josh (January), and three grandchildren.

Prior to being elected to this position, Agee served seventeen years with the Tennessee Department of Transportation including thirteen years as a TDOT supervisor.