Former Jail Food Service Workers Indicted for Sexual Contact with Inmates

July 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Two women who worked for the food service provider at the DeKalb County Jail were named in sealed indictments by the Grand Jury this week charging them with having sexual contact with an inmate.

29-year-old Jessica Ann Perez and 50-year-old Edna Viola Pentz both of Underhill Road, Smithville are each under a $10,000 bond and will be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on August 7. They have both been terminated from the company.

The women were not county employees and did not work for the sheriff’s department. Again, their employment was with the provider contracted with the county to operate the food service at the jail preparing meals for the inmates.

The indictments against the two allege that “between the dates of March 1, 2023 and April 11, 2023 in DeKalb County and before the finding of this indictment, Jessica Ann Perez and Edna Viola Pentz did engage in sexual contact with a prisoner or inmate who is in custody at a penal institution (DeKalb County Jail)”.

According to the sheriff’s department, this case involved two inmates and the alleged sexual contact between these women and them amounted to touching or oral acts but not intercourse.

July 27, 2023
By: Bill Conger

The DeKalb County High School Fighting Tiger band is gearing up for this year’s marching season. Students recently wrapped up two weeks of band camp, learning the music and drill show.

“The students came back all ready and excited to see what the new year holds,” D.C.H.S. Band Director Don Whitt said. “We were able to get more accomplished this season than in normal seasons. Coach K., the soccer coach, came by one day and said they are further along in marching than they have been in recent years. This is exciting because I was able to really use my section leaders and give them more leadership responsibilities.”

When deciding what music selections, he wanted the band to feature this fall, Whitt said he repeated what he did last year.

“At DeKalb County, I’m always thinking about playing to the home crowd. Last year our show was a “Back to the Future” 1980’s theme. Everyone came up to me to tell me how much they liked the music. They recognized the songs. The people in the press box would sing the tunes as my wife Kim and I were filming them. This year our theme is “Heart and Soul,” a 1960’s-1970’s themed show that showcases that era’s music.”

The playlist will include “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Respect,” “I Want You Back,” and “When A Man Loves A Woman.” Whitt says he searches for music that presents an historical perspective.

“Some of those beautiful songs came out of Motown. However, some of those pieces like “Respect” and “When A Man Loves A Woman” came from my little town in North Alabama in Muscle Shoals, recorded in Fame Studios. I’ve played those songs all of my life. I wanted to give my students an opportunity to learn the history of those songs. We go from how the song is played and then try to make it their own. We talk about the culture in the era that the songs derived. The students are doing a phenomenal job of diving in and working together to make an awesome presentation.”

The band director started digging into possibilities for this year’s show right after last year’s marching season.

“I get ideas from practically anywhere. The 80’s show came out of the students singing in the bus after a ball game. This show was about the same. I had listened to the students playing their music playing, and they had been singing some of these songs in the bus.”

Next, he started piecing the show together.

“Preparation is purchasing the music and talking to our Assistants Max Patterson (Assistant Band Director) and Shannon Johns (Color Guard Instructor). They do a great job of giving feedback. Shannon writes the guard book with all of the choreography etc. I work with a drill writer, and we put it all together the weeks of band camp. The first week is a percussion camp, and then, the next two weeks we have a fundamentals camp. We do everything from marching fundamentals to playing their instruments. The second week we place it all on the field. This year we were putting the drill on the field and had the music nearly memorized by the first week. So, we are ahead of the game just a little bit.”

Whitt says the band and he receive a lot of support with the band from a variety of sources.

“The greatest supporters we have are our school board, administration, teachers, parents and band boosters, and churches in the community. We are beyond blessed to have them. We have so many people who have come out this year to support me and what we are doing here. It makes me feel great that we are so well supported by our community and people. I couldn’t do what I do without DeKalb County.”

Whitt says though the marching season has begun, there’s still time for more students to join the band.

“If you are a parent or grandparent and have a student that is interested in possibly playing an instrument, please contact me or my assistant Max Patterson. If you don’t have the money to purchase an instrument, we will find a way where you can. However, renting is an affordable way to purchase a horn or instrument. The students we have are great, and you will enjoy your time here because the people here are like family.”

July 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Adopt a Teacher is back for its 4th year! Members of the community may sign up to adopt a teacher in any of the five public schools in the county. See links below.

This program helps teachers tremendously each year. What began as a way for one mom to help her child’s school during the pandemic became a labor of love between two friends. “I got the idea from a neighboring county and thought, ‘I can do that!’ In 2020, my daughter was entering Kindergarten and my dream of helping her new school had drastically changed. I viewed this idea as a way to give back to those that give much more than they get,” said Shelly Barnes, organizer.

Heather Young noticed the posts on Facebook and contacted her friend, Barnes, to help. “I thought having a sign-up list might take some of the load off Shelly. I loved the idea of helping teachers in our county. Even if we might not be able to directly help every teacher out by buying supplies, getting to help a friend with the sign-up process is definitely a start. Our teachers pour so much into our kids, why shouldn’t we try to help out in some way? This is at least a small gesture that helps show our teachers that we support them. I am thankful Shelly started doing this and that I am getting the chance to help her help our teachers.”

Barnes and Young met while they were both in high school during 4-H trips. They have children close in age and are continuing the service minded activities they learned through 4-H. Their children are “learning by doing” and seeing their parents involved in the community. “Funny how things come full circle,” said Barnes.

The friends are most thankful that the community has embraced this idea and look forward to it every year.

Teachers can sign up through a link sent by their school principal. The community can adopt a teacher using the links below.

DWS: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444A8AE2FA6FD0-adopt12

SES: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444A8AE2FA6FD0-adopt13

NES: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444A8AE2FA6FD0-adopt11

DMS: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/4090444a8ae2fa6fd0-adopt10

DCHS: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444A8AE2FA6FD0-adopt14

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