Karson Mullinax Wins Top Reading Award at DeKalb West

June 1, 2024
By: Bill Conger

5th grade student Karson Mullinax was the recipient of the top reading award this year at DeKalb West School. DWS School Librarian Amanda Mullinax, who is also his mom, presented Karson with the Amanda Mullinax Librarian Award for earning the most Accelerated Reader points since starting at DeKalb West. He has earned 1,877.3 points in his school career, securing him a prestigious spot on the plaque in the school library.

“He was proud that he accomplished a goal of his,” Mrs. Mullinax said. “He wanted his name on the plaque in the library!”

Karson is a brilliant student who shies away from the spotlight. But two of his teachers had no trouble bragging on the kind-hearted, studious young man.

“Karson was one of those students that was constantly reading in class,” says Karson’s 4th grade teacher Cindy Snow. “As soon as he finished with his work, he was reading a book. Free time…reading a book. During math class…reading a book. He would read any chance he would get. It seemed that reading was his “escape”, and he could totally zone everything else out while reading.”

“Karson is one of very few students in my many years of teaching that I have watched first hand find the joy in reading,” 5th grade ELA teacher Rachel Desimone said. “He will complete his schoolwork and then back into the book he goes! The AR point system encourages some students as they watch their rocket soar to new heights, but I think Karson would stick with reading even if it weren’t for that. This says a lot about him and his love for reading.”

During his 4th grade years, Mullinax was already reading the lengthy Harry Potter series. Of late, he enjoys the Percy Jackson series and rereading the Wimpy Kids books.

“He has always loved books!” his mom said. “We all read to him when he was younger, which I believe showed him the importance. Here’s a funny: It wasn’t long after he learned to read himself that he made it very clear that he didn’t want me to read aloud to him anymore. He said, “You read too slow!” Which, in comparison to him now, is true; he is a much faster reader than I am!”

His teachers see that Karson’s passion for reading is reflected in his academics.

“At the end of this school year, Karson earned “Leader of the Pack” awards in every subject area, meaning he had one of the top three highest averages in the grade,” Desimone explained. “Karson has truly excelled over the course of the year in every type of content learning.”

“Due to the fact that he is such an avid reader, he has always had a more expanded vocabulary than most students,” says Snow. “He is quick to understand and create puns and figurative language, and we enjoy (outside of school) using quite a bit of sarcasm and joking with each other,” she adds with a laugh. “Also, his writing shows evidence of the fact that he loves to read. He is imaginative, humorous, and detailed in various forms of writing.”

May 31, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Since 1968, the City of Smithville, by agreement with the county, has turned over a greater share of its local option sales tax collections to the county’s education local purpose tax fund to help pay for school building construction/debt service obligations and yearly school operation. Officials say the other towns in the county, Liberty, Dowelltown, and Alexandria are also included in that agreement.

According to officials, the City of Smithville and the other towns were already legally obligated to turn over to the county 50% of their local option sales tax collections for education purposes, but for almost 56 years under an interlocal agreement, they have been contributing 66 and 2/3%.

In 2007, the county and cities extended the agreement by 30 years. That was 17 years ago and with this extension set to expire in 13 years (2037) the county commission is interested in extending the deal again by another 30 years to the year 2067.

During Thursday night’s monthly meeting, the commission and county mayor announced plans, upon the recommendation of the government services committee, to prepare a resolution to be adopted next month seeking an extension of the agreement with the four cities which will then be presented to their mayors and boards of aldermen for passage.

Without such a long-range commitment from the cities, officials say the county is handicapped in doing long range planning for new school construction without raising the property tax. The county, they say, must be able to count on that extra sales tax revenue coming in to support debt service obligations for such school projects. The county also contributes $1,540,000 annually from the local purpose (sales tax) fund for general purpose school operation which could make renewal of the sales tax agreement even more important. Under the state’s maintenance of effort law, officials say schools have to be funded by the county, at least with the same amount of local dollars from year to year. In other words, the county may increase funding each year for schools, but it cannot cut funding.

In other business, County Mayor Matt Adcock announced that he has appointed Brian Reed to succeed James Goff as the Solid Waste Director. Goff recently resigned. The county commission confirmed the appointment. County Mayor Adcock said Reed’s career background is in the solid waste management field. He previously served as general manager for the Southern Central operation and more recently has worked for the Capital Waste company. According to Adcock, Reed has a degree in business administration, and he has a commercial driver license.

The commission adopted a salary exempt policy, upon the recommendation of the government services committee, which essentially provides that salaried county department heads are not to accrue overtime pay.

Members to the DeKalb County Equalization Board were reappointed by the County Commission including Mitchell Bowman, Jimmy Midgett, Doyle Evans, Joel Hooker, and Jimmy Goad. Tim Bradford will be an alternate.

The commission also adopted a resolution, upon the recommendation of the government services committee, establishing a new DeKalb County Beer Board to be made up of five county commissioners. The board will have the authority to approve or deny applications for beer permits based on criteria established in policies set by the county commission, such as distance requirements, etc. Beer board members are to be paid per meeting the same as present-day or current compensation for county commission committee meetings.

Several months ago, the commission abolished the seven-member citizen beer board at the suggestion of County Mayor Adcock and made the entire 14-member county commission the beer board.

Since then, the county mayor and commission have decided that a five-member beer board would function better.

According to the resolution as adopted Thursday night, County Mayor Adcock will appoint five county commissioners including a chairman, vice chairman, and secretary to serve on the beer board in September each year with confirmation by the county commission. The terms are for one year. The members will be up for reappointment each September.

The resolution calls for the county mayor to provide distant measurements to the board by request of the beer board chairman. The county clerk shall perform the clerical duties of overseeing the process of applications, accepting payment, and forwarding that information to the chairman of the beer board. The county clerk shall also oversee the background check process if the beer board policies require it and then forward results of the background check to the beer board chairman.

The chairman of the beer board will be responsible for setting the meeting date, time, and place.

The county commission will be responsible for developing and maintaining a beer board policy that will provide requirements of the beer board that have not been addressed in the resolution.

May 30, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Police made an arrest and confiscated drugs after a recent traffic stop.

48-year-old Robert Dwayne Moore of Hawkins Drive is charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) and a schedule IV drug, driving in possession of meth; simple possession of schedule II & IV drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins said that on May 16, an officer while on patrol stopped a vehicle on Earl Avenue. While speaking with the driver, Moore the officer noticed signs of impairment and a strong odor of marijuana. During a subsequent probable cause search, the officer found four bags of a crystal-like substance that weighed 6.09 grams, one bag containing 14 yellow pills, two bags of crushed pills, and a bag containing a green leafy substance along with scales and a grinder with white residue. Moore is under a $17,500 bond.

41-year-old Caleb Lyn Cook of Mount Juliet is charged with driving under the influence and cited for speeding and violation of the implied consent law. Chief Collins said that on May 11 an officer pulled over Cook for speeding on East Broad Street, traveling 64 miles per hour in a 40-mph zone. While speaking with him, the officer noticed that Cook’s speech was slurred, his eyes watery, and he smelled of alcohol. Cook allegedly admitted to having consumed several alcoholic beverages. Cook submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. A warrant was obtained for a blood sample after Cook refused to consent under the state’s implied consent law. Cook is under a $3,500 bond.

40-year-old Roxanna Landis is charged with public intoxication. According to Chief Collins, police were summoned to the Dairy Queen on May 10 where a woman was found passed out. An officer arrived and spoke with the woman, Landis after she awoke. She smelled of alcohol. Landis told the officer that she had consumed beer along with her medication (Suboxone). Landis, who became unable to remain awake, was transported to the emergency room of the hospital by DeKalb EMS due to her level of intoxication. Her bond is $1,500.

36-year-old Manuel Andres of Ray Billings Road, Smithville is charged with public intoxication and burglary. Chief Collins said that on May 15 police received an alarm call at 432 East Broad Street and upon arrival found the business closed but the front door open. While clearing the building, an officer found Andres inside and he smelled of alcohol. Andres was taken into custody. His bond is $5,000.

51-year-old Jennifer McQuiddy is charged with driving under the influence. According to Chief Collins, police were summoned to a single car accident on Fisher Avenue May 11 and found that the vehicle had crashed into a fence at Greenbrook Park. As an officer was speaking with the driver, McQuiddy, he noticed that her speech was slurred, that she was unsteady on her feet, and she smelled of alcohol. McQuiddy submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Her bond was set at $3,500.

30-year-old Richard Norrod is charged with public intoxication and criminal trespassing. Chief Collins said that on May 12 while on patrol an officer spotted Norrod at the Park and Wash Laundromat from where he had previously been warned to keep away. The officer stopped and confronted Norrod who appeared to be paranoid, and he was acting in an erratic manner. Norrod told the officer that he had taken something that someone had given him. Norrod was taken into custody. His bond was set at $3,000.

49-year-old Jason Cripps is charged with public intoxication. Chief Collins said that on May 18 an officer was summoned to Food Lion where a man was spotted trying to get into several vehicles. He seemed to be intoxicated. Upon arrival the officer confronted the man, Cripps who was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. Cripps said he had taken some medication earlier. Bond was set at $2,000.

36-year-old John D. Anderson is charged with theft of property. According to Chief Collins, police were called to investigate a theft at Walmart on May 19 and identified Anderson as a suspect. A warrant was later obtained for his arrest, and he was taken into custody.

55-year-old Michael Vance is charged with aggravated assault. Chief Collins said that on May 24 police were called to the storage units on Bright Hill Road where a fight was in progress. Upon arrival, officers observed two men physically fighting. According to police one of the men, Vance had hit the other with a large stick which caused a deep gash on the side of his face requiring medical attention. Police determined that Vance was the primary aggressor, and he was taken into custody. Bond for Vance was set at $7,500 and he will be in court June 13.

32-year-old Sonny Smith is charged with domestic assault. Chief Collins said that on May 29 police were dispatched to an unwanted guest call on Wade Street. Upon arrival officers observed Smith throwing items on top of the roof of the home. According to police, the complainant was afraid of Smith and had hidden in a bedroom awaiting their arrival. The officers were shown things that Smith had thrown and knocked over throughout the inside of the residence. He was taken into custody and his bond was set at $5,000. Smith’s court date is June 13.

39-year-old Mark Johnson is charged with public intoxication. Chief Collins said that on May 28 an officer was summoned to the area of Foster Road in response to several 911 calls. Upon arrival he spoke with the caller, Johnson who was intoxicated, acting erratically, and appeared to be delusional. Johnson was taken into custody and his bond was set at $2,500. Johnson’s court date is June 13.

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