DFD Captain Brian Williams Receives LSB Officer of Year Award

January 18, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Captain Brian Williams of the DeKalb County Fire Department was recognized Saturday night as the Liberty State Bank Officer of the Year.

Williams was honored during the Department’s Annual Awards Program which was held in a virtual platform this year due to COVID-19. Wilson Bank & Trust was the headlining sponsor of the program.

In presenting the LSB Officer Award, Chief Donny Green paid tribute to Captain Williams for his leadership skills and community service.

“In addition to his assigned captain duties, Brian serves as the department’s training officer and does a tremendous job planning coordinating and conducting our training activities. In fact, Captain Williams has taken our training program to a level that most paid fire departments would envy. Brian has continued to lead our department in being named an “Elite Training Fire Department” by the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Training Academy for the 13th consecutive year. Out of the 635 registered fire departments in Tennessee, both career and volunteer, our department has ranked in the top 20 for the last 10 years. For 2021 the DeKalb County Fire Department ranked #3 in training hours among all Tennessee volunteer and combination fire departments. For 2021 Captain Williams made 100% of his monthly training drills while also completing other outside training courses. When it comes to incident responses he is consistently among the top achievers. If you know Brian, you know that he absolutely does not want or expect any recognition for his service. He quietly operates in the background always making sure things get done without any expectation of recognition, repayment, or celebration. As a member of the DeKalb Emergency Services Association, he played a big role in helping plan, prepare, and deliver meals to the needy last Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Outside of the fire department, Brian serves as a Captain at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department. This is just another testament for his love and dedication to his community. Leadership is not a title. It is an action. Brian’s example of servant leadership makes the DeKalb County Fire Department better and is a model for other aspiring leaders,” said Chief Green.

Meanwhile, six county volunteer firefighters earned pins for length of service awards sponsored by Walmart including the following:

5 years of service: Bill Brown of the Liberty Station

10 years of service: Lieutenant Dustin Johnson, Lieutenant Kristie Johnson, and Captain Brian Williams

15 years of service: Gelasio “Marco” Chacon of the Johnson Chapel Station

35 years of service: Chief Donny Green

Training attendance awards sponsored by Safe Industries were presented to the following members with 100% training attendance: Anthony Boyd, Bill Brown, Blake Cantrell, Jay Cantrell, Tim Graul, Donny Green, Alyssa Harvey, Andrew Harvey, Christina Hovey, Kyle Hovey, Donnie Johnson, Dustin Johnson, Heather Lader, Jordon Lader, Michael D. Lawrence, Steven Lawrence, Tony Moore, Will Odom, Matt Olson, Cheyenne Phalin, Shawn Puckett, Brent Reed, Brittany Reed, Steve Repasy, Frank Rodegeb, Robert Sartin, Calvin Tramel, Brian Williams, and Alex Woodward. Members with 75% training attendance were: Matt Adcock, Justin Bass, Matt Boss. Dam Bradum, John Bradford, Sandra Caffee, Neal Caldwell, Faith Caplinger, Gelasio “Marco” Chacon, Josh Davis, Erick Dodd, Luke Green, Cody Herman, Cindy Nixon, Andy Pack, Billy Parker, Anthony Scott, and Robert Sutton.

An Honorary Lifetime Membership Award was presented to County Mayor Tim Stribling. Lieutenant Blake Cantrell was the presenter.

“Each year, the Department’s Executive Committee accepts and reviews applications for Honorary Lifetime Memberships. This is a very distinguished award and recipients are selected by the Department’s Executive Committee based on strict merits of their service and contributions to our department,” said Lt. Cantrell.

“One Honorary Lifetime Membership Award is being presented for 2021. County Mayor Tim Stribling was elected DeKalb County Mayor in 2014 and is currently serving his second term. He completed the DCFD Citizens’ Fire Academy in 2015. He led and supported the construction of the Four Seasons Station in 2019. Mayor Stribling leads and supports the construction of the Wolf Creek Station where $75,000 in seed money has been set aside to move forward with construction plans. He initiated and supported a Rural Development grant application which resulted in acquisition of 3 used pumpers (Temperance Hall, Four Seasons, and Belk) in 2019. He supported funding a part-time firefighter position in 2019. Mayor Stribling initiated and supported a CDBG grant application fora new tanker that was awarded in 2020. He supported building improvements to provide restrooms in 4 stations (Midway, Cookeville Hwy, Blue Springs, and Johnson’s Chapel) from 2020-2022. Mayor Stribling initiated and supported a Rural Development grant application for the new Liberty fire engine in 2021 and Mayor Stribling supported acquisition of two used fire engines (Cookeville Hwy & Blue Springs) from the county budget in 2021. He supported formation of a new multi-agency Swiftwater Rescue Team in 2021. As you can see, Mayor Stribling has been very progressive in supporting improved services and equipment for the DeKalb County Fire Department. In summary, either through grants, county funding, or a combination of both, Mayor Stribling, in his 8 years in office, has been instrumental in construction of 2 new fire stations, 7 fire apparatus upgrades (2 new and 5 used), and hiring of a part-time staffing position. These contributions have significantly improved the services to our members and county. We are privileged to present Mayor Tim Stribling with his DeKalb County Fire Department Honorary Lifetime Membership Award,” concluded Lt. Cantrell.

January 17, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS basketball makeup games against Macon County in Smithville scheduled for tonight (Monday, January 17) have been rescheduled for Thursday, January 20. The girls game will tip off at 6 p.m. followed by the boys game. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

Meanwhile, DeKalb County is scheduled to host Upperman Tuesday night, January 18 in Smithville and travel to Crossville to face Stone Memorial Friday, January 21. Action begins with the girls games at 6 p.m. followed by the boys games. WJLE will have LIVE coverage each night.

January 17, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A member of the Liberty Station has won the DeKalb County Fire Department’s most coveted award.

Andrew Harvey is the 2021 Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital Volunteer Firefighter of the Year.

Harvey was honored Saturday night during the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Annual Awards Program which was held in a virtual platform this year due to COVID-19. Wilson Bank & Trust was the headlining sponsor of the program.

Meanwhile, Captain Brian Williams was recognized as the Liberty State Bank Officer of the Year and Steve Repasy, Midway Station Commander was selected to receive the Allen’s Allstars “Git R Done” Award. The DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC) Rookie of the Year Award went to Alyssa Harvey of the Liberty Station and the Liberty Station repeated as the FirstBank Station of the Year award winner.

Andrew Harvey’s award was presented by Assistant County Fire Chief Anthony Boyd.

In making the presentation, Boyd said Harvey was selected from firefighters demonstrating excellence in training participation, incident response, and community service.

“Andrew excelled in all considerations used to evaluate the worthiness of earning this award. For 2021 Andrew made 100% of his monthly training, completed other outside training courses, and is among the most active in incident responses. He always has a positive can-do attitude whether it is a work session, fire prevention safety event, fundraiser, training, or fire call. You will see him there with a big smile on his face. He consistently takes new firefighters under his wing and helps them learn skills while welcoming them to the team. Andrew has dedicated many hours assisting lead instructors with recruit classes. As for Andrew’s community service, he is very active with the DeKalb Emergency Services Association and volunteers to help provide meals to the needy in our community during Thanksgiving and Christmas. He does not limit his interest to the department. He also has led and supported community efforts to involve himself and station members in projects outside the fire department. Andrew is very passionate and active in fire prevention and safety education in our schools and civic groups. The DeKalb County Fire Department attempts to recognize firefighters who reflect a positive attitude of service to the department and our communities. There is absolutely no doubt Andrew Harvey has earned the honor of being named our 2021 Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Firefighter of the year,” said Assistant Chief Boyd.

(Other stories from the awards program will be posted here later)

The following are Community Fire Station Sponsors: Four Seasons Community, Kilgore’s Restaurant, McElroy Land Management, LLC, DeKalb County Insurance, DeKalb Funeral Chapel, Rockwall Farms, The Barn at Triple Creek Farm, Hillcrest Restaurant, and Mountain Harbour Property Owners Association

The following are community partners: Local Red Cross representatives, WJLE Radio Station, Smithville Review Newspaper, Tennessee Division of Forestry, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, DeKalb County 911, Smithville/DeKalb County Rescue Squad, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County EMS, City of Smithville Fire Department, City of Alexandria Fire Department, Mayor Tim Stribling and his office staff, and the DeKalb County Commission.

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