Teaming up to seek funding for more Recreational Opportunities

November 3, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Teaming up to potentially expand recreational opportunities

During Monday night’s monthly meeting, the county commission voted to create a parks and recreation committee made up of seven people including a county commissioner, a City of Smithville alderman or mayor, and five citizen members.

Commissioner Tony Luna, Chairman of Economic Development said his committee recently met and voted to recommend the formation of this new parks and recreation team as a way to join forces with the city and Chamber of Commerce to enhance grant opportunities to expand recreational offerings in DeKalb County such as possibly parks and ball fields.

“In our economic development committee, we floated the idea of creating a parks and recreation committee,” said Commissioner Luna. “We talked to (Chamber Director) Suzanne Williams and if we do create this committee there are lots of grants we can apply for and probably get. We could possibly build a new ball field or even a new ball complex for the kids. This would be a volunteer committee. Commissioner Tony (Cully) Culwell has agreed to serve on it. I have also talked to Smithville Mayor Josh Miller and he said that he or one of the aldermen he thought would also serve on it and we would like to get five more from the community. Tony has already started talking to some people who wanted to volunteer to be part of it but before that we have to create this parks and recreation committee. The reason we want to team up with the city is because we believe we could get more accomplished by working together,” said Commissioner Luna

Members of the committee, yet to be named, will be appointed by the county mayor.

November 2, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Elementary would like to recognize our Students of the Month for October. These students were selected for their outstanding character, academics, and other traits that make them an all-around excellent student. Selected as Students of the Month for October are:

PreK – Gerson Garcia, Ella Thompson
Kindergarten – Nora Harwood, Everleigh Ashburn
1st Grade – Brentley Gutierrez, Blakelyn Cripps
2nd Grade – Luke Conte, Emersyn Niehuus

The students are pictured with SES Principal Anita Puckett and Assistant Principal Karen France.

November 1, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A motorist allegedly driving drunk with two children in his vehicle at the time was recently arrested.

40-year-old Victor Alfonso Nava of Cookeville is charged with two counts of child abuse or neglect, driving under the influence, evading arrest, reckless endangerment, and no valid driver license. He is under a $26,000 bond and his court date is November 14.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on October 25 a deputy was patrolling South Mountain Street when he spotted a black BMW traveling up to 80 miles per hour in a posted 40 mile per hour speed zone and it crossed the dotted line of the highway. The officer turned on his emergency lights and siren signaling for the driver to pull over and while he slowed Nava initially did not stop and passed several roads and parking lots. After a short pursuit Nava finally stopped.

According to the deputy, Nava smelled of alcohol and his eyes were red and glossy. He was also unsteady on his feet. Nava admitted to having consumed two or three drinks earlier and he submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Two children, ages 8 months and 3 years, were passengers in the vehicle with him. Also found were three empty containers of alcohol still cold to the touch. A background check through central dispatch revealed that Nava had no driver license, only an ID.

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