Volunteers Seeking Grant to Reburbish Alexandria Children’s Playground (View video here)

August 11, 2019
By: Dwayne Page and Dr. April Martin

Efforts are underway in Alexandria to transform an older children’s playground into a new community park that adults as well as youngsters can enjoy.

This grassroots movement began several months ago by young mothers including Heather Kaceleski and Amy Reed who wanted a safer place to take their children to play.

The Industrial Playground, located behind the fairgrounds, is a nice large area, but there is very little equipment left for children to use.

In their quest for help, these concerned moms turned to the Health Department and UT/TSU Extension Service in DeKalb County, along with the town of Alexandria to make the new park a reality and discovered the BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee Foundation which funds Healthy Places Grants of up to $1 million.

Dr April Martin from dwayne page on Vimeo.

The group is now finalizing a proposal to make application for a Healthy Places grant which if approved would fully fund development of the new park without any matching funding requirements from the town of Alexandria.

“The group’s vision is for all residents..children, adults, and seniors to have a place for physical fitness and potentially some programs they can take advantage of such as Tai Chi for Arthritis, Yoga for Kids, 4-H Science Day Camp, Walking with Ease Arthritis, Story Book Trails and more. There will be areas for adult fitness equipment as well. The Alexandria Community Park is a place that everyone in the community can take advantage of,” said Dr. April Martin, UT/TSU Extension Agent.

In order for the grant to be funded, the Alexandria community must show its support to demonstrate a need for the park and the added recreational and exercise opportunities it would provide for all ages.

If you reside in Alexandria, you are asked to fill out a short online survey. It takes 1-2 minutes to complete.  A larger number of people completing the survey makes the proposal stronger and increases the chances of the grant being funded but hurry because the application must be filed by the end of August.

Please help by going to https://tinyurl.com/AlexanriaParkSurvey.  There are also paper copies of the survey available at Liberty State Bank and Wilson Bank and Trust in Alexandria, Prichard’s Grocery, and Alexandria Pizza & Steaks.

To keep up to date with the project visit

https://www.facebook.com/AlexandriaTNPark/

August 10, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Three people were involved in a personal injury two vehicle crash Friday night at the traffic light intersection of North Congress Boulevard and East Main Street behind the Post Office.

The wreck is under investigation by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department used their extrication equipment to remove a door to one of the vehicles to better gain access to the injured occupants.

DeKalb EMS transported the injured wreck victims to the hospital.

August 9, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Northside Elementary School hosted a “Together We SOAR” Assembly Friday to launch a new program promoting and rewarding positive behavior among students.

(View video of assembly program below)

SOAR Assembly at Northside Elementary from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Positive Behavior Support (PBS) teaches students appropriate behavior, rewards good behavior, and addresses misbehavior by helping students learn from making poor choices.

“SOAR” stands for being “SAFE”, “ON TIME”, “ACCOUNTABLE”, and “RESPECTFUL”.

(Video below is Northside Elementary School Principal Karen Knowles)

IMG_9194 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

A unified set of rules have been adopted under PBS for students to follow in all settings from the time they arrive at school until when they leave including the classroom, cafeteria, playground, etc. and those who follow them may earn “Eagle Bucks” which they can use in exchange for rewards throughout the school year.

During Friday’s assembly Liliana Judkins was awarded the first “Eagle Buck” of the year by Principal Karen Knowles.

Teacher Kristen VanVranken, the Kilgore’s Restaurant Teacher of the Month for August at Northside Elementary School was also rewarded with an “Eagle Buck”.

Two partner businesses, Liberty State Bank and Liberty Machine Shop were recognized for sponsoring field trips for Northside Elementary Summer School students and the Smithville First Baptist Church for adopting Northside Elementary School this year and doing projects like landscaping, providing the teachers coffee and chocolates, etc. Jacob Parsley of Liberty State Bank, J.D. Bratten of Liberty Machine Shop, and Pastor Chad Ramsey of Smithville First Baptist Church received certificates from Assistant Principal Beth Pafford.

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