City Still Seeks Tenant for the Smithville Golf Course

February 26, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Municipal Golf Course is still available for lease.

The city has advertised in recent weeks seeking proposals from potential tenants and while a few initially expressed interest no one has stepped forward with a bid.

During a special called meeting Tuesday evening at city hall, the aldermen voted at the mayor’s suggestion to advertise for another two weeks but to expand the search for a new golf course tenant beyond Smithville to larger cities including McMinnville, Lebanon, Cookeville, and Murfreesboro hoping to attract some attention.

The city has also changed the terms in that the new golf course tenant will not be required to double as manager of the city swimming pool. That provision, city officials say may have kept some from submitting a proposal.

Meanwhile, the city is advertising to hire a manager of the pool. The job will be a part time seasonal position at 40 hours a week. Pay will be subject to experience. The city is also taking applications to fill life guard positions at the pool for this summer.

Plans are in the making to repair the pool which is leaking badly. During Tuesday night’s meeting, the aldermen accepted two bids from D&J Restoration LLLP of Cadiz, Kentucky including one in the amount of $7,360 to repair leaks and expansion joints and the other for $7,000 to make gutter area tile repairs and caulking.

In other business, the aldermen voted to spend up to $16,000 for labor and materials to build a new 36 x 60 metal shed at the golf course to replace an older storm damaged shed on the property. The city will tear down the old shed and hire someone to build the new one which will be larger to house more equipment. Funds to pay for the project will come from the city’s $24,500 insurance claim for the damage.

The aldermen also voted to enter into an agreement with the Fiddlers Jamboree Committee to lease the city parking lot across from city hall during the weekend of the Jamboree for the next five years at $2,500 per year.

February 26, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Quarterback Club is sponsoring the annual ham breakfast to benefit the high school football program Saturday, March 2 at the County Complex from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. The menu includes country ham, biscuits, eggs, gravy, hash browns, coffee, and orange juice. The cost is $7.00 per plate. Tickets available from any Tiger football player or DCHS Quarterback Club member. Tickets will also be available at the door. All proceeds will go to the DCHS Tiger Football Program.

February 26, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

First in series of five stories.  2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Justin Nokes once walked the halls of DeKalb Middle School as a student. Today he is one of the school’s most outstanding teachers.

Now in his eighth year, Nokes serves as seventh grade World History educator and is head coach of the Saints and Lady Saints Soccer Teams.

IMG_4440 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Nokes is also this year’s Teacher of the Year at DeKalb Middle School and is in the running with four other educators for DeKalb County Teacher of the Year. Such an honor is something Nokes had not anticipated.

“I was very surprised and honored to even be nominated. There are a lot of great teachers here at DeKalb Middle School and they are all deserving,” said Nokes.

A graduate of DeKalb County High School, Nokes furthered his education at Tennessee Tech where he graduated in 2011 with a Bachelors Degree. Last May Nokes earned his Masters degree in Educational Technology at Tech.

Nokes cites several people who influenced his decision to enter the teaching profession but none so much as his late mother, Karen Jacobs, who spent more than 30 years as an educator, most of that time at Northside Elementary School.

“I always lived and grew up in the school system and I have loved every minute of it. I am glad and blessed to be here at DeKalb Middle School,” said Nokes.

“A lot of people have influenced and helped me along the way including my wife Macy who also teaches school. I remember too when I was younger how that Ron Rogers and Steve Officer with the 4-H programs really encouraged me to be a 4-H counselor in high school,” said Nokes.

Asked how he would react if named DeKalb Teacher of the Year, Nokes said “It would be a huge honor and I would be at a loss for words because I know the quality of teachers that we have from kindergarten to high school. I would be honored,” he said.

The overall DeKalb County Teacher of the Year winner will be announced during the twelfth annual Teacher of the Year banquet next Tuesday, March 5 at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center.

In addition to Nokes, this year’s honorees are first grade teacher Vicky Hawker at Smithville Elementary School; fifth grade teacher Cheryl Vandagriff at Northside Elementary School; Jessica Antoniak, a sixth grade math and science teacher at DeKalb West School; and Linda Parris, a family and consumer sciences/culinary arts teacher at DeKalb County High School.

WJLE will be featuring each of the five Teachers of the Year at the school level through next Tuesday.

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