Helmet Madness Final: Gordonsville vs DeKalb County

April 11, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The 615 Preps Football Helmet Madness IV championship comes down to DeKalb County High School and Gordonsville for the 2023 title. Fan voting in this round run through noon Wednesday, April 12, and is limited to one vote per 24 hours per device.

The winner will earn bragging rights for “favorite high school football helmet” in the 615 Preps coverage area and will host one of the 615 Preps Spotlight Games this fall.

2022 defending champion DeKalb County made the 2023 championship round by knocking off region rival Macon County, taking out the other remaining top-seeded team in the process. They face third-seeded Gordonsville, which makes its first-ever championship round appearance after routing 2021 champion Lebanon in the semifinals.

A Spotlight Game at home is at stake for the winner. If Gordonsville wins, their home opener against Smith County on Thursday, Aug. 17 will be the selected game. If it’s DeKalb County that wins, their game will be determined at a later date once more Thursday night games have been determined by the TSSAA.

More than 1,800 votes were cast in the semifinals and here’s how those matchups finished:
(3) Gordonsville def. (2) Lebanon 1,391-454
(1) DeKalb County def. (1) Macon County 1,112-733.

(Click link below for more details)

https://615preps.com/2023/04/10/helmet-madness-2023-final/

April 11, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray is warning residents about a phone scam where callers are posing as law enforcement officers and asking would be victims to pay a fine.

According to Sheriff Ray, in some cases the caller has self-identified as Detective Gill Hill of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and tells the would-be victims that they have committed some offense and that they owe fines and should obtain a prepaid card to pay them.

If you get such a call, hang up!

Sheriff Ray said no one from the sheriff’s department will ever contact you in such a manner.

“I have been getting calls from people who have been receiving phone calls from someone claiming to be a detective from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department. The person has used the name of Detective Gill Hill. They say they are a detective and most of those I have received complaints from are people with professional jobs in which the caller tells them they have done something wrong and want them to go to a local business in Smithville and get prepaid cards to pay off fines and fees. I want to let everybody know that is a scam. Nobody from the Sheriff’s Department will call you and ask for money,” said Sheriff Ray.

“I also have had some calls from people who say they have been called by someone claiming to be fundraising for certain victims in the name of the Sheriff’s department, police departments, and fire departments in DeKalb County. To my knowledge there is no fundraiser like that happening here locally. With this being the end of the tax season, it’s a perfect time for scammers to prey on people who may be getting a refund on their income taxes so my advice to you is beware if someone calls you asking for money. Do not give out any personal information and do not send any money or any debit, credit, or gift card numbers. Just hang up the phone,” said Sheriff Ray.

If you have a complaint or need more information you may call Sheriff Ray directly at 615-597-4935 extension 7.

April 11, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Sheriff Patrick Ray has given the county budget committee some food for thought about adding a new school resource officer position within the school system.

During a meeting last Monday, April 3, Sheriff Ray addressed the budget committee with the idea of creating a new (second) SRO position for the high school who could also fill in at either of the four other schools in the county when their own SRO officer has to be absent due to sickness or some other reason.

Currently, an SRO is stationed at each of the five schools in the county. Three of them are funded by the county and two by the school district but all five SRO’s work for the sheriff’s department.

According to Sheriff Ray, when an SRO has to be absent at either Northside, Smithville Elementary, or DeKalb West School due to sickness or some other reason, the SRO at DeKalb Middle School is reassigned to fill in while the high school SRO takes on the responsibility of the middle school as well as the high school since those buildings (DCHS & DMS) are connected. However, DMS staff have some concerns with that arrangement.

“If the county wanted to fund another school resource officer, that new SRO would go to the high school to give them two SROs at DCHS and then if one has to be out that extra SRO would fill in at one of the other schools,” said Sheriff Ray.

If no current deputy were interested in the SRO position, Sheriff Ray explained that there would be a cost of $2,800 to send someone to the training academy along with costs of $3,450 to provide uniforms, duty gear, a taser, and vests plus an additional cost of $550 for guns.

Under the current wage scale for the sheriff’s department, a new SRO would earn salary pay as a 1st tier deputy of $44,272 plus the costs of benefits, etc. and top out after the 6th year at $53,932 plus benefits, etc.

While he is not making a formal request for another SRO position, Sheriff Ray said he wanted to bring the idea before the budget committee as well as the school board for consideration.

“I have asked Director of Schools Patrick Cripps in the past about using some money they had for security that would cover an SRO because the high school is the busiest place so hopefully either here (county budget committee) or the school system it can be addressed,” said Sheriff Ray.

Meanwhile, Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad Captain Dustin Johnson asked the budget committee to add another $2,000 to the county’s annual donation to the rescue squad. Johnson said the new money would be to add internet service to the rescue squad building located near Greenbrook Park for electronic filing of reports to the state and for the “IamResponding” app providing quicker alerts to rescue squad volunteers for faster response time. The county currently donates $40,821 per year to the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad operation as a non-profit entity.

DeKalb Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie Parker asked for adjustments in a couple of EMA budget line items totaling $2,800. Part of the extra funds would be to cover expenses for continuing installation of a radar omega system to provide advanced weather radar storm tracking alerts to the public via app. The project was started this past year and Parker said one site has been established at a water tower on Snow Hill although there are some internet issues with that location. Two more units are scheduled to be installed at water towers in the Jefferson Community and Dale Ridge Road. A portion of Parker’s funding request would also be for communication expense and for meals not already provided at meetings of the local Emergency Planning Committee and for snacks and refreshments during any future missing person search efforts such as the massive one held recently for Brittany Miller.

County Mayor Matt Adcock said the salary of the Veteran Service Officer position would be increased from $12,900 to $16,800 per year in the proposed new budget subject to approval of the budget committee and county commission.

EMS Director Hoyte Hale presented his proposed budget which includes a total increase in expenditures of $145,541.

The proposed EMS budget includes a $5,000 pay raise for the director, who currently earns less than six paramedics on his staff due to them getting a percentage increase in pay each year in the EMS step wage scale.

“Since the step scale was introduced, I have received one raise,” said Hale. “Even if this year’s raise goes into effect (director), two paramedics would still make more than me,” added Director Hale.

The EMS budget includes a one dollar per hour increase in pay for the newly created assistant director position. Increases have also been budgeted for part time and overtime pay for EMS Staff.

Inflation has necessitated requests for more money to cover higher costs of fuel and vehicle repair and maintenance.

“I am asking for an increase of $20,000 for vehicle maintenance,” said Hale. We have five ambulances, and they are all aging. The mileage is up and so is the costs for repair and maintenance. Since July 11, 2022, we have run 3,165 calls keeping the roads hot with hospital transfers, doctor’s appointments, and dialysis patients and that is why mileage is high. Last fiscal year we had 4,069 calls,” Hale continued. “We have a new ambulance coming in January 2024 and we hope to get a new fully equipped ambulance if the county applies and is approved for a CDBG block grant. I am also asking for an additional $15,000 for fuel and an extra $5,000 for drugs and medical supplies which continually costs more,” sale Hale.

The good news is that the EMS has brought in more revenues so far this year than last due to a better rate of collection.

“According to the Trustee, our revenues at the end of March were $1,079,569 for the year to date with three months to go. Last year by the end of March we had revenues of $922,002,” said Director Hale.

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