(UPDATED) Community Joins in Salute to Veterans (View video here)

November 11, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A Veterans Day program was held today (Friday) at the county complex sponsored by The American Legion and Ladies’ Auxiliary Post 122.

(View video of the entire program below)

The ceremony began with patriotic music from Susan Hinton on piano followed by the presentation of colors from members of the 1377th Bobby Ray Detachment Marine Corps; Pledge of Allegiance led by Ronnie Redmon, Post 122 Adjutant; and Prayer by Larry Green, Chaplain of Post 122.

“As veterans we are people who were willing to serve our country and do whatever it took to defend the freedoms we enjoy but the freedoms we truly enjoy are the freedoms that God has given to us,” said Green,” said Green in remarks pryor to his prayer. “God is the true Supreme Commander of all the military. God is the one who leads us and just as he promised Joshua as told in the Bible that he would be with him, God is the same God today. He is leading the same people today and He is still leading our people who are serving us today. It doesn’t matter if we are veterans of the military, EMTs, firefighters, police, whoever we are we are veterans who are doing whatever we can do to defend the cause of freedom,” said Green

The program was scheduled to also include performances by the DCHS Band and Chorus but they were unable to attend with school having been cancelled today (Friday) due to sickness

Judy Redmon, President of the American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary introduced the guest speaker, Bill Rutherford, Veteran Service Officer for DeKalb County and the American Legion. During his remarks, Rutherford presented a stirring patriotic Veterans Day video projected on the new video wall in the county complex auditorium.

“Veterans Day started on the 11^th month of the 11^th day of the 11^th hour in 1919. The one-year anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended WWI said to be the war to end all wars. It was commemorated in 1921 with the burial of the unknown soldier from WWI at Arlington National Cemetery. The tomb of the unknown soldier was established as well as Armistice Day. In 1938 Armistice Day became a national holiday and in 1954 the name changed to Veterans Day allowing us to pause and remember our veterans both past and present. Seven percent of the US adult population is considered a veteran. In DeKalb County that is one in every 180 adults residing in our county,” said Rutherford.

“Webster’s definition of a veteran is a person who has significant experience and expertise in a particular field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in the military. The bigger question is who is a veteran?”

“When I see a veteran I see bravery, faith, desire, brotherhood, pride, compassion, honor, and patriotism,” said Rutherford. “As the years go by veterans often ask themselves why am I still here? We are here to remember their sacrifice and to honor them not just on Veterans Day or Memorial Day but every day by the way we carry ourselves and the way we serve our community. Many veterans still fly the American flag and often that of their branch of service as well as the MIA and POW flags. Veterans are patriotic even when it isn’t trendy. Veterans are community driven and continue to serve long after Uncle Sam says you are free to go. There will be many more veterans to come for there will always be some radical extremist group, country, or dictatorship that will attack our freedoms or challenge our way of life. They will challenge our democracy. Sometimes our democracy and constitution may seem flawed but ask any veteran and they will tell you that they are worth fighting for. Our oath has no expiration date. We will continue to serve any way we can, defending our constitution against enemies foreign and domestic,” Rutherford continued.

“As we go our separate ways this afternoon and the day comes to an end rest easy knowing you have the brightest, best trained, and best equipped young men and women in the world standing watch over you. They are our future veterans. Remember to remember this is our country, the great state of Tennessee, and DeKalb County. To those gathered here today, say thank you to our veterans for their service,” said Rutherford.

Following the program, veterans boarded a school bus where local law enforcement and firefighters led the motorcade in parade fashion down Congress Boulevard to the Public Square for the placement of a wreath and a closing prayer by Don Rigsby  at the site of the veterans memorial monument.

Lunch for veterans and their families was served after the ceremony sponsored by Senior Citizens Director Pam Redmon; the American Legion Post 122 and Ladies Auxiliary, and the Woodmen of the World represented by Tom Bumbalough.

November 10, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The graduation date has been set for the Class of 2023 at DeKalb County High School.

During Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Board of Education set the date for Friday, May 12 at 7 p.m.

In his monthly report on personnel, Director Patrick Cripps announced that Erica Garrett has been granted a leave of absence as requested. Meanwhile, Donna Hale has been transferred from DeKalb West School to the central office as a bookkeeper. Emily Davis has been transferred from a cafeteria position to secretary at DeKalb West School. Brandi Womack has been transferred from secretary to bookkeeper at DeKalb West School.

The board voted 4-3 to affirm a recent decision of the district’s discipline hearing authority in upholding the principal’s handling of a student discipline matter at one of the schools. Parents of the student, not satisfied with the DHA’s decision, appealed the ruling and requested a hearing before the entire school board which was denied. Although the decision by the DHA may have been appropriate, board members Jim Beshearse, Jason Miller, and Jamie Cripps wanted to grant the parents request for a board hearing on the matter.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps announced that DeKalb County Schools will be closed Friday and Monday, November 11 & 14 due to sickness among students and staff.

“Schools will be closed Friday and Monday due to sickness. We have been tracking it for the last few days and our numbers continue to rise. If we are separated for a few days, hopefully it will knock it out and we will be able to return to normal on Tuesday so schools will be closed Friday and Monday,” he said.

Director Cripps also remembered veterans with Veterans Day coming up Friday.

“Friday is Veterans Day and we would like to recognize and thank our veterans for their service and to those who are serving now we would like to also recognize those gentlemen and women,” he said.

November 10, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A 69-year-old Hartsville man was airlifted after a one vehicle crash this morning (Thursday) on Bright Hill Road.

According to Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Larry Gregory, Sr. was driving a 1990 Geo Tracker when he went off the road and struck a utility pole. Gregory reportedly suffered a head injury, a possible broken leg, and other internal injuries. He was airlifted from near the scene and flown by helicopter ambulance to Vanderbilt Hospital.

Trooper Delong said Gregory was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Members of DeKalb EMS, the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene.

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