Big Success – 2022 DeKalb Cleanup

May 20, 2022
By:

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber and DeKalb County Mayor’s office held the DeKalb County Clean Up event on May 14th with over 50 people signing up to pick up trash. Mayor Tim Stribling and Chamber Director Suzanne Williams expressed how important a clean county is to tourism, to potential businesses looking to relocate here, and to the residents who live here.

One week before the event, dumpsters were placed across the county to allow people to get a head start on their litter pick up. Dumpster trash collection reports are as follows: Dowelltown collected 8,520 lbs., Liberty 5,120 lbs., Alexandria 4,420 lbs., County Complex 520 lbs. for a total of 18,580 lbs. of trash collected.

This year’s DeKalb Clean Up Teams included Brandon Cox Team (with the largest number of team members), DeKalb Prevention Coalition, Justin Potter Library, and Edgar Evins State Park. Edgar Evins State Park picked up trash on the Highland Rim Trail. Justin Potter Library employees pick up litter and cigarette butts all year long around the library.

DeKalb Clean Up Spotlight Volunteers! Diane and Jim Loy have been a part of the TDOT “Friends of Tennessee” Adopt-a-Highway program from February 2001 through May 2022 and have picked up trash and cleaned numerous areas monthly on Hwy. 56 from Hurricane Bridge South to 2.1 miles toward Smithville. They also pick up litter at the Center Hill Lake Scenic Over-Look and League Chapel Cemetery. On May 10th, the Loys collected nine 33-gallon size bags of trash. From June 2021 to April 2022, they have picked up a total of 109 bags of trash. What a debt of gratitude we owe to them for their 21 years of dedicated service. They love DeKalb County, and it definitely shows in their actions.

For beautification, new flowers were planted on three sides of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

The Smithville Town Cemetery has numerous volunteers who are working on beautifying that historic graveyard as well as restoration projects.

Whether beautifying a street, highway, park, ball field, stream, or home, what a difference we can make through working together! Thank you to everyone who helped in any way.

May 19, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Many DeKalb County land and business owners may see a change in their property assessments this year.

Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell said “Change of Assessment” letters are being sent to those affected.

“Change of assessment letters are going out this month (May) because the assessment on your property, whether it be real property or personal property, has either gone up or down. There has been a change so you will get a “change of assessment” notice,” Cantrell said.

If you don’t agree with your property assessments, Cantrell said you should not wait until you get your tax bill in the fall to try and do something about it. The time to raise concerns is when the DeKalb County Board of Equalization meets in June. Cantrell will be taking appointments for those appeals starting May 18. The Board of Equalization will meet in person starting Wednesday, June 1 through Friday, June 3 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and on Monday and Tuesday, June 6th & 7th from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

“Remember once the county board has met then you can no longer appeal locally for the 2022 taxes. I think that’s what catches a lot of people by surprise. They get their tax notice October 1 and that’s what really gets their attention if their taxes have gone up. Then they want to appeal it. But by that time the appeal for 2022 has already passed. We’re in the appeal season now,” said Cantrell.

“What is important to remember is that the county board of equalization normally meets the first week in June and if you would like to appeal your assessment now is the time to do that. Beginning May 18 call our office at 615-597-5925 and make an appointment to meet with the county board of equalization to discuss the assessment on your appraisal,” Cantrell continued.

“It doesn’t have to be that you had a change of assessment this spring. Maybe nothing changed from last year but maybe you weren’t pleased with your assessment last year. Anybody can come and see the county board of equalization,” Cantrell added.

County equalization boards across the state are to meet each year on June 1 (or the next business day if the 1st falls on Saturday or Sunday). The county board is authorized by law to receive and hear appeals of current year property tax assessments as fixed by the county assessor of property. Generally, an assessment must be appealed to the county board of equalization to preserve the taxpayer’s right to further appeal.

May 19, 2022
By: Bill Conger

Family and educators recognized the 8th grade class today (May 18) at DeKalb West School. Students were honored for a variety of achievements.

Named to the Principal’s All A Honor were Abby Joe Crook, Autumn Dies, Izzy Hendrixson, Johnathan Keith, McKenna Miller, Landon Roehner, Caitlin Shoemake, Cameron Stanley, and Connor Talley. Three students made the A/B Honor Roll: Ethan Reynolds, Chaylea Lunsford, and Alex Vaughn. Students who had the highest grade point average for their middle school days in 6th-8th grade were Autumn Dies with a 3.810, McKenna Miller and Connor Talley each with a 3.744, Izzy Hendrixson with a 3.725, and Jonathan Keith with a 3.656.

Homeroom teachers Karen France and Mollie Bratten handed recognized students with academic awards. Carter Vickers, Autumn Dies, and Alex Vaughn received the ELA award, Johnathan Keith was honored with the Algebra I award, Izzy Hendrixson, Alayzia Ray, and Ethan Reynolds were tops in Math, Connor Talley and Autumn Dies picked up the History award, Johnathan Keith, McKenna Miller, Caleb Tipton, and Alex Vaughn received the Science award.

Teachers also recognized students with the Making Tracks Award for the Most Improved which went to Baylee Dunn and Kaleb Gomez. The teacher award, “4 PAWS” was presented to Connor Talley from Mrs. Bratten’s homeroom and Peyton Key from Mrs. France’s homeroom. The Mrs. Georgia Young Award in memory of the late longtime DWS Cafeteria Manager was presented to Cole Bain.

Peers selected classmates for the Citizenship Awards. Out of Mrs. Bratten’s homeroom, Justin Checchi and Caitlin Shoemake took home the honor and from Mrs. France’s homeroom, Ethan Reynolds and Abby Joe Crook were honored.

Jr. Beta 8th grade students were recognized for their service to the club. Abby Joe Crook volunteered 52.5 hours, Korbin Hill 30 hours, McKenna Miller 29.5 hours, Cailtin Shoemake 20.75 hours, and Landon Roehner 11 hours.

Librarian Mrs.Amanda Mullinax presented awards for the school’s Accelerated Reader program. Abby Joe Crook, Chaylea Lunsford, and Connor Talley were the Top Readers for the grade, Shoemake and Talley earned the 1,000 points plaque while Crook picked up the 800 Points plaque. Autumn Dies, Izzy Hendrixson, and Chaylea Lunsford earned the 600 Points award, Autumn Dies, Ethan Reynolds, and Kolby Slager the 500 Points award, Cole Bain, McKenna Miller, and Carter Vickers the 400 Points award, Danica Collier, Korbin Hill, and Peyton Key the 300 Points award, Korbin Hill and Nick Maddox the 200 Points award and Angelique Barrick and Alex Vaughn the 100 Points award.

Here are the members of the 2022 DWS 8th grade class: From Karen Frances’s homeroom—Angelique Barrick, Will Bouldin, Abby Joe Crook, Autumn Dies, Kaleb Gomez, Jadyn Howard, Cierra Jennings, Peyton Key, McKenna Miller, Elijah Mullins, Alayzia Ray, Ethan Reynolds, Arianna Sparkman, Cameron Stanley, Caleb Tipton, Alex Vaughn, and Isaiah Whitlock; From Mollie Bratten’s homeroom: Cole Bain, Justin Checchi, Danica Collier, Baylee Dunn, Izzy Hendrixson, Korbin Hill, Johnathan Keith, Chaylea Lunsford, Nick Maddox, Nick Murphy, Landon Roehner, Caitlin Shoemake, Dixie Smith, Kolby Slager, Connor Talley, Hunner Tittle, and Carter Vickers.

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