DeKalb County Schools Receive $15,400 UTRUST GRANT

January 11, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County School System has received a grant of $15,400.00 from UTrust .

Michelle Burklow, Supervisor of Instruction for DeKalb County Schools, applied for the grant. She wrote, “While undergoing changes in the educational world, employees must feel needed and important, part of a bigger picture. We want to create a positive work environment and show the employees that each one of them have a vital role in education. These funds will allow our school district to show appreciation and recognize the hard work of our employees.”

DeKalb County Superintendent of Schools, Patrick Cripps said, “We are fortunate to have an outstanding school staff and we very much want them to know how much they are appreciated. Our school board also appreciates our staff and we want to provide an opportunity for the board and staff to interact with each other.”

Cripps continued “We are grateful to Utrust for providing funds for our school system so that we will be able to provide tangible evidence we appreciate every employee of DeKalb County Schools. We’re fortunate to find funds that do not come from taxpayers of DeKalb County for this project.”

Dr. Dan Tollett, Utrust Administrator said, “We are pleased that Utrust is able to fund small projects that will make a big difference. We believe these projects will make a big difference to staff members in DeKalb County Schools. We appreciate Ms. Burklow, submitting this request. We welcome the opportunity to be a part of this project because it is all about appreciating school employees.”

Utrust is an organization that assists school systems in Tennessee with unemployment issues and in recognizing, supporting and appreciating school employees. It sponsors the Utrust Appreciation Program, a student leadership program that seeks to help students recognize and express appreciation to people who make their lives better each day.

January 11, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Volunteer Firefighter and Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale received the “Robert Eller Highest Attendance Award” Friday night during an appreciation dinner for city firefighters at the New Life Connection Center.

The award was presented to Hale by Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker. This is the sixth straight year Hale has earned this award named in honor of the late Robert Eller, who served the Smithville Fire Department as a member and assistant chief for 64 years until his death in 2009.

“He was an icon with the Smithville Fire Department and we (firefighters) were his family. Until the time he got sick and his death, Eller was at just about every call, every meeting, and every training that we had so we wanted to pay homage to him by naming this award after him for the firefighter who made the most calls, trainings, workings throughout the year,” said Chief Parker.

Out of the 140 incident calls, 56 training responses, and 10 workings during 2019, Hale, a 35 year veteran of the department, attended a total of 173. This includes calls, incidents, trainings, and workings.

Other firefighters with high attendance responses to their credit were Lieutenant Donnie Cantrell with 157, Lieutenant Danny Poss with 152, Dillon Hicks 140, and Jeff Prisock with 126 calls.

The firefighter awarded for putting in the most training hours including LIVE Burn and Rookie School during 2019 was Jeff Prisock at 204 hours. Others with top training hours were Dillon Hicks 189 hours, Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale 119, Lieutenant Danny Poss 109, and Lieutenant Donnie Cantrell with 94 hours.

Chief Parker commended the award winners and all members of the department for the work they do for the city as volunteers.

“I want to express my appreciation to each and everyone of the volunteers whether you are a one year or 40 year member you are what makes this fire department work. You are the ones who get up in the middle of the night. You are the ones who leave work. You miss family time to get the job done for the City of Smithville,” said Chief Parker.

Members of the department and their years of service are as follows:

Jeff Prisock-1 year, Brent Keenan-1 year, Shannon Smith-1 year, Andrew Cooper-Rookie 1 year, Kayla Williams-Photographer/Auxiliary 1 year, Brenda Soto-Rookie 2 years, Dillon Hicks-Rookie 2 years, Caleb London-3 years, Ryan Herron: 4 years, Seth Wright-4 years, Kim Johnson-4 years, Bradley Johnson- 6 years, Dalton Roberts-6 years, C.J. Tramel- 6 years, Shawn Jacobs- Auxiliary 7 years, Becky Atnip- 7 years, Cory Killian-9 years, Glen Lattimore-12 years, Stephanee Wright-14 years, Gary Johnson-15 years, James Randall Hunt-15 years, Wallace Caldwell- Chaplain 16 years, Lieutenant Kevin Adcock- 21 years, William (Wink) Brown-22 years, Greg Bess-Photographer/Auxiliary 25 years, Lieutenant John Poss-30 years, Captain Jeff Wright-35 years, Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale-35 years, Lieutenant Donnie Cantrell-40 years, Lieutenant Danny Poss-40 years, and Chief Charlie Parker-40 years.

January 11, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Another outstanding DCHS Lady Tiger basketball player has become a member of the 1,000 point club.

Emme Colwell, a senior, was recognized Friday night at DCHS during halftime of the Tigers game with Cannon County.

(Click Link Below to Hear WJLE’s Tiger Talk program from January 7 featuring Tiger Coach John Sanders, Lady Tiger Coach Danny Fish,  Tiger Dakota White and Lady Tiger Emme Colwell)

Tiger Talk January 7

Roy Nelson Pugh of Liberty State Bank presented a plaque to Colwell for having scored over 1,000 points (1,045 to date) in her high school basketball career. Colwell actually reached the 1,000 point milestone during the recent Daytona Beach Shootout against Dutchtown High School. The Lady Tigers went on to win the championship of the shootout, also known as the Sunshine Classic in Florida over the holidays.

“This is our way at Liberty State Bank of congratulating Emme on her accomplishments,” said Pugh.

Emme is the daughter of Derrick and Shea Colwell.

Over her storied career as a Lady Tiger, Emme has been a force on both sides of the floor. She amassed 216 points as a freshman, 335 points as a sophomore, 320 points as a junior, and 174 points so far in her senior year for a total of 1,045 points.

Along with the 1,045 points, Emme has also collected 571 rebounds, 163 assists, 107 blocks, and 193 steals.

Emme was named to the 3rd Team 8-AA District during her freshman and junior seasons and 2nd Team and “Most Improved Player” in 8-AA as a sophomore. Last season she was a 4-AA All-Region Team member and a driving force on last season’s State Tournament Team.

“Emme has been as constant as the rising sun. She has always given me, the team, and her community her best. She demonstrates all the characteristics of our basketball program: hard work, high character and toughness. Emme will go down as one of the best to ever wear the black and gold,” said Lady Tiger Coach Danny Fish.

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