2024-25 Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration Today (Friday, May 3)

May 3, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County School District is hosting Registration for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten today (Friday, May 3) for the 2024-25 school year.

Pre-Kindergarten registration will be today from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Smithville Elementary and DeKalb West Elementary. (Packet must be picked up from school your child will attend.)

Documents Required for the PreK Application:

Original Certificate of Birth

Current Physical Examination

Current Certification of Immunization

Proof of Income for All Household Members

Proof of Residency

First Priority will be given to children: 4 years old on or before August 15, 2024 and meet income eligibility.

For information call:
Michelle Burklow
615-597-4084

Meanwhile, Smithville Elementary School and DeKalb West School will have Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-25 school year today (Friday, May 3rd) from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm. For West School students, registration will be at DeKalb West School. For Smithville Elementary School students, signups will be at the County Complex.

Please bring COPIES of the following documents to Registration:

– Certified copy of the birth certificate

– Current, up-to-date, physical examination and immunization record (These must be on a Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization, which can be obtained from your doctor’s office or the Health Department)

– Proof of residency for DeKalb County (i.e. gas/electric bill), you must register at your zoned school

– Your child will need to attend (He/She will be assessed (tested) on registration day)

*Children who register to attend kindergarten must turn five years old on or before August 15, 2024.

May 2, 2024
By:

The Tennessee Department of Economic Development through The Tennessee Entertainment Commission is thrilled to announce a dynamic partnership aimed at enhancing the cultural and economic vibrancy of the local community.

“Smithville has done an amazing job building this event over the years to what it is today. They are a true example of how communities can use music to bolster economic development,” stated Jimmy Wheeler, Director of Business Development – Music Office.

The Music Office was established April 2023 to include music to increase economic development throughout the state of Tennessee.

Kim Driver Luton, President of the Jamboree said “Our festival is the official festival for Tennessee. It is so exciting to see economic development recognize the importance of music in Tennessee by sponsoring our event. “.

The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree has been a cherished tradition for over five decades. Each year, it draws musicians, craft artists, and enthusiastic spectators to the heart of DeKalb County. What began as a celebration of Appalachian music and dance has evolved into a broader tribute to the rich cultural heritage. The festival, held annually on the Friday & Saturday nearest Independence Day, highlights the absolute best of traditional artistry. This year’s festival will be held Friday, July 5th – Saturday, July 6th, 2024. For more information about the Jamboree, visit smithvillejamboree.com or call (615) 597-8500. To contact Tennessee Entertainment Commission, the number is (615) 741-3456.

May 1, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

No new employees for the DeKalb County Ambulance Service.

Last month, DeKalb EMS Director Hoyte Hale informed the budget committee that he wished to expand the number of EMS staff from the current level of 20 to a total of 24 beginning with the 2024-25 budget year.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, the budget committee denied the request.

By having four more full time employees (preferably paramedics), Hale said the ambulance service could fully staff three Advanced Life Support 24/7 crews (24 hours per day, 7 days per week) including two crews at the headquarters in Smithville and one at the new Liberty Fire Hall. ALS ambulance crews consist of EMTs and a paramedic.

If approved the EMS budget line item for medical personnel would have increased from $775,028 this year to $911,787 next year (fiscal year 2024-25).

First district commissioner and budget committee member Tom Chandler suggested Tuesday night that now is not the time to expand the EMS staff and add to the budget with other issues the county is facing that need to be addressed.

“Prior to last year there wasn’t even an ambulance in Liberty. There is one there now and its there for 12 hours a day. I don’t see any reason at this point especially given the other things like the situation with the jail and school to be expanding that building in Liberty and adding staff to make those 24 hours,” said Chandler.

Chandler later made a motion that the four new EMS positions requested be removed from the proposed budget and that Director Hale re-submit his budget after changing the numbers. The motion was approved on a 6-1 voice vote with member Tony (Cully) Culwell voting no.

Currently, the county has three staffed ambulances but only two operate 24 hours per day every day (ALS) while the other (day truck) is staffed for 12 hours per day every day (Basic Life Support).

“The way we have it split up right now, we have a paramedic truck on top (Smithville) and a paramedic truck in Liberty. If that paramedic truck here in town goes outside the city limits the one in Liberty comes back to town (Smithville). We have the BLS crew, but their call volume has increased greatly because they have been catching 911 calls during that transition of us coming up the hill,” explained Assistant EMS Director Trent Phipps at a previous budget committee meeting.

“Anything (ambulance) with a paramedic on it is an ALS truck. When we have two EMTS on it that’s considered a BLS truck. Their (EMTs) abilities are slightly limited to that of a paramedic. They can’t do as much stuff. If that BLS truck with two EMTS responds to a call, the Liberty truck almost always has to come to them wherever they are in the county and assist them with that depending upon the type of the call,” said Phipps.

“The state requires in my yearly audit that we have an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) with a paramedic on 95% of our calls,” added EMS Director Hale.

“There are no ambulances at the Liberty Station after 8 p.m.,” explained County Mayor Matt Adcock. “The BLS (Basic Life Support) day truck hours are 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. After the day truck shift has concluded the 12-hour shift, the ALS (Advanced Life Support) truck at the Liberty Station returns to the Smithville Station (station 1),” said Adcock.

Director Hale had also asked for a capital project allocation of $172, 720 for sleeping quarters to be added to the Liberty Station to house the requested third ALS unit providing uninterrupted coverage of the western and northern portions of the county. Although the budget committee has not yet taken up that request (sleeping quarters), members have signaled that they may also cut funding for that in the new budget.

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