Two Caught Trying to Hide or Destroy Pills During Traffic Stop

March 18, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Two people were arrested Saturday for tampering with evidence after trying to destroy or hide pills during a traffic stop.

48 year old Frederick Michael Hughes of Barnes Mill Road and 47 year old Lynda Michelle Neville of Smith Road are charged with tampering with evidence. Hughes was also cited for driving on a suspended license , possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to maintain lane of travel, and simple possession of a schedule IV drug (xanax). Bond for each is $6,500 and they will make a court appearance March 28.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on March 16 a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a red Toyota truck for failing to maintain lane of travel. Hughes, the driver, agreed to submit to a search of his person. The officer noticed a yellow pill in the edge of Hughes’ pocket as he had his hands in the pockets. Hughes then turned his back on the deputy and threw the pill into the bed of the truck trying to destroy or hide it. The pill, a yellow xanax bar, was recovered.

Neville, a passenger of the truck, had active warrants against her and was arrested.

Neville was searched and then transported to the sheriff’s office. Upon arrival at the jail the officer removed Neville from the back seat of the patrol car and noticed a cellophane wrapper on the seat which contained a wet crushed yellow pill (possibly xanax). Neville was believed to be trying to destroy or hide the pill from the officer.

During the traffic stop, the officer learned that Hughes’ driver license were suspended for failure to appear for court in Warren County on November 12, 2018. Hughes had no insurance on the truck and was in possession of the pill. A glass pipe was also recovered from the truck on the driver side seat.

March 17, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Budding chefs, nurses, auto mechanics, builders, and others are getting a jump start on their chosen career paths thanks to the STEM and Career & Technical Education course offerings at DeKalb County High School.

CTE courses allow students to combine both college preparation and real-world workforce skills development into one customized education program and encourages students to explore and prepare for careers in the medical field, nursing, automotives, STEM, teaching, culinary, agriculture, machining, manufacturing, nursing, criminal justice, and information technology.

DCHS has prepared an introductory video targeted toward rising high school freshmen to give them a visual tour of the CTE program and the hands-on course offerings. The purpose is to help students interested in advancing future career goals.

When signing up for classes at DCHS, incoming freshmen are asked to choose a focus area or a program of study and are required to take and complete three CTE classes in a particular program area.

Thirteen DCHS teachers are featured in the video below along with several students who explain and demonstrate what is taught in the CTE courses.

*Becky Miller-Teaching as a Profession Course Instructor

*Brad Leach- CTE Director and Engineering Teacher (See how 3D-designed pinewood derby cars and self propelled mouse trap cars are built)

*Gary Caplinger-Construction Technology (See how students are building a Tiny House)

*Todd Cantrell-Machining Technology (See students working to make metal objects with machine tools including milling machines, lathes, and acetylene torches)

*Michael Whitefield- Automotive Technology (See students working on engine rebuilds, diagnostics, replacing a combination signal indicator switch)

*Kelli Agee and Angie Anderson- Health Science and Medical Therapeutic (See students taking manual blood pressures using an automated mannequin)

*Cory Rathbone-Business Technology

*Linda Paris-Culinary Arts

*Lizzie Burrows-Agriculture

*Amanda Brown-Personal Finance Information Technology

*Coach Steve Trapp- Information Technology

*John Pryor-Criminal Justice

March 17, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Board of Education has begun testing for lead levels in drinking water at the schools.

Under a new state law, which went into effect January 1, drinking water at all schools built before 1998 must be tested. The school board must also implement a program to reduce potential lead contamination found in the drinking water.

The new law further mandates that if results of a lead test exceed a certain level (twenty parts per billion), the school district must remove the water source immediately and then notify the health department within 24 hours.

School officials also have to notify parents by letter of the affected school and retest the water source three months after correcting the issue.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said DeKalb County High School (built in 1963) was the first of the five schools to be tested last month. Samples from forty six water outlets used for human consumption (water fountains in hallways, teacher lounges, and kitchen and culinary arts faucets) were collected and sent to a certified drinking water laboratory for analysis and all but three passed the test.

“The three taps sampled had results greater than or equal to the action level of twenty two parts per billion per state regulations but none of these are in a place where students use them on a daily basis. One was a water fountain in a portable building behind the school that is not in use and students are not present. Another was a water fountain near the boy’s locker room in the gym that is not in use and has been shut down for several months. The third was a Culinary Arts kettle pot faucet,” said Director Cripps.

The taps will remain turned off until they are replaced or permanently removed.

Director Cripps praised the School System’s Maintenance Team especially Aaron Young for their work on this project.

“Aaron did a fantastic job and we are happy with the results. He has been ahead of this from the get-go. Since the law was passed, he has been researching and taken it on and been spot on with everything,” said Director Cripps.

Young said there could be a simple fix for the outlets that tested high.

“The drinking fountains have filters and there could be particulates stuck in them causing the problem. We can open those up and clean them out. As for the kettle pot faucet, it is usually used for cleaning the kettle but could be used for adding water to the soup or whatever that may be cooked but that too is not a difficult fix. We will do further testing in the near future,” said Young.

The tests must be conducted at least once every other year.

DeKalb Middle School and Smithville Elementary School are to be tested next.

“Our School system is committed to protecting the health of students, teachers, and staff. The system will conduct further testing in all schools in the coming months,” said Director Cripps.

While the major source of lead exposure for children in Tennessee is lead-based paint, lead in plumbing fixtures can add to a person’s overall exposure. Lead exposure from tap water comes from the decay of plumbing or the solder that connects pipes, and the risk is higher in older buildings.

Key points from the law are:

• The legislation took effect January 1, 2019.
• All school districts must develop a policy to test drinking water sources in schools for lead.
• Testing is to occur in schools constructed prior to January 1, 1998.
• If results are greater than 15 parts per billion (ppb) but less than 20 ppb, the school shall conduct testing on an annual basis until retesting confirms the level is less than 15 ppb.
• If results are equal to or greater than 20 parts per billion: ◦The drinking water source must be removed from service.

◦The Department of Health and other state agencies will be notified within 24 hours.

◦The school must notify parents and guardians of students within 5 business days.

◦Retesting of the lead level of the drinking water source must occur within 90 days of any corrective action.

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