News
Graham garners Honorable Mention All-America honors
June 5, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
Cumberland sophomore Tyra Graham earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from the NAIA on Friday, as selected by the NAIA All-America committee and announced at the conclusion of the NAIA Championships in Clermont, Fla.
Graham becomes the first All-American for the Phoenix since Jessica Roper, a Second Team selection in 2014, and only the second All-American in the program’s history.
The Smithville, Tenn., native batted .426 with 20 doubles, six home runs, 37 RBIs and 62 runs scored this season, adding 35 stolen bases. She ranked sixth nationally in runs scored, seventh in hits (87), 10th in doubles and 13th in total bases (129) and stolen bases.
Graham led the Mid-South Conference in runs scored, hits, doubles and total bases and ranked second in batting average and stolen bases. Cumberland improved from 17-33-1 in 2017 and 36-23 this season, doing so with four freshmen or sophomores as well as four newcomers, all junior transfers from junior colleges.
Graham also earned CoSIDA Academic All-District® 2 College Division honors, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) recently.
Student-athletes must be a sophomore, junior or senior, hold a 3.30 GPA and above and be a starter or major contributor off the bench to be eligible for nomination for the CoSIDA Academic All-District® award. Graham posts a 3.75 GPA in Exercise and Sport Science.
Meanwhile’s Cumberland’s Kayley Caplinger of DeKalb County was named to the 2018 Mid-South Conference Gold Glove Team, as announced by the league office during the conference tournament in Bowling Green, Ky.
The 2018 Mid-South Conference Gold Glove Team is selected by the coaches and based solely on fielding percentage at each position from the regular season.
Caplinger did not make an error in 34 chances in the circle for the Phoenix, posting 23 assists.
Rescue Squad to Get City Fire Department Service Truck
June 5, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
The Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad will soon be getting another vehicle thanks to the DeKalb County Government and the City of Smithville.
During Monday night’s monthly meeting, the Smithville Aldermen voted to sell the City Fire Department’s 1980 service truck to the county for $4,000. The truck will go to the Rescue Squad for its operation.
Last week, the county commission voted to spend up to $4,000 for the purchase of the truck to be used by the Rescue Squad if the city were willing to sell it at that price.
Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker said plans were to market the service truck using an on-line service. Although the city might have been able to sell the truck for a much higher price through that venue, Chief Parker said he had no problem with the city selling it to the county for the Rescue Squad to meet their needs.
City officials view this move as a donation on the part of the city to the Rescue Squad by passing up its chance to get more money for the truck in advertising it for sale
Since the Rescue Squad serves Smithville as well as DeKalb County, the city fire department may still request use of the service truck periodically should the need arise according to Rescue Squad member Joe Johnson.
Public Responds to Plea for Pledges to Replace Stolen Bronze Stars from Veterans Monument
June 5, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
More than $1,400 in pledges have been made to replace six bronze stars stolen off the veteran’s memorial monument at Green Brook Park last fall.
Joyce Poss championed the cause and announced the fundraising effort last Monday during the Memorial Day program at the county complex and through a local news story on WJLE. Within two days, Poss said the public had responded with pledges totaling $1,475. The cost of the project was expected to be between $1,200 and $1,500.
Pledges and donations are still being sought.
Poss said if more money is collected than needed to replace the bronze stars then the extra money will likely be used to repair and clean the monument and to add to it names of other fallen soldiers from DeKalb County including US Army Sergeant Shannon D. Taylor who was killed in the line of duty while serving in Iraq in 2005 and US Army PFC Billy Gene Anderson who died while serving in Afghanistan in 2010. A fence with barbed wire will also be placed around the monument with a locked gate to hopefully prevent another theft.
“I need names of those wishing to make a pledge and the amount you are willing to pledge. The city will take care of getting the bronze stars ordered. All I need at this time is input and help getting this done. Any amount you can give will be appreciated,” said Poss.
Call 615-597-5164 and leave a message including your name and telephone number and Joyce will return your call.
An off duty city employee discovered the theft last September.
According to City Public Works Director Kevin Robinson, the employee was in the park and noticed that the stars were missing from the monument. Its not known exactly when the theft occurred. City officials believe whoever committed the theft used a pry bar to remove the stars .
The monument and two cannons, once located on the grounds of the former VFW Howard Gill Post 7623 on the Sparta Highway, were relocated to Green Brook Park after the Post was closed three years ago. The six sided monument stands in tribute to those from DeKalb County who lost their lives during the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Iraqi Freedom.
Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins said the Police Department is seeking tips from the public. If you have information that may help solve the crime contact Crime Stoppers at 615-464-6199.
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