Fallen Firefighter Memorial Bike Ride Passes through Smithville (VIEW VIDEO HERE)

September 9, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Local law enforcement officers and firefighters welcomed motorcycle riders Saturday morning as they passed through Smithville and DeKalb County on a charity ride to help raise funds for the Tennessee Fallen Firefighter Memorial.

IMG_0919 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Bikers from across the state, many of whom are members of emergency services, gathered in Sparta to participate in the 5^th Annual Tennessee Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ride. Bikers paid $20 and passengers $15 each to participate. They left out from the Sparta Fire Department traveling west on Highway 70 and arrived in Smithville around 9:30 a.m. before turning onto Short Mountain Highway toward Woodbury enroute to Bell Buckle on the campus of the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy where the memorial is located.

Beginning in 2002, the first Tennessee Fallen Firefighter Memorial Committee was founded with a mission to create a memorial to honor fallen firefighters in Tennessee. After earning its 501©3 not-for-profit status, the board of directors began to actively raise funds to build the memorial.

In 2005, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a resolution, which dedicated land on the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy property to be used for constructing an memorial. Fundraising efforts began with the TUFF Challenge and by selling bricks in support of the memorial.

Construction of the memorial was broken up into two phases. The official ribbon cutting ceremony for phase one was held Sept. 11, 2009. Dedication of the completion of the second phase was held on Sept. 10, 2011.

The Tennessee Fallen Firefighter Memorial honors the fallen firefighters of Tennessee. Additionally, a section was added to the memorial that pays tribute to the lives lost during the terrorist attacks that occurred Sept. 11, 2001. As part of that memorial, a piece of a steel I-beam, which was recovered from “Ground Zero” in New York City, is also on display.

September 8, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting Tuesday for The Pharmacy at Family Medical Center.

A grand opening celebration was held last Saturday featuring LIVE music and lots of delicious food.

“It went great. We had a really good turn out and a lot of people came out Saturday including many family members who showed their support for us as well,” said Susannah Cripps Daughtry, pharmacist and co-owner and operator of the business with pharmacist Collin A. Cantrell.

For many years the location was home to the Family Medical Center Pharmacy, owned by Susannah’s father Gary Cripps. He is now deceased. Susannah and her husband took over the business in 2011.  Fred’s Pharmacy  purchased the business the following year but it was closed in February, 2017.

Susannah and Collin, both natives of Smithville, recently decided to return to town to start the new pharmacy, which has been open now for two months.

“Our roots here are absolutely what made Collin and me really want to do this and come back to this particular location. There are lots of opportunities out there but this was what we wanted to do. Our attention to detail and personalized service makes us unique. We are focusing on really making sure we do the right thing for each and every patient. We want to make it simple and easy for them to get the care and medications they need,” said Susannah.

“We want to make it an enjoyable experience and not one where they walk away feeling like they wasted half their day to get their prescription. We believe you make them feel like they are the only ones there by giving them your full and undivided attention,” added Collin.

Susannah, who has been a pharmacist for 22 years, said she decided to follow in her father’s footsteps after observing the devotion he had to his patients.

“Growing up I remember watching my dad take care of people who lived in this community and hearing the phone ringing in the middle of the night and him getting up to go and get a prescription or his brother and my uncle Donnie calling to say that he had a patient that needed something and those two working together to ensure the patient was well cared for and had exactly what they needed when they needed it. That’s what inspired me to go into healthcare but then also to practice the way I do. I know Collins holds those same values,” Susannah continued.

“I remember when the pharmacy was at the old building downtown across from Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. As a child I would go there with my grandmother and every time I walked in there I would notice the box of toys that Gary always kept behind the door. My grandmother wouldn’t want me to but Gary would tell me to come back there and get two toys from the box every time we came in. That grew into a family relationship and I actually started working there when I got older. It didn’t take me very long to realize when I was 17 that this was what I wanted to do,” added Collin.

“When we were trying to get Collin to come back what we did was get a big toy box and we told him he could take three. He said I’ll come and work in the pharmacy,” joked Sarah Cripps, Susannah’s cousin.

“We have been around pharmacies a majority of our lives. That is the neat part about it. I can remember seeing Collin in here working as an after school kid. That’s what they called them then. They would clerk, clean, and do the chores. Collin has been working on learning the business for many years from the lowest level up doing the smallest things all the way up to the biggest things. That’s what makes the partnership work. We have both learned that way. He has the same kind of passion I do for pharmacy and taking care of people,” said Susannah.

Dr. Hugh Don Cripps said he is happy that the pharmacy is back open again.

“It’s a big convenience for us that we have missed at the office and I know my patients have missed it. I think all the doctors are glad to have it back open and able to serve the community. I am especially glad that Collin and Susannah, who is my niece, are here and I know my brother Gary would be very happy that his daughter and Collin have the pharmacy back open. It is back in local hands. We’re very proud of that,” said Dr. Cripps.

The Pharmacy at Family Medical Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. In addition to Susannah and Collin, the pharmacy staff includes Leslie Rich, lead technician and Julia Golden, pharmacy technician and clerk.

“We appreciate all our customers and welcome new ones. Remember we can transfer prescriptions. Open enrollment for Medicare D is also coming up and there are a lot of members of our community that could benefit from coming out and having their plans reviewed to see if they have the best plan for them based on the medications that they are taking and the practitioners they see. Collin and I have both been doing this for many years and are well versed in it. If anybody would like to come and see us and get some help there we are ready to do that to take care of that need too,” said Susannah.

The history of the former Family Medical Center Pharmacy dates back to 1973. “It started as Price-France Pharmacy, “said Susannah in a previous interview with WJLE. “My dad came back from the University of Tennessee. He taught pharmacy school there. When he came back he bought in with Gordon Price and Erby France. The store was known as Price-France Pharmacy at that time. We used to be over there by the First Methodist Church. That was the old building where the doctors’ building was. Later on it became Cripps-France Pharmacy when they bought out Gordon Price. Years later Erby retired and it became dad’s store. He and mother then ran the store. Then when there was an opportunity to move the practice and the pharmacy with it, they built the new building in 1997 on North Congress Boulevard and changed the name to Family Medical Center Pharmacy (current location of the new pharmacy),” said Susannah.

September 8, 2018
By: Debi Depriest

Seniors Tanner Poss and Madi Cantrell have been named Mr. and Miss DeKalb County High School for 2018-19

Poss is the son of J.J. and Jimmy Poss, and brother to Lane. He and his family attend the Bright Hill United Methodist Church. Tanner has been on the Tiger basketball team throughout high school. He became part of the 1,000 point club in his junior year as well as being named to the first team all district. Tanner is a member of Senior BETA club, the fishing team, the science club, and the literature club. He is also a member of the 21+ club which acknowledges students that have achieved a score of 21 or higher on the ACT.

“I feel as though my parents and family have helped me achieve this because they have always been there to guide me and help me throughout my life,” Tanner explained.

He plans to pursue a career in the medical field.

As the daughter of Todd and Jenny Cantrell, Madi is the sister of Megan Cantrell. She attends Indian Creek Baptist Church and spends time volunteering for various organizations such as the Junior Fiddlers’ Jamboree Board and the DeKalb Animal Shelter.

Madi worked diligently to achieve the honor of Miss DCHS, stating that, “Being involved in our school allowed me to meet a great number of new people, which I believe was helpful in my being selected for this role. I also feel that my dedication to education played a part in attaining this title.”

She participates in various school clubs, including FBLA, Student Government, and Senior Beta Club, where she currently serves as president. She is also the treasurer of the 2019 senior class. She served as the Junior Usher for the Class of 2018, alongside Mr. DCHS, and earned the AP Scholar with Distinction award. She was voted Outstanding Underclassman during her Freshman and Sophomore years and attended Girls State in the summer of 2018. Madi has joined the prestigious 29+ club which recognizes students with an ACT score of 29 or higher. Upon graduation, Madi plans to study chemical engineering.

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