DeKalb School Buses Pass Annual State Inspection,

January 14, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

All DeKalb County School buses have passed state inspection.
State Troopers Darryl Winningham, Ned Martin, and Craig Wilkerson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, inspectors for this district, completed their evaluation last week of all 36 buses in the fleet including the 4 substitute buses.

Trooper Wilkerson said inspectors found no major defects or deficiencies.

“This year everything went really well. The main issue we ran across though it is very minor is the cleanliness of the buses. The mechanical side of it (inspection) went really well. I think the worst thing we had to do was change a tire on a bus. If there is a defect found its usually fixed within five to ten minutes. There’s not been a bus parked for longer than 20 to 30 minutes at the most during inspection,” said Trooper Wilkerson.

“We do a complete level one inspection on the buses. We go from the bottom to the top and inside, outside but the biggest thing we’re looking at is the tires to make sure they have proper air inflation and for tread depth wear. We look at the steering boxes. We make sure there’s nothing wrong with the tie rods and ball joints. We check the exhaust system for leaks. We also check the lighting system and anything that has to deal with the stop signs for when the children are unloading and loading to see that they are working properly,” Trooper Wilkerson continued.

The inspectors conduct an annual inspection for three days in January but unannounced spot checks are done during the year.

Jimmy Sprague, Transportation Supervisor for the DeKalb County School System said he is pleased overall with the results of the inspection and gave credit to the bus drivers and mechanics Michael Agee and Justin Coats.

“DeKalb County is blessed. We have good bus drivers who are very safety conscious. They look out for these kids and make sure they get to school and home safely everyday. I can’t give them enough praise for the job they do and in helping to maintain their buses. DeKalb County should be proud of them,” said Sprague.

Whether it’s a scheduled or unannounced state inspection, Sprague said the buses “are ready at any point and any time and that says a lot about the operation we run here. The drivers keep a check on the buses and if something is wrong we know about it and get it fixed. We couldn’t have the transportation department we have if we didn’t have the drivers we’ve got and the staff we have at the bus garage. It speaks volumes,” Sprague concluded.

January 13, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A couple trying to elude authorities in White County were arrested in Smithville early this morning (Saturday) after they ran off the road, struck a stop sign, and bolted from their car on foot.

The names of the man and woman have not yet been released but they are facing charges as a result of the episode.

The matter remains under investigation but apparently White County authorities were looking to serve warrants on at least one of the occupants of the vehicle, a 2005 Dodge Neon, when the driver tried to evade arrest . A pursuit ensued. The car crossed into DeKalb County and then Smithville. White County authorities reportedly terminated the pursuit near Smithville.

Local law enforcement officers were advised to be on the lookout for the car at 1:56 a.m. and Smithville Police found it abandoned at the intersection of South Mountain and Hayes Street at 2:10 a.m. The car had knocked over a stop sign and the occupants of the vehicle had fled on foot.

Members of the Smithville Police Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and White County officers converged on the scene and began looking for the couple. They were found in the area shortly thereafter, taken into custody, and transported back to White County.

January 13, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Local GOP candidates officially made their intentions known Saturday during a “Meet and Greet” hosted by the DeKalb County Republican Party at the courthouse.

In addition to Sheriff Patrick Ray and Trustee Sean Driver, who are each seeking their fourth terms, three other candidates announced for county wide offices during the gathering including Susan Martin, who is seeking the Republican nomination for Circuit Court Clerk, and Reed Edge and Danny Hale who are both seeking the GOP nomination to run for Road Supervisor. Incumbent Road Supervisor Butch Agee did not attend Saturday’s meeting. He has already announced his decision not to seek a second term.

Six persons are seeking the GOP nod to run for the County Commission including the following:

• Tom Chandler in the 1st district
• Sabrina Farler in the 2nd district
• Greg Matthews in the 4th district
• Jerry Adcock in the 5th district (incumbent)
• Matt Adcock in the 6th district
• Bruce Malone in the 7th district

The DeKalb Republican Party will hold their caucus on Sunday, February 11 to formally nominate candidates to run for election in the DeKalb County General Election on Thursday, August 2nd.

Other candidates making announcements Saturday to run in the August 2nd GOP primary for state offices were 40th District State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, 17th District State Senator Mark Pody, Menda Holmes for State Representative in District 46, and Dr. Rolando Toyos, founder and CEO of the Toyos Clinic with locations in Memphis and Nashville, who will enter the race to succeed Bob Corker in the U.S. Senate.

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