Erin Cantrell-Pryor received over $212,500 in scholarships at DCHS Thursday, the largest total award presented to any student, including a $186,000 scholarship from Cornell University
Rawlin Vanatta, owner/operator of the White Possom Grille in Smithville, talked about jobs in the culinary arts during Career Day at DeKalb West School
DCHS Class of 2013 Scholarship Recipients at Awards Day
Singer/Songwriter Sam Mullins talked to 6th-8th grade students at DeKalb West School about careers in music at the annual Career Day, coordinated by School Counselor Bill Conger.
Junior DCHS Golfer Mallory Sullivan signs with Cumberland University to play golf after she graduates. Members of her family joined Mallory at the signing Thursday along with DCHS Coach Joe Pat Cope
School Board Votes 4-1 to make cuts in Tentative Budget for 2013-14. (OLDER PHOTO) (READ STORY UNDER LOCAL NEWS)
DCHS Principal Patrick Cripps, Valedictorian Taylor Leach, Salutatorian P.J. Carroll, State Rep Mark Pody, State Sen. Mae Beavers, State Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver, and Director of Schools Mark Willoughby
Smithville Crime Stoppers Board meets with D.A. Randy York: Officer Matt Farmer, Shawn Jacobs, Randy York, Gayla Hendrix, John Daniels, Karen Caplinger, Mayor Jimmy Poss, and Phillip (Fluty) Cantrell
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society for Key Women Educators welcome new members Mandy Dakas and Kathy Bryant into the Beta Theta Chapter. Pictured with long-time members, Louise Frazier and Jenelle Pugh.
Sheriff Patrick Ray, detectives, deputies, and TBI agent Billy Miller examine Chevy Blazer pulled from the lake where Putnam County woman died after the vehicle ran into the water. (See Videos)
Chevy Blazer Pulled from Center Hill Lake at Johnson Chapel Boat Ramp. Putnam County woman died after the vehicle submerged in the water. Two others escaped unharmed (See videos)
Woman Dies After Chevy Blazer Runs off Boat Ramp and Submerges in Lake (SEE VIDEOS UNDER LOCAL NEWS)
Retiring teachers from Smithville Elementary left to right and their years of service. Ms. Jan Thomas- 35 years, Mrs. Sue Driver- 39 years, Mrs. Mary Pugh- 30 years
Cancer Survivors at Relay for Life
Presentation of the Colors by Boy Scout Troop #347 at Relay for Life
Crowd enjoys David Turner and Friends at Relay for Life
David Turner and Friends entertain at Relay for Life
On Friday, May 10, the Cookeville Children's Theater performed "Seussical" at both DMS and Smithville Elementary School. Picture by Lisa Craig
A great crowd turned out on Friday to enjoy chili and delicious baked goods at Habitat for Humanity's Seventh Annual Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale, which was held at the 303 Building on the square. Jason Evans of The Inn at Evins Mill won the "Best Chili" award, and "Cauldron of Fire" from the DeKalb County Board of Education followed in second place. In the Best Decorated booth contest, "Hillbilly Chili – It's a Natural Gas" from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas took top honors.
Tecia Puckett Pryor of Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County said the event raised over $3,000, which will be used toward the building of the fourth Habitat house here. "We had a great turnout today, maybe the best we've ever had. We sold a lot of pies, cakes, and cookies and raised over $3,000 toward the building of our fourth Habitat house. So we are really pleased with the cook-off today and we are thankful to all the teams that participated as well as everyone who brought out baked goods for sale and of course everyone who came out to eat chili today."
Eleven teams participated in the event, including "Blessed and Highly Flavored" from Allen's Chapel Methodist Church; "Cauldron of Fire" from the DeKalb County Board of Education; "Hot Checks Chili" from DeKalb Community Bank; "The Courthouse Gang" from the DeKalb County Officials; "Edgar Evins Chili Peppers" from Edgar Evins State Park; "Hale's Bowls of Fire" from James C. Hale for State Representative; "Hillbilly Chili – It's a Natural Gas" from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas; "The Bean Counters" from Tom Janney, CPA and Associates; "Red Hot Kilowatts" from Smithville Electric System; "Hollywood Corpse Review" from the Smithville Review, and The Inn at Evins Mill.
Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity builds and renovates houses in partnership with volunteers and families in need, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged. To contact Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, please call 215-8181.
The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department is investigating a suspicious fire Thursday morning at a home under construction at 124 Mountain View Drive in Lakeview Mountain Estates.
Central dispatch was notified at 9:06 a.m.
County Fire Chief Donny Green said neighbors spotted smoke coming from the basement of this home, which belongs to a Murfreesboro couple. The owners were not there.
When firefighters arrived, they found a campfire type blaze in the basement, with rocks placed around a wood pile which had been set on fire. A drink bottle and food wrappers were also found nearby. Chief Green said the entire house was filled with smoke, but there was no structural damage.
According to Chief Green, there was evidence of another fire in the basement, which appeared to have been set days before and had burned out.
Green said the owners of the home recently became concerned after finding a sleeping bag in the basement. They reported the discovery to the sheriff's department.
Members of the Cookeville Highway, Short Mountain Highway, and Main Station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded along with DeKalb EMS and the Sheriff's Department. No one was injured.
Meanwhile, the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department was summoned to a duplex at 370 Smith Road, Friday morning at 2:42 a.m., the residence of Naith Puckett.
According to Chief Charlie Parker, Puckett said when he arrived home and opened the front door he found the residence filled with smoke. The fire had started and caused extensive damage to a back bedroom, but the blaze had already burned itself out by the time firefighters arrived. The fire damage was confined to Puckett's side of the duplex and did not spread to the adjoining residence, although the woman who lives there reported smelling smoke earlier in the morning, but went back to bed after looking around and not finding any fire or smoke.
Chief Parker said city firefighters cleared the smoke, using fans to ventilate Puckett's residence. The cause of the fire is undetermined, but remains under investigation. No one was injured.
Members of the Austin Bottom and Cookeville Highway Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded to a barn fire Friday morning at 3:48 a.m. at 9440 Goff Ridge Road in the Austin Bottom community. The barn, which belonged to Dan Bradem, was destroyed. No one was injured but some rabbits in the barn perished in the blaze.
Bradem, whose home is located near the barn, told firefighters that he heard a loud boom, went to check, and discovered the fire.
