News
Four DCHS Seniors have graduated college before finishing high school
May 14, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
Almost every year at least one or more seniors at DCHS completes the credits necessary to earn an associate degree from Motlow State Community College just as they are finishing up their high school studies in preparation for graduation.
Such is the case this year for Dare Collins, Allison Goodwin, Alyssa Gilpin, and Megyn Patterson who can now proudly call themselves a college graduate while they await their high school diploma which will be presented to them Friday night, May 16 during the commencement for the Class of 2025 at DCHS starting at 7 p.m.
Through Motlow College’s dual enrollment program, high school students like Collins, Goodwin, Gilpin, and Patterson can earn college credits while still enrolled in high school. Students can take classes on a Motlow College campus, online, or even at a partner high school like DCHS.
According to the Motlow website, Dual Enrollment participation requirements are as follows:
• 3.0 High School GPA (2.5 GPA for CTE courses, such as Mechatronics) and a 3.0 GPA in a student’s high school classes in the subject area they wish to take collegiate classes, or ACT subscores of 18 English, 19 Reading, 19 Math
• “Homeschool students must have qualifying ACT scores (must have a composite of 21 or higher to get two free classes in a semester). If a homeschooled student doesn’t have an ACT composite of 21 or higher, he/she may receive more than one grant in a single semester if he/she has maintained a B average after the completion of at least two collegiate courses”.
Some high schools may have more stringent eligibility requirements
Collins and Patterson earned an associate degree in health science while Goodwin and Gilpin received an associate degree in psychology
DeKalb Crash Victim to be Laid to Rest Thursday
May 13, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A woman killed in a DeKalb County weekend crash will be laid to rest Thursday.
Funeral services Celebrating the Life for Mrs. Jimmie Wynette Cantrell-Allen will be held at 12:00 noon on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in the chapel of Speck Funeral Home in Livingston. Bro. Denton Hummel will officiate. Jimmie will be laid to rest in Carr Cemetery following the service.
Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation on Wednesday evening, May 14, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Speck Funeral Home.
Jimmie passed from this life on Sunday, May 11, 2025, in DeKalb County, Tennessee. Born in Livingston on April 16, 1975, she was the beloved daughter of the late Bobbie Kay Cantrell. A proud graduate of Livingston Academy, Class of 1993, Jimmie lived a life centered around love, laughter, and the joy of family.
More than anything in the world, Jimmie cherished her children. They were her pride, her purpose, and the brightest lights in her life. Her kind heart, warm smile, and fun-loving spirit touched everyone she met. Whether she was spending time outdoors or enjoying a night out with friends, Jimmie brought light and laughter wherever she went.
She leaves behind a family who will forever carry her memory in their hearts:
Her devoted son, Ethan Stevens and wife Tori of Monroe, TN
Her loving daughter, Taylor Peek and husband Jonathan of the Highland Mountain Community
Her cherished sister, Amanda Duncan of Livingston, TN
Several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and one special great-nephew
Smithville Planning Commission Recommends Approval of Rezoning and Plan of Services Requests
May 13, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
The Smithville Mayor and Aldermen will soon consider two new rezoning proposals and a plan of services for another property owner annexation request.
(View map of Smithville Urban Growth Boundary Here)
During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Smithville Municipal Planning Commission voted to recommend rezoning a parcel of property located on West Main Street from R-1 (Low Density Residential) to C-1 (General Commercial) at the request of owner Mark Hart who wants to build a salon for his daughter.
While land around the Hart location is currently zoned R-1, city officials said the property across the street is all zoned C-1.
The recommendation now goes to the mayor and aldermen who will consider adopting a rezoning ordinance on first reading followed by a public hearing and then second reading action after all adjoining landowners have been notified.
The planning commission also voted to recommend a request from Josh Hawkins to rezone a parcel of property located at 885 Foster Road from R-1 (Low Density Residential) to R-2 (High Density Residential).
Hawkins wants to build a duplex on the property. According to city officials the back half of Hawkins’ property is in the county but the front half where he wants to put the two-family duplex is in the city.
Again, as with the Hart request, the planning commission’s recommendation regarding the Hawkins site will go to the mayor and aldermen who will consider adopting a rezoning ordinance on first reading followed by a public hearing and then second reading action after all adjoining landowners have been notified.
In other business, the planning commission approved Mitchell Bowman’s final plat for a 29-lot subdivision located near Holmes Creek Road. City officials said the development meets all the subdivision regulations and zoning ordinance requirements.
A plan of services has also been recommended by the planning commission for the proposed annexation of a parcel located at 640 East Broad Street by the owner’s request, Lou Ann White. According to city officials, White wants this parcel to be in the city limits adjoining another she owns which is already in the city.
The mayor and aldermen will consider adopting a resolution in June calling for a public hearing on the proposed annexation and approval of a plan of services. Adjoining property owners would then be notified. Any final action on the request in August would not come until after a public hearing in July.
During a public comment period, Smithville property owner Steve Cantrell said that while he had no issue with the White property in particular, he asked that this annexation request and all future such requests from other entities (including SRM also on Highway 70 east) be put on hold until the city can ensure that each annexation consideration is based on an overall growth plan.
“The Smithville City Government approved the Smithville Tennessee Land Use and Transportation Policy Plan for 2010-2030 which is dated May 2011 and specifically addresses future annexation of property into the City limits of Smithville,” Cantrell explained. “It cites the passage in 1998 of Public Chapter 1101 by the TN Legislative Body. Specifically, 1101 allows the city to establish an urban growth boundary in which it expects urban development to take place. Under provisions of this state law, the urban growth boundary is the only area the municipality can feasibly consider the annexation of additional land,” said Cantrell.
“This is a multi-year annexation schedule which would be in the form of a Smithville Fringe Area Study. To the best of my knowledge, this study or related work has never been done. And as such, the city’s annexation process comes into serious question,” Cantrell continued.
“The mayor and aldermen bear the responsibility for the successful implementation of the Smithville Tennessee land Use and Transportation Policy Plan for 2010-2030”.
“Under the responsibility of due diligence on behalf of the taxpayers, I recommend each one-of you read or reacquaint yourselves to ensure you understand the plan before this or any other annexation proposals are considered. In turn, there may be both additional permanent and temporary actions you may wish to take,” said Cantrell.
“You can still annex outside of the urban growth boundary,” said Tommy Lee, Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District, who serves as UCDD staff planner and advisor to the City of Smithville.
“What I am questioning is we are having proposals put before this committee without an understanding of what the logic was behind having to do that in accordance with the plan that is in effect through 2030. I’m not sure how many of you have had the privilege of reading the 2010-2030 plan which was put together for your use. Yes, our infrastructure is good enough right now but I’m talking about the future infrastructure as we continue to annex and if you don’t have a plan then we are getting ready to pay a big bill in the future. We need to make sure that any annexation is done with smart growth in mind and not piecemeal,” said Cantrell.
On Tuesday, Lee sent to city officials a copy of the municipality’s current urban growth boundary,
“I have attached the Smithville Urban Growth Boundary. The two parcels that we have recently recommended the plan of services for annexation (White and SRM properties on East Broad Street) are both within the growth boundary,” wrote Lee.
“We look at it (annexation) on a case-by-case basis. We don’t just automatically (recommend) annexation for everything that comes before this board,” said planning commission member Caleb Gash.
In 2021 the city denied an annexation request by a landowner for development of a 40-lot subdivision on his 13-acre site near the airport.
