THP Sergeant Charlie Caplinger Promoted to Lieutenant

July 28, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A Tennessee Highway Patrol Sergeant from DeKalb County has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the THP Nashville District Special Programs Unit.

Charlie Caplinger of Smithville was recognized for a promotion by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security in a special ceremony last Monday at the Tennessee Highway Patrol Training Center in Nashville. Tennessee Department of Safety Commissioner Jeff Long, THP Captain Anthony Griffin, Colonel Dereck Stewart, Lieutenant Colonel James Hutcherson, and Major Terrell Johnson were part of the ceremony.

Lieutenant Caplinger has served as a Trooper in the Nashville District since he was commissioned in 2002 starting his THP career in Robertson County as a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer.

Caplinger was transferred to Wilson County as a road trooper in 2004 and remained in that position until 2008 when he joined the ACES (Alternative Commercial Enforcement Strategies) program under the Special Programs section and served as a Supervisor on the Nashville district STRIKE team for 6 years. Caplinger holds numerous commercial motor vehicle certifications including Level 1, Haz-Mat, Cargo Tanker, and Compliance Review and in 2012 was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in Robertson County. Caplinger transferred to Wilson County as Sergeant in April 2013 and remained there until June 2017 when he became Sergeant of the Special Programs Unit serving as the PIO (Public Information Officer) for the Nashville district.

Lieutenant Caplinger is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Personnel and was named Trooper of the year in 2010. He is now attending the Commissioners Leadership Academy and set to graduate in January 2020.

Caplinger and his wife Rhonda have two children, Michael and Jennifer.

July 28, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Revenues to the county generated through the County Clerk’s Office have increased within the last five years due partly to additional services offered.

“Since the end of the 2014 fiscal year, our office has seen significant growth in total revenues receipted, services provided, and transactions completed. Our 2019 fiscal year-end report for total annual receipts is $1,834,038.60. The total average increase is $415,425.90 compared to fiscal year-end 2015 and 2016,” said County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss.

“We have closed two consecutive fiscal years, ending 2017 and 2018 with additional increases averaging $292,887.03 in growth of total receipts. By the end of fiscal year 2017, the revenues were up by $213,625.38 and in 2018 we closed the year with an increase of $158,523.30 over and above the growth the year before. This fiscal year-ending 2019, we are up another $54,416.12 with total annual receipts accounting for $1,834,038.60,” Poss continued.

“Looking at title production alone, we show continuous and significant increases from 2014. In 2013 prior to beginning my first term, the office completed 2,897 titles producing $21,728 in title revenue. Since 2014 those numbers have grown significantly each year and for the last two consecutive years we have averaged 12,211 titles each year producing revenue on average of $98,852.50 for those two consecutive years in title fees. This growth is up an average of $77,124.50 annually in titles alone,” added Poss.

“Our excess fee collection from the fiscal year ending 2013 through the end of the 2019 fiscal year totals $1,179,629.94”.

“These fees have also increased and performed better than annual yearly projections, averaging $180,732.97 in 2018 and 2019 compared to the average of $147,045.50 collected in 2012 and 2013,” said County Clerk Poss.

“In summary, the County Clerk’s Office is providing a significant number of additional services since 2014 and these services have accounted for several thousand new transactions annually resulting in an increase in yearly receipts and revenue,” added Poss.

July 27, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Schools will re-open for registration on Thursday morning, August 1 from 7:45 a.m. until 9:15 a.m.

Meanwhile the Annual First Day of School Education Celebration for DeKalb County (free school supplies) will be held on Thursday, August 1 starting at 6:00 p.m. downtown around the courthouse square.

Students will not attend on Friday, August 2. That is an administrative day for teachers only.

The first full day of school will be Monday, August 5.

A system-wide in-service day will be Monday, July 29 with in-service continuing at individual schools on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 30 & 31

Other reminders:
DeKalb County High School will host an Incoming Freshman Orientation on Tuesday, July 30 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

DeKalb Middle School will have 6th grade registration on Tuesday, July 30 at 6:00 p.m. for students whose last names begin with the letters “A” to “K” and at 7:00 p.m. for students whose last names start with “L” to “Z”

Northside Elementary School invites parents to 2nd & 3rd grade “Meet Your Teacher” Night on Tuesday, July 30 at 5:30 p.m.

Smithville Elementary School is hosting a “Sneak Peak” for Pre-K students on Monday, July 29 at 5:00 p.m. and for Kindergarten students at 6:00 p.m. If you pre-registered your child for kindergarten please attend. You will meet your child’s teacher and fill out forms or make any necessary changes to forms you have already submitted. If you did not pre-register your child, you will not need to attend this event. You may register your child on August 1.

Returning students may be registered for school on-line through their Skyward Family Access account. It is easier and faster than the standard paper registration forms. Families must have registered Skyward Family Access accounts in order to use the online registration tools.

All families are encouraged to register their Skyward Family Access account so they may keep track of their child’s school information.

If you do not have a Skyward account please email aprilhale@dekalbschools.net to get your account set up or stop by the Ernest Ray Education Center to speak with her if you have questions.