DeKalb West School Recognizes 8th Grade Class

May 19, 2020
By: Bill Conger

The DeKalb West School 8th grade class will be honored in a recognition ceremony that will be available on YouTube Channel: Sean Antoniak. Due to social distancing guidelines, the awards ceremony was taped last Friday with Principal Sabrina Farler, Assistant Principal Joey Agee and a few teachers. Students picked up their awards and other items from school in a drive-through Monday (May 18).

8th grade teachers Karen France and Sean Antoniak announced the academic awards. Tess Barton and Ella Hendrixson received the English Language Arts award while Tess Barton and Jackson Vantrease earned the Algebra I award. The Math award was given to Gage Cote, Karson Smallwood, and Jayden Dheere. In History, Blair Gipe, Jackson Vantrease and Alex Antoniak were honored, and the award in Science went to Jackson Vantrease.

In her address to students, Principal Sabrina Farler shared a few tips for their journey to high school. First, be kind. Think to yourself. How do I want others to see me? Secondly, ask questions. If you have a problem, ask an adult for guidance. Third, don’t be afraid to fail. Challenge yourself. Next, keep reading and writing. It does make a difference in your future. Last, believe and trust in yourself. All things are possible if you believe.

Students with the highest grade point average their 6th through 8th grade years were honored with plaques. Alex Antoniak was ranked number one with a GPA of 3.882, Blair Gipe was ranked number two with a GPA of 3.870, Zoi Hale and Jackson Vantrease were tied with a ranking at number 3 with GPA’s of 3.852, and Tess Barton was ranked number five with a GPA of 3.848.

Named to the All A Honor roll were Alex Antoniak, Tess Barton, Blair Gipe, Ella Hendrixson, Jaxon Humphrey, Aden Spivey, and Jackson Vantrease. Named to the A & B Honor roll were Brayden Carter, Alyssa Crook, Carson Donnell, Wil Farris, Riley Fuson, Zoi Hale, Brynn Harvey, Shauna Kempf, Kayleigh Overstreet, Austin Nicholson, Hannah Redmon, Emily Satterfield, Kolton Slager, and Karson Smallwood.

Thirteen students in the school qualified for the Perfect Attendance award but only one 8th grader, Marshall Farler, earned the award. He missed no days of school, was never late and didn’t leave early any this academic year. Citizenship Awards went to Jackson Vantrease, Alex Antoniak, Tess Barton, and Ella Hendrixon. Mrs. Lesa Hayes presented the Mrs. Georgia Young award in honor of her mother, the late DWS Cafeteria Manager to Zoi Hale. The award is given each year to academically-strong students with excellent school spirit and character. The “Making Tracks” awards for the most improved 8th graders went to Alyssa Crook and Aydin Burke.

The 2019-2020 Mrs. Amanda Mullinax Librarian’s Award was presented to Presley Finocchiaro for the most Accelerated Reader Points with 1,536.8.

Junior Beta Lead Sponsor Jessica Antoniak presented Alyssa Crook with the 2019-2020 Service Award for the most hours this school year with 71.5. Alex Antoniak received the Cumulative Service Award for the most overall hours earned since becoming a member with 168.25.  4 PAWS Awards were presented to Angelina Davenport and Hunter Cannon. Computer teacher Lori Pryor announced the winners in the activities classes. The Computer awards went to Chris Carroll, Logan Daniels, Xavier Parker, and Ally Tarpley. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) awards were presented to Chris Carroll, Gage Cote, Jayden Dheere, and Kayleigh Overstreet. Earning the PE awards were Tess Barton, Weslie McCowan, Austin Nicholson, and Emily Satterfield, Earning the Library awards were Jaxon Humphrey, Kayleigh Overstreet, Xavier Parker, and Serenity Patterson while Gage Cote, Blair Gipe, Xavier Parker, and Serenity Patterson earned the Music awards. Marshall Farler, Brynn Harvey, and Blair Gipe were awarded the Guidance awards.

Congratulations to the DWS 8th Grade Class of 2020: Adaliene Ahlgard, Alex Antoniak, Tess Barton, Trey Beilfuss, Graceson Boyd, Aydin Burke, Hunter Cannon, Chris Carroll, Brayden Carter, Gavin Cooper, Gage Cote, Alyssa Crook, Ethan Curtis, Nick Dandurand, Logan Daniels, Angelina Davenport, Jayden Dheere, Carson Donnell, Marshall Farler, Wil Farris, Presley Finocchiaro, Riley Fuson, Blair Gipe, Zoi Hale, Brynn Harvey, Ella Hendrixson, Jaxon Humphrey, Mia Kemper, Shauna Kempf, Weslie McCowan, Blake Mendoza, Jaylnn Nichols, Austin Nicholson, Melanie Ortiz, Kayleigh Overstreet, Xavier Parker, Serenity Patterson, Hannah Redmon, Maressa Rose, Brayden Saliski, Emily Satterfield, Kolton Slager, Karson Smallwood, Aden Spivey, Shelby Starnes, Ally Tarpley, Jackson Vantrease, Karly Vickers, Hasten Waggoner, Jocelyn Walters, and Hanniah West.

May 19, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A week dedicated to celebrating emergency service workers is being recognized in DeKalb County.

The community relies on emergency workers to rush to the rescue, no matter what the circumstance.

County Mayor Tim Stribling signed a proclamation Monday designating May 17-23 as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week in DeKalb County. EMS Director Hoyte Hale joined County Mayor Stribling for the occasion.

“We are proud of our DeKalb County EMS employees, EMTs, Paramedics, First Responders and Dispatchers. They are on the front lines, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year Their commitment, dedication and bravery during the recent weeks speaks to their character and willingness to serve others, not just this week, but every day of the year. We are honored to celebrate their service this week, and we are grateful to them every day,” said Stribling.

The proclamation is as follows:

“Whereas, Emergency Medical Services is a vital public service; and

Whereas, the members of Emergency Medical Teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and

Whereas, access to quality Emergency Care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury; and

Whereas, the Emergency Medical Services system consists of emergency physicians, emergency nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, administrators, and others; and

Whereas, the members of Emergency Medical Services teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving skills; and

Whereas, it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of Emergency Medical Services providers by designating Emergency Medical Services Week;

Now, Therefore, I Tim Stribling, County Mayor, DeKalb County, Tennessee, in recognition of this event do hereby proclaim the week of May 17-23 as Emergency Medical Services Week.

With the theme, EMS Strong- Ready Today, Preparing for Tomorrow, I encourage the community to observe this week with the appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities”.

Members of the DeKalb EMS Staff in addition to Director Hoyte Hale are:

A-SHIFT
Donna Melton-AEMT
Jamie Parsley-AEMT
Jamie Vernon-EMT-PCC
Tony Williams-EMT-P

B-SHIFT
Kristie Johnson-EMTPCCICDA
Michelle Haggard-AEMT
Tim Briggs-EMT-P
Misty Green-AEMT

C-SHIFT
Trent Phipps-EMT-P
Daniel Summers-EMT-P
Racheal Checci- AEMT

D-SHIFT
Matt Melton-EMT-P
Stephanie Brown-EMT-P
Matthew Adcock- AEMT
Trevin Merriman-AEMT

Part Time Staff:
Jacob Dickerson-EMT-PCC
Cody Johnson-EMT-PCC
Charles Nokes-EMT-P
John Hurd-EMT-PCC
Becky Atnip-AEMT
Lonnie Laxton-AEMT
Jennifer Phillips-AEMT
Jimmy Savage-EMT-P
Rebecca Partridge-AEMT
Kevin Cripps-AEMT
Edward Brooks-AEMT
Houston Austin-EMT-PCC/IC
Marie Turpin-EMT-PCC
Kim Johnson-EMT-PCC
Tyler Grandstaff-EMT-PCC
John Poss-AEMT
Jason Rice-AEMT
Matthew Terrell-AEMT
John Partridge-AEMT
Greg Whaley-AEMT
Aspen Flarity-AEMT
Justin Thompson-AEMT
Greta Stone-EMT-PCC/IC
Terrence Hall- EMT-P
Clayton Anstis-EMT-PCC
Heather Billings-EMT-B
Tony McCulley-AEMT
Kenny Moffitt-EMT-PCC
Wesley Slager-AEMT
Eli Beadle-AEMT
Keonna Martin-AEMT
Kenneth Wells, Jr.-AEMT

May 18, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

County Mayor Tim Stribling has announced that DeKalb County has been selected to receive $7,105 Emergency Food and Shelter funds and $10,100 for Coronavirus, Aid, Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act. Funding is provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This is the fourth consecutive year that DeKalb County has been selected to receive the Emergency Food and Shelter funds.

The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from The Salvation Army; American Red Cross; United Jewish Communities; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA; and, United Way of America.

A Local Board made up of community representatives will determine how the funds awarded to DeKalb County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. The Local Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) have an accounting system, 3) practice nondiscrimination, 4) have demonstrated the capacity to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

The EFS Local Board will meet at the DeKalb Senior Center in the DeKalb Community Complex at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2020 to consider applications for funding. Applications must be delivered to the DeKalb Senior Center in Smithville by 1:00 p.m. that day or may be brought to the meeting by a representative, who is welcome to present the application to the Local Board.

Further information about the program and an application may be obtained by contacting, Pam Redmon, DeKalb Senior Center Director, located at 718 South Congress Blvd., Smithville, TN 37166 Phone: (615) 597-7575.