Order of the Eastern Star Makes Donation of Water to Local Emergency Service Agencies (VIEW VIDEO HERE)

May 22, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

“Together We Build A Better Life”

In keeping with that motto Smithville Chapter #374 leaders of the Order of the Eastern Star showed their appreciation to local first responders and emergency personnel Wednesday by donating three cases of bottled water to six different departments.

Worthy Matron Pat Wilt, Worthy Patron Dr. Jerry Paul Vanatta, Organist Gay Vanatta, and Chaplain and Chairman of the Health Committee Dr. Robert R. Atnip personally brought the donations and thanked the agencies for their service to the community including the Smithville Police and Fire Departments, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb 911 Center, DeKalb EMS, and the Smithville-DeKalb County  Rescue Squad.

The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both men and women of all faiths may belong. Only men who are Masons are eligible and only women with specific Masonic affiliation may be members. Eastern Star is a social order comprised of persons with deep religious convictions and spiritual values reflecting the spirit of fraternal love and the desire to work together for good. It gives them the opportunity to give a part of their time to many projects that benefit mankind.

(PICTURED: #1 Smithville Chapter #374 leaders of the Order of the Eastern Star showed their appreciation to the Smithville Police Department Wednesday by donating three cases of bottled water. Pictured: Police Chief Mark Collins, Eastern Star Chaplain Dr. Robert R. Atnip, Police Sergeant Lance Dillard, Eastern Star Worthy Matron Pat Wilt, Police Captain Steven Leffew, Eastern Star Worthy Patron Dr. Jerry Paul Vanatta, Police Officer Brandon Donnell, and Eastern Star Organist Gay Vanatta)

(PICTURED: #2 Smithville Chapter #374 leaders of the Order of the Eastern Star showed their appreciation to the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department Wednesday by donating three cases of bottled water. Pictured: Eastern Star Organist Gay Vanatta, Worthy Patron Dr. Jerry Paul Vanatta, Eastern Star Worthy Matron Pat Wilt, and Eastern Star Chaplain Dr. Robert R. Atnip)

(PICTURED: #3 Smithville Chapter #374 leaders of the Order of the Eastern Star showed their appreciation to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department Wednesday by donating three cases of bottled water. Pictured: Eastern Star Organist Gay Vanatta, Worthy Patron Dr. Jerry Paul Vanatta, Eastern Star Worthy Matron Pat Wilt, and Eastern Star Chaplain Dr. Robert R. Atnip with members of the Sheriff’s Department/Jail Staff)

(PICTURED: #4 Smithville Chapter #374 leaders of the Order of the Eastern Star showed their appreciation to the DeKalb County Emergency Communications District (Central Dispatch/911 Center) Wednesday by donating three cases of bottled water. Pictured: Eastern Star Organist Gay Vanatta,  911 Dispatcher Chrystal Reed, Eastern Star Worthy Matron Pat Wilt, Worthy Patron Dr. Jerry Paul Vanatta, 911 Dispatchers Sasha Avera and Shelly Mulford, and Eastern Star Chaplain Dr. Robert R. Atnip)

(PICTURED: #5 Smithville Chapter #374 leaders of the Order of the Eastern Star showed their appreciation to the DeKalb EMS/Ambulance Service Wednesday by donating three cases of bottled water. Pictured: Eastern Star Organist Gay Vanatta, Eastern Star Worthy Matron Pat Wilt, EMS-AEMT Misty Green, EMS- EMT-B Michelle Haggard (kneeling), Worthy Patron Dr. Jerry Paul Vanatta, EMS Director Hoyte Hale, EMS- EMT PCC Kenny Moffitt (kneeling), EMS-EMT-P Tim Briggs, and Eastern Star Chaplain Dr. Robert R. Atnip)

(PICTURED: #6 Smithville Chapter #374 leaders of the Order of the Eastern Star showed their appreciation to the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad Wednesday by donating three cases of bottled water. Pictured: Eastern Star Organist Gay Vanatta, Eastern Star Worthy Matron Pat Wilt, Worthy Patron Dr. Jerry Paul Vanatta, Harlan McCloud, Joe Johnson, Robert Sartin, Rescue Squad Captain Dustin Johnson, Luke Judkins, Larry Maddux, and Eastern Star Chaplain Dr. Robert R. Atnip)

May 22, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A great gal waiting on the perfect home

That’s what Megan Moore, Director of the DeKalb Animal Shelter has to say about “Brizo”, the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Coalition featured “Pet of the Week”.

Brizo is an 8 year old spayed female English Bulldog.

“She gets along with male dogs and cats, but not other female dogs. She is up to date on all of her vaccines, is potty trained, and knows basic commands. Come out and see her today,” said Moore.
For more information call 615-597-1363.

The shelter, located at 186 Transfer Station Road behind Tenneco Automotive, is open Thursday and Friday from noon until 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon.

May 22, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A new Coordinator has been named for the DeKalb County Recovery Court Adult and Juvenile Programs.

Kate Arnold’s first day on the job was Monday. She succeeds Norene Puckett who had held the position since July 2013 but stepped down after announcing that she was relocating out of state.

Arnold comes to the position with more than 15 years experience assisting the judicial court system. She has worked in the DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office on three separate occasions, as a General Sessions Criminal Court Clerk from 2002 to 2006; General Sessions Civil Clerk from 2012 to 2016; and as a Financial and Juvenile Court Clerk since 2018.. She worked as a legal secretary for Smithville Attorney Jeremy Trapp from 2006 until 2011.

A graduate of DCHS in 1999, Arnold furthered her education at Motlow State Community College in McMinnville in 2011-12.

“This is special for me because having been around the court system for so long I have been able to see the success of the Recovery Court. I am excited with this new opportunity for me,” said Arnold.

As Coordinator, Arnold will be expected to participate fully as a Recovery Court Team member and be responsible for the management/administrative aspects of the program (including preparing budgets/grants), participant relations, public relations, collaboration with other community agencies, database management, and the facilitation of all meetings. Arnold will oversee the weekly docket for Recovery Court, orient all new participants and monitor their weekly progress, and submit a weekly report on each. Following input from the team, Arnold will make policy decisions affecting the day-to-day operations of the Court.

Thirteen years after its beginnings in DeKalb County, the Recovery Court program (formerly known as Drug Court) has grown and is making a difference in the lives of more people, juveniles and adults. Recovery Court for adults, started by Judge Bratten Cook, II in 2006, provides an alternative to incarceration for eligible non-violent offenders, who are deemed substance dependent. Judge Cook began the recovery court program for juveniles in 2002.

Team members who oversee the program locally in addition to Judge Cook and Recovery Court Coordinator Arnold are Sheriff Patrick Ray, Assistant District Attorney General Stephanie Johnson, John and Kay Quintero from Haven of Hope, primary treatment providers; Assistant Public Defender Scott Grissom, Probation Officer Jami Hood, Juvenile Case Manager Katie Parker, and Adult Case Manager Rhonda Harpole.