Board of Education Lifts Mask Mandate in DeKalb Schools (View Video of Meeting Here)

By: Dwayne Page

The mask mandate in the DeKalb County School District has been lifted.

By a vote of 6 to 1, the Board of Education Thursday night voted to lift the mask mandate immediately. Third district school board member Jim Beshearse made the motion and sixth district member Jason Miller offered a second to the motion.

In addition to Beshearse and Miller, Chairman Danny Parkerson of the first district, Alan Hayes of the second district, Jamie Cripps of the fifth district, and Shaun Tubbs of the seventh district voted for lifting the mask mandate. Fourth district member Kate Miller vote no saying “ the CDC and the Tennessee Department of Health still make the recommendation that the administration require masks in schools. I know we still have COVID in our community so my vote is no”.

Although the mandate has been lifted, any teacher, bus driver, student or others in the school system who still want to wear a mask may do so and Chairman Parkerson asked that their wishes be respected.

The mask mandate has been in effect since the start of the school year last August.

May 6, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A celebration was held Wednesday afternoon for four adults who have graduated from the DeKalb County Recovery Court Program and are on the path to sober living.

The program for recovery court graduates Brandon Bohannon, Chad Cantrell, Jermaica League, and Amber Mctaggart, was held on the east side steps of the DeKalb County Courthouse in conjunction with National Recovery Court Month in May.

Each of the graduates received plaque and a $50 check from General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II in recognition for their accomplishments.

“Our uplifting graduation is evidence of the tremendous impact the DeKalb County Recovery Court has had on our community. It will send a powerful message that these programs are vital to the health and well being of our state. There are more than 4,000 treatment courts serving 150,000 people saving billions of dollars reducing addiction, crime, and recidivism. What an honor that Judge Bratten H, Cook has started and continued this program in our county. These graduates chose recover court and we are privileged to be able to recognize them today,” said DeKalb County Recovery Court Coordinator Kate Arnold.

Recovery Court, a 12 month program, provides an alternative to incarceration for eligible non-violent offenders, who are deemed substance dependent.

“When we take a participant into the Recovery Court program I let them know, if you want the easy way out just go on down and lay in jail because that is the easy way. You get three hots and a cot (three hot meals a day and a cot to sleep on) and you don’t have to do anything but you will come out the same or worse than when you went in. If you want to change your life then we are here to help you,” said Judge Cook.

John Colvert, a native of DeKalb County, and co-founder of First Things First, a sober living facility in Murfreesboro, was guest speaker for the graduation ceremony.

“I am an alcoholic but by the grace of God I don’t have to live like that today. When I worked for Cracker Barrel they sent me to Minnesota to treatment when I was 33 years old. I went up there to save my job but it saved my life through the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous,” said Colvert.

“ I went up front (church) when I was 5 years old (accepted Christ). I didn’t want to go to hell. But I never surrendered. I never gave up. I never pushed all the chips to the middle of the table until I was 33 years old in a treatment center in Minnesota. I got on my knees one night and said I give up. I said I’ll do anything. If I am asked to go to the Rutherford County Courthouse and stand in front of a microphone and tell everybody I am an alcoholic and addict I will do that. Well here in am in DeKalb County (30 years later). This comes to pass,” Colvert continued.

“I really got into recovery for five years and then left Cracker Barrel and got into the real estate and auction business. But after a back surgery I got addicted to pain pills and went through five of the most miserable years of my life. But then I went back into recovery and again became clean and sober,” said Colvert.

In 2005  Colvert and a friend, both sober and involved in the 12-step community, founded First Things First (FTF), a sober living facility in Murfreesboro. After acquiring the property, Colvert decided to offer it as a housing option to two other friends in the sober community. Soon after, they decided to start providing transitional housing units, and by 2008 had three homes fully dedicated to the program. Aiming to offer affordable housing for those struggling with substance abuse, FTF is based on the 12 steps and caters specifically to men.

“We are responsible for our actions including addiction and alcoholism but it is a disease and we can stay clean and sober together. I can’t do what we can do,” said Colvert.

Judge Cook and Director Arnold then presented the graduates with their plaques.

Jermaica League:
“Jermaica League entered the Recovery Court Program on October 10, 2019. He successfully completed intensive outpatient treatment at Cumberland Mental Health where he also received individual counseling. Jermaica has had over 315 negative drug screens, completed eight hours of community service work, obtained employment with Famous Footwear Distribution Center, and attended roughly 645 meetings and groups,” said Arnold.

Amber Mctaggart:
“Amber entered the Recovery Court program on March 4, 2020. She successfully completed inpatient treatment at New Leaf Recovery Center. She also received individual counseling at Cumberland Mental Health. Amber has had over 160 negative drug screens, completed roughly 45 hours of community service work, obtained employment with Surecan, Inc., and attended roughly 273 meetings,” said Coordinator Arnold.

Brandon Bohannon:
“Brandon entered the Recovery Court program on February 27, 2020. He entered inpatient treatment at New Leaf Recovery Center but made an early transition into intensive outpatient treatment at Cumberland Mental Health due to Covid restrictions. He completed MRT, Matrix, and individual counseling at the Haven of Hope. Brandon has had over 135 negative drug screens, obtained employment with Jones Brothers Construction, and attended roughly 333 meetings,” said Arnold.

Chad Cantrell:
“Chad entered the Recovery Court program on August 29, 2019. He successfully completed inpatient treatment at Lincoln Trail Behavioral Health System and intensive outpatient treatment at Ten Brobeck. He completed MRT, Matrix, and individual counseling at the Haven of Hope. Chad has over 177 negative drug screens, completed roughly 71.5 hours of community service work, obtained employment with Tony’s Tree Service, and attended roughly 588 meetings,” said Coordinator Arnold.

Cantrell’s horse “Buck” was also singled out for special recognition. According to Director Arnold, “Buck” has stuck with Chad through his struggles and Chad brought “Buck” to many of the drive through court sessions and even a Christmas event.

May 5, 2021
By:

Donny Green, DeKalb-Cannon Co. Farm Service Agency County Executive Director, reminds local farmers and landowners of the importance of timely crop reporting. Participation in most USDA programs requires annual reporting of crops and land use and requires a report of all cropland on a farm, even though the land may not be used for annually-tilled row crops.

Field Grown and Ornamental Nursery crops have unique crop years. As a result, they also have unique crop reporting deadlines. Below are the crop year period and the acreage reporting deadline:

Nursery Crop Year 2022—-June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022

2022 Nursery Crop Reporting Deadline (field grown and container)—May 31, 2021

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at (615) 597-8225, Ext. 2.