DWS Announces Students, Teacher, and Staff Member of the Month

November 8, 2023
By: Bill Conger

DeKalb West School has announced the Students, Teacher, and Staff Member of the Month for October. Earning the honors were Tenley Hamlet, PreK; Laikynn Sparks, Kindergarten; Neyland Garrett, 1st grade; Malachi Nolan-Figgins, 2nd grade; Claire Cripps, 3rd grade; Jonah King, 4th grade; Holden Leiser, 5th grade; John Byrd, 6th grade; Levi Cripps, 7th grade; and Zoe Webster, 8th grade. Excellent character and solid grades are a couple of the traits considered when teachers nominate students for the monthly award.

Jennifer Martin, Special Education Teacher for the 6th-8th grades, was named the Teacher of the Month, and Cindy Rhody was selected for Staff Member of the Month.

November 8, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville has installed a security camera system at Green Brook Park.

The nine-camera project was completed this week.

Mayor Josh Miller said Green Brook Park has come under attack by vandals in recent years and security cameras were needed there to record activity of that kind at the park.

The city budgeted $20,000 for the project and purchased the system from DTC Communications for a lesser price.

November 8, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Somewhere in our community right now kids are going hungry.

To make sure those children have nutritious meals when they are not at school, the DeKalb County Coordinated School Health Program is seeking donations for the Backpack effort.

Approximately 6% of the DeKalb County student population goes hungry on a regular basis, with meals provided at school being their main source of food.

The DeKalb County Coordinated School Health Backpack Program was established in 2009 to help students with food insecurity. Through this program, students in need receive a bag of non-perishable food items to be taken home on the weekends during the school year. When funding allows, extra food is sent home on breaks and food boxes are delivered to each student’s home for Christmas break.

This program is funded solely on donations from individuals, churches, civic organizations, and grants. Due to these generous donations and grants, the Backpack Program has maintained its ability to feed each participant of the program thus far. However, funding is not always consistent or guaranteed. Donations are constantly sought for food and/or money to sustain the program.

If you are interested in making a donation, please contact CSH Coordinator, Elise Driver, at 615-215-2118 or elisedriver@dekalbschools.net.

Please remember all food items should be non-perishable and within the products expiration date.