TN Air National Guard Unit to Present “Operation Patriotism” During Memorial Day Observance

May 24, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A special tribute to the flag will be featured during Monday’s Memorial Day observance at the county complex.

Active duty and retired members of the 118th Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard in Nashville will present “Operation Patriotism”, a stirring program which teaches the audience about the history of our Flag and how it came to be what it is today. “Operation Patriotism” takes you on a journey through history for a look at some of the early flags that were part of America’s past followed by a moving narrative from the viewpoint of our national emblem “Old Glory”.

The Five Flag Ceremony includes the Queen Anne Flag from 1707 to the Revolution, Grand Union Flag raised over George Washington’s Headquarters on January 1, 1776, Betsy Ross Flag the first official flag of the new nation, the United States of America on June 14, 1777, Star Spangled Banner flag May 1, 1795 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write our National Anthem, and finally Old Glory April 4th, 1818 the Flag of the United States of America of today.

Don Rigsby, a Senior Master Sergeant now retired from the 118th unit, is the guest speaker for Monday’s program and arranged for “Operation Patriotism” to be presented as part of the Memorial Day observance here.

“I believe it will touch your heart as it has mine as I have been a part of this program for a number of years,” said Rigsby.

“We tell a little about each one of the flags as the stripes and stars have been added down through the years and then we finish the program with a stirring segment about Old Glory, our current flag and what our flag has been through. Part of the program talks about how that the flag has draped coffins of men and women in all the wars as they have been brought back. The flag flies all over the world. I am retired from active duty but when I was overseas in Vietnam in 1968-69 and came back to the United States and got to see that flag flying at the airport where I landed it touched my heart to know I live in a country like this. We need to celebrate the flag and take care of it. It has been treated badly by some over the years but hopefully our patriotism is coming back,” said Rigsby.

The Memorial Day program will be hosted by the American Legion Post #122.

The observance begins at 9:30 a.m. with patriotic music by Susan Hinton followed by a welcome from Commander William Edmonds at 10:00 a.m. and then the presentation of colors and pledge of allegiance by Boy Scout Troop #347.

Rigsby will lead in prayer and a special DCHS Chorus will perform the National Anthem.

Judy Redmon, President of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary will pay tribute to fallen soldiers with a Memorial Day Remembrance followed by a moment of silence.

Following Rigsby’s remarks as guest speaker, Ronnie Redmon, Adjutant President of the American Legion Post 122 will make closing comments.

The audience will then be asked to gather at the veterans memorial monument outside the courthouse on the south side for the placement of a wreath where Josh Moon will blow taps.

May 23, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Municipal Swimming Pool opens for the season Friday, May 24 and it’s “Report Card Day”.

“What that means is if you are a student in DeKalb County whether it’s a private school, home school, or the public school you can get in free at the pool by bringing your report card. For parents who want to join them the cost of admission is $2.00 per person. We will be open at 11 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.,” said manager Jeania Cawthorn.

The Pool will be open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. until school re-opens. Admission is $2.00 per person across the board.

“The leaks have all been repaired and the pool has passed inspection. It’s been kept clean and the water is nice and warm,” said Cawthorn.

May 23, 2019
By: Bill Conger

The 8th graders at DeKalb West School will be heading up the hill in August after graduating May 21. During a special ceremony the students were recognized for their academic and other achievements.

Aly Griffith led the way with the academic awards. She won ELA with a 100 average, an Algebra award with a 100 average, Social Studies with a 99.5 average, and Science with a 99 average. Patricia Gassaway won the ELA award in her homeroom with a 96 average. Aniston Farler and Madison Martin won Algebra awards each with a perfect 100 average. Lane Goss and Wesley Wright won the Math award. They tied with a score of 95. Brett Walker and Bonnie Hale took home History awards from Sean Antoniak’s homeroom. They both had a final score of 98.25, and Kortnee Skeen in Karen France’s homeroom won the Science award with a 98.

Ten students made the All A Honor Roll: Isaac Brown, Luke Driver, Noah Evans, Aniston Farler, Aly Griffith, Emma Martin, Madison Martin, Bralin Moss, Kortnee Skeen, and Wesley Wright. Named to the A/B Honor Roll were Gavin Conger, Caleb Dies, John Ellis, Patricia Gassaway, Lane Goss, Bonnie Hale, Chevelle Lockwood, Jamison Marlar, Matt Nokes and Brett Walker.

Earning the Making Tracks (Most Improved) award were Chevelle Lockwood and Gavin Conger. The Citizenship Awards, which 8th grade peers vote on, are given to a boy and girl in each homeroom. Brett Walker and Kortnee Skeen in Sean Antoniak’s homeroom were presented with the award. From Karen Frances’s room, the honor was handed out to Luke Driver and Madison Martin.

Luke Driver also won the Perfect Attendance award for the second year in a row. He has not missed a single day nor been late or left early from school the past two years.

Junior Beta Club sponsor Jessica Antoniak presented Aniston Farler and Aly Griffith with the DWS Beta Club Community Service Award. Both girls volunteered more than 60 hours this past year. The 16 8th grade members volunteered 493 total hours of the 1252 hours that the entire club earned.

Service awards were given to all Betas who have earned at least 10 service hours this school year. Receiving a certificate were Gabby Wheatley 10 hours, Matt Nokes 10 hours 30 minutes, Bonnie Hale 11 hours, Patricia Gassaway 12 hours 15 minutes, John Ellis 14 hours, Brett Walker 18 hours – Vice President, Noah Evans 23 hours 15 minutes, Emma Martin 23 hours 30 minutes, Cameron Bailey 24 hours, Kortnee Skeen 28 hours 15 minutes, Bralin Moss 33 hours 45 minutes, Lane Goss 38 hours, Isaac Brown 43 hours 30 minutes, and Madison Martin 48 hours.

The 4 PAWS Award went to Lance Duke and Caleb Dies. That award recognizes awesome students who may not make the honor roll all the time but work hard, may be a good citizen, class helper or show improvement.

The Library awards were presented to Jamison Marlar and Destiny Strickland with 400 points; Noah Evans, Bonnie Hale, and Matthew Nokes for 600 points; Brett Walker, Isaac Brown, and John Ellis with 800 points. Awesome Accuracy awards went to Aly Griffith and Isaac Brown. Bralin Moss was honored for receiving over 1,000 points.

The members of the DeKalb West 8th grade class were Cameron Bailey, Jeanine Boody, Isaac Brown, Gavin Conger, Caleb Dies, Luke Driver, Lance Duke, Rebecca Eastes, John Ellis, Noah Evans, Aniston Farler, Patricia Gassaway, Jackson Gibbs, Lane Goss, Aly Griffith Bonnie Hale, Emily Hendrixson, Hailey Hendrixson, Kailyn Jordan, Olivia Knowles, John Law, Chloe Lockwood, Jamison Marlar, Emma Martin, Madison Martin, Devon Maxwell, Bralin Moss, Matthew Nokes, Braxton Page, Emily Poole, Kiara Shoffner, Kortnee Skeen, Jarrod Smith, Destiny Strickland, Faith Tripp, Cayalyn Turner, Brett Walker, Gabrielle Wheatley, and Wesley Wright.