WJLE Project Graduation Radiothon for Class of 2024 Set for Monday, April 1

March 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A WJLE Radiothon to raise money for the DCHS Class of 2024 Project Graduation will be Monday, April 1 from 9:00 a.m. until noon.

High school seniors and parents on the Project Graduation committee will be answering phones, taking pledges during the drive. Any member of the Class of 2024 is urged to stop by the station to make an appearance on the radiothon to talk about their school activities and future plans.

During last year’s three-hour WJLE radiothon on April 10 which was also LIVE streamed on the Awakening facebook page, the community rallied in support of the DCHS Class of 2023 with pledges and donations totaling a record breaking $13,390 for that year’s Project Graduation event. The fundraiser broke the previous Project Graduation radiothon record of $12,785 set in 2022.

Project Graduation is an all-night drug-free, alcohol-free graduation party for members of the DCHS Class of 2024 committed to having a safe, wholesome, yet entertaining celebration together for the last time as a class. The event begins following the graduation ceremony Friday, May 10.

Call 615-597-4265 during the Radiothon to make your pledge from 9:00 a.m. until noon on Monday, April 1.

Listen LIVE on FM 101.7/AM 1480 and LIVE audio streaming at www.wjle.com.

March 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Will they, or won’t they?

Last month the Board of Education had planned to discuss and possibly act on whether to grant the county’s request for $2 million from the school system’s fund balance reserves to help fund construction of a new 800 student Pre-K to 2nd grade school to replace the existing Smithville Elementary complex. But since not all seven members were in attendance at the meeting, the board voted to postpone any action until all seven members could be present. Board members absent were Jason Miller and Eric Ervin.

The issue is back on the agenda for Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, March 14 at 7 p.m. to be held at DeKalb West School. A work session will be held prior to the meeting at 6 p.m.

The agenda is as follows:

Public Comments Period concerning issues on the agenda.

Consider and act on the County’s request for $2 million.

Consider and act on Board Policy 4.205-1st Reading.

Personnel report from Director of Schools

Any other business properly brought before the board by a board member.

Consent agenda items

Approval of General Purpose budget amendment- (ISM, SPARC, SPED High Cost)

Approval of budget amendment-142-ESSER, 3.0

Approval of DCHS Jr, Chef attending the TN State Farm Competition March 7& 8 at Nashville State Community College Campus. (Executive Action Taken)

Approval of DeKalb Middle School applying for a grant-Health Built Environment (Playground)

Approval of World Vision using DeKalb West Campus as start/end for a 6K Run.

March 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A former DeKalb County Landfill employee, charged with fraudulent use of a credit card for allegedly using a county government fuel card for personal use, was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Tuesday, March 12.

55-year-old Mark Randall (Truck) Robinson entered a plea to the charge and received a sentence of two years all suspended to supervised probation. He must make restitution to DeKalb County of $2,443.
The case was investigated by the Smithville Police Department.

According to the arrest warrant, “Mark Robinson did use the DeKalb County Government gas card to fill his personal vehicle with gasoline. Mr. Robinson was employed by the DeKalb County landfill. Mr Robinson used the card multiple times. The first offense was on June 21, 2021 to the last offense September 11, 2022. The total amount of gasoline taken was $2,962.66. Mr. Robinson did not have consent to use the gas card for personal use. This offense did occur in Smithville,” the warrant stated.

Robinson was terminated after the incident was discovered.

Meanwhile, 46 year old Robert Jason Francis entered a plea by criminal information to possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. He received an eight-year sentence but will be on supervised probation. He must forfeit his firearm. Francis was also fined $2,000. He was given jail credit of 80 days.

Francis was one of two people found with methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and weapons during a traffic stop Friday, December 22, 2023.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on December 22 a deputy pulled over a purple Ford Ranger for failing to maintain its lane of travel. Both Francis and 45-year-old Rachel Lynn Spurlock were in the vehicle. During a search, the officer found 8.52 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine along with four glass pipes with residue, two straws with residue, a spoon, two scales, and 25 small baggies. Francis had in his possession two- 22 caliber revolvers and a 22-caliber long rifle. The officer also found seven white rectangular pills and a clear baggie believed to be Tramadol in Francis’ possession.

Spurlock’s case apparently remains pending in court.