April 29, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
National Day of Prayer Thursday, May 5th
A local observance for the National Day of Prayer will be Thursday, May 5 at noon on the east side of the DeKalb County Courthouse. Isaac Gray, minister at the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, said everyone is invited to attend the event which is non-denominational.
Smithville Head Start Registration
Smithville Head Start Registration for the 2022-23 school year will be Monday, May 9 from 9:00 a.m. until ? at the County Complex. Please bring COPIES of the following documents to Registration: child’s birth certificate or mothers copy; Income documents such as W2, 1040 tax return, snap benefits, foster care placement agreement or zero income. Current immunization record (These must be on a Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization, which can be obtained from your doctor’s office or our local Health Department) Children who register to attend Head Start must turn three years old on or before August 15, 2022. If you are unable to bring copies a picture can be taken and scan. If you are unable to attend this day please call 615-597-5168 to schedule an appointment.
Smithville Mayor and Aldermen to Meet
The Smithville Mayor and Aldermen will meet in regular monthly session Monday night, May 2 at 6 p.m. at city hall. The only item on the agenda is discussion of the TDOT recommendation of changing the speed limit from 30 to 45 MPH on North Congress Boulevard from Church Street to Smith Road by Northside Elementary School. The meeting will be followed by a budget workshop.
County Budget Committee Meeting
The Budget Committee of the DeKalb County Commission will meet on Thursday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the lower courtroom of the DeKalb County courthouse for the Fiscal Year 22-23 budget.
DeKalb Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blood Drive
A DeKalb County Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blood Assurance Drive will be Monday, May 23 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the County Complex next to South Congress Boulevard on the mobile Bloodmobile. All donors will receive a choice of a “Be Brave” t-shirt. Donors will also be entered into a drawing to win a “Walt Disney Trip”. To schedule an appointment, go to bloodassurance.org/dekalbneighbors or contact Jimmy Poss at 615-464-7426 or jimposs72@yahoo.com. Please remember to eat a good meal, drink additional water, avoid energy drinks, and bring a photo ID. Save time on your donation by answering your health questions prior to arriving. Download “bloodassurance.org/quickscreen” onto your phone. This will save you 10 minutes on the mobile. Blood Assurance is the SOLE blood provider for local hospitals.
DPC to host In-Person Overdose Reversal Training
The DeKalb Prevention Coalition will be offering an in-person FREE Overdose Reversal Training on May 16 from 5:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the DeKalb County Complex, 712 South Congress Boulevard, Smithville. Dinner will be provided Free. The event will provide an educational opportunity for community members to learn about overdose prevention, lessen the stigma surrounding the use of substances, specifically with opioid use disorder (OUD), and how to use Naloxone/Narcan, the lifesaving opioid overdose reversal drug. Enter the building through the UT Extension entrance and the training room is the first room on the right. Everyone is asked to register at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/overdose-reversal-training-tickets-319786388697
or contact the office at dekalbtnprevention@gmail to reserve a spot so they can make sure to have the right amount of food.
DeKalb County to Participate in the Great American Clean Up May 14
The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce and the DeKalb County Mayor’s office would like to invite residents across the county to participate in the DeKalb County Clean Up on Saturday, May 14th. You are encouraged to form teams at your work, neighborhood, or organization, then post pictures with the name of your team to the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber or DeKalb Clean Up Facebook Page. DeKalb Clean Up volunteers are asked to stop by the DeKalb County Complex on May 14th between 9 AM and 10 AM to sign-in and pick up the provided trash bags, rubber gloves, and bottles of water. A group picture will be taken at 9:30 AM for the media if you like to participate in that. If you can’t be there to sign-in, call the Chamber office at 615-597-4163 to be counted as a DeKalb Clean Up volunteer — just give your name and the general area where you will be working. To get a head start on clean up, dumpsters will be set up at highly visible and convenient locations a few days prior to the main event. Dumpster locations will be at the Dowelltown Community Center, Liberty Community Center, Alexandria City Parking Lot (behind square), and the DeKalb County Complex parking lot.
DeKalb Board of Education to Meet
The DeKalb County Board of Education will meet in regular monthly session on Monday, May 23 at 7 p.m. at the Ernest Ray Education Center. A work session will be held prior to the meeting at 6 p.m. The agenda is as follows: Consider and act on Director of Schools contract, a personnel report from the Director and to act on the consent agenda which includes action on a CSH budget amendment, action on summer learning camps budget amendments, approval of a Food Service Budget Amendment, consider and act on an agreement with Educational and Resource & Management Consortium, and action on a Carl Perkins 2021-22 Budget Amendment.
Cripps Cemetery Decoration
The Cripps Cemetery Decoration is set for the 1st Sunday, May 1 at 2 pm. Located on Jackson Hollow Road, Temperance Hall, TN and still maintained by the Cripps family. Come join them and bring a chair, bring a story. Donations are needed for upkeep! Jessica and Tyler Cripps have assumed the role of caretakers for the cemetery. If you are unable to attend, donations can be mailed to: Cripps Cemetery Fund, c/o Jessica Cripps, 3736 New Hope Rd, Alexandria, TN 37012
DeKalb County Schools Art Exhibit
The DeKalb County Schools Art Exhibit will be Saturday, May 28 featuring works of local art students. The annual event, sponsored by the Smithville Study Club, will be held from 1-3 p.m. at the DeKalb County Complex at 712 South Congress Boulevard. The public is invited to attend. For more information contact Art Chair Susan Hinton at 615-597-9300 or Smithville Study Club President Walteen Parker
The 17th annual Dot’s Storytelling Day
The 17th annual Dot’s Storytelling Day called “Wrinkles in Time” and sponsored by the Smithville Study Club and FCE DeKalb Family Consumer Education will be Saturday, May 7 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the DeKalb County Complex History Room 712 South Congress Boulevard. This is a benefit for the DeKalb Imagination Library. Contact Susan Hinton at 615-597-9300 or email hinton@dtccom.net
Malone’s Chapel Baptist Church Homecoming and Singing
Malone’s Chapel Baptist Church at 6634 Walker Creek Road, Alexandria will be holding their Homecoming on May 1st with Sunday school @ 10 am followed by the worship service @ 11 am. Seth Presley will be preaching. A fellowship dinner will follow the service. Singing will conclude the Homecoming featuring Midnight Cry of Sparta. Revival will start May 2nd-7th starting at 7pm with Brother Seth Presley preaching each night. Right on Time will be the featured singers Thursday night, May 5
Smithville Elementary Kindergarten Registration
Smithville Elementary’s Kindergarten Registration for the 2022-23 school year will be Monday, May 9 from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the County Complex. Please bring COPIES of the following documents to Registration: child’s birth certificate; Current, up-to-date, physical examination and immunization record (These must be on a Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization, which can be obtained from your doctor’s office or the Health Department); Proof of residency for DeKalb County (i.e. gas/electric bill); Your child (they will be tested on registration day); Children who register to attend kindergarten must turn five years old on or before August 15, 2022.
DCHS honors vocal music and music theater classes to perform
The DCHS honors vocal music and music theater classes are going to perform Beauty and the Beast Jr. on May 5 at 7:00 PM and May 7 at 2:30 PM. Admission price is $5, children 5 and under get in free. The performances will take place at the DCHS auditorium.
DeKalb County School Calendar
The remainder of the 2021-22 DeKalb County School Calendar is as follows: The last day of school will be May 23 ( Administrative Day May 20)