Hale receives highest award at fire banquet Smithville Volunteer Firefighter and Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale (right) received the “Robert Eller Highest Attendance Award” Friday night during an appreciation dinner for city firefighters at the New Life Connection Center. The award was presented to Hale by Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker. This is the sixth straight year Hale has earned this award named in honor of the late Robert Eller, who served the Smithville Fire Department as a member and assistant chief for 64 years until his death in Prisock awarded for 204 training hours Latest DeKalb Fair to Offer New Events and Admission Deals Deputies Make Drug, DUI, and Assault Arrests 50 Years Later, the Night that Changed Dowelltown Child Injured in Rollover Crash