DeKalb Local Option Sales Tax Collections for March Up from February

April 26, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County’s local option sales tax collections for March, 2024 were up compared to February and better than March 2023’s numbers.

According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue, DeKalb County collected $145,744 in local option sales taxes in March, 2024, an increase from $138,326 in February, 2024 and above collections of $141,411 in March, 2023.

Smithville’s collections for March were $371,116, an increase from $359,089 in February and up from $361,475 in March, 2023.

Alexandria’s local option sales tax collections stood at $26,942, down from $30,420 in February, and below collections of $30,847 in March 2023.

Dowelltown’s collections for March were $3,524, under February’s collections of $4,428, but better than $3,136 brought in for March, 2023.

Collections in Liberty stood at $14,130 in March, up from $9,948 in February, and better than $10,905 taken in for March, 2023.

Net collections for the county and cities combined for March were $561,458 up from $542,212 in February, and above collections of $547,776 in March, 2023.

March collections reflect activity for the previous month.

April 25, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Elementary would like to recognize its Teacher of the Month for April, Mrs. Tina Gash. SES recognizes one teacher each month for his/her outstanding performance in teaching and their contribution to the students at our school. The teacher of the month is selected by the administration at Smithville Elementary.

Some of Mrs. Gash’s many accolades from her coworkers include:

“Mrs. Tina is very friendly and very helpful.”

“She is always so kind and caring. She is always a soft speaker to her peers and students. She strives to help all her children!”

“What’s not to love about Ms. Tina Gash! She is always so sweet, kind and very helpful with anything. What you see, is what you get. She is the real deal.”

“Very sweet and great RTI teacher.”

“Mrs. Gash is a fantastic teacher! She is patient and kind to her students and always helpful to her fellow teachers and staff. She will be missed!”

“I can’t say enough positive things about Mrs. Gash. She is an exceptional teacher, friend and mentor. My child was blessed to be in her last class of first graders. I am forever thankful for the strong foundation she gave to him. She will be greatly missed around SES, but it’s time for her to be Nina full-time!”

“Mrs. Gash is a joy to be around, she is such a caring teacher!”

“Mrs. Gash is an amazing teacher, person, and friend. She always has the best interest of the students in mind, and does a phenomenal job.”

Congratulations Mrs. Gash, and thank you for your many years of service and dedication to Smithville Elementary. Enjoy your upcoming retirement, you will be greatly missed!

April 25, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Police arrested a woman twice within eleven days earlier this month on burglary and theft charges stemming from separate investigations.

32-year-old Stephanie Michelle Mooneyham will be in court May 2.

Chief Mark Collins said that on April 3 police received a call at 623 Highland Street that someone was trying to break into a car. During a subsequent investigation in which video from a surveillance camera was examined, police identified Mooneyham as a suspect. After being found and confronted, Mooneyham admitted to having opened the door of the vehicle saying she was hot and wanted to take it for a ride. She was charged with burglary and her bond set at $3,500.

Eleven days later, Mooneyham was charged with theft of property and driving on a suspended license. Chief Collins said that on April 14 an officer was summoned to College Street due to a report of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, police spoke with the owner of the automobile and after a preliminary investigation identified Mooneyham as a suspect. During the probe, sheriff’s department deputies found the stolen vehicle at a residence in the county and spoke with Mooneyham. Smithville Police officers also responded to the scene and took Mooneyham into police custody. Bond was set at $35,000 and her court date is May 2.

75-year-old Darlene Duncan of Bright Hill Road is cited for theft of merchandise and simple possession. Chief Collins said that on April 7 police were summoned to Walmart due to a shoplifter and spotted Duncan placing something in her purse. The officer confronted and searched Duncan finding on her more concealed merchandise from the store as well as 10 diazepam pills in an unmarked container. Duncan could not produce a prescription for the pills. Her court date is May 23.

33-year-old Dustin Sissom of Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Chief Collins said that on April 6 an officer responded to a 911 call of a domestic violence incident in progress. Upon arrival, he spoke with Sissom and his wife and found physical evidence of a domestic assault. Sissom was determined to have been the primary aggressor and he was placed in custody. His bond was set at $3,000.

38-year-old Cody Cripps of Village Place, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. According to Chief Collins, on April 15 an officer answered a 911 call of a domestic violence incident on Highland Drive in which a man was armed with a knife. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the man, Cripps and the alleged victim and found evidence of an assault involving a weapon. Cripps was determined to have been the primary aggressor and he was arrested. His bond was set at $7,500 and he will be in court May 9.

21-year-old Sergio Perez-Soto is charged with driving under the influence. Chief Collins said that on April 14 while on patrol, an officer spotted a vehicle on East Bryant Street failing to maintain its lane of travel. He pulled it over and spoke with the driver, Perez-Soto who smelled of alcohol and admitted to having consumed several alcoholic beverages. The driver submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. His bond was set at $2,000. His court date is April 25.

58-year-old Peter Bohannon of Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver. According to Chief Collins, a city officer while on patrol observed a vehicle failing to maintain its lane of travel on Miller Road. He pulled it over and spoke with the driver, Bohannon who appeared to be impaired. Bohannon submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. A package of a crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine was found on Bohannon during a search. His bond is $20,000 and he will appear in court April 25.

40-year-old Michael Colwell of Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license and he is cited for driving on roadways laned for traffic, violation of financial responsibility and implied consent. Chief Collins said that on April 12 an officer responded to a complaint of a vehicle traveling slowly in the center of the highway near West Main Street. Upon arrival the officer observed the automobile still traveling slowly and he pulled it over and spoke with the driver Colwell, who had slurred speech and he smelled of alcohol. Colwell submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He admitted to having consumed several alcoholic beverages. Colwell was arrested and his bond set at $6,500. His court date is April 25.

43-year-old Nathan Wilbert is charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Chief Collins said that on April 7 an officer was called to Bryant Street where a man was reported to be acting erratically and holding a knife. Upon arrival, the officer found the man, Wilbert still holding a knife and yelling. Failing to heed the officer’s verbal command to drop the knife, Wilbert turned and began walking toward the Sonic Drive-In. Police continued to demand that Wilbert drop the knife as they followed him, and he subsequently complied before being taken into custody. His bond was set at $2,500.

61-year-old Karen Coffee of White Street, Smithville is charged with domestic assault and vandalism. According to Chief Collins, on April 14 police were called to 635 Andrew Street due to a domestic dispute between Coffee and Michael Vance. He (Vance) told the officer that Coffee threw a stick at him and broke a back window of the home. Coffee was determined to have been the primary aggressor and was arrested. Her bond is $2,000 and she will be in court May 2.

59-year-old Maria Flores of Wade Street is charged with driving under the influence. According to Chief Collins, on April 19 an officer received a call of a possible drunk driver on South Congress Boulevard. The officer spotted the suspect vehicle, an orange Mitsubishi, crossing the center line of the highway several times. He pulled over the automobile and spoke with the driver, Flores who smelled of alcohol and had red and watery eyes. Flores, unsteady on her feet, submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. She was placed in custody and a warrant was obtained for a blood draw from her. Bond for Flores is $3,500 and her court date is May 2.

36-year-old Brandon Corey Herndon of Forrest Avenue is charged with domestic assault. Chief Collins said that on April 19 police were summoned to a residence on Forrest Avenue due to a possible domestic incident. Upon arrival, the officer conducted an investigation and determined, based on wounds of the alleged victim as well as witness statements, that Herndon was the primary aggressor. His bond was set at $3,500 and he will be in court May 9.

51-year-old Galdino Lozano of Forrest Avenue is charged with driving under the influence. Chief Collins said that on April 20 an officer received a call of a reckless driver traveling inbound on Highway 70. The officer responded and spotted the suspect vehicle traveling in a reckless manner. He then pulled it over and spoke with the driver, Lozano who smelled of alcohol and had red and watery eyes. Lozano admitted to having consumed a 12 pack of beer before driving. Lozano submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He was placed under arrest and a warrant was obtained for a blood draw from him. Bond for Lozano is $3,500 and his court date is May 29.

51-year-old Timothy Louis Mace of Walling, Tennessee is cited for simple possession of a schedule II drug and improper display of tags. His court date is May 23. Chief Collins said that on April 20 while on patrol an officer stopped a Ford Club Wagon for improper display of tags. While speaking with the driver, Mace, the officer detected a strong odor of marijuana. Mace admitted to having smoked marijuana earlier. During a search of Mace and his vehicle, the officer found two small baggies of a clear crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine that weighed 0.93 grams.