Danny Hale Wins DeKalb GOP Nomination for Road Supervisor

February 11, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Danny Hale of Liberty won the Republican nomination for DeKalb County Road Supervisor in the local GOP caucus held Sunday afternoon at the courthouse.

Hale, who was nominated by party delegates, defeated Reed Edge 62 to 34. The vote was conducted by paper ballot.

“I would like to thank everybody who participated today. I thank them for coming out and for their support. I’m looking forward to running a good race,” Hale told WJLE after the meeting.

Hale will face Democrat Jimmy Sprague in the August 2nd DeKalb County General Election. Sprague is unopposed for the Democratic nomination for Road Supervisor in the May 1 DeKalb County Democratic Primary and although the qualifying deadline is not until Thursday, February 15 it’s too late for other Road Supervisor candidates to get qualified by the Tennessee Highway’s Certification Board. The filing deadline with the state board was February 1. Both Hale and Sprague are state certified.

Incumbent Republican Road Supervisor Wallace “Butch” Agee decided not to seek re-election to a second term.

All the other Republican candidates for the August 2 DeKalb County General Election were nominated by acclamation during the caucus Sunday including Incumbent Sheriff Patrick Ray, Incumbent Trustee Sean Driver, Susan Martin for Circuit Court Clerk, and County Commission candidates Tom Chandler in the 1st district, Sabrina Farler in the 2nd district, Renee Steff in the 3rd district, Greg Matthews in the 4th district, Incumbent Jerry Adcock in the 5th district, Matt Adcock in the 6th district, and Bruce Malone in the 7th district.

Incumbent 1st district Republican County Commissioner Mason Carter was not present for the caucus and will not be seeking re-election.

Democrats will soon get their turn.

The DeKalb County Democratic Party will hold a Mass Meeting for county and state Democratic candidates, Saturday, February 17 to kick off the election year. The event will take place at the DeKalb County High School cafeteria, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Meet the candidates for Governor, US Senator, US Representative, State Senator, State Representative, County Mayor, Circuit Court Clerk, Road Supervisor, Sheriff, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Trustee, County Commission, School Board, City Council.

Mary Mancini, Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party, will be the keynote speaker.

Both candidates for Governor former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean & House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh will be in attendance along with former Governor Phil Bredesen now running for the United States Senate. Mary Alice Carfi candidate for State Senate will also be present.

The event will feature live music by Jake Hoot, coffee, donuts, and conversation

February 11, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A groundbreaking celebration was held Sunday afternoon for the sixth Habitat for Humanity home in DeKalb County.

Committee and Board members of Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County joined the new partner family, Jamie Nokes and her family Jayde Stanley, Tayvian Nokes, Desmond Nokes, and Justis Nokes for the brief ceremony at 204 Hayes Street.

“All Glory to God. I am just thankful for the Blessing. I know its something He has bestowed upon me. I am thankful for all the volunteers and for the Habitat organization. They are changing people’s lives and I am thankful I get to be one of those people and I look forward to eventually volunteering in the future and maybe serving on the board and doing all those things to pay for it. I am extremely blessed,” Nokes told WJLE.

During Sunday’s groundbreaking ceremony, Alex Woodward made welcoming remarks and introduced the partner family. Chris Moore of the Smithville Church of God gave the invocation and Jordan Atnip of the Smithville First Baptist Church read scripture from Psalm 145: 3-7; Matthew 5:13-14, and Matthew 7:24-29 The ministers then offered the Prayers of Blessing and led the gathering in the Responsive Reading based on Psalm 118:19-29 followed by the groundbreaking, the Lord’s Prayer, and finally a closing prayer.

The public is urged to support the construction of the home with donations.

“Habitat for Humanity wants you to help us Frame with God’s Word in our new house. For a $5 donation your favorite bible verse and name will be written on the frame work of our latest Habitat home. Our goal is to cover Jamie Nokes and her family with God’s message written throughout their house,” said Woodward.

“You may send your message and donation to Habitat for Humanity PO Box 369 Smithville, TN 37166, drop it by Wilson Bank & Trust Smithville office or contact us on Facebook @HFHDeKalbTN for other options,” he continued.

Woodward said construction work will begin as soon as possible.

“We have to do some general stuff that requires skilled labor but we are hoping probably by the middle of March to get volunteers in and start that part but we hope, depending on the weather, to have the foundation and footers done by the middle of March,” he said.

“The project will be completed by volunteers with the exceptions of the areas in which a licensed professional is required. Everyone is invited to help and jobs can be found for anyone. If you would like to volunteer, please email awoodward@wilsonbank.com and if you are skilled in a certain line of construction work please indicate that or you may call 615-215-8181 and leave a message for construction. Please include name, number, email address, and skill.

“We will also need volunteers to provide lunch on construction days, drinks, and snacks. Supplies are also needed such as hammers, tape measures, nail aprons, pencils and other building supplies are accepted. Monetary donations are needed as well to purchase construction materials. Supplies may be dropped off at Wilson Bank & Trust Smithville branch or mailed to Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb Co PO Box 750, Smithville, TN 37166,” said Woodward

“Additionally we encourage churches, employers, and other organizations to commit to a construction day, you may contact us at the email or phone number above. We appreciate your prayers and support for our upcoming project,” Woodward said.

About Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, TN.
Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County was formed in 2003. They have built five homes in the Smithville area and own property with plans to build future homes. Houses are constructed by volunteers and paid by donations from various fundraisers including the Fiddler 5K, Jackson Kayak Raffle, Golf Tournament, Yeti cooler raffle and the Chili cook off. The purpose of Habitat is to build houses and sell them at no profit and no interest to families who could not otherwise afford their own home. This Christian ministry is financed through private donations using volunteer labor and donated materials whenever possible.

Find us on Facebook @ HFHDeKalbTN to stay up-to-date on current events and construction updates.

February 11, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Two of five convicted felons arrested last summer after an undercover drug investigation by several local and state law enforcement agencies appeared for sentencing in DeKalb County Criminal Court Friday, February 9

.39 year old Amy Renee Ford of Watertown entered a plea by criminal information to introduction of contraband and unlawful possession of a firearm. She received a four year sentence on the contraband charge and two years for the firearm offense to run consecutively for a total of six years however the term has been suspended to supervised probation with 245 days of time served from June 9, 2017 to February 9, 2018. She must forfeit the weapon.

35 year old Courtney Paris of New Hope Road, Alexandria entered a plea by criminal information to possession of a schedule II drug for resale and possession of a firearm. She got a six year sentence for the drug offense and four years for the firearm charge to run concurrently for a total of six years however the term has been suspended to TDOC probation. She must forfeit the weapon. Paris was given jail credit from June 9, 2017 to February 9, 2018.

The cases against the other three defendants remain pending in court.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Friday, June 9, 2017 agents went to 332 New Hope Road, Alexandria and seized approximately 5 grams of fentanyl, methodone, morphine, xanax, six weapons (including two assault rifles), a Chevy Silverado, a Dodge Dakota, a BMW car, cell phones, flash drives, home security system, digital scales, computer, ammo, and $973 cash.

Ford and Paris were arrested along with 36 year old Samer Walid Abdalla, 55 year old Ernest Grady Tanner, and 39 year old Jerry Henry Goff

The narcotics search warrant was executed and served at the residence by members of the 13th & 15th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Alexandria Police Department, the Tennessee Highway Patrol Criminal Investigation Division, and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

Adballa and Paris were in the master bedroom where agents found approximately 5 grams of a powder substance on a nightstand that tested positive for fentanyl; prescription narcotics which were packaged for resale, guns, three sets of digital scales, a large amount of hypodermic needles, and packaging material used in the distribution of narcotics.

Sheriff Ray said that Abdalla, who is Hepatitis C positive, fought with agents while resisting arrest and he tried to bite them. Abdalla also suffered a bloody nose during the scuffle putting the officers at risk of being infected. He was charged with criminal exposure of Hepatitis C. “Abdalla was ordered several times to raise his hands and to place them behind his back. He failed to comply, striking at agents and forcing them to restrain him to affect the arrest. Abdalla fought with the agents and tried to take an agent’s gun by grabbing the upper barrel portion of the rifle and pulling. Abdalla tried to bite two agents who were trying to restrain him. Abdalla was slightly injured and began bleeding from the nose. He continued to struggle knowing that he has Hepatitis C placing agents at risk of being infected. Abdalla acknowledged that he has Heptatis C and he has been charged with criminal exposure twice before,” said Sheriff Ray.

Abdalla was also charged with assaulting an officer and resisting arrest as he tried to keep agents from taking both Paris and himself into custody. Both Abdalla and Paris were each charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule II drug (fentanyl) and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Agents found a 9 millimeter pistol inside Paris’ pocketbook within reach of both Paris and Abdalla.

Sheriff Ray said Abdalla has numerous felonies on his record including two counts of possession of cocaine on May 25, 2004, criminal simulation on September 10, 2008, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony on May 7, 2012.

Paris was convicted for possession of a schedule II drug on November 16, 2011 and she has other felony convictions.

Tanner is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. According to Sheriff Ray, Tanner was found in another bedroom of the home along with a Ruger mini-14 rifle, a DPMS-AR 15 rifle, a Springfield Armory .45 caliber 1911 semi-automatic pistol, and approximately 150 plus rounds of ammunition of various calibers. On October 7, 2005 Tanner was convicted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) for possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a misdemeanor domestic assault. Tanner was sentenced to 10 months in the U.S. penitentiary in McCreary, Kentucky.

Ford and Goff were in a guest bedroom of the home where agents recovered from a closet a Revelation. 22 caliber rifle with a bullet in the magazine but not chambered. Narcotics were discovered in a duffle bag that also held Goff’s driver license.

Both Ford and Goff were charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. Goff was further charged with possession of a schedule II drug with intent to sell or deliver.

The following day, Ford was charged with bringing contraband into a penal institution after drugs were found on her during a strip search. “Ford was being dressed out for housing at the jail and during a strip search by a female correctional officer, a small cellophane baggie with a clear crystal substance was found in her body cavity. It field tested positive for meth,” said Sheriff Ray.

According to Sheriff Ray, Ford is a convicted felon. She was sentenced to 8 years in the Tennessee Department of Corrections for initiation of methamphetamine in 2012.
Goff pled guilty to manufacturing meth on November 7, 2012.

In other cases, 21 year old Dylan Crook entered a plea to sale of methamphetamine over 0.5 grams and received an eight year sentence on TDOC probation after he serves 270 days in the DeKalb County Jail. The term is to run concurrently with a violation of probation sentence against him. Crook was fined $2,000 and he must make restitution of $200 to the Sheriff’s Department. Crook was given jail credit from November 13, 2017 to February 9, 2018.
48 year old Michael Lee Bailey entered a plea by criminal information to aggravated assault and received a six year sentence suspended to probation. He us under a restraining order to keep away from the victim.

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