Thirteen Graduate from Latest DCFD’s Citizens’ Fall Fire Academy

October 30, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A group of people from the community recently got some first-hand knowledge and experience of what it’s like to be a county volunteer firefighter and to learn more about how the department and supporting agencies operate.

The DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Citizens’ Fall Fire Academy just completed its six-week run with a graduation ceremony for the participants last week.

Chief Donny Green commended FIrefighter Alex Woodward for coordinating and delivering his first session of the Citizens’ Fire Academy. “The purpose of this academy is to provide a behind-the-scenes look, from a citizens’ perspective, at the organizational structure, administration, operation, and response capabilities of the DeKalb County Fire Department and supporting agencies, such as the 911 Dispatch, said Woodward.

Participants had the option of either observing or actually getting some hands-on experience by dressing up in firefighter turnout gear and operating department equipment including the jaws of life extrication tools under the supervision of the county firefighters.

“We are not trying to train people to be firefighters. This is more of an educational type of venture and, while participants have the opportunity to cut up a car using the jaws of life and use a fire hose to spray some water, it’s not a physically demanding program,” said Woodward.

Although the course is not primarily designed to recruit future volunteer firefighters, the department has picked up a few over the years because of the academy. “We have had people go through the program and their level of interest was high enough that they did later apply and become part of our fire department team,” added Chief Green.

Members of this year’s academy were Liberty Mayor Audrey Martin, Bruce Schaffer, Cindy Snow, Connie Cripps, Corey Cripps, Drew Burklow, Ian Chandler, Keith Farler, Kelly Brown, Marshall Farler, Mike Tabor, County Commissioner Sabrina Farler, and Tony Lockhart.

If you would like to know more about how to get on the participant list for next year’s Citizens’ Fire Academy, please contact Alex Woodward at 615-489-7292 or Chief Donny Green at 615-464-7176.

October 30, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Elementary students and teachers will pay tribute Thursday morning, November 2 to the brave men and women who have served our country in honor of Veterans Day during an assembly program at the county complex. The program starts at 9 a.m. and all veterans are urged to attend and please be there by 8:45 a.m. The public is also invited.

Local veterans seated on the stage will be treated to children singing patriotic songs in honor of each military branch of service during the program.

Principal Anita Puckett said the purpose of the assembly is to honor veterans and instill in these children at an early age the importance of the men and women who have dedicated their lives to the service of our country.

October 30, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Two people were arrested by Smithville Police earlier this month during a traffic stop in which illegal drugs and weapons were found. One of them had warrants against her in Warren County and was not charged in this case.

60-year-old Kevin Ray Wilson of Yulanda Hills is charged with possession of a firearm during a felony, possession of a schedule II drug, simple possession of a schedule VI drug, prescription fraud, and possession of drug paraphernalia and he was cited for a traffic control device/signal and light law violation.

Chief Mark Collins said that on October 2 police spotted a vehicle which failed to yield to a stop sign at the intersection of Murphy Street and Bright Hill Road. The automobile had a broken driver’s side taillight.

The officer stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Wilson and the passenger, Patsy Estes. She had three active warrants against her out of Warren County and when Estes got out of the automobile she was placed in custody. The officer spoke to Wilson through the passenger door Estes had left open and observed a pipe, commonly used for ingesting illegal narcotics. A subsequent search of Wilson’s personal items revealed a clear bag with a small amount of what was believed to be Fentanyl and a small marijuana cigarette. Two loaded revolvers were found in the automobile along with a pill bottle prescribed to another person not on the scene, three pipes and other paraphernalia with marijuana residue and 6 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. Estes was transported to Warren County and Wilson was taken into custody without incident. Bond for Wilson is $23,500.

33-year-old Alvin Davis Warren of Smithville was charged/ cited for three separate incidents on October 19 including two counts of theft and vandalism. According to Chief Collins, a report was taken on September 10 after an incident in which Warren had gone into Los Lobos where he ordered four beers and did not pay for them. After being told by the manager to leave the restaurant and not come back, Warren allegedly became angry and was observed by a Los Lobos employee putting a rock on the manager’s vehicle. When the manager went outside to look at his vehicle, he noticed a deep scratch down the side which caused about $3,500 in damage. Bond for Warren was set at $7,000.

Meanwhile a theft report was taken on October 18 after an incident at Moses Discount Tobacco, Vape and Beer where Warren had gone and asked to see four different vapes. Once the worker displayed the vapes and walked away for a moment, Warren allegedly took one of the vapes off the table and put it in his left jacket pocket and left the store without paying for it. Video surveillance from the store showed the theft. Warren was issued a citation.

Another report of theft was taken on October 19 after Warren allegedly took two guns that didn’t belong to him while moving from a residence on April 4. One of the guns has been recovered. Bond for Warren on this charge is $7,000 and he will make a court appearance on all the offenses November 2.

55-year-old Curtis Lee Adams of Midway Road was arrested on October 9 for possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana) with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. While patrolling, Chief Collins said an officer spotted a car parked by a dumpster near the intersection of North College and North Walnut Streets and it appeared that two people there, including Adams, had been dumpster diving and loading items into the vehicle. Police investigated and learned that the two didn’t have permission to remove items from the dumpster. After conducting a background check through central dispatch, Police asked for and received consent from Adams to search the vehicle. The search turned up a clear Ziploc bag containing approximately 1.5 ounces of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. Curtis was taken into custody without incident and his bond was set at $6,500.

19-year-old Christopher Alexander Christian of Fall Creek Drive was cited on October 9th for simple possession and drug paraphernalia. Police assisted Tennessee Probation and Parole officers during a search of Christian’s home where 19 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana were found along with a pipe and a grinder.

50-year-old William Chadwick Brown of Lebanon was cited on October 21 for two counts of simple possession. Police and EMS were summoned to conduct a wellness check at Broadway Market where Brown was found slumped over the steering wheel of an automobile. A bag containing 2.5 grams of what was believed to be Heroin was found on Brown’s body and he also had in his possession 2.7 grams of what field tested to be methamphetamine. His court date is November 9.

46-year-old Gerald Edward Archuleta was cited on October 25 for theft. Police responded to Smithport Cabinetry where video surveillance showed Archuleta taking a Perrone leather aviation jacket from a workstation and putting it in the vehicle he was riding in. The jacket was located and returned to the owner. His court date is November 9.

32-year-old Stephanie Michelle Mooneyham of Toad Road was arrested October 4 for public intoxication. While patrolling South College Street, an officer spotted Mooneyham walking in the middle of the street and he stopped to warn her not to be on foot in the roadway but as he drove away and looked in his rearview mirror, the officer saw Mooneyham again back in the middle of the street. The officer went back to speak with Mooneyham again and found that she could barely hold her head up, was slurring her words, and she could not remember her name. For her safety, Mooneyham was taken into custody. Her bond is $2,000.

39-year-old Victoria Warr of South Carolina was arrested on October 8 for public indecency. Police were called to Mapco Express where a woman was reported to be urinating in the parking lot. Upon arrival police spoke with the woman, Warr who said that she had gone inside the store, but the clerk refused to let her use the restroom. Police reviewed the store’s video surveillance and discovered that Warr had not entered the store nor talked to anyone about using the facilities. The video showed that Warr opened her car door, pulled her pants down exposing herself to the public and began urinating in the parking lot. Her bond is $2,500.

24-year-old Theo Earl Anderson of Village Place was arrested on October 11 for violation of an order of protection. According to Chief Collins, Anderson is under an active order of protection to have no contact with the petitioner, but he allegedly violated that order by making several calls to the personal cell phone of the petitioner. His bond is $5,000.

31-year-old Daniel McLouis Maddux of McMinnville was arrested on October 13 for DUI and he was cited for no driver’s license and violation of the financial responsibility law. Police pulled over Maddux on a traffic stop knowing that he had no valid driver’s license. The officer also learned that Maddux had no proof of insurance. While speaking with him, the officer found that Maddux’s speech was slurred, and his pupils were constricted. According to police Maddux had left Turtles Bar moments before where he consumed two beers. Earlier in the night, Maddux had also taken 1.5 10mg hydrocodone pills. Maddux submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He was then taken into custody. Bond for Maddux is $2,500 and his court date is November 2.

51-year-old Christopher Adrain Hicks of Johnson Chapel Road was arrested on October 18 for disorderly conduct. Police were called to Tenneco where a man, Hicks was reported to be making threats. Upon arrival, the officer found Hicks sitting in his car. Hicks told the officer that he was waiting for a friend to pick him up. During the investigation, two employees reported that Hicks had approached them and began cussing. The employees said they became scared when Hicks allegedly threatened to blow up the place if they didn’t get his friend out of there. According to police, Hick’s violent attitude caused the employees to fear bodily harm. Hicks was taken into custody without incident. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance November 2.

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