Dowelltown Woman Warns Others After Falling Prey to a Scam

September 6, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A Dowelltown woman is warning others after falling prey to a scam in which she lost $5,000.

Helga Thompson said that on Wednesday, August 31, she received a call with a computer message claiming to be from Amazon, asking if she would confirm a purchase made through her account of an Ipad.

“I was just getting ready to eat breakfast about 9 am when my phone rang. It was a computer message from Amazon asking if I had made a purchase of an Ipad in New York for $1,400. If not press one. I pressed one because I had not made such a purchase. I was then transferred to someone who said they were from Amazon security. He said that he could not stop the purchase because all of my data had been hacked. In the meantime on my desk top computer I went to Amazon and saw no notice of activity. The man said that was because of the level of the hack so he had to transfer me to the Federal Fraud office. I was transferred to someone identified as Adrian Chase of the federal fraud department who said that someone had hacked into my bank accounts and was renting a car and house in my name in Texas,” said Thompson.

The scammer warned Thompson that her bank accounts and credit cards would be frozen, and that she would need to go withdraw money from the bank before this happened and put it in a Bitcoin account in order for the government to send her a debit card so she would be able to pay her bills. He also warned her to remain on the phone with him during the transaction.

“He said that they had to freeze all my accounts and credit cards. I said how would I pay my bills that were on automatic payment?. He said I would have to take the money out of my checking account at the bank and put it in Bitcoin which is a secure way to have money and the government would send me a debit card for that money so I could pay my bills. He also said not to tell anyone since my bank may be involved and that my phone may be hacked. Now all this was on my land line phone. He told me not to get off the line with him. I told him I had to drive down the road to get a cell phone signal, which I did as I went to the bank to withdraw my money. I was on the phone with him for about two hours,” said Thompson.

After realizing she had been scammed, Thompson reported the incident to local law enforcement authorities.

“I just want others to know that Amazon or any of those type companies will never call you and neither will the government so never do anything over the phone. If you get a suspicious call hang up and find the company’s phone number and call back to make sure,” said Thompson.

September 6, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The third annual Hogs for Dogs and Cats Too Poker Run will be Saturday, September 24 sponsored by the Friends of the DeKalb Animal Shelter.

The day’s events will start at the DeKalb Animal Shelter at 186 Transfer Station Road, Smithville. The ride begins at 9 a.m. with an Open House of the Shelter and Registration.

“We will serve breakfast sandwiches and coffee while you take a tour of the shelter and see the adoptable animals. This will bring more people out to the shelter to see how we operate. If you have never been to the shelter this will be a great opportunity to come by,” said Shelter Director Emmaly Bennett.

“The cost is $20 per registered rider which includes a $5.00 food discount coupon for lunch at Twisted Oaks. Kick Stands up at 10 a.m. The ride ends at around 12 noon at Twisted Oaks and a silent auction will be held there from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and we will have T-shirt sales,” said Friends of spokesperson Cathy Bader

The event is open to all!

All proceeds will go to the Friends of the DeKalb Animal Shelter, a non-profit organization.

September 6, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A new ordinance regulating the sale of beer for off-premises consumption in Smithville may be enacted by next month.

Ordinance (City of Smithville)

During Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Aldermen adopted an ordinance on first reading, which rescinds all provisions of previously adopted regulations and establishes a new Smithville Beer Ordinance. Second and final reading action will be held following a public hearing at the next meeting of the Mayor and Aldermen Monday, October 3 at 6 p.m. at city hall.

Many provisions in the new ordinance mirror existing regulations such as the 400 feet distance requirement between a business permitted to sell beer and a place of public gathering. Perhaps the biggest change is the implementation of the Tennessee Responsible Vendors Act, which was adopted by the state in 2006 that municipalities may also enact as part of city regulations for vendors permitted to sell beer.

To become compliant with this Act each vendor employee must complete a Responsible Vendor-training program. Once a person, corporation, or other entity has been issued a permit to sell beer for off-premises consumption by the city and has received certification by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission under the Tennessee Responsible Vendor Act, penalties for violations would be less severe than for those who don’t obtain the training and certification.

According to the proposed new ordinance, the Smithville Beer Board may impose on a Responsible Vendor a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each offense of making or permitting to be made any sales to minors or for any other offense. Under state law, the beer board shall not revoke or suspend the permit of a Responsible Vendor for a store clerk’s illegal sale of beer to a minor if the clerk is properly certified and has attended annual meetings since the clerk’s original certification unless his Certified Responsible Vendor status has been revoked by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. However, the city must report the violation to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

“If the beer board determines that a clerk of an off-premises beer permit holder certified by the state sold beer to a minor, the beer board shall report the name of the clerk to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission within 15 days of determination of the sale. The certification of the clerk shall be invalid, and the clerk may not reapply for a new certificate for a period of one year from the date of the beer board’s determination,” according to the proposed new ordinance.

Nonparticipating clerks and businesses as Responsible Vendors could face license suspension or revocation or a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for illegal sales to minors.

Under the proposed new ordinance, “The beer board may, at the time it imposes a revocation or suspension, offer a permit holder that is not a Responsible Vendor the alternative of paying a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for each offense of making or permitting to be made any sales to minors, or a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for any other offense”.

“If a civil penalty is offered as an alternative to revocation or suspension, the holder shall have seven days within which to pay the civil penalty before the revocation or suspension shall be imposed. If the civil penalty is paid within that time, the revocation or suspension shall be deemed withdrawn”.

Ordinance (City of Smithville)

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