Three Months of Grocery Tax Savings Starts August 1

July 31, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee invites Tennessee families to save during the state’s three-month grocery tax suspension, starting tomorrow, August 1 through October 31.

This year, Gov. Lee and the General Assembly passed the Tennessee Works Tax Act, the single largest tax cut in Tennessee history, which includes the three-month grocery tax suspension. During the tax holiday, Tennesseans are expected to save an estimated $273 million in taxes total.

During the period beginning at 12:01 am on Tuesday,  August 1, 2023 and ending Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 11:59 pm, food and food ingredients are exempt from sales tax.

Sales of prepared food, dietary supplements, candy, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco are not included in items exempt during this period.

“In Tennessee, we cut taxes any chance we get because families should keep more of their own hard-earned dollars. Starting Tuesday, we’re inviting Tennesseans to take advantage of savings at the grocery store this August through October,” said Gov. Lee. “I thank the General Assembly for partnering to deliver three months of savings for Tennessee taxpayers.”

The three-month grocery tax holiday starting Tuesday, August 1 through Tuesday, October 31 will give Tennesseans the opportunity to save up to 6.75 percent in state and local option sales tax on food and food ingredients.

“We’re proud to be able to offer three months of tax-free groceries to help hardworking Tennesseans save money,” said Department of Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano. “I thank the Governor and General Assembly for their efforts to steward taxpayer dollars responsibly and cut taxes for Tennessee families.”

July 31, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Members of the community gathered Sunday to lift up in prayer students, teachers, administrators, school board members, and others affiliated with the school system in what has become an annual observance prior to the start of school.

This year’s prayer time called” Back 2 School Call 2 Prayer” was held at the DeKalb Middle School Gym featuring several local ministers offering prayers for each school and others. It’s the first time the event has been held at a centralized location since 2019, prior to the COVID pandemic. For the last three years, the observance has taken place in smaller groups at each of the five individual schools. Part of the reason the event was brought back indoors was that now air conditioning has been installed in the school gyms.

Iain Swisher, Pastor of the Smithville AG (First Assembly of God) made welcoming remarks followed by a student led pledge of allegience.

“I’m super thankful we now have air conditioning in the middle school gym here and thankful for the support of Director of Schools Patrick Cripps and the principals here allowing us to come together because I believe there is something important about us being together unified,” said Swisher.

After the program Swisher told WJLE why this observance is important.

“Faith is important in this community and its something we need here and everywhere and there is no better way to express it than our ability to be able to lift up prayers for our students, schools, and others who are part of it,” said Swisher. “Worship is something we do that invites His presence. His word is how He speaks to us but our time in prayer is when we can cast our cares upon Him as he wants us to because he cares for us. That’s why I feel like its really important for us to continue to do this. This is a tradition my father-in-law Brother Donnie Kelly helped kick off years ago so its something I’m honored to endeavor to help keep going on in this community as long as we can,” said Swisher.

The order of the observance was as follows:

*Opening and Welcome- Iain Swisher Smithville AG

*Pledge of Allegiance – Student lead

*DeKalb West School- Christian Cudney – Refuge

*Smithville Elementary- Robin Philipps- Church of God

*DeKalb Christian Academy- Iain Swisher Smithville AG

*Northside Elementary- Chad Ramsey- First Baptist

*DMS- Chris Moore – Church of God

*High School- Josh Moon – Smithville AG

*Day Schools- Nathan Thomason- Outreach Baptist

*Athletic Teams and Transportation- Jordan Atnip – First Baptist

*Faculty- Isaac Gray – Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian

*School Board- Graden Kirksey – Refuge

*Close- Iain Swisher Smithville AG

July 30, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Police have filed charges against a man who was found with meth, heroin, fentanyl and other illegal drugs in his hospital room while a patient there

48-year-old Ernest Paul Barnwell of Sparta was arrested on July 20 for possession of methamphetamine and two counts of simple possession.

According to Chief Mark Collins, Smithville Police were summoned to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital where a patient had illegal drugs in his room. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with hospital security and staff who produced a bag they had retrieved from Barnwell’s room, which contained 1.44 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, 1.18 grams of gray/blue powder believed to be fentanyl and heroin, 5 yellow capsules believed to be gabapentin, 8 off-white round pills of an unknown substance, vape pens containing an unknown substance, seven plastic bags containing blue residue, a straw containing a blue residue and glass pipes containing white residue. While investigating the incident, the officer asked for and received consent from Barnwell to search his belongings but no other suspicious items were found. Barnwell cooperated without incident and was later taken into custody. Bond for Barnwell is $17,500 and his court date is August 10.

37-year-old Eric Wayne Tramel of Jackson Street was arrested on July 11 for Auto Theft. Police were summoned to Juniper Lane where a man was spotted breaking into a vehicle. The caller reported that when the suspect was confronted he began walking away toward South Mountain Street. An officer located the suspect, Tramel from the caller’s description. Tramel submitted to a body search but nothing stolen was found in his possession and the caller didn’t want to press charges. Tramel, who was a suspect in the reported theft of a motorcycle on July 10 was questioned by police about this matter but he denied stealing the bike. The stolen motorcycle was later found on Wade Street and returned to the owner. Police learned that Tramel had been observed pushing the motorcycle through the neighborhood on July 10 but when asked claimed the bike belonged to him. Bond for Tramel is $20,000.

64-year-old Ricky Doyle Tramel was arrested on July 19 for burglary and vandalism. According to Police, Tramel broke into a newly constructed and finished apartment at 122 West Broad Street for sale by the owner but not yet open to the public. While inside the apartment, Tramel allegedly caused a significant amount of vandalism with cost of repairs and restitution totaling $10,459. Damage was reported to a window, patio door, laminate flooring, drywall, dirty white carpet, and more. Bond for Tramel is $20,000 and his court date is August 10.

32 year old Kieren Eshae Walker of Spencer was arrested on July 11 for possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of prohibited weapons and drug paraphernalia, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, and evading arrest and was cited for speeding and a registration violation. Police spotted a motorcycle traveling with no license plate on West Broad Street. The officer tried to pull over the bike in front of the Discount Tobacco store but it accelerated reaching speeds of up to 85 mph in a 40 mph zone. The officer got in pursuit of the motorcycle, operated by Walker, which at times failed to maintain it’s lane of travel until it wrecked on Spicebush Lane, striking a fence causing property damage. Upon an incident to arrest search, the officer found on Walker’s person a bag containing 13.5 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be meth, two smaller bags of meth, which weighed 0.3 grams and 0.4 grams, along with empty baggies, several clear pipes containing a crystal-like residue and a pair of brass knuckles. Walker was transported to Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital in Lebanon due to possible injuries and was later released. Bond for Walker is $23,500.

44-year-old Joshua Andrew Green of Antioch Road was arrested on July 3 for DUI, simple possession or casual exchange, and possession of a handgun under the influence. Police pulled over a black SUV for a tail light not working. The driver was identified as Joshua Green and while speaking with him, the officer detected an intense odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Green handed over a pipe with burnt marijuana and said that he smoked it moments prior at the red light intersection of West Broad Street and South Congress Boulevard. The officer was further informed that more marijuana was in the vehicle and he found it inside a cigarette pack in the center console which weighed 10.55 grams. A loaded pistol in its case was also recovered from the vehicle on the passenger seat. Green submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and he was taken into custody. His bond is $8,000.

46-year-old Norma Jean Ervin of Frazier Street was arrested on July 3 for public intoxication. While patrolling East Broad Street an officer spotted a female, later identified as Ervin, stumble into his lane of travel, causing him to swerve into the next lane to avoid running into her. After stopping to speak with the woman, the officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from her person and was informed that she had been drinking. Her pupils were dilated and she couldn’t stand up or walk straight. Ervin was placed in custody for her own safety. Bond for Ervin is $1,500.

39-year-old Sheena Arlene Roper of J.E. Evins Avenue was cited on July 7 for theft of property. Roper was spotted on video at Moses Discount Tobacco taking a bracelet and leaving the store without paying.

24 year old Kadin Wayne Rutledge of Rock Island was arrested on July 12 for public intoxication and evading arrest. Police were called to Wal-Mart where Rutledge had fallen to the ground, bleeding from the head, after getting out of a vehicle. Rutledge then got up and ran into the field in front of Wal-Mart as police arrived. An officer informed Rutledge that if he did not calm down and go home, he would be arrested for public intoxication. Once EMS arrived on scene, Rutledge took off running. Officers chased down Rutledge on foot and placed him in custody. His bond is $5,000. Police had already had an encounter previously with Rutledge and four others at the hospital where Rutledge had gone for treatment after suffering a cut on his head from a fall at Johnson’s Chapel.

22-year-old Eric Yael Gaspar Santiago of West Broad Street was arrested on July 19 for domestic assault. Police responded to a domestic complaint and upon arrival discovered that Santiago was intoxicated and had gotten into an argument with his roommate and then started a physical altercation by aggressively pushing him. Because of Santiago’s level of intoxication, the victim feared bodily injury. Bond for Santiago is $3,500 and his court date is August 3.

43-year-old Nathan J Wilbert was arrested on July 20 for public intoxication. Police were summoned to Mapco Express where a man was reported to be disturbing a customer and causing problems. Upon arrival, an officer confronted the man, Wilbert who was sweating profusely. Wilbert’s pupils were dilated and he could not sit still nor comprehend what the officer was saying to him. The officer told Wilbert he needed to leave the store and he did but when Willbert got to Subway, he again began making a scene, throwing things and arguing with a woman. Due to Wilbert being homeless and not having a place to go, he was taken into custody for his safety and that of the public. Wilbert’s bond is $1,500 and his court date is August 3.

37-year-old April Tonya Lawson of Poss Road was cited on July 20 for selling a bottle of wine to a minor at Smithville Wine & Spirit. Her court date is August 3.

65-year-old Robert Morris Turner was arrested on July 23 for violation of the sex offender registry. According to Police,Turner violated his sex offender registry by being within 1,000 feet of a school. When found, Police said Turner was approximately 500 feet from a preschool located at 103 East Church Street. Bond for Turner is $5,000 and his court date is August 3.

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