Tennessee Freedom Bus Tour coming to DeKalb County

October 23, 2024
By:

The Tennessee Freedom Bus Tour will be coming to DeKalb County this Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6PM. This will be in conjunction with State Rep. Michael Hale’s Chili Supper at the Harvester Event Center at 206 W. Main St., just off the square in Smithville. These events are FREE, but your RSVP is requested.

The Tennessee Freedom Bus Tour 2024 is led by TN Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, and he’ll be joined by local, state, and federal officials as they visit communities across Tennessee. For more information about the Bus Tour and other stops along the way, go to www.tngop.org/bus-tour.

Sexton has been a Tennessee State Representative since 2010 and has been the Speaker of the State House since 2019.

October 22, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A convicted felon found with drugs and ammunition during a probation search at his home earlier this month is in more trouble with the law.

41-year-old Thomas Jacob Sims is charged with illegal possession of a weapon; possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver; simple possession of a schedule VI drug, evading arrest and resisting arrest. His bond is $53,500 and he will be in court October 24.

Chief Deputy Brian Williams said that on Tuesday, October 8 deputies assisted officers with the Tennessee Department of Corrections in a probation search of Sims’ residence on Snow Hill Road. Sims, a 2010 convicted felon for aggravated burglary in DeKalb County, is currently on parole in Georgia. As a convicted felon, Sims is not allowed to be in possession of any firearms or ammunition.

During the search, officers found inside Sims’ bedroom nine 22 long rifle bullets, two 380 ACP bullets, and two 9-millimeter Lugar bullets along with several glass pipes with crystal like residue and plastic pipes with a green leafy residue.

Located inside a shed behind the house were scales, several needles, glass pipes, and baggies including a clear sandwich baggie with a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine weighing 13.4 grams. Other baggies were also found including one with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana that weighed 1.5 grams

According to Chief Deputy Williams, Sims took off running as deputies pulled up to the residence. Although they ordered him to stop Sims refused but after a foot pursuit he was placed in custody.

28-year-old Hugo Villarreal of Smith Drive is charged with driving on a revoked license. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court October 24. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on October 15 a deputy pulled over a red Pontiac with no license plate on Anthony Avenue. The driver, Villarreal could not produce a driver license. A background check through central dispatch revealed that Villarreal’s driver license was revoked due to a DUI offense on February 15, 2024.

48-year-old Paul Allen Sullivan of Coconut Ridge Road is charged with driving on a suspended license. He is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is November 7. Sheriff Ray said that on October 16 a deputy pulled over a vehicle for not having a tag. He spoke with the driver, Sullivan and learned through central dispatch that his license was suspended. Sullivan had been issued a citation on September 24 for the same offense.

37-year-old Randi Renee Dossett of Cooper Lane is charged with simple possession of a schedule II drug and possession of a legend drug without a prescription. Her bond is $10,000 and she will be in court November 7. Sheriff Ray said that on October 17 a deputy pulled over a Kia Soul on South Congress Boulevard and spoke with its occupants including a passenger, Dossett. When she got out of the vehicle, two pills fell from her shirt sleeve to the ground. One of them was believed to have been Percocet. Dossett did not have a prescription for the pill. The owner of the vehicle consented to a search and found in the back seat where Dossett had been seated was a round white pill believed to be a muscle relaxer. After transporting Dossett to the jail, a female correctional officer found in her bra two more white pills also believed to be muscle relaxers. Dossett did not have a prescription for those pills.

42-year-old Bobby Lee Johnson of Smyrna is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license. His bond is $7,500 and he will be in court on November 7. Sheriff Ray said that on October 20 Johnson was found asleep behind the wheel of a Nissan Pathfinder with the engine running in the parking lot of the Floating Mill Campground. When awakened, Johnson submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Johnson had a previous DUI charge July 16, 2021. His license was revoked in Rutherford County on October 26, 2020.

51-year-old Tory Robert Smith of Toledo Ohio is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on October 24. Sheriff Ray said that on October 19 a deputy was summoned to Smithville Highway at JBeez Watercraft where a man was found to be unresponsive in a car. Upon arrival the officer awoke the man, Smith who smelled of alcohol and he was unsteady on his feet. His speech was also slurred. For his safety and that of the public, Smith was placed in custody.

October 22, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A total of 2,392 people has cast ballots in DeKalb County for the November 5th elections.

Sample Ballot

During the fifth day of early voting on Monday, October 21 a total of 431 people voted in DeKalb County including 425 in person and 6 by absentee.

From Wednesday through Monday, October 16-21 the election commission reports that a total of 2,392 people has voted early. The turnout on Monday was 431 including 425 in person and 6 by absentee; Saturday’s total was 323 including 314 in person and 9 by absentee. On Friday 530 voted including 521 in person and 9 by absentee. On Thursday, 465 cast ballots including 452 in person and 13 by absentee. And on Wednesday, 643 voted including 492 in person, 100 by absentee, and 51 at the nursing home/Webb House.

Early Voting continues through October 31.

On the ballot this year is the Presidential election as well as races for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives (District 6), Tennessee Senate (District 16), and Tennessee House of Representatives (District 40).

In DeKalb County, two referendums are on the ballot regarding a $50 wheel tax and the issuance of general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $65 million for a judicial center and jail.

In Smithville at the courthouse, early voting times will be as follows:

Mondays: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Tuesdays: 12 noon until 6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Thursdays: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Fridays: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. until 12 noon

In Alexandria at the Sandlin Building on the Fairgrounds, early voting times will be as follows:

Tuesday, October 22: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Tuesday, October 29: 12 noon until 6 p.m.

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