God’s Food Pantry Continues Its Mission to Feed the Hungry (View Video Here)

December 19, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

God’s Food Pantry continues its mission to feed the hungry through the holidays and year-round.

For 15 years the pantry has provided food and other essentials to help meet the needs of the medically frail and elderly, children, veterans, the homeless, and the working poor. The pantry receives no local, state, or federal government funding but is able to operate from donations of caring individuals and businesses, among others.

Pat Zornow, God’s Food Pantry volunteer and coordinator, said between 800 and 900 families are served per month which includes about 80 home deliveries to those with special needs.

Food is distributed on the first Friday after the first Thursday and on the third Friday of every month from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon from the pantry at 430 East Broad, Smithville in a drive through pickup line. A long line of cars forms along East Broad Street near the pantry every time the twice a month event is held. Smithville Police are always on site to assist with traffic control and the sheriff’s department provides inmate work crews under guarded supervision by correctional officers to help pantry volunteers with the distribution.

The first Friday the food boxes consist basically of staples with perishables and the third Friday is the staples, perishables, and meats. Beverages are included when possible. Last Friday, December 16 was the final regular food distribution before Christmas and families got a little something extra. “They received holiday food boxes donated by Food Lion, staples from our food pantry such as additional rice, pasta, sauce, and we put in perishables including fruits and vegetables we had received or purchased not only from Food Lion but from Second Harvest, and then we added breads and meats. For families of four or more, they got a big turkey while others had chickens and other meats we had put in their boxes,” said Zornow.

The next food distribution is Friday morning, January 6.

Support for the pantry comes from a variety of sources. “As far as monetary donations, they come from all over. Even as far as Nashville, Franklin, etc,” said Zornow. “Individuals also send us checks or drop in and visit us. Many times when its pantry distribution time, volunteers will come in and help us. We also get support from businesses and organizations. Tenneco is wonderful to us. They gave us 156 turkeys they had leftover plus their pies. We got 140 pies from them and they (Tenneco) do this annually. We collect four times a week from Food Lion and we will go over and get whatever they have to donate to us and if we can’t get over there many times they will put everything in their truck and bring it to us directly. We also purchase from Wal-mart and Larry’s Discount Grocery if we need something and can’t find it. If we can get food locally we’re going to do business locally as much as we can,” said Zornow.

Aside from the regularly scheduled food pickups, emergency distributions are made 24/7 when requests come in for food.

Lodging can also be arranged for the homeless and others needing shelter as well was temporary housing for those willing to work to get back on their feet.

“We will help with the first month’s rent and utilities if they are holding a job, especially the younger ones, but they must show me their paycheck to prove they have employment because they must take ownership in this effort,” said Zornow.

Financial help is provided to the medically frail and elderly among others. “We help with their utilities, medications, and we get clothing for them, and much more as far as meeting expenses for things they need. It’s the whole person approach,” Zornow continued.

For those with children, the pantry makes sure the kids have gifts for Christmas. “These are children served by this pantry. We go from birth up to 18 years of age and we will be serving more than 200 children this year,” said Zornow.

The pantry is currently staffed by 25 active volunteers who donate their time to help. Zornow said for them and her it is a labor of love.

“We see many more people in need these days, needing food, needing help. I don’t want to see their electricity turned off and them having to live in the cold. We have to see to their needs. I don’t want to see children without coats. Right now, for Christmas a mother called me and said her child had only a real thin parka to wear. He has neuropathy and is in a wheelchair and only has one coat. I told her a coat should not be a Christmas present for him, that is a necessity, so I got him a real nice Parka from Old Navy,” said Zornow.

People come from far and near to be served by the pantry and Zornow said no one is means tested or questioned, but if anyone shows up intoxicated, using profanity or causing trouble they will be turned away.

Gods Food Pantry can be reached to meet a dire emergency need anytime at 615-597-4540. Leave a message and someone will promptly return your call. The pantry also has a post office box. Its Gods Food Pantry, Post Office Box 807, Smithville.

December 19, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Tigers dropped their first game of the Adidas Shootout at Murfreesboro Riverdale Monday losing to Mount Juliet 63 to 59.

The Tigers (7-4) will face Memphis Academy of Science & Engineering (Memphis School of Excellence) on Tuesday, December 20 at 1 p.m. on day two of the shootout and WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

In the game Monday, the Tigers led Mount Juliet 17 to 12 after the 1st period and 36 to 26 by halftime but trailed 45 to 43 after the 3rd period and lost 63 to 59.

Conner Close and Elishah Ramos each scored 15 for the Tigers followed by Robert Wheeler with 14, Zack Birmingham 11and Ean Jones and Seth Fuson each with 2.

Meanwhile the DCHS Lady Tigers will compete in the Renasant Bank Christmas Tournament at Maryville December 27-30. The Lady Tigers will first see action in that tournament against McMinn Central on Tuesday, December 27 at 4 p.m. (eastern time). WJLE will be unable to broadcast the game LIVE.

December 19, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A 40-year-old woman was arrested last week by Smithville Police charged in a burglary and theft at Wal-mart.

In addition to those offenses, Jessica French Hale was also cited for simple possession and criminal trespassing.

Chief Mark Collins said that police were summoned to a suspicious person call on Morgan Drive and upon arrival confronted Hale. During the investigation at Morgan Drive, police received a call from another officer at Wal-Mart where someone had stolen items from two commercial vans in the loading area of the store. Surveillance video from the store showed Hale committing the theft before leaving the scene.  When confronted, Hale had in her possession the stolen items from those vehicles. During her arrest, Hale was also found with two white round pills believed to be oxycodone for which she had no prescription. Bond for Hale is $14,500 and her court date is January 5. According to police, Hale had previously been ordered to keep away from Wal-Mart.

39-year-old David Matthew Hill of West Bryant Street was arrested on November 23 for criminal impersonation. During an investigation of a possible shoplifting, Hill gave police the name of another person when identifying himself. The officer checked out the information given by Hill and confirmed that he had lied about his identity. Bond for Hill is $4,000.

42 year old Abigail Vogel of Dale Ridge Road was arrested on November 26 for public intoxication. Vogel was in a sober living home at 308 South College Street where she had been allowed to stay but because of her behavior Vogel was later asked by management to leave. According to police Vogel became belligerent toward roommates and caused damage to the residence. Police found Vogel to be unsteady on her feet. Vogel’s speech was slurred and she smelled of alcohol. After becoming belligerent toward officers and screaming obscenities in public view, Vogel was taken into custody. Her bond is $1,500.

19-year-old Anthony Gage Trapp of Dry Creek Road was cited on November 27 for underage consumption. An officer was summoned to Mapco for someone underage trying to buy rolling papers. The man, identified as Trapp, left before the officers’ arrival. The officer later found Trapp who smelled of alcohol and he had a 12 pack of Twisted Tea in the vehicle with him.

18-year-old Anderson Jack Burnett of Students Home Road was cited on November 28 for possession of tobacco, hemp, or vapor products by a minor. Police were dispatched to the DeKalb Community Complex on November 28 where a red Ford Ranger was observed driving recklessly. The officer spotted the vehicle and stopped it at Arby’s. As he approached the automobile, the officer smelled marijuana. The driver, Burnett produced his vape product and told the officer that the odor was from the vape. According to law the legal age for using tobacco, hemp, or vapor products is 21 or older.

30-year-old Tanner Jordan Bellenfant of Franklin was arrested on December 2 for DUI. While on patrol, an officer spotted a truck not maintaining its lane of travel. The truck crossed over the center lane to the one closet to the shoulder, almost hitting the sidewalk. After the officer conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, he could smell an odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. The driver, Bellenfant submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Police learned that Bellenfant had consumed 5 or 6 beers with a couple shots of liquor. Bond for Bellenfant is $3,500 and his court date is January 12.

30-year-old Sonny Roman Smith of Wade Street was arrested on December 4 for burglary. Police were called to 212 Spring Street due to a vehicle burglary. The owner informed police that he found his truck had been burglarized and items from the console and glove compartment were scattered. Video evidence showed Smith near the truck before leaving the scene when a car passed by. Bond for Smith is $7,500.

18-year-old Zacorri Cre’sean Marchbanks of McMinnville was arrested on December 4 for evading arrest and three counts of reckless endangerment. While patrolling on West Broad Street an officer received a call that there were several people in a gold Honda CRV who had caused problems at the community center. As the officer was enroute, the caller informed him that she and someone in another vehicle had left the community center but that the driver in the CRV was chasing them out Sparta Highway. After advising them to turn around and head back toward town, the officer spotted a CRV, matching the description, traveling at approximately 69 mph in a 40-mph zone. The officer turned on his blue lights to get the vehicle stopped near Gill’s Automotive but the fleeing automobile continued toward West Broad Street, traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph. After about two miles, the pursuit ended at Ervin Avenue and West Broad Street where the fleeing vehicle pulled over. Another officer arrived on scene and assisted the arresting officer in removing four individuals from the vehicle including Marchbanks. Bond was set at $15,000 and the court date is December 22.

28-year-old Brittany Ann Campbell of The Loop Circle was cited on December 5 for trespassing and theft. After previously being ordered not to be back on the property of Wal-Mart, Campbell was observed in the store by Wal-Mart employees on December 1. Campbell later left the store with a pair of boots that she had not purchased. The boots were recovered and returned to the store. Her court date is December 29.

35-year-old Johnathon Adam Rice of Jennings Lane was cited on December 7 for theft of merchandise and trespassing. Police confronted Rice after he had taken a bark control dog collar and flat iron from a local business. The stolen items were later returned to the store. Rice had also been previously ordered to keep off the store property.

35-year-old Juan Tomas Rodriguez of Calhoun Street was arrested on December 10 for domestic assault. According to the warrant, Rodriguez struck the victim by hitting him causing a cut on the right side of his face and swelling and bruising to his right eye. Bond for Rodriguez is $2,500 and his court date is January 5.

35-year-old Bryan R Philpot of Cookeville was arrested on December 10 for simple possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. After being pulled over for non-working taillights, the owner and operator of the vehicle consented to the officer’s request to search. Found in the automobile were a white powdery substance in the glove compartment on the passenger side and a small blue “Nanette” brand bag which held 9 needles. Also inside the bag was a small cylinder-shaped Tylenol bottle which contained an unknown clear liquid. Philpot, the passenger of the vehicle was then placed under arrest. His bond is $15,000 and he will be in court January 5.

24-year-old Courtney Brooke Shrum of Dowelltown was cited for theft on December 13. Shrum was observed on Wal-Mart surveillance video concealing items and leaving the store without paying for them on December 2. Her court date is January 5.

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