Burglars and Drunk Drivers Sentenced in Criminal Court

November 30, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Video from a home security camera system helped nab a burglar on Toad Road in June and the man accused recently appeared for sentencing in DeKalb County Criminal Court

20 year old Robert Stephen Ryan Derrick of Toad Road, Dowelltown entered a plea to aggravated burglary and received a six year sentence on TDOC probation.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Monday, June 17 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Toad Road due to a break-in and upon arrival noticed that the back door of the home appeared to have been forced open.  The image of a suspect was captured on video from home security cameras and the man shown was later identified as Derrick from previous booking photos of him at the jail.

Upon his arrest, Derrick had on him a claw hammer, believed to have been used in the break-in and an estimated $875 worth of items which were taken from the home. He also caused about $375 worth of damage to the residence.

A Sparta man responsible for a burglary and theft in July at two cabins belonging to the same victim on Timber Lane has had his day in court.

39 year old Chadwick Noble Dunham entered a plea to two counts of burglary and received a six year sentence in each case to run concurrently with each other suspended to six months to serve. He was fined $10 in each case and ordered to make restitution. Dunham was also given jail credit of 128 days.

Sheriff  Ray said that on July 14, Dunham broke into a residence on Timber Lane and destroyed a glass door window in the process before taking a 48 inch Proscan television, 55 inch Samsung Smart television, Echo weedeater, two vacuum cleaners, and several other items with a total value of $2,600. The damage caused during the vandalism came to $400.

On the same day, Dunham broke into another residence on Timber Lane and destroyed a window in the process before stealing a 55 inch Vizio television, Xbox One, Sunny Bluetooth with speakers, Ipod, DVD player, two garden wagons and two lamp shades with a total value of $1,700. Damage from the vandalism came to $250.

Dunham had previously been arrested by the Sheriff’s Department after stealing items from three boats and damaging two of them in the process on Timber Lane.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 14 Dunham broke into a 2004 Triton boat, a 2013 Moomba boat, and a 2014 Cobalt boat and took a knee board, marine speakers, assorted cleaning supplies, a boat anchor, a black generator cover, several fishing rods, reels and fishing tackle. The total value of the items is $1,670.  On two of the boats, Dunham destroyed a trolling motor, fishing rods, battery, and wiring to the boats causing damage totaling $2,350.

A drunk driver involved in a February wreck was sentenced.

22 year old Chase Lee Turner of AB Frazier Road, Smithville entered a plea to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to supervised probation. The term is to run consecutive to a General Sessions Court case against him. He was also fined $50.

Sheriff  Ray said that on February 4 a deputy was dispatched to Ferrell Road due to a possible wreck. Upon arrival he saw three people, 24 year old Johnny Wayne Horton, 23 year old Amanda Dawn Shaffer and Turner walking in the roadway. All three were very unsteady on their feet and had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from their persons.

Turner admitted to having driven the pickup truck involved in the wreck.  He refused to submit to field sobriety tasks. Turner was charged with DUI while Horton and Shaffer were arrested for public intoxication.

In other cases William Irvine entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation except for 48 hours to serve at the DUI center. Irvine was fined $350 and he will lose his license for a year.

46 year old William Oscar Meadows entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation except for 48 hours to serve at the Upper Cumberland Turning Point Center where he is to undergo an alcohol and drug assessment. Meadows was fined $350 and he must forfeit his 9 millimeter handgun.

Police responded to a motor vehicle accident on Allens Ferry Road April 13, 2018 and upon arrival noticed Meadows, the driver of the vehicle, to be unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred and he was confused. Meadows refused treatment by EMS but he did consent to field sobriety tasks and performed unsatisfactorily. He was then placed under arrest. During the accident investigation Meadows was found in possession of a 9 millimeter pistol that he tried to hide within the wreckage.

November 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, reminds eligible voters in Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 3 that the 2019 FSA County Committee elections are underway, and December 2, 2019 will be the last day to postmark voted ballots returned by mail, or to deliver voted ballots to the local FSA office.

R.V. Billings, Jr. was the only candidate nominated for LAA # 3 during the 2019 nomination period. Mr. Billings has been certified as an eligible candidate and is currently completing his second 3-year term on the DeKalb FSA County Committee. R.V. is a retired County Executive Director of the DeKalb County Farm Service Agency. He owns and operates a farm in the Johnson’s Chapel community.

Write-in nominations can be accepted on ballots. However, the write-in nominee must meet eligibility criteria and attest to his or her willingness to serve, if elected, by signing a nominating petition. Agricultural producers were encouraged to submit candidate names during the nomination period that ended August 1, 2019.

Eligible voters in DeKalb County LAA # 3 who did not receive a ballot can obtain a ballot at their local USDA Service Center.

The DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee will meet on December 5, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. to canvass and tabulate the ballots. This meeting is open to the public. The newly elected committee member and alternates take office January 1, 2020.

November 29, 2019
By: Leigh Fuson, 4-H Agent

After winning the state competition, DeKalb County 4-H members traveled to Louisville, Kentucky for the National 4-H Poultry and Egg conference to represent Tennessee in the poultry judging contest. Clayton Crook, Lily Martin, and Megan Price outshined the competition in one particular area: market eggs.  Martin was 2^nd high individual in the category, Price 5^th, and Crook 7^th, which earned them the number one spot.  Overall, the team placed 15^th nationally in this competitive contest.

“Even though we only had three team members and had a slight disadvantage going in, we still brought some trophies home to DeKalb County,” said Crook. “I was so shocked when they called my name for 2^nd place and completely lost it when our team won 1^st. I was really proud of everyone!” exclaimed Martin.

Along with market eggs, contestants also grade ready to cook poultry and evaluate live White Leghorn hens for production.  Not only do 4-H members have to focus and know the subject material, they must use reasoning and decision making skills.  The national contest is much more intense than the state level with double the amount of classes to judge.  Members must also give two sets of oral reasons over the hens to explain why they placed the class the way they did. This puts public speaking and critical thinking skills to the test.

While at the conference, 4-H members also had the opportunity to participate in educational tours and workshops, including the Louisville Slugger factory and Churchill Downs. “My favorite part of the trip besides competing was going to the Kentucky Derby museum,” stated Martin, “I didn’t realize how big of a deal it is, and it was neat to see the history.  I’ve always liked horses.”  Two poultry industry leaders also spoke about the variety and demand within the field, as well as internship opportunities.  “I didn’t realize all the different jobs there are in poultry and how important the work is,” said Price.  “I also really enjoyed going to the trade show and petting zoo at the Kentucky Expo center.”

This trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity for these DeKalb County 4-H members, and they represented Tennessee very well.  We want to thank everyone in the community for all their support and well wishes.  If you are interested in poultry judging or any other 4-H activity, please call 615-597-4945. 4-H is a proud part of UT Extension, the UT Institute of Agriculture, and TSU Cooperative Extension.  UT-TSU Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment through the cooperation of county, state, and federal governments.

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