Former Prisoner Sentenced for Vandalism and Trespassing on Sheriff’s Property

August 1, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A former prisoner appeared in criminal court last week on charges that he retaliated against Sheriff Patrick Ray after being released on bond in October, 2017.

33 year old Michael Brandon Redmon, charged with retaliation for a past action, aggravated criminal trespass, vandalism under $1,000, and disorderly conduct, entered a plea to charges of aggravated criminal trespass and vandalism under $1,000. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to serve in each case to run concurrently. Redmon has already flattened his sentence and must make restitution of $150 to Patrick Ray. Redmon was given jail credit from October 19, 2017 to July 23, 2018

The incident occurred on October 16, 2017.

According to the investigation, Redmon went to Sheriff Ray’s home on Belk Road late that night, beat on the front door several times, and tracked white paint on his asphalt driveway, sidewalk, and carpeted porch. Sheriff Ray was not at home when the incident occurred but his wife was there and called him. The sheriff and detectives, who were working on other cases at the time, went to Ray’s home but Redmon had already left by the time they arrived. Redmon was picked up in Warren County later that week and served by officers there with a violation of probation warrant against him out of DeKalb County Criminal Court.

The sheriff explained that Redmon had been arrested on Thursday, October 12, 2017 by the Smithville Police Department for theft of property and that he was released on Saturday, October 14 after posting bond. However when Redmon was booked into the jail, correctional officers took some items from him, which they did not give back to Redmon upon his release. Redmon apparently became upset over the incident and decided to take out his frustrations against Sheriff Ray.

Meanwhile, 21 year old Olivia Hope Barber entered a plea to a charge of bringing contraband (drugs) into a penal facility (county jail). She received a four year TDOC sentence suspended to supervised probation. She must make restitution to the sheriff’s department. Barber was given jail credit of 26 days.

The incident occurred on February 17, 2017.

July 31, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe have announced the 60 counties, including DeKalb, that will receive ThreeStar Grants.

The grants will be used for a variety of local programs addressing economic development, education and workforce development, public safety, health and efficient government.

“The ThreeStar grant for DeKalb County in the amount of $15,000 was awarded to purchase commercial grade exercise equipment for the DeKalb County Complex Fitness Center. We have increased the amount of grant DeKalb County has received the last two years from $10,000 to $15,000. There is no match required by the county.  The grant was written with the assistance of Chamber Director Suzanne Williams and we are very pleased DeKalb County was one of the 60 counties to receive the ThreeStar grant” said DeKalb County Mayor Tim Stribling.

“Providing more opportunities for Tennesseans is one of our state’s main objectives, and with the assistance of the ThreeStar Competitive Grants, the 60 recipients will be better prepared for success,” Haslam said. “The ThreeStar program is a great asset to help communities across Tennessee thrive, and I look forward to seeing each of these 60 communities continue to succeed.”

“I want to congratulate the 60 communities chosen in this round to receive the ThreeStar Grants,” Rolfe said. “The projects that these counties complete with ThreeStar grant assistance will enhance local communities by creating a better living and working environment for residents.”

ThreeStar focuses on best practices in five key community areas, including jobs and economic development, education and workforce development, fiscal strength and efficient government, public safety and health. To be eligible for this grant, the county must meet requirements in these five areas and show how the project will move the county forward in at least one of those areas.

“TNECD is able to assist the 60 recipients of the ThreeStar Grants by investing in locally-driven projects that transform communities,” Amy New, assistant commissioner of Community and Rural Development, said. “We are proud to partner with these communities as they continue to work collaboratively to enhance their economic landscape.”

In total, TNECD is awarding $955,000 to Tennessee communities through this round of the ThreeStar Grant program. TNECD is committed to helping communities in the areas that they prioritize on a local level. The projects are new programs or expand upon existing programs.

The grants have been awarded to the following counties:

Anderson $5,000

Benton $25,000

Campbell $25,000

Cannon $5,000

Carroll $25,000

Chester $15,000

Claiborne $10,000

Clay $25,000

Cocke $25,000

Crockett $5,000

Cumberland $15,000

Decatur $25,000

DeKalb $15,000

Fentress $15,000

Giles $5,000

Grainger $25,000

Grundy $25,000

Hamblen $5,000

Hamilton $5,000

Hardeman $25,000

Hardin $25,000

Hawkins $15,000

Haywood $25,000

Henderson $15,000

Henry $5,000

Hickman $15,000

Humphreys $5,000

Jackson $25,000

Johnson $25,000

Lake $15,000

Lauderdale $25,000

Lawrence $15,000

Lewis $25,000

Macon $5,000

Marion $5,000

Marshall $5,000

McMinn $15,000

Meigs $25,000

Monroe $15,000

Moore $5,000

Morgan $25,000

Obion $15,000

Perry $25,000

Pickett $15,000

Polk $15,000

Rhea $15,000

Roane $5,000

Scott $25,000

Sequatchie $5,000

Smith $5,000

Stewart $15,000

Tipton $5,000

Trousdale $5,000

Unicoi $25,000

Union $25,000

Van Buren $25,000

Warren $15,000

Wayne $25,000

Weakley $15,000.

White $15,000

Each application was supported by the community’s senator and representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly.

July 31, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

After orientation for the new school year, sixth graders at DeKalb Middle School and their parents got to shop for clothes Monday evening as the Saint Bernard Clothing Market opened for business.

Suzette Barnes and Angela Johnson, sponsors of the DMS Student Council said the clothing market was started last summer as a way of serving students who were in need of clothes and shoes.

“Last summer we had a vision of providing clothes and shoes to our students. We have several students in our building who wear the same outfit multiple days a week or their shoes are falling apart. We talked about what we wanted to do but didn’t know how it would go. We asked for donations and the community supplied us with those donations which we were very grateful for. We had our student council students come in and help sort and hang the clothes and group them by sizes which was community service hours for those students and then we went from there,” said Barnes.

After the clothes were collected, the school set aside days where all students in the 6th through 8th grade at the school could shop for clothes and shoes free of charge.

Clothes and shoes were again collected over the summer to continue the market again this school year.

Johnson said the market has served a great need.

“Last year we had a grandparent who came in to shop for a pair of shoes for her grandson. She said he desperately needed a pair of shoes. We had a teacher here who looked through all the shoes we had for boys and we had none to fit him. She (grandparent) said I think he will have to take a pair of girls shoes because he is in desperate need of shoes. At that point the teacher said no we will make sure that we get him a pair of shoes and we did,” said Johnson.

Students will have more opportunities to shop the clothing market this week.

Seventh and eighth graders will be able to shop on registration day, Wednesday August 1. Another day of shopping is set for Thursday, August 2 for any students who were unable to participate Monday and Wednesday.

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