News
April 17, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Anabel Rosario Fermin grew up in a Christ-centered, pastor’s family in the Dominican Republic. Though her family never had material abundance, she was taught that God is faithful. When Anabel was around 8 – 10 years old, she received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. Inside she found stuffed animals, school supplies, and other needed items. The shoebox showed her that God is faithful even when it doesn’t feel that way.
Ten years after Anabel received her shoebox gift, she lost her father, mother, and older sister in a tragic accident. Even amidst her grief, she felt the Lord reminding her again that He was still faithful. Today, Anabel lives in Flower Mound, Texas, and works as a radio personality.
To hear more about God’s faithfulness in her life, join them for a special time of Anabel sharing her testimony on Thursday, April 25 at 3 p.m. at the Allen’s Chapel Church, 1037 Coconut Ridge Road, Smithville
The community is invited to hear her first-hand account.
Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week is in November.
For more information visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement. Boxes built online go to hard-to-reach countries.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 198 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.
DeKalb County man victim in deadly Murfreesboro road rage shooting
April 16, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Murfreesboro Police Department Criminal Investigations Division Violent Crimes detectives are still investigating what led to a road rage shooting that left a DeKalb County man dead and another one injured Saturday, April 13.
The fatal shooting victim, 49-year-old Paul Howell, reportedly of Rocky Road Liberty and formerly of South Mountain Street, Smithville was taken to the hospital in Murfreesboro where he later died. A second victim, a 48-year-old man, was shot in the arm and treated for his injury.
The shooter, 39-year-old Joseph Gann, left the scene of the shooting. He later turned himself in to officers at Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department Station 3 on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Gann was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and one count of reckless endangerment.
The preliminary investigation reveals Gann was driving on S. Rutherford Blvd. in a Toyota Rav 4 when a road rage incident with a group of motorcycle riders occurred. Things escalated at the intersection of S. Rutherford Blvd. and SE Broad/Manchester Hwy. According to detectives, Gann fired multiple shots striking two of the motorcyclists.
It’s still unclear what caused the road rage incident. The investigation continues.
If you witnessed the road rage or have any information that could be helpful to the investigation, please contact Detective Drew Stalnaker at 629-201-5615.
Gann is in jail at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $1,510,000 bond. A hearing is set for June 24 in Rutherford County General Sessions Court.
Motorist Charged with Child Abuse or Neglect
April 16, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
A woman allegedly caught driving drunk with two children in the vehicle with her is facing several charges including two counts of child abuse or neglect.
27-year-old Tanisha Danielle Bandy of East Main Street, Smithville is under a $15,500 bond. In addition to the two counts of child abuse or neglect, Bandy is charged with driving on a revoked/suspended license, and driving under the influence.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said on April 13 a deputy was traveling east on Sparta Highway when observed a black Chrysler leave its lane of travel before the driver activated the caution lights. The vehicle then pulled over to the opposite side of the roadway and stopped. The officer pulled up to the automobile, got out and spoke to the driver, Bandy who had two children with her. He detected a strong odor of alcohol on her and noticed that Bandy’s eyes were red and watery. Her speech was slurred and she was unsteady on her feet.
According to Sheriff Ray, Bandy admitted to having consumed alcohol before driving. She performed poorly on field sobriety tasks but she refused to submit to the implied consent law (blood test). The deputy found an open container of alcohol on the passenger side floorboard. A background check through central dispatch revealed that Bandy’s driver license was revoked on April 14, 2022 for failure to comply with the financial responsibility law.
21-year-old Juan Emmanuel Ramirez Martinez of McMinnville is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $2,000 and he will be in court May 2. Sheriff Ray said that on April 14 a deputy was traveling north on McMinnville Highway when he spotted a Chevrolet Tahoe leave its lane of travel. The officer pulled over the automobile and spoke with the driver, Martinez who had a strong odor of alcohol on him. After stepping out of the automobile, the officer noticed several open containers inside the Chevy Tahoe. Martinez admitted to having consumed four beers prior to driving. His eyes were red and watery and his speech was slurred. He was also unsteady in his feet. Martinez refused to submit to field sobriety tasks.
61-year-old Lisa Karen Coffee is charged with bringing contraband into a penal institution. Her bond is $25,000 and she will make a court appearance May 2. Sheriff Ray said that on April 14 while booking Coffee into the jail on city charges, a correctional officer found while logging the contents of her purse a clear baggie with a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine which weighed 1.22 grams. According to Sheriff Ray, Coffee admitted that the substance was meth.
30-year-old Alexis Anota Nandez of Smith Road, Smithville is charged with possession of a handgun while under the influence, simple possession of a schedule VI drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, and public intoxication. His bond is $14,000 and he will be in court May 2. Sheriff Ray said that on April 14 a deputy was summoned to the Dry Creek swimming hole at Dowelltown where several people were reported to be intoxicated and firing weapons. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with people at the scene including Nandez who had a strong odor of marijuana and alcohol on him. Nandez admitted to having smoked marijuana before the deputy arrived. The officer also detected the odor of marijuana coming from Nandez’s vehicle. He searched the automobile and found two pipe containers with marijuana residue, containers with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana that weighed 10.2 grams, and a black High Point 9-millimeter gun which Nandez admitted belonged to him.
26-year-old Luis David Lopez of Old West Point Road, Smithville is charged with driving on a suspended license. His bond is $2,000 and he will be in court May 2. Sheriff Ray said that on April 12 a deputy was patrolling Old West Point Road when he spotted a white Ford Taurus with a broken tailight. Knowing that the driver, Lopez had no valid driver license, the officer conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Lopez. A background check through central dispatch confirmed that Lopez’s license was suspended for failure to file insurance on February 7, 2024.
32-year-old Ricky Wesley Fults of Pea Ridge Road, Liberty is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $5,000 and he will make a court appearance April 25. Sheriff Ray said that a deputy was recently summoned to a residence due a domestic violence call. During the call, Fults allegedly grabbed the phone from the complainant and informed dispatchers on the line that he (Fults) would be gone by the time law enforcement officers arrived on the scene. Upon arrival the officer learned from the alleged victim that her boyfriend had been physically abusive to her and refused to let her leave the premises. The woman reported that she had been physically assaulted with her head having been slammed into a wall and that she had been threatened with a firearm. A 22-caliber long rifle revolver pistol was recovered from the master bedroom closet along with four live rounds of ammunition and one spent casing. The victim said this was the weapon with which Fults threatened her.
54-year-old Randall Eugene Tittle of South Mill Street, Dowelltown is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond is $20,000 and he will make a court appearance on April 25. Sheriff Ray said that on April 9 a deputy was patrolling West Broad Street, Smithville when he noticed a black Ford Ranger with a taillight out. He pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Tittle who gave the officer consent to search. During the search, a large crystal-like rock substance believed to be methamphetamine which weighed 0.7 grams was found on the driver’s side between the seat and middle console.
45-year-old James Ricky Ashford, Jr. of Eckles Heights, Liberty is charged with violation of the state’s sex offender registry law. He is under a $7,500 bond and his court date is April 25. Sheriff Ray said that on April 10 Ashford violated the sex offender law by picking up a child at DeKalb West School and leaving in his vehicle to give the student a ride home with other kids that he is allowed to be around although he is not the parent or legal guardian.
51-year-old Barry Preston Martin of Cantrell Cemetery Road is charged with domestic assault. He is under a $2,500 bond and his court date is April 18. Sheriff Ray said that on April 4 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Cantrell Cemetery Road due to a domestic complaint and upon arrival he spoke with the alleged victim who reported that she and Martin had gotten into an argument during which Martin knocked the phone out of her hand and pushed her with his elbow.
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