Two Local Square Dance Teams Win Second Place at State Fair

August 29, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Local square dance teams DeKalb Dancin’ Delights and Smithville Select competed at the Old-Time Square Dancing Jamboree at the Tennessee State Fair / Wilson County Fair on Saturday, August 26. Delights competed in the youth category (average age 15 and under) against four other teams including Little Texas and Little Harpeth from Franklin; Tennessee Rhythm from Springfield; and Triple Star Clogging Co. from Waverly. Tennessee Rhythm placed first, Delights took second, and Little Texas received third. Smithville Select competed in the adult division against two other teams. Jackson Hollow from Franklin took first prize, Select placed second, and Tennessee Dance Alliance from Mt. Juliet was third. A good time was had by all at the Entertainment Pavilion in the Fiddlers’ Grove area of the fair. The local teams represented DeKalb County well and brought unmatched energy and showmanship to the stage and were met with warm reception from the audience. Select dancer Tess Barton also won a second place prize in individual clogging in her age group.

Team members are as follows: On Select, Tess Barton, Carleigh Beckham, Izayah Dowell, Sylvia Evans, Katherine Gassaway, Kathryn Hale, Darrah Ramsey (caller), and Lillie Grace Young. On Delights: Camille Barton, Charli Cripps, Alyssa Hendrix, Aubree Johnson, Kaylee Kent (caller), Kaylee Moseley, Kenadee Prichard, and Carly Thomas. Award-winning flatfoot and buck dancer Jake Fennell from Dickson graciously filled in an open spot for Select at this year’s fair competition. Both teams are led by Mary Ann Puckett.

This event rounded out the 2023 square dance season for the local dance teams. They will work on their clogging skills through the off season and be back in square dance action next spring and summer.. A beginner clogging class will be offered beginning September 7th for anyone who would like to join the local old-time dance program. Contact Mary Ann Puckett at 615-597-8311 for more information or to sign up.

August 29, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man is in trouble with the law for allegedly assaulting his stepson.

48-year-old Joseph Nathaniel Bragg, Jr. of North Congress Boulevard, Smithville is charged with child abuse or neglect. He is under a $10,000 bond and his court date is September 7.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said on August 21 while investigating a possible domestic on Congress Boulevard, a deputy spoke with the victim who reported that his stepdad, Bragg had grabbed him by the throat and threw him to the ground. The officer spoke with Bragg who allegedly admitted to the allegation. The victim had red marks on his neck and arms.

63-year-old Robert Nimmons of Tabernacle Road, Smithville is charged with violation of the sex offender registry. His bond is $50,000 and his court date is August 31.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 15 a deputy was summoned to 242 Tabernacle Road due to a report of a possible sex offender registry violation. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Nimmons who said he had been living at 260 Tabernacle Road for at least three years until about a year ago when he began having medical issues. He then moved in with his sister at 242 Tabernacle Road but failed to notify or update his information on the sex offender registry. According to Sheriff Ray, there are also allegations against Nimmons regarding sexual contact with a minor who lives at one of these addresses.

53-year-old Fernando Gaona of Bessie Gribble Road, McMinnville is charged with driving under the influence. He is under a $2,500 bond and his court date is August 31.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 20 as a deputy was observing traffic on Highway 56 south, a passerby reported a vehicle heading toward Warren County that had left its lane of travel several times. The officer spotted the automobile, a beige Kia Sorento turn onto Ferrell Road and noticed it swerving all over the road. He then pulled over the vehicle on L. Hendrixson Road and spoke with the driver, Gaona whose eyes were blood shot. Gaona also had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. The deputy asked Gaona to get out of the automobile. He admitted to having consumed five Corona beers prior to driving. Gaona submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

33-year-old Kristin Alyss Kerrigan of Nashville is charged with driving under the influence. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court September 7.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 26 a deputy was dispatched to the area of Quail Point due to a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival the officer found Kerrigan asleep in the vehicle which was on the roadway with the engine running. She had an odor of alcohol on her person. The deputy asked Kerrigan to step out of the vehicle for field sobriety tasks. After the first test, Kerrigan refused to submit to any other tasks. She was determined to have been under the influence at the time.

28-year-old Sonni Michael Fullilove of Keltonburg Road, Smithville was recently named in Grand Jury sealed indictments charging him with two offenses each of possession of methamphetamine and a schedule I drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond totals $130,000. His arraignment date in criminal court is September 11.

27-year-old Cassondra Cheyenne Allen of Wade Street, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. She is under a $2,500 bond and her court date is September 7.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 26 a deputy was summoned to Page Drive due to a domestic violence complaint. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the victim who reported that an argument between she and Allen escalated into a physical confrontation and that Allen placed her hands around her (victim’s) neck and scratched her causing visible marks and small abrasions. The officer determined that Allen was the primary aggressor. She was placed under arrest.

54-year-old Scott Easey is charged with assaulting a first responder. Bond for Easey is $3,500 and his court date is September 14.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 27 a deputy responded to Tubbs Street to speak with Easey who was in an altercation with another involving a weapon. As the officer began to question Easey about the incident he became irate and walked toward the deputy. After the officer pushed him away, Easey smacked the deputy’s arm away from him.

August 29, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Fire Department received special recognition during Monday night’s County Commission meeting from the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Training Academy to commemorate the unit having been named, for the 15th consecutive year, as an “Elite” Training Department in Tennessee.

Director Jason Sparks presented the award to the DeKalb Fire Department’s outgoing training officer Captain Brian Williams and the incoming officer Luke Green to accept on behalf of the department and DeKalb County.

“Every year we recognize departments across the state. This year, the DeKalb County Fire Department accumulated a total of 1,373 contact hours for training with the Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy,” said Sparks in presenting the award.

According to Sparks, having achieved this level of training is no small accomplishment.

“I have been involved in the fire service for a long time. I am a volunteer fire chief myself in White County. I travel all across this state and see the issue with lack of volunteers every day. It is no small thing to have the number of firefighters that Chief Green and DeKalb County have and to accumulate the kind of hours they did this year in training is remarkable. Just the amount of training they did was a big number, not to mention all the calls they responded to and ways they help their community so I am proud to make this presentation,” said Sparks.

DeKalb Fire Chief Donny Green, who introduced Sparks to the County Mayor and County Commission during Monday night’s meeting said since this was the department’s 15th consecutive year in earning this “Elite” Training award, he wanted to share the good news by having it presented at this forum.

“I wanted to share with you this milestone we have reached in DeKalb County. For the 15th consecutive year, we have been recognized by the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Training Academy as an elite training department in Tennessee,” said Chief Green. “I wanted to share that with you tonight because you (county commission and county mayor) are part of the team that makes this happen along with the citizens and our partners in the county as well as our firefighters who unselfishly take their time especially on weekends, and when they get off work in the afternoons to sit through classes, and of course we appreciate the families of our firefighters who give up their time and sacrifice,” said Chief Green.

A prepared news release by Chief Green states that the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department has ranked #5 among volunteer and combination fire departments in the state of Tennessee for 2022-2023 training achievement. Of the 732 fire departments in Tennessee, both volunteer and career, the DeKalb County Fire Department ranked # 44 for 2022-2023 training achievement.

This is the 15th consecutive year DeKalb County Fire Department has been recognized as one of Tennessee’s elite fire departments for outstanding training achievement. This year, the department logged 1,373 training hours at the state fire academy and was recognized as a Gold Level fire department in Tennessee for 2022-2023.

DeKalb County Mayor Matt Adcock commended the department’s members and leaders for continuing to make DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s training program a legacy of excellence. “Our county takes great pride in the level of commitment and service that we continue to see year after year from our firefighters who work hard and train hard to make sure our citizens have good fire department services here in DeKalb County.

Getting this kind of statewide recognition for the 15th consecutive year makes it very clear that we have an excellent group of committed men and women who sacrifice many hours to be prepared to respond to the emergency needs of our citizens,” says Mayor Adcock.

Chief Donny Green said he wants to personally commend Captain Brian Williams and Luke Green, the department’s training officers, for their leadership, planning and coordination of the department’s training activities in a manner that consistently spotlights our training program as one of top in the state, volunteer and career. The Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy provides excellent training programs delivered by professional and knowledgeable campus and field instructors. In addition to the 1,373 hours at the Academy, our training officers coordinated 1,853.87 hours of in “in-house” training. Chief Green says that without the support of County Mayor Matt Adcock, the County Commission, the families of our volunteer firefighters, our community and business partners, and the citizens of DeKalb County, the department could not have achieved this milestone. “Properly trained firefighters are the best tools available to any fire department. Without proper training, the best and most expensive equipment is useless. However, good training coupled with good equipment is priceless,” says Chief Green. Training performance and documentation are core elements in the Insurance Services Office’s (ISO) property protection that determine how much property owner’s have to pay in homeowners insurance premiums.

The DeKalb County Fire Department’s proven commitment to training and emergency response has resulted in a dramatic improvement to DeKalb County’s Public Protection Classification Rating.

If you are interested in learning more about the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, or would like information on how to be a member of our team, you can visit the Department’s website at: www.dekalbfire.com, or call 615-464-7176. You can also visit the Department’s Facebook group page.

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