Back to School Education Celebration Thursday August 1 at Smithville FBC

July 22, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Families in DeKalb County can get a helping hand with their back-to-school needs thanks to the annual Back to School Education Celebration hosted again this year by the Smithville First Baptist Church (FBC).

This Back-to-School Bash event will be held Thursday, August 1 starting at 6 p.m. at the church’s Life Enrichment Center downtown.

Pastor Chad Ramsey said other churches, businesses, etc. will be joining in the effort to provide free school supplies to families. Tables or booths will be set up inside the Life Enrichment Center gym and to help prevent duplication of services, they will each offer different types of supplies from pencils, paper, back packs, etc. Participants will line up at the door and enter after being handed information describing what they will find at each table. Families will walk through and get what they need from each booth. Most of the activity will be held inside.

“For many years the education celebration was an event that was held on the public square but for the last three years our church has hosted it at our gym which we call the Life Enrichment Center (LEC) which is right across from our main building so that rain or shine we get to pass out school supplies. Although we host and put it together this is a community event,” said Ramsey.

“This year we again have asked the teachers and principals what the main things are needed and from that we have updated the list in order that each child can walk out of there with things they need, and the amount needed,” he added.

If your business or group wants to host a table, contact the church at 615-597-4275.

July 21, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man was found with drugs and a stolen weed eater during a Smithville Police Department traffic stop on Tuesday, July 16.

39-year-old Bryan Christopher Tate of Arnold Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property and possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. He was also cited for no insurance and violation of the light law.

Police Chief Mark Collins said that an officer pulled over a BMW for violation of the light law when he spotted a Stihl Weed eater in the passenger front seat. After checking the serial number, the officer learned that the weed eater had been stolen in West Virginia. Tate was then asked to step out of the vehicle. He told the officer that he had dope in his left sock. Four grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine was recovered. Tate was taken into custody. His bond is $16,000 and he will be in court August 1.

56-year-old Christopher Joseph Cantrell of Dearman Street is cited for simple possession of a schedule III drug, no registration, and a violation of the light law. Chief Collins said that during a recent late-night traffic stop for a light law violation, police observed the driver, Cantrell throw a container on the ground which contained a Subutex pill that he admitted belonged to him. Cantrell’s court date is July 31.

50-year-old Erick Mauricio-Choreno is charged with driving under the influence and cited for speeding and violation of the implied consent law. Chief Collins said that on July 2 police conducted a traffic stop after clocking a vehicle traveling 59 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour speed zone on Sparta Highway. The driver, Choreno was found to have red and watery eyes. His speech was slurred, and he smelled of alcohol. Choreno submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He admitted to having consumed alcohol earlier. An open container was visible in a cup holder inside the automobile. After refusing to submit to a blood draw, a warrant was obtained for a blood sample from him. Choreno’s bond is $2,000.

39-year-old Jana Nicole Witcher is cited for trespassing and theft of property. Chief Collins said that on July 1 police responded to Save A Lot due to a complaint of a trespasser. Upon arrival, the officer confronted the suspect, Witcher and found in her possession several items that she had taken from the store. Her court date is July 18.

44-year-old Nathan Joseph Wilbert is charged with public indecency and simple possession. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court July 25. Chief Collins said that on July 11 police responded to Hardees due to an activated panic alarm and found Wilbert near the drive thru exposing himself. After placing him in custody the officer found Wilbert with a container that held a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.

43-year-old Christie Dawn Bouldin is charged with public intoxication. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court July 25. Chief Collins said that on July 12 police were summoned to 310 Wade Street where Bouldin was spotted trying to get into a car. Upon arrival the officer confronted Bouldin. She appeared to be very euphoric, and her pupils were constricted consistent with narcotic use. She was placed in custody.

59-year-old Richard Clifton Warner of Coconut Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court August 1. Chief Collins said that on July 13 police responded to a vehicle accident at 600 East Broad Street and upon arrival found one of the drivers involved in the crash, Warner sitting on the sidewalk. He was very unstable on his feet; his speech was slurred, and he smelled of alcohol. Warner refused to submit to a blood draw and field sobriety tasks. A warrant was obtained for a blood sample from him. No one was seriously injured in the accident.

62-year-old Benny Close of 708 West Main Street is charged with aggravated assault. Chief Collins said that on July 6 police were dispatched to 717 West Main Street due to an aggravated assault complaint. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who had visible injuries on her face and neck. The woman said Close, a neighbor, attacked her when she went to his home to check on him. When Close came the door, he allegedly struck the woman in the face and tried to choke her. Close’s court date is July 25. He is under a $6,500 bond.

42-year-old Gilberto Juarez of Kendra Drive is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court July 25. Chief Collins said that on July 7 police were summoned to the parking lot of Dollar Tree where a man was observed stumbling while getting out of his car. Juarez was backing out of his parking spot as the officer arrived. Juarez was pulled over and found to be unsteady on his feet. His eyes were red and watery, and he smelled of alcohol. Juarez admitted to having consumed several beers earlier.

47-year-old Jimmy Estes is charged with criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, possession of legend drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is $11,000 and he will be in court July 25. Chief Collins said that on July 7 police were called to Highland Avenue due to a trespasser. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the homeowner who reported that Estes was on the property and would not leave even though he had previously been ordered to stay away. The officer confronted an irate Estes and while placing him in custody, Estes refused to cooperate with commands and tried to pull away. A search of his person turned up a bottle containing prescription pills, but the label had been torn off the bottle. A pipe with residue was also found.

July 21, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County closed out the 2023-24 fiscal year on a high note at least as far as collections of local option sales taxes is concerned.

According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue net collections for the month of June (DeKalb County and all four cities combined) were $676, 466. It was the second-best month of the year (2023-24) followed by January at $846,718. June 2024 topped collections for June 2023 ($633,472) by almost $43,000.

The following are the local option sales tax collections by month for DeKalb County and the Cities in DeKalb County for the 2023-24 fiscal year and which months were best for each:

DeKalb County: January-$222,079; July-$210,447; June-$204,553; September-$192,082; October-$176,794; May-$175,278; November-$171,014; April- $170,469; December-$168,325; March-$145,744; February-$138,326; and August-$106,885

Smithville: January-$573,752; April- $426,387; July- $422,519; June-$413,111; May-$397,525; December-$392,126; March-$371,116; November-$367,352; August-$365,273; February-$359,089; September-$334,428; and October-$320,369

Alexandria: January-$32,635; February-$30,420; August-$30,418; July-$29,741; December-$29,672; April-$29,610; May-$29,309; September-$28,894; October-$28,779; November-$28,266; June-$28,110; and March-$26,942

Liberty: June-$27,328; May-$18,367; March-$14,130; January-$13,933; April-$13,575; December-$12,527; November-$12,499; August- $11,496; October-$11,463; July-$10,528; February-$9,948; and September-$9,906

Dowelltown: August-$4,437; February-$4,428; January-$4,318; March-$3,524; December-$3,510; May-$3,499; June-$3,362; April-$3,342; October-$3,140; July-$3,044; November-$3,014; and September-$3,001

DeKalb County’s net local option sales tax collections with the cities included for the year by month were as follows: January-$846,718; June-$676,466; July-$676,282; April-$643,385; May-$623,979; December-$606,162; November-$582,147; September-$568,313; March-$561,458; February-$542,212; October-$540,546; and August-$518,510.

June sales tax collections reflect previous month activity.

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