Board of Education Set to Act on Reopening Schools

July 5, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Schools are expected to reopen on Monday, August 3 and the Board of Education plans to make it official Tuesday night, July 7 during the regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Ernest Ray Education Center. A work session will be held prior to the meeting at 6 p.m.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps announced last month that plans are to reopen schools in the traditional manner (all students, all teachers, all day) barring any surge in COVID-19 although protocols will be observed to help protect the health and safety of students and school staff.

The agenda is as follows:

Consider and act on the 2020-21 General Purpose Schools/Food Service Budget

Consider and act on Individual School Budgets and Fundraiser Requests for 2020-21

Consider and act on School Board Policies-1st Reading

Consider and act on opening DeKalb County Schools August 3

Consider and act on CTE Surplus Property

Appoint members to the Student Disciplinary Hearing Authority and to name a chairman

Director of Schools to give a monthly personnel report

The consent agenda is as follows:

Consider and act on ESSER Budget Amendment

Consider and act on modifying the number of credits required for graduation

Consider and act on Local Government Hardware Maintenance Agreement.

July 5, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County’s confirmed number of COVID-19 cases has jumped to 70.

As of Tuesday , July, 7 the Tennessee Department of Health reported that 2,214 people had been tested with 2,144 negative results and 70 positive. There have been no deaths in DeKalb County from the virus and 40 of the 70 persons tested positive since March have recovered.

The DeKalb County Health Department conducts free drive through assessments for COVID-19 Mondays through Fridays from 9am- 11 am.

At 70 cases, DeKalb County now ranks 7th highest in the 14 county Upper Cumberland region behind Putnam with 919 (7 deaths), Macon 500 (4 deaths), Cumberland 188 (4 deaths), Smith 124 (1 death), Warren 81, and White 76 (3 deaths). Other counties in the region with COVID-19 cases are Overton 65 (1 death), Cannon 37, Jackson 30, Fentress 24, Clay 19, Van Buren 7, and Pickett 6.

Tennessee’s rural county health departments continue providing traditional services and are taking every precaution to keep patients, clients and staff members safe from COVID-19. In addition to routine services, TDH county health departments offer COVID-19 testing at no charge for anyone who wishes to be tested.

“We’re ready and eager to provide crucial services such as immunizations, WIC, family planning and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and to remind everyone of the importance of maintaining routine health care,” said Assistant Commissioner for Community Health Services Karen Hyman, MHA. “We will work with you to provide the care you need in the safest manner possible. We don’t want anyone putting off needed health care for fear of COVID-19, so call your local clinic to ask about available services.”

Tennessee’s local health departments are diligent in infection control efforts and provide a safe environment in which to receive health care and other services. Our rural health departments now offer some services by telephone and will soon have services available via telemedicine. Many health department clinics offer curbside immunizations and prescription pick-up. Clinics are managing appointment times and patient flow to provide for social distancing. TDH county health department clinics offer face masks to patients and clients who do not bring their own to wear, and all staff members wear masks and follow strict Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for health care facilities and providers.

Services available to everyone at Tennessee county health departments include:

•Immunizations • Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program
•Family Planning
•STI Screening and Management
•Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening
•TB and HIV Testing and Treatment
•Baby & Me Tobacco Free™ Smoking cessation program for pregnant women and their partners
•Primary Care (select locations)

TDH operates local health department clinics in 89 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Find location and contact information for your local county health department at www.tn.gov/health/healthprogram-areas/localdepartments.html. Local health department clinics will be closed Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day.

TDH health department clinics offer COVID-19 testing Monday-Friday. Some clinics require an appointment for testing. Find information on clinic testing hours online at
www.tn.gov/content/tn/health/cedep/ncov/remote-assessment-sites.html.

Connect with TDH on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn @TNDeptofHealth!

July 4, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A man arrested last month after leading authorities on a high speed chase stemming from a shooting investigation has been charged with stealing the car he was driving during the pursuit.

44 year old Gregory Michael Patton is charged with burglary, aggravated burglary, and theft of property over $10,000. His bond is $22,500 and he will be in court July 30.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, June 11 Patton broke into a home on Adcock Cemetery Road and stole $1,000 worth of property and then stole from the residence a 2015 Toyota Corolla valued at $12,000.

Officers of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Smithville Police Department encountered Patton while searching for 28 year old Gregorio Cruz Vanloo of McMinnville, who had been a suspect in a “shots fired” incident in the parking lot of Los Lobos Mexican Restaurant in Smithville.

“While we were searching a call came in that someone had spotted a man fitting the description of our suspect (Vanloo) getting into a red Toyota, driven by another man later identified as Patton, at the corner of Evins Mill Road and Highway 70. According to the witness, the man (suspect) got into the rear seat and laid down, The car then came back into town,” said Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins.

County and city officers later spotted a red Toyota matching the description on Highland Avenue and when they approached the car it sped away resulting in a pursuit which started in Smithville and traversed along several streets and county roads before heading out Short Mountain Highway and into Cannon County where the driver finally pulled over on Jim Cummings Highway near the Coffee County line. During the chase, which at times exceeded speeds of 100 miles per hour, a Be On The Lookout (BOLO) was issued and officers from the Warren County and Cannon County Sheriff’s Departments, Woodbury Police Department, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol joined in the effort to get the vehicle stopped. Following the chase , officers discovered that Vanloo was not in the Toyota with Patton and received a tip that he was at a residence on Highland Avenue where the pursuit began but upon arriving there after the tip, they discovered Vanloo had already left.

After the pursuit, Sheriff Ray said that Patton was charged with reckless endangerment, evading arrest, and driving under the influence. He was also cited for possession of schedule II and V drugs (methamphetamine and Gabapentin).

The charges against Patton taken that day (June 11) allege he tried to evade law enforcement in congested traffic driving at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour forcing several vehicles off the roadway and going through a public housing area at excessive speeds where children were present.

Patton admitted to having taken methamphetamine and heroin. His speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. Patton had to be assisted to the patrol car. He had on him 0.4 grams of methamphetamine and two Gabapentin pills.

Later that day, June 11, Vanloo was tracked to a home on Toad Road and was killed in an exchange of gunfire with local law enforcement officers.

47 year old Candida Faye Davidson of Eagle Creek Road, Smithville is charged with violation of bond conditions. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on June 23 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Frosty Point due to an unwanted guest. Upon arrival he found Davidson at the residence with another woman in violation of court ordered bond conditions put in place on May 26. Under the order Davidson is to stay away from the woman.

30 year old Christopher Lee Cunningham of Old Blue Springs Road, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on June 23 a deputy found Cunningham in a ditch on Blue Springs Road. He appeared to be under the influence. Cunningham was placed under arrest for his safety and that of the public.

49 year old Kevin Scott Hammond of Shady Drive, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,000 and he will be in court July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on June 26 a deputy was called to a business on Cookeville Highway where a man was possibly intoxicated. Upon arrival he found Hammond there. He was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. Hammond was placed under arrest for his safety and that of others.

41 year old James Ricky Ashford, Jr. of Eckels Heights, Liberty is charged with vandalism, burglary of an auto, and theft of property. His bond is $7,000 and he will make a court appearance July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on April 8 Ashford broke into a silver Chevrolet Impala and took several tools, tool bag, and baseball pitching machine with a total value of $600 . During the burglary he damaged the backseat of the car. The damage amount totaled $500.

38 year old Barry Summers of Wolf Creek Road is cited for theft under $1,000. Sheriff Ray said that on June 4 Summers took three batteries from a business on Cookeville Highway. He admitted to having committed the theft. The batteries were recovered at his home. The value of the batteries exceeded $500.

38 year old Jon Stephen Smith of Goodlettsville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on June 22 a deputy was called to Pates Ford Marina on a domestic complaint. Upon arrival the officer learned that Stephen was the primary aggressor against his wife. He allegedly dragged her from bed, took a tablet from her, and then hit the woman about the head and face.

45 year old Jimmy Mason Page of Old Snow Hill Road, Dowelltown is charged with violation of an order of protection. He is under a $2,500 bond and his court date is June 25. Sheriff Ray said that on June 9 a deputy was summoned to a residence on the Old Snow Hill Road due to a suspicious person. Upon arrival the officer found Page at his mother’s home in violation of the order to keep away from there.

60 year old Jerry Donald Johnson of Lower Helton Road, Alexandria is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court July 2. Sheriff Ray said that on June 13 a deputy was called to a home on Lower Helton Road due to a possible domestic incident. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Johnson’s son who said that when he got home from work his father came after him with a stick. Witnesses said Johnson was the primary aggressor.

30 year old Eric Dean Morgan of Watertown is charged with a violation of an order of protection and domestic assault. He is under a $3,500 bond and his court date is July 2. Sheriff Ray said that on June 14 a deputy was called to the public square in Alexandria and spoke with a woman who reported that her ex-boyfriend, Morgan pushed her several times and struck her in the face and head with his fist at a residence they shared on Malone Hollow Road prior to her obtaining an order of protection against him. Under the order, Morgan was to keep away from the woman.

39 year old Mark Denver Young of Barnes Mill Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on June 10 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Barnes Mill Road due to a domestic assault. Upon arrival the officer spoke to a woman who had bruises on her mouth, neck, and left arm. The woman said Young had struck her several times causing bruising and bleeding and that Young had also assaulted her four days before on June 6.

70 year old Melissa Ann King of King Court Circle, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on June 11 a deputy responded to a domestic violence call on Kings Court Circle and spoke with King who said she and her daughter were at a neighbor’s home and got into an argument over civil matters. According to the daughter, King slapped her just below the left ear leaving marks.

49 year old Stanley William Morris, Jr. of Pumpkin Hollow Road, Liberty was arrested June 18 after being named in a Grand Jury sealed indictment charging him with 2 counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a half gram of methamphetamine in a drug free zone. His bond is $7,500 and he will be arraigned in criminal court on July 14.

24 year old Spencer Ervin Stanfield of Vickers Hollow Road, Smithville is charged with a 3rd offense of driving under the influence. He is under a $1,500 bond and will be in court July 9.
Sheriff Ray said on June 20 a deputy responded to the area of Four Seasons Road where a vehicle was setting in the middle of the road and the driver was passed out. Upon arrival the officer observed that the driver had two open containers of alcoholic beverages in his possession, one between his legs and the other in the center console cup holder. The deputy awoke the driver, Stanfield and asked him to submit to field sobriety tasks. After performing poorly on the tasks, Stanfield was placed under arrest. He was further cited for driving on a revoked license and violation of the open container law.

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