State Takes Notice of Self-Service Driver License Kiosk Popularity in DeKalb County

July 6, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The Self-Service Kiosk in the DeKalb County Clerk’s Office is a popular service for conducting driver license business and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security has taken notice of it.

“I would like to thank you and your staff for continuing to host the Department’s Self-Service Kiosk”, said Michael Hogan in a letter to County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss last week. Hogan is Director of Services for the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

“For the citizens of DeKalb County, the kiosk is a valuable resource for conducting driver license business in the absence of a full-service center”, wrote Hogan.

“Since 2012, when the kiosk was installed, the usage rates have continued to increase each year. For the past two years, the DeKalb County self-service kiosk has ranked number one in the number of people using the kiosk with a county population of less than 30,000”.

“As the department continues to increase the services allowed on the kiosk, you should expect to see the usage rate continue to increase, which means less travel time for the citizens of DeKalb County needing to conduct driver license business,” Hogan continued.

“The following is a breakdown of the county’s activity for the past five years. As you can see, the usage rate continued to climb, the exception was 2020, due to COVID 19, which decreased all activity in the Driver Services Division”.

Calendar Year 2017: Kiosk Usage Rate- 2,876

Calendar Year 2018: Kiosk Usage Rate- 3,495

Calendar Year 2019: Kiosk Usage Rate- 3,340

Calendar Year 2020: Kiosk Usage Rate-2,342

Calendar Year 2021: Kiosk Usage Rate- 376 from January 1 to May 1.

The statistics on the usage of the kiosk from 2012 to 2015 were as follows:

2012- 26 transactions

2013- 457

2014-502

2015-1,003

The kiosk was provided to the County Clerk’s Office in 2012 by the Driver Services Division of the Tennessee Department of Safety. DeKalb County was one of only a select few counties to receive a kiosk. For the first couple of years the kiosk was located down the hall from the county clerk’s office at the county complex. But in the fall of 2014 after he took office, Poss relocated the kiosk to inside his office and the usage doubled.

Citizens may renew or replace an existing driver’s license or state identification card and pay for the transaction with a credit or debit card at the kiosk.

The technology takes the citizen’s photograph for use on the driver license. As a security measure, the kiosk performs facial verification with the image on record. A citizen leaves the kiosk with a paper interim document for use until the secure driver’s license or ID card is received. The interim license is valid for 20 days. The secure driver’s license or ID card is mailed to the applicant’s home within five to seven business days.

County Clerk Poss said he is happy to provide personal assistance to customers who want to use the kiosk or for other services they may need.

July 6, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County School Nutrition Department is offering a free summer drive through breakfast and lunch program July 13 & 20 at DCHS

The meals will be provided to all children ages 18 and younger From 10 a.m. until noon without charge at DeKalb County High School in front of the bus ramp.

Parents and students will be able to drive through and pick up a week’s worth of breakfast and lunch meals for the children to take home for free!

For more information call 615-215-2104.

July 6, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A woman who tried to smuggle contraband into the jail by hiding it in her body cavity is facing several charges.

39 year old Sherri Francine Gunter of Jacobs Pillar Road, Smithville is charged with resisting stop frisk halt search or arrest, tampering or fabricating evidence, bringing contraband into a penal institution, and failure to appear. Her bond totals $22,000.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on June 22 Gunter was arrested and brought to the jail for booking. She had three warrants against her for failure to appear in court on a previous theft charge.

During a strip search, a female correctional officer saw what appeared to be a tube in Gunter’s body cavity. Gunter was then placed in a transport car and taken to the emergency room of the hospital for a further search. While Gunter was being escorted from the vehicle at the hospital, female correctional officers spotted a clear tube in the back of the car where Gunter had been sitting. The tube contained a crystal like substance. Gunter tried to grab the tube and swallow its contents while pulling away from the officers but they tased Gunter and forced her to the ground.

56 year old Harold Dean Perry of Bethpage is charged with two counts of domestic assault. His bond is $7,000 and his court date is July 8.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 7, 2020 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Potts Camp Road where he spoke with a woman who said that her husband, Perry swung a rake at her and then smashed her head up against their mobile home causing a cut under her left eye. Perry had already left the scene prior to the officer’s arrival.

Perry also allegedly assaulted his step daughter on the same day. Sheriff Ray said the deputy spoke with the woman who said that her step father, Perry manhandled and hit her in the head with his fist causing her to fall scraping her left knee. Perry left the scene but was arrested last month in Bethpage.

35 year old Bradley Dewayne Taylor of Smithville is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $4,500 and he will make a court appearance on July 15.

Sheriff Ray said that on June 24 Taylor was determined to have violated an order of protection against him by contacting a family member by telephone with whom he was to have no contact.

35 year old Joseph Kilzer of Parkway Drive, Smithville is charged with aggravated criminal trespassing. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court July 22.

Sheriff Ray said that on June 27 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Parkway Drive where the homeowners reported that a neighbor had entered the dwelling without permission. Upon arrival the officer learned that the neighbor, Kilzer entered the residence looking for his girlfriend although he did not steal anything or harm anyone. Kilzer later admitted to the offense saying he was worried about his girlfriend and thought she was at his neighbor’s home.

Later that day, Kilzer was arrested again for aggravated criminal trespassing, vandalism, and aggravated burglary. He is under a $15,000 bond on these charges. He will be in court on August 5.

Sheriff Ray said that Kilzer came onto the Parkway Drive property where he damaged a wooden gate while making entry and then broke into the home by reaching through a window trying to grab a set of keys. The amount of the damage to the gate, gate opener, and screened window came to $750

38 year old Jonathan Dee McCullough of Evins Mill Road, Smithville is charged with driving on a revoked license. His bond is $5,000 and he will make a court appearance July 15.

Sheriff Ray said that on June 27 a deputy spotted a blue Dodge Caravan leave its lane of travel on Four Seasons Road near Cripps Lane. He pulled it over and spoke to the driver, McCullough. The officer learned that McCullough’s driver license was revoked and that he was an habitual offender.

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