News
August 12, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
A 53 year old man who led Smithville Police on a 12 mile pursuit from the city limits to Silver Point was taken into custody Monday morning but not before he rammed a patrol car and had to be forced off the road by Chief Mark Collins and Lieutenant Detective Matt Holmes who rammed his car.
Marty Tallent is charged with reckless driving, failure to obey a traffic control device, speeding, violation of the financial responsibility law, aggravated assault, and evading arrest. His bond is $35,000 and he will be in court on the charges August 29.
Chief Mark Collins told WJLE that the incident began when Lieutenant Detective Holmes spotted Tallent in front of him driving recklessly in his Volkswagen Jetta on South Congress Boulevard near the New Life Pentecostal Church.
“He (Lieutenant Detective) Holmes noticed a vehicle acting strangely in front of him (on South Congress Boulevard). That vehicle (Tallent’s car) then just stopped in the middle of the road in front of Holmes,” said Chief Collins.
Holmes could be heard on the police scanner reporting to central dispatch that he (Tallent) kept braking trying to get him (Holmes) to hit him.
“Tallent then pulled over to the shoulder and back into oncoming traffic before doing a uturn causing an approaching motorist to almost wreck,” Chief Collins continued.
According to Police, Tallent flipped Holmes a bird as he made his getaway.
Lieutenant Detective Holmes then turned around and gave chase as Tallent headed north on Congress Boulevard running through traffic lights speeding out of town. Chief Collins, Captain Steven Leffew, and Officer Will Judkins joined the pursuit which continued often at high speeds on Highway 56 north (Cookeville Highway) out of the city.
Chief Collins eventually took over as the lead officer in the pursuit and tried to ram Tallent’s car as the chase neared Interstate 40 at Silver Point in Putnam County .
“As we were nearing the church at Silver Point running 60-70 miles per hour I noticed there was a lot of traffic so I thought now would be my time. When he (Tallent) hit his brakes like he was going to stop in the line of traffic, I tried to get around to slow him down but when I pulled up beside him he rammed me in the passenger side of my patrol car but I was going fast enough that I was able to get in front of him. Tallent then got onto the shoulder of the oncoming lane and tried to pass me but I rammed him and the impact sent his car into a yaw before it shot across the road toward the driveway of a residence. Lieutenant Detective Holmes then rammed Tallent’s car and it spun around before coming to a stop,” said Chief Collins.
The officers jumped from the patrol cars and drew their weapons as they approached Tallent but they placed him under arrest without incident.
Putnam and DeKalb EMS responded but no one had to be transported to the hospital although Chief Collins sustained a sore foot from the incident.
The patrol cars driven by Chief Collins and Lieutenant Detective Holmes were damaged and have been taken out of service.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated the crashes
Looking for a canine companion? How about “Gracie”? (View video here)
August 12, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Looking for a canine companion?
How about Gracie?
IMG_9198 from dwayne page on Vimeo.
She is a beautiful Great Pyrenees mix and the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Coalition featured “Pet of the Week”
“Gracie came to us through an animal control call. She is a sweet girl about 5-6 years old. We gave her a bath on Saturday and she didn’t mind at all us grooming and bathing her. She was perfectly fine with all of it. She gets along well with other dogs here at the shelter and walks great on a leash. She would make a great companion for anyone. Gracie is just waiting for that perfect home,” said Shelter Director Megan Moore.
For more information phone 615-597-3647 (DOGS).
The shelter, located at 186 Transfer Station Road behind Tenneco Automotive, is open for business Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12pm-4pm and Saturday 10am-12pm.
DCHS graduate plans to further her education at MTSU and pursue a career in Journalism (View video here)
August 12, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Robin Pafford will soon be off to college at MTSU but over the summer she has spent time Job shadowing at WJLE.
Pafford, who graduated in May as a member of the DCHS Class of 2019, hopes to have a career in communications, particularly journalism after she earns her degree.
Robin Pafford from dwayne page on Vimeo.
Since May, Robin has visited WJLE several hours two to three days a week to observe how the station operates and to learn the basics in the way the local news and other radio programs are prepared and presented.
“I have always been really interested in media, film, and journalism and I knew this station was involved in that so I wanted to learn more about it,” said Pafford.
As part of her exposure to local radio, Robin has joined WJLE announcer Dale Carroll in delivering the news at noon on several occasions and she has recorded public service announcements which are played often each day. Robin has also observed how local meetings and other events are covered and sometimes broadcast LIVE by the station. She has even made a few pictures and prepared stories herself from some of those events and posted them to the WJLE website.
“It has been really interesting. I have learned a lot. I didn’t really know a lot about the media but after being here several months I have gotten to know a lot of different things,” said Pafford.
“It’s been a real pleasure having Robin join us this summer. We have tried to make it a learning but fun experience for her especially Dale,” said WJLE Station Manager Dwayne Page
“Dale is really funny guy and always tries to make me laugh,”said Robin.
Although she has enjoyed her brief experience with local radio, Robin said she would also like to learn more about the television medium.
“My focus at MTSU will be on journalism and hopefully I will get involved with their news channel,” said Pafford.
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