Project Welcome Mat Encourages Businesses to Greet Fiddlers Jamboree Visitors

June 16, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The 48th annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival is coming Friday and Saturday, July 5 & 6 and the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce invites all county businesses to again use their changeable signs or marquees to post welcome greetings for our Jamboree visitors.

“This marks the 19th year for the Chamber’s “Project Welcome Mat”, said Suzanne Williams, Executive Director of the Chamber. “With thousands of visitors coming into town, every effort should be made by the local merchants to show our guests that we appreciate them and welcome their business.

The program has been successful over the past years with many businesses participating. Let’s keep on showing folks how friendly the DeKalb County / Smithville area can be!,” she continued.

All businesses may participate in “Project Welcome Mat.” The wording may be only a simple “Welcome to the Jamboree” or as elaborate as you choose. There will be recognition awards in 3 categories: “Best Worded,” “Most Original” and the “People’s Choice Award.” Plaques will be presented to winners along with media recognition.

If your business would like to participate in the contest, email the Chamber at swilliams@dekalbcountychamber.org or call 615-597-4163. Wording should be in place no later than Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

June 16, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Two women were arrested on drug charges last Sunday, June 9 after Smithville Police found them on a dead-end street at almost 3 a.m. with hypodermic needles including one loaded with methamphetamine.

35 year old Lauren A. Alford of Hillsboro is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and 25 year old Amber Nichole McTaggart of Bradyville is facing charges of simple possession, filing a false report, and driving on a revoked license.

While on routine patrol an officer spotted two vehicles drive up and stop on a dead-end street. Due to suspected high drug activity in the area and it being 2:45 a.m. the officer pulled in to investigate and saw someone run off into the woods.

As he spoke with Alford, the officer noticed that a hypodermic needle, belonging to Alford, had been placed under a tire of the car she was in.

The officer then spoke with McTaggart and asked if she knew the person who had run off. McTaggart replied “no” but later a man emerged from the woods who police learned was McTaggart’s boyfriend.

During the investigation McTaggart pulled a bag from her pants containing 6 needles including one which was loaded with a clear liquid that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Police also learned that McTaggart’s license was revoked in Cannon County.

Bond for Alford is $2,500 and $12,500 for McTaggart. They will make a court appearance on June 27.

25 year old Gustavo Angel Gonzalez of Miller Road was arrested on June 2 for DUI and cited for a driver’s license violation, open container, and financial responsibility. Police received a complaint of a black truck swerving while heading east on West Broad Street. The officer spotted the truck and observed it swerving inside its lane of travel. Once the truck passed through the red light at the intersection of Highways 56 & 70 it moved into the far-right lane and crossed the white dotted line twice into the passing lane. Even though the driver activated his right turn signal, the truck kept traveling east and initially failed to stop after the officer turned on his blue lights but it finally pulled over at Karen’s Pub. The officer spoke to the driver, Gonzalez and discovered that he didn’t have a license and couldn’t provide proof of insurance. An open container of beer was in the middle console cup holder and Gonzalez had an odor of alcohol on his person. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Bond for Gonzalez is $2,500 and his court date is June 27

54 year old Jacqueline Eileen Schultz of Nashville was cited on June 4 for simple possession. Police pulled over Schultz for a traffic violation and found 7 white pills identified as Gabapentin in a generic bottle. Schultz could not produce a prescription for the medication. Her court date is June 27.

45 year old Michael Shannon Hagan and 42 year old Melissa Hagan of Sparta were cited on June 4 for simple possession and drug paraphernalia. Police were called to 128 East Broad Street due to possible drug activity. Upon arrival an officer asked Melissa to get out of her vehicle and after being given permission to search her wallet found a small baggie containing .42 grams of a white powdery substance which field tested positive for methamphetamine. Michael had in his possession a flower printed bag which contained 7 used needles and other items that are typically used with IV drugs. Both will make a court appearance on June 27.

49 year old Steve Walker of 455 West Main Street was arrested on June 6 for domestic assault. Police learned that Walker and his victim got in a verbal argument that turned physical as Walker raised his elbow and knocked the victim to the floor. She suffered injuries to her right arm, elbow, thumb, hip, shoulder, left knee, and left foot toe nail. Bond for Walker is $4,500 and his court date is June 20.

65 year old Bobby Gene Anderson of 396 Page Drive was arrested on June 6 for public intoxication, assault, resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search and cited for shoplifting. Police were called to Wal-Mart due to a shoplifter. Upon arrival the officer spotted Anderson and ordered him to stop but he tried to flee. After catching up with Anderson, the officer tried to take him into custody but Anderson began trying to push the officer away. Anderson was then taken to the ground and forcibly handcuffed by the officer. Anderson smelled of alcohol and he was unsteady on his feet. Anderson had on him a wristwatch and a pair of shoes which he had not paid for. They were recovered and returned to the store. Bond for Anderson is $6,500 and his court date is June 20.

37 year old Gilberto Juarez of 648 Kendra Drive was arrested June 8 for criminal impersonation and driving on a suspended license. Police spotted Juarez operating a vehicle and knew that his license were suspended. The officer pulled him over but Juarez identified himself as Lui Reyes. After confirming that the driver was actually Juarez, police placed him in custody. Bond for Juarez is $5,000 and his court date is June 20.

27 year old Stephen James Miller of 239 Green Acres Drive was cited on June 8 for simple possession. While on routine patrol in the Sonic parking lot an officer smelled an odor of marijuana coming from a vehicle there. The officer approached the automobile and spoke with the owner, Miller who had in his possession 17 grams of a green leafy substance confirmed to be marijuana. Miller’s court date is June 20.

39 year old Christopher Joe Brumley of 920 South Mountain Street was cited on June 9 for shoplifting. Police were called to Wal-Mart due to a shoplifter. Upon arrival the officer found Brumley in the parking lot. He was wearing a backpack containing several items from the store for which he had not purchased. Those items were recovered and returned to the store. Brumley will make a court appearance on June 27.

41 year old Samuel Wade Walker of 128 Jerry Walker Road was arrested on June 10 for criminal trespass and cited for theft of property. Police responded to Wal-Mart after receiving a complaint of someone trespassing on the property. The officer was informed that the man, Walker was banned from the property on February 16, 2018 due to a previous shoplifting incident and that he signed a notification of restriction from the property. The officer confronted Walker in the store and took him into custody. During a search, the officer found concealed in Walker’s pockets items from the store which he had not purchased. Bond for Walker is $2,500 and his court date is June 27.

June 15, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Susan Hinton, Adult High School Program Supervisor/Instructor, presented in written form her annual report to the Board of Education and the Director of Schools Thursday night. She was unable to attend the meeting.

In the report, Hinton said eleven students are currently enrolled in the program and there were four graduates during the 2018-19 school year . Sixteen classes have been completed by the students who are attending on a regular basis. These subjects count toward completion of a diploma.

“We have had a very good year with a total of three students graduating with a high school diploma and one student graduating who came for tutoring and entered the GED/Hi Set program upon leaving. These students may seem small in number, but with the ever increasing amount of classes it takes to complete a high school diploma, taking one-two classes at a time is very difficult,” said Hinton.

“One of these students is pursuing a career as an RN and is making A’s and B’s and so excited to come back and share her accomplishment in the academic world. I know this student will make a great nurse,” Hinton continued.

“One student who is graduating plans on coming back to be in our school system as a substitute teacher while she pursues an early childhood degree”.

“Another student plans on getting an education degree and wants to work in the Head Start Program in our county,” said Hinton.

“It is a pleasure to make some small contribution back to our county public school system. I want to thank each and every one of you for this opportunity”.

Hinton said she also asks the participants each year to write an essay about the program at the end of each school year to let them tell others about this opportunity to better themselves in a world that is changing so rapidly and needs an educated work force to handle the demands of society.

In one of the essays, a student, who is a wife and mother of two wrote that “the program has been a life saver for me as I dropped out of school to have a family several years ago. I realized too late that it might not have been the best decision I could have made so I decided to come back and get my diploma now-better late than never”.

“For many students, it may seem like nothing but a piece of paper, but to me getting my diploma means everything”.

“Going through life without a diploma has been very difficult. I have experienced low self esteem, depression, and a lack of confidence all because of the fact that I lacked an education and had no diploma. I am honored and blessed to be able to have this opportunity to finish my secondary education”.

“I plan on working for the local school system when I finish as a substitute or aide, and I may even go to college. I am forever grateful to the DeKalb County School System for providing me this opportunity”.

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