Children to Share God’s Love Through Regifting for Christmas

November 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Christmas is the season for giving and children who participate in this year’s 8th Annual Regifting Event will have a chance to experience that by doing something special for their parents and total strangers.

Regifting gives children ages 4 to 12 an opportunity to shop for their parents or caregivers at no cost. The gifts are then wrapped, tagged, and prepared for Christmas giving.

This year’s Regifting Event will be on Saturday, December 3 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. or until all gifts are gone at the DeKalb County Complex. Families must pre-register their children in order to be eligible for a chance to receive a door prize. All children who shop will receive a goody bag.

Donations are collected throughout the year for this event so that those who can’t afford to buy gifts can still share in the joy of giving by regifting something.

“We let kids come in and shop for their parents or caregivers. It’s not income based. It’s for anybody. They shop for free, wrap the presents, and fill out the card,” said Kim Walker, who organizes the annual event. “Its an opportunity for children to experience the joy of giving at Christmas and develop a desire to help others”.

The children are then asked to prepare a blessing bag to be given to others. This year, children will help assemble Blessing Bags for God’s Food Pantry.

A quilt square is decorated per child and then a quilt is assembled from the quilt squares to be donated to someone with health or other life challenging issues. You may contact Regifting event organizers to nominate someone who needs a blessing.

“We’re trying to share God’s love with kids to plant a seed so that no matter how old they are they always remember to help somebody else”.
If you need more information or would like to volunteer call or text Amber Adams at 615-684-5798 from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. or Joanna Fuson at 615-517-9100 but no calls after 9 p.m.

You may email patchworkuc@outlook.com or visit facebook.

November 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in his vehicle before pushing her out and leaving her unconscious by the side of the road has been arrested.

28-year-old Devin Austin Duke of Alexander Street was charged on Friday, November 4 with sexual battery and aggravated assault.

According to Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins, officers were summoned to South Mountain Street to conduct a welfare check on a woman reported to be laying on the side of the road. She was found to be unresponsive and partially nude with scrapes and cuts on the right side of her head. Upon investigation, police learned that Duke had sexually assaulted the woman in his vehicle and then pushed her out of the automobile onto the side of the road once he realized she had become unconscious from an apparent overdose. The woman was wearing only a shirt and sweater. Bond for Duke is $50,000 and his court date is November 17.

48-year-old Jimmy Mason Page was cited on October 24 for criminal littering. According to police, Page took items from the bed of his truck and placed them on the ground behind the County Complex. He had previously been told to put the items in the trash but didn’t comply. His court date is November 10.

39-year-old Robin Lynne Emigh of McMinnville was arrested on October 21 for public intoxication. Police responded to Sunoco Gas Station where Emigh had reportedly caused a scene. According to police, Emigh was foaming at the mouth saying she was too high and began knocking on windows of others continuing to create a scene. She was placed in custody for the safety of herself and others. Bond for Emigh is $1,500 and her court date is November 10.

31-year-old William Eugene Sizemore of Adcock Cemetery Road was arrested on October 22 for public intoxication. Police were called to Sunoco Gas Station due to an altercation which turned out to be a verbal confrontation. Before the officer’s arrival, the person of interest, Sizemore had left in a white F-150 but police later found him at Potter’s Home Center. Sizemore was found to be drinking a shot of 99 proof strawberry liquor. His speech was slurred, and he smelled of an alcoholic beverage. Police discovered that Sizemore had consumed three bottles of the liquor. Bond for Sizemore is $1,500 and his court date is November 10.

43-year-old Dwayne Allen Reeder of Sparta was arrested on October 25 for domestic assault. Police were summoned to Broadway Market to speak with Reeder and a woman who appeared to have been arguing. Police determined that Reeder knowingly, willingly, and unlawfully, committed the offense of domestic assault by hitting the woman in the head and face, leaving marks and blood on her nose and shirt. Bond for Reeder is $10,000 and his court date is November 10.

53-year-old Fermin Mata Gopar of Old Bildad Road was arrested on November 4 for a second offense of driving under the influence, a third offense of driving on a revoked license, and violation of implied consent. Police pulled over Gopar’s vehicle during a traffic stop for failure to maintain lane of travel and noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from Gopar’s person. Gopar agreed to perform field sobriety but during the second task, he stopped and refused to do any more. A background check of his license revealed it to be revoked and that he had two prior offenses for driving on revoked. Gopar also refused to submit to the implied consent law. A warrant was issued for a blood draw from him. Bond for Gopar is $5,000 and his court date is November 24.

November 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

In God We Trust!

For the past five years, automobile owners have had the option of displaying on their vehicles the old Green Mountain state issued license plates with or without the phrase “In God We Trust”.

County Clerk James L. “Jimmy” Poss says you have the same option with the new state issued blue plates. The decision is yours, but you have to make your request known at the time of registration renewal.

“It’s solely the individual’s responsibility and choice to clarify the specific plate they want either the one with “In God We Trust” or the one without it,” said Poss.

Specialty and personalized plates are not available with the phrase “In God We Trust”. The only specialty plate which provides that option is the “In God We Trust” specialty plate itself.

To personalize a plate, the applicant must complete the Online Application for Tennessee Personalized License Plate. https://personalizedplates.revenue.tn.gov/#/

“If you have a plate you are not happy with you can change it at any time but before changing plates be sure to verify any and all costs associated for a clear understanding,” said County Clerk Poss.

Meanwhile re-issuance of Tennessee disabled license plates will begin in January.

Any Disabled personalized plate applied for in the month of December 2022 will be produced on new metal. Production has started on Class 1010 Disabled Driver plates for January through March and renewals should arrive in county clerk offices across the state by the end of December. For the Class 1011 Disabled Drivers not confined to a wheelchair and the Disabled personalized classes 2005 and 2007 (disabled drivers and disabled drivers confined to a wheelchair, renewals for January-December should also be available at county clerk offices by the end of December.

Postcard renewal notices will be updated for January renewal notices.

“If you are still operating with a standard Tennessee plate, make sure to update. Get the plate you need because everyone must have the new plate by December 31,” added County Clerk Poss.

The state mails out vehicle registration renewal notices however if you should not receive a notice in the mail from the state, County Clerk Poss reminds you that it is still your responsibility to renew your vehicle registration.

License plates are issued through Tennessee’s local county clerk offices. Motorists can visit www.tncountyclerk.com to renew online. New plates can be renewed in person, online, by mail, or by kiosk. If you choose not to renew in person, the renewal fee will include $5 for mailing.

A partial state fee waiver remains in effect through June 30, 2023 on the registration renewals of vehicles. The typical renewal fee is $29 for Class B vehicles but with the waiver, the fee is currently $5.25.

According to the law, the state has waived the state registration fees for Class A and Class B motor vehicles upon the renewal of the motor vehicle’s registration if the renewal occurs after July 1, 2022 and before June 30, 2023. Plates expiring before or after this period will be subject to the ordinary registration fee. Class A includes motorcycles and autocycles and Class B includes passenger motor vehicles and motor homes. The state portion of the fee that is waived under this law is ordinarily $16.75 for Class A and $23.75 for Class B. Other fees that are earmarked for safety and system improvement purposes, as well as the electric vehicle registration fees and county fees are not waived.

Drivers who need to renew expired license plates should check with their local county clerk to see which fees still apply.

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