Dodge Boys Keep Eagle Scouts All in the Family

July 24, 2019
By: Bill Conger

It’s a rare accomplishment for any youth to reach the rank of Eagle, the highest honor in Boy Scouts. But the Dodge family of Smithville, Tennessee can claim four young men with that prestigious award.

The latest to reach that medal is Friedrich Dodge, who joined Scouts when at age 12 his older brother, Sebastian Dodge told him about the fantastic adventures at summer camp.

“It’s been an uphill climb, but it has been worth it,” says Dodge of his top rank. “I’ve always been a person to do my best at everything. Eagle Scout is pretty much the best in Boy Scouts. All three of my older brothers have made it to Eagle Scout. That also helped me strive for Eagle Scout.”

For his project, Friedrich rebuilt the Rotary Club sign across from the city swimming pool with the support of the City of Smithville, friends, family, and his fellow scouts.

“My Boy Scout troop helped me out so much with several different phases of the project,” he said. “I couldn’t have done the project without my troop. The boys are like my second family.”

Sebastian Dodge earned his Eagle award not that long before his younger brother, and like Friedrich, he partially pursued Scouting’s top honor because his older brothers. Alexander and Gregory earned the distinction.

“The most important thing Scouting has given me is the Scout Oath and Scout Law, which are the guidelines to my life,” Sebastian says.

Joining Scouts when he was 11, Sebastian was first a member of Troop 07 in Sparta, Wisconsin before his family moved south. Two of his favorite memories are exploring Eagle Cave in Wisconsin and working at Piedmont Scout Ranch, the Boy Scouts premier high adventure base, in the wilderness of New Mexico.

“Philmont will always hold a special place in my heart not only because of its beauty but also for what we did and the people I got to meet,” says Sebastian.

Sebastian built a foot bridge to help complete a nature trail for the Friends of the Greenway in McMinnville. For the Eagle project, he experienced the various leadership stages from planning and fundraising to delegation along with his sweat equity.

“One of the things I learned from my project is that the more effort you put into something, the more likely people will be to help you. And it’s not what you have to do; it’s who you get to do it with.”

Both Sebastian and Friedrich now are putting their Scouting abilities to use in the military. Sebastian is a 92 Foxtrot Petroleum Supply Specialist stationed at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, AK.

“Scouting has contributed a lot to my Army success,” Sebastian says. “Scouting gave me the rank as Private Second Class. Also, it has helped going into the field with tying knots and setting up tents. Plus, Boy Scouts is like baby Army because the Army goes on ruck marches; Boy Scouts go on back pack trips.”

Friedrich is currently in Pensacola, Florida, training to be a parachute rigger for the Navy.

“I think the main skill I learned was leadership,” says Friedrich. “I’ve never been a great leader. I’ve always been a follower, but Boy Scouts took me out of that comfort zone and made me go into a new world and be a leader.”

Besides the boys, Lawrence and Penny Dodge are parents to five girls—Veronica,

Anastasia, Victoria, Christiana and the youngest, Tatianna.

July 24, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A man indicted for a rash of burglaries two years ago is back behind bars after allegedly committing another break-in while free on bond from the previous crimes.

25 year old Ryan Davis Taylor of Holmes Creek Road, Smithville is charged in the latest case with burglary and theft of property. His bond has been revoked and he will make a court appearance on August 8.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on July 8 Taylor broke into a shed on the Alexandria to Dismal Road and stole a 460 Stihl chainsaw, a Stihl weedeater, a Milwaukee battery powered grease gun and wrench, 2 half inch Titanium impact saws, and an impact wrench. The tools were valued at $2,900.

In April, 2018 Taylor was indicted by the Grand Jury for allegedly committing several burglaries and thefts from March through October, 2017. Specifically burglary (6 counts), theft over $10,000, theft over $2,500 (2 counts), auto burglary, theft over $1,000 (2 counts), theft under $1,000 (4 counts), vandalism under $1,000 (2 counts), and aggravated burglary.

The cases against Taylor in the 2017 cases are as follows:

*On March 20, 2017, Taylor allegedly unlawfully entered the habitation of a victim and stole a safe, knives, cash, a CD player, and several guns valued at over $1,000 constituting the offenses of aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000

*On June 18, 2017, Taylor allegedly entered a building other than a habitation of a victim and stole several musical instruments, cameras, CDs, video games, and jewelry valued at over $10,000 constituting the offenses of burglary and theft over $10,000.

*On July 14, 2017, Taylor allegedly entered a barn on Game Ridge Road, Smithville causing damage to it and took several hunting bows, hunting clothes, a computer, bullets, reloading equipment, rods and reels, and lights, valued at over $2,500 constituting the offenses of burglary, theft of property over $2,500, and vandalism under $1,000

*On August 8, 2017, Taylor allegedly stole a Rough Rider .22 caliber single 3 action revolver valued at under $1,000 constituting the offense of theft under $1,000

*On September 8, 2017, Taylor allegedly unlawfully entered a building other than a habitation of the victim and stole a Murray lawnmower and Craftsman pressure washer valued at under $1,000 constituting the offenses of burglary and theft under $1,000.

*On September 30 and October 3, Taylor allegedly entered a GEO Metro vehicle and stole a custom built AR-15, Craftsman tool set, drill, floor jack, Garmin GPS, and boots and glasses, valued at over $1,000 constituting the offenses of auto burglary and theft of property over $1,000.

*On October 3, Taylor allegedly entered a shed, cut a padlock and chain secured to a generator, and stole the generator, two log chains, grease gun, spud bar, an adjustable wrench, and rubber handled pliers all valued a under $1,000 constituting the offenses of burglary, vandalism under $1,000, and theft of property under $1,000. He returned to the same shed on October 5 and allegedly broke in and stole a 22 rifle, 22 pistol, Milwaukee band saw, a Rothberger threading set, Makita angle grinder, Makita drill, Makita Skill saw, Laser mark saw, three chainsaws, floor jack, extension cord, and grease fitting valued at over $2,500 constituting the offenses of burglary and theft of property over $2,500.

*On October 6, Taylor allegedly entered a residence on Allen Ferry Road and stole various jewelry, TV, coffee pot, keys, remotes, laptop, and a tablet, valued at over $1,000 constituting the offenses of burglary and theft of property over $1,000.

26 year old Zachary Wayne Jernigan of School House Road, Liberty is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court August 8. Sheriff Ray said that on July 15 Jernigan assaulted his victim about the head with a wooden stick.

A Sparta man has been arrested after stealing items from three boats and damaging two of them in the process on Timber Lane.

38 year old Chadwick Noble Dunham is charged with 3 counts of burglary, 3 counts of theft, and 2 counts of vandalism. His bond totals $31,500 and he will make a court appearance August 1.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 14 Dunham broke into a 2004 Triton boat, a 2013 Moomba boat, and a 2014 Cobalt boat and took a knee board, marine speakers, assorted cleaning supplies, a boat anchor, a black generator cover, several fishing rods, reels and fishing tackle. The total value of the items is $1,670.  On two of the boats, Dunham destroyed a trolling motor, fishing rods, battery, and wiring to the boats causing damage totaling $2,350

July 23, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Joe Foutch has been appointed to a new four year term on the DeKalb Utility District Board of Commissioners.

County Mayor Tim Stribling informed the county commission Monday night that he had reappointed Foutch to the board. Foutch’s current term expires August 31.

By law, the DUD board must certify a list of three names in order of preference to the county mayor, who has the sole authority to make the appointment.

During a recent regular monthly meeting, the DUD board voted to certify a list of nominees to the county mayor to fill the position. Foutch’s name was listed first followed by the names of Kerry Davis and Joe Johnson.

The DUD Board is made up of five members, three from DeKalb County (Jimmy Womack, Joe Foutch, and Hugh Washer), one from Cannon (Roger Turney), and one from Smith County (Danny Bass). The terms are staggered. All terms are for four years.

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