One person was injured in a crash Saturday night on Highway 56 south near Ferrell Road and Pine Creek Nursery just south of Seven Springs Road. The wreck caused a power outage for a large area in the southern portion of the county.

According to Trooper Danielle Neal of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 21 year old Brandon Kircher of Smithville was traveling north on Highway 56 in a 2001 Ford Edge and failed to maintain the lane crossing the center line. The vehicle exited the roadway to the left and struck a mailbox before hitting a utility pole. It then went into a ditch and overturned onto its top with one passenger being completely ejected and another partially ejected out of the passenger side window.

Kircher, who was wearing his seatbelt, was not injured.

One of the passengers, 57 year old Michael Patillo of Chattanooga was taken by DeKalb EMS to Vanderbilt Hospital. The other passenger, 31 year old Ashley Ford of Bank, Tennessee was not injured. Neither Patillo or Ford were wearing their seat belts.

Kircher was cited for failing to maintain lane of travel, failing to provide proof of financial responsibility, and driving without a license

Members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene to provide assistance.

Seventeen DeKalb County 4-H members recently traveled to the Tennessee Livestock Center in Murfreesboro to compete in the largest Central Region 4-H Livestock Judging contest on record with around 400 contestants.

The Junior division team of Ian Barnes, Izayah Dowell, Tyler Dunn, Chaylea Lunsford, and Brooklyn Ponder took top honors out of 23 teams. Tyler placed 2nd individually while Izayah placed 4th. The Junior High team comprised of Jenna Cantrell, Colby Barnes, Elizabeth Seber, and Marissa Clark placed 7th and the team of Ansley Cantrell, Riley Fuson, Luke Magness, John Iervolino, and Caley Taylor placed 15th. Luke Magness was 8th high individual. There were 32 total teams in that division. Payton Cantrell, Clayton Crook, and Caleb Taylor competed in Senior High division and also represented us well placing 17th with only a three man team.

Livestock Judging teaches 4-H members decision-making skills while they learn more about the livestock industry. Beef cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs are evaluated to know which animals would be best in a farm’s breeding program or would make the most profit at market. 4-H’ers also learn how to read and use genetic information (EPDs) to assist in the selection of livestock. This is very useful knowledge if these young people ever buy livestock of their own. It also gives them a better understanding of where their food comes from. Eight total classes of animals are judged at the contest. The Senior division also must give two sets of oral reasons to explain why they placed the class the way they did. This improves their communication skills, as they must think under pressure while still using good presentation techniques.

These teams had a great time learning about livestock animals and made new friends along the way. They represented DeKalb County very well in this highly competitive contest! For more information about the 4-H livestock group, please contact the UT/TSU DeKalb County Extension Office at 615-597-4945.

Photo Caption:
Team: The DeKalb County 4-H Livestock Judging Teams at the regional contest in Murfreesboro. (Front) Chaylea Lunsford, Brooklyn Ponder, Izayah Dowell, Riley Fuson, Ansley Cantrell, Ian Barnes, & Tyler Dunn. (Back) Luke Magness, Marissa Clark, Clayton Crook, Payton Cantrell, Caleb Taylor, John Iervolino, Colby Barnes, Jenna Cantrell, and Elizabeth Seber.

Tyler:Tyler Dunn studies a pen of goats before winning 2nd place in the region.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has made three arrests within the last week for domestic assault.

(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL- Intakes & Releases From: 4/09/2018 Thru: 4/16/2018)

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39 year old Troy Eugene Martin of Lee Braswell Road is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $2,500 and his court date is April 26.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Wednesday, April 4 a deputy responded to a call on Short Mountain Highway in reference to a domestic assault. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who had red marks, pumpknots and blood on the top and back of her head, and scratches on her left forearm. The woman claimed that Martin assaulted her. The woman said she and Martin had been dating.

30 year old Robert Grady Cox of Old Snow Hill Road, Dowelltown is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,500 and his court date is April 26.

Sheriff Ray said that on February 16 a deputy responded to South Mountain Street in reference to a domestic altercation on Old Snow Hill Road.

Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who said that on the night of February 15 she and her boyfriend, Cox got into a verbal altercation before Cox hit her with an open hand across the left side of her face causing redness and bruising. She was unable to call for help that night but reported it later.

40 year old Wesley Lynn Chandler of Page Drive is charged with domestic assault. He is under a $4,000 bond and his court date is May 17.

Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, April 11 at 11:30 p.m. a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Page Drive due to a physical domestic. Upon arrival the deputy spoke to the complainant who said that her boyfriend, Chandler had been abusing her throughout the day and that he punched her in the nose causing her to fear him. When asked if anything physical had occurred between them prior to the 911 call, Chandler said “we may have gotten into a scuffle”. Chandler was determined to have been the primary aggressor and was placed under arrest.

31 year old Nikita Clark of Patterson Road, Smithville is cited for possession of schedule II & IV controlled substances. Sheriff Ray said that on March 28 a deputy found in Clark’s possession a book bag containing six green pills believed to be xanax and a small baggie with one white pill thought to be Hydrocodone.

65 year old Rickie Edward Turner of Forrest Avenue is charged with driving under the influence. He was also cited for violation of the implied consent law. His bond is $2,500 and his court date is April 26.

Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, April 7 at 3:37 a.m. a deputy stopped a red Chevrolet Malibu because a brake light was out. The officer spoke with the driver, Turner and smelled a strong odor of alcohol on him. When asked Turner told the officer he had consumed three drinks. Turner was unsteady on his feet and refused to submit to field sobriety tasks or give blood for a test. He was placed under arrest.

37 year old Jimmy Lee Herman of Estie Griffith Road, McMinnville is charged with driving on a revoked license. He was further cited for driving on roadways laned for travel. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is April 26.

Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, April 14 a deputy spotted a silver car failing to maintain its lane of travel on Midway Road. The officer stopped the car on Adcock Cemetery Road and spoke with the driver, Herman. A routine driver license check through Central Dispatch revealed that they have been revoked since November 16, 2017 in Warren County for driving under the influence.