DeKalb Third Graders Spend a Day on the Farm

September 22, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A day on the farm!

More than 200 DeKalb County third graders went on a field trip Wednesday to the Jimmy Herndon farm in the Blue Springs Community for a day of learning and fun.

Farm Day has become an annual local event sponsored by the DeKalb County Farm Bureau and many other community supporters to expose youngsters to farm life giving them a chance to meet farmers, see farm animals up close, and take part in agriculture related activities.

Leigh Fuson, Chairman of the DeKalb County Young Farmers and Ranchers organization, said in a day and age when many are removed from the farm, teaching kids about agriculture is more important than ever.

“We want to let them know where food comes from. That it doesn’t just come from the grocery store. Most kids are five to six generations removed from the farm now, so this lets them see a real working farm, where the food comes from and the work that goes into it,” she said.

“We had around 220 kids here, all third graders from Northside Elementary and DeKalb West Schools. They got to touch the farm animals, make butter from cream, shell corn, and see everything firsthand. I think the teachers and parents who came with them enjoyed it as much as the kids,” said Fuson.

Farm Day was also supported by the DeKalb Young Farmers and Ranchers, DeKalb 4-H and FFA, Prichard Foods, Harmony Lane Farm, USDA Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil and Water Conservation District, TN Forestry Dept, TN Wildlife Resources Agency, DeKalb County Fire Department, Caney Fork Electric, Edgar Evins State Park, Cummins Falls State Park, DeKalb/Rutherford Farmers Co-op, First Bank, Tisdale Dairy Farm, and numerous other volunteers.

September 21, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A 35-year-old man who allegedly beat his girlfriend to death with a hammer at their Smithville home early Wednesday morning has been charged with first degree murder.

Simon Rodriguez Martinez is being held without bond in the DeKalb County Jail in the death of 39-year-old Yuri Guerra. His court date is September 29.

The case is being investigated by the Smithville Police Department with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and District Attorney General’s Office.

The incident occurred at the couple’s trailer home at 620 South Mountain Street.

“Wednesday morning around 5:45 a.m. the Smithville Police Department was dispatched to 620 South Mountain Street for a possible domestic,” said Police Chief Mark Collins. “Upon arrival officers found a female victim inside the home with obvious physical trauma. She was later pronounced dead at the scene. SPD also removed three children, ages 14, 5, and 5 months from the home and they were placed in the custody of the Department of Children Services. The victim was transported to the Nashville Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. An arrest has been made in the case. 35-year-old Simon Rodriguez Martinez has been charged with first degree murder and he is being held without bond. The investigation is still on-going. TBI and the DA’s Office are also helping with the case,” said Chief Collins.

According to the arrest warrant “On September 21 in the early morning hours Simon Rodriguez Martinez did intentionally, with malice and forethought murder Yuri Guerra by repeatedly hitting her in the head with a hammer. Martinez did admit to attempting to clean the blood up from the scene and take a shower. Martinez also admitted to moving the murder weapon from the scene as well as throwing the clothes he had been wearing in the trash. Martinez did confess to hitting Guerra with the hammer after an argument had begun. Martinez’s stepdaughter did state during a forensic interview that she witnessed Martinez hit her mother in the head several times with a hammer”.

September 21, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Police have made three arrests in a vandalism investigation at Greenbrook Park.

Chief Mark Collins said 19-year-old Daisy Morales and 19-year-old Alex Diaz Vidal are each charged with vandalism over $1,000 and burglary. A juvenile was also involved and will be charged in a juvenile petition. Both Morales and Vidal have been released on their own recognizance and will appear in General Sessions Court on October 6.

The three are believed to have entered the park sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday morning and spray-painted vulgar graffiti on the amphitheater and playground equipment.

Greenbrook Park was closed Tuesday and is closed today (Wednesday) as city employees work to remove the paint.

“I want to commend my officers and detectives for getting on this case and making an arrest quickly,” said Chief Collins.

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