Several People Suffer Minor Injuries in Sunday Crashes

October 6, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A woman and three children were injured in a Sunday afternoon crash at the intersection of US 70 and Highway 83.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 23 year old Chelsea Lee of Cookeville was turning left onto Allen Ferry Road from US Highway 70 in a 2020 Lincoln Navigator when she struck the side of a 2007 Hyundai GST, driven by 21 year old Dusten Sutherland of Smithville who was west on Highway 70. Lee’s vehicle came to final rest against a stop sign at the intersection of Allen Ferry Road and US Highway 70. Sutherland’s automobile came to final rest off the right side of US Highway 70.

Lee and the three children with her ages 2, 4, & 6 were all properly restrained but injured and taken to the hospital where they were treated and released. Sutherland was also wearing his seat belt but received minor injuries.

Meanwhile an 18 year old woman suffered minor injuries in a one auto crash Sunday night on Highway 70 east.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Austin Faith Navarez of Amarillo, Texas was traveling east on Sparta Highway in a 2002 GMC Yukon and while negotiating (exiting) a curve, she met a westbound vehicle and was momentarily blinded by its headlights. Navarez lost control, ran off the right side of the roadway behind a guardrail striking a ditch, and then continued into a wooded area on a steep downgrade, hitting several small trees and underbrush. The Yukon came to final rest after striking a large tree. Navarez was wearing her seatbelt.

October 5, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A Cannon County man who broke into a local body shop over the weekend and stole a car and thousands of dollars worth of tools has been caught thanks to the Smithville Police Department.

22 year old Joseph Morgan of Sycamore Creek Road, Woodbury is charged with burglary, felony theft, and felony evading. His bond is $56,000 and he will be in General Sessions Court October 21.

According to Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins and Lieutenant Detective James Cornelius, Morgan pried open a side door and entered Custom Collision Auto Body & Repair on South Congress Boulevard around 11 p.m. Saturday night, October 2. Once inside Morgan found a Kia Soul which belonged to a customer that was in the shop for repairs and began loading into the car thousands of dollars worth of tools along with the shop’s DVR surveillance system.

While Morgan was still inside the business, a Smithville Police Officer was on patrol in the area and spotted three people behind Smithville Elementary School who were there dumpster diving. The officer got the identities of the three and ordered them to leave. Not knowing Morgan was inside the body shop a few feet away, the officer left the area and continued patrolling around Food Lion where he found people behind that store. When he chased them away, the officer returned to patrol the parking lot of the county complex and noticed Morgan near the shop. Morgan had opened the bay door from inside the shop and driven the Kia Soul out of the building. After Morgan saw the officer, he sped away. The officer got in pursuit of the vehicle and was joined by other patrolmen. Although police couldn’t catch up to it at the time, the car was later found abandoned off Holmes Creek Road near Redneck Beach but the stolen tools were not in it.

During his investigation, Detective Cornelius learned that several businesses and other establishments near the scene of the crime captured video with their surveillance systems. He then spent hours reviewing the footage which helped identify Morgan as a suspect. Detective Cornelius also discovered that one of the people dumpster diving behind the elementary school was an acquaintance of Morgan although he has not been connected with Morgan’s illegal activities that night.

Police located Morgan Sunday and brought him in for questioning but he initially denied committing the crimes. Morgan was later released as more evidence was being gathered. By Monday evening Detective Cornelius was ready to make an arrest and again picked up Morgan.Once confronted with the proof, Morgan confessed and led officers to the place where he had ditched the stolen tools near the scene of the crime before making his getaway.

The stolen Kia Soul and almost all the stolen tools were recovered. There was some minor damage to the body shop where Morgan had pried open a door to gain entry. The value of the stolen car is $23,490; $20,000 in shop tools, and $2,300 for the DVR equipment which has not been recovered.

Chief Collins said he is proud of his team of officers and detectives for the work done in solving this case.

October 5, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The stars of the DeKalb Saints Football and Cheerleading programs came out Monday night for the annual awards banquet held at the First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center.

The biggest honors of the night went to Most Valuable Player Jon Hendrix and Most Valuable Cheerleader Deanna Agee.

The Offensive Player of the Year award was presented to running back Juan Ortega, while Wyatt Carter received the Defensive Player of the Year honor. Bryson Arnold was recognized with the Best Lineman award, while Turner Bryant was named as Most Improved. The “Saints” award was presented to Aiden Turner while Jon Hendrix, Juan Ortega, and Wyatt Carter received DMS Football All Conference awards.

Meanwhile Khloe Grandstaff won the Best Cheerleading Stunts award, while Landen Tubbs received the award for Best Jumps. Brooklynn Blaylock won the Outstanding Leadership award, while the Most Spirited award winner was Lillie Young. The Most Improved award went to Jaycee Daley.

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