Marijuana Patches Spotted in Helicopter Flyover of DeKalb County

June 30, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Members of the Governor’s Task Force on Marijuana Eradication conducted a helicopter flyover of DeKalb County two weeks ago and found several patches.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said around 400 plants were found and seized during the operation.

During the first day of the flyover on Tuesday, June 16 marijuana patches were found off Jefferson Road, Seven Springs Road, and Lakeview Drive off Highway 56 North. The following day, Wednesday June 17 marijuana was also spotted from the flyover near Goose Creek.

No arrests have yet been made.

“We are actively investigating these cases to determine if we can charge anyone,” said Sheriff Ray.

Founded in 1983, the Governor’s Task Force on Marijuana Eradication (GTFME) is a partnership between TBI, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the Tennessee National Guard. Throughout the year, the Task Force seeks out marijuana grow operations and arrests individuals who knowingly participate in this illegal activity.

June 30, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro claimed another Grand Champion Fiddling Title at the 47th annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival in 2018. Her third since 2012.

Maddie is the focus of today’s WJLE Fiddlers Jamboree “Special Moments” series this week.

Denton, who won the Junior Fiddling contest that year, beat out the Senior Fiddling Champion Gail Johnson of Lavergne in the showdown for the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award.

Maddie first won the title in 2012 and again in 2014, beating out her mother, Marcia Denton both times. Maddie is also a past fiddling winner in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners at the Jamboree.

(View a portion of her Fiddle-Off performance here)

June 30, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville’s plans to build new sidewalks and improve pedestrian crossings with up to $1 million in grant funding will have a wait a little longer.

During a special meeting Thursday evening, June 25 Mayor Josh Miller informed the aldermen that the city’s grant for a Tennessee Department of Transportation Multi-Modal Access Grant has been denied.

This program is a 95/5% match for construction of up to $1 million. If fully funded, the city would have received $950,000 in grant funding with a $50,000 local match requirement for construction of new sidewalk and crosswalk improvements along the State Route 26 (Highway 70) and State Route 56 (Congress Boulevard) corridors and intersections. Ragan-Smith Associates of Nashville designed the project at a cost of up to $5,000.

“We were not successful in getting the Multi-Modal Grant this year and one of the reasons they said we were not successful is because the gap is so long where there is nothing (sidewalks) and it (grant application) didn’t score high enough,” said Mayor Miller.

The city plans to change the scope of the project and re-apply for the grant next year. Another company, James C. Haley of Nashville, will handle the design and engineering for this project with no up-front fees. Haley would be paid for services rendered only if the city gets the grant.

“The scope of this project would be sidewalks so far out Highway 70 (Sparta Highway) and possibly redoing the intersection on Highway 56/70. Maybe, if there is money left, doing something on the Short Mountain Highway/Highway 70 intersection as well to dress it up,” added Mayor Miller.

If approved the city could get up to $950,000 in grant funding with a local match of $50,000.

The grant application will be filed and if approved be administered on behalf of the City by the Upper Cumberland Development District.

In other business, Renee Steff has been appointed to succeed Dr. Steven Cooper as a member of the Smithville Industrial Development Board. Cooper has resigned.

In Public Works, Tyler Fulton has been hired at Greenbrook Park to replace another worker who has resigned and Michael Wiley will be going to work in the sanitation department to replace Darrell Atkins who has retired.

In the Police Department Cody Jenkins has been hired as a patrol officer. He comes from the Watertown Police Department.

Officer Brandon Donnell has been promoted to detective to fill a vacancy.

Officer Will Judkins has been promoted to the rank of sergeant and Officer Tyler Patterson will become a corporal in charge of the Field Training Officer (FTO) program.

Sergeant Travis Bryant will be going back to patrolman.

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