A Smithville woman is charged with assaulting her sister after breaking into the home and trying to take an urn containing their mother’s cremated ashes.

22 year old Katelyn Michelle Walz of Robertson Street will make a court appearance July 5 on charges of domestic assault and aggravated burglary. Her bond is $15,000.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on June 24 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Redman Road due to an unwanted guest. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Walz and her sister. The officer learned that the two of them had gotten into a physical altercation after Walz had kicked in the door of the residence and took their mother’s urn with her ashes in it. After the siblings went outside and began arguing, Walz allegedly grabbed her sister by the hair and started punching her. The victim suffered various injuries to her face, neck, and legs.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, 32 year old Tracy Ann Thomason of the Loop, Smithville is charged with public intoxication and introduction of contraband into a penal institution. Thomason’s bond is $6,500 and her court date is July 12. Sheriff Ray said that on June 25 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Holmes Creek Road at Allen Ferry Road for a domestic. Upon the deputy’s arrival, he spoke with Thomason who was very jittery, anxious, unable to stand still, and argumentative. Thomason was unaware of her surroundings. She was placed under arrest for her safety and that of the public. After being brought to the jail a female correctional officer conducted a search of Thomason and found a bag of a clear crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine in her bra.

For several years, DeKalb County has received state grant funding for litter pickup on county roads using inmate labor from the sheriff’s department. Part of the grant funds are also used to conduct educational campaigns to teach children and adults about the importance of keeping our community clean and beautiful.

The DeKalb County Commission Monday night adopted a resolution authorizing an application for a new $44,200 Litter and Trash Collecting Grant for the 2018-19 year from the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Most of the grant, $30,000 is used to help fund the salary of a sheriff’s department employee to transport and supervise inmates selected to participate in the roadside litter pickup effort. Some of the money, $5,360 is used for materials and supplies such as garbage bags, fuel, etc while the rest, $8,840 goes for public awareness and outreach efforts including student education materials offered through the county mayor’s office.

The success of the county roadside litter grant program in recent years has led to additional grant funding for litter pickup on state roads in DeKalb County.

This program provides grant funding in the amount of $45,883 using inmate labor to cover over 100 miles of state roadways in three to four cycles during the year. The state highways included this year are Highway 56 north and south from the Warren to Putnam County line, Highway 70 east and west from the White to Wilson County line, Highway 53 in Alexandria and Liberty, Highway 96 in Liberty and from Dale Ridge Road to Medley-Amonette Road at the Putnam County line, Highway 141 from Center Hill Dam to the county line, Allen Ferry Road (Highway 83) from Highway 56 to State 146, Highway 146 (Short Mountain Highway), and Highway 288.

Funds from this grant are also used to help pay the salary of another full time sheriff’s department employee to transport and supervise inmates selected to participate in this program and this employee may be used for other duties as well. “We can use him to help non profit organizations such as food pantries, the fair, the Jamboree, and other things that are non profit. We help some of our local churches do things and take care of cemeteries that have been abandoned. It opens up more opportunities for us to get out in our community and help people,” said Sheriff Patrick Ray.

Inmates chosen for both litter pickup programs are non-violent offenders and for every day they work, they get a day off their jail sentence.

“This program is very beneficial, not only for DeKalb County, but it is also an opportunity for inmates to give back to their communities. We are very fortunate to be able to continue receiving these grants from year to year. It helps make our county roadsides look better,” said Sheriff Ray.

The commission Monday night also approved budget amendments and reappointed Annette Greek and Brenda Hooper to another three year term on the DeKalb County Library Board of Trustees.