Nashville Man Sentenced for Defrauding Elderly Smithville Woman

November 24, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A 69-year-old Nashville businessman accused of financially exploiting a 74-year-old Smithville woman appeared for sentencing in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Tuesday, November 19. He was previously charged with similar offenses in Williamson and Rutherford counties.

Michael David Verble, a native of Livingston raised in Hot Springs Arkansas, was indicted in July 2023 for financial exploitation of an elderly adult. Verble’s professional background was listed as having experience in the health care, financial services and insurance industries. On Tuesday Verble entered a guilty plea to the charge and received a four-year sentence to serve concurrently with cases in Rutherford and Williamson counties. He must make restitution of $3,500 to the victim by March 31. 2025. Verble was given jail credit of 419 days.

Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong told WJLE last October that Verble took $3,500 from the Smithville woman to set up a trust account and never followed through.

The indictment alleges that “on or about October 2019, Verble did unlawfully and knowingly through the use of deception financially exploit an elderly DeKalb County woman in violation of state law.”

30-year-old Sonni Michael Fullilove entered a plea to possession with intent to sell a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams. He received an eight-year TDOC sentence to serve with a furlough to a treatment program. The sentence is to run concurrently with another case against him. He was fined $2,000.

32-year-old Joshua McAllen Beckham entered a plea to two counts of possession with intent to sell a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams and received an eight-year TDOC sentence in each case to run concurrently and suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 in each case and given 97 days jail credit.

37-year-old Troy Allen Cunningham entered a plea to two counts of sale of methamphetamine over 0.5 grams and received an eight-year sentence suspended to supervised probation and fined $2,000 in each case.

November 23, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

“An attitude of gratitude”

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 54th annual Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning which has become a tradition leading up to Thanksgiving Day and this year’s guest speaker was Ralph Vaughn whose message was to be thankful, set goals and mission statements for our lives, and to have a positive attitude.

“How often do I have an attitude of gratitude,” said Vaughn. Since the emphasis today is on prayer, unless we have an attitude of gratitude our prayer life will not be effective. I need to wake every day and thank the Lord for each moment in time, he said

“Prayer is not about give me, give me, give me but to say Lord help me to know you better. Help me to love you more. Thank you for explaining to me and showing me the importance and the real meaning of love. Lord, please help me to serve you better and honor you more. Again, having an attitude of gratitude. I am directing these questions to me and maybe let you lend an ear,” Vaughn said.

“Having a daily goal and significantly thinking about a spiritual goal, more than business, more than community, and more than family. Something that really causes me and maybe you to think about is what am I doing today and do I have a goal that is truly in line with where I want to be at the end of the day or at the end of life and then having a mission statement that keeps you thinking 365 days a year about how you want to be defined in your relationship with the Lord”.

“Our attitude determines our altitude whether you see the sunshine or not. Its up there. Thank the Lord the sun is always shining. I am challenging myself today, but I challenge you with that thought. Our attitude determines our altitude. As King Solomon said whatever we constantly think about we will become that person. My prayer is that the Lord continues to bless all of you and me today. With that I will say let it be, let it be. Thank the Lord,” said Vaughn.

Vaughn’s career spanned 21 years in radio broadcasting and 18 years as the president of various chambers of commerce. Ralph’s professional experience also includes property management, public relations, and marketing.

The program, held at the Smithville FBC Life Enrichment Center, featured prelude music by Susan Hinton on keyboard; the Pledge of Allegiance by Emma Adkins, DTC/Leadership DeKalb Team; National Anthem by Suzanne Slager; Opening Prayer & Blessing by Pastor Chad Ramsey of Smithville FBC; Breakfast prepared by the Smithville FBC men’s group; drinks served by the Leadership DeKalb Class of 2025; special music by Susan England, Ms Senior Tennessee America 2018; Scripture Reading by Hannah Keith and Bryna Pelham of DCHS & Leadership DeKalb; Prayer for Military and Emergency Responders by Isaac Gray, Pastor of the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church; Prayer for Children and Schools by Dawn Doll of Glamping Adventure; and the introduction of the guest speaker by Smithville Alderman Shawn Jacobs. Following Vaughn’s remarks was a prayer for the local community and the lost by Connor Adcock of Middle Tennessee Natural Gas and a prayer for the state and country by Tom Clark of Lifeway.

November 23, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

After serving 17 years as the City Attorney for the Town of Alexandria, Vester Parsley has apparently stepped down from that position.

The Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen have scheduled a special called meeting for Wednesday, November 27 at 7 p.m. at city hall to hire a new town attorney.

Meanwhile the Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen will have a workshop Tuesday, November 26 at 5 p.m. at city hall to meet with the owners of the doctor’s building to discuss a proposal by the police chief to lease the building and to relocate the Alexandria Police Department headquarters there.

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