Mayor and Aldermen Say Goodbye to CMFO Janice Plemmons-Jackson (View Video Here)

September 12, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

After a 34-year association with the City of Smithville, Janice Plemmons-Jackson is stepping down as its Certified Municipal Financial Officer.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, she was presented an award from Mayor Josh Miller on behalf of himself and the Aldermen in recognition of her three decades of service.

In presenting the award, Mayor Miller read the message imprinted on it.

“There are not enough words to express the appreciation for your 30 plus years of dedicated service to the City of Smithville. You went far above and beyond the duties as a CMFO. Not only were you an employee, but you were also a friend to us all. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the City of Smithville.”

“It has been a pleasure and an honor to have worked with all of you. We have spent a lot of time together through the years and I have loved that you all have worked together and have had the best ideas for what is good for the city and that has made my job easy, and I appreciate that. I couldn’t have done this with just anybody, but you have been great to work with and I thank you very much”, said Plemmons-Jackson.

Although she will continue in her role until the end of the month, Monday night was her last official meeting with the Mayor and Aldermen.

“This is her last meeting tonight,” said Mayor Miller. “I really can’t say enough good things about her. When I came on the city council in 2013, I got to know Janice and have gotten to know her better since I have been the mayor. I hadn’t always agreed with her on everything, but I definitely value her opinion. Before we usually do a project, I will at least go to her and get her opinion financially on that and we have done a lot of projects in the last few years and done well. I thank the board for that as well as Janice. Cash flow has gone up and I credit Janice and the board for that. Ben Guffey will be taking Janice’s place, and I am proud of what he is already doing,” said Mayor Miller

While she is stepping down as the city’s CMFO, Janice said she will continue her own full time CPA practice, Plemmons-Jackson & Cabinas PLLC in Crossville where she resides and be available for some occasional consultation to the city on a limited basis if needed.

WJLE will feature Plemmons-Jackson in a more indepth story about her career in a later post.

In other business, the aldermen approved three rezoning requests, budget amendments, and reappointed Walter Burton to a new four term on the Smithville Electric System Board of Directors. The vote on Burton was 4-1. Alderman Danny Washer voted no.

Second and final reading action was taken following a public hearing on an ordinance to rezone property located on Miller Road near Foster Road from R-1 (Low Density Residential) to R-2 (High Density Residential).

The Smithville Planning Commission met on August 14 and voted to recommend approval of the rezoning request to the Mayor and Aldermen.

Plans are to develop residential housing on the property.

The aldermen also adopted on second and final reading following a public hearing another rezoning ordinance. This property (two parcels) is located on Short Mountain Highway near Bill Page Ball Park. The owner wants the site rezoned from R-1 (Low Density Residential) to C-1 (Commercial) for the intended purpose of a laundry mat.

The planning commission also recently voted to recommend the rezoning of this property.

The aldermen further adopted on second and final reading following a public hearing an ordinance as recommended by the city planning commission to rezone 600 & 602 Estes Street belonging to Dan Boyd from R-1 (low density) to R-2 (high density) residential.

In other business, the aldermen approved on second and final reading a budget amendment ordinance to make corrections from earlier calculations for municipal revenues and expenditures for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30,2024 and for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2023.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Miller took a moment to remember 9/11.

“It is September 11 and we know that 22 years ago the world was in chaos. There was a lot of devastation. We honor the ones who put their lives in danger for us, our police officers, firemen, paramedics, EMS, 911 communications, there are just so many people that do so much for us and we are grateful to them. Of course, today we also remember the lives of the almost 3,000 who were lost,” said Mayor Miller.

September 11, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Three people were arrested in a drug bust by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department last week.

20-year-old Ja’merrin Jameze Turner of Lebanon, 27-year-old Zachary Jacob Poss of the Loop Circle, and 25-year-old Courtney Brooke Shrum of the Loop Circle are each charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. Each is under a $10,000 bond and their court date is September 21.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on September 7 a detective and other members of the sheriff’s department executed a search warrant at 200 the Loop Circle, Smithville. During the search, officers found 23 white pills believed to be Gabapentin, a small amount of a green leafy substance thought to be marijuana, numerous baggies, and other baggies with a crystal-like substance and powder residue, scales, pipes, syringes, and other drug paraphernalia.

21-year-old Jordan Lee Golden of Old West Point Road is charged with criminal simulation and theft of property. His bond is $8,500 and his court date is September 12.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 7, Golden took a Glock model 22-.40 caliber handgun valued at $700 from a location on Old West Point Road without the owner’s consent. On the same day and location, Golden passed 7 counterfeit $100 bills for a total of $700 to the owner of the stolen gun to purchase it. Golden was arrested on September 1.

34-year-old Jonathan Paul Bynum of Smithville Highway, Silver Point is charged with vandalism, aggravated burglary, and theft of property. His bond is $20,000 and he will be in court September 21.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 30 Bynum broke into a home by forcing open the back door causing damage. Once inside the home, Bynum took a purse and left. He also damaged at 2007 Saab convertible by breaking out the windshield, damaging the gear shift, and backing the vehicle into a tree.

56-year-old Buddy Gene Williams of Academy Avenue, Alexandria is charged with violation of an order of protection. He is under a $5,000 bond.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 31 Williams called the workplace of a woman who he was ordered to keep away from. Williams allegedly called the business and asked to speak to someone in the produce department where the victim worked. She picked up the phone and discovered that Williams was on the line. Williams continued talking to the victim for several minutes after he realized it was her.

38-year-old Mark Emory Johnson of South College Street, Smithville is charged with burglary and theft of property. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance September 14.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 4 Johnson broke into an outbuilding on Page Drive, Smithville and stole a welder valued at $243.

44-year-old Ricky Allen Ashford II of East Main Street, Liberty is charged with driving on a suspended license. He is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is September 21.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 7 a deputy spotted Ashford driving on Midway Road knowing that Ashford’s license was suspended. The officer pulled over the vehicle and confirmed through central dispatch that Ashford’s driver license was suspended. He had been cited the previous day for the same offense by the Smithville Police Department.

41-year-old Jennifer Kaylene Carter of Wolf Creek Road is charged with DUI and violation of the implied consent law. Her court date is September 28, and her bond is $3,500.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 9 a deputy was summoned to Cookeville Highway due to a report of a reckless driver. Upon arrival the officer spotted a White Toyota Tacoma and noticed that the automobile failed to maintain its lane of travel. He pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Carter whose speech was slurred, and her eyes were watery. Both Carter and her vehicle smelled of alcohol. She submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks, and she refused to give a blood sample for chemical testing.

54-year-old Shawn Christian Barr of Calhoun Street, Smithville is charged with theft of property. His bond is $8,000 and he will be in court September 28.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 6 Barr went to Toad Road and stole a 16-foot dove tail trailer valued at $4,000.

September 11, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A local minister is facing charges in Macon County stemming from a domestic situation involving his daughter and runaway granddaughter.

68-year-old David Lunsford is charged with custodial interference and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He will make an appearance in Macon County General Sessions Court on September 20. He is free on a $3,500 bond.

According to Macon County authorities, Lunsford’s 14-year-old granddaughter ran away from home on August 12 during the time when her mother was supposed to have parental custody of the child. During the investigation, Macon County detectives contacted Lunsford who said he could not provide any information as to the child’s whereabouts because she had sought refuge in his church. Claiming that Lunsford did not deny knowing the child’s whereabouts, detectives charged him with custodial interference and contributing to the delinquency of a minor for basically allegedly interfering in the return of the child to her mother.

When contacted by WJLE Friday, Lunsford said he is innocent of the charges against him and denies assertions by Macon County authorities that he knew then or knows now the location of the child other than communication relayed to him that she is at a safe house undisclosed to him.

Lunsford claims he had been aware of a domestic violence environment the teen had been exposed to at home which caused her to leave and seek refuge.

According to the affidavit of complaint in the arrest warrant, On August 12, Detective Elliott Sandifer and another detective (Woodard) began investigating a runaway juvenile case. The child’s mother, according to the warrant, was supposed to have custody of the child from August 11 at 5:30 p.m. until August 18 at 5:30 p.m. but on the morning of August 12, the child ran away from her mother’s home. The child has been charged as a runaway through the Macon County Juvenile Court. On August 14, Detective Woodard spoke with Lunsford, and he (Lunsford) stated that he could not give him any information due to being the child’s pastor, and the fact that she is seeking refuge in the Church. According to the warrant, Mr. Lunsford did not deny knowing the child’s whereabouts. Therefore, according to the warrant, he was hiding the child from her mother during her rightful parenting time. Due to the fact that the child is a runaway, I (Sandifer)am charging Mr. Lunsford with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. As he did not return the child to her mother, and he aided or abetted or encouraged the child in the commission of an act of delinquency or unruly conduct. This did occur in Macon County,” the warrant stated.

Lunsford’s response to the charges is as follows:

“(The runaway) is actually my granddaughter but she is not just my granddaughter, she was converted in my church, and I Baptized her. She is a member of our church, so she is also one of my parishioners. I was under the impression that a church, based on our first amendment rights could give shelter to a teen that was fleeing domestic violence. It was a unique situation for me because I had first-hand knowledge and had witnessed the abuse so for me it was not hearsay. When I first got in the ministry and was licensed, they flat out told us that if we had first-hand knowledge of abuse and didn’t act on it that we could be held liable for that”.

Lunsford claims efforts have been made on behalf of the child through the legal system but to no avail.

“I went to court to get guardianship of my granddaughter about a year and a half ago but lost the case even though DCS had recommended that she remain with me. The child lived with me for the first four years of her life, and I have partially raised her,” said Lunsford.

The child’s mother and father, according to Lunsford are divorced and have 50/50 custody but the teen allegedly continued to experience problems at home, especially with her mom. After running away, Lunsford said the child sought refuge at his church.

“A couple of volunteers went to get her and put her in a safe house. I didn’t even go pick her up. She was then enrolled in school so she wouldn’t be truant. I contacted both of the parents the next day and told them the child had come here to seek sanctuary in the church and it was being provided for her. She is still at a safe house, not with either custodial parent, or with me,” said Lunsford.

Lunsford said he questions why authorities didn’t take the child from the safe house where she was staying and return her to her dad like they said they were going to, if custodial interference is an issue.

“I know they were just after me or they would have taken the child out of the safe house and put her with her dad like they were supposed to,” said Lunsford.

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