Another Recovery Success Story!

May 16, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Another recovery success story!

The DeKalb County Recovery Court is commemorating May being National Treatment Court Month by recognizing graduates of the program.

Today’s feature is on Tamara Michelle Williamson, who graduated from the DeKalb County Recovery Court on December 1, 2021.

Like so many others, Tamara began struggling with addiction at an early age, caught in what seemed to be a never-ending cycle. She eventually landed in jail and lost custody of her three children. After turning to God, Tamara began to turn her life around and discovered the Recovery Court. Today, Tamara has left her past behind. She has her sobriety. She regained custody of her children during her time in Recovery Court and she married on March 1st. Tamara is now regional manager of Gem-Quality in Gallatin, a company associated with the automotive and manufacturing industry.

In an interview with WJLE Monday, Tamara told the story in her own words.

“I struggled with addiction from an early age. Even in my early addiction I prayed to God to deliver me. In my early 30’s I ended up in and out of jail. Its not where I wanted to be but where I needed to be. I knew I needed help and guidance breaking the non-ending cycle I had been living in. That’s when I asked the Recovery Court for the help I needed,” said Williamson.

“At first, I was defiant and wanted to do things my own way but then I was put in a home with other ladies that were like minded as me and wanting a better life. I started seeking after God again and found that the more I sought Him the further away from the bad habits I got. My life started changing. I learned accountability, integrity, and my thinking and attitude changed. Recovery Court saved my life,” said Williamson.

Three years ago, Tamara took a job at Gem-Quality and has risen through the ranks to become a leader in the company. “I started at a job on the ground floor inspecting parts and in the last three years I have worked my way up to regional manager,” she said.

On the Gem-Quality website, Tamara is mentioned on the “Meet the Team” page.

“Tamara brings over 10 years manufacturing experience to the team. She is a driven and goal oriented professional dedicated to helping her customers meet their quality needs. She leads her team using a lean approach to help improve the team’s efficiency while keeping quality the primary objective. While she has only been in management a short time, her eagerness to learn and her desire for her team’s success has proven her to be a great leader in all her given tasks. A problem solver by nature allows her to establish effective strategies to work through issues in a quick, yet effective manner. A proven asset to Gem-Quality that has worked her way through the ranks from the floor to office, she understands the needs of her teams and customers which gives her an advantage to get the job done quickly yet effectively,”

To those who may still be trapped in addiction, Tamara offers some advice.

“Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask somebody for help. That’s what stood in my way for the longest time. Always know it is never too late to change what you do and who you are. Define your path in life that God intends for you to be,” said Williamson.

“This story is just one powerful reminder of when one person rises out of addiction and finds recovery, we all rise. And it is just one of many stories that demonstrate why treatment courts like the DCRC are so critical in the effort to address addiction and related crime,” said DeKalb County Recovery Court Coordinator Kate Arnold.

May is National Treatment Court Month and the perfect opportunity to celebrate graduates from the local treatment court, DeKalb County Recovery Court (DCRC). DCRC represents a compassionate approach with much accountability. This program is an intense one-year-plus treatment program that ensures each person in the program receives an individualized, evidence-based treatment plan. The DCRC team identifies and meets individual needs beyond clinical treatment such as education, employment, housing, family reunification, and health care.

The DeKalb County Recovery Court Team includes Judge Brandon Cox, Kate Arnold (Coordinator), Rhonda Tiefenauer (case manager), Darnell Gurley (case manager), Lary Latzman (Certified Peer Support Specialist/Volunteer Behavior Health), Jackie Vickers (treatment provider, Buffalo Valley), Abigail Wood (DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department), James Cornelius (Smithville Police Department), Clara Knowles (probation), John & Kay Quintero (mental health provider, Haven of Hope), Greg Strong (District Attorney Office), and Allison West (Public Defender Office).

May 16, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A man will be facing a judge this week after he allegedly assaulted a correctional officer twice last Tuesday.

28-year-old Dustin Allen Sullivan of Parsley Road, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault and assault on a first responder.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on May 9 while trying to detain Sullivan after being hit in the head with a closed fist, a correctional officer at the jail was also bitten by Sullivan on the right side off his forearm breaking the skin barrier and bringing blood. Bond for Sullivan is $10,000 and his court date is May 18.

48-year-old Ginger Elaine Moore of McMinnville Highway, Smithville is charged with violating an order of protection. Her bond is $3,500 and she will be in court on May 25.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 8 a deputy was summoned to a home on McMinnville Highway and upon arrival spoke with a woman who said that her daughter, Moore was at her residence. After speaking with Moore and doing a background check through central dispatch, the officer learned that an active order of protection was put in place two days earlier (May 6) against Moore to keep away from her mother.

22-year-old Elijah Knite Bass of Midway Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court May 25.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 9 a deputy was summoned to the sheriff’s department. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a woman who came to the jail to report that she and her boyfriend, Bass had gotten into an argument which became physical after coming home from Murfreesboro. The woman said Bass hit her on the face with a closed fist, bit her, and then pushed her out the door and onto the ground. According to the deputy, the woman had a bloody red spot where she had been bitten, a busted lip, blood on her shirt, and dirt marks on her leg.

33-year-old Aaron Mitchell Washer of Juniper Lane, Smithville is charged with domestic assault, vandalism, and violation of an order of protection. His bond is $7,000 and he will make a court appearance May 18.

Sheriff Ray said on April 30 a deputy was summoned to the jail where a woman had arrived to file a report about a domestic assault. According to the woman, Washer broke the driver side window out of her son’s car that she was in at Four Seasons Marina and then hit her in the face resulting in swelling around her right eye. The officer went to the scene and found shards of glass in the area of the parking lot of the marina where the woman said the attack occurred. Washer was also found in the same area. According to Sheriff Ray, Washer is under an active order of protection to keep away from this woman.

53-year-old Andy Dale Shelton of Shiloh Lane, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault (2 counts), vandalism under $1,000, and possession of a prohibited weapon.  His bond is $12,000 and he will be in court May 18.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 1 a deputy was called to Shiloh Lane due to an altercation between neighbors.  Upon arrival, the officer spoke with two people who said their neighbor, Shelton had come onto their property and pulled up marker stakes that had been placed there the day before by a surveyor company which cost them $300. They claim Shelton assaulted one of them with his fist and a property stake and that he threatened them while brandishing a set of brass knuckles and claiming he would burn their house down with them inside. The victims video recorded the incident with their mobile phones.

42-year-old Eddy Deloyed Farris of Andrew Street, Smithville is charged with evading arrest, driving on a suspended license, and reckless endangerment. His bond is $16,000.

Sheriff Ray said that on April 25 a deputy spotted a black GMC truck driven by Farris run a stop sign and speed down Jacobs Pillar Road. The officer got behind the truck and activated his emergency lights and sirens but Farris initially failed to stop. During the pursuit, Farris crossed the center line several times traveling at a high rate of speed on the wrong side of the road putting the public at risk of imminent danger.  He was subsequently pulled over. The officer learned through central dispatch that Farris’ driver license was suspended.

47-year-old Michael Lorimer Edwards of Pine Grove Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court May 25.

Sheriff Ray said that on April 27 while parked at the First Assembly of God Church on Highway 56 north, a deputy spotted the operator of a white GMC Yukon who appeared to be passed out behind the wheel while failing to maintain his lane of travel, swerving into the median and then back into oncoming traffic. The officer pulled over the vehicle and confronted the driver, Edwards who appeared to be under the influence. Edwards’ speech was slurred and although he submitted to field sobriety tasks, Edwards performed poorly. He also submitted to the implied consent law by giving a blood sample.

May 15, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Members of the Smithville Church of Christ will be rolling up their sleeves and pitching in to help show their Christian love for others during the congregation’s annual Work Camp scheduled for June 12-15.

The Work Camp is an annual home rehabilitation/beautification project organized by the Smithville Church of Christ. The church began the Work Camp as a means of helping less fortunate residents of the county do some fix up and cleanup projects around their homes.

“We are not professionals, but we have a few people really skilled at carpentry. We can’t come in and remodel your house but if something is wrong, we are glad to look at it to see if we can do something. We have fixed holes in floors and ceilings. We build a lot of wheelchair ramps for folks. We do brush cutting, tree trimming, gutter cleaning, pressure washing, mowing, weed eating, and other things to improve the outside of your property,” said spokesperson Casey Midgett.

The Smithville Work Camp concentrates its efforts in the Smithville-DeKalb County area. If you would like to have your home considered for the project, contact the church at 615-597-4159 by Friday, June 2 to acquire an application and release form. The church is located at 520 Dry Creek Road, Smithville. Applications are also available at local banks.

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