2021 DeKalb Recovery Court Graduate Joins the DCRC Team as Case Manager

May 2, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

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 our 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 is commemorating the month by recognizing graduates of the program.

Today’s feature is on Darnell Gurley, a 2021 graduate of the DeKalb County Recovery Court who is now a case worker in the program. He shared his story in a recent question and answer discussion with WJLE.

Q. “Introduce yourself and what you do?”

“My name is Darnell Gurley. I am 44 years old and the newest member of the Recovery Court Team. I am the new case manager. I am very new at this position going on my third week”.

Q. “What led you to the DeKalb County Recovery Court?”

“I had struggled from addiction at an early age. In my late teenage years I had dealt with a lot of mental health issues and I had hit a pretty low point where I wasn’t for sure where I wanted to be in the world anymore. As I was in jail, the only thing I hadn’t done before was ask for help”

Q. What happened when you decided to seek help through the treatment court program?

“They taught me to be a better version of myself. They laid out structure for me. It caused me not to isolate myself so much. They gave me the tools with counseling, classes, and anything I had an issue with they were willing to talk to me and work things out. They were very interested in what was going on in my life and although they helped it was totally on me to put the work in”.

Q. What happened after your completed the treatment court program?

“I graduated on March 24, 2021 and I continued to stay in contact with my sponsor and I still do NA meetings and I try to do anything asked of me such as public speaking to share my story and volunteer work”.

Q. How has the DeKalb County Recovery Court made a difference in your life?

“It has taught me to be a better person and more responsible. I have learned to hold myself accountable. I think its important as someone with a history of addiction who went through the program to be able to help other people struggling with addiction. Because of my experience, I feel they can relate to me knowing I understand what they are going through. Recovery Court or any type of treatment that betters yourself, I would encourage others to seek that help because there are programs and opportunities out there such as this to help you treat this disease”

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.

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 2, 2023
By:

Three members of the DeKalb County Fire Department graduated from the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Training Academy’s Live Burn Firefighter I course that was held Saturday and Sunday, April 29th and 30th in Bell Buckle.

According to Training Officer Luke Green, Parker Vantrese of the Liberty Station, Terry Phillips of the Four Seasons Station, and Mark Drennen of the Liberty Station participated in this 16-hour course which requires students to demonstrate skills in search and rescue and fire attack in the following scopes: passenger vehicles, ground cover, interior of structures and commercial buildings.

“We are extremely grateful for and proud of members like Parker, Terry, and Mark who dedicate their time and efforts into better preparing themselves to serve our community. Today, our department stands better prepared to respond to emergencies because of the high standards of training we have set for our firefighters and their willingness to meet those expectations,” said Training Officer Green.

May 2, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A McMinnville man who led a county deputy on a high-speed pursuit early Sunday morning before crashing his car on Jacobs Pillar Road remains in the hospital and is facing several charges when he gets out.

28-year-old Chase Fults was airlifted after the 2:30 a.m. crash Sunday morning and at last report was in Vanderbilt hospital with serious injuries.

According to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy spotted Fults’ 2008 Audi on Highway 70 east (Sparta Highway) near the location of the former Dots Sport Print and noticed it failing to maintain its lane of travel. He got behind the vehicle and tried to pull it over near Terrell Road, but the car accelerated. A high-speed pursuit ensued for several miles into Smithville and onto Short Mountain Highway and then to Jacobs Pillar Road before the car crashed.

Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, who assisted Trooper Dylan Palmer in the wreck investigation said Fults failed to negotiate a curve on Jacobs Pillar Road and went off the left side of the road and through a fence before hitting a large tree. Fults was ejected from the car. He was treated by DeKalb EMS and taken to a helicopter landing zone nearby where he was airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital.

Both the Sheriff’s Department and THP have charges pending against Fults including evading arrest, reckless endangerment, failing to maintain lane of travel, excessive speed, and possibly DUI.

Meanwhile, the THP investigated two other crashes Monday.

Trooper Bobby Johnson said a head-on wreck at Bright Hill Road involved two drivers, neither of whom was believed to have been seriously hurt.

He said 67-year-old Ronald Taylor of Smithville was traveling west in a 2011 Toyota Tundra when he veered into the eastbound lane as 80-year-old Frances Storie was approaching driving a 2011 Kia Soul. As Taylor tried to get back into his lane, Storie swerved to avoid the collision as well and both hit head on. Storie was taken by DeKalb EMS to the hospital.

Meanwhile three people were involved in a crash on South Congress Boulevard Monday afternoon. No one was injured.

Trooper Johnson said 61-year-old Steven France of Smithville, operating a 2004 GMC Sierra pickup truck was stopped by a flagger in the construction zone. The car behind France, a 1997 Pontiac Grand AM, driven by 53-year-old Blanca Alvarez was also stopped. Behind Alvarez was a 2000 Chevy Silverado, driven by Bradley (Buck) Luna of Smithville who failed to stop. Luna’s truck rear-ended the Alvarez car forcing it into France’s truck.

Luna was cited for driving on a suspended license, failure to exercise due care, expired registration, and no insurance. Alvarez was cited for no driver license and no insurance.

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