State Lawmakers to honor DCHS Valedictorian and Salutatorian

April 3, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

State House Joint Resolutions honoring DeKalb County High School Class of 2025 Valedictorian Kora Kilgore and Salutatorian Madeline Martin have been introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly by State Representative Michael Hale.

The resolutions are expected to be adopted by both the State House and Senate and signed by the Governor.

The resolution honoring Kilgore states as follows:

“A RESOLUTION to honor and recognize Kora Kilgore, 2025 Valedictorian of DeKalb County High School.

WHEREAS it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should pause to pay tribute to those students who, through their natural talents and unflagging commitment to academic excellence, have distinguished themselves in the classroom; and WHEREAS, Kora Kilgore is one such exceptional student, who was recently named the Valedictorian of the 2025 graduating class at DeKalb County High School; and

WHEREAS, through diligent study, steady composure during examinations, and steadfast commitment of time and talent, Ms. Kilgore has achieved outstanding academic success and joined the ranks of the best and brightest students in Tennessee and our country; and

WHEREAS, in her remarkable high school career, Kora Kilgore has earned an exemplary grade point average while participating in numerous extracurricular activities; and

WHEREAS, her display of intellectual aptitude and ambition surely bodes well for her future success; and

WHEREAS, Kora Kilgore’s noteworthy achievement is a tremendous source of pride for her parents, John and Ginda Kilgore, her school, and her community; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Kilgore’s dedication to excellence is clearly deserving of the respect, admiration, and commendation of this General Assembly; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, that we hereby commend and honor Kora Kilgore of DeKalb County High School on being named the 2025 Valedictorian, salute her impressive academic achievement, and extend to her our best wishes for a happy, successful future”.

The resolution honoring Martin is as follows:

“A RESOLUTION to honor and recognize Madeline Martin, 2025 Salutatorian at DeKalb County High School.

WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should pause to pay tribute to those students who, through their natural talents and unflagging commitment to academic excellence, have distinguished themselves in the classroom; and

WHEREAS, Madeline Martin is one such exceptional student, who was recently named the Salutatorian of the 2025 graduating class at DeKalb County High School; and

WHEREAS, through diligent study, steady composure during examinations, and steadfast commitment of time and talent, Ms. Martin has achieved outstanding academic success and joined the ranks of the best and brightest students in Tennessee and our country; and

WHEREAS, in her remarkable high school career, Madeline Martin has earned an exemplary grade average while participating in numerous extracurricular activities; and WHEREAS, her display of intellectual aptitude and ambition surely bodes well for her future success; and

WHEREAS, Madeline Martin’s noteworthy achievement is a tremendous source of pride for her parents, Tim and Michiko Martin, her school, and her community; and WHEREAS, Ms. Martin’s dedication to excellence is clearly deserving of the respect, admiration, and commendation of this General Assembly; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, that we hereby commend and honor Madeline Martin of DeKalb County High School on being named the 2025 Salutatorian, salute her impressive academic achievement, and extend to her our best wishes for a happy, successful future”.

April 3, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

The county owned Pine Creek Saddle Club property may soon be up for sale.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission voted to approve a recommendation from the Revenue Research Committee to sell the Pine Creek Saddle Club property on Four Seasons Road at a public auction.

“We could get an auctioneer and set a buyer’s premium so that his fee would be paid by the buyer and set a minimum reserve price of $112,750 which is roughly $25,000 an acre. It’s a very desirable piece of property and we have already had five or six people express an interest in it,” said Committee Chairman Larry Green.

By selling certain unused county owned properties like Pine Creek Saddle Club, Green said the county could take revenue from the sales and apply it to other county needs.

Meanwhile the county commission, based on a recommendation of the public works committee, voted to rename the history room, arcade room, and art room at the county complex to give them a more distinguishable identity.

The history room is to be renamed “The Tennessee Room”, the arcade room will be given the name “The DeKalb Room” and the art room is to be called “The Classroom”.

Since the county complex was opened in 2012 the rooms had names for their intended purposes. Arcade games were originally placed in the arcade room for youth to gather and enjoy but over time the arcade games were removed. Although the history room was meant to have been used to display county historical artifacts it was never developed for that purpose. Both rooms remain vacant but are often used by senior citizens and other groups. The art room is located near the main auditorium of the complex and its purpose is also primarily for the public to meet or gather.

April 3, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

Several people have been charged in recent crimes by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department ranging from a burglary and theft to drug offenses among others.

27-year-old Keely Breanna Jacobs of Sparta is charged with three counts of simple possession of a schedule III drug. Her bond is $11,500 and she will be in court April 3.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on March 11 deputies arrested Jacobs for violation of probation and during a search of her person, they found in a black zippered container 12 orange pills believed to be Buprenorphine, 2 blue pills thought to be Alprazolam, and in her front left pocket 3 white pills suspected of being Oxycodone.

29-year-old John Thomas Flesher III of McMinnville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond is $15,000 and he will be in court April 3.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 11 a deputy found a vehicle parked in a cul de sac on Quail Point Drive and then spotted Flesher walking through a yard. Upon searching the general area where Flesher was observed the officer found a black magnet keybox containing a pink baggie with a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine which weighed 1.34 grams.

30-year-old Brittany Ann Campbell is charged with theft of property and burglary. Her bond is $8,500 and she will be in court April 3.

Sheriff Ray said that on January 29 Campbell allegedly broke into a business on Cookeville Highway and stole a corded dremel, blue tooth speaker, and a scalpel valued at $168. The case was investigated by a detective.

43-year-old Rachel Amanda Andrews of Jacksonville, Alabama is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver. She is under a $20,000 bond and her court date is April 10.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 24 deputies were approached by an individual about a possible Facebook marketplace scam with a truck they were trying to sell. During the investigation officers met with Andrews at the Whorton Springs Baptist Church location where she gave verbal consent to search. Found in her possession were 2 baggies containing a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine that weighed 2.3 grams and 1.1 grams. Also recovered were 9 clear baggies and 2 clear glass pipes with residue on a broken one. Another clear baggie was found which held one orange pill believed to be a schedule III drug.

32-year-old Jason James Ervin of Four Seasons Road is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of a firearm during a felony, possession of drug paraphernalia, and another count of possession of a schedule drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond is $27,500 and he will be in court April 10.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 25 a deputy was summoned to Four Seasons Road due to a campfire. Upon arrival officers found while searching the surrounding area the owner of the camper, Ervin who was lying down on the side of the hill. Ervin gave consent to search and found in his jacket pocket was a container with 2.2 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. Lying next to Ervin was a Marlin 22 caliber rifle with 158- 22 rounds. Further found in Ervin’s pocket was a container with a meth pipe. Four white pills thought to be Gabapentin were found in the pocket of a backpack and a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was located inside a container in his jacket pocket.

30-year-old Mikael Scott Malone of Murfreesboro is charged with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court April 10.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 15 & 24 Malone allegedly picked up a 15-year-old girl aiding her in running away from home. During the first incident, the girl returned home two days later. She had been reported missing in DeKalb County.

58-year-old Peter David Bohannon, Jr. of Sparta is charged with driving on a revoked license and contraband in a penal institution. His bond is $6,500 and he will be in court April 10.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 25 a deputy pulled over a Blue Cadillac Escalade knowing the driver, Bohannon had a suspended license. Bohannon had been stopped earlier in the day by another county officer and was told not to be driving. A background check through central dispatch confirmed that Bohannon’s license was suspended. He was placed in custody. At the jail while conducting a strip search a correctional officer found on Bohannon a clear glass pipe with residue inside of Bohannon’s underwear.

30-year-old Jose Gonzales of McMinnville is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court April 10.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 29 a deputy was west on East Broad Street and spotted a red Ford Explorer leave its lane of travel several times. The officer pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Gonzales. The deputy obtained verbal consent to search the vehicle and found on the passenger side seat inside a Marlboro red cigarette pack a small clear baggie which held a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine that weighed 0.58 grams. Also found there inside the plastic cover of a cigarette pack was a dollar bill which was wrapped around a crystal-like substance thought to be methamphetamine that weighed 0.11 grams. Located on the back side of the passenger seat near the floorboard was an empty baggie with drug residue.

32-year-old Ulises Guzman Cifuentes of McMinnville is charged with simple possession of a schedule II drug and no driver license. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court April 17.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 30 at 3:43 a.m. a deputy pulled over a gray Honda Civic for failure to maintain lane of travel and spoke with the driver, Cifuentes who stated that he did not have a driver license. He also gave the officer verbal consent to search the vehicle. Found in his wallet was a blue baggie containing a white substance that weighed 0.24 grams believed to be cocaine.

24-year-old Dennis Jameson Southworth of Liberty is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court April 17.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 29 a deputy was patrolling South Mountain Street when he spotted a gray Dodge Ram leave its lane of travel crossing the center line twice. The officer pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Southworth whose eyes were bloodshot and watery, and he smelled of alcohol. He was also unsteady on his feet. Southworth submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He was placed under arrest.

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