December Fire Claims Life of Woman-Part of WJLE’s Final Year In Review 2022

December 30, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A woman who perished in a fire at her Smithville home, a Putnam County man charged with murder in the death of a teenager with family ties to DeKalb County, the near completion of the new Highway 56 project, and a Super Bowl Championship for the DeKalb Junior Pro Football Pee Wee Tigers were just a few of the top news stories, happy and sad, that drew attention in the second half of 2022 and lead off WJLE’s Part-4 and Final Year in Review look back.

37-year-old Brittany Schemmer perished in a fire at her Smithville residence Tuesday, December 27 at 201 Hayes Street. According to Detective Brandon Donnell of the Smithville Police Department, city workers spotted the fire as they were passing by and reported it at 10:23 a.m. “The Smithville Fire Department arrived on the scene quickly and found smoke billowing through the roof and all through the house,” said Detective Donnell. “We saw no vehicle parked at the residence but while talking to neighbors we learned that a woman lived there but had no car. We were also informed that the woman’s 6-year-old daughter lived with her but that the child was at her grandparents’ home at the time,” Detective Donnell continued. Fire Chief Charlie Parker said as fire fighters were battling the blaze, they were also looking for the woman and found her body in a master bathroom closet. She apparently succumbed to smoke inhalation. A cat and dog also perished in the fire. According to Chief Parker, the fire is believed to have started in the kitchen, but the exact cause has not been determined. No foul play is suspected. The house was gutted by the fire. The structure and all belongings were lost. In addition to the Smithville Fire Department and Smithville City Police, DeKalb EMS and city workers were also on the scene.

A Putnam County man arrested in connection with the death of 15-year-old Olivia Daryl Taylor is now facing additional charges. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday, October 31 that 63-year-old Charles “Chuck” Carter Jr. has now been charged with second-degree murder and one count of abuse of a corpse. Taylor was reported missing by her parents from her Putnam County home on Wednesday, October 26. The next day, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office reported that the body of Taylor was found in a wooded area east of Cookeville. Officials said Carter admitted to officers he delivered and provided illegal drugs to Taylor which caused her death. Carter was previously charged with aggravated statutory rape in regard to the investigation. District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway said the investigation into Olivia’s death remains active and additional charges are possible.

Champions! The DeKalb County Junior Pro Football Pee Wee Tigers (ages 6 &7) completed an undefeated 9-0 season Saturday, October 8 defeating the Fentress County Bulldogs 19-18 in double overtime to claim the Championship of the Middle Tennessee Youth Football Conference. This Junior Pro “Super Bowl” Conference Classic was played at York Institute in Jamestown. The DeKalb Pee Wee Tigers (8-0) went undefeated during their six-game regular season and beat both of their play-off opponents to win the western division of the conference. Fentress County (5-3) won the eastern division.

An Algood man indicted two years ago in connection with the drug-related death of a Smithville woman was sentenced Monday, November 14 in DeKalb County Criminal Court. 43-year-old Patrick Goolsby entered a plea to a charge of attempted second degree murder and received an effective 15-year sentence as a range I offender to serve at least 30% before his release eligibility date. As part of the plea agreement, the drug charges against Goolsby were dropped with his guilty plea for attempted second degree murder. The charges against Goolsby in November 2020 were the result of a joint investigation by Special Agents with the Drug Investigation Division of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department. Goolsby was named in grand jury indictments that month charging him with one count of Second-Degree Murder and one count of Sale and Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance. In June, 2020 agents joined deputies in investigating the death of 45-year-old Jennifer Leighann Jacobs. She was found deceased on May 22nd, 2020 in her Smithville home of a drug overdose, with fentanyl determined as a contributing factor. The investigation revealed that on May 18th, 2020 the victim had purchased drugs by an individual identified as Patrick Goolsby.

New traffic patterns! State Highway 56 is not what it used to be and motorists traveling from Smithville to the Warren County line are noticing that with new traffic patterns. The Tennessee Department of Transportation in November began diverting traffic from more portions of the old highway to the new highway alignment. TDOT reported in October that the State Highway 56 construction project was running behind schedule and the contractor, Jones Brothers, LLC had asked for more time to complete the work without penalty. The bid was awarded in 2019 for the project which extends almost 8 miles from south of the Warren County line in DeKalb County to East Bryant Street in Smithville. The state is building largely two lanes with 10-foot shoulders along the route. The original bid amount was $43,691,948 and the current contract bid amount including change orders is currently at $44,047, 150. The current approved adjusted completion date was August 17, 2022.

A former law enforcement officer in DeKalb and other counties was indicted in December on sex crimes involving a minor. 39-year-old Dustin James Farris of Star Drive, Sparta (DeKalb County) was arrested Thursday, December 8 for solicitation of a minor by electronic means, sexual exploitation of a minor (2 counts), and sexual contact with a minor by an authority figure. A special called session of the DeKalb County Grand Jury met Wednesday, December 7 and heard testimony against Farris and found probable cause to indict him. A sealed indictment was returned against Farris by the Grand Jury. Farris’ latest employment was with the Overton County Sheriff’s Department where he served as a School Resource Officer. He had also formerly been employed as an officer in recent years by the DeKalb, White, Putnam, and Cannon County Sheriff’s Departments as well as a Child Support Investigator in the 13th Judicial District.

After almost four and a half years, a criminal case against former Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss and his son Tony has been resolved. Both father and son were scheduled to make an appearance in DeKalb County Criminal Court Tuesday, December 6 but subject to a negotiated settlement, the cases against both have been dismissed with them having agreed to make restitution to the City of Smithville in the total amount of $8,100. Former Mayor Poss was named in a July 2018 sealed indictment charging him with one count of Official Misconduct and one count of Theft of Property over $2,500. Tony Poss was also named in a sealed indictment at the same time charging him with one count of Theft of Property over $2,500. The charges stemmed from a move by the former mayor to put his son on the city payroll in the fall of 2017 without the approval of the aldermen. “We entered an agreement with the defense in which Jimmy and Tony would pay full restitution to the city and the cases would be dismissed against them. The reason we entered that agreement is because Jimmy Poss has been diagnosed with a medical condition so there was a very real question as to whether we would ever be able to bring him to trial,” said Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong. The cases were presented to the grand jury in July 2018 by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation who began a probe after the issue surfaced in March, 2018. In September, 2017, Tony Poss was put on the city payroll to work at the golf course and swimming pool but the aldermen said Mayor Poss violated the city’s hiring and nepotism policies in hiring Tony without their approval. City records showed that from September 1, 2017 to March 2, 2018 Tony earned $300 per week (gross) for a total of $8,100. When the issue came to light on March 5, 2018 Tony’s employment with the city ended. The aldermen censured Mayor Poss for his actions at the time (a symbolic move) and questioned whether Tony actually did any work to earn his salary.

The following is a monthly review of local news highlights from October to December 2022:

OCTOBER
The Smithville Mayor and Aldermen in October paid tribute to a long-time member of the planning commission and board of zoning appeals who passed away in August. Mayor Josh Miller presented a plaque to Jackie Smith, wife of Wade Smith, Jr. The plaque reads as follows: “The City of Smithville honors the family of the late Wade Smith, Jr. He served the City of Smithville faithfully for many years serving on the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals. His dedication to the city will never be forgotten. Presented this 3rd Day of October, 2022”.

A brief dedication observance was held Monday evening, October 10 at the “Dylan Kleparek Coach K Soccer Field” at DeKalb County High School. It comes almost a year after the Board of Education named the field for the legendary Tiger and Lady Tiger soccer coach. Coach K, as he is affectionately known, helped start the high school soccer program 40 seasons ago (combined boys and girls seasons) and is the head coach for both boys and girls teams (spring and fall). In addition to his years of coaching, Kleparek is also a veteran teacher with 21 years in the classroom and all of that time has been in DeKalb County.

New lighting and bleachers will be in place at the DeKalb County High School Football stadium within the next few months. During the regular monthly meeting in October, the Board of Education voted to purchase LED lights and poles from Musco Sports Lighting based in Cincinnati, Ohio at a bid price of $151, 951. Installation will be done by the school district’s maintenance crew. The existing six poles and lights will be replaced with four poles and a total of 28 brighter LED lights (seven lights per pole). A show light entertainment package is included with a control and monitoring cabinet and touch screen for onsite theatrical light show effects. The new lights are expected to be in place by graduation next May. The board also awarded a bid to Toadvine Enterprises based in Fisherville, Kentucky in the amount of $477,123 for the purchase and installation of new aluminum handicapped accessible bleachers with a section of VIP seating at the DCHS football field which includes the relocation of a portion of the existing bleachers to the high school soccer field and to make them handicapped accessible. The new bleachers are to be in place by the start of the football season next year. Currently the total stadium seating capacity is 994 including over 600 on the home side and the rest on the visitor side of the field. With the new bleachers, the stadium home seating capacity would more than double to over 1,300 stretching almost the length of the field. There would be no bleacher seating expansion on the visitor side. The benches will also be powder coated providing opportunities to display school colors. A concrete base will be put down to support the new set of bleachers.

The 2022 Fall Fest Queen Royalty sponsored by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club: (age 17-20) – Queen Kenlee Renae Taylor, the 17-year-old daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor of Smithville; Deanna Marie Agee, 14-year-old daughter of David and Dama Agee of Smithville was crowned queen of the age 14-16 category. Kaydence Shontae Johnson, 12-year-old daughter of Jeremy and Trista Ashburn of Smithville won the Fall Fest Queen crown of the age 11-13 division. Katie Jo Prichard, 7-year-old daughter of Luke and Jo Dee Prichard of Alexandria was the winner of the Fall Fest Pageant among 7-10 year olds. Ansley Grace Snow, 6-year-old daughter of Ashleigh Snow and Andy and Laura Snow of Smithville was the Fall Fest Queen for ages 4-6. Winners were also awarded in baby and toddler categories.

A 70-year-old man is facing an 8-year prison sentence for the rape of a 14-year-old girl. William Kenneth Phillips entered a plea in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Tuesday, October 18 to one count of rape. He received an 8-year sentence to serve in the Tennessee Department of Corrections. His name will also be included in the state’s sex offender registry. Phillips was given jail credit from May 20, 2019 to October 18, 2022. Phillips had been indicted for rape, sexual battery by an authority figure, and incest. According to the indictment, Phillips did unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly expose himself and by force or coercion have sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl between the months of May and August 2018.

For years the DeKalb Utility District has had to purchase water from the City of Baxter to serve its own customers in the Cherry Hill and Silver Point areas in DeKalb County because there is no water line across Hurricane Bridge over Center Hill Lake to connect them. That may change thanks to available American Rescue Plan Funds through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. In October, the County Commission adopted a resolution to make application for the funds on behalf of the DeKalb Utility District as well as the DeWhite Utility District and the City of Baxter which all serve portions of DeKalb County and who are looking to meet their own water improvement needs. The Upper Cumberland Development District is to administer the grants. Under the program, DeKalb County is eligible for a maximum grant of $3,730,767 through TDEC’s American Recovery Plan which can only be used for critical water needs as identified by local utility districts. The local grant match is to be funded half by the county using its own available ARP funds and half by the utilities for their specific projects. DeKalb Utility District has identified as its most critical need extending a water line across Hurricane Bridge to directly serve its own customers (approximately 200 meters) there which is expected to bring down costs to the utility. The total project is two million dollars with a $300,000 local grant match to be funded half by DUD and half from DeKalb County ARP funds. Meanwhile, DeWhite Utility District has identified as its critical need the rehabilitation of the Smithville Highway Waterline in DeKalb County. The total project is $1,453,684 with a $218,052 local grant match to be funded half by DeWhite Utility District and half from DeKalb County ARP funds. The City of Baxter has identified as its critical need a waterline rehabilitation serving the Wolf Creek Community of DeKalb County. The total project cost is $777,778 with a local grant match of $77,778 to be funded half by the City of Baxter and half from DeKalb County ARP funds. The UCDD project administration costs total $111,923 with a local match of $16,788 from DeKalb County ARP funds.

It was a record-breaking day for the 18th Annual Habitat for Humanity Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale, held on Friday October 28 under sunny skies on the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse. Twenty-one chili teams participated in the cook-off; over 600 bowls of chili were served; and $9,300 was raised for Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, which will be used towards the building of the next Habitat house in 2023. Habitat officials report that this was the most successful cook-off in the history of its chili cook-off, which began in 2004. “The Courthouse Gang” from DeKalb County Officials took Top Chili Honors. The Best Decorated Booth Award went to Smithville Electric System. The Golden Spoon Award went to “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials, who raised the most additional money for Habitat in cash donations at their booth.

For the first time, members of the DeKalb County Commission Thursday night, October 27 were shown plans for a proposed new 800 student Pre-K to 2nd grade elementary school to replace the existing Smithville Elementary complex. The joint meeting between the County Commission, Board of Education, County Mayor, Director of Schools, and Upland Design Group of Crossville, the Architect of the project was held in an informal work session at the auditorium of the Mike Foster Multipurpose Center. An updated rendering, schematic site, and floor plan were unveiled as to what a new Smithville Elementary School campus would look like, and representatives of Upland Design took questions from the commissioners. Although the Board of Education has settled on the plan, it may be months before the County Commission decides whether to fund it. In the meantime, County Mayor Adcock said he has asked CTAS County Government Consultant Ben Rodgers to conduct a debt study for the county before action is taken. The existing Smithville Elementary School, originally built in 1958, now is 70,557 square feet in size, and has a current enrollment of 581 students. As far back as 2017, a facilities study by Upland Design Group, concluded that the school, which has mold and other concerns, should be replaced and repurposed for other uses. The current estimated project cost to build a new Smithville Elementary School is $46,199,875.

The DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department has ranked #8 among volunteer and combination fire departments in the state of Tennessee for 2021-2022 training achievement. Of the 732 fire departments in Tennessee, both volunteer and career, the DeKalb County Fire Department ranked # 25 for 2021-2022 training achievement. This is the 14th consecutive year the DeKalb County Fire Department has been recognized as one of Tennessee’s elite fire departments for outstanding training achievement. This year, the department logged 2,053 training hours at the state fire academy and was recognized as a Gold Level fire department in Tennessee for 2021-2022.

NOVEMBER
The DeKalb County Tigers made a quick exit from the TSSAA Class 4A Football Play-Offs with a 21-14 loss to the East Hamilton Hurricanes at Ooltewah Friday night, November . The season for the Tigers came to a close with a record of 6-5. The Tigers concluded the regular season at 6-4 and 4th place in Region 4-4A at 2-3 while East Hamilton finished 7-3 and won the Region 3-4A regular season championship at 6-0. It was the second straight meeting between these two schools in the first round of the state football playoffs. Last year the Tigers journeyed to Ooltewah and won 35-21 to advance. This marked the 12th consecutive State Football Play-Off appearance for DeKalb County, the most in school history.

Thirteen DCHS Football players and an assistant coach earned 2022 All-Region honors including Tiger Senior Running Back Colby Barnes who was named the Co-Offensive Most Valuable Player in Region 4, Class 4A with Kaleb Flowers of Stone Memorial. Barnes, who set a school single season rushing record at DCHS with 2,073 yards on 287 carries and 19 touchdowns through 11 games, was joined by Tyler Estes, the region’s Co-Most Outstanding Linebacker with Brady Lane of Stone Memorial; Ean Jones- Co-Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman with Bo Harrel of Upperman; Josh May- Most Outstanding Tight End, Malachi Trapp- Co-Most Outstanding Wide Receiver with Jackson Bush of Upperman; Holden Trapp-Co-Most Outstanding Returner with Nick Osmun of Stone Memorial, and Nolan Gottlied-Co-Most Outstanding Punter with the punter from Cumberland County. Tiger Assistant Michael Shaw was named the Region’s Co-Defensive Assistant Coach of the year with Justin Qualls of Stone Memorial and Spencer Young of Macon County. All Region 1st Team from DeKalb County: Wil Farris, Ty Webb, and Ari White. All Region 2nd Team from DeKalb County: Shadie Rankhorn, Johnny Skinner, and Trace Hamilton.

The D.C.H.S. Fighting Tiger Band saw the marching season come to an exhilarating end at the 41st Annual Tennessee Division II State Marching Band Championship. Under the direction of Don Whitt and Assistant Director Erica Birmingham, the 45-member ensemble performed admirably against some of the biggest bands and strongest schools in the state November 5 at Stewarts Creek High School in Smyrna. Judges ranked the band and percussion section as Excellent and the color guard and drum major Serenity Burgess as Superior. While the band didn’t make it to the finals, they placed 14th out of 22 bands, and the color guard was 7th overall.

A man accused of setting fire to a cabin on Smith Fork Road near Dowelltown almost three years ago was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday, November 14. 40-year-old Joseph Huff Ray entered a plea to charges of aggravated arson and aggravated burglary. He received a 10-year sentence in each case to serve as a range I offender at 30% before his release eligibility date. The two terms are to run concurrently. Ray was given jail credit of 1,036 days. His restitution amount is to be determined. The investigation began after a fire was reported at the cabin on January 12, 2020 at 10:27 p.m. The owner was not occupying the cabin at the time having used it as a seasonal residence. The cabin was destroyed in the blaze. During the investigation, a detective of the Sheriff’s Department learned that sometime prior to the fire Joseph Huff Ray and his girlfriend had apparently broken into and taken up residence in the cabin without the knowledge of the owner. The detective later learned that Ray and his girlfriend had posted photos of the cabin on their facebook page which were made prior to the fire. There were also facebook photos of a tractor parked near the cabin and a set of antique keys to the cabin. The keys were posted for sale. The photos were shown to the owner of the cabin who identified the property as belonging to him. TBI assisted in the investigation at the scene.

Honoring a hometown Country Music Legend! The City of Smithville and Chamber of Commerce held a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting Saturday morning, November 19 for the John Anderson Alley, formerly known as Walnut Alley. The alley was recently renamed in honor of the Country Music Icon, who has made Smithville his home for more than 40 years. At one time John and his wife Jamie owned a downtown building attached to the alley. The alley is between buildings extending from Walnut to West Main Street downtown Smithville. Anderson and his family were on hand for the dedication along with several fans and friends.

A Win-Win for Smithville! Christmas came early for the City of Smithville Monday, November 28 with the announcement that it had been awarded grants for two projects totaling more than $1.5 million to install sidewalks/crosswalks and to replace deteriorating sewer lines. The Upper Cumberland Development District applied for the grants on behalf of the city. The largest project is to put down sidewalks on Highway 70 east from near the intersection of Highway 56 (South Congress Boulevard) and to install high visibility crosswalks and ADA compliant curb ramps in the areas where Highway 70 intersects with Bright Hill Road and Colvert Lake Road. The total cost is $934,000 but thanks to the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Multimodal Access Grant, the city will receive $888,000 for this project with a local grant match of $46,000. The $600,000 sewer line rehab project is to replace 3,800 hundred linear feet of gravity sewer lines and manholes in the Bright Hill and Morgan Creek subsystem areas to keep excessive surface water from entering the wastewater treatment plant especially during heavy rains. Half of the cost ($300,000) will be funded through a Community Development Block Grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. The City of Smithville will fund the other half ($300,000) as its local grant match. The matching portion for both projects will be provided from the city’s available general fund and water and sewer fund reserves. TDOT’s Multimodal Access Grant is a state-funded program created to support the transportation needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users through infrastructure projects that address existing gaps along state routes.

DECEMBER
A motorist pulling into a parking space at F.Z. Webb & Sons Pharmacy on South Congress Boulevard Thursday, December 1 lost control of his car and crashed through the front of the building. 84-year-old Robert Terry Little, Jr. of Smithville told Smithville Police that while pulling up to the building to park in his 2015 Toyota Camry, he accidentally accelerated rather than braking causing the car to jump the sidewalk in front of the building and crash through the brick and glass storefront. Although neither Little nor anyone inside the pharmacy was injured, the building sustained extensive damage. The Webb family said the business remains open. In addition to the Smithville Police Department, the Smithville Fire Department and DeKalb EMS were also on the scene.

A hidden courthouse historical treasure discovered! More than 50 years after being placed within a cornerstone of the present-day DeKalb County Courthouse after its construction and dedication in 1971, a time capsule was found in December by County Mayor Matt Adcock. But instead of being in its original place, the historic cache of memorabilia contained within a 14” x 10” x 3” copper box was discovered in a closet at the mayor’s courthouse office. No one seems to know for sure why the time capsule was moved from inside the cornerstone or how long it had been in the closet. The cornerstone on the bottom of the southwest end of the courthouse has a removable concrete cover dated 1970 on its exterior with a hollowed-out space inside the cover in the exact dimensions of the time capsule. Speculation is the time capsule may have been moved at some point after its original placement to prevent it from being stolen. On Friday afternoon, December 16 Adcock, Chamber Director Suzanne Williams and members of their families met at the County Mayor’s Office and decided to open the box, which had been soldered shut, to see what was inside. Among the memorabilia were several editions of the Smithville Review, a Model City publication called DeKalb Citizen along with photographs of the courthouse in various stages of construction, the dedication ceremony after the courthouse was completed attended by local, state, and federal dignitaries, and even a reel-to-reel tape recording by Mickey Driver and played at the time on WJLE containing an account of the DeKalb County Courthouse history, among other treasures. County Mayor Adcock said the contents of the time capsule will be preserved possibly for a county historical display and a new time capsule may also be created with artifacts of today for future generations.

A family was left homeless after a fire destroyed their residence at 1576 Vandergriff Hollow Road near Dowelltown Friday afternoon, December 16. Ann-C.S. White and three children were not at home at the time of the fire, but they lost their dwelling and all belongings including three pets in the blaze. The cause is undetermined.

Now Open! After seven months, motorists traveling Big Rock Road no longer have to detour because the new bridge over Pine Creek is now completed. Road Supervisor Danny Hale held a ribbon cutting at the bridge Wednesday afternoon , December 21 accompanied by his secretary Rena Willoughby; the Project Engineer, Kyle Hazel of Hazel Engineering, LLC in Cookeville; and Project Manager Justin Garmany of Dement Construction in Jackson. Construction began on the new bridge in May and was finished on Tuesday, December 20. The price tag for the bridge was $1,554,000 but the good news is no local tax dollars were needed to fund it. The state picked up the tab under the state’s IMPROVE Act high priority bridge replacement program.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps has announced the 2022-23 Teachers of the Year at the building level of the five schools in the county. This year’s honorees chosen by their peers are Special Education Pre-K teacher, Sydney Johnson at Smithville Elementary School; Positive Behavior Interventionist and Lead District Positive Behavior Support Interventionist, Meagan Humbert at Northside Elementary School; Rachel Desimone, 5th grade teacher and Instructional Coach at DeKalb West School; Sarah Jacobs, an 8th grade ELA teacher at DeKalb Middle School; and Lesa Hayes, a CTE Teaching as a Profession, Human Studies and Business teacher at DeKalb County High School. According to Michelle Burklow, Supervisor of Instruction, “Competition for the district-wide John Isabell Teacher of the Year award continues through January and will be announced this spring. Additionally, a DeKalb County teacher will be chosen by a committee to compete at the regional level in March, and if selected the teacher will represent DeKalb County at the state level competition.”

The DeKalb County Highway Department is getting a big financial shot in the arm from the county. During Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, December 22 the county commission, as recommended by the ARP committee, voted to allocate one million dollars of remaining ARP funds to the local road department at the request of Supervisor Danny Hale specifically to be spent on improving roads. Also as part of the vote, the commission allocated another$65,000 in ARP funding toward a playground at the Belk Community Center and $11,890 for repairs to the Midway Community Center. A proposal to remodel the county complex office (Re-locating County Complex Main office closer to the front door) using $20,000 in ARP money will instead be reassigned from the budget’s capital projects fund. “I am honored to get this ARP money, but the bigger honor is that the citizens are going to be honored that the county commission is helping with their roads,” said Road Supervisor Hale after the meeting Thursday night. “Unless we get help from the county commission, we are limited to what we can do because of revenue. I am thankful to the commissioners who supported me in this, and it will be put to good use. All the money will be put into chipping roads,” Hale continued.

A Christmas Eve fire destroyed a home at 596 Hurricane Ridge Road. DeKalb County Volunteer Firefighters were summoned to the home of Tania Ramsey Saturday at 12:42 p.m. where flames were reported to be showing through the roof. They were unable to save the home and its contents. The cause of the fire is undetermined. No one was home at the time. Ramsey was reportedly away on a trip.

Just a month after preparing and delivering hot Thanksgiving Day meals to hundreds of underprivileged and underserved people in the community, members of the DeKalb Emergency Services and other caring volunteers did the same on Christmas Eve. According to Blake Cantrell, spokesperson for the DESA, 830 meals were sent to homes across the county Saturday morning, December 24. On Thanksgiving morning 700 meals were delivered. Cooking and food preparation started early at the county complex kitchen. Volunteers then loaded their personal vehicles with food trays and set out to deliver them to homes along the routes in time for the recipients’ noon time meal. Feeding the hungry during Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve has become an annual effort of the DeKalb Emergency Services Association (DESA), in partnership with local businesses and volunteers.

God’s Food Pantry continues its mission to feed the hungry through the holidays and year-round. For 15 years the pantry has provided food and other essentials to help meet the needs of the medically frail and elderly, children, veterans, the homeless, and the working poor. The pantry receives no local, state, or federal government funding but is able to operate from donations of caring individuals and businesses, among others. Pat Zornow, God’s Food Pantry volunteer and coordinator, said between 800 and 900 families are served per month which includes about 80 home deliveries to those with special needs. Food is distributed on the first Friday after the first Thursday and on the third Friday of every month from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon from the pantry at 430 East Broad, Smithville in a drive through pickup line. A long line of cars forms along East Broad Street near the pantry every time the twice a month event is held. Smithville Police are always on site to assist with traffic control and the sheriff’s department provides inmate work crews under guarded supervision by correctional officers to help pantry volunteers with the distribution. The first Friday the food boxes consist basically of staples with perishables and the third Friday is the staples, perishables, and meats. Beverages are included when possible. Friday, December 16 was the final regular food distribution before Christmas and families got a little something extra. “They received holiday food boxes donated by Food Lion, staples from our food pantry such as additional rice, pasta, sauce, and we put in perishables including fruits and vegetables we had received or purchased not only from Food Lion but from Second Harvest, and then we added breads and meats. For families of four or more, they got a big turkey while others had chickens and other meats we had put in their boxes,” said Zornow. The next food distribution is Friday morning, January 6.

‘Twas a merry and delightful Saturday night, December 3 in downtown Smithville as thousands of spectators celebrated the arrival of the holiday season during the Smithville Christmas Parade and Christmas on the Square. It is believed to have been the largest parade in Smithville’s history in terms of participants with the long line stretching from the New Life Connection Center down Congress Boulevard to the public square. Country music legend John Anderson served as Grand Marshal of the Parade with his wife Jamie riding with him. Mr and Mrs. DeKalb County Alex and Ashby Woodward were this year’s honorary Grand Marshals. DeKalb Funeral Chapel won 1st place for their float entry. Second place went to Hurricane Marina and the Memorial Baptist Church took 3rd place. The DCHS Fighting Tiger Band won the Spirit Award presented by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club. Winners of the Chamber of Commerce sponsored “Live” Windows Contest were: First Place-The Attic on Walnut Street; Second Place- The Purple Door Antiques and Uniques; and Third Place- Real Source. The parade was sponsored by the Smithville Fire Department. The Town of Liberty was filled with many smiling faces Sunday afternoon, December 4 for the annual Christmas parade. Right on Time, a popular local gospel group, served as the Grand Marshal of the parade. DeKalb Funeral Chapel took 1st place for their “Tender Tennessee Christmas” float entry. Second place went to Gallatin Fire Extinguisher of Woodbury. (The Vickers Family). In the category old classic cars and trucks, Dale and Cameron Purcell of Liberty won 1st place for their entry of a 1966 Mustang convertible 289 four speed. Second place went to Steve Merriman of Smithville for his 1987 Chevrolet Silverado 4 x4. In the entry for children, the Memorial Baptist Church took 1st place and 2nd place went to Toby Agee of Smithville. First place in the entry for animals went to the Harvey Family & Grinch of Davis Hollow Road. Second place was awarded to Bill Stanton of Liberty. Santa made another appearance in DeKalb County on Sunday night for the Alexandria Christmas Parade. The town’s annual holiday tradition, held for the third consecutive year after dark, gave onlookers a chance to experience the spirit of the season under the glow of lights along the parade route from West Main Street to the downtown square. The Grand Marshal was Sandy Brown, outgoing Director of the Alexandria Senior Center. She was accompanied by driver, Alexandria Alderman Lynn Dickerson, who is also recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award.

December 30, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Happy New Year!

What better way to start the new year than to give a pet a loving home

Meet Lynn, the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”

“Lynn is our one-and-a-half-year-old Pitty Mix. She is fully grown and super cute. Lynn is the perfect size and a great lap dog. She has been spayed and is up to date on all her vaccinations. Lynn has been micro-chipped, heart worm screened, and she has been in training with one of our trainers and is doing fantastic with that. She is listening very well and developing good leash manners,” said Shelter Director Emmaly Bennett.

“If you are interested in adopting Lynn, please visit our website at https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/to fill out an application and see her picture and we will call you to come in and meet her. Lynn is fantastic but she is a little dominant so if you have another pet at home, we ask that you bring it with you for a meet and greet with Lynn to see how they get along, but she is an all-round sweet girl. Please give us a call so we can find Lynn a home for the new year,” said Bennett.

The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 8 to 4 and Saturday from 8 to 12 at 186 Transfer Station Road.

December 29, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

An unsuccessful effort by a convicted courthouse arsonist to win an appeal to overturn his conviction and a bizarre fatal motorcycle crash in which a Nashville area woman was thrown over the side of Center Hill Dam into the lake were just two of the many news stories that made headlines during the second half of 2022 in DeKalb County and lead off WJLE’s Part-3 of the Year in Review.

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the conviction of courthouse arsonist Gary Wayne Ponder. The 12-page opinion of the court, delivered on Wednesday, August 10 by Judge Robert Wedemeyer, affirmed the trial court’s judgment “after a thorough review of the record and relevant authorities” in the case against Ponder, who was convicted in July, 2019 of aggravated arson for setting fire in a DeKalb County Courthouse vestibule recycling bin on June 14, 2016, causing more than $100,000 in damage to the building. The 59-year-old Ponder is serving a 23-year prison sentence in the Morgan County Correctional Complex. Through the District Public Defender’s office, Ponder filed an appeal, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction, that the trial court erred when it denied a motion for a change of venue, and that the trial court erred when it sentenced Ponder. In the appeal, Ponder claimed that he should have been granted a motion for a change of venue because his trial actually took place in the same courthouse building where the fire occurred and that this may have had an influence on the jury that tried him. The appellate court saw it differently. “We conclude that the trial court properly sentenced the Defendant (Ponder). The trial court considered the relevant principles and sentenced the Defendant to a within range sentence. Based on the evidence at trial and the Defendant’s criminal history provided in the presentence report, the sentence imposed was not excessive, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion. Accordingly, we conclude that the Defendant is not entitled to relief as to this issue. In conclusion, after a thorough review of the record and relevant authorities, we affirm the trial court’s judgment,” stated the appellate court in its opinion as delivered by Judge Wedemeyer.

A woman died Saturday, August 13 after she was thrown from her motorcycle during a crash and over the side of Center Hill Dam plunging several feet into the lake. E-911 received the call and paged out first responders at 4:26 p.m. According to the crash investigation by Trooper Dylan Palmer of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 28-year-old Brooke Murphy of Antioch, TN. was traveling south on Dale Ridge/Wolf Creek Road navigating a curve to the right trying to cross the dam when she struck a northbound GMC truck, driven by 41-year-old Tom Baird of Nashville. After impact, the motorcycle hit the dam’s concrete barrier. Murphy was thrown across the handlebars and over the side of the dam into the lake below. The motorcycle came to a final rest in the northbound lane facing south. The truck pulled to a stop outside of the roadway in a parking lot facing south. Murphy was reportedly removed from the water and brought by boat to a ramp near the dam where DeKalb EMS and members of the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad had arrived, but she was unresponsive although efforts were made to resuscitate. Members of the DeKalb County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department, TWRA and US Army Corps of Engineers Officials were also on the scene.

DeKalb West School earned the distinction of being a “Reward School” for high levels of performance and or improvement under Tennessee’s school accountability system. The Tennessee Department of Education in September announced the schools and district designations for 2021-22. “The Reward school status for DeKalb West School is a credit to the students as well as the faculty and staff for the work they have done. They have met and gone above the standards the state has set forth. They have worked hard and done a really good job,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps. Schools are recognized as a Reward school when they demonstrate high levels of performance and/or improvement by meeting their annual measurable objectives across performance indicators and student groups, and the Reward school distinction places significant emphasis on improvement from the prior school year. From the 2020-21 TCAP administration, a significant number of schools saw improvement and increased participation in this year’s assessments to qualify for the distinction.

The following is a monthly review of local news highlights from July to September 2022:

JULY
Two hundred seventy participated in the 24th annual Fiddler 5K and One Mile Fun Run July 2. The overall winner was 17-year-old Matthew Sinclair of Carthage who ran the course in 19:17 seconds. Meanwhile 16-year-old Ella VanVranken of Silver Point won the race among females. She ran the course in 20:11seconds. One-Mile Fun Run (age 12 and younger) winners: TOP MALE: 7-year-old Silas Richardson of Cookeville at 8:02 seconds. TOP FEMALE: 9-year-old Anna Swafford of Bell Buckle at 7:44 seconds. Funds raised will support Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County.

For the first time a local square dancing team claimed a Fiddlers Jamboree Championship. Smithville Select, led by Mary Ann Puckett, was crowned winner of the Youth Square Dancing Competition Friday night, July 1 at the 51st Annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival. Before dancing their way to the title, Smithville Select had to make it to the finals and emerged from a field of six teams during the preliminaries Friday afternoon as one of the top three contenders. Taking second place in the Youth Square Dancing competition was Jackson Hollow of Franklin and Third place went to Steppin’ Time of Dickson.

A Normandy Tennessee boy earned the top Jamboree award, July 2 as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners. Finley Reed won the coveted James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award, named for the man who started the children’s competition during the 1980’s as part of the annual Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival. Members of Mr. Driver’s family presented the award to Reed including Mickey and Jimmy Driver, sons of Bobo, and Adam Driver, his grandson. Meanwhile Reagan Brown of Springfield was named winner of the Nolan Turner Memorial Entertainer of the Year award. The honor is presented to the best overall instrumental entertainer among winners in the dobro guitar, mandolin, five string banjo, and flat top guitar competition.

13-year-old Noah Goebel claimed the Grand Champion Fiddling Title at the 51st edition of the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival. The Elkton, Kentucky resident, who also won the Junior Fiddling contest Saturday night, July 2 beat out the Senior Fiddling Champion Heather Brown Currie of Springfield in the showdown for the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award. Currie claimed the Grand Champion Fiddling Title in 1999 and 2001. As the 2022 Grand Fiddle Off Champion, Goebel will be invited by the Grand Ole Opry to play a ‘fiddle tune’ for the Opry square dancers’ LIVE performance during a selected show TBA. Only last year, Goebel competed as a child in the Fiddlers Jamboree’s National Championship for Country Musician Beginners and won the Beginners Fiddling Title. This is the 11th year in a row (not counting the 2020 virtual jamboree) that a Junior Fiddler has beaten the Senior Fiddler for the Grand Championship of the Festival.

The Mount Rushmore of Smithville! Founders of the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival were honored with a special tribute commissioned by family of the late James G. “Bobo” Driver. Members of the Driver family gathered on stage of the Fiddlers Jamboree Saturday afternoon, July 2 for the public unveiling of a bronze casting marker as a lasting memorial to Congressman Joe L. Evins and his friends and colleagues Berry C. Williams and James G. “Bobo” Driver, who established the festival in 1972. The marker will be placed on the grounds of the courthouse.

Citizens of DeKalb County now have another option of renewing vehicle registrations. “We have purchased and installed an Outdoor Kiosk for tag renewals,” said County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss who showed off the new machine for the first time in July with David Casaday (BIS Sales Representative) and Jacob Rosin (BIS Field Tech) of Business Information System. The Kiosk is located outside the front door of the County Complex near the County Clerk’s Office. “This purchase was made available with Federal Covid restricted monies already received and approved for this particular function. Again, the initial purchase of $26,000.00 did not require any budget increase or new money. It was federally approved Covid money used for this purchase. However, after the first year, there is a $5,000 annual fee for maintenance and replacement of parts or the entire Kiosk for a lifetime. The $5,000 maintenance fee will be debited from available state earmarked fees established for County Clerks, requiring no new money from our county,” said Poss. “I want to offer our citizens every option of convenience in renewing their vehicle registrations. We now complete vehicle renewals in office, over the phone and through online services already available. Unlike online, mail or phone, the outdoor Kiosk allows individuals the opportunity to choose the time, pay no mail fee and no delay in receiving their renewal paper registration and renewal sticker,” Poss continued. “The card convenience fee is charged but it’s no different from card use in office, by phone or online.” This Kiosk is weather-resistant, built to withstand environmental factors, including extreme temperatures and direct sunlight. It is also sealed to prevent the intrusion of water, smoke and dust. Durable and secure, it is designed to discourage and prevent tampering with a dual-stage powder coat for long lasting durability,” said Poss.

A 4th of July fire destroyed a home in Alexandria. Although no one was injured the residents there lost all belongings in the blaze. Alexandria Fire Chief John Partridge issued the following statement about the fire. “Alexandria Fire was called to a structure fire the night of July 4th around 10:00 pm in the 600 block of East Main Street in Alexandria. Responders arrived on the scene to find the home heavily involved in fire with a partial roof collapse. The homeowner and all occupants made it out safely after they heard popping they believed to be fireworks but instead discovered a large amount of fire in the garage area of the home. The fire quickly moved to the remaining portions of the home which forced firefighters to attack it from the outside due to extreme heat and the danger of collapse. DeKalb County Fire also responded with additional firefighters and apparatus to fight this large fire. DeKalb County Fire Department’s Rehab Team and DeKalb EMS also responded to provide aid to firefighters working in the high temperatures that nighttime brought little relief to. Cooling fans and cold towels were used to cool firefighters working exhaustively to bring the fire under control,” said Chief Partridge.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps announced Friday, July 8 that DeKalb Middle School has a new principal and assistant principal. Caleb Shehane took over from former DMS Principal Lacey Foutch, who served in that role for three years, while Angela Johnson succeeded Anita Puckett as Assistant Principal. Both Foutch and Puckett were reassigned. Shehane, a Warren County native with ties to DeKalb County, lives in the Short Mountain area with his wife Heather Cantrell Shehane and they have two children, ages 6 and 4 years old. For the last 12 years, Shehane has been a 6th grade math teacher at Centertown Elementary School in Warren County. This is his first job in administration. Johnson, the new Assistant Principal, is well known to the staff and most students at DeKalb Middle School. She had been an educator there for 6 years including the first 3 as a Science teacher and the last 3 years as a Response to Intervention (RTI) instructor supporting students in their reading abilities and as an English Language Arts (ELA) coordinator. Before joining the staff at DMS Johnson served six years as a second-grade teacher at Smithville Elementary School and before that she was an educational assistant in the school district for 4 ½ years. Angela and her husband Bobby Johnson have three children, Ian and twins Garrett and Isabella along with a grandchild, Waylon who turned 3 years old in August.

2022 DeKalb County Fair Royalty: Fairest of the Fair- 18-year-old Addison Jean Puckett, daughter of Jimmy and Anita Puckett of Smithville; Junior Fair Princess Allyson Roxanne Fuller, the 16-year-old daughter of Anthony and Amanda Fuller of Smithville; Miss Fair Queen-21-year-old Carly Breana Tipton of Smithville; Little Mister-5 year old Keaton Sawyer Hale son of Bobby Lee and Ciara Hale of Alexandria; Little Miss- 6 year old Kendyl Reign Atnip daughter of Brooke Hutchings and Cody and Kimberly Atnip of Liberty; Miss Princess- Addison Paige Curtis of Smithville, the 9-year-old daughter of Heather Page and John Curtis; Mrs. Fair Queen- 47-year-old Amy Clare Lockhart of Smithville; Senior Fair Queen- 66-year-old Jeanette Adcock Mabe of Smithville; Miss Sweetheart- Charley Loren Prichard of Liberty, the 10-year-old daughter of Andy and Chrissy Prichard.

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber held a Ribbon Cutting ceremony at the DeKalb County Agriculture Building Wednesday, July 13 during the DeKalb County Fair to celebrate the new interior projects. With the support of the DeKalb County Mayor’s office, the Chamber applied for and was awarded a $50,000 Three Star Grant to create a commercial kitchen and 2 meeting/classroom spaces for the new agriculture building. According to Chamber Director Suzanne Williams, “Jeff McMillen oversaw all the construction. I can’t say thank you enough for all the time and energy Jeff spent on getting everything done in such a timely manner.” Williams continued. “We believe the economic impact of this project will be significant. These additions will provide a generous space to hold diverse events, trainings, sales, auctions, meetings, programs, and more all throughout the year.” Plans are for this multi-purpose ag building to be utilized in numerous ways including DeKalb Cattle Association events, equipment auctions, school functions, concerts and other entertainment-type events, culinary classes, 4-H development programs, cattle and horse sales, Senior Center events and programs, Community Events, Birthday Parties/Family Reunion type events, trainings, and various uses during the DeKalb County Fair.

A morning crash Friday, July 15 involving an SUV and dump truck claimed the life of 79-year-old Gordon Walter of Smithville. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Walter was north on Allens Ferry Road in a Toyota 4Runner SUV when he pulled into the path of a southbound 388 Peterbilt dump truck while trying to make a left turn onto Holmes Creek Road near the Little League ballpark. The dump truck was driven by 40-year-old Terrance Martin of Smithville. He was driving for T Bird Trucking. The crash report states that Walter’s automobile hit the truck in the southbound lane at an angle. After impact the SUV traveled south for several feet before coming to a final rest roadside left facing north. The dump truck traveled several feet southbound crossing the center line before running off roadside left where it overturned and then came to final rest outside the roadway facing east. According to the report, Walter was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. Martin did have on his seatbelt and was not hurt.

A new coaching team is now in place to lead the DeKalb County High School boys basketball program. Joey Agee, Assistant DeKalb West School Principal and former DeKalb Middle School boys coach, took over from John Sanders, who resigned as head coach of the Tigers for an assistant coaching position at Trousdale County while Cody Randolph will join Coach Agee as his assistant coach. Randolph is coming over to DCHS from DeKalb Middle School where he had served as the Saints boys basketball coach for the last eight years. Randolph succeeds former Assistant Tiger Basketball Coach Logan Vance who has taken a job as teacher and basketball coach at Smith County Middle School. Both Coaches Agee and Randolph will teach wellness and physical education at DCHS. The announcement was made July 15 by DCHS Principal Bruce Curtis. Former DMS Saints Assistant Coach Ethan Vanhook took over the head Saints coaching duties.

A 33-year-old Sparta man accused of seriously injuring a 4-year-old child two years ago resulting in a bone fracture was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday, July 18. Charles David Woody entered a plea to aggravated child abuse and received a sentence of 15 years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction. He was given jail credit from June 22, 2020 to July 18, 2022. On May 9th, 2020 the indictment alleges that Woody did unlawfully, knowingly, and other than by accidental means, inflict injury upon a 4-year-old child resulting in serious bodily injury, : to wit: bone fracture thereby committing the offense of aggravated child abuse.

DeKalb County landowners saw no increase in their property tax rate last fall. During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, July 25 the county commission adopted the tax rate and consolidated budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year as recommended by the budget committee. The county property tax rate remained the same at $1.7308 per $100 of assessed value. The new consolidated budget included pay raises for county employees and others along with teachers and school support staff as well as an allocation of funding for bonuses and various projects from the county’s $3.98 million share of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. The county received authorization to draw down $1.9 million of the total ARP funding last summer for the 2021-22 fiscal year and the rest was down this fiscal year (2022-23).

A midnight fire Friday, July 22 gutted a home under renovation downtown Smithville. The home, owned by Mitch Hodge, was located on West Webb Street near the public square. Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker said the fire was reported to E911 dispatchers at 11:40 p.m. by a passerby who spotted smoke coming from the home which was unoccupied at the time. The Smithville Fire Department sprang into action accompanied by officers with the Smithville Police Department, and DeKalb EMS. A crew from Smithville Electric System also responded to cut power to the house. When firefighters arrived, flames were coming out of the windows of the home and the blaze had spread to the second floor and attic. Firefighters worked to contain the fire, keeping it from spreading to other areas. The house and all of its contents were thought to be a total loss. Chief Parker said it appears the fire started in a front room on the first floor of the home but the cause has not been determined. No one was injured.

AUGUST
A man accused of aggravated statutory rape who led Smithville Police on a pursuit in September, 2021 before crashing his vehicle was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday, August 1. 27-year-old Tyler Shawn Fowler entered a plea to aggravated statutory rape and received a three-year sentence to serve at least 30% before his release eligibility date. He was given jail credit from September 6, 2021 to August 1, 2022. His name will be on the state’s sexual offender registry. Tyler was wanted for the aggravated statutory rape of a 15-year-old. The indictment alleges that Fowler unlawfully and intentionally or knowingly sexually penetrated the teen between the dates of April and September 2021.

A 70-year-old Cookeville man lost his life in a pickup truck crash Thursday afternoon, August 4 on Highway 56 near Center Hill Lake. Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Phillip Smith was traveling north in a 2016 Nissan Frontier when he ran off the left side of the road and struck a rock bluff head on. Smith died at the scene. Members of the DeKalb County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department, and DeKalb EMS all responded along with other members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

DeKalb West School has a new Assistant Principal at the helm following Joey Agee’s transfer to Head Men’s Basketball Coach at D.C.H.S. DeKalb County native Seth Willoughby was selected to fill the vacancy. Schools Director Patrick Cripps said DWS Principal Sabrina Farler made the hiring recommendation after interviewing several candidates. A 2010 graduate of D.C.H.S., Willoughby majored in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Tennessee Tech University. A product of the DeKalb County Schools, Willoughby attended Smithville Elementary School, Northside Elementary School the first year it opened, DeKalb Middle School and finally to D.C.H.S.

A suspected drug dealer was busted by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department in August after a search of his home yielded a variety of drugs, weapons, a vehicle with an altered VIN number, and a large amount of cash. 39-year-old Nathan Joe Trapp of Magness Road, Smithville was charged with possession of Suboxone, Alprazolam, and Clonazepam with intent to sell or deliver; and possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver over 300 grams; unlawful possession of a weapon; possession of drug paraphernalia; violation of an order of protection; and alteration of a VIN number. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Friday, August 12, a detective and other members of the Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at Trapp’s residence and found 650 grams of a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine, two whole orange pills and broken pills believed to be Suboxone, two Alprazolam bars, five Clonazepam pills, numerous scales, baggies, and other drug paraphernalia along with two loaded Taurus 9 mm handguns, a loaded DB 5.56 caliber AR-15, and $30,750 in cash. In addition to the money, investigators seized from Trapp a 2003 Nissan Murano and a 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle. They also discovered that the VIN number had been removed from the dash, door jams, and frame of a black Chevy Silverado truck on the premises.

The DeKalb County Democratic Party has a new leader. Liberty area farmer Jonathan Bradley was named in August by the local Democratic Executive Committee as Chairman of the party. He succeeds Billie Ann Tubbs-Trigueros who resigned as Chairman. A native of Georgia, Bradley and his wife Heather moved to Nashville in 1998 and then relocated to DeKalb County in 2014 where they started Quarter Spring Farm on a 64-acre homestead on Davis Hollow Road in the Liberty and Dowelltown area.

A man who stole a 2006 Dodge Ram pickup truck belonging to the City of Smithville Fire Department last year was sentenced Monday, August 22 in DeKalb County Criminal Court. 44-year-old Mark Beall entered a plea to theft over $10,000 and received a three-year sentence to serve. He was given jail credit from March 23, 2021 to August 22, 2022. On March 23, 2021, Beall drove off in the truck which was parked at the fire station downtown. Beall was later pulled over in the truck and arrested in McMinnville. The truck was easy to spot as it was decaled “Smithville Fire Rescue” on both sides. Equipment was mounted on the pickup, and it had $2,000 worth of extrication tools in the back of the truck.

Three men found locally with fake credit cards along with $30,000 worth of stolen checks out of Kentucky were arrested in August by Smithville Police as part of a multi-state and federal investigation into crimes including mail theft and armed robbery. 25-year-old Anthony Marquall Love of McMinnville and formerly of Flint, Michigan, 19-year-old Rodney Ray Lee Sheridan Jr. of Columbus, Ohio, and 18-year-old Raymond Anton Walker also of Columbus, Ohio were charged locally with two counts of criminal simulation and theft over $10,000 (possession of stolen mail). The suspects were also persons of interest in at least one-armed robbery of a US Postal delivery employee in Kentucky which enabled the perpetrators to commit the mail thefts. According to Chief Collins, the trio tried unsuccessfully Saturday night, August 20 to use a fake credit card to purchase merchandise from both the local Walmart and Dollar General Store on South Congress Boulevard. A similar scam was successfully carried out by others in May at Walmart in Smithville where $9,000 worth of merchandise was stolen. No arrests have been made in that incident. At the time of their arrests Saturday night, the trio had in their rented car 132 checks from account holders made out to businesses and others in Louisville, Kentucky from mail thought to have been stolen from post office boxes there. Investigators believe the suspects rifled through the mail looking for the checks and intended to put money from those checks into a bank account through an online mobile deposit transaction before withdrawing the cash once it was in the bank. Chief Collins said investigators believe this scam is part of an organized group originating in Michigan where one of these men is from but that scams of this type are occurring all over the country. Pending the outcome of the state and federal investigations, these three men may face additional charges elsewhere.

The 2022 DeKalb Saints Homecoming Queen Brylee Kirby was crowned Thursday night, August 25 during a program held prior to the game with Smith County at the DCHS football field in which the Saints lost. Kirby, an 8th grader at DeKalb Middle School, is the daughter of Chad and Shelia Kirby of Smithville. The Homecoming Court were Jordyn Allison Agee- DMS 7th grade attendant, daughter of Joey and Casey Agee; Khloe Elizabeth Grandstaff-DMS 7th grade attendant, daughter of Tyler and Shawna Grandstaff; Kaylee Brooke Kent-DMS 8th grade attendant, daughter of Kevin and Beth Kent; Lillie Grace Young-DMS 8th grade attendant, daughter of Michael and Crystal Young; Miah Johnson-DWS 8th grade attendant, daughter of Kelsey and Brandon Pyles and Bobby and Cindy Johnson; and Sophie Desimone- DWS 7th grade attendant, daughter of Dusty and Rachel Desimone.

SEPTEMBER
The City of Smithville added a third full time paid firefighter to the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department in September. The aldermen voted to hire Glenn Lattimore upon the recommendation of Chief Charlie Parker. Lattimore had been a volunteer member of the department for 14 years. His budgeted salary is $35,131 plus benefits. Chief Parker said Lattimore was one of two candidates for the new position and recommended after a review process. Chief Parker was the first member of the department hired as a full-time city firefighter in 2012. Dalton Roberts was added as the second city paid firefighter in 2020.

DeKalb Countians remembered 9/11 turning out for a special local tribute 21 years after the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. The auditorium at the Mike Foster Multi-Purpose Center was almost full as people came to honor those whose lives were lost that day in New York, Washington D.C. and in Pennsylvania as well as the first responders and military servicemen and women who serve our community and nation. Country star Aaron Tippin and his wife and son, Thea and Tom were featured on the song “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly” which he debuted at the first local 9/11 memorial one week after the tragedy 21 years ago before a huge crowd on the steps of the courthouse. Tippin returned to perform the same song at another local remembrance 10 years later downtown. The Sunday program also featured another great talent, Cody Purvis who performed two patriotic songs, “Boots on the Ground” and Daryl Worley’s “Have You Forgotten”. At the conclusion of the program, first responders were summoned to the stage for recognition and a group photo.

DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (dba) DTC Communications is being awarded over $15.6 million in a TNECD grant for the expansion of internet access serving parts of DeKalb and Cannon counties. The total comes to $15,627,524.71. The award was included in an announcement made in September by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Stuart McWhorter that the state will fund $446,770,282 in grants for the expansion of internet access across the state of Tennessee. In total, the broadband infrastructure grants will provide broadband access to more than 150,000 unserved homes and businesses across 58 counties. “People are moving to Tennessee from across the nation in record numbers, and we have an obligation to prepare our state for continued growth,” said Governor Lee. “Our strategic investments in broadband infrastructure will ensure our rural communities are connected and have every opportunity to thrive, and I thank the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group for managing dollars effectively to serve Tennesseans.” Grantees will provide approximately $331 million in matching funds to complete these projects for a combined investment of $778 million in new broadband infrastructure projects across the state. These projects must be completed within three years.

A DeKalb County Landfill employee, 54-year-old Mark Randall (Truck) Robinson of Dry Creek Road, Smithville was terminated and charged with theft and fraudulent use of a debit card in September for allegedly using a county government fuel card for personal use. The theft allegedly occurred multiple times from June 21, 2021 to September 11, 2022 totaling almost $3,000. The case was investigated by the Smithville Police Department. According to the arrest warrant, “Mark Robinson did use the DeKalb County Government gas card to fill his personal vehicle with gasoline. Mr. Robinson was employed by the DeKalb County landfill. Mr Robinson used the card multiple times. The first offense was on June 21, 2021 to the last offense September 11, 2022. The total amount of gasoline taken was $2,962.66. Mr. Robinson did not have consent to use the gas card for personal use. This offense did occur in Smithville,” the warrant stated.

The DeKalb County High School Golf Team concluded their season in September. In the Division I AA Region 4 Tournament, held at the Golden Eagle Golf Course in Cookeville, Alison Poss shot an 84 to finish tied for 8th out of 24 golfers. Brayden Summers shot an 81 to finish tied for 19th out of 40 golfers. “Brayden is a junior and I really think he has a good chance to qualify for state next year if he keeps improving. Alison is a sophomore and has a good chance to go to state in her next two years. They are just awesome to work with,” said Coach John Pryor. In October, the DeKalb County High School Golf Team had their banquet. The boys team finished the season 7-22 and the girls finished 11-12. The “Most Improved” player was awarded to Ayden Sprague, Bradley Hale took home the “Top Newcomer” award, Brayden Summers was the Boys’ MVP and Alison Poss was the Girls’ MVP.

Charges were filed in September against three Greenbrook Park graffiti vandals for committing the offense and a similar crime at a local church. According to Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins, the same trio who spray painted graffiti on the amphitheater and playground equipment at Greenbrook Park were accused of having done the same thing on the same night at the Bethlehem Community Church on Dry Creek Road. 19-year-old Daisy Morales and 19-year-old Alex Diaz Vidal were each charged in this case with vandalism under $1,000. As with the Greenbrook Park episode, a juvenile was involved at the church and will be charged in a juvenile petition. In the offense report, a member of the Bethlehem Community Church told police that sometime between 5 p.m. on Monday, September 19 and 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 20 someone spray painted graffiti on the exterior walls of the church. The investigation led to the same three who had entered the property of Greenbrook Park after hours the same night as the church incident. For the Greenbrook Park offenses, Morales and Vidal were each charged with vandalism over $1,000 and burglary along with the juvenile. Both Morales and Vidal have been released on their own recognizance. In December Morales and Vidal each entered a plea in DeKalb County Criminal Court by criminal information to the charge of vandalism over $1,000 and were given supervised probation for two years under a judicial diversion agreement. Restitution if any must also be paid

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District awarded a $91,250,000 contract to American Bridge Company for the Center Hill Dam Spillway Gates Replacement Project. Replacement is needed because a Spillway Radial Gate Evaluation Design Document Report in 2016 revealed the eight spillway tainter gates are subject to overstress due to trunnion friction issues. Trunnion friction is the force generated around the trunnion pin during a gate lifting operation. It is caused by the bearing of the trunnion pin against the gates’ trunnion hub and bushing, which is the rotating point of the gate. In addition, the gates and lifting equipment have been in operation since the dam was completed for full beneficial use in 1948. The scope of this contract include fabrication of eight new spillway tainter gates; removal of existing gates and lifting machinery equipment required to operate the gates; and installation of the new gates and lifting machinery equipment.

The 1972 DCHS Tiger Football Team gathered for their 50th anniversary reunion Friday, September 30 for a Dutch treat pre-game meal before attending the DCHS homecoming game against Livingston Academy. The 1972 team finished its season on the field at 6-4 but actually was credited with another win to go 7-3 after one of the opponents on the schedule that year, Brentwood had to forfeit. The 1972 Tigers defeated Woodbury 28-12, Baxter 8-6, Montgomery Central 44-8, Gainesboro 42-0, Monterey 6-0, and Grundy County 16-6. The Tigers lost to Huntland 20-0, Brentwood 33-0, Gordonsville 8-0, and Watertown 26-6. The 1972 Tigers were led by head coach Wayne Cantrell and assistants John Eaton and Donnie Elledge.

DeKalb County Senior Citizens celebrated after the age 60 and older A-team won the district chair volleyball championship Monday, September 26 at the 2022 Senior Olympics at Fair Park Senior Citizens Center in Cumberland County. The local team (age 60 and older) won the overall trophy going undefeated in 13 games of competition which featured 14 other teams from Cumberland, Fentress, and Putnam Counties. The local team also won the Gold medal in their age group. There was even more cause for celebration as the DeKalb County 60 plus B- team captured the overall Bronze Medal while the 70 and older team won the overall Silver Medal. Both the age 70 plus and 80 plus age teams from DeKalb County also won the Gold Medal in their respective age groups.

DeKalb County High School students paraded their “Tiger Pride” from one end of town to the other Friday afternoon, September 30 on the last day of Homecoming Spirit Week. The Tiger football team’s homecoming opponent was the Livingston Academy Wildcats and the floats in the parade had a Tiger versus Wildcats theme. The parade featured Homecoming Queen Reese Williams and her attendants, Deanna Agee, Carlee West, Hannah Trapp, Sadie Moore, and Caroline Crook, the DCHS Fighting Tiger Band, the football team, cheerleaders, Mr and Miss DCHS Colby Barnes and Morgan Walker, class and club floats, other high school athletes, lots of decorated cars and trucks, emergency vehicles, among others. The event concluded with a pep rally on the square led by DCHS Football cheerleaders. The Tigers won their homecoming football game 48-0.

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