Record-Breaking Tourism Numbers In DeKalb County

September 5, 2022
By:

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce DeKalb County’s tourism numbers show a 30% increase from the previous year.

“We are beyond excited to receive this great news from the State of Tennessee,” said Chamber Director Suzanne Williams. ” The economic impact of tourism on DeKalb County is huge. It shows tourism activity, including indirect and induced impacts, supported $51.2 million in business sales in DeKalb County. Visitors directly generated $2.5 Million in state and local taxes, which is equivalent to $322 in tax savings for every DeKalb County household,” she said.

“A 30% increase is rare for any county,” Williams continued. “We are so blessed to have Center Hill Lake, Edgar Evins State Park, Appalachian Center for Craft, Caney Fork River, Harmony Lane Farm, Evins Mill, The Retreat at Center Hill Lake, RiverWatch and Smithville Golf Courses, The Burlap Room, The Harvester, 9 commercial marinas, restaurants, shops, nurseries, and all kinds of watercraft rentals. All the many diverse businesses that fuel our tourism revenues made this happen including our annual events such as the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival, DeKalb County Fair, Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour, and other local music and art events. Our small-town charm, friendly people, and scenic beauty make DeKalb County a desirable place to live, work, play, and raise a family and all these factors attract new visitors and keep many visitors coming back year after year,” she said.

Key Highlights from 2021 DeKalb County Travel and Tourism Report:
• $32.Million Direct Spending in DeKalb County
• $51.2 Million Total Business Sales in DeKalb County
• 343 Number of Tourism Jobs in DeKalb County
• $6.77 Million Direct Labor Income in DeKalb County
• $1.40 Million State Sales Tax paid by overnight tourists to the State
• $1.10 Million Local Taxes paid by overnight tourists to DeKalb County
• $322 Tax Relief per household in DeKalb County due to tourism

According to the report, on an average day in DeKalb County, visitor spending generated:
• $87,672 in daily expenditures
• $18,541 in daily labor income
• $3,842 in daily state taxes
• $3,015 in daily local taxes

DeKalb County continues to have the third highest tourism dollars in the Upper Cumberland region. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell announced that Tennessee tourism generated $24.2 billion in domestic and international travel spending in 2021, according to recently released economic impact data from U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics. It also marks the largest visitor spending nationally in Tennessee’s history. Travelers in Tennessee spend an estimated $66 million per day. Travel in Tennessee generated $1.9 billion in state and local tax revenue. Travel and tourism is also the third largest employer in the state.

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development works with the Tennessee Tourism Committee, local convention and visitors’ bureaus, chambers of commerce, city and county leaders, tourism attractions and the hospitality industry in all 95 counties to inspire travel to the state.

September 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Police recently arrested a man found to be a convicted felon after he allegedly assaulted a woman and threatened her with a gun during a domestic dispute.

In his latest report, Police Chief Mark Collins said that 33-year-old Timothy William Patrick was arrested on August 11 for aggravated assault, illegal possession of a weapon, and removing a serial number from a firearm. Police were summoned to the location of a reported physical domestic and learned that Patrick and a woman had gotten into an altercation. When told to leave the house, Patrick became angry and struck the woman with a television and then pointed a gun at her. The weapon believed to have been used during the incident was recovered. The gun’s serial number had been removed. According to police Patrick is a felon and is not legally allowed to possess a firearm. Bond for Patrick is $11,500.

59-year-old David Ray Johnson was cited for theft and criminal trespassing on July 29. According to Police, Johnson was spotted leaving Wal-Mart with $222.39 worth of merchandise without having paid for those items.

41-year-old Megan Jo Grooms of Earl Avenue was arrested on August 3 for domestic assault. An officer went to the home of Grooms to check on the welfare of someone, but Grooms told him that person was not there. After a few minutes, the person police were wanting to check on could be heard yelling for help before he ran out of the house with Grooms chasing after him. An investigation revealed that Grooms and the victim had been arguing earlier that morning and that Grooms had stabbed him with a pencil and a metal fork leaving visible marks. Bond for Grooms is $10,000.

51-year-old David Eugene Driver of Arrowhead Drive was arrested on August 3 for driving with a suspended/revoked license. While patrolling Cookeville Highway, an officer spotted Driver operating a motor vehicle. Knowing that Driver did not have a valid license the officer stopped him. A license check through central dispatch revealed that Driver’s license was revoked for a 1998 DUI. An officer had issued Driver a citation for another DUI offense on July 26, 2022. Driver, determined to be an habitual offender, was taken into custody. His bond is $10,000 and he will make a court appearance on September 8.

24-year-old Matthew Conner Peak was arrested on August 7 for theft. Peak was observed on surveillance video taking an Onn power bank from Wal-Mart and leaving the store without paying for the item. Peak was located under the bridge on West Broad Street and the power bank was recovered and returned to the store. Bond for Peak is $1,500 and his court date is September 8.

31-year-old Elias Vazquez Mendes of South Mountain Street was arrested for domestic assault on August 14. Police were summoned to a report of a domestic assault and upon arrival noticed that the victim had a red mark on her left leg. Police learned that the parties had gotten into an argument which resulted in Mendes popping the victim with a towel leaving a red mark. Bond for Mendes is $3,500 and his court date is September 8.

35-year-old Johnathon Adam Rice and 37-year-old Amanda Alice Atnip were cited for trespassing on August 14. Police were dispatched to Center Hill Village Apartments due to unwanted guests and found both Rice and Atnip on the premises where they had previously been ordered to keep off the property.

32-year-old Christopher Brock Tatrow of East Broad Street was arrested for public intoxication on August 19. Police were dispatched to the area of Smith Road where a man was reported to be walking down the road yelling at people while holding a stop sign. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Tatrow who appeared to be disoriented, unsteady on his feet, and talking out of his head. Police discovered that Tatrow had earlier taken some methamphetamine. For his safety and that of the public, Tatrow was taken into custody. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on September 8.

39-year-old Jessica French Hale of Short Mountain Highway was arrested for criminal trespassing on August 21. Police were dispatched to Wal-Mart due to an unwanted guest and upon arrival learned that Hale, who had previously been ordered to keep away from the business, was inside the store. According to police one of the store managers had confronted Hale about being in Wal-Mart after which she left the store and ran across the parking lot. Police reviewed video footage which showed Hale inside the store. Hale was trespassed from Wal-Mart on July 15, 2021 and has received two citations since. Hale was located and taken into custody. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court September 8.

48-year-old Jason Bradley Cripps of Old Snow Hill Road was arrested on August 28 for public intoxication. An officer was patrolling North Congress Boulevard when he noticed a man stumbling while walking on the shoulder of the road. The officer stopped and spoke with the man, Cripps who was unsteady on his feet. His speech was also slurred. Police learned that Cripps had taken Suboxone earlier in the morning. He also had a strong odor of marijuana on his person. For his safety and that of the public, Cripps was taken into custody. Bond for Cripps is $1,500 and his court date is September 15.

18-year-old Bryson Tyler High of Murfreesboro was arrested for evading arrest on August 28. While patrolling West Broad Street an officer spotted a vehicle near the Dairy Queen with a headlight out traveling at 58 mph in a 40-mph zone. The officer activated the patrol car’s blue lights and sirens and turned around for a traffic stop but the vehicle he was pursuing continued west on Broad Street and then went through the red light at Wal-Mart and past the Ford dealership reaching speeds of 80+ miles per hour. The driver, Bryson High finally came to a stop at the old Plaza Center on West Broad Street. High’s bond is $15,000 and his court date is September 15.

31-year-old Stephanie Michelle Mooneyham of Toad Road was cited for criminal trespassing on August 28. Police were summoned to Dairy Queen due to an unwanted guest who had entered the restaurant and started yelling for a drink cup. Mooneyham had previously been warned not to be in the restaurant. Her court date is September 15.

40-year-old Jenny Elizabeth Murphy of Smithville Highway was arrested on August 30 for theft. According to police, Murphy was observed by a Dollar General Store employee stuffing merchandise into her purse. Once the employee confronted her, Murphy dropped several items as she was running out of the store. Murphy was later found at a residence and taken into custody. Bond for Murphy is $2,500 and her court date is September 15.

September 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

As part of September National Recovery Month, the DeKalb Prevention Coalition marked International Overdose Awareness Day on Thursday with an event that honored those who have died from drug overdoses and provided resources for those battling drug addiction.

The event, held on the west side of the courthouse concluded with a moment of silence as participants held hands encircled around a tree decorated with purple ribbons placed there in memory of loves ones lost to an overdose.

“Our mission is to eliminate overdose, eliminate stigma associated with substance use disorder, and ensure every patient has access to and support throughout the recovery process,” said Jennifer Matthews, Director of the DeKalb County Prevention Coalition.

The ceremony featured entertainment, food, as well as remarks by County Mayor Matt Adcock and General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Brandon Cox along with Will Taylor, Faith-based Community Coordinator for Middle Tennessee and Justin Cantrell, Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist.

“I challenge all of you today to pay remembrance to lives lost but to recover out loud, share your story because there is nothing to be ashamed of,” said Will Taylor.

Justin Cantrell, a recovering drug addict and guest speaker for Thursday evening’s program, said his life has completely changed.

“My life before was unmanageable. Court dates, jail, and rehab twelve different times. I was miserable and my family and every relationship in my life was destroyed. I had no job and was broke, homeless, busted and disgusted and I didn’t want to face reality, but I had to fully admit that I had a problem, and that I was powerless over this. The disease of addiction. It was only then that my life began to change through a 12-step recovery program, and I turned my will and life over to God and received a spiritual awakening,” said Cantrell.

The family of the late Christie Mullican also displayed a purple chair with sparkles called “Christie’s Chair” in tribute to their loved one who died of an overdose in 2005 and in memory of others who have lost the battle of addiction.

“At first, we decided to do the chair in memory of my sister Christie but then we came to doing it for overdose awareness. Every sparkle on that chair represents a life lost to an overdose. Its called Christie’s Chair. We also have a poster for survivors,” said Amanda Parsley.

A poem in memory of Christie called “My Empty Chair”, written by Parsley and Melissa Randall, was read during the event by Isaac Pinegar. “Do not take my chair. Leave it be. My chair sits here empty in memory of me. I am in God’s care. With every sparkle on my chair remember the love we share. I gained my wings. You gained my voice. Please tell the world I made the wrong choice. Overdose Awareness August 31. Overdose is preventable”.

“We have to spread this message to let people be aware of how serious drugs are. You might use for the first time or for the last time and for a lot of people it is the last time. If you are alive at least you still have a choice,” said Parsley

Part of the event included training in how to administer naloxone, a life-saving drug that can revive someone who has overdosed. Suzanne Angel, Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist for the State of Tennessee Region 3 North conducted the training.

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