Sheriff’s Department Nabs Suspected Drug Dealer

February 1, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department nabbed a suspected drug dealer last week with the arrest of a Smithville woman in the parking lot of the Shiney Rock Market on Highway 56 south.

44-year-old Bridgette Nicole Vientos of Kendra Drive, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; sale and delivery of schedule VI drug (marijuana); and possession of drug paraphernalia. Vientos was further charged with bringing contraband into a penal institution. Her bond totals $61,500 and she will make a court appearance February 3.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 25 a detective was patrolling on McMinnville Highway when he spotted two vehicles stopped beside each other at Shiney Rock Market at closing time. From one of the vehicles a man got out on the passenger side and entered the other vehicle on the passenger side which appeared to the detective to be a possible drug transaction. When the detective pulled into the parking lot, the two occupants of the vehicle appeared to be arguing. The driver of the vehicle, Vientos, had active felony warrants against her out of Chattanooga. When confronted by the detective, Vientos admitted to having methamphetamine in the car and consented to a search. Found inside the car was a red bag which contained an estimated 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine, 1.57 grams of marijuana, a glass pipe, digital scales, a marijuana grinder, and a can of Butane fuel. Another glass pipe was retrieved from the center console and a baggie with residue was found in the car’s glove box. Found inside Vientos’ coin purse was a piece of paper believed to be a drug transaction ledger on which were written names and number amounts.

Four days later on January 29 while incarcerated at the jail Vientos was strip searched by a female correctional officer after Vientos admitted to having contraband hidden in her body cavity. During the search a clear baggie was retrieved which contained a crystal-like substance.

February 1, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The number of active COVID cases in DeKalb County is still on the rise.

At last report the Tennessee Department of Health recorded 621 active cases of COVID in DeKalb County, up from 417 in the report last week. As of January 22, DeKalb County has had 91 deaths and 136 hospitalizations due to COVID since March 2020.

“The number of cases reported by the Tennessee Department of Health for the month of January statewide are the highest we’ve seen thus far. The omicron variant is the dominant strain of COVID 19 in Tennessee, and it has swept across the state very quickly,” said Dr. Lisa Piercey, TDH Commissioner.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that 46.1% of the DeKalb County population has received at least one dose of COVID vaccine and 40.24% is fully vaccinated.

Over the seven-day period, January 16-22, DeKalb County had a case count of 373 for a daily case rate of 260.1 per 100,000 residents, up from 186.9 per 100,000 residents from the period of January 9-15.

For the 14-day period, January 9-22, DeKalb County’s case count was 641 for a daily case rate of 223.5 per 100,000 residents, up from 152 per 100,000 residents for the period of January 2-15.

For the 14 days prior, December 26 to January 8, the case count was 276 for a daily case rate of 96.2 per 100,000 residents, up from 49.2 per 100,000 residents December 19- January 1.

From March 5, 2020, to January 22, 2022, DeKalb County has had a total of 5,363 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 for a daily case rate of 38 per 100,000.

Over the last 7-day reporting period the average percent positive was 51.4%, up from 43.6% in the previous report.

February 1, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A brand-new Christian music video and radio single by Southern Gospel Artists Johnathan Bond & Young Harmony are hitting the airwaves starting today (February 1).

“Cries from the Cross”, a song about the crucifixion of Christ, has been released to Christian radio and digital outlets. Scenes for the music video were recorded in December by a cast assembled on location at the Smithville First Free Will Baptist Church.

The song was recently composed as a collaborative work of local talent Vonda Brown and Johnathan Bond, who is a professional singer and songwriter.

“Vonda reached out to me with some lyrics to the song. She asked me what you think about co-writing this so we sat down and began to write and ask for God’s direction on it and it just unfolded beautifully. When we were finished writing I said I have an idea. I want to release this to radio for Easter and do a full video,” said Bond.

From start to finish, Brown said the project took only four months to complete. “I am really overjoyed that God planted the idea for the song in my thoughts and heart and then one morning gave me the words to it within 15-20 minutes. September 28 was the day that I sent the lyrics to Johnathan and here we are four months later ready to release the song and video to the public. I am so excited,” she said.

Although they would like to see the song become a commercial success, both Brown and Bond said the most important thing is for the message to penetrate hearts and change lives.

“As we approach the upcoming Easter celebration, we know this video will bring to remembrance the scripture, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”, said Bond.

“If one person who is lost hears it or sees the video and it causes them to turn to Christ its been well worth it,” added Brown.

“Cries from the Cross” short sleeved shirts are also available and can be pre-ordered for purchase in any size for $20 each or $22 for long sleeved shirts plus shipping and all proceeds above costs for making the shirts will go to benefit the Extended Arms Project, a division of Young Harmony, Inc, which is a non-profit organization that helps people have the power to lift themselves out of the darkness of poverty both physically and mentally. Visit http://ExtendedArmsProject.com

Please call Christian radio and request “Cries From The Cross” by Artists Johnathan Bond & Young Harmony and distributed with Millennium Music Group. The song was written by Vonda Brown, Johnathan Bond, and Michael Lee. Publisher: HIS Choice Music/BMI.

Johnathan Bond / Young Harmony, a Rick Hendrix Management Artist, is based out of Chattanooga, TN. Johnathan is a writer Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), a member of The National Songwriters Association, Inc. (NSAI), NARAS (www.Grammy.com) and The Gospel Music Association (www.GMAMusicAwards.com) and also a songwriter for HIS Choice Music Publishing. Johnathan has recorded a total of 23 projects, with his latest being “Family & Friends”.

Johnathan Bond has been nominated for the most honored Dove Awards for the years of 2005, 2006 and 2007. In the 2007 voting’s, GOD’s Still GOD (written by Johnathan) was nominated as Southern Gospel Song of the Year and also nominated as “Song of the Year”.

Johnathan has been serving GOD in full-time ministry since 1995. Prior to that time, Johnathan was singing with two of his cousins known as, The McClure Trio. As concert dates began to increase, he then formed the trio that became known as, Young Harmony.

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