January 1, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
The year 2024 in DeKalb County started off with a tragedy on New Yearâs Day involving the murder of a Nashville woman whose body was buried in a freshly dug grave in the Belk Community. 76-year-old Jackie Glynn died from blows to the head by a hammer. Her husband, 70-year-old Joseph Michael Glynn was arrested, and he entered a plea in Davidson County Criminal Court in August to first degree murder and received a life prison sentence. After the attack at Glynnâs Nashville home, he brought his wifeâs body to DeKalb County and buried her. Meanwhile, 29-year-old Anthony Tate âRoosterâ Miller of Allen Bend Road was charged with filing a false report. Although Miller was not accused of being an accomplice in the murder, Sheriff Patrick Ray said Miller gave conflicting stories to investigators about his contact with Glynn and his knowledge about how Ms Glynnâs vehicle, a Toyota RAV4 got to where it was found abandoned on Barnes Mill Road.
Other top stories of 2024 in DeKalb County are as follows:
*A tragic accident at the DeKalb County Solid Waste Transfer Station Monday, June 10 claimed the life of a county garbage truck driver there. 69-year-old Alvin Armour, a long-time solid waste department employee, died after he was accidentally struck and run over by another county garbage truck driver, 52-year-old Thomas Bowen of Murfreesboro. Officials say Bowen was lined up and parked behind another truck waiting to unload prior to the accident. Armour, who had just unloaded his truck, had parked and gotten out on foot. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Armour crossed in front of Bowenâs truck as he began to drive forward, and Bowen could not see him. Armour died at the scene. Summoned to the scene were members of DeKalb EMS and the Smithville Police and Fire Departments, in addition to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. âThis was a tragic accident. My thoughts and prayers go out to Alvinâs family. He was a long-term employee and long-term friend. We all lost a friend today and our hearts are heavyâ, said County Mayor Matt Adcock.
*A confirmed EF1 tornado touched down in Smithville Monday afternoon May 6 causing structure damage and downed utility lines and trees mainly on the north and eastern portions of the city and county especially along Allenâs Ferry Road and North Congress Boulevard (Highway 56 North). Just a short distance from Northside Elementary School, the tornado destroyed the home of Joe and Polly Payne at 550 North Congress Boulevard just outside the city limits. DeKalb Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie Parker said the storm damaged or destroyed outbuildings, barns, and homes, uprooted trees, and downed utility lines along its path but there were no serious injuries.
*An August arrest was made in the death of 29-year-old Rebecca Maxfield. Warren County Sheriff Jackie D. Matheny, Jr. announced the arrest of Joshua Wayne Goff for Abuse of a Corpse and Tampering with Evidence. The arrest was the result of the Warren County Sheriffâs Office working with the DeKalb County Sheriffâs Office, Smithville Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorneyâs offices from both Warren and DeKalb Counties in the investigation regarding the death of Rebecca Maxfield of Smithville. Ms. Maxfield was reported missing on or about August 4th and her body was discovered by a Warren County Sheriffâs Investigator inside of a vehicle located in a corn field on New Bildad Road in DeKalb County on August 9. Goff was taken into custody and booked into the Warren County Jail under a $60,000 bond.
*A fatal shooting in August resulted in a second-degree murder charge against one man. 66-year-old William Anthony McKenzie of Streamer Drive, Smithville is accused of killing 39-year-old Earl Craig Asbury, Jr. at McKenzieâs residence. Chief Deputy Brian Williams of the DeKalb County Sheriffâs Department issued the following prepared statement. âOn Thursday, August 29 at 6:54 p.m. Central Dispatch received a call of a possible shooting at 163 Streamer Drive. The DeKalb County Sheriffâs Department arrived on the scene at 7:05 p.m. and made contact with William McKenzie and then with a deceased male laying in the yard. The deceased male is 39-year-old Earl Craig Asberry Jr. of Smithville. McKenzie, the suspect, has been booked into the DeKalb County Jail and is charged with TCA 39-13-210 Second Degree Murder. McKenzie was under a $500,000 bond.
*A 30-year-old man lost his life in a single vehicle crash (Wednesday, January 10) on Highway 146 (Short Mountain Highway). According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Thomas Claston Beltz was traveling south on Highway 146 in a 2017 Ford F150 when he failed to negotiate a curve and overcorrected. The vehicle went off the right side of the roadway striking a utility pole before overturning and then coming to a final rest. Beltz was not wearing his seatbelt. The crash was reported around 1:38 a.m.
*DeKalb County lost a longtime attorney and former state representative in January. 80-year-old Frank Buck of Dowelltown passed away on January 24, 2024, at NHC HealthCare in Smithville, Tennessee. For 36 years, Buck represented the 40th district including DeKalb County in the Tennessee General Assembly. He was first elected to the position in 1972 and re-elected every two years thereafter for a total of 18 terms until his retirement in 2008. Buck and his wife Lena for many years practiced law from their downtown Smithville office firm of Buck & Buck Attorneys.
*The DeKalb County Ambulance Service lost its leader in September. Hoyte Hale, who had served as Director of DeKalb EMS for almost nine years, passed away suddenly on September 29. Hale, an EMT-Paramedic, served as interim EMS director for two and a half years before becoming the director in 2015. Prior to being named interim, Hale was the assistant EMS director for seven years. In addition to his EMS duties, Hale was also a veteran volunteer firefighter for the Smithville Fire Department having served there for almost 40 years and at the time of his death was Deputy Chief. Hale was an eight-time winner of the departmentâs âRobert Eller Highest Attendance Awardâ given in response to the most incidents of anyone during the year. Three days later, on October 2 firefighters, EMS, law enforcement other first responders and public safety agencies in emergency vehicles (including many ambulances and fire trucks) locally and across the mid-state formed a very long procession to escort Haleâs body to his final resting place at DeKalb Memorial Gardens. During city county council and county commission meetings in September and October, State Representative Michael Hale, County Mayor Matt Adcock, and the Smithville Mayor Josh Miller recognized Hale and presented resolutions in his memory to Haleâs family.
*The man who allegedly beat his girlfriend to death with a hammer two years ago over allegations of infidelity was sentenced in August in DeKalb County Criminal Court. 36-year-old Simon Rodriguez Martinez, charged with first degree murder in the death of 39-year-old Yuri Guerra, entered a plea to the lesser offense of second-degree murder and received a 40-year sentence to serve at 100%. He was given jai credit of 704 days for time served from September 21, 2022 to August 26, 2024. Martinez was represented by Assistant Public Defender Allison West.
*An 18-year-old DeKalb County man and member of the DCHS Class of 2024 lost his life in an August suspected drowning incident in Grundy County. Dead is Kolby Jacobs. The announcement was made in the following Facebook post by the Grundy County Sheriffâs Department. âOn Sunday, August 18th, the Grundy County Sheriffâs Office was called to a possible drowning at Big Creek Lake in Coalmont. There was no visible body at the time of arrival. Rescue Squads were deployed, and a body was located on sonar in 12-15 feet of water. Divers then were able to retrieve the body of Kolby Jacobs, 18 years old of Smithville Tennessee. Investigators determined no foul play was involved in the drowning of Jacobsâ.
*A member of the Cookeville Highway Station and training officer won the DeKalb County Fire Departmentâs most coveted award. Luke Green was the 2023 Wilson Bank & Trust Firefighter of the Year. Green was honored in January during the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Departmentâs Annual Awards Program at the county complex auditorium. Wilson Bank & Trust was the headlining sponsor of the program. The emcee was Alex Woodward, a firefighter of the Cookeville Highway Station.
*A car and the body of a woman were found in March in the water near the Indian Creek Boat Ramp on Center Hill Lake. Susan Niland, Senior Public Information Officer for TBI released the following statement. âAt the request of 13th Judicial District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, TBI special agents joined investigators with the DeKalb Co Sheriffâs Department, Tennessee State Parks, and the Army Corps of Engineers, in a death investigation at the boat ramp at the end of Indian Creek Road. Crews responded to a 911 call around 6am Saturday that a body and vehicle (Nissan Rogue) were in the water at Center Hill Lake. The woman whose body was recovered was identified as 61-year-old Terri Lynn Patterson. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed,â stated Niland.
*Northside Elementary School made the list of Tennesseeâs highest performing schools and districts. In a report released in February, the Tennessee Department of Education gave hundreds of schools ârewardâ status for the 2022-23 school year, meaning they demonstrated high levels of performance, met specific goals to improve performance or both. The department also released names of districts that need improvement. âThe Reward school status for Northside Elementary 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,â said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.
*A fire broke out at Hurricane Marina in February causing damage to a pier and three boats. There were no injuries. The DeKalb County Fire Department issued the following prepared statement about the incident. âThe DeKalb County Fire Department was dispatched to a boat fire at Hurricane Marina. As fire crews arrived, they found a ski boat in a covered slip on a pier fully engulfed with other boats and the marina pier threatened. Firefighters, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officers, and rescue personnel worked quickly to tow adjacent boats and extinguish the fire. One of the exposed boats sustained major damage. The other exposed boat sustained minor damage. The marina pier also had fire, heat, and smoke damage that was isolated to the area where the fire started. There were no injuries reported. It is believed the fire started from an electrical fault on the ski boat. The DeKalb County Fire Departmentâs Cookeville Highway, Liberty, Main stations, Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad, DeKalb Emergency Medical Services, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and DeKalb County Sheriffâs Department responded to the incidentâ.
*A former DeKalb County Landfill employee, charged with fraudulent use of a credit card for allegedly using a county government fuel card for personal use, was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Tuesday, March 12. 55-year-old Mark Randall (Truck) Robinson entered a plea to the charge and received a sentence of two years all suspended to supervised probation. He must make restitution to DeKalb County of $2,443.
The case was investigated by the Smithville Police Department.
*A 25-year-old woman and former unlicensed daycare operator originally indicted in 2023 by the DeKalb County Grand Jury on charges of child abuse and aggravated child abuse of children ages 9 months and 13 months appeared for sentencing in February in Putnam County Criminal Court. Karlee Madison Dickens, also known as Karlee Madison Wagner of Smithville entered a plea to two counts of child abuse and received a total sentence of six years to serve at 100%. She was given a four-year sentence in one case and two years in the other. The two cases are to run consecutively for a total of six years
*Andy Pack was appointed by the county commission in February to succeed Justin Adcock as commissioner in the 6th district. Adcock resigned in January. Pack was elected unopposed to fill the unexpired term in the August General Election.
*DeKalb County has a new Veterans Service Officer. Erica Degni was named to the position in February succeeding former Veterans Service Officer Bill Rutherford who resigned due to health reasons.
*Sixteen months after renaming âWalnut Alleyâ the âJohn Anderson Alleyâ downtown in honor of the local country music legend, the City of Smithville paid tribute to another hometown country icon. During Marchâs monthly meeting, the Smithville Aldermen voted, upon the recommendation of Mayor Josh Miller, to name the alley between Main Street and Market Street in honor of Aaron Tippin.
*Political newcomer Megan Moore won the DeKalb County Republican nomination for the Board of Education-District 5 in the March primary. Moore defeated Tom Walkup 191 votes (58.95%) to 133 votes (41.05%). Moore was unopposed in the August DeKalb County General Election. She succeeded Jamie Cripps on the school board from the 5th district. Cripps did not seek re-election. The term is for four years. Meanwhile 6th District Incumbent Board of Education member Jason Miller won the GOP nomination for re-election unopposed with a total of 287 complimentary votes. Miller was unopposed in the August DeKalb County General Election. The term is four years. Constable candidates in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th districts ran unopposed in the DeKalb Republican Primary in March and were unopposed as GOP nominees in the August DeKalb County General Election. The terms are four years.
*DeKalb County Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell won a third term after defeating challenger Amy Clare Lockhart in the DeKalb County Republican Primary in March. Cantrell, the Republican nominee, carried all 12 precincts including early voting and absentees for a total of 1,566 votes (61.90%) to Lockhartâs 961 votes (37.98%). He was unopposed in the August DeKalb County General Election. The term is four years.
* John Andersonâs unmistakable voice was permanently sealed into the history books after being formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. During a CMA-hosted press conference held in March at the Country Music Hall of FameÂŽ and Museum in Nashville, Brooks & Dunn formally revealed Anderson as a 2024 inductee into the revered institution. As part of the Country Music Hall of Fame Class of 2024, Anderson was inducted in the Veterans Era Artist category, alongside the late Toby Keith in the Modern Era Artist category and James Burton in the Recording and/or Touring Musician category.
*The 2024 DeKalb County School District Teacher of the Year is Kathy Ramsey, a 4th grade ELA (English, Language Arts) and Social Studies Teacher at Northside Elementary School. Ramsey got a surprise visit to her classroom in March for the âJohn Isabell Memorial Awardâ presentation by Director of Schools Patrick Cripps, Northside Elementary School Principal Angela Johnson, NES Assistant Principal Beth Pafford, Supervisors of Instruction Michelle Burklow and Randy Jennings, and Federal Programs Supervisor Dr. Danielle Collins. As part of the honor, Ramsey also received a school bell award, a floral arrangement, and a certificate granting her a day off from school with pay. In addition to the visit with Ramsey, Director Cripps and school administrators paid a call on four other teachers at their schools to present the school level âTeacher of the Yearâ awards including 1st grade educator Crystal Barnes at DeKalb West School; Kindergarten teacher Misty Agee at Smithville Elementary School; Lori Hendrix, an 8th grade History teacher at DeKalb Middle School, and Debi DePriest, a government teacher at DeKalb County High School.
* Mathias Anderson was appointed by the county commission in March to take the seat of former commissioner Tim Reynolds who stepped down from the commission in February. Anderson was elected unopposed to fill the unexpired term in the August General Election.
*A new School Resource Officer was named to join the existing staff of SROâs. Sheriff Patrick Ray announced in August that Deputy Jasmine Garza will serve as an extra SRO at DeKalb County High School and also as a fill-in SRO at other schools in DeKalb County. The Board of Education allocated funds for the position in the 2024-25 school budget at the request of Sheriff Ray. Other School Resource Officers, funded by the state, are: Smithville Elementary School Deputy Roger Whitehead; Northside Elementary School Deputy Matt Summers; DeKalb Middle School Deputy Joseph Carroll; DeKalb County High School Deputy Chris McMillen; and DeKalb West School Deputy Billy Tiner.
*Murfreesboro Police Department Criminal Investigations Division Violent Crimes detectives investigated what led to a road rage shooting that left a DeKalb County man dead and another one injured Saturday, April 13. The fatal shooting victim, 49-year-old Paul Howell, reportedly of Rocky Road Liberty and formerly of South Mountain Street, Smithville was taken to the hospital in Murfreesboro where he later died. A second victim, a 48-year-old man, was shot in the arm and treated for his injury. The shooter, 39-year-old Joseph Gann, left the scene of the shooting. He later turned himself in to officers at Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department Station 3 on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Gann was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and one count of reckless endangerment. The preliminary investigation revealed Gann was driving on S. Rutherford Blvd. in a Toyota Rav 4 when a road rage incident with a group of motorcycle riders occurred. Things escalated at the intersection of S. Rutherford Blvd. and SE Broad/Manchester Hwy. According to detectives, Gann fired multiple shots striking two of the motorcyclists. Itâs unclear what caused the road rage incident.
*A 21-year-old man lost his life in a motorcycle crash in April on State Route 96/Dale Ridge Road near Center Hill Dam. Dead is Akili H. Robertson. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Akili was traveling North on a 2012 Suzuki GXR Motorcycle and began to skid while negotiating a curve to the left. The motorcycle left the roadway to the right, went over a steep embankment, and struck a tree. Akili was thrown from the motorcycle and sustained fatal injuries. In addition to the THP and DeKalb EMS, members of the DeKalb County Sheriffâs Department, DeKalb Fire Department, and Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad were on the scene. Volunteers from the fire department and rescue squad assisted in bringing Akiliâs body back up the embankment. He reportedly died at the scene.
*In May, 171 members of the DCHS Class of 2024 during the commencement experienced the exhilaration of tossing their caps in the air, the bittersweet goodbyes to friends, and the excitement of what awaits them as they prepared to set sail and chart a course toward new life adventures. In her commencement address, Valedictorian Peyton Norris encouraged her classmates to summon within them the âsuperpowerâ strength of their movie and comic book superheros to achieve great things. Three of the most outstanding members of the class were singled out for special recognition. This yearâs White Rose Awards went to Luke Magness and Kathryn Hale while the Citizenship Award was presented to Brynn Harvey.
*Smithville Select, the 2023 reigning champion of the Fiddlers Jamboree Youth Square Dancing competition, dazzled audiences at the iconic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville Saturday night, May 18. Led by Mary Ann Puckett, this talented youth square dance team shared the stage with the Opry Square Dancers
*Director of Schools Patrick Cripps was named the 2024-25 Tennessee Upper Cumberland Regional Superintendent of the Year awarded by the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS). TOSS is a membership association for Tennesseeâs school superintendents and directors of schools. TOSS provides high quality professional learning, legislative advocacy and many other services. An overall State Superintendent or Director of the Year is selected by TOSS each year along with eight regional winners. Cripps was this yearâs winner for the Upper Cumberland Region.
*Sheriff Patrick Ray reported an inmate death. âOn June 15, 2024 at approximately 9:35 pm, DeKalb County Jail Correctional Officers were notified about an Inmate located in the Annex area of the jail needing to see the nurse,â said Sheriff Ray. âCorrectional Officers immediately got the inmate to the nurse. While in the nurseâs station, the inmate experienced a medical episode. The Correctional Officers notified Central Dispatch to summon EMS to the jail. The inmate was transported to Ascension St. Thomas Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:33 pm.,â Sheriff Ray explained. âThe inmate is 53-year-old Fredrick Michael Hughes of Barnes Mill Road Smithville. As the DeKalb County Jailâs protocol, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was called to investigate this incident and an autopsy was orderedâ, said Sheriff Ray.
*Another inmate death was reported by Sheriff Patrick Ray in October. âOn October 11 at 3:35 a.m. an ambulance from DeKalb EMS was summoned to the DeKalb County Jail for a medical issue with one of the inmates that was unresponsive but breathing. During the transport of the inmate to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb, the inmate was administered CPR. The inmate was pronounced dead at Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Emergency Room,â said Sheriff Ray. The inmate is 34-year-old Dustin Allen Pedigo of King Ridge Road Dowelltown.
*18-year-old Allyson Roxanne Fuller is the 2024 DeKalb County Fairest of the Fair. She was crowned queen in June on opening night of the Fair. Fuller is the daughter of Anthony and Amanda Fuller of Smithville. She succeeded the retiring queen Kenlee Renae Taylor, the 19-year-old daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor of Smithville. Fuller was also named Miss Congeniality of the pageant.
*A Friday night fire in June rendered significant damage to a Liberty industry. DeKalb County Volunteer Firefighters were summoned to an industrial structure fire at the Liberty Machine Shop on East Main Street âThe building received significant fire damage to the front interior portion where the blaze originated in the ceiling area. Other portions of the facility received moderate smoke and water damage,â said Chief Donny Green. No one was present at the facility when the fire was reported and there were no injuries during the incident. The cause of the fire was undetermined.
*A former law enforcement officer in DeKalb and other counties indicted in December 2022 on sex crimes involving a minor appeared for sentencing Monday, July 1 in Criminal Court. 41-year-old Dustin James Farris, indicted 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, entered a plea to the following: criminal attempt for solicitation of a minor (1 count) and 2 counts of sexual exposure of a minor. Farris received a total sentence of 5 years to serve at 100% as a range 1 offender and he must register as a sexual offender. Farris must have no contact with the victim in this case. He was fined a total of $600. Farrisâ latest employment at the time of the indictment was with the Overton County Sheriffâs 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 Sheriffâs Departments as well as a Child Support Investigator in the 13th Judicial District.
*A man indicted in March for child sex crimes had his day in court Monday, July 1. 41-year-old George Daniel Evans, indicted for three counts of rape, four counts of sexual battery by an authority figure, two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child, and two counts of incest, entered a plea to two counts of sexual battery by an authority figure. Evans received an 8-year sentence to serve at 100% on both counts to run concurrently. He will be on the stateâs sex offender registry. Evans was given jail credit of 542 days. According to the indictment, Evans allegedly had sexual contact with two children under the age of 14 on several occasions from October 2015 to October 2021. At the time of the first offenses the children were 7 and 8 years old.
*Tyler Andalâs big weekend! The Nashville fiddler took home a total of seven awards from the 53rd annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival over the weekend July 5 & 6 including the biggest prize, the Berry C. Williams Memorial for claiming the Grand Champion Fiddling Title. As the 2024 Grand Fiddle Off Champion, Andal was invited by the Grand Ole Opry to play a âfiddle tuneâ for the Opry square dancersâ LIVE performance during a selected show. Darrin Vincent, member of the Grand Ole Opryâs award-winning group Dailey & Vincent, presented the award to Andal at the conclusion of the festival which ended at 11 p.m. Saturday night, July 6. By winning the Junior fiddling contest, Andal edged out two other competitors for a right to advance to the fiddle-off and he out fiddled the senior winner Heather Brown Curry, another past Fiddlerâs Jamboree Grand Champion. In addition to the Grand Champion Fiddling Title, Andalâs list of awards for the weekend included First Place for Junior Fiddling, Flat Top Guitar, Contest Fiddle (The Neil Dudney Memorial Award), Old Time Banjo, and Mandolin, and Second Place in the Dobro Guitar event.
*A Franklin girl won the top Jamboree award Saturday, July 6 as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners. Ella Derby won the coveted James G. âBoboâ Driver Memorial Award. Members of Mr. Driverâs family sponsored and presented the award to Derby. Meanwhile Callie Doerfel of Murfreesboro was winner of the Nolan Turner Memorial Entertainer of the Year award. The honor, sponsored by the Turner family, is presented to the best overall instrumental entertainer among winners in the dobro guitar, mandolin, five string banjo, and flat top guitar competition. Doerfel earned first place in the five-string banjo competition and she took second place in both flat top guitar and dobro guitar. Doerfel was also a second-place winner in the beginner buck dancing and clogging contests. The National Championship for Country Musician Beginners showcases the talents of children up to age twelve in seven categories of competition.
*Two men including a former DeKalb County Solid Waste Department truck driver accused of stealing and selling for personal gain scrap metal collected at the countyâs convenience sites and transfer station were named in a sealed indictment returned by the grand jury in July. 50-year-old Johnny Moore Eschman of Church Road, Lancaster and 46-year-old Derek Russell Fann of Gunter Hollow Road, Woodbury were indicted on charges of theft of property over $2,500 and Eschman for official misconduct. Eschman, who worked for DeKalb County, and Fann, an employee for Capital Waste, a company contracted to operate the countyâs transfer station were arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on July 23.
*The start of the new school year brought changes in administration positions at three of the five schools in DeKalb County. Teresa Jones, who became assistant principal last year at DeKalb Middle School, succeeded Caleb Shehane as principal there this year. Shehane recently resigned after serving two years as DeKalb Middle School principal. Taking Jonesâ place as DMS assistant principal was veteran teacher Josh Agee. Meanwhile Thomas Cagle, who served as an assistant principal at DeKalb County High School for the last three years, stepped down. Succeeding him in that role was Seth Willoughby, who for the last two years had been assistant principal at DeKalb West School. Meanwhile at DeKalb West School, Cindy Snow moved from a long-time teaching position to administration as assistant principal.
*Have you seen a black bear in DeKalb County lately? According to TWRA Officer Tony Cross, several people reported seeing a young bear in July primarily in the Snow Hill, Possum Hollow, Dowelltown, and Liberty area. Some even photographed or captured the sightings on video. Chances are the bear was only passing through and in search of a food source along the way.
*Alexandria has a new mayor. Beth Tripp was elected to fill an unexpired term in the Alexandria Municipal Election in August. She received a total of 88 votes to win the seat. Trippâs name was the only one on the ballot for mayor, but an active write-in campaign was staged by two others, Rodney Allen Lawson, who received 64 votes and Russell âRustyâ Allen Bradshaw who had 18 write-in votes. Meanwhile Jonathon Tripp was elected to a full four-year term as aldermen with 92 votes. Trippâs name was the only one on the ballot for the position. Two others, Lucas âLukeâ Dylan Prichard and Robert âBobbyâ Alex Simpson were elected to a full four-year aldermen term through a write-in effort. Prichard received 74 write-in votes and Simpson garnered 73. Two other write-in candidates were unsuccessful in their quest for a full four-year term as alderman including Bobbie Jo Ford who received 24 votes and Curtis James Rutter who had 32 write-in votes. Jeff Ford was elected to fill an unexpired alderman term with 79 votes. His was the only name on the ballot to fill the vacancy. There were no write-in candidates for the unexpired term. Later in August two new aldermen were appointed to the Alexandria city council including Tiffany Robinson and Sherry Tubbs who are to serve unexpired two-year terms.
*In the August Smithville Municipal Election, three incumbent aldermen were re-elected unopposed to four-year terms including Shawn Jacobs with 203 votes, Jessica L. Higgins 191 votes, and Danny Washer 186 votes.
*The first full week of school began Monday, August 5 and with it came pay raises for DeKalb County teachers and support staff for the 2024-25 year. In June, the county commission adopted, as approved by the board of education and county budget committee, the school budget for the new year which included salary increases of $2,000 to $6,000 for employees based on years of service. The cost of the pay raises with matching benefits, according to Director of Schools Patrick Cripps came to $1.72 million dollars which will be absorbed in the school budget from available funds and reserves along with projected increases in employee health care insurance premiums. The new school budget provides for a $2,000 pay increase to employees (certified educators and support staff) with up to 9 years of service (155 employees); $5,000 for those with 10-19 years (104 employees); and $6,000 to staff with 20 or more years (108 employees).
*Honoring the âKing of Center Hillâ! Family and friends of the late Darwin Gard gathered at Sligo bridge for a brief but special ceremony in August to pay tribute to the man affectionately known as the âKing of Center Hillâ for his decades of service operating Sligo Marina. The event, hosted by State Representative Michael Hale, was held to commemorate the stateâs naming of Sligo bridge the âDarwin Gard Memorial Bridgeâ. State Representative Hale recently introduced and pushed through legislation in the Tennessee General Assembly to honor Gard in this way and the effort was backed by the DeKalb County Commission.
*The Smithville beer ordinance will remain unchanged! During the September regular monthly meeting, the aldermen voted 3 to 2 against amending the city beer ordinance to eliminate the 400-foot distance requirement between a church or school and businesses seeking an on-premises consumption permit. Had it been approved the ordinance amendment would have only applied to the C-2 zone which is the downtown business district and none of the other existing regulations in the ordinance would have been changed.
*The Town of Alexandria has a new police chief. During a special called meeting in September the Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen, Kenneth (K.D.) Smith of Brush Creek was hired as the new Chief of Police. Smith, who retired from the Greenbrier Police Department in 2019, has a background in law enforcement that spans 36 years. He served five departments and as Police Chief for three of them. He is a POST certified officer. Chief Smith was named after the resignations of the former Chief Travis Bryant, K-9 Officer Brandon Deffendoll, and officer Jackson Franks over differences with the new mayorâs administration. By November Chief Smith said the Alexandria Police Department had employed three full time officers, two part time, and two reserve officers.
*A bomb threat arrest! Smithville Police made an arrest in the courthouse bomb threat investigation from September. 39-year-old Matthew Dewayne Griffith of Bright Hill Road, Smithville was charged with filing a false report. Chief Mark Collins said that on Thursday, September 12 Griffith did intentionally initiate a report of an impending bombing while knowing the report was false by calling the DeKalb County 911 center and stating that there was a bomb at the DeKalb County Courthouse set to go off at 10:30 a.m. The courthouse was evacuated after the threat was phoned in and a search was made of the building. No explosives were found. No other arrests were made and a motive for the threat had not been established. The case was investigated by Lieutenant Detective James Cornelius and Detective Brandon Donnell of the Smithville Police Department.
*Dr. Denise Dingle still holds the position of County Medical Examiner. The DeKalb County Commission in September, failed to muster the 8 votes needed to uphold a 90-day suspension of Dr. Dingle as medical examiner by County Mayor Matt Adcock due to alleged âuncooperative and unprofessionalâ conduct. The vote was 6 to 6. Concerns about the medical examiner position were first raised several months ago during county commission workshops after complaints that the office, in some cases, was not providing a timely response to on scene deaths causing delays in investigations before the removal of a body.
*Another twelve months! Thatâs how long 55-year-old Albert Wayne Fisher, Jr. may will have wait before being granted another parole hearing. Fisher has served at least two and a half years of a six-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter in the fatal 2019 Halloween shooting of his stepson, 38-year-old Tyler Durden outside the Fisher home on Eckles Heights in Liberty. Fisherâs second parole hearing was held on Tuesday, September 24 at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville where he is incarcerated. Parole Board member Zane Duncan, who presided over the hearing, heard from Fisher as well as supporters including his wife, mother, and pastor. Those opposed to Fisherâs release including the victimâs sister and cousin participated in the hearing by video conference from Cookeville. Support and opposition letters were also in Fisherâs file. At the conclusion of the hearing, Duncan, the only parole board member participating, said his vote was not to recommend parole at this time and a majority of the board members later denied Fisher. His next opportunity for parole will be in September 2025.
*An Alexandria businessman appeared in DeKalb County Criminal Court in September where he entered a plea to two counts of forgery. 50-year-old Stein Edward Prichard of Brush Creek Road, Brush Creek, manager of Prichardâs Foods received a two-year sentence in each case to run concurrently and all suspended to judicial diversion probation. He must pay restitution of $3,000. Prichard was indicted on four counts of forgery, but he entered a plea to two counts. The offense dates were March 30, 2023 and April 12, 2023. If all conditions of probation have been met after the first year of the sentence, Prichard can petition the court to terminate the balance of the sentence, and the state will not oppose it. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Prichard was accused of having altered checks of store customers, changing the actual amounts to much higher amounts.
*A local clergyman indicted last year in a child sex crime was sentenced in September in DeKalb County Criminal Court. 68-year-old James Michael Carpenter, indicted for aggravated sexual battery, entered a plea to sexual battery and received a two-year suspended sentence except for 11 months and 29 days to serve. He will then be on supervised probation. Carpenter had been pastor or involved in several local churches and had reportedly participated in ministry mission trips over the years. The victim in this case was 4 years old at the time of the alleged first offense. According to the indictment, Carpenter âon or about April 17, 2015 to April 17, 2017 in DeKalb County and before the finding of this indictment did unlawfully make sexual contact with a minor child less than 13 years of age in violation of state lawâ.
*Long time TWRA Officer Cross announced his retirement with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency after 32 years of service. His last day was Friday, October 4. Cross started with the agency in 1988 as a fisheries technician. In 1992 he became a TWRA boating officer on Dale Hollow and later that fall, Van Buren County Wildlife Officer. Cross moved to DeKalb County in 1996. Five years ago, Cross was named Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, District 31 Officer of the Year. He had received this award twice before in previous years. This prestigious title is awarded to officers who excel in teamwork, public outreach, innovation, attitude, leadership and achievements. In 1996, Cross received the statewide Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) Wildlife Officer of the Year award.
*Based on overall high marks given by the Board of Education in a performance evaluation, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps was awarded in October a three-year contract extension, effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028. During a regular monthly meeting, the Board voted 4 to 2 to grant the extension. Cripps will earn a salary of $109,000 per year but he is entitled to the same salary raises that the Board shall grant to all licensed employees going forward under the contract. Cripps has been Director since July 2015. Results of the Board of Educationâs annual performance evaluation of Director Cripps showed he met âmostâ expectations of the board. Crippsâ overall average score was 4.47 out of a possible 6 score.
*A head on crash in October on Highway 70 near Dowelltown claimed the life of 34-year-old Felicia Moore and seriously injured 53-year-old Nicola D. Foutch. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Moore was traveling east on US 70 in a 2017 Lexus 350 when she crossed the continuous turn lane and went into the left lane of westbound traffic, colliding head on with Foutchâs 2008 Dodge Dakota. The Lexus came to a final rest on the eastbound shoulder and the Dodge Dakota in the westbound lanes. Moore was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash. Foutch was not. Foutch was taken from the scene by EMS to the Liberty Fire Station where she was airlifted by a helicopter ambulance. Moore died in the crash. The THP and EMS responded along with the DeKalb County Sheriffâs Department, DeKalb Fire Department, and the Fire Departmentâs rescue team who used extrication tools to access the body for removal from the wreckage.
*For the 16th consecutive year the DeKalb County Fire Department was recognized as one of Tennesseeâs elite fire departments for outstanding training achievement. The DeKalb County Fire Department was ranked #1 among volunteer fire departments in the state of Tennessee for 2023-2024 training achievement. Of the 732 fire departments in Tennessee, both volunteer and career, the DeKalb County Fire Department ranked # 18 for 2023-2024 training achievement. This year, the department logged 2,745 training hours at the state fire academy and was recognized as a Gold Level fire department.
*A new DeKalb EMS director has been named. County Mayor Matt Adcock announced in October during the monthly county commission meeting that Paramedic Trent Phipps, who had served as assistant EMS director for almost two years, is the new director succeeding the late Hoyte Hale. Originally from Overton County, Phipps has worked with DeKalb EMS for more than 27 years with duties including having been an American Heart Association Instructor, EMS supervisor, and assistant EMS director. He is married to Rachel Merriman, and they have one son, Lucas.
*A 16-year-old Warren County girl was killed and her 15-year-old sister was injured in a crash in October on Highway 56 at Capshaw Road near the Warren County line. Dead is Abygayle Elizabeth Jones. Her sister, Gabryelle Jones, was a passenger and was airlifted from the crash site to Erlanger Hospital. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Jones was traveling west on Capshaw Road in a 2013 Ford Fusion and pulled out onto Highway 56 into the path of a northbound 1998 Kenworth Truck-Tractor semi, driven by 72-year-old Henry Roberson, Jr who was pulling a flatbed trailer loaded with lumber. The front end of the truck collided with the left side (driver side) of the car. Both vehicles traveled a short distance north before the car ran off the southbound side of the roadway. The car then collided with a fence where it came to a final rest. The truck came to a final rest on the southbound lane of State Highway 56. All three were wearing their seatbelts. Roberson was not injured.
*In the November Presidential election Donald Trump, a Republican, swept all 12 precincts in DeKalb County and had a majority of the early votes and absentees over his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris. Trump carried DeKalb County 7,599 (80.70%) to 1,706 for Harris (18.12%). The DeKalb County turnout in this election was a record breaker at 9,483 out of 14,085 registered voters. A total of 3,058 voted on election day, 6,111 cast ballots during early voting and there were 314 paper absentees. Meanwhile the Republican incumbents on the ballot were re-elected including US Senator Marsha Blackburn, 6th District Congressman John Rose, 16th District State Senator Janice Bowling, and 40th District State Representative Michael Hale.
*A Sparta woman lost her life in a two-vehicle crash in November on Highway 70 east in the Hillcrest area. Dead is 57-year-old Rhonda Wilson. According to Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Wilson was traveling east in a 2005 silver Buick LeSabre as 32-year-old Jason Ervin of Smithville was heading west in a 2013 red Toyota Tacoma. Ervinâs vehicle came across the double yellow line into the eastbound lane and struck Wilsonâs car. Ervin told Trooper Delong that he had fallen asleep. Wilson tried unsuccessfully to avoid the collision. Upon impact Wilsonâs car went off the right side of the road onto the grass and came to rest facing north. Ervinâs truck overturned on the passenger side in the eastbound lane. Wilson died at the scene. Ervin was apparently uninjured. Both were wearing their seatbelts. Members of the DeKalb Fire Department Rescue Team used extrication tools to better access the body for removal from the wreckage. Meanwhile, a womanâs hand was reportedly severed in a separate crash in November on Highway 146 near Tabernacle Road. The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that 29-year-old Laura P. Palomo Morales was traveling North on Short Mountain Highway in a 2016 Jeep Cherokee when the vehicle went off the right side of the roadway and then came back onto the highway. The Jeep then traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree head-on where it came to a final rest in a yard.
*He died the way he livedâserving others. Smithville native Bobby Mingle was helping the survivors of Hurricane Helenâs flood damage in western North Carolina in mid-October when tragedy struck. On Friday, October 18, Mingle was driving his dump truck on a mountain when he started having problems with his brakes. âHe went over the side of the mountain,â said his wife Priscilla Mingle. At first Mingle was able to talk to people who rushed to his aid and told them to call his wife to tell her he loved her. Bobby Mingle died two days later.
*Another person succumbed to burns and injuries suffered in a fire at their home in October at 1232 Roy Foster Road between Greenhill and Dibrell in Warren County. 82-year-old Nancy Jane Pinegar passed away at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Saturday November 23. The fire, on Saturday, October 26, claimed her husband 89-year-old Percy Pinegar, Sr. Firefighters from the North Warren, Campaign-Rock Island, and Centertown Fire Departments quickly responded to the scene, found the residence partially ablaze, and learned that the bedridden Mr. Pinegar and his wife Nancy were still inside the home. Firefighters removed Mr. Pinegar but he died at the scene. Mrs. Pinegar and her grandson and great grandson got out of the residence although she suffered burns trying to help Mr. Pinegar. The cause of the fire remained under investigation but was thought to have been accidental.
*After serving 17 years as the City Attorney for the Town of Alexandria, Vester Parsley stepped down from that position in November. The Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen the following week met briefly in a special called session and hired Matt Boss as the new city attorney.
*A local investigation led to the arrest of a California man accused of soliciting nude photos from a seven-year-old girl. 18-year-old Nathan Corona of Moreno Valley, California was charged in a grand jury sealed indictment with exploitation of a minor under age 13 and soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor. Corona was extradited from California and was to make his first court appearance for arraignment in DeKalb County Monday, December 9. According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, the investigation of Corona began in June after local law enforcement officers learned in May that Corona, by way of social media and cell phone communication, had been in contact with the child and that he had her send him nude pictures of herself. After Corona was identified as a suspect and that he lived in California, the Riverside County Sheriffâs Department in California was contacted and through their task force on internet crimes against children they obtained a search warrant of Coronaâs home and found digital evidence linking him to the crime. Sheriff Ray said Corona also gave a confession.
* 43-year-old John Brent Williams of Four Seasons Road, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault (2 counts), especially aggravated kidnapping, theft of property, and aggravated robbery. His bond totals $230,000. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on April 16, 2024 a deputy was summoned to the sheriffâs department due to a report of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival he spoke with Williamsâ grandparents who reported that the day before on April 15 Williams came to their residence at around 9 p.m. and entered a bedroom where he stole a handgun and then held his grandmother at gunpoint refusing to let her leave the home while ordering his grandfather at gunpoint to hand over the keys to their vehicle, a 2017 black Ford Escape. During the incident, Williams allegedly tried to strangle his grandmother and began dragging her by the hair. Williams later left the residence with the gun and the vehicle. The Ford Escape was valued at $11,000. Williams was later arrested on other charges in Kentucky and was only recently extradited back to DeKalb County.
*The DeKalb County Grand Jury met in a December special session and returned a sealed indictment against Christopher Robert Stanford of McMinnville, the District Attorney General of the 31st Judicial District, charging him with reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm into an occupied habitation stemming from a shots fired incident near Bell Street Apartments in Smithville during the apprehension of three suspects in a Warren County triple homicide in November. Stanford, age 43, turned himself in and posted a $10,000 bond. He will make an appearance in DeKalb County Criminal Court for arraignment on January 7. The indictment alleges that â On or about the 21st day of November, 2024 in DeKalb County, Stanford did unlawfully intentionally, and recklessly discharge a handgun while standing on Bell Street, a residential street in Smithville, causing a bullet to be projected from the muzzle of the handgun, strike and pass through a patio chair on the exterior wall of the habitation and travel into the habilitation striking and coming to rest in the interior living room wall. At the time the bullet was discharged into the habitation, the home was occupied by Teresa Estep and three minor children, placing those persons in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury. Evidence further indicates that when the bullet was discharged into the occupied habitation, there was no immediate threat to Christopher Stanford or others, that Stanford was not aiming the handgun, that he did not make use of the gunâs sights but just held it out and shotâ. Sheriff Patrick Ray said the investigation of Stanford was conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at the request of Bryant Dunaway, District Attorney General of the 13th Judicial District who serves DeKalb County. The shots fired incident occurred during the apprehension of 28-year-old Caleb Dias Brookins and Jessica Root, wanted by the Warren County Sheriffâs Department as suspects in the triple murder, and 21-year-old Hannah McKenzi Rose of Hickory Hollow Terrace in Antioch, Tennessee. Rose was charged locally by the DeKalb County Sheriffâs Department with aggravated assault on a first responder and evading arrest in a motor vehicle. During the episode, Sheriff Ray said a Homeland Security agent from Warren County sustained a leg injury after being struck by a vehicle trying to make a getaway being driven by Rose with Brookins as her passenger. Before that, Rose rammed a DeKalb Sheriffâs Department truck operated by Chief Deputy Brian Williams with Detective Stephen Barrett as a passenger, but they were not injured. Although no one else was hurt, Sheriff Ray said Stanford, the Warren County District Attorney fired shots on Roseâs vehicle. Neither the vehicle nor the suspects were hit by the gunfire. However, according to the TBI the shots fired by Stanford struck a home occupied by a woman and her three children. They too were apparently not injured. Brookins fled on foot but was taken into custody a couple of hours later without incident by TBI. Brookins was found near Bell Street on Wade Street walking down the road. He was unarmed. According to Sheriff Ray, one of the suspects (Root) had lived here at one time and she has family here.
*A man accused of holding a woman against her will at knifepoint and then repeatedly raping her will be in court on January 7. 34-year-old Timothy Ryan Lawson of Poss Road is charged with especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, interfering with emergency calls, and five counts of aggravated rape. He is under a total bond of $529,500. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on December 14 a detective was summoned to the hospital where a woman was taken after a possible rape in her home. Upon arrival, the detective spoke with the woman who reported that on the night of December 13 Lawson allegedly held her hostage, displayed a large knife and forced her to have sex with him saying he would kill her if she didnât. After allegedly taking her phone so she could not call for help, Lawson then allegedly raped the woman a total of five times from the night of December 13 to the morning hours of December 14.
*Third District County Commissioner Susannah Cripps has stepped down. Cripps tendered her resignation to County Mayor Matt Adcock personally on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 17. Cripps was appointed to the county commission to fill a vacancy in April 2021 and was elected to a full four-year term in August, 2022. Itâll now be up to the county commission to fill her unexpired term which ends on August 31, 2026.
*A December crash claimed a life in DeKalb County. Dead is 43-year-old Lannie R. Fletcher. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Fletcher was driving a 2017 Ford F150 pickup west on Snow Hill Road when the truck went off the roadway crossing Possum Hollow Road before launching into the air and hitting a tree and then rolling down a steep embankment where it came to a final rest. A 13-year-old passenger was injured in the wreck. In addition to the THP, DeKalb EMS, and the DeKalb County Sheriffâs Department, DeKalb Fire Department, and the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad were on the scene. According to Fire Chief Donny Green, the department had to extricate the deceased, and the rescue squad assisted in getting him back up the steep hill.