A total of thirty six people living in DeKalb County have registered as sex offenders.
Under a new law, anyone who has ever committed a sex crime is now required to report their whereabouts to the registry.
Locating an offender near your own home has already become a lot easier as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has begun a system which pinpoints the locations where sex offenders live on a map. All this information is available for public access via the Internet.
TBI Director Mark Gwynn says ” the former sex offender law only required offenders to register if they were incarcerated, on probation, or on parole as of January 1st, 1996. The new law is retroactive, meaning anyone who has committed a sex crime in the past, regardless of the date, must now report to their local law enforcement agency.”
While the listing requirements were strengthened for some, they were relaxed for lesser violators as many persons convicted of statutory rape are no longer required to list themselves.
The new law also allows those formerly on the registry for statutory rape to petition to have their pictures and names removed. Statutory rape convictions of persons who were more than 10 years older than their victims are still required to list themselves in most cases.
Failure of a convicted sex offender to list his or herself on the registry is a felony, generally punished by several additional months behind bars,
The updated system also requires sex offenders who move to Tennessee from other states to list themselves here if they were registered offenders in their former state, even if their offense is not covered under Tennessee’s list of requirements.
The tightening of listing laws comes as the TBI has put a new mapping system on it’s Web site to assist the public in tracking convicted sex offenders. The search engine uses a map overlay of the state’s 95 counties to show exactly where an offender lives. The search engine provides several ways to locate an offender. The TBI’s Web site is www.tbi.state.tn.us.
Author Archive: Dwayne Page
High Fire Danger Prompts Early Burning Permit Requirement
Due to extremely high wildfire danger caused by the drought, record high temperatures and low humidity, state Forestry officials today announced the implementation of burning restrictions usually reserved for official wildfire season.
Effective (Aug. 27), citizens are required to obtain a burning permit from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry before conducting any outdoor, open burning of debris within 500 feet of woodlands, grasslands or forestlands.
“Although our level of wildfire activity is moderate and manageable, we’re concerned about the potential for high wildfire danger due to the extremely dry conditions and the effect it’s having on forest fuels as we move into the fall,” said State Forester Steve Scott. “We want to be proactive by helping citizens determine when and where it’s safe to burn and when it’s not.
“Considering the forecast for continued hot, dry conditions and little chance of rainfall, we will be issuing burning permits on a very limited basis, to be evaluated county by county and considering local conditions. We are taking these steps to help undercut the threat of wildfires caused by debris burning before they happen, and to protect lives and property.”
Typically, burning permits are not required by the state Division of Forestry except during official fire season, which runs Oct. 15 through May 15 each year. However, under state law the State Forester can prescribe other periods of time for requiring burning permits as conditions warrant. The burning permit requirement is expected to remain in force through May 15, 2008, when official wildfire season ends.
According to state Forestry officials, burning permits are not likely to be issued until areas of the state receive substantial rainfall. When conditions improve, citizens should inquire about burning permits by calling their local Division of Forestry office listed in the phone directory under state government between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A directory of state forestry offices by county can also be found on the Web at www.burnsafetn.org.
Activities requiring a burning permit include, but are not limited to unconfined, outdoor burning of brush and leaves, untreated wood waste, and burning to clear land. Burning permits are required in most areas unless superseded by local ordinance, so citizens are encouraged to also check for any restrictions by municipalities.
Since Jan. 1, nearly 2,700 fires have burned an estimated 37,000 acres in Tennessee, well above average for what is normally seen in a 12-month period. Escaped debris burns are the leading cause of wildfire; however, 37 percent of the wildfires this year have been due to arson, which is a class C felony punishable by three to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 fines. Anyone with information about suspected arson activity should call the state Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline toll-free at 1-800-762-3017.
Burning without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine not to exceed $50. For more information, visit the Division of Forestry’s wildfire safety Web site at www.burnsafetn.org
Bertha Rose McCullough
71 year old Bertha Rose McCullough of Alexandria died Saturday at the home of her daughter in Lebanon. She was a DeKalb County native and was retired from Wynns Precision where she worked for 28 years. She was also a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church. The funeral will be Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. at Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown. Donald Owens will officiate and burial will be in the Flatwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. She was preceded in death by her parents, John William Garrison and Nannie Clara Watson Garrison; her husband, Ed Carson McCullough; a son, Jackie Grandstaff; a brother, James Garrison; and a sister, Elsie Mae McGregor. Survivors include four children, Debbie and her husband Gary Jones, John and his wife Darlene McCullough, and Susan and her husband Nathan Cox all of Lebanon, and Phil and his wife Alice McCullough of Florida. Nine grandchildren, Gary Jones, Jr. and Melanie Jones, Dusty and Luke McCullough, Mike and Rachel Smith, and Kelly, Katlyn, and P.J. McCullough. Six great grandchildren, Ashtyen, Chase, Brandon, Anthony, Paris, and Daltine. A brother, Hoyte and his wife Lucille Garrison of Alexandria. A brother-in-law, Jerry and his wife Connie McCullough of Lebanon. A sister-in-law, Willie Mae Garrison. Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown is in charge of the arrangements.
George Tramel
96 year old George Tramel of Dowelltown died Sunday at his residence. He was a farmer and a member of the Gospel Light House Baptist Church. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Snow Hill Baptist Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Gocie Cassity Tramel; two brothers, Troy Tramel and Johnny Shade Tramel; and a sister, Bessie Tramel. Survivors include his wife, Robbie Hale Tramel of Dowelltown. Two daughters, Georgia and her husband Michael Young and Martha and her husband Tim Cantrell; and one grandson, Nelson Young all of Dowelltown. Three granddaughters, Latonya and Dylan Kleparek of Smithville, Dana Cantrell and Ashley Young both of Dowelltown. Three great grandchildren, Cody Goff and Jasper and Jacklyn Kleparek all of Dowelltown. Two sisters, Alton Hicks of Mount Juliet and Ola Jean Pack of Georgia. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Two Remain Hospitalized In Alexandria Wreck
Two people involved in a one auto traffic accident Thursday night near Alexandria remain hospitalized at Erlanger in Chattanooga.
Sergeant Billy Prater of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Joe Edge of Smithville and Kimberly April Dawn Cornett of Murfreesboro were passengers of a Jeep Liberty SUV driven by Warren Brandon Glasby of Smithville, who has been charged with driving under the influence.
According to Sergeant Prater, Glasby was driving west on Highway 70 when the vehicle went off the road into a ditchline, struck a rock bluff, and then overturned, coming to rest on it’s wheels. The mishap occurred between the old stock barn and the intersection of Old Liberty Road.
Both Edge and Cornett were flown by Life Force helicopter ambulance to Erlanger Hospital while Glasby was taken to DeKalb Community Hospital for observation.
The accident remains under investigation by Sergeant Prater and Trooper Allen England of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Others on the scene rendering assistance were members of the Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, DeKalb EMS, and the Alexandria Police Department.
Two Charged In Theft Cases
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has arrested two people in recent days in a couple of theft cases. One of them is also charged with drug offenses.
30 year old Christopher Daniel Gibbs of Morgan Drive Smithville is charged with Aggravated Burglary and Theft of Property
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Gibbs entered a residence on Banks Pisgah Road Smithville by breaking through a door. Upon entering the residence, Gibbs grabbed cash that was lying on a coffee table in the residence. Gibbs was unaware that the owners of the house were home. The owner grabbed Gibbs and he dropped the cash and left the scene. Gibbs was later arrested at a residence in Dowelltown. The owners of the house were uninjured. Bond is set at $15,000 and his court date is September 13th.
Meanwhile, 19 year old Samantha Devault of Highland Drive Smithville is charged with Possession of a Schedule II Drug (Dilaudid), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (needle and a straw), and Theft of Property under $500.00.
Sheriff Ray says Devault had in her possession a yellow pill believed to be Dilaudid and two syringes and a straw. Devault was also charged with a theft that occurred at a residence on Arrowhead Drive in Smithville where she took a High Point 9 millimeter pistol. Her bond is set at $7,500 and her court date is September 20th.
Thurman Ray “Jack” Jones
76 year old Thurman Ray “Jack” Jones of McMinnville died Friday at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. He was born in DeKalb County. Jones was one of the original owners of McMinnville Funeral Home and was still serving the public at the time of his death. Jones was a previous chief of the Warren County Rescue Squad and a former coroner of Warren County. He served as a Warren County Commissioner for many years and he owned and operated a burlap business, a grave digging service, and C & N Machine Shop, where he worked as a welder. Jones was also a member of the Cornerstone Baptist Church and the Warren Masonic Lodge #125. The funeral will be Monday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of McMinnville Funeral Home. Phillip Rowland, Jackie Matheny, and Eddie Ware will officiate and burial will be in the Mount View Cemetery. A Masonic service will be held at the funeral home on Sunday evening at 5:00 p.m.. The Jones family will receive friends from noon until 9:00 p.m. on Sunday and again on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Jones was preceded in death by his parents, William Daniel and Margaret France Jones; brothers, Alec, Walter, Cephas, Tommy, Willie, Acquilla, and Burgess Jones; sisters, Gillie Allen, Florence Humphrey, Annie Mannon, Mary Jones, Percilla Warren, Pelina Marsh, Vina Turner, and America Turner. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Betty Lou Judkins Jones of McMinnville. A son, Jimmy D. Jones of McMinnville. A son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Becky Jones of Cedar Grove. Grandchildren, Andrea, Daniel, Emilie, and Kellie Jones all of McMinnville. Step-grandson, Chris Smith. A step-granddaughter, Amanda Rigsby. Former daughter-in-law, Gail Jones of McMinnville. Sisters, Sue Carter of Winchester, Elsie Newby and Louisa Jennings both of McMinnville and twin sister, Judy Berryhill of Nashville. Many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, family members, and friends also survive. McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the building fund at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 49 Golf Club Drive, McMinnville, 37110.
Leon C. Duke
90 year old Leon C. Duke of Lancaster died Friday at NHC of Smithville. He was retired from TRW and was a member of the Emmanuel Church of Christ. In 1994, he recorded “Old Time Banjo Rapping” music for the archives in the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Cove Hollow Boys, a musician at the Dollywood Amusement Park, a past winner for two years of the “Old Time Banjo” competition at the Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree, and a past winner of the harmonica competition at Uncle Dave Macon Days in Murfreesboro. The funeral will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in Whorton Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lena Mae Bates Duke; his parents, Homer and Beulah Putty Duke; and a brother, Odell Duke. Survivors include two daughters, Deborah and her husband Tony Glenn Rast of Pigeon Forge and Vivian Duke of Madison. Grandchildren, Darlene Rickles of Gordonsville, Delia Oldham of Carthage, Vivian Becker of Pigeon Forge, Tony Lee Rast of Colorado, and Venus Redman of Murfreesboro. Great grandchildren, Chris Rickles, Jessica Becker, Kasey Oldham, Crystal Rickles, Kayla Oldham, Victoria Konicki Hopper, and Andrew Redman, Two sisters, Ruthine Hackney of Murfreesboro and Ruby Tisdale of Lebanon. One brother, James Duke of Smithville and special friend, Clayton Anstis. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Gladys White Young Morris
78 year old Gladys White Young Morris of Woodbury died Wednesday at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga of a short illness. She was a Cannon County native, a retired seamstress, a member of the Sunny Slope and Sugar Tree Knob Church of Christ, and a past board director and member of the Cannon County Walking Horse Association. The funeral will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Woodbury Church of Christ. Herb Alsup and James McDonald will officiate and burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be after 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Woodbury Funeral Home and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Woodbury Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Curtis Morris of Woodbury. One son, Donnie Morris of Woodbury. One daughter, Renita Haley of Woodbury. Two granddaughters, Callie and Hannah Haley both of Woodbury. Woodbury Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Cannon County Walking Horse Association.
Murfreesboro Man Charged With Burglary & Theft in Sealed indictment
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a 23 year old man on a sealed indictment, returned by the Grand Jury earlier this month.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Bobby Walker Vaughn of Halls Hill Pike, Murfreesboro was arrested on a sealed indictment charging him with two counts of Aggravated Burglary, Theft of Property, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.
Sheriff Ray says Vaughn is accused of breaking into a residence on Pea Ridge. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department recovered some of the items the day Cannon County authorities got in pursuit of Vaughn, after he stole the car of a Cannon County Investigator.
Vaughn appeared for arraignment in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday. His bond is $81,000.
Meanwhile, 20 year old Brandy Bone of Wade Street Smithville is charged with two counts of Forgery and Theft of Property.
Sheriff Ray says Bone took two checks from a family member and then forged and cashed the checks totaling approximately $200.00 at two stores in DeKalb County. Her bond is $11,000 and her court date is August 30th.