Members of the DeKalb County Republican Party met Saturday morning at the courthouse to elect a Chairman and Executive Committee for the next two years.
Two term Chairman Kennith Vanatta was returned to a third term as Chairman of the DeKalb County Republican Party.
Other current members of the Executive Committee were also returned for another term including Vice Chairperson Barbara Vandergriff, Secretary Larry Green, Treasurer Dennis Stanley, Vice Treasurer Vester Parsley, Jr. and Jennifer Winfree as the representative from the DeKalb County Republican Women’s Club.
Vanatta thanked the party faithful for the confidence and trust they have placed in him to continue to lead the local party. He spoke of the party’s growth and success in recent years, and he pledged to work for continued growth in the year’s ahead, with the help of others.
Party leaders also announced plans for the Lincoln Day Dinner, organized by the DeKalb County Republican Women’s Club. Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey and State Senator Mae Beavers will be the featured speakers during the dinner on Saturday, March 31st at 7:00 p.m. at the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

Smithville Police have charged the parents of a rape victim with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says the parents knew their daughter had been intimate with the man, prior to the alleged sexual assault.” During the course of the initial investigation it was found that the parents were aware that their 15 year old daughter had been carrying on an intimate relationship since September 2006 with 27 year old Rafael Murillo, an illegal alien. Admissions by the parents, suspect and the victim established that the parents would allow the suspect to sleep in the same room as their daughter during overnight stays at the family residence. Also the parents would drive their daughter over to the suspect’s house late at night with her returning back home at 2:00 to 3:00 am in the morning.”
The parent’s identity and address will not be mentioned to safeguard the juvenile’s confidentiality.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, police arrested a 25 year old woman on drug charges Sunday, after investigating a complaint of a suspicious vehicle.
Mechal Harding of 920 South Main Street, Smithville is charged with possession of a schedule VI controlled substance for resale.
Chief Stufano says “On February 18th at approximately 2:30 p.m. Smithville Police Officers responded to the Mapco Express located at Highway 70 & Highway 56 on reported suspicious activity involving an older model pickup truck. Upon arrival Officer’s made contact with Harding A computer check noted that Harding was wanted for a Failure to Appear out of North Carolina and that she also was driving on a Suspended Driver’s License. As Officer’s continued their investigation Harding was also in possession of a Scheduled VI Drug for resale. Harding was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $26,000 bond. Her vehicle, a 1983 Ford truck, was also seized under the state’s Drug Forfeiture Act.

Smithville Police Investigators have made another arrest for the crime of Statutory Rape of a Minor.
27 year old Rafael Murillo of 398 College Street, Smithville, an illegal alien from Mexico, is charged with statutory rape. His bond is set at $10,000.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says” On Monday, the parents of a 15 year old girl brought their daughter to the Police Department to report that a rape occurred by a 27 old acquaintance of the family. Investigators were able to determine that the 15 year old juvenile had been casually dating the adult with the parents also being aware of the connection. Murrillo stated he had been dating the minor since September 2006. He was routinely invited to sleep over at the juvenile’s home in Liberty with the minor and that the parents were aware of the association. During the interview of the parents, minor and Murillo, officers learned that the minor’s parents would also drop the juvenile off at Murillo’s home late at night where the two would stay until 2:00 – 3:00 am He would then drive her back to her home in Liberty. ”
“The investigation noted that on Sunday evening the juvenile received a call from Murillo to come over to his house in Smithville to talk about their recent breakup occurring a week earlier. The mother dropped off their daughter at Murillo’s home and instructed her to be home by midnight. The minor states that the two were lying on the bed talking and Murillo began touching her without her consent. She stated that she told Murillo numerous times to stop but he continued until the sexual assault occurred. Murillo then brought the minor back to her home.
Murillo was later arrested and charged in the case.
Detectives are continuing with the investigation with additional charges possible.
Smithville Police in cooperation with our citizens, Crime Watch partners, neighboring law enforcement agencies and the media are making a difference in the fight against crime in our community. We are committed to keeping our children safe from those individuals looking for crimes of opportunity.

A 37 year old woman faces a DUI charge after being involved in a one car crash Tuesday night.
Trooper Brian Raymond of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Paula Almasri of White Street was driving south on Short Mountain Highway in a 1994 Chevy Cavaliar when she ran off the road, struck a utility pole, and overturned. The vehicle came to rest on it’s roof.
Almasri got a ride from the scene and went home. She was later transported by DeKalb EMS from her home to DeKalb Community Hospital

The DeKalb County High School Guidance Department urges parents to encourage their high school seniors to submit scholarship applications by the deadlines.
All local scholarship applications are due at the DCHS Guidance Office by March 20th.
The following scholarships are available:
Smithville Women’s Club Scholarship
DeKalb Community Hospital- for students going into the healthcare field
DeKalb Retired Teachers Award for students who will major in education.
Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club Award for female students only.
The Elzie and Nell McBride Memorial Scholarship for future MTSU students only
The DeKalb Farmers Coop Award for students going into an agriculture or related field.
The Kyle and Kenny Robinson Memorial Scholarship for student athletes
The Matthew McAfee Memorial Scholarship for students who are members of both FBLA and FCA
DeKalb Education Foundation Award
The Lucille Stewart Memorial Scholarship Award for basketball players or basketball cheerleaders going into teaching.
DeKalb County Republican Women’s scholarship
AmVets Scholarship and AmVets Auxiliary Scholarship for students who are children or grandchildren of a veteran.
The DeKalb Soil Conservation Scholarship is for students majoring in agriculture or related field, biology, or one of the life sciences.
The DeKalb Firefighters Association Scholarship is for students who have an immediate family member or grandparent who is a firefighter, EMS, or on the rescue squad. Also for students who are in the Explorer Program.
And the Liberty State Bank, DeKalb County Scottish Rite, Studio Six, Love-Cantrell Funeral Home, Allen Hooper Memorial Scholarship, Eddie Crips Memorial Scholarship, DeKalb Funeral Chapel, Smithville Rotary Club, First Bank, Class of 1966, Class of 1969, Luigi’s /Bumper’s Drive-In, and the Agee Oil Company Scholarship.

A plea agreement may be reached in the case against B. Don James.
The well known former Smithville businessman is accused of defrauding dozens of people in a so called “Ponzi scheme”.
The case has been set for trial March 6th in U.S. District Court in Nashville.
James is named in a fifteen count indictment by a federal grand jury charging him with over $1.8 million in wire fraud.
James recently waived an appearance and submitted a written plea of “not guilty” at his arraignment
An order, signed by U.S. District Judge Todd J. Campbell, states that “The trial in the case is set for March 6th at 9:00 a.m. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for March 2nd at 1:00 p.m.
“Any plea agreement shall be consummated by February 26th and the courtroom deputy so notified. Any proposed plea agreement shall be submitted to the court by February 27th.”
“Any motion to continue the trial, pretrial conference or plea dates, shall be filed no later than one week before the pretrial conference date.”
The U.S. District Court Clerk’s Office reports that the status conference has been held and that the parties have indicated to the court that there were no discovery disputes. According to the clerk’s office, The defendant is expected to enter into a plea agreement with the court. That plea is to be heard on March 2nd at 1:00 p.m.
If a plea is not reached and James is convicted at trial, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.