Two Cookeville men, accused in two recent break-ins, have been charged by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 19 year old Jeffrey Hendrix of East 10th Street, Cookeville and 19 year old John Gentry of Mike Madewell Road, Cookeville are each charged with aggravated burglary, theft of property over $500, burglary, and vandalism over $10,000. Bond for each is set at $30,000.
The men are accused of committing a burglary at Caney Fork Outdoors in the Wolf Creek Community on January 10th. According to Sheriff Ray, ” they broke out the front glass of the door, went in, and stole over 100 packs of cigarettes (numerous brands), and a cash register that contained some change.” The cash register has been recovered.
Sheriff Ray says Hendrix and Gentry are also believed to have committed a burglary and vandalism on February 1st at a cabin in the Wolf Creek area. ” They broke into a cabin off of Wolf Creek and destroyed every piece of furniture in there including a television, refrigerators, antiques, and they took family pictures off of the walls and burned them in a stove.” Damage from the vandalism was estimated at more than $40,000.
Hendrix and Gentry are scheduled to appear in DeKalb County General Sessions Court on March 8th.
At last report, Gentry was in the DeKalb County Jail, while Hendrix was incarcerated in Cookeville, awaiting to be brought to the jail here.
Meanwhile, another man, charged just last week with theft, has already appeared in court and been sentenced.
Sheriff Ray says 27 year old Lonnie Eaton of Sparta Pike, Watertown was charged with theft of property under $500 on February 12th. He appeared in court on February 15th and pleaded guilty to taking $260 from a woman’s purse. Judge Bratten Cook II sentenced him to 11 months and 29 days. He must serve 100 days and then be on probation. He must also make restitution to the victim. Sheriff Ray says Eaton allegedly stole the money from a woman who had given him a ride.
In another case, 42 year old Richard Schilt of Blue Springs Road was charged Saturday with a third offense of driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license. He was pulled over on Dry Creek Road. His bond is $4,000 and he will be in court on the charges March 8th. Authorities have taken action to seize the man’s vehicle.

Smithville Police Officers working selected traffic enforcement over the weekend netted a number of arrests for Driving Under the Influence.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says due to the inclimate weather, Smithville Police were out in force attending to stranded motorists and directing traffic in areas prone to icing.
“Overnight Saturday, Smithville Police Officers saw 39 year old Melvin Sean West of 115 Sherwood Isle Circle, McMinnville driving his 2002 Chevy Blazer on Highway 56 at a high rate of speed. Upon attempting to stop the vehicle, the driver crossed the centerline numerous times until it was eventually stopped. Officer’s contacted the driver, now known as West, and noticed a strong order of alcohol on his breath and also emanating from the vehicle. Officer’s also found an open container of beer in the vehicle. Road side sobriety detection tests disclosed that West was intoxicated. A computer check showed that he had been previously arrested for DUI. He was arrested for DUI and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $2,000 Bond. West’s vehicle was seized under the State’s Drug & Alcohol Forfeiture Act. ”
Chief Stufano says a second arrest was made for DUI at 5:00 PM when Smithville Police observed 47 year old Christopher Neal Barnes of 101 Trebble Lane in Smithville drive his Nissan truck in an erratic manor in the area of Highway 70 & Highway 56. Officers originally responded to a complaint of a drunk driver leaving the Dairy Queen parking lot. Upon Officer’s arrival, they saw Barnes leave the area in a hurried manner and then drive through the red light at the busy intersection. Once the vehicle was stopped Barnes’ preliminary field investigation noted that he was intoxicated. A computer check disclosed that this was the 5th Offense of DUI against him. He was also charged with a 4th offense of Driving on a Revoked Driver’s License. He was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail. His bond is $9,000 and his vehicle, a 2000 Nissan Truck, was confiscated under the state’s Drug & Alcohol Forfeiture Act.
Meanwhile, charges of DUI 2nd Offense were placed against Mario P. Matias of 586 Colvert Lake Road, Smithville as the contributing cause of a serious accident on Highway 70 on February 7th. The accident caused serious injuries when both vehicles involved left the roadway and flipped. All parties in the Matias vehicle had to be airlifted from the scene due to their extensive injuries. Working in cooperation with both the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, City Officers were at the scene almost 4 hours until the crash was finally cleared. Open containers of beer were strewn about the Matias vehicle. The automobile was totaled after crashing through a guardrail and then traveling over 60 feet down into a drainage culvert.
Chief Stufano says “Smithville Police are actively patrolling our city streets in an effort to curb DUI. Through the use of a government grant Smithville Police are able to additionally supplement traffic enforcement efforts with funding that allows for extra overtime. These grants are available to help cities with extra enforcement at relatively no charge to the citizens. Through the cooperative efforts of concerned citizens, state and federal initiatives and the commitment of local law enforcement we are striving to keep our roadways safe.”

Kelsey Hedge, a fourth grader at Northside Elementary School, won the 4th annual DeKalb County Spelling Bee Friday night at DeKalb County High School.
Hedge, daughter of David and Trina Hedge of Smithville, was among more than 40 students from the fourth grade to the eighth grade, who participated in the contest.
She correctly spelled the words “lariat” and “omnivorous” to claim the championship.
Shelby Mulloy, an eighth grader at DeKalb West School was the runner-up in the contest. She is the daughter of Randy and Nancy Mulloy of Liberty.
Students from DeKalb Middle School, DeKalb West School, and Northside Elementary School recently competed at the school level to become eligible for the county competition.
Along with students from thirty nine other counties, Hedge and Mulloy will compete in the Tennessean Regional Spelling Bee on March 12th at Belmont University in Nashville.
The winner of the Regional Spelling Bee will compete in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. with all expenses paid by the Tennessean Newspaper.
The purpose of the County Wide Spelling Bee is to help students improve spelling skills, increase vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives.