78 year old Paul Bradley Blankenship of Smithville (Belk Community) died Thursday at his residence. He was founder and former owner of Bradley Printing, and a longtime employee of the Smithville Review. He was also a member of the Gideon’s and was a deacon of the New Union The Baptist Church since 1962 and a member for 66 years. The funeral will be Saturday at 1:00 pm. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Darrell Cantrell, Kenneth Brown, and Anthony Pelham will officiate and burial will be in the New Union Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.; Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Reed and Mary Rankhorn Blankenship; a brother, Elzie Blankenship; and three sisters, Delma Wright, Nannie Wright, and Lola Griffin. Survivors include his wife, Geraldine Ray Blankenship of Smithville. Two daughters, Paula and her husband Danny Roller of Rock Island and Teresa and her husband Keith Turner of Maryville. Four grandchildren, Sarah and Mary Elizabeth Roller of Rock Island, and Allison and Daniel Turner of Maryville. One sister, Birdell Lentz of Smithville. His father-in-law, Burnice Ray of Smithville. And a brother-in-law, Grady and his wife Charlotte Ray of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Author Archive: Dwayne Page
Smithville Man Charged With Statutory Rape of Minor
The Smithville Police Department has charged a 24 year old man with the statutory rape of a 16 year old girl.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says Jason Knowles of 8956 Short Mountain Road is charged with three counts of statutory rape. His bond is set at $30,000. He turned himself in at the DeKalb County Jail late Tuesday night.
According to Chief Stufano, “On Tuesday, police investigated the crime of statutory rape of a minor. The victim’s father had suspected that there may have been some inappropriate attention directed toward his 16 year old daughter by an older male acquaintance of the family.”
Stufano says “Investigators discovered that Knowles had been sexually intimate with the minor on three separate occasions at the minor’s residence while other family members were asleep. The juvenile stated that Knowles was aware that she was only 16 and still attending high school. During the course of the investigation, the minor also disclosed that Knowles would routinely ‘snort’ drugs just prior to the intimacy. The father became concerned when the adult male subject started becoming ‘over-friendly’ with his daughter. Both the Division of Child Services and authorities of the DeKalb County School system were also contacted about the incident.”
Chief Stufano says “Smithville Police are committed to actively investigating these serious crimes that put our children in harm’s way. With the strong support of our citizens, criminals now know that crime will not be tolerated in our community.”
Smithville Man Arrested On Shoplifting and Drug Charges
A 33 year old man, arrested Wednesday by Smithville Police for shoplifting, was also found to have in his possession illegal prescription drugs.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says Jason Bradley Cripps of 774 Four Seasons Road, Smithville is charged with theft under $500 and possession of a schedule II and III controlled substance for resale.
According to Chief Stufano, ” On February 14th Smithville Police responded to Smithville Food Store for a reported shoplifter. Upon arrival Police made contact with a Food Store employee who identified a white male now known as Cripps as the person responsible for trying to conceal store items without paying for them. Further investigation noted that Cripps did in fact have a number of items concealed inside his clothing which included (2) Crossword Puzzle Books and packages of pens along with sufficient funds on him to pay for the items. Cripps was arrested and transported to the Police Department for further processing. What Police later discovered was that Cripps was also in possession of illegal prescription drugs that amounted to felony distribution charges. Police were able to recover over 21.5 Hydrocodone and 6 Xanax pills with a street value of over $825.00.. He was transported to the DeKalb County Jail with a bond set at $11,000
Chief Stufano says “During the course of the investigation, Cripps’ background noted that he had just been arrested by the Smithville Police for a similar charge of shoplifting a power tool from Walmart on February 5th. At the time of his arrest he had over $435.00 in cash on him.”
“Smithville Police are finding a direct correlation between the illegal use of prescription drugs and other types of crime and are committed to actively investigating all crime in an effort to curtail illegal drug activity in our community. The continued support of the citizens and merchants has shown to be very beneficial in our crime prevention partnership.”
Helen Murphy Hale
87 year old Helen Murphy Hale of Chattanooga died Monday. She was born in DeKalb County to the late Frank M. and Dovie Rose O’Conner Murphy. She was a member of the Maranatha Baptist Church and an active member of the Challenger Sunday School Class. She also attended Signal Center Adult Day Care and was an Avon representaive for over 40 years. She was a former member of the O.E.S. Hale was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Howard Hale, and their son, Mackey Hale. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at the Maranatha Baptist Church in Chattanooga. John Collins, Luther Eslinger, and Billy Dean will officiate and entombment will be in Lakewood Memory Gardens-South. The family will receive friends from noon until 1:00 p.m. at the Maranatha Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Dwayne Hale of Chattanooga. A daughter, Jeanette Richey of Chattanooga. A daughter-in-law, Lila Hale of Chattanooga. Eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. The family requests that memorials be made, in lieu of flowers, to Hospice of Chattanooga, P.O. Box 19269 Chattanooga, Tennessee 37416, Signal Center Adult Day Care at 109 N. Germantown Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37411, or to the Maranatha Baptist Church, 1701 Hickory Valley Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37421. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga.
Paul David Scott
41 year old Paul David Scott of Sparta died Wednesday at the White County Hospital. He was a student and a member of the Apostolic Arc. The funeral will be Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Peeled Chestnut Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his father, James Edward Scott and his maternal grandparents, Jay and Sinda Hutchings. Survivors include his wife, Jill Savage Scott of Sparta. Two sons, Chris and Michael Scott of Cookeville. One step daughter, Marissa Maggo of Sparta. One step son, Charlie Maggo of Sparta. His mother, Lana Hutchings Scott of Sparta. Aunts and uncles, Bernard and Marie Kocis, Howard and Janice Stafford, and Frank Hutchings all of Sparta. Special cousins, Tyra Rodgers and Angie Stafford of Sparta. Three nieces, Taylor, Megan and Ashlee Rodgers and a host of other family and friends. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Forty Five Students To Compete In DeKalb County Spellling Bee
A total of forty five students will be competing during the Fourth Annual DeKalb County Spelling Bee Friday night, February 16th at 6:30 p.m. at DeKalb County High School.
WJLE plans LIVE coverage
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, the first and second place winners in the DeKalb County Spelling Bee 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.
Participants in this year’s County Wide Spelling Bee are:
Northside Elementary School:
Fourth Grade- Peter Antoniak, Justin Johnson, Kelsey Hedge, Savannah Driver, Brandon Chapman, MaKayla Redmon, Ashland Dillon, Brandon Leiser, and Haley Davis
Fifth Grade- Travis Ferrell, Serena Lucci, Emily Snow, Rebecca Luke, Courtney Rice, and Josh Davidson.
DeKalb Middle School:
Sixth Grade- Jacob Parsley, Ben Driver, Dalton Vaughn, Bradley Mullican, Taylor Poston, Shawna Puckett, Kyra Dickens, Martelia Tallent, and Kayley Green.
Seventh Grade- John Hayes and Michael Braswell
Eighth Grade- Josh Henry, Taylor Poss, Jessica Hodges, and Alison Thomas
DeKalb West School:
Fourth Grade- Leah Burchfield, Dalton Freeney, and Bruce Wilson
Fifth Grade- Cori Jennings, Paige Lohorn, and Dylan Young
Sixth Grade- Zach Martin, Will Molander, and Nick Sackman
Seventh Grade- Chelsea Crutcher, Katy England, and Dylan Freeney
Eighth Grade- Natalie Barrett, Logan Clark, Shelby Mulloy, and Vickey Vickers.
White County Man Dies In Traffic Accident
A 58 year old White County man was killed in a one vehicle traffic accident around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday on Highway 70 east near Sligo Bridge.
Dead is Baxter Griffith of Lonnie Car Road, Sparta.
Trooper Brian Raymond of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Griffith was traveling east on Highway 70 in a 1997 Chevrolet Blazer when the vehicle went off the shoulder of the road, struck a culvert, and overturned, coming to rest upside down in the roadway.
Griffith was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were also summoned to the scene to provide extrication services, but the man wasn’t trapped, so no extrication was needed.
Trooper Raymond says Griffith was not wearing a seat belt and it appeared that alcohol may have been a factor.
Trooper Raymond was assisted by Sergeant Billy Prater and Lieutenant Brian Lawson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department was also on the scene.
Myrtle L. Jackson
84 year old Myrtle L. Jackson of Indiana died Saturday at a Bloomington Hospital in Indiana. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of God. The funeral will be Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Edward Todd will officiate and burial will be in the Baird Cemetery in Smith County. She was preceded in death by her parents, Will and Alice Clemmons Jones; her husband, Will Allen Jackson; and a daughter, Dorothy Hawkins. Survivors include three daughters and two sons-in-law, Faye and Howard Wallace, Betty and Elmer Goolsby, and Linda Madewell of Indiana. Eleven grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, and five great great grandchildren. Three sisters, Vernie Tate of Chattanooga, and Margaret Allison and Pearl Goolsby both of Cookeville. One brother, Donald Jones of Cookeville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 10:00 a.m.
Sheriff’s Department Makes Two Arrests In Recent Vandalism and Theft Case
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has arrested two men in connection with a recent vandalism and theft at a home under construction on Aunt Helen Road near Silver Point.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 36 year old David Condon of Bryan, Ohio and 43 year old Walter Condon of Manchester are each charged with theft over $1,000. Bond for Walter Condon is set at $10,000.
David Condon is also charged with vandalism over $10,000. His bond is set at $35,000.
Sheriff Ray says the men are accused of stealing approximately $1,700 worth of tools including ladders, saws, wire, etc.
A total of seventeen windows were broken out, seven doors busted, and several concrete blocks and house support posts were also damaged.
Total damage to the home is estimated at $12,190.
The men will be in General Sessions Court on the charges February 22nd.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, 19 year old Troy Allen Cunningham, Jr. of Keltonburg Road was pulled over by a county deputy during a traffic stop Monday morning.
Sheriff Ray says the deputy conducted a search and found some marijuana in the pocket of Cunningham’s jacket. Cunningham was charged with simple possession.. He will be in General Sessions Court on the charge March 1st. His bond is $1,000.
Finally, 21 year old Victor Maguel Godinez of Bank’s Pisgah Road, who was involved in a motor vehicle accident Sunday, was charged with driving under the influence and violation of the implied consent law. His bond is set at $1,500 and he will be in court on the charges March 8th.
Suspicious Fire Under Investigation
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a suspicious fire Monday morning at a vacant double wide mobile home at 1558 Banks Pisgah Road.
County Fire Chief Donny Green says Vanderbilt Mortgage Company, the owner, recently repossessed the mobile home. The previous tenants moved out December 15th.
Green says the fire is suspicious because there were no utilities connected to the home.
He says the fire gutted the structure causing significant damage. There were no personal belongings or contents inside the mobile home.
No one was injured.
Members of the Blue Springs, Keltonburg, and Short Mountain Highway stations responded along with a tanker truck.