The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department raided a cockfight in Dowelltown Saturday night and arrested ten people.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says deputies received a call at 7:50 p.m. Saturday to go to 224 E.H. Haas Road where a chicken fight was taking place. Upon arrival, the officers found ten men either participating in or observing the cockfight. Two of the men also had two children there. The kids are ages 12 and 13.
Officers observed two injured chickens and one chicken that was almost dead. They also found needle spurs, razor spurs, bottles of vitamin B complex, and cages used to transport the chickens. Officers also seized $5,341 from the defendants.
Sheriff Ray says during the interviews of the defendants, officers learned that they were placing $100 bets per round during the fights.
It is against the law ( a class A misdemeanor) for anyone to be involved in a cockfight. It is also unlawful (class C misdemeanor) for anyone to be a spectator at a cockfight.
The following persons were charged with cockfighting:
38 year old Artemio Alfaro of Board Valley Road, Sparta; 27 year old Joel Mendez of Fred Hill Road, Sparta;32 year old Juan Orozco of Cascade Avenue, McMinnville; 20 year old Juan Avalos of Short Mountain Road, Smithville; 31 year old Leonardo Guadarrana of Fred Hill Road, Sparta; 23 year old Nicolas Reyes of Carter Street, Smithville; 33 year old Mariano Reyes of Carter Street, Smithville; 35 year old Hugo Reyes of West Greenhill Road, McMinnville; 33 year old Rodolfo Reyes of E.H. Haas Road, Dowelltown; and 49 year old Antonio Ornelas of Disneyland Road, Sparta.
Rodolfo Reyes and Antonio Ornelas were also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor for having their children present at the cockfight.
Sheriff Ray says he also intends to make the DeKalb County Humane Society aware of this case.

A player in Smithville won $200,000 in Saturday night’s Powerball drawing. In addition, there were over 54,000 winners who purchased tickets from retailers in the state of Tennessee, including 11,878 players who doubled their winnings with Power Play. No additional information is available until the winner claims the prize.
The Powerball jackpot for the next drawing on Wednesday, January 17, is estimated at $180 million.
The Tennessee Lottery began selling its first tickets on January 20, 2004. As of September 30, 2006, the Lottery has raised more than $699.1 million to fund specific education programs, including college scholarships, pre-kindergarten and after-school programs.

Smithville Police have arrested 20 year old Philando Darnell Fullilove of 104 Circle Drive in Dowelltown and 19 year old Brandon Matthew Byford of 805 Lutrell Avenue in Smithville for possession of a schedule VI drug.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says an off-duty Smithville Police Officer spotted Byford sitting in a vehicle stopped at the Sunshine Cleaners on Wednesday at approximately 4:30 p.m. Byford was wanted on unrelated charges. As the officers approached the vehicle they detected a strong smell of marijuana as the driver, Fullilove opened the window. The Police Department’s K-9 Dog, already at the scene, was utilized and the dog alerted to drugs inside the vehicle. Further investigation noted that the vehicle did contain marijuana. Fullilove and Byford were subsequently arrested. Both were transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,500 bond each.
Chief Stufano says the Smithville Police Department would like to advise the motoring public that new traffic control devices have been established for the entrance of Walmart on Highway 70 in Smithville. Please be advised that with the addition of this new 24 hour facility, traffic along this route will increase and motorists must be vigilant in their driving. Currently the traffic lights have been placed on flashing yellow by the State to establish their presence, but will be changed to a working stop and go system shortly. Smithville Police will be actively monitoring this highly traveled area for violations in an effort to curtail accidents and traffic congestion. Motorists are encouraged to maintain proper driving distances between cars and observe the posted speed limits.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has charged three people believed to be responsible for a burglary and theft last month on Poss Road.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 40 year old Roy Junior Wilkey, 18 year old William L. Morris, and 18 year old Mike Morres all of South College Street, Smithville are charged with theft of property over $1,000. They will appear in General Sessions Court on the charges January 25th. Bond for each is set at $5,000.
Sheriff Ray says these three men are accused of stealing thirty radiators, ten car rims, and about 200 pounds of aluminum cans from the Poss Road property on December 15th. . The items were believed to have been sold to recycling centers in White and Warren Counties.

A night around a campfire turned tragic for two women overnight after being struck by a four wheel drive pickup truck, driven by a man, who is the husband of one of the two victims.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says the case is being investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol
It occurred around 12:45 a.m. Thursday on property at 3980 Oakley Road.
A group of family and friends had an RV on the property and were apparently sitting around a camp fire when the operator of the truck, William M. Overdorf III, asked another woman in the group, Jewel M. Scott, if she wanted to go mudding in his 1991 GMC Sierra four wheel drive pickup.
The two took off in the truck and later upon returning, the truck failed to stop and struck the two women, Debra Overdorf and Cathy Justice, who were still sitting around the campfire.
Mrs. Overdorf was airlifted from the scene to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga
Justice was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital.
Officials say alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the incident.