Smithville Police made several arrests over the New Year holiday weekend.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says “On December 30th Smithville Police arrested Walter Hartman of 303 Manhill Road, Dowelltown on the charges of DUI and Reckless Endangerment. This is the 5th DUI arrest for Hartman. Police observed Hartman driving his Ford Thunderbird at a high rate of speed on Cookeville Highway near Northside School crossing the centerline multiple times. When the vehicle was finally stopped and the officer approached, a 9 year old female, who was sitting in the passenger seat, crawled across the driver’s seat frantically yelling “Please help me” to the officer. The officer immediately identified the smell of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle and asked the driver to get out of the vehicle. Upon further investigation it was discovered that the juvenile was the adopted daughter of the driver and was in fear due to Hartman’s reckless driving. Hartman had to be held against the vehicle as he was too inebriated to stand. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail. He was placed under $15,000 bond. Hartman’s vehicle was confiscated under the state’s Drug and Alcohol forfeiture act.
A second DUI arrest was made on New Year’s Day when Francisco Soto Perez of 232 Orchard Lane of McMinnville was confronted by another driver who claimed that Perez almost ran into his vehicle. Smithville Police responded to a reported disturbance in the Exxon Gas Station parking lot. Officers discovered that Perez smelled of an alcoholic beverage, slurred his speech and admitted to drinking and driving. Perez was arrested and processed and remanded to the DeKalb County Jail under a bond of $1,500
On New Year’s Eve Smithville Police Officers responded to 307 White Street regarding a domestic complaint. Upon arrival officer’s discovered that 19 year old Daniel Lee Clien had been drinking heavily and kept a female companion from leaving the residence. Officers found that the female tried numerous times to exit from a rear bedroom window only to dragged back by Clien which left bruises on the female. Clien damaged numerous items in the residence including phones which were ripped out of the walls and glass which was broken from items being thrown about. Clien was arrested for domestic assault and underage drinking and was transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $3,500 bond.
Smithville Police are committed to actively investigating and prosecuting drivers who are DUI. The Police Department asks that everyone help eliminate drinking and driving in our area.

Alexandria Police made a drug arrest after a routine traffic stop on Friday.
Chief Mark Collins says 25 year old Patrick N. Blevins of 533 Anderson Ridge Road, Silver Point is charged with possession of a schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia (pipe), and driving under the influence (4th offense).
Chief Collins says officers Chris McMillen and Cody Jenkins stopped Blevins vehicle on Highway 70 in Alexandria on a traffic offense. As Blevins got out of his automobile, the officers detected a strong odor of what they thought was marijuana. They conducted a field sobriety test and placed Blevins under arrest.
The officers found a small bag of marijuana and a pipe used to smoke drugs.
Two other arrests were made in a separate investigation on New Year’s Eve.
Chief Collins says 31 year old Travis Pinkerton of Watertown was pulled over in a routine traffic stop and charged with driving on a suspended license. Another man with Pinkerton was arrested. He was wanted on charges in Cannon County.

Smithville Police arrested a 48 year old man Wednesday for disorderly conduct at a local restaurant.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says Clyde Randall Young of 634 Crestview Avenue is charged in the case.
According to Stufano, “On Wednesday Smithville Police responded to Susie’s Restaurant on a reported disorderly person complaint. Officers responded and met with County EMS personnel who were both the complainants and witnesses to the incident.”
Chief Stufano says “The witnesses stated that Young had been in the restaurant making veiled threats against the President of the United States. They went on to state that the man seemed very agitated and mad making numerous remarks. Numerous patrons in the restaurant were so disturbed over the demeanor and comments that they got up from their tables and left. Young left the restaurant prior to police arrival but was stopped a short distance away. Witnesses identified the subject and he was detained and escorted to the Police Department for further investigation. Due to the nature and type of comments made, the US Secret Service responded to conduct a federal investigation of Young. Young was eventually booked on Disorderly Conduct charges and released.

The winter break is almost over for students and teachers.
They will return to the classrooms Tuesday to begin the third nine week session of schools.
The remainder of the calendar reveals that schools will be closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 15 and for President’s Day, Monday, February 19.
The spring break will be April 2 – 6.
Schools will be closed Friday, March 16 and Friday, May 11.
Students will not attend on Thursday, May 24. That will be an administrative day and all teachers must attend.. The last day of school will be Friday, May 25. That will be an abbreviated school day and report cards will be given to the students.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, March 13 at DeKalb County High School from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will also be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Thursday, February 1 at DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary, Smithville Elementary, and DeKalb West School.
Report cards will be sent home on Thursday, January 4 and Thursday, March 8.
Competency testing at DCHS will be February 13-16.
Gateway testing at DCHS will be May 1-3. Gateway test makeup will be May 4.
Writing Assessment for the 5th, 8th, and 11th grades will be February 1. Writing Assessment make-up will be February 2.
TCAP testing of elementary students will be April 23-27.

Smithville Police Officer Lilani Defore has been recognized as “Officer of the Month”
Defore is a three year veteran of the Smithville Police Department assigned to the Patrol Division. She is also the department’s Domestic Assault Coordinator and reviews all domestic assaults, sexual assaults, and child abuse cases.
Defore is originally from Texas but has been a resident in the area for over thirteen years.
The commendation, signed by Smithville Police Chief Thomas J. Stufano, Mayor Taft Hendrixson, and Police Commissioner Aaron Meeks, states that “On behalf of the City of Smithville Police Department I would like to commend you for your recent actions and diligent efforts in your capacity as Police Patrol Officer. Your determination and diligent efforts and participation in the recent investigation of a sexual predator resulted in the arrest of an individual that has caused hardship and mental anguish on young children. Due to the graphic nature and sensitivity of this type of crime your compassion, professionalism and expertise enabled the victim and the residents of our city to feel that justice has been served. Your impressive actions in this case are a credit to your professionalism as a Smithville Police Officer.”
“Additionally, your excellent work in traffic enforcement for the month of December has shown the motoring public that driving safety within our jurisdiction is a priority. Your work ethic and tenacity during the month of December has shown your true commitment to the citizens we serve and your fellow officers.”
“Last, your self initiation and strong interpersonal skills have shown favorably on the Police Department and our City Leadership. I appreciate your input and current performance and for that you are hereby formally recognized and commended with a copy of this Commendation becoming apart of your permanent personnel record for all to see.”
“Congratulations on a job well done.”
Defore says “I wanted to make a difference in someone’s life who needed help. By being a police officer, I can interact with a lot of people in various situations and the friendships I have developed over the year’s here in Smithville has satisfied that dream.”

DeKalb County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November was 5.3%, up from the October rate of 4.8%.
The DeKalb County Labor Force for November was 9,520. A total of 9,020 were employed and 500 were unemployed.
Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November was 5.0 percent, up from the October rate of 4.5 percent.
County unemployment rates for November show that two county rates decreased, 90 county rates increased, and three county rates remained the same.
Williamson County had the lowest unemployment rate for November in Tennessee at 3.0 percent, up from the October rate of 2.6 percent. Clay County had the state’s highest county rate at 9.3 percent, up from the October rate of 8.3 percent.
Knox County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate of the major metropolitan counties in November at 3.6 percent, up from 3.1 percent in October. Davidson County was 4.1 percent, up from 3.7 percent in October. Hamilton County was 4.0 percent in November, up from 3.7 percent in October; and Shelby County was 5.4 percent in November, up from 4.9 percent in October.