The VFW POST 7623 held a Memorial Day weekend breakfast service Sunday morning and honored Gold Star Mother Norene Anderson, whose son, Ronnie Reeder, was killed during the Vietnam War.
Other Gold Star Mothers were invited to attend, but apparently could not be present.
Ms. Anderson says she is thankful that there are still some people who recognize the sacrifices of those who have served their country. “I appreciate the VFW for all they do to remember those people who gave their lives. I was reading a letter from my son yesterday and he said, ?mother, when you hear the expression war is hell, it is’. He knew. He was right in the midst of the Vietnam war. It’s a blessing that some people remember. A lot of people don’t remember. I appreciate the VFW and all they do.”
County Mayor Mike Foster, the guest speaker, says all veterans and those who died in action, should be remembered throughout the year and not just during Memorial Day. “The people in this room are the ones that have made a difference in this world, not just in our community. If it hadn’t been for them, there wouldn’t be freedom probably anywhere in the world. I think we need to appreciate all the veterans from all the wars, what they have done, and the sacrifices they have made for us. We need to honor and respect them. We need to instill in our people the importance of freedom and how we need to sacrifice for that if we have to.”
Foster continued, ” I remember going to Ronnie Reeder’s funeral and that brought a realism to me. Up until that time, a veteran was from World War II or Korea. But when it’s someone you knew and played sports with, it brings things home to you. We need to involve our young people, even in those tragic situations, so they realize those sacrifices are real. It’s very important to keep these traditions alive. That’s what we need to hold onto.”
At the conclusion of the program, a wreath was laid at the monument outside the VFW building, which bears the names of local servicemen who died during World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam.

Two alleged marijuana dealers in Warren and Cannon County have been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury stemming from a two and a half year old undercover investigation by the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, the Southeastern Drug Enforcement Agency, the Middle Tennessee Drug Enforcement Agency, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Agency, and the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
48 year old Jeffory Carl Young of Short Mountain Road, Woodbury and 53 year old Morris Edward Roller of Lance Road, McMinnville are each indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute over 2,200 pounds of marijuana and a multi-count indictment for distribution of marijuana.
Young, a convicted felon, was arrested in a traffic stop in Manchester on Wednesday. Authorities found and seized some handguns at his home.
Roller was picked up at his Warren County farm on Wednesday. He was in possession of a gun at the time of his arrest.
Both are in federal custody in Hamilton County.
Authorities have seized 31 parcels of land, equaling 1900 acres with a tax appraisal of $2.5 million; more than $10,000 in cash; and over ten pounds of marijuana.
Investigators also confiscated two farm tractors, a round hay baler, semi-truck, a ton truck, and a bob cat loader, all believed to have been purchased with proceeds from the sale of drugs.
The Tennessee Department of Revenue has also levied a $60,000 tax against the two men, which they will have to pay.
Warren County Investigator Patrick Ray says more arrests are forthcoming as a result of this investigation, including some from DeKalb County.

Four people were sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday after entering pleas to charges against them in negotiated settlements.
44 year old Kenny Ray Herman pleaded guilty to two charges of sale of a schedule II controlled substance and three charges of sale of a schedule III controlled substance.
Judge Lillie Ann Sells sentenced him to a total of six years. He will serve one year in the county jail and then be on probation for the remainder of the term in community corrections. The sentence is to run consecutively to another case against him.
Herman was fined $2,000 and must make restitution of $585 to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department/TBI.
He was given credit for 150 days of jail time served.
25 year old Misty Dawn Barnes Hesson pleaded guilty to three counts of casual exchange and received a suspended sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run consecutively with each other and consecutive to a General Sessions Court case against her. Hesson was fined a total of $750 and must make restitution of $295.
50 year old Jeana Annette Hesson pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule II controlled substance and received a four year sentence, all suspended to probation. She was fined $2,000 and must make restitution of $300 to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department. Hesson must also undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and perform 100 hours of community service.
Billie Green Sullivan, charged with two counts of sale and delivery of a schedule III controlled substance, was granted pre-trial diversion for a period of two years. She must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and perform 100 hours of community service.
Monday was also arraignment day for those indicted by the Grand Jury earlier this month.
Most of those defendants will be back in court on June 2nd .

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are probing the fatal shooting of a Smithville man in Dowelltown Sunday evening.
Dead is 29 year old David Crook of New Home Road, Smithville.
Crook, the driver of an SUV, was found slumped over in the vehicle on East Main Street in Dowelltown, having suffered a gunshot wound to the head by a 40 caliber handgun.
The man who had been in the vehicle with him, Greg Patton of Smithville, apparently told authorities that Crook had been distraught and suicidal.
Sheriff Lloyd Emmons says a thorough investigation is being conducted but preliminary indications are that this may have been a self-inflicted shooting.
According to Sheriff Emmons, Crook and Patton had spent the weekend in Bowling Green Kentucky, where they attended a flea market, and had stopped off at the residence of Crook’s sister on Circle Drive in Dowelltown on the way back home.
Sheriff Emmons says after the visit to the Dowelltown residence, the two men got back in the SUV and drove away. He says Crook, who was driving, pulled over on East Main Street where the shooting occurred.
After the shooting, Patton ran to a nearby residence to call 911. He then ran back to the SUV.. A motorist, who came upon the scene, saw Patton taking some things from the vehicle and then flee on foot.
Law enforcement officers conducted a ground and aerial search for Patton and he was spotted from a helicopter about a half mile from where the shooting occurred. He surrendered without incident.
Sheriff Emmons says Patton remains in custody pending a further investigation by the Sheriff’s Department and TBI. Among the officers involved at the scene Sunday evening were Sheriff Emmons, Chief Deputy Milton Bowling, County Deputies Andy Snow and Jon Slager, Reserve Deputies Dustin Johnson and David Sharp who brought in a K-9, TBI Special Agent Billy Miller, and Troopers Charles Caplinger and Allen England from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
An autopsy will be performed on Crook’s body.

Two people were killed in a one car crash Saturday on Interstate 40 in Smith County.
Dead are 59 year old Everett Charles (Chuck) South, Sr. and his wife 51 year old Dorothy South of 148 Cleveland Way, Smithville.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol reports that the two were traveling east on I-40 in a 1999 Jeep Cherokee when the vehicle ran off the left side of the road into the median and struck a large boulder head-on.
The accident occurred around 12:52 a.m. near the 264 mile marker.