The DeKalb Animal Coalition for the Humane Treatment of Animals got a nice Christmas gift last month when word came that it was being awarded a $25,000 grant from the Roger T. Moore Revocable Trust Foundation.
The grant will be put toward the new animal shelter which is under construction behind Tenneco near the county’s soon to open solid waste transfer station.
Sue Puckett Jernigan, a member of the Coalition, told WJLE that she had not even heard of the foundation until Pete Siggelko mentioned it during a coalition meeting last year. “He attended some of our meetings and he mentioned that there might be a grant available from this foundation. He said I’ll get you the ladies name and number. He did. He sent me a text and last June I called her and she told me what to do to make the application. The lady I dealt with is Belinda Leslie, a Trustee of the Foundation. I just wrote a letter outlining what our Coalition did and the need for it. I included the history of how we had come about organizing and that we were a 501c3 organization. I wrote that we were trying to garner some funds and mentioned our 99 year lease,” said Jernigan.
“In December I received a call from this lady. She told me we had been awarded the grant and I was so excited. She said it was for $25,000 and Merry Christmas. I believe that is the max that the foundation grants,” added Jernigan.
This is great news for the Coalition which is still in search of donations to help equip and furnish the new shelter before it opens. “We have enough money to complete the building but I’m not sure we’re going to have enough to equip it so we’ll have to have some fund raisers,” said Jernigan.
Mike Foster, who is also involved with the Coalition, said the building should be completed within the next six weeks. “I think the building will be finished in three weeks and then it will be ready for the interior stuff which may take another three weeks. The outside concrete pours that makes the runs were completed today (Wednesday). They finished up the central heat and air today (Wednesday). The electrical is also now ready for a rough in inspection. It’s really coming along. Of course some things like the Guillotine doors and things like that can’t be put in until it’s painted,” said Foster.
If you would like to volunteer or make a donation toward the shelter, contact Marsha Darrah, Sue Puckett Jernigan, or any member of the Coalition. Donations may be made by Pay Pal or at Post Office Box 354.

A Smithville woman indicted on charges of TennCare Fraud and theft of services over $10,000 appeared in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Wednesday.
46 year old Kimberly Dawn Griffin of Page Lane, Smithville entered a plea to theft of services over $10,000. Judge Gary McKenzie gave her a four year sentence all suspended to TDOC probation under judicial diversion. She must make restitution of $30,498. If the restitution is not paid in full by the end of the diversion period, the balance will be converted to a civil judgment.
Griffin was named in a sealed indictment on Monday, November 23, 2015.
According to count 1 of the indictment, “Kimberly D. Griffin, between the 15th day of December, 2008 and the 29th day of October, 2012 intentionally did obtain certain services, to wit: medical assistance benefits for herself and her minor child, provided by the State of Tennessee, of the value of over $10,000 but less than $60,000, by means of deception, fraud, coercion, false pretense, or other means, with the intent to avoid payment for the services, constituting the offense of theft of services over $10,000”.
Count 2 of the indictment alleged that “Kimberly D. Griffin, between the 15th day of December, 2008 and the 29th day of October, 2012 did knowingly obtain medical assistance benefits for herself and her minor child, by means of her willfully false statement, representation or impersonation or by concealment of a material fact, to wit: fraudulently reporting to DHS that her minor child resided with her, in order to be eligible for TennCare benefits, constituting the offense of TennCare Fraud”.

WJLE and participating local businesses are giving you a chance to bid on and buy merchandise at a discount in the RADIO SHOPPER on Thursday, January 26.
Starting at 9:00 a.m. that morning, WJLE will be opening up the phone lines for you to bid on various items from local businesses.
WJLE will set a minimum bid on each item and continue the bidding until the item is sold. The program on Thursday will be limited to around three hours. If we have more items to sell, the program will resume on another day. For bidders, they have a chance to buy merchandise or services at a discount. For the businesses, they get ads on WJLE just for putting items up for bids.
If your business would like to participate, contact Dwayne Page at 615-597-4265.
It’s going to be fun and exciting! Be sure to be by your radio and your telephone on Thursday, January 26 at 9:00 a.m. and call in a bid to RADIO SHOPPER on WJLE. The program will also be streamed LIVE at www.wjle.com.
Here’s what we’ve lined up for the auction to date:
Jamie A Boutique: 3 pairs of assorted print leggings, one size; one pair of print leggings, size L/XL, and a pair of solid black fleece lined leggings, one size. Total retail. $99.95.
Evins Mill Resort: Dinner Package (one couple) includes light Hors d’ Oeuvres, Four Course Dinner, soup and salad du jour, choice of two entrees, delicious dessert, non alcoholic beverage. Value $100. Valid from January 26, 2017 until January 31, 2018. (Must make reservation). Number to call is 615-269-3740. Web site is www.evinsmill.com.
DeKalb Farmers Coop: Gallagher S10 Portable Solar Fence Energizer. Charges up to 3 miles/15 acres. Valued $124.99
DeKalb Memorial Gardens: Bronze Vase (Value at $300) with purchase of companion bronze marker.
Angie’s Diner: 2 (2 lunch bars with drinks valued at $15); 2- (2 breakfast specials includes drinks valued at $11.50)
Bryan’s Auto Repair and Towing: 6 quart oil change and filter valued at $45
Bumpers Drive-In: 5 Biggie Bags (2 Bumpers Burgers, 2 Large Fries, 2 Large Drinks, & 2 Apple Turnovers). Valued $13.00 each.
DeKalb Tire & Service: Certificate worth $300 toward purchase of a new set of tires.
DeKalb Funeral Chapel: Set of Cemetery Vases valued at $125.
K & M Jewelry: 3- $100 certificates.
Cantrell’s Furniture and Appliances: Rocker/Recliner Upholstered Chair by the Washington Manufacturing Company. Choice of 3 colors. Valued at $399.00.
DeKalb County Ace Hardware: Living Accents Roma Cushion Glider for decks and patios valued at $129.99.
Cantrell’s the Home of Fluty and Fluty’s Shoes: Ladies Neyelle Rain Jacket (Small to 2X). Valued $128.00; Not Your Daughters Jeans (2 to 18 Regular and Petite). Valued $110.00; Ladies Foxcroft No Iron Blouse 100% cotton (4 to 16) Valued $72.00; Spanx Bra-llelujah (32-38 A to D). Valued $62.00; Carhartt Overalls (Denim or Brown Duck). Value $65.00; Man’s suit. Valued up to $200.00; Man’s Enro No Iron Shirt (2 to be sold). Value $79.50 each; Columbia Polar Fleece Vest. Value up to $45.00; Pair of Ladies Shoes by Born. Value $80.00.
F.Z. Webb & Sons Gifts: 11” x 14” Sligo Bridge Print by Gary Keeble. Valued at $25.00; Proud to be an American Garden Flag. Valued at $13.00; Chip and Dip server. Valued at $42; Large coconut scented Woodwick Candle. Valued at $24.99; Mika Body Massage Kit with electric warmer and scented massage oil. Valued at $19.99; Snowbuddies Spring Time Collection “A Rite of Spring” figurine. Valued at $15; Evergreen Bird Bath platter with fish designs. Valued at $49.99; Melissa and Doug Wooden Press & Serve Waffle Set for ages 3 and up. Valued at $19.99; and Melissa and Doug Santa & Reindeer Chunky Puzzle for ages 2 and up. Valued at $19.99.
R&B Crafts: 4 foot cedar swing. Valued $125.00.
Kilgore’s Restaurant: 3- $25 certificates

Payton Anderson, a 5th Grader at Northside Elementary School won a bicycle for the first semester through the Attendance Incentive Program sponsored by Mabe Distributing.
Thanks to Barry Mabe of Mabe Distributing, Northside Elementary School is able to offer an extra incentive for students to be at school on time every day.
It’s simple. Students who come to school each day of the week, arrive on time, and stay all day will get their name in a weekly drawing for a box of “Little Debbie” snacks.
In December and May, another drawing is held and the winner gets a bike that Mr. Mabe has donated to the school.

A man who allegedly left two youngsters home alone, including one who wandered out into the road has been charged with child abuse or neglect.
26 year old Jeffery Mark Hatfield of Adcock Cemetery Road, Smithville is charged with two counts of the offense and is under a $20,000 bond. His court date is January 26.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that a detective was patrolling Adcock Cemetery Road just before dark on Thursday, January 12 when he came upon a three year old girl standing in the center of the road. After almost hitting the child, he stopped and tended to the youngster while contacting the Department of Children Services. After searching for more than an hour, authorities finally located the child’s home. Upon arrival, they found a two year old boy who was home alone. According to Sheriff Ray, Hatfield left the children in an unsafe situation placing them in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.

Smithville Police have charged a 44 year old man with sexual exploitation of a minor after photos and videos of child porn were allegedly found on his laptop computer.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL)Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR_5.pdf (2.93 MB)
Chief Mark Collins told WJLE that Louis Simon Lopez, III is under a $25,000 bond and will make a court appearance on January 26. He was arrested on Tuesday, January 10.
According to Chief Collins, police were informed on Saturday, January 7 that Lopez was the owner of a laptop that had several pictures and videos of what appeared to be children under the age of 18 naked and engaging in sex acts. Upon investigation, a warrant was obtained and Lopez was taken into custody without incident.
The case remains under investigation by the Smithville Police Department and the District Attorney General’s Office.
Lopez reportedly has a criminal record. He was a member of the U.S. Army and received a bad conduct discharge.

Work is well underway on a renovation at the Smithville Waste Water Treatment Plant.
In August the Smithville Aldermen voted to award a bid to the W & O Construction Company, Incorporated of Livingston as recommended by the city’s consulting engineer, the J.R. Wauford Company. The bid was $2,794,000 for the project which includes an upgrade of the headworks and to replace the aeration system.
To help pay for the cost of the project, the City of Smithville was recently awarded a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $525,000 from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Although the grant will fund part of the costs, the bulk of the funding to pay for it will be appropriated from the city’s water and sewer fund surplus.
“We had a meeting Thursday, January 5. They have begun a lot of construction there. They have 365 calendar days and are 80 days into it. Out of the $2.8 million we have paid out about $350,000. Of course the first $500,000 we will get reimbursed from the state for our CDBG. Everything is going well down there,” said city administrator Hunter Hendrixson during last week’s monthly meeting of the mayor and aldermen.