Sheriff Patrick Ray, on behalf of the citizens of DeKalb County, has presented Advocate Rachel Pugh from the Cookeville Genesis House, over 170 donated used cell phones collected by the sheriff’s department.
“I want to thank the Citizens of DeKalb County for their cell phone donations,” said Pugh. “We are a non-profit organization serving DeKalb County that helps victims of domestic and sexual violence. We take the donated phones, refurbish them, and give them to our clients as a way to contact law enforcement in case they find themselves in immediate danger or have an emergency. Some of the cell phones only will call 911. Others will be enabled to assist victims in finding housing and employment.”
“Every 14 seconds in our country, a woman is battered by her intimate partner,” said Sheriff Ray. ” Every 5 years, more women are killed by domestic violence than Americans killed in the Vietnam War. Sheriff Ray also expressed his concern about domestic violence adding that 20% of all murders are domestic violence related and 76% of rape and sexual assaults are committed by husbands, ex-husbands, boyfriends, family members or acquaintances”.
“This year we were able to team with the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department in getting donated cell phones,” Sheriff Ray said.
“Our department has accumulated a number of free cell phones that we no longer use,” added DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green. “These phones came at no cost to the county and since we have no future need for them, we decided to partner in this effort by donating the phones because we know Genesis House will put them to good use and that they can make a difference in protecting lives; a mission that we have in common”.
Sheriff Ray said he wants to thank the Citizens of DeKalb County and the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department for one of their largest cell phone donations ever. The sheriff’s department will be collecting used cell phones again this year. You may drop off any cell phones at the sheriff’s office. “If you have a cell phone you no longer plan to use, whether or not it is functional, just drop it by the sheriff’s department. You do not need to bring any phone accessories; just the phone. The sheriff’s department collects these phones during the year and makes an annual donation on behalf of DeKalb County to the Genesis House,” said Sheriff Ray.
Anyone who is a victim of domestic violence may contact Sheriff Ray at 615-597-4935 for information or for a ride to a domestic shelter in Cookeville. You may also call the 24 hour Genesis House Crisis Line at 1-800-707-5197 or 931-526-5197.

The DeKalb West School Bulldog Baseball Boosters Club plans to build a 40 x 100 foot facility on campus which is to include hitting cages, restrooms, concession stand, storage, office, and locker room.
The Board of Education gave approval for the project during Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting held at Smithville Elementary School.
“The baseball boosters approached me about wanting to build a hitting building to the side of the baseball field. Funding would be through them (boosters). They started this process several years ago by saving money through their fundraisers. They’re getting to the point now where they can start. But we haven’t done anything until we get board approval to break ground if that is something you allow us to do,” said DeKalb West School Principal Sabrina Farler.
“It is to be multipurpose. We want to have a concession stand rather than the portable building we now have there. It will also have two public restrooms in addition to the locker room, hitting cages, batting cages, and things like that,” said Tony Cross, Booster Club President.
“I think we can do this for less than $40,000. What we would like to do this summer after school is out is to do the shell of the building and a concrete slab with all the plumbing. I think we can do that for just under $20,000. We have a 5K fundraiser that is doing really well and it runs Saturday morning. Initially we would like to put up the slab and the exterior of the building. Eighty percent of the building is batting cages and lanes. That could be used next baseball season. Just to be able to get in and out of the rain. I’ve talked with Earl (Jared), School System Maintenance Supervisor. I want to work hand in hand with him on what he wants as far as the bathrooms and things like that because if they are helping us service it we’re going to do it like he needs it done. We initially want to get some things done this summer and we’ll continue on with fundraisers to raise the remainder of the money. We’d like to have it (project) done next year,” said Cross.

Saint Thomas Health is proud to announce the addition of Shan Burklow as the new Regional Communications Coordinator for Saint Thomas ministries across the area. Burklow will coordinate marketing efforts for five hospitals including Saint Thomas DeKalb, Saint Thomas Stones River, Saint Thomas Highlands, Saint Thomas River Park, and Saint Thomas Rutherford.
Prior to this position, Burklow was formerly the Director of Marketing for Saint Thomas DeKalb in Smithville, Tennessee and Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital in Woodbury, Tennessee.
“We were very grateful to have Shan lead our marketing as director for Saint Thomas DeKalb and Stones River Hospitals over the past several years.” said Sue Conley – CEO for Saint Thomas DeKalb and Stones River Hospitals, “Although we will miss her daily interaction at our facilities, we are proud that Saint Thomas Health has recognized her abilities, and look forward to what she will contribute to our region as a whole.”
In addition to her professional responsibilities, Burklow is actively involved in the local community and across the Upper Cumberland. She is the Vice President of the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, and serves on various charitable boards. Burklow hosts a national broadcast for WCTE TV, volunteers her time for local fundraising efforts, along with hosting multiple charity events.
“I am honored to accept this new role with Saint Thomas Health,” said Burklow, “It has been my pleasure to work with some of the most caring people on earth, and I look forward to growing that base of people across our regional hospitals and the Saint Thomas Communications Team in Nashville. Our hospitals are full of brilliant and compassionate people that spend their lives taking care of others. It makes me a better person to know them.”
Burklow resides in Smithville, Tennessee. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, working in her flower gardens, crocheting, and spending time with her husband, Andy, and four children.
ABOUT SAINT THOMAS HEALTH
Saint Thomas Health is Middle Tennessee’s faith-based, not-for-profit health care system united as one healing community. Saint Thomas Health is focused on transforming the healthcare experience and helping people live healthier lives, with special attention to the poor and vulnerable. The regional health system includes nine hospitals: Saint Thomas Hospital for Spinal Surgery, Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital and Saint Thomas West Hospital in Nashville, Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, Saint Thomas Hickman Hospital in Centerville, Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital in Smithville, Saint Thomas Highlands Hospital in Sparta, Saint Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville and Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital in Woodbury. A comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities complements the hospital services and covers a 68-county area. Saint Thomas Health is a member of Ascension, a Catholic organization that is the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States. For more information, visit www.STHealth.com.
ABOUT ASCENSION
Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all with special attention to persons in poverty and struggling the most. In FY2015, Ascension provided nearly $2 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Approximately 150,000 associates and 35,000 aligned providers serve in 1,900 sites of care – including 129 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities – in 24 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to healthcare delivery, Ascension subsidiaries provide a variety of services and solutions including physician practice management, venture capital investing, treasury management, biomedical engineering, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascension’s own group purchasing organization.

Members of the DeKalb County High School Future Business Leaders of America Club were successful at the recent FBLA State Conference. Forty Four members, two advisers, and three chaperones attended the conference and represented DeKalb County High School.
Placing 2nd:
Hailey Walker and Keely McKay-Graphic Design
Ashli Chew and Abby Evans –Hospitality Management
Luke Green-Impromptu Speaking
Max Pafford, Haden Cripps, Kirkland Smallwood- Marketing
Placing 3rd:
Aspen Flarity-Client Service
Aspen Flarity, Sahara Lafever , Anna Malone-Community Service Project
Hannah James-Electronic Career Portfolio
Casey Vickers, Morgan Vickers, Christian Turner, Casey Vickers-Parliamentary Procedure
Callie Cripps-Hard Copy Scrapbook
Hailey Walker-Chapter Annual Business Report
Madison Mick-FBLA Principles and Procedures
Placing 4th
Rachel Fuson and Sarah Anne Colwell-Banking and Financial Systems
Trey Fuston –Business Law
Kyra Slager-Health Care Administration
Bailey Redmon-Future Business Leader
•Braxton Pugh received Dr. Bill Radcliffe Scholarship for $500
•Destiny Franklin was named as Region 5 secretary .
The DeKalb County High School Chapter of FBLA received the following awards:
*Club 100 for 175 members.
*Chapter Gold Seal of Merit
*1st place Literacy award for collecting 3,285 books that stayed right here in DeKalb County.
*Recognition for March of Dimes contribution and donation to ALL state scholarships
Picture Captions:
Award group:
Front row: left to right: Kyra Slager, Casey Vickers, Madison Mick, Bailey Redmon, Ashli Chew, Trey Fuston
2nd row: Callie Cripps, Aspen Flarity, Anna Malone, Sahara Lafever, Keely McKay, Racehl Fuson, Sarah Anne Colwell, Abby Evans
Back Row: Morgan Vickers, Caitlin Turner, Christian Turner, Luke Green, Hailey Walker, Haden Cripps, Kirkland Smallwood.Not pictured: Max Pafford
Hannah:
Hannah James served as the 2015-2016 Tennessee FBLA State Secretary. She also placed 3rd in Electronic Career Porfolio.

Braxton Pugh received a $500 Scholarship at the Tennessee State Leadership Conference held recently in Chattanooga.
He received the Dr. Bill Radcliffe Scholarship that is for an FBLA member who plans to pursue a career in business and attend college at either a junior college or university.
Braxton plans to attend Motlow State Community College and then on to a four year college. He will be majoring in Business.

First lady of Tennessee Crissy Haslam was at Smithville Elementary School Wednesday morning on a visit with a mission — to encourage students to read more in and out of the classroom as part of the Read20 initiative. To admonish children to read and or to have their parents read to them twenty minutes a day.
Haslam took a tour of the school and then talked with and read to students at each grade level from the book “What Pet Should I Get” by Dr. Seuss.
Smithville Elementary was selected by the state Education Department to host the first lady’s visit in an effort to increase reading proficiency and encourage students to continue to read when they’re not in school.
“I was so excited last week when I received an email from her (Crissy Haslam’s) office asking if we would be interested in a visit. I replied back saying “of course we would be interested.” “It’s a wonderful honor to have her here. There are five schools in this county and the State Department of Education gave her our name to come and visit. I think that is a tribute to the hard work that our students do and the hard work that our faculty and staff do. It’s just a privilege to have her here with us. We’re so excited,” Smithville Elementary School Principal Julie Vincent told WJLE.
“I think I’ve read a book to every child in the school in big groups at the gym and library,” said Haslam. “I have been talking to them about the importance of reading. That children need to be a strong reader by the end of third grade. I talked to them about reading twenty minutes a day and getting their parents to read to them twenty minutes a day. I talked to them about reading over the summer time so that they don’t slide backward in their reading ability. And I talked to them about how important it is to read to be ready for everything that comes later in life whether it’s middle school, high school, college, or work. I asked them what they wanted to be when they grow up? It’s really necessary to be a good reader for just about anything you’re going to do in life,” Haslam told WJLE.

Haslam plans to visit one school in each of the state’s 95 counties by the end of the year, all to push the importance of reading. “I am traveling all over the state. I am trying to take my message to every county. I started a while back and I have about eighteen counties left to visit. It’s a great thing to do. If you want to have a good day come to an elementary school. They will cheer you up,” said Haslam.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 11-6 is offering a one-day boating safety class on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at the Dekalb County Community Center located at 712 South Congress Boulevard in Smithville, Tennessee from 8:00 AM – 6:00PM. Textbook and materials are $7.00 per student, which covers room rental fee and lunch. Preregistration is required as the class size is limited. For more information and/or to register, please call John Whelan at 615-933-1874 and leave a message.
BOAT TENNESSEE is a comprehensive boating course designed for both beginners and novice boaters. This course will be taught in a one-day session with a short lunch break. Topics include: Types and Uses of Boats/Engines; Boat Handling; Equipment for Boats, Trailering, Aids to Navigation, Rules of the Road, Inland Boating, Boating Laws/State Laws, Boating Problems/Emergencies, and more. The exam to be given will be the State of Tennessee boating exam.
This course is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. Those who successfully complete the course and exam are awarded certificates of completion. Many marine insurance companies offer discounts on boat insurance to those who complete this course.
If the student taking this course and exam was born after January 1, 1989, then the student MUST also pre-register with the State of Tennessee to take the boating exam and pay an additional fee of $10 per person to the State. The exam ticket is Type 600 and can be obtained from any TWRA fishing/hunting licensing agent. Proof of identity of student may be required. Students are also strongly encouraged to obtain their textbooks in advance for reading and studying.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, created by an Act of Congress in 1939, is the uniformed civilian component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard across all mission areas. For more information on the Coast Guard Auxiliary and a flotilla near you, visit www.cgaux.org

A man convicted in December of a 2014 aggravated burglary and theft in DeKalb County will no longer be serving his fifteen year prison sentence as a “career” offender.
During a hearing Wednesday in DeKalb County Criminal Court, Judge Gary McKenzie denied a motion for a new trial but found that due to a miscalculation of his prior offenses, 54 year old David Petty does not qualify as a “career” offender. Instead Petty will serve his fifteen year term, the maximum allowed by law in this case, as a “persistent” offender. As a “career” criminal, Petty would have had to serve at least 60% of the sentence before coming eligible for parole. As a “persistent” offender, Petty will become eligible for parole after serving 45% of the sentence.
Petty stood trial and was convicted by a jury in DeKalb County Criminal Court Wednesday, December 9, 2015. A month later following a sentencing hearing, Judge McKenzie handed down the fifteen year term against Petty for aggravated burglary and another twelve years for theft of property over $1,000. The sentences were merged as one fifteen year term.
In his amended motion for a new trial, Petty’s attorney Michael Auffinger set forth grounds including one in which he claimed “the trial court erred in its determination that Petty qualified as a “career” criminal. Although Petty has prior convictions for kidnapping, these do not qualify to be counted individually. The statutory language within Tennessee Code Annotated 40-35-108 (b) (4) reads: except for convictions for which the statutory elements include serious bodily injury, bodily injury, threatened serious bodily injury, or threatened bodily injury to the victim or victims…convictions for multiple felonies committed within the same twenty four hour period constitute one(1) conviction for the purpose of determining prior convictions. In contrast, the statutory definition of kidnapping contains the language: under circumstances exposing the other person to substantial risk of bodily injury”, according to Auffinger’s motion.
“The trial court erred when it found Petty to be a career offender. Under TCA 40-35-108, once a defendant has been convicted of a Class C felony, the court must find any combination of six or more Class A, B, or C prior felony convictions. However, upon looking at Petty’s prior record, there are no A or B offenses, and at most, five Class C offenses. At most, Petty is a Range III Persistent Offender,” Auffinger’s motion states.
Assistant District Attorney General Stephanie Johnson said while Judge McKenzie found in favor of Petty on this one point he ruled for the state on the remaining issues raised by Petty’s attorney in his motion.
“There was a miscalculation in his (Petty’s) prior convictions therefore he did not fall into a “career” offender range of punishment. Instead, he fell into a “persistent” offender range. The only change the court made based on that was instead of his (Petty’s) sentence being fifteen years at 60%, his sentence will still be the maximum of fifteen years but at 45%. While the judge changed the sentence a little bit he denied the defense motion for new trial and ruled in favor of the state on all of those points (raised by the defense) except the re-sentencing with the calculations of the priors,” Johnson told WJLE Wednesday.
After deliberating for less than an hour in December, a jury of six men and six women found Petty guilty of aggravated burglary and theft of property over $1,000 as charged in the indictment against him.
Because Petty has multiple previous felony convictions in several counties dating back to 1980, Assistant District Attorney General Johnson asked the court in January to sentence him as a career offender. “Mr. Petty’s criminal conduct spans 35 years. He has very serious prior felony convictions. I understand they are from the 1980’s but still we have someone who has persistently violated the law and obtained criminal convictions in several different counties in our state. Mr. Petty has been active in five different surrounding counties. He previously violated and has been revoked on parole twice and probation five times. This defendant has not had any measure of success on supervised release in our community. Furthermore, while he has not been charged, he has been out on an OR bond and has admitted drug use so he has continued to involve himself in illegal activity while this case was pending trial,” Assistant DA Johnson told the court during Petty’s sentencing hearing in January.
A co-defendant in the case, 44 year old Anthony Lynn Colwell pled guilty in July, 2015 to aggravated burglary and received a TDOC sentence of eleven years at 45% before parole eligibility. The term is to run concurrently with a Warren County case against him. He was given two days of jail credit.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said at the time of their arrests that on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 Petty and Colwell broke into a residence on Man Hill Road and stole a jewelry box containing several items of jewelry which were later pawned at a local jewelry store and at a pawn shop in Warren County. Petty’s defense essentially was that while he sold the property, he did not commit the burglary and theft.
Petty’s attorney Auffinger, in asking the court for leniency for his client during the January sentencing hearing, said that Petty was never proven to have participated in the burglary. “There was never any direct proof whatsoever that tied him to the burglary,” he said.
Auffinger also pointed out that Petty voluntarily cooperated with law enforcement officers in the burglary investigation and tried to settle the debt with one of the pawn shop owners who suffered a loss because of the case. He also said Petty suffered from significant health problems and underwent surgery a week before the sentencing hearing. Auffinger asked the court to make Petty’s sentence at the “bottom of the range” of punishment allowed by law in this case.
During the January sentencing hearing Judge McKenzie found that due to seven prior felony convictions since 1980, which included three kidnappings, an assault with intent to commit a felony, and a grand larceny, Petty should be sentenced as a career offender.
“Mr. Petty it looks to me that from 1980 to today (January 7) there has been criminal behavior on your part,” said Judge McKenzie during the sentencing hearing. ” In the sentencing report there was a DUI conviction around 2003. There is a disorderly conduct in 2000. If your 1983 cases were not of a felony nature that would be one thing. If they were smaller level offenses that would be one thing but they are kidnappings. There’s an assault. And then there are some drug offenses and burglaries. There is a lot of criminal history here. Based on those seven felonies I’m going to classify you as a career offender. Most individuals go their entire lives without a single arrest. Without a single conviction. The vast majority of us go our entire lives without multiple convictions. And you’ve got seven. The prior criminal history and multiple convictions certainly weighs strong for the state. If an individual in our community gets seven prior felony offenses then there becomes a need to protect society from releasing him back,” added Judge McKenzie.

A man sought by Smithville Police in a Monday night hit-and-run that left another person injured was later taken into custody. Officers also found a meth lab in his car during the investigation.
35 year old Marlin Ray Pinkard of McMinnville is charged with aggravated assault, evading arrest, and a 5th offense of driving on a revoked license after hitting Johnny Murphy with his automobile following an altercation between the two in front of Murphy’s residence at 420 Hayes Street. Pinkard and a passenger of his car, 32 year old Shana Nicole Smiley of Smithville, were each charged with initiation of methamphetamine.
“Last night Smithville Police responded to a call at 420 Hayes Street. Upon arrival we learned that there had been a hit and run. A vehicle driven by Pinkard had run over Mr. Murphy causing a serious leg injury and had left the scene. Murphy was transported to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital by EMS where he was treated and released,” Police Chief Mark Collins told WJLE.
After obtaining a description of the car involved in the hit-and-run, officers tracked it down at Mapco Express. “After officers arrived at Mapco, they spotted Mr. Pinkard coming out of the store. When Pinkard saw them, he went back in the store and tried to empty his pockets. Officers confronted Pinkard and found pills in his possession believed to be Suboxone. Pinkard was then placed under arrest,” Chief Collins continued.
Upon checking out Pinkard’s car at Mapco, Chief Collins said police found a meth lab. “When we went to his car we found Shana Nicole Smiley sitting in the passenger seat. After she was asked to get out of the car we saw in plain view a plastic bottle containing a sludge like material consistent with the manufacture of meth. The substance was later identified as a one pot meth lab by the Tennessee Meth Task Force who came to the scene to assist in the investigation. Also found in the car was an opened cold pack, lithium batteries, and a glass pipe with residue. Smiley was then placed under arrest,” he said.
Bond for Pinkard totals $58,500. Smiley’s bond is $35,000. They will make an appearance in General Sessions Court on April 28

DeKalb County Volunteer Firefighters kept a kitchen fire from spreading Thursday at the home of Jimmy Midgett on Vandergriff Hollow Road.
David Agee, Assistant County Fire Chief told WJLE that firefighters were called to the home at around 11 a.m. that morning and found a fire in the kitchen. Although heat and smoke spread to other parts of the home, firefighters were able to contain the blaze primarily to the kitchen area. Flames also burned through the kitchen ceiling into the attic.
Members of the Liberty, Main Station, and Temperance Hall stations responded along with the tanker and equipment truck.
No one was home at the time and no one was hurt.