Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse is the world’s largest Christmas project that collects and distributes gift-filled shoeboxes for needy children around the world.
Since 1993, more than 113 million boxes have been distributed in more than 130 countries. Each year, the project mobilizes more than 100,000 volunteers in the United States.
The week of November 16th through Monday, November 23rd, 2015, is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child. The drop-off/relay center for this area is located at the Indian Creek Baptist Church, 967 Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville, Tennessee, and is a convenient place for churches, clubs, schools, businesses, and individuals to bring their filled shoe boxes.

The center will be open, as follows:
Monday, November 16 through Friday, November 20 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 21 – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 22 – 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Monday, November 23 – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
You may select from the above dates and hours to deliver your filled shoe boxes to the center.
This holiday season you can experience the true meaning of Christmas with a child in need by simply packing your shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and other small gifts.
For further information please contact:
Sue Puckett:615/597-7370 (office)
615/597-7325 (home)
615/464-7700 (cell)suepuckett@dtccom.net (e-mail)
Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid with excellence to victims of war, natural disasters, disease, famine, poverty, and persecution in over 100 countries. The President and CEO is William “Franklin” Graham III, son of Billy Graham

The 2015 muzzleloader/archery season for deer opened Saturday, Nov. 7 and continues through Friday, Nov. 20 in all three of Tennessee’s deer hunting units, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
The opening of muzzleloader season in the state has a permanent opening date of the third Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Muzzleloading firearms are defined as those firearms which are incapable of being loaded from the breech. Muzzleloading firearms of .36 caliber minimum plus long bows, compound bows and crossbows are legal hunting equipment for this season. Hunters are also reminded that they must meet the blaze orange requirements while hunting.
The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is two. No more than one antlered deer may be taken per day. Hunters are allowed the following antlerless bag limits: Unit A -4 antlerless deer (DeKalb County); Unit L-3 antlerless deer per day and Unit B-1 antlerless deer.
For the exact boundaries of the different deer units, hunters can refer to the 2015-16 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide, available where hunting and fishing licenses are sold and at all TWRA offices. A list of the state’s permanent annual opening hunting dates is on page 14 of the guide. The guide can also be viewed at TWRA’s website at www.tnwildlife.org.
Resident hunters, ages 16 through 64 must possess in addition to other appropriate licenses, an annual big game license for the equipment used. Lifetime Sportsman license, Junior Hunt/Trap/Fish, Adult Sportsman license and Permanent Senior Citizens license holders are not required to purchase supplemental big game licenses.
In addition to private lands, including public hunting areas, several wildlife management areas (WMAs) will be open to hunters during this muzzleloader season. Hunters need to refer to the 2015-16 Hunting and Trapping Guide for a listing of these WMAs or go to TWRA’s website.
Tennessee’s gun season for deer opens on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year’s date is Nov. 21. The season for gun/muzzleloader/archery will then continue through Jan. 3, 2016. Archery equipment is legal during muzzleloader and gun seasons.
Muzzleloaders are legal during gun season.

Smithville Police have arrested a man for exposing himself to a female mail carrier.
Roy Junior Wilkey is charged with indecent exposure and he will make a court appearance on Thursday, November 12. His bond is $2,500.
Detective Brandon Donnell was contacted by the postmaster who informed him that one of his mail carriers reported that as she stopped to deliver the mail Wilkey exposed his genitals to her.
On Thursday, October 29 Detective Donnell accompanied the mail carrier on her route and he observed Wilkey expose himself to the mail carrier.
In other cases, 33 year old James Glenn Barrett was arrested for driving under the influence and cited for violation of the implied consent law on Sunday, October 25.
Officer Tyler Patterson and Sergeant Brad Tatrow were on patrol when they came across someone slouched over in his vehicle at the McDonald’s parking lot. Upon doing a welfare check, Officer Patterson noticed that the man, Barrett had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. His eyes were blood shot and he was unsteady on his feet. Barrett performed poorly on sobriety tasks. He was arrested for the safety of himself and that of the public. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on December 17.
46 year old Claudia Childress was cited for simple possession on Sunday, October 25. Officer Tyler Patterson and Sergeant Brad Tatrow responded to a call of a suspicious person in front of the Emergency Room of St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital. The woman, Childress was found to have two pills in a bag for which she had no prescription. Childress will be in court on December 17.
49 year old Marty Brent Tallent was arrested twice within a week. In the first case, he was charged with criminal trespassing. On Tuesday. October 27. Officer Matt Farmer responded to Patty’s Restaurant in reference to an unwanted guest. Upon arrival, Officer Farmer spoke with Tallent. After being asked several times to leave, Tallent was taken into custody. His bond is $2,500.
In the second case, Officer Tyler Patterson arrested Tallent for public intoxication. On Tuesday, November 3 Officer Patterson responded to a public disturbance and spoke with Tallent who had an odor of alcohol on his person. Tallent was also irate. For the safety of himself and the pubic Tallent was taken into custody. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on December 17.
54 year old Robert John Sablich was arrested for aggravated assault on Tuesday, October 27. Officer Matt Farmer responded to a 911 disturbance call where someone was reportedly being assaulted. Upon arrival Officer Farmer spoke with the victim who stated that Sablich assaulted her in the office of the Department of Children’s Services by striking her about the head and grabbing her by the throat as if he was going to choke her. After the assault, Sablich then left the area. Upon investigation and with the assistance of Detective Brandon Donnell and K-9 Officer James Cornelius, Officer Farmer located Sablich next door and placed him in custody. His bond is $8,000.

People are hurting
Drug and alcohol addiction is breaking up marriages, destroying homes, crippling children’s futures, laying waste to communities
The DeKalb Prevention Coalition and Community Advisory Board are pleased to announce an upcoming special night for our community, Tuesday November 10 at 6:00 p.m.
Monty Burks, Director of Faith Based Initiatives for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will be at the DeKalb County Complex (UT Extension Room) to help rally local churches and the community in an effort to reach out to those struggling with addictions and connect them to vital substance abuse services.
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services has launched this exciting, new mission partnering with faith-based communities across the state. The goal is to build a recovery network comprised of compassionate and concerned citizens.
Your congregation is invited to join this effort and become a certified recovery church/faith-based organization in the State of Tennessee.
Dinner will be provided at the meeting Tuesday evening. Attendees are asked to RSVP (by phone or email) although it is not necessary or mandatory in order to attend. Phone 615-597-4673 or email norene.drugcourt@gmail.com.
It is vital that preachers, pastors, church and community members attend this special event.

Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were summoned to a double-wide mobile home at 217 Neil Drive in the Lakeview Mountain Estates area Friday afternoon.
According to County Fire Chief Donny Green no one was at home when the fire was discovered by a neighbor and reported to 911. The listed owner of the home is G.L. Waynick. Marvin Oppenheim is the resident.
The Cookeville Highway, Main Station, and Liberty Stations responded along with the Department’s tanker truck.

“Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire and contain it to the area around the range in the kitchen of the home. However, the entire structure did receive extensive smoke damage along with significant heat damage,” said Chief Green.
“Firefighters removed four cats found inside the home. Three of the four cats were still alive,” he added.
The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department’s detectives are investigating.
DeKalb EMS and DeKalb County Sheriff Department’s deputies were also on the scene and rendered assistance.

The DeKalb County E-911 Center would like to stress to residents the importance of clearly posting 911 addresses at your residence.
“The proper posting of your address ensures a speedy response in the event of emergency,” said Brad Mullinax, Director of the DeKalb County Emergency Communications District.
“There have been countless situations in which responders have been delayed to an emergency response due to inadequate address postings. Our agency strives to deliver the fastest response in all emergencies. Please help us deliver the best service possible by posting your 911 address. We are asking you to follow the DeKalb E-911 guidelines for 911 addressing. If you have any questions, you may contact our office at 615-597-3030,” said Mullinax.
The addressing requirements are as follows:
Address Requirements:
*Every residence and business in DeKalb County shall have a house number and street address assigned to it by the E-911 district. The E-911 District shall maintain a process for new constructions to be assigned an address. The number shall then be posted to meet this criteria.
Section 1 Temporary Posting for Electrical Permits:
*Every person applying for temporary and permanent electrical service of a new residence or business must contact the E-911 office for the issuance of a new address. The new numbers must be posted before an inspection, utility service, or telephone lines are installed. The numbers must be visible from the county road that the new location is addressed off of and must meet the following requirements:
*Numbers must be at least 6 inches in height and must be orange or red in color.
*The numbers do not have to be purchased, they may be painted on at least a 1 foot by 3 foot board. The board may be attached to the temporary electrical service if it visible and within 50 feet of the county road its addressed from.
*If the building is more than 150 feet from the county road and its temporary electrical service is more than 50 feet from the county road, a stake or sign must be posted within 25 feet of the driveway.
Section 2 Permanent Posting of House Number:
All residence and business dwellings must post their assigned house number to meet the following requirements:
*Numbers must be at least 6 inches in height and reflectorized.
*Numbers must be posted on the side of the house facing the county road it is addressed from. Numbers must be legible from the county road and free from obstructions.
*If the house is more than 150 feet from the county road it is addressed from, numbers must be on the mailbox or a stake at the beginning of the driveway. Stakes must be 2-5 feet high, no more than 25 feet from driveway and easily visible from the county road it is addressed from. If posted on mailbox, numbers must be on both sides of it and the mailbox must be within 25 feet of driveway.
*If multiple houses are located on a private drive they must have a stake at the beginning of the drive with all the house numbers posted on it, plus, there must be a stake or house number posted on each house on the private drive.

A missed field goal in the last minute of the game perhaps kept the DeKalb County Tigers from advancing in the Class 3A State Play-offs Friday night in Smithville.
The Tigers lost to the Chattanooga Christian Chargers 23-22. They conclude the season with an overall 7-4 record.
The Tigers scored first with 3:29 left in the opening period on a pass from Quarterback Steven Jennings to Isaiah Jones covering 48 yards for a score. Matthew Poss kicked the extra point and DeKalb County led 7-0.
The Chargers answered on a 13 yard touchdown pass from Quarterback Matthew Mercer to Justin Wheeler. Will Patton booted the extra point and the game was tied at 7-7 with 1:49 left in the first period.
Quarterback Steven Jennings scored on a 6 yard touchdown run with 11:02 left in the second period. Matthew Poss added the extra point and the Tigers regained the lead 14-7.
Will Patton kicked a 27 yard field goal with 10:15 left in the third period and the Chargers trailed 14-10.
Later in the third period on a 4th and 1 play, Will Patton raced 76 yards for a touchdown on a fake punt. The P.A.T. attempt was no good but the Chargers grabbed a 16-14 lead.
The Tigers re-took the lead on a 2 yard touchdown run by A.J. Mooneyham with 7:11 left in the fourth period. DeKalb County also converted a two point conversion and the score was 22-16.
With 5:15 left in the game, Kade Oglesby threw a half back pass to Wheeler for a touchdown. Will Patton converted the extra point and the Chargers led 23-22.
The Tigers had opportunities to win the game on their last drive including a 20 yard field goal attempt by Matthew Poss with 50 seconds left in the game but it sailed wide right and Chattanooga Christian went on to win 23-22.

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce is helping small businesses grow their presence online with a Let’s Put DeKalb County on the Map workshop, which will feature a lesson about Getting Found on Google Search and Maps. The workshop will be hosted on November 20, 2015 at the DeKalb County Complex from 11 am to 5 pm. Google trained staff from the TN Small Business Development Center at Tennessee Tech University will be on-hand from 11 am to 5 pm to assist local business owners with setup. Three presentations at 12 pm, 2 pm, & 4 pm will explain the benefits of registering as well as the process.
Let’s Put DeKalb County on the Map is part of Google’s Get Your Business Online program and aims to bring community members, business owners, and civic leaders together to help small businesses succeed on the web.
“4 out of 5 consumers use search engines to find local information nearby, yet only 37% of businesses have claimed their listing on a search engine,” says Soo Young Kim, Head of Small Business Engagement at Google. “Small businesses are the engine of local economies and when they flourish, their communities do as well.”
Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map is a program designed to empower communities to support their local businesses and encourage them to get on the map. Local businesses keep our communities strong; when we help them succeed on the web, they make our communities even stronger. The Getting Found on Google Search and Maps workshop is a Google presentation hosted by the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Tennessee Tech University.
Please RSVP here: http://gybodc112015.eventbrite.com
Contact for more information: Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, 615-597-4163