Two days after a fatal stabbing there, members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were summoned to 3870 Cookeville Highway, where a Chevy Tahoe caught fire and burned Saturday morning.
Central dispatch received the fire call at 8:59 a.m.
The Tahoe reportedly belongs to 42 year old Anthony (Tony) Crews, the man charged with second degree murder in the stabbing of his girlfriend, 28 year old Ashley Bain.
Upon arrival, county firefighters found the Tahoe ablaze. It was setting in the driveway near the home, parked beside a Mazda Millenia, which reportedly belonged to Bain.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze but the Tahoe was destroyed. Heat from the fire also caused some damage to the driver’s side of the Millenia.
Members of the Main Station, Short Mountain Highway, and Cookeville Highway Stations responded. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department was also on the scene. The cause of the fire is undetermined.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Patrick Ray told WJLE Saturday that Crews remains incarcerated. He has not yet posted bond since his arrest on Thursday night. Crews is under a $250,000 bond and has been moved to another facility outside DeKalb County.
Firefighters also responded to a fire at a residence on Winter Drive at 3:05 a.m. Saturday morning.
County Fire Chief Donny Green told WJLE that the home belongs to Tommy and Maria Clayborn but that Michael and Tosha Whitson are renting it and living there.
According to Chief Green, the blaze started in the kitchen as a grease fire from the stove. The Whitson’s called 911 and firefighters were dispatched.
Although the fire was brought under control, it caused some damage to the kitchen and a portion of the living home. Smoke spread to other parts of the residence. No one was injured.
Members of the Main Station, Cookeville Highway, and Liberty Stations responded along with DeKalb EMS and Sheriff’s Department.
The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department was called to a chimney fire at a residence on Juniper Lane Thursday afternoon. Firefighters put out the blaze and kept it from spreading to the rest of the house. Although there was some smoke in the home, no one was injured. Because of concerns with the home’s electrical wiring, the family was temporarily relocated.
According to a Red Cross spokesperson, two families were living in the residence, including ten people, five of whom are children. The local chapter of the American Red Cross assisted the families. Jeania Poss and Steve Repasy were the case workers.
Meanwhile, a Red Cross Recruitment Meeting will be held Monday, February 9 at 3:00 p.m. Anyone wanting to be a Red Cross Volunteer is asked to attend the meeting which will be held in the Smithville Red Cross Office, located at the County Complex. For more information, contact Jeania Poss.

The DCHS Lady Tigers will face Upperman in the District 8 AA Basketball Tournament at Cookeville High School on Thursday night, February 12 at 8:30 p.m. The winner will take on either Central Magnet or Macon County on Saturday. Upperman is a two seed in the tournament while the Lady Tigers are a seven seed.
Meanwhile, the DCHS Tigers will meet Macon County on Friday, February 13 at 6:00 p.m. in the District Tournament. The winner will face either Livingston Academy or Central Magnet on Saturday. Macon County is a three seed in the tournament and the Tigers are a six seed.
WJLE plans LIVE coverage of all games involving DCHS teams.
The Thursday night, February 12 tournament schedule is as follows:
(1) Livingston Academy vs (8) York Institute (Girls) at 5:30 p.m.
(2) Livingston Academy vs (7) Central Magnet (Boys) at 7:00 p.m.
(2) Upperman vs (7) DeKalb County (Girls) at 8:30 p.m.
Friday night, February 13:
(3) Central Magnet vs (6) Macon County (Girls) at 4:30 p.m.
(3) Macon County vs (6) DeKalb County (Boys) at 6:00 p.m.
(4) Smith County vs (5) Cannon County (Girls) at 7:30 p.m.
(4) Upperman vs (5) Smith County (Boys) at 9:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, DeKalb County’s Justin Bone was named to the All-District Second Team while Isaac Beck received Honorable Mention. For the girls, Maggie Knowles was selected to the All -District Freshman Team. Knowles and Ashli Chew made the All-District third team. Loren Cripps earned Honorable Mention.
Josh Ruehlen of Cannon County and Colton Blevins of York Institute have been named Co-Most Valuable Players of District 8AA while Callie Hackett of Smith County is this year’s District MVP for girls.
The All-District Team selections were announced Friday.
Meanwhile, Dana McWilliams of Upperman and Leslie Riddle of Livingston Academy have been selected as Co-District Coaches of the Year for girls while Matt Rigsby of Cannon County is the boys District Coach of the Year.
Seth Carlisle of Macon County and Akira Levy of Upperman are the District’s Freshmen of the Year and the District Defensive Players of the Year are Colton Blevins of York Institute and Callie Hackett of Smith County. The District’s Most Improved Players are Austin McWilliams and Abby Greenwood both of Upperman.
Members of the All-District First Team for boys are as follows: Wade Eldridge and Zac Craig both of Livingston Academy, Jacob Nave of Cannon County, Ben Guffey of Upperman, and Evan Perrigo of Macon County.
All-District Second Team: Cameron Huff of Smith County, Justin Bone of DeKalb County, Austin McWilliams of Upperman, and Michael Ashburn and Seth Carlisle both of Macon County.
All-District Third Team: Garrett McReynolds of Cannon County, Hunter Shrum of Upperman, Kaleb Qualls and Xander Miller both of Livingston Academy and Seth Hackett of Smith County.
Honorable Mention: Marshall McReynolds, Austin Martin, A.J. Daniel of Cannon County, Patrick Blair of Central Magnet, Isaac Beck of DeKalb County, Loren Crowder of Livingston Academy, Trace McPherson of Macon County, Shermar King of Smith County, Austin Shrum of Upperman, and Pacey Pyle and Jordan Wright both of York Institute.
Freshman Team: Shermar King, Jaylon Shepperson, and Bryant Goolsby all of Smith County, Carter Hayes of Livingston Academy, and Nick Hamlett of Central Magnet.
All-Defensive Team: Wade Eldridge and Loren Crowder both of Livingston Academy, Marshall McReynolds and Austin Martin both of Cannon County, and Evan Perrigo of Macon County.
Members of the All-District First Team for girls are as follows: Claudia Smith and Ola Obi both of Central Magnet, Akria Levy and Gracie Maynord both of Upperman, and Kailey Winningham of Livingston Academy.
All-District Second Team: Kellie Davis of Cannon County, Tatum Dillon and Jameson Dailey both of Livingston Academy, Briley Driver of Macon County, and Abby Greenwood of Upperman.
All-District Third Team: Keelie Lamb of Livingston Academy, Erin McReynolds of Cannon County, Maggie Knowles and Ashli Chew both of DeKalb County and Bri Melton of Smith County.
Honorable Mention: Kristen Hale and Kendra Maynard both of Cannon County, Paige Clark, Leah Anderson, and Lyndsey Belton all of Macon County, Sophie Fielder of Central Magnet, Loren Cripps of DeKalb County, Allison West of Smith County, Taylor Crouch of York Institute, and Sarah Eldridge of Upperman.
Freshman Team: Maggie Knowles of DeKalb County, Emily Sewell of York Institute, Kyndall Bullington of Macon County, Maleah Scott of Cannon County, and Riley Hurst of Upperman.
All-Defensive Team: Abby Greenwood of Upperman, Sophie Fielder of Central Magnet, Erin McReynolds of Cannon County, Alexis Savage of Livingston Academy, and Lyndsey Belton of Macon County.

Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County recently held its annual meeting. In addition to a regular agenda which included the highlights of 2014, outgoing President Larry Green presided over the election of the officers and board of directors for 2015.
Those elected as officers for the upcoming year include: Chad Driver, President; Evan Reid, Vice-President; Michael Barry, Secretary; and Larry Steffee, Treasurer. They will be joined on the board of directors by Marie Blair, John Carpenter, Brandon Cox, Glenda Davis, Jim Eddings, Rhonda Harpole, Gayla Hendrix, Gary Johnson, Mary Nell Summers, Becky Thompson, and Cindy Webb.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, Christian housing ministry which builds and repairs houses all over the world using volunteer labor and donations. Partner families purchase these houses through no-profit mortgage loans or innovative financing methods. Habitat has constructed five homes in DeKalb County and is currently raising funds for its next project. If you would like to assist with fundraising efforts or donations, please contact a board member.

A 28 year old woman was found stabbed to death in her home on Cookeville Highway Thursday afternoon and her boyfriend has been charged with killing her.
42 year old Anthony (Tony) Tyrone Crews was taken into custody Thursday night and charged with second degree murder in the death of Ashley Bain. He remains in the DeKalb County Jail under a $250,000 bond. He will be in General Sessions Court February 12.
Sheriff Patrick Ray told WJLE Thursday night that Bain’s body was found lying on the floor of a bedroom at the home she and Crews shared at 3870 Cookeville Highway north of Smithville. She had been stabbed numerous times about the upper body. It’s not known exactly how long Bain had been dead by the time authorities were notified but Sheriff Ray said she had been seen alive earlier in the day on Thursday. A knife, believed to have been the murder weapon, was found in the home.
According to Sheriff Ray, Crews called 911 at 2:33 p.m. to report that he had discovered Bain’s body when he entered the residence. Sheriff Ray and members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were alerted and quickly arrived on the scene. The TBI and District Attorney General’s Office also joined the investigation. Sheriff Ray said authorities determined that Crews had committed the crime and made up the story about finding the body. Although officials believe they know the motive for the stabbing, Sheriff Ray said they are not releasing it at this time.
The warrant against Crews alleges that “on February 5th, 2015, at 3870 Cookeville Highway, Anthony Tyrone Crews did intentionally and knowingly kill Ashley Bain by stabbing her numerous times about the upper body”.
Bain’s body has been sent to Nashville for an autopsy.

Six basketball legends at DeKalb County High School were honored Thursday night between games as the Tigers and Lady Tigers hosted Cannon County.
Former Lady Tigers (Tigerette) Betty Carol Fite, Mary Ann Puckett, and Cynthia Woodward were recognized along with former Tigers Danny Foutch, Kevin James, and longtime Coach Harold Luna.
Each honoree stepped to center court during the introductions and stood beside current Tiger and Lady Tiger players who held banners bearing the names and jersey numbers of these former basketball stars as public address announcer Chris Vance cited their high school career accomplishments. Coach Luna’s banner bears his overall 516-179 win loss record. Each standout was greeted by enthusiastic applause from a gym filled with basketball fans. But the greatest fan reception was for Coach Luna. Touched by the rousing applause and standing ovation, the long time coach became emotional during the tribute to his long and successful career.
The following is a brief narrative of each honoree’s achievements at DCHS
Coach Harold Luna: Coached both boys and girls from 1964-69 and then he coached the boys program only through 1984. His total record was 516-179
Danny Foutch: (1974-78)
Foutch was All-District and All-Conference for three years, and as a senior in 1978, he was first team All-State, midstate Most Valuable Player, and led the state in scoring with a 31.4 points per game average, with a season high of 50 points. After high school, he went on to play four years at Belmont in Nashville.
Kevin James: (1976-80)
After averaging 23 points per game as a Junior and 20 points per game as a senior, Kevin James received many honors before his graduation in 1980. He was All-Conference, All-District, and All-Region as a Junior, and as a senior, he was a second team All-State selection and was first team Class AA All-Midstate. After high school, he continued his basketball career at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville.
Betty Carol Fite: (1961-1965)
During her illustrious career at DCHS she averaged 40.65 points per game and scored 3,481 career points as a high school player. She set a school record for 67 points in one game and held another record for most points in one quarter at 29. One season she scored 72 points more than the combined total of the Tigerette opponents. She made the All-Midstate Teams two years and was named Most Valuable Player in the mid-state as a senior in 1965. She also set two free throw records in the Tennessee State Playoffs.
Mary Ann Puckett: (1989-93)
She won the team’s MVP Award for three years in a row from her sophomore to senior years. Puckett rewrote the DCHS record book for five on five style girls basketball with 2,375 career points and 1,408 rebounds. Also named Best Defensive Player and Best Athlete, Puckett’s senior season statistics included 696 points (24 points per game), 393 rebounds (13.6 rebounds per game), 155 blocked shots and 77 steals. Puckett went to Duke University on a basketball scholarship and played for one season before transferring to Belmont University where she continued her basketball career which was cut short due to a medical condition.
Cynthia Woodward (2006-10)
During her high school basketball career, Woodward scored over 1100 points. Cynthia was named to the All District team in 2010; led her Lady Tigers to the program’s first post season win in 17 seasons, and her team advanced to the regional semi-finals in Cynthia’s senior season. After graduation, she began her collegiate basketball career at Freed Hardeman where during her senior season at one point she led the nation in 3-point percentage and helped guide Freed to an NAIA National Championship game.

The Aldermen Monday night approved the list of officers and members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department for 2015.
Officers for the year are unchanged with Charles Parker to continue serving as Chief. Hoyte Hale is Deputy Chief, Jeff Wright is Captain, and Danny Poss, John Poss, and Donnie Cantrell are each Lieutenants.
Other members of the department are firefighters: William Brown, Wallace Caldwell, Gary Johnson, James R. Hunt, Stephanie Wright, Glen Lattimore, Cory Killian, Kevin Adcock, Patrick Edge, Becky Atnip, Bradley Johnson, C.J. Tramel, Photographer Greg Bess, Rookies Tyler Ludwig, Cody Fults, and Dalton Roberts, and Auxiliary Shawn Jacobs.
Chief Parker informed the Mayor and Aldermen that the process for selecting officers is being changed within the department from popular vote to being based on credentials and performance. “It will be based on years of service, amount of training, and other minimum requirements. We also evaluate on their attendance and performance,” said Chief Parker.