A 30 year old woman responsible for the robbery and kidnapping of an elderly man almost a year ago was sentenced for the crimes Friday, October 3 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
Judge Gary McKenzie presided.
Amanda Gail Maxwell Bain pled guilty to robbery and kidnapping and received a four year sentence in each case as a range one offender. The sentences are to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to another TDOC sentence against her. She was given jail credit from November 6, 2013 to October 3, 2014.
According to Smithville Police, the victim was kidnapped at knifepoint on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 in Smithville and then forced to withdraw funds from his bank account at an ATM machine. The man’s abductors later drove him to McMinnville where he made his escape and called police.
The case was investigated by Lieutenant Detective Matt Holmes and Detective Brandon Donnell of the Smithville Police Department.
According to Lieutenant Holmes, Bain telephoned the 81 year old victim, an acquaintance, and asked him to come to her Smithville home to talk with her. The victim, who lived in Warren County, drove to Bain’s home on Fisher Avenue. As he arrived and entered the residence, Bain allegedly attacked the man from behind and forced him at knifepoint (boxcutter) back into his car, a 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix. As the victim sat on the front passenger seat, Bain drove to ATM machines at two local banks where the man was forced to withdraw cash from his account. Bain allegedly got $300 as a result of the crime.
In an attempt to get more money from the victim at another bank ATM, police believe Bain picked up 31 year old Charles Wayne Reagan of Smithville at her home and the two of them drove the elderly man at knifepoint to McMinnville, according to Detective Donnell. But as they got to McMinnville and stopped at a traffic light, the victim bailed out of the car and escaped. Bain, the driver, got out and ran after him but the victim managed to get to a phone and called 911. McMinnville Police were first alerted but they then contacted the Smithville Police Department. Reagan, who was in the back seat of the victim’s car, got into the front seat and drove away. Police believe he abandoned the vehicle somewhere.
Bain and Reagan later made it back to Smithville and stayed the night at a local motel, apparently in an attempt to hide from police. They returned to Bain’s home on Wednesday, November 6 2013 where police found the two and brought them in for questioning.
Bain and Reagan were co-indicted in April, 2014 for aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, and theft over $1,000. Reagan’s case remains pending in court.

A McMinnville woman charged with TennCare fraud was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Friday, October 3.
Judge Gary McKenzie presided.
37 year old Julie D. Wright pled guilty to TennCare fraud and received a one year sentence on probation to run concurrent with her Warren County probation in another case. She must give up her TennCare insurance.
Wright was charged in an indictment in April of 2013 with TennCare fraud in connection with obtaining a controlled substance paid for by TennCare, while planning to sell a portion of the drugs. She was apprehended later after eluding authorities for over a year.
In other court cases Friday, 34 year old Nieka Barrett Patton pled guilty to two counts of simple possession of a schedule IV drug. She received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case suspended to probation. Patton must also pay a drug fine of $2,000. The terms are to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to all current sentences against her.
56 year old Billy Stephen Braswell pled guilty by information to two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run consecutively. He was fined $150. His supervised probation will end after one year if he has no other violations. Braswell was given jail credit of 33 days.
26 year old Bruce Cantrell pled guilty to sale of a schedule III drug and received a two year sentence but he was granted judicial diversion probation. Cantrell was also fined $2,000.
47 year old Alton David Estes pled guilty to theft over $1,000 and got a four year sentence to serve 30% before his release eligibility date. The sentence is to run concurrently with a Coffee County case against him. He was given jail credit from March 5 through October 3, 2014.
29 year old Danny Prater pled guilty to domestic assault and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation to run consecutive to a violation of probation against him.
35 year old Kenny Bly pled guilty by information to sale of a counterfeit substance and received a two year sentence, all suspended to supervised probation. The term is to run consecutive to a six year TDOC sentence against him.
53 year old Tommye Lou Bell pled guilty to sale of a schedule II drug and received a four year sentence all suspended to TDOC probation. She was fined $2,000 and must make restitution of $160 to the sheriff’s department. She must forfeit the pills and money seized by law enforcement.
37 year old Quastaia Braswell pled guilty to initiation of meth and received an eight year sentence on probation upon her completion of a long term treatment program. She was fined $2,000. Braswell was given jail credit of 89 days.
32 year old Elizabeth Chalfant pled guilty to forgery ($1,000-$10,000) and received a two year sentence on supervised probation to run consecutive to a violation of probation against her. She must make restitution of $187 to the victim. Chalfant was given jail credit from June 23 to August 11, 2014.
39 year old Stephen Jason Moore pled guilty to burglary and received a five year sentence to run concurrently with a violation of probation against him in General Sessions Court. He must make restitution of $1,700. Moore was also given jail credit of 53 days.
25 year old Kenneth Roberts, Jr. pled guilty to theft under $500 and theft over $500. He received a sentence of one year in one case and 11 months and 29 days in the other to run concurrently with each other. He must make restitution of $1,776 and he will be on supervised probation.
31 year old Christopher Trent Barnes pled guilty to sale of a schedule II drug and was granted judicial diversion probation for four years. He was fined $2,000.
49 year old Darlene Cantrell pled guilty to attempt to sell a schedule II drug and was granted judicial diversion probation for two years. She was fined $2,000.
38 year old Lynda Neville pled guilty to theft over $1,000 and received a two year TDOC sentence all suspended to probation.
27 year old Philando Fullilove pled guilty to possession of a schedule II drug and received a suspended sentence of 11 months and 29 days to run consecutive to his parole in another case. He was fined $750.
19 year old Lucas Shane Bogle pled guilty to theft over $1,000 and was granted judicial diversion probation for three years. He will be on supervised probation for two years and if all costs are paid and conditions are met he will be eligible for good behavior probation for the last year. He must make restitution of $6,800.
25 year old Karla Montgomery pled guilty to theft under $500 and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to serve 75%. The term is to run concurrently with another sentence she is serving. Montgomery was given jail credit from October 3, 2013 to October 3, 2014.
49 year old Ronda Butler pled guilty to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to serve 48 hours at the Swain Center in Rutherford County, where she will also attend a DUI class. She will then be on probation. Her fine is $365.
39 year old Kevin Bogle pled guilty to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to good behavior probation. Bogle was given credit for time served. He was fined $360.
50 year old Tony J. Corley pled guilty by criminal information to two counts of driving under the influence (3rd offense). The sentences are to run concurrently with each other. He must serve 120 days and he will then be on probation. He was fined $1,100 and he will lose his driver’s license for six years.
33 year old Ronald Collins pled guilty by information to reckless driving and received a six month sentence all suspended to CPS probation. The term is to run concurrent with a Warren County case against him.
30 year old Mindy Magouirk pled guilty to driving on a suspended license. She received a six month suspended sentence and was fined $50. She will be on supervised probation.

How can a child focus on solving a math problem or memorizing a new word when she or he is trying to ignore the persistent pangs of hunger?
Across the country, teachers and school nurses have found that in some instances, Monday morning comes and they are forced to compete against hunger for the attention of their students. More than 18 million children qualify for free or reduced price meals through the National School Lunch Program, the fuel that they need to get them through the week. What happens to these children when they go home over the weekend?
For more than 15 years, the Feeding America BackPack Program has been helping children get the nutritious and easy-to-prepare food they need over the course of the weekend.
The DeKalb County School System’s Backpack program, through Coordinated School Health, began seven years ago as a means of providing essential foods to needy children over the holidays to keep them from going hungry. Since then the program has grown and now needy children get food to take home every week for the weekend when school is out. To keep up with the demand, more support is needed.
Cindy Childers, Assistant with the Coordinated School Health Program is asking for your help. “Each year we try to get it a little bit better and give a little bit more to the kids. We try to meet their needs to the best of our ability. This year we have started off with (number of children to be served) what we normally end our year with. I am a little concerned that our numbers are going to grow so much that we won’t make it past Christmas with the donations we’ve already received. I am asking you to please make a donation of food or money. We try to find things that a kindergarten or pre-school student can open up on their own, where they don’t need a stove or refrigeration, but that they can eat for themselves. All donations will go to the Backpack Program. We go a couple of times a month to SAMS’s and we buy in bulk what we think the children would like and what is healthy for them and gives them protein and vitamins. The hospital has also helped us with some food this year. We have churches and other organizations that have adopted schools so they pick up the food, pack it for us, and deliver it to the schools. Currently we have Whorton Springs Baptist Church, the Smithville First United Methodist Church, and the DeKalb West School BETA Club that are packing for us this year. We’d like to thank them,” said Childers.
Suggested individually packaged foods to donate for the BackPack program include: 100% juice in single serving unbreakable bottles, boxes, or pouches; small boxes or bags of nutritious cereal; nutritious snack/breakfast bars; fruit cups; small boxes of raisins or dried fruit; microwave popcorn; non-perishable single serve microwave kids meals; individually packaged crackers (peanut butter and crackers); Slim Jims, gummy fruit, pudding, instant oatmeal, peanuts, and Ramen noodles.
If you have questions or would like to help call 615-215-2161 or 615- 215-2118.

Members of the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad spent the weekend brushing up on their training in rope rescue techniques.
Mike Crum, Captain of the Metro Nashville Fire Department, conducted an instruction class on Saturday at the local rescue squad building. The group then traveled to a location on Highway 96 in Liberty Sunday to practice the use of ropes in rappelling down a rock bluff .
Joe Johnson, member of the local Rescue Squad, told WJLE Sunday the training is designed to better prepare members of the rescue squad in the event of catastrophic events. “We had a re-certification on rappelling with ropes which are used in going down bluffs or steep places to reach people who are hurt and then carrying them back up. We use (ropes to rappel) in caves and bluffs on the lake,” he said.
“Mike Crum is a Captain and rope instructor for the Metro Fire Department and he donated two days of his time Saturday and Sunday to teach us the proper and safe way to recover anyone who might fall and get hurt. We went through this class once before but we have some new people (members) who hadn’t been through it (class) or hadn’t done the rappelling. For those who didn’t (rappel during the exercise) we had places (assignments) for them at the top of the bluff in making sure the ropes were anchored properly. We got our people (members) familiar with the harness and how to put it on correctly and how to get the patient up safely in a basket. Mike taught us how to do that,” said Johnson.

“The Rescue Squad asked me to come and do a refresher on a class I did about two years ago here. We were just honing their skills and getting them ready for an emergency in which they would need to be using ropes, whether it be a cave, the side of a bluff, or a river bank. It’s just easier for the rescue people if we can use some ropes and pulleys,” said Captain Crum in an interview with WJLE. “You don’t have the tall buildings here like we do in Nashville but the system they (rescue squad members) are learning this weekend will work anywhere. In the rescue world we don’t do a whole lot of rappelling or climbing of rope anymore. What we do now is we lower a rescuer down and haul a rescuer back up. It’s a lot safer and a lot quicker and it can be a lot less time consuming. It’s awful hard to bring a patient back up with you when you are climbing the rope. There is a little bit of classroom work that comes with this. I am not real big on classroom work. I like for people to actually get their hands on the rope and see how the system works. These guys this weekend have been fantastic work with. They are very attentive,” said Captain Crum.

A McMinnville man has been charged in a recent burglary and theft.
43 year old Anthony Lynn Colwell of McMinnville was arrested on Wednesday, October 1 for aggravated burglary and theft of property over $1,000. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on July 8 Colwell allegedly broke into a residence on Man Hill Road and took several pieces of jewelry. Colwell then pawned the items at a DeKalb County jewelry store and a pawn shop in Warren County. His bond is $17,000. The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.
34 year old George William Rogers, II of Aaron Webb Road, Smithville is charged with being a fugitive from justice. His bond is $50,000 and he will be in court October 16. Sheriff Ray said Rogers is wanted in Springfield, Missouri for driving while intoxicated and being a persistent offender. Rogers was arrested on Monday, September 29.
22 year old Nathaniel Dylan Tippens of Redman Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $500. His bond is $5,000. He was arrested on Saturday, October 4. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, September 24 Tippens allegedly stole a 1997 white Ford Aspire from a residence on Redman Road and took it to a local recycling business with the intent to sell the vehicle. The attendant informed Tippens that the business could not purchase the automobile because it was reported stolen. Before leaving, Tippens told the attendant to report that the vehicle had been found. The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.
34 year old Rebecca Jade Andrews of Cookeville Highway, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court October 9. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, October 3 a deputy spotted Andrews who was sitting on the side of the road on Highway 56 north. She had a strong odor of alcohol on her person and her speech was slurred. Andrews was also unsteady on her feet. She was taken into custody for her safety.
36 year old Casey Joseph Jacobs of Old Snow Hill Road, Dowelltown is charged with assault. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, October 5 an altercation took place between Jacobs, an inmate in the jail, and another prisoner which became physical. After an investigation it was determined that Jacobs was the primary aggressor. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance October 16.
29 year old Joshua Lynn McCowan of Adams Street, Smithville is charged with violation of bond conditions. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 9. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, September 29 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Toad Road, Dowelltown where he found McCowan. Due to his having an active bond condition under which he is prohibited from being near a woman at this residence, McCowan was placed under arrest.
29 year old Isidro Gonzalez Ruiz of Murfreesboro is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. He was further issued citations for driving on a revoked license and failure to maintain lane of travel. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court October 16. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, October 3 a deputy spotted a black Mustang driven by Ruiz. The vehicle left its lane of travel into oncoming traffic. The officer stopped the vehicle and spoke with Ruiz. He detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the car. Ruiz’s eyes were glossy and his speech was slurred. Ruiz performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. A computer check revealed that Ruiz’s driver’s license were revoked for a DUI in 2006. He was placed under arrest.

The County Clerk’s Office recently completed an inventory on hundreds of expired plates dating back from 2007.
After notification and approval from the Tennessee Department of Revenue these plates were transported to a vendor to be destroyed.
County Clerk James L. “Jimmy” Poss witnessed the vendor insert the plates into and through a 3,000 pound hydraulic bailer/crusher to be destroyed. The plates were weighed at 524 pounds and a check was provided to the clerk for $168.32. A notarized certificate of destruction was signed by the clerk and vendor.
The certificate along with a complete inventory list was submitted to the Department of Revenue.

It’s chili time and time for you to again support a great cause and decide who makes the best chili in DeKalb County! Come out and cast your vote this Friday, October 10th on the Courthouse Square when Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County hosts its 11th Annual Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale.
Chili will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the north side of the Courthouse on the Smithville Town Square. In case of rain, the Chili Cook-off will be held at the County Complex.
You can purchase your bowl for $5.00, eat all the chili you want, and vote for your favorite chili and the best decorated booth. Handmade pottery bowls will be available for $10.00. Delicious baked goods prepared by members of local churches and the DCHS Tiger Pride Bakery will also be for sale.
“There’s a chill in the air, making it a perfect time for everyone to enjoy the Chili Cook-off,” said Tecia Puckett Pryor, a member of the Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County Development Committee. “We are looking forward to being outside again on the Courthouse lawn and hope everyone will come out to enjoy the fun and fellowship. Just last month, we completed our Fifth Habitat home in DeKalb County and are making plans for our sixth house to be built in 2015,” said Pryor. “The Chili Cook-off is an important fundraiser for Habitat and money raised will be used in our ongoing construction costs. We hope that everyone will come out and support this great cause!”
At press time, the teams competing in the Chili Cook-off are “Superhero Chili” from the DeKalb County Board of Education; “Hot Checks Chili” from DeKalb Community Bank; “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials; “Team MTNG – Cooking with Gas” from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas; “The Bean Counters” from Tom Janney, CPA and Associates; “Just Chilin” from Center Hill Realty; “No Liability Chili” from the DeKalb County Bar Association; and a team from Cumberland Adaptive.
Last year, the “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials won the “Best Chili” award, with The Inn at Evins Mill receiving 2nd place and Middle Tennessee Natural Gas receiving 3rd place. In the decorating contest, “Storybook Chili” from the DeKalb County Board of Education” won first place honors, with the DeKalb County Officials receiving 2nd place and Indian Creek Baptist Church receiving 3rd place. The 2013 event raised approximately $3,500 for Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity builds and renovates houses in partnership with volunteers and families in need, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.
For more information on the Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale, contact Tecia Puckett Pryor at 597-7370. To contact Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, call 215-8181.

During National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM) this October, Dr. Robert R. Atnip of Atnip Chiropractic Clinic and other doctors of chiropractic nationwide will help educate patients about the value of a “conservative care first” approach to health care, which encourages exhausting non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical treatments for pain management and health enhancement before moving on to other options.
Both County Mayor Tim Stribling and Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss signed proclamations Friday in observance of National Chiropractic Health Month. Dr. Atnip and his wife Guylene joined them.
During NCHM in October, Dr. Atnip will share information about the chiropractic profession’s “conservative care first” approach and why it is especially significant to today’s health care consumers. This in turn with help patients have well-informed conversations with their health care providers, empowering them to become their own advocates by insisting on information about conservative treatment options.
Why is “Conservative Care First” more important today than ever in facing our nation’s healthcare challenges?
•Numerous recent studies have clearly shown the dangerous overreliance in the U.S. on prescription painkillers that simply mask pain. This has tremendously increased Americans’ risk for overuse, and abuse, of these drugs if taken for long periods, leading to more than 17,000 related deaths in 2010 (more than heroin and cocaine combined). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls the abuse of prescription pain medications an “epidemic.”
•Recent reports question the overuse–and in some cases effectiveness–of more invasive treatments such as spinal fusion surgery and spinal steroid injections for back pain. It makes sense for patients to exhaust more conservative options before undergoing these costly procedures
•DCs are the highest rated health-care practitioner for low-back pain treatments with their patient-centered, whole person approach that provides greater interaction and listening for appropriate diagnosis and developing more cost-effective treatment planning.
“During National Chiropractic Health Month, we’re reminding patients to ask about conservative treatment options when weighing their health care choices,” said Dr. Atnip. “Chiropractic treatment is a much more safe and cost-effective option for back and neck pain that may reduce the need for unnecessary drugs and surgery.”
For more tips on healthy, pain-free living, visit www.ChiroHealthy.com.
Hosted by ACA, National Chiropractic Health Month is a nationwide observance held each October. The event helps raise public awareness of the benefits of chiropractic care and its natural, whole-person, patient-centered approach to health and wellness.
Dr. Atnip, DC, is a graduate of National University of Health Science in Chicago, Illinois. He has been in private practice at Atnip Chiropractic Clinic in Smithville for more than 40 years. For more information about how Dr. Atnip can help you achieve better overall health and wellness, please call 615-597-5375 or visit at 205 South 4th Street.

A special education school bus was involved in an accident Thursday afternoon on the Walkers Creek Road.
The bus driver, Dwight Knowles of Smithville was not injured. Neither were the two students and an educational assistant who were also on board.
Knowles, who was driving east, came upon a sharp curve on the narrow road when he met a westbound Ford Focus, driven by Susan Coats of Alexandria. Although the two vehicles never made contact, the bus went off the right side of the road and came to a stop with its left wheels off the ground. Coats was not injured.
Those on board the bus exited through the rear emergency door. Another bus driver in the area who had just completed his route was notified to come pick up the students and take them home.
The accident was investigated by Sergeant Eric McCormick of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby said although the bus was towed to the bus garage, it is driveable and he doesn’t believe it is badly damaged. The bus will remain off the road pending a state inspection next week. Willoughby said the school system has another special education bus it can use to replace this one in the meantime

DeKalb County Retired Teachers Association was honored with a special luncheon provided by DeKalb Community Hospital recently. The theme of the luncheon celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Month for October by providing pink tote bags and pink nail polish for those present. The group pledged to spread the word about the importance of mammograms and early detection to at least five of their friends and family. The guest speaker was Mila Vazquez-Director of Physical Therapy for DeKalb Community and Stones River Hospitals. Vazquez spoke on the importance of balance, steps that can be taken to reduce the chance of falls, including how to improve your overall health. The afternoon ended with red velvet cupcakes and coffee.
“We were so honored to host the retired teachers luncheon this past week,” said Shan Burklow- Marketing Director for DeKalb Community and Stones River Hospital, “What a wonderful group of people that do so much good on a daily basis for our county. It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.”
Those present took the “Pinky Swear Dare” sponsored by the hospital’s social media campaign supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month, or PINKtober, as the hospital calls it. The ‘Pinky Swear Dare’ asks the public to pledge and spread the word about breast cancer prevention during the month of October to five people. Upon taking the pledge, participants paint their pinky nails pink to share the message that ‘mammograms and early detection saves lives’. Any age can participate in the dare. If someone rejects the dare, they are asked to donate five dollars to the breast cancer charity of their choice.
“It is our hope that this important message will spread across Tennessee and the nation,” said Sue Conley-CEO of DeKalb Community and Stones River Hospitals, “Breast Cancer is such an ugly disease and early detection is key. It is empowering when we come together, unified, in the fight against cancer. Hundreds have already taken the challenge online, but we don’t plan to stop there. Tell your friends, your neighbors and your family about the importance of regular mammograms after the age of forty. It is a simple, yet powerful, message.”
For more information on the ‘Pinky Swear Dare’ for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, join the DeKalb Community Hospital facebook page.
Pictured: The Retired Teachers of DeKalb County show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by taking the “Pinky Swear Dare”. The dare challenges participants to tell five friends and family the importance of mammograms and early detection after the age of 40. The group received pink nail polish to paint their pinkies pink during the month of October in support of the event.
Pictured: The ‘Pinky Swear Dare’ campaign that is aggressively growing across hundreds of facebook pages.
Pictured: Kim Frazier shows off her new manicure featuring ‘Pink Pinkies’ after taking the ‘Pinky Swear Dare’.