The Miss Middle Tennessee Pageants were held this past Saturday, September 27th at the DeKalb Community Complex. The pageant was a fundraiser for the Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital and the Bill Wilkerson Hearing Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The event raising over $2000 that will be given back to help children with special needs.
Local winners were:
Young Miss (ages 9-12):
Queen Madison Rae Rackley – (Daughter of Gordon & Jessica Rackley)
1st Runner Up & Prettiest Eyes, Hair, Smile, Most Photogenic & People’s Choice-Alexis Grace Atnip (daughter of Veronica Atnip)
Junior Miss (13-15):
Queen & Prettiest Smile – Morgan Faith Green (Daughter of John & Suzanne Harrison)
1st Runner Up & Most Photogenic-Brooklynn Storm Estes (Daughter of Chris & Shana Bogle and Jessica & Nathan Ball)
*Other participant: Abigail Hope Taylor (Daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor)
Miss (16-18):
Queen & Most Photogenic – Shauna Faith Taylor (Daughter of Ken & Cindy Taylor)

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

Due to his having accepted a new job with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation which does not allow him to hold public office, Fourth District member Billy Miller has announced his resignation from the Board of Education, effective September 30.
It’ll be up to the county commission to name his successor, who will serve as an appointee until the next regular election in August, 2016 to fill the unexpired term which ends in August 2018.
Miller, a long time agent with the TBI, had just completed his first four year term on the school board. He was re-elected to a second term in August.
“Please accept this as notice of my resignation as DeKalb County 4th District School Board Member. My last day of serving on the board will be September 30, 2014,” wrote Miller in a letter to School Board Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins, III.
“I have accepted a position with my job in a division which does not allow personnel to hold public office. Although I had hoped that my position as school board member would be grandfathered in, I discovered after the fact that such was not the case. It is with great regret that I tender this resignation.”
“I am honored to have served on our county school board for the past four years. I have always tried to make my decisions based upon what I felt was in the best interest of our children. I feel gratified that we have accomplished so much in the last four years, but realize there is still much to do. It is our responsibility to provide the best education possible for our county’s children. After all, today’s children will someday run the world. We need to make sure they have the tools to run it well,” Miller wrote.
According to the County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS), the county legislative body (county commission) may make an appointment when there is a vacancy in an elected county office.
“The person elected (appointed) by the county legislative body serves in the office for the remainder of the term or until a successor is elected, depending upon when the vacancy occurred. When filling a vacancy in a county office, a notice must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least seven days prior to the meeting in which the office will be filled. This notice must notify the public of the vacancy and specify the office to be filled at the meeting. Before the county legislative body votes or considers any motion or resolution regarding the office to be filled, the chair shall allow voters of the county an opportunity to submit names to the county legislative body for consideration. The names may be submitted in writing to the chair prior to the meeting or submitted in person at the meeting. In order for a name to be considered, a member of the county legislative body must subsequently nominate the person. Members of the county legislative body may also nominate a candidate or candidates to fill the office or vacancy without the name being submitted by a voter. Nominations do not require a second. If the person nominated is not present at the meeting, the person making the nomination shall submit a signed statement from the nominee that the nominee is willing to serve in the office if appointed.”
“After nominations cease, the county legislative body may discuss the nominations and may, at the discretion of the chair, interview nominees or allow nominees the opportunity to address the county legislative body. Upon motion passed by the majority of the members, the vote to make the appointment may be postponed to a subsequent meeting, provided that adequate public notice of the meeting is given.”

The DeKalb County School system is partnering with the local health department to offer flu vaccines to students this month, starting Wednesday October 1.
” With the partnership through the local health department, we will be offering flu immunizations for all schools,” said Dee Anna Reynolds, Coordinated School Health Coordinator. “Those dates are October 1 for Smithville Elementary; October 8 for DeKalb Middle School and DCHS; October 9 for Northside Elementary School; and October 16 we’ll be doing those at DeKalb West School. Parents we’re asking that you keep your eyes open for those flu immunization forms that are coming home with your children and get those back to school as soon as possible,” she said.
“We’re also going to be starting a flu clinic for our faculty, and staff. We have a partnership with Rite Aid to do all faculty and staff flu immunizations and that will be on Wednesday, October 1,” added Reynolds.

The DeKalb County High School FCCLA chapter held it’s first ever 5K this past weekend at Green Brook Park. Taking part in this event were the DCHS running club, DMS running club, and outside runners in the county. Each runner was provided with a t-shirt, water stations, and fruits.
Overall Winners: 1st place – Rolando Navarro, 2nd place – Jordan Wilkins, 3rd place – Mya Ruch
Awards were presented in the following categories:
Fun Run Females: Jill Nabors, 1st place
Fun Run Males: Carl Parris, 1st place
5K (-12): Females: Mya Ruch
5K (-12): Males: Jake Ramsey, 1st place
Connor Adcock, 2nd place
Blaine Sexton, 3rd place
5K (13-19) Females: Crystal Vickers, 1st place
5K (13-19) Males: Jordan Wilkins, 1st place
Nathan Nabors, 2nd place
Jalene Dilligord, 3rd place
5K (20-29) Females: Vickey Vickers, 1st place
5K (30-39) Males: Rolando Navarro, 1st place
5K (30-39) Females: Kristen Vanvrankin, 1st place
5K (40-49) Males: Scott Nabors, 1st place
5K (40-49) Females: Melissa Ruch, 1st place

A well known Liberty man was arrested Saturday after being accused of pointing a gun at another motorist (family member) while chasing after him in his vehicle at high speeds on Highway 56 South.
74 year old Frank Donald Thomas of Nashville Highway, Liberty is charged with reckless endangerment and aggravated assault. His bond is $50,000 and he will be in court October 9. He was charged by a sheriff’s department detective.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Saturday, September 27 central dispatch received a call that Thomas, driving a red Chevy Avalanche on Highway 56 south, was chasing after a man in a red Dodge pickup truck at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. During the chase, Thomas allegedly pointed a small silver gun out of the window, causing the victim to fear for his life.
A deputy spotted Thomas behind the victim’s truck. Another witness said he was run off the road by the red Dodge being chased by the red Avalanche.
Thomas later told officers that the reason he was following the man was because of something he had done in the past. Thomas said he wanted to get his hands on him. Thomas was placed under arrest and a silver revolver, containing three live rounds and three spent rounds, was found in his vehicle.
Thomas is a former county commissioner and member of the county beer board.
In other cases, 36 year old Tara Jane Summers of West Broad Street, Smithville is charged with reckless endangerment. Her bond is $100,000 and she will be in court October 2. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, September 17 Summers pulled up in her vehicle in front of the sheriff’s department. She signaled for one of the detectives to come to her automobile. The detective responded and saw two small children in the back floorboard of Summers’ vehicle. He also noticed that Summers held a 12 gauge shotgun in her lap. Summers told the detective that her parents had been murdered and that there were people chasing her, trying to kill her. When Summers was asked to hand over the shotgun, she refused and started pointing it out the window toward passing vehicles. The detective had to take the weapon by force. The gun was found to be loaded with three live rounds. Summers was placed under arrest.
28 year old Jennifer Nicole Miller of McMinnville Highway, Smithville is cited for simple possession of a schedule IV drug (xanax). Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, September 23 a deputy stopped a white van on the Sparta Highway for a traffic violation. After receiving consent to search, the officer found in Miller’s purse, nine and a half pills believed to be xanax. The pills were inside an Aleve bottle. Miller allegedly admitted that the pills belonged to her but that she had no prescription for them.
37 year old Franklin Ray Rigsby of McMinnville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. He was further issued citations for driving on a revoked license and driving on roadways laned for traffic. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court October 16. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, September 25 while patrolling on Highway 70 a deputy observed a red Nissan crossing the center line of the road, failing to maintain its lane of travel. The officer conducted a traffic stop and found that the driver, Rigsby had a strong odor of alcohol on his person and his eyes were glossy. Rigsby submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. A computer check revealed that Rigsby’s license were revoked for a previous offense of driving under the influence. He was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
37 year old James Allen Hesson of Toad Road, Dowelltown is charged with public intoxication. He was further issued a citation for simple possession of a schedule II drug (meth). His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court October 9. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, September 25 a deputy was dispatched to a trailer park residence on Toad Road where a man (Hesson) was reported to be banging on his neighbor’s door and setting a fire outside the home. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Hesson, who was unsteady on his feet and had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. When the officer asked what he was doing, Hesson replied that he was burning junk to clean up the trailer park. The neighbors said Hesson had actually been taking things off their porch and burning them without their permission. During Hesson’s arrest for public intoxication, a small container was found on his person which held two small bags of methamphetamine.
25 year old John David Hankins of McMinnville is charged with driving under the influence. He was also issued citations for a violation of the open container law, expired tags, driving an unregistered vehicle, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 9. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, September 26 a deputy pulled over a 1999 Honda Civic for expired tags. Hankins was the driver. A computer check revealed that the vehicle was unregistered. Hankins had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. Hankins told the officer that he had been drinking earlier that evening. Hankins performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and he submitted to a blood test. During his arrest for DUI, Hankins was found in possession of a pipe used for smoking marijuana. He also had an open bottle of rum in his vehicle.
19 year old Brittany Nichol Bogle of Coconut Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court October 9. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, September 27 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Coconut Ridge Road on a domestic complaint. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Bogle and her brother who had been in an altercation. According to Bogle, she and her brother began arguing over his friends. She claims her brother got in her face twice and she hit him in the face. Her brother told the officer that both had been in each other’s faces but that she started swinging, hitting him and causing a cut to his mouth. She was placed under arrest.
28 year old Matthew Calhoun Carpenter of Cherry Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and possession of a handgun while under the influence. He was also cited for failure to change the address on his driver’s license, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to maintain his lane of travel. Carpenter’s bond is $4,000 and he will be in court October 9. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, September 27 a deputy observed a white truck leave its lane of travel. After stopping the vehicle, the officer spoke with the driver, Carpenter. He had a strong odor of alcohol on his person and his speech was slurred. Carpenter admitted to having been drinking and he was unsteady on his feet. Carpenter performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and he submitted to a blood test. During an inventory of Carpenter’s single cab truck, the deputy found in the passenger floorboard a green case containing a 357 magnum handgun, loaded with seven bullets. He also found a pipe containing residue believed to be marijuana. Carpenter was placed under arrest.
32 year old Brent Lawrence Averill of Ike Adcock Road, Smithville is charged with driving on a revoked license. He was also issued a citation for violation of the financial responsibility law because he could not produce proof of insurance. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court October 15. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, September 28 Averill was driving a 1999 black Mustang on Antioch Road when he crashed the car into a ditch about twenty yards east of Greenhill Road causing extensive damage to the front end. His license were found to be revoked.
23 year old Daniel Trey Hamilton of South Mountain Street, Smithville is charged with assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will make a court appearance on October 9. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, September 28 Hamilton, who is a prisoner at the jail, covered the surveillance cameras in the cell. Two correctional officers went to the cell and asked him to come out. He refused. The officers entered the cell and began to escort him out. Hamilton became aggressive and assaulted one of the correctional officers by head butting him in the eye.

The Class of 1964 will commemorate the proud distinction of being the first graduating class of the current DeKalb County High School, with a day of celebration on October 4, 2014. The festivities will include a tour of the high school; a “meet and greet” at the home of Don and Rita Cripps (Don was the president of the senior class); and dinner, entertainment, memorials, etc. at the First Methodist Church Christian Fellowship Center.
This (1963-64) was the year of Consolidation and Integration –
On September 2, 1963, the schools at Liberty and Smithville were consolidated into a new DeKalb County High School. This began the first year of consolidation as well as the first year of integration.
In 1964, the new school was an example of modern design and conveniences, including air conditioning, television, modern laboratory facilities for science and language, new home economics equipment, an additional workshop, individual lockers, and an intercommunication system, which provided music before school and in the cafeteria and provided more effective communication throughout the building.
School History –
Smithville –
In 1923, a new high school was built in Smithville. It was originally named Pure Fountain High School, but within a few years, it was renamed DeKalb County High School; however, it was usually called Smithville High School. The building had ten classrooms and an auditorium that seated six hundred. It accommodated eight elementary grades as well as all high school classes. The high school faculty consisted of only three teachers and only fifty students, with a graduating class of two pupils. The building had two things rarely found in a school during that time period, indoor plumbing and an indoor gymnasium. Until that time, the boys played basketball outdoors. With the construction of the new gymnasium, girls were allowed to play basketball for the first time. In 1926, football was introduced in Smithville, as an interscholastic sport. In addition to the limited athletic program, there were other activities, consisting of plays and dramatic presentations, music recitals, field days, a junior-senior reception, picnics, and literary societies, which promoted school spirit and enthusiasm among the students.
The number of pupils continued to grow and in 1939, a new elementary school was built. Further growth in the student body occurred in 1948, when the first public school buses went into operations. In the same year, a new gymnasium seating two thousand people was constructed. In 1956 the boys’ basketball team went to the state tournament. Then in 1959 both the boys’ and girls’ teams went to the state tournament, with the girls achieving the runners-up position.
The school had grown to include sixteen teachers and approximately 420 students by the time the building burned on January 7, 1962.
Makeshift classrooms were used for high school classes until the new school opened in the fall of 1963.
Liberty –
When the old wooden school burned in Liberty in 1917, a new school was built the following year. Constructed of solid stone, the two-story building contained four large classrooms downstairs, with two smaller rooms and a three hundred-seat auditorium upstairs. Also the upstairs was used as a meeting place for the Masonic Lodge. With only approximately twenty high school pupils, this building served as both elementary and high school and was adequate for both at the time. The first graduating class in 1920 consisted of two pupils. The school had only one high school teacher. In 1918, boys’ basketball was played on an outdoor court. A few years later a girls’ basketball team was formed and also played outdoors. Around 1934, a gymnasium was constructed on the Liberty campus. Basketball was the main form of athletics, but literary societies were organized in the 1920’s, to provide other types of activities. By 1939, the number of pupils had grown to a level that required a new school to be built for the elementary grades. The campus was expanded further in 1958, when a new gymnasium was constructed with a seating capacity of approximately eight hundred.
In 1962, the last year a high school was operated at Liberty, there were eight teachers and approximately 150 students in the high school.

A mother has been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor for allegedly giving marijuana to her fifteen year old daughter.
32 year old Stephanie Fagan is under a $1,500 bond and she will be in court on October 2. Chief Randy Caplinger said that on Tuesday, September 16 the grandmother came to the police department to report that the mother, Fagan had been giving marijuana to her child.
44 year old Robert Roy Atnip, Jr. is charged with burglary and theft of property over $1,000. His bond is $12,500. Chief Caplinger said that on Saturday, September 6, Atnip allegedly broke into an outbuilding at the Smithville Golf Course and took several grass trimmers and hedge trimmers, valued at $1,500.
54 year old William L. Frazier of Liberty is charged with indecent exposure. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on October 2. Chief Caplinger said that on Tuesday, September 16 Frazier allegedly exposed himself to a seventeen year old girl in the parking lot of Walmart.
53 year old David Linnear is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court October 2. Chief Caplinger said that on Friday, September 5 police spotted a vehicle run a red light and almost cause an accident at the intersection of Highway 56 & 70. The officer pulled over the automobile and detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the car. Linnear, the driver, submitted to and performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He was placed under arrest.
64 year old Harold Blackwell is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on October 2. Chief Caplinger said that on Saturday, September 6 Blackwell ran a red light forcing other vehicles to stop. An officer initiated a traffic stop and noticed a very strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. Blackwell, the driver, had slurred speech and he seemed to be confused by the officer’s presence. Blackwell submitted to and performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He refused to submit to a blood test. He was placed under arrest.
28 year old Justin Lohorn is charged with public intoxication and has been issued two citations for simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana). He is under a $1,500 bond on the public intoxication charge and will be in court October 2. He will make a court appearance on the marijuana citations October 14. Chief Caplinger said that on Sunday, September 7 police received a complaint of an intoxicated person in the Driver Street area. Upon arrival the officer saw Lohorn walking in the center of Odom street. He was asked to step over to the patrol car. Lohorn was unsteady on his feet and he had slurred speech. As he approached, Lohorn tossed a small bag containing a green leafy substance under the front of the patrol car. The bag was recovered and found to contain marijuana. The officer also found on Lohorn an unlabeled pill bottle containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.
29 year old Sara South is cited for criminal trespass. Chief Caplinger said police were dispatched to a residence on Foster Road in reference to a trespasser. The caller reported that South was at the residence and had been warned to stay away.
59 year old Kenneth Johnson is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500. Chief Caplinger said that on Wednesday, September 10 police were dispatched to the area of Highland Avenue due to a possible drunk driver. An officer arrived and found Johnson behind the wheel of a parked vehicle. Keys were in the ignition. He was asked to step out of the vehicle. His speech was slurred and he performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. The officer found a half filled bottle of liquor on the front seat of the automobile. Johnson was placed under arrest.
39 year old Robert Bumbalough is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and possession of a handgun while under the influence. His bond is $4,500 and he will be in court October 9. Chief Caplinger said that on Sunday, September 14 police spotted a vehicle speeding on West Broad Street. The officer initiated a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Bumbalough who had a strong odor of alcohol on him. He was asked to step out of the vehicle. Bumbalough was unsteady on his feet and he performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. During his arrest for DUI, the officer found in Bumbalough’s car a 45 caliber handgun.
27 year old Josh Batey is charged public intoxication and he was issued citations for theft of property under $500 and possession of schedule III & IV drugs. He will be in court October 2. Chief Caplinger said police were called to the thrift store at Broad Street and Mountain Street in response to a possible intoxicated person. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Batey who was unsteady on his feet and had slurred speech. Batey had in his possession a schedule III and IV drug hidden in his pants and he was found to have stolen a pair of boots from the business. Batey was placed under arrest.
23 year old Daniel Trey Hamilton is cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and he will be in court on October 16. Chief Caplinger said that on Friday, September 19 police were called to a halfway house on South Mountain Street in reference to a man who had drug paraphernalia on him. The officer arrived and confronted Hamilton who admitted that he had hypodermic needles.
31 year old Sheena George is charged with driving under the influence and is under a $1,500 bond. She will be in court October 16. Chief Caplinger said that on Saturday, September 20 police spotted a speeding vehicle on North Congress Boulevard which was swerving in and out of its lane of traffic. The officer initiated a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, George who had a strong odor of alcohol on her person. She submitted to and performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. George was placed under arrest.
Johnny Reed is charged with driving under the influence. He is under a $1,500 bond and he will be in court on October 9. According to Chief Caplinger, police came upon a two vehicle accident on Saturday, September 20 at a traffic light on West Broad Street. Reed was the driver in one of the vehicles, a black Chevrolet pickup truck. Reed had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. His speech was slurred and he performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to a blood test.

Students at DeKalb West celebrated their first amendment right to freedom of religion at Wednesday’s annual “See You at the Pole” event.
Students who voluntarily wanted to attend stood around the new front of the school as the DWS Junior Beta Club officers lead the brief ceremony.
Addison Oakley was the announcer/emcee, Justin Reynolds delivered the Pledge of Allegiance, Ashley Reynolds lead in prayer, Phillip Coats read the First Amendment, and Callie Mulloy read the scriptures. Music teacher Emily Phillips sang the national anthem and SRO Lewis Carrick delivered the devotion and closing prayer.
See You at the Pole is held on the 4th Wednesday of September each year at schools across the nation.

A DeKalb County man has been indicted by the Wilson County Grand Jury in the death of his father, whose remains were found in his burned down home at Statesville in August.
38 year old Alan Mooney Jr. is charged with first degree murder, aggravated arson, two counts of arson and abuse of a corpse. Mooney, who is being held without bond on the charges, was arraigned Friday in Wilson County Criminal Court. He entered a not-guilty plea.
Mooney, who had a residence on the Old Snow Hill Road in DeKalb County at the time of his arrest, is accused of murdering his father, Alan Mooney, Sr. by setting fire to his home on Armstrong Road in the Statesville Community on August 29.
The fire destroyed the home and two outbuildings. Mooney Sr.’s remains weren’t officially identified until days after the fire because of the extent the body was burned.
Mooney Jr. was brought to Wilson County for his arraignment from the Rutherford County Jail, where he was being held on separate charges related to the police pursuit during the early morning hours of Aug. 30, shortly after he was identified as a person of interest in the fire.
Mooney Jr.’s vehicle was slowed with spike strips and crashed at a Murfreesboro intersection. No serious injuries were reported.
In Rutherford County, Mooney Jr. faces charges of evading arrest, resisting arrest and aggravated assault. His bond on those charges is $90,000.
Mooney is being represented by the District Public Defender’s office in Wilson County.
His next court date in Wilson County is scheduled for November 20.