Members of DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC Communications) have elected a new member to the Board of Directors.
Jean Chumbley Ferrell defeated Incumbent Greg Rogers from the Woodbury Exchange in the director election. The results of the voting were announced Saturday during the annual membership meeting held at the fairgrounds in Alexandria.
Two other incumbent members up for re-election, Charles Dwight Vinson of the Milton Exchange and Terry McPeak of the Norene Exchange ran unopposed.
Ferrell, who qualified to run by petition, received a total of 456 votes to 256 for Rogers.
Vinson had 421 complimentary votes and McPeak garnered 391 votes.
Here’s how the votes break down for each candidate at the four early voting locations and on election day:
WOODBURY EXCHANGE:
Jean Chumbley Ferrell: Alexandria-61, Gordonsville-27, Smithville- 143, Woodbury- 96, Paper Ballots- 2, and Election Day at Alexandria-127 for a total of 456 votes
Greg Rogers: Alexandria- 9, Gordonsville- 20, Smithville -13, Woodbury- 137, Paper Ballots-10, and Election Day at Alexandria- 67 for a total of 256 votes
MILTON EXCHANGE:
Charles Dwight Vinson: Alexandria-46, Gordonsville-28, Smithville-68, Woodbury-147, Paper Ballots-7, and Election Day at Alexandria-125 for a total of 421
NORENE EXCHANGE:
Terry McPeak: Alexandria-44, Gordonsville-28, Smithville-62, Woodbury-123, Paper Ballots- 6, and Election Day at Alexandria-128 for a total of 391.
All three directors elected will serve for three years.
The DTC Communications Board of Directors, in addition to McPeak, Vinson, and Ferrell are Ronnie Garrison of Smithville, Randy Campbell of Liberty, Bennie Curtis of Alexandria, , Jimmy Oakley of Temperance Hall, Roy Nelson Pugh of Auburntown, David Parker of Woodland, and James Dillard, Jr. of Gordonsville.

Rhonda Merriman, who has been a volunteer assistant Girls Soccer Coach at DCHS for several years, will now be paid a stipend for her services.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby asked the school board Thursday night for a vote to reflect in the minutes that Merriman is to receive a stipend but that she continue to be classified as a volunteer assistant coach.

Merriman receives an hourly wage as a support staff employee at DCHS.
To ensure that Merriman would not be due overtime for her assistant coaching duties, Willoughby consulted with an official of the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. Willoughby said his concern was based on an issue that arose several years ago when the county was forced to pay more money to certain employees who had accumulated a significant amount of overtime.
“After our last board meeting, I contacted the federal wage and hour labor office. About ten years ago there was a lot of overtime that was paid in DeKalb County and it really got sticky at that time so that’s what we were checking out. Ms. Rhonda Merriman has been doing this job as a volunteer assistant soccer coach for a long time. She does an excellent job and is an excellent employee. She is a super person. But according to Nathaniel Powell with the federal wage and hour labor office (who researched the issue), we need to specify in our board minutes that the money that she receives (from coaching) would be a stipend and her title would need to be (in the minutes) a volunteer assistant coach. We are not to ask her to do anything concerning the outside activities during the forty hours that she works,” he said.
According to Willoughby, the overtime concern was the only reason for the delay in naming Merriman as a paid assistant. “There was nothing against trying to keep Ms. Rhonda Merriman from doing this. It’s just that financially I did not want to get the county in a bind. There’s no telling how many hours the coach actually puts in and we could have had to pay her or anybody else overtime approximately $18 per hour but I think the problem has been worked out if we can have a motion to classify the money that she receives as a stipend and her title as a volunteer assistant coach,” said Willoughby
The board unanimously voted to follow Director Willoughby’s recommendation.
Last month, Brooke Roller, a member of the DCHS girls soccer team addressed the Board of Education asking that Merriman be kept as a paid assistant. Roller delivered a brief prepared statement in support of Merriman.
The school budget includes funding for additional coaching supplements including two DCHS assistant soccer coaches (one for the girls team and one for the boys team) totaling $5,570.

The Smithville Police Department has been awarded a ballistic vest for K9 “Leo” thanks to a non profit organization, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
A total of $16,595.00 has been donated to the charity from the “K9 Kota Campaign” to provide vests for seventeen K9s in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, New Jersey, California and Indiana.
The “K9 Kota Campaign” held an online event selling over 1,350 tee shirts for the cause.
K9 Kota is a law enforcement dog with the Winchester Police Department in Virginia that sustained a work related injury on January 3, 2014. The dog fell through an attic floor onto a hardwood floor while detaining a suspect. Although the injury was severe to his right front leg, Kota climbed back up the flight of stairs to continue the fight. After months of surgery and physical therapy his return to police work is still unknown.
Locally, K9 Officer James Cornelius and K9 Leo of the Smithville Police Department have been working together for over three years. Officer Cornelius has been in law enforcement for four years. K9 Leo is a five year old Dutch Shepherd that has been working for four years. K9 Leo had one handler prior to Officer Cornelius. K9 Leo and Officer Cornelius were paired in March of 2011 and completed 120 hours of initial training with Dean Hunter of Canine Command. They continue to attend monthly maintenance training with Hunter and recertify yearly with the USPCA.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, Massachusetts whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. Each vest costs $950.00 and has a 5 year warranty. The nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially life saving body armor for their four legged K9 Officers. Through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 930 law enforcement dogs in 39 states with protective vests since 2009 at a cost of $880,000.
The organization orders the U.S. made vests exclusively from distributor Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, Massachusetts, who also does the custom embroidery on the body armor. Vests are manufactured by Armor Express in Central Lake, Michigan.
New K9 graduates as well as K9’s with expired vests are eligible to participate. The program is open to law enforcement dogs who are US employed, certified and at least 19 months of age.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. was named as a charity partner in March of 2014 in a nation wide Groupon Campaign which raised over $335,000 in 19 days. The non profit will be providing over 350 law enforcement dogs nationwide with the protective body armor in memory of K9 Rocco of the Pittsburgh Police Department who sacrificed his life in the line of duty in January of 2014. All vests will be embroidered with the sentiment, “In Memory of K9 Rocco, Pittsburgh Police Department”.
For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Tax deductible donations are accepted via mail to: Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718 or via the website: www.vik9s.org.

Fifth district member W.J. (Dub) Evins, III is the new Chairman of the Board of Education.
Evins was named by his fellow board members to serve as chairman during Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting.
Sixth district member Doug Stephens was elected Vice-Chairman and Seventh District member Shaun Tubbs was named Assistant Secretary.
The board re-organizes each September electing officers to serve for the year.
Thursday’s night’s meeting was the first for the board since last month’s election of the new members.
The board consists of Danny Parkerson from the First District, Jerry Wayne Johnson from the Second District, Jim Beshearse from the Third District, Billy Miller from the Fourth District, W.J. (Dub) Evins, III from the Fifth District, Doug Stephens from the Sixth District, and Shaun Tubbs from the Seventh District.
(TOP PHOTO: Shaun Tubbs, W.J. (Dub) Evins, III, and Doug Stephens)
(BOTTOM PHOTO): Jerry Wayne Johnson, Danny Parkerson, Billy Miller, W.J. (Dub) Evins, III, Shaun Tubbs, Doug Stephens, and Jim Beshearse

The DeKalb County School System will not be outsourcing its school custodial work to the GCA Services Group
During Thursday night’s regular monthly school board meeting, Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins, III brought up the subject saying he wanted to “get a conclusion drawn on our custodial services so our custodians will know whether we’re going forward with this or not. Is this an issue we’re eliminating so our custodians can know that their jobs are secure and everything is back to normal”?
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby said he no longer intends to pursue an agreement with GCA. ” I’ve had a couple of people ask me about that. A couple of board members. I have no intention of bringing it back up unless there is a board member that asks me to. That’s dead in the water. If a board member asks me to check into it again I will. If not I won’t,” he said.
GCA officials had sought to contract with the school system to provide custodial services for $400,000 for the first year with annual renewal options for at least up to four additional years, a move intended to save the district money. All current custodial staff working for the school system, recommended by the principals would have been hired by GCA. All chemicals, equipment, and consumables would also have been provided by GCA for maintaining the buildings year round. But the proposal became controversial as questions arose about GCA’s hiring practices and whether the school system would actually save money over time.

The DeKalb County Board of Education is being asked to ensure that each school has its own nurse by adding a new position.
Dee Anna Reynolds, Coordinated School Health Coordinator, addressed the Board with this concern Thursday night during the regular monthly meeting.
The school system currently employs four school nurses, Chandra Adcock, Kim Turner, Christie Driver, and Joanie Williams. All are registered nurses. Each school has its own nurse except for the DeKalb Middle School and DeKalb County High School which have to share a nurse. Director Mark Willoughby said the state provides funding for one school nurse per three thousand students. Any other nurses must be funded locally.
Because of the growing student population and children with chronic conditions including diabetes, Reynolds said another nurse is needed. “County wide our nurses had 20,181 clinic visits for 2013-14. In August we had almost 2,000,” said Reynolds.
Due to the demand, Reynolds said her assistant, Cindy Childers, an LPN has been lending a hand but she can’t take on the responsibility full time because of her duties with the Coordinated School Health Program. “Covering the Middle School/ High School is almost impossible from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. so Cindy has been leaving every day to go over for a couple of hours to cover the Middle School/ High School and some days she stays longer because there are other situations to deal with. Cindy is part time so she can’t do that every day. On days when she does not do that, the nurse at Smithville Elementary School goes over there. So we’re leaving Smithville Elementary School open and even for a few hours that worries us a little bit because we have students diagnosed with seizure disorders which require the emergency medication Diastat if a seizure occurs at school and only a nurse can administer Diastat,” said Reynolds.

School Nurse Chandra Adcock also stressed the need for another nurse. “As a parent, taxpayer, and employee I’m concerned that we as a county only choose to provide partial nursing services to an entire population of children. We have multiple students in our schools every day with chronic health conditions. Just to name a few, we have people with asthma, diabetes, seizure disorders, cardiac disease, life threatening allergies, blood disorders, cystic fibrosis, and many more. On a daily basis that one nurse is assigned to care for students in two of the largest schools in the county serving approximately 1,400 students,” she said.
Meanwhile three parents, Darlene Evans, Ashley Bryant, and Glenda Davis, who all have children with diabetes also addressed the board asking them to find the funds to hire another school nurse to help meet the medical needs of their children and others in the school system.
The school budget does not provide funding for a new school nurse position. A budget amendment, authorized by the county commission, would be required to pay for one this year.
Board Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins, III called for a workshop on Monday, September 22 at 6:00 p.m. at the Board of Education building to address the matter. “Asking for a budget amendment, probably isn’t going to happen and if it does it’s probably going to take a while. My main object right now is to see if we can come up with a plan to start making sure these issues are addressed. This (workshop) will give us some time between now and the next board meeting to come up a plan,” he said.
Evins has asked Reynolds and nurses to meet with the board at this workshop to provide input.
In the meantime, Director Willoughby said he will assign a substitute nurse to meet the needs. ” I think it’s extremely serious. Unless you (school board) tell me different, I’m going to start putting a sub nurse in there every day until we can get somebody we can classify as full time. We have more of a need this year than what we have had in the past,” he said.
Reynolds said there are six nurses available as substitutes including four registered nurses and two licensed practical nurses.

Two locals in healthcare received a nomination for the prestigious National Capella Star Award. Renee Walker of DeKalb Community Hospital and Toni Henderson of Stones River Hospital were recently nominated amongst their colleagues as showing ‘an exemplary work ethic and commitment above and beyond for patient care.’ The Star Award is a national honor bestowed by Capella Healthcare.
Walker, an employee of the DeKalb Community Hospital Laboratory Department, is known by her co-workers and patients as a friendly face that always goes the extra mile.
“I have known and worked with Renee for two years and have always found her dependable, efficient, and unfailingly loyal. In fact, I have never worked with a person who gives as much attention to detail as she does,” said Laboratory Director Kevin Adcock, “In addition, her willingness to take on difficult projects and see them to successful completion has repeatedly impressed me. Renee is not only my Chief Tech but a friend and supporter. She’s a wife to husband, Jason, and a mother to two beautiful girls – Morgan and Meagan. Renee presents herself in a way that shows you what a good person she is. She demonstrates her values in the way she acts every day.”
Tonisa (Toni) Henderson is an LPN at Stones River Hospital and is known by her patients as more than just a smiling face.
“Toni has worked as an LPN at Stones River Hospital since 2009 and works primarily on the medical surgical floor,” said Sue Conley – CEO of Stones River and DeKalb Community Hospitals, “She is the ideal definition of a great nurse. She is very deserving of this nomination. We are proud of both of these good-hearted individuals and are grateful to have them at our fine hospitals.”
Both nominees will be featured in the national edition of Capella Connections magazine newsletter distributed to healthcare organizations nationwide.
Pictured: Renee Walker, Lab Tech at DeKalb Community Hospital and Tonisa (Toni) Henderson were nominated for the prestigious Capella Star Award recently. Both will be featured in the nationally published Capella Connections magazine newsletter distributed to healthcare organizations nationwide.

Two locals in healthcare received a nomination for the prestigious National Capella Star Award. Renee Walker of DeKalb Community Hospital and Toni Henderson of Stones River Hospital were recently nominated amongst their colleagues as showing ‘an exemplary work ethic and commitment above and beyond for patient care.’ The Star Award is a national honor bestowed by Capella Healthcare.
Walker, an employee of the DeKalb Community Hospital Laboratory Department, is known by her co-workers and patients as a friendly face that always goes the extra mile.
“I have known and worked with Renee for two years and have always found her dependable, efficient, and unfailingly loyal. In fact, I have never worked with a person who gives as much attention to detail as she does,” said Laboratory Director Kevin Adcock, “In addition, her willingness to take on difficult projects and see them to successful completion has repeatedly impressed me. Renee is not only my Chief Tech but a friend and supporter. She’s a wife to husband, Jason, and a mother to two beautiful girls – Morgan and Meagan. Renee presents herself in a way that shows you what a good person she is. She demonstrates her values in the way she acts every day.”
Tonisa (Toni) Henderson is an LPN at Stones River Hospital and is known by her patients as more than just a smiling face.
“Toni has worked as an LPN at Stones River Hospital since 2009 and works primarily on the medical surgical floor,” said Sue Conley – CEO of Stones River and DeKalb Community Hospitals, “She is the ideal definition of a great nurse. She is very deserving of this nomination. We are proud of both of these good-hearted individuals and are grateful to have them at our fine hospitals.”
Both nominees will be featured in the national edition of Capella Connections magazine newsletter distributed to healthcare organizations nationwide.
Pictured: Renee Walker, Lab Tech at DeKalb Community Hospital and Tonisa (Toni) Henderson were nominated for the prestigious Capella Star Award recently. Both will be featured in the nationally published Capella Connections magazine newsletter distributed to healthcare organizations nationwide.

A Smithville woman has been charged with stealing more than $20,000 worth of jewelry.
29 year old Sara Nicole South of Foster Road, Smithville will be in court on Thursday, September 11 on a charge of theft over $10,000. Her bond is $20,000.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Monday, August 8 South allegedly took several pieces of jewelry from a home on Sparta Highway. The jewelry was valued at $24,125. She allegedly admitted to taking a watch and a ring from the residence. Several other pieces of jewelry were recovered from the apartment where South was staying. That jewelry was identified by the victim as being some of the missing items.
34 year old Abadih Ruiz-Lopez of Bell Street, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving on a revoked or suspended license. He was further issued citations for improper display of plates, no insurance, and failure to maintain lane of travel. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court September 11. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, September 3 a deputy spotted a white car leaving its lane of travel. After stopping the vehicle, the officer spoke with the driver, Lopez. A computer check revealed his license were revoked for failure to report an accident. He had received a citation for a first offense of driving on a revoked license on December 12, 2013.
32 year old Joshua Kevin Vickers of Woodbury Highway, Liberty and 32 year old Candice Brook Vickers of Givens Hollow Road, Liberty were arrested on Thursday, September 4. He is charged with failure to appear, a Circuit Court violation of probation, and criminal impersonation. She is charged with a child support violation and criminal impersonation. His bond totals $7,500 on the failure to appear and criminal impersonation charges and will be in court on September 11. He is being held without bond for the violation of probation and will make a court appearance on that offense on September 15. Her bond totals $3,900 and she will be in court on September 11. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, September 4 a deputy went to her residence on Givens Hollow Road to serve arrest warrants on Joshua Kevin Vickers. He (Vickers) told the officer that his name was Christopher Eric Vickers. He also gave the deputy a false birth date and social security number. Candice Vickers, who was going to be served with an attachment, also gave the officer a false name and birth date, stating that she was Jamie Nichols. They were later positively identified and arrested.
33 year old Chad Dwayne Cantrell of Old Bildad Road is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court September 11. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, September 4 a deputy responded to a domestic dispute at a residence on Old Bildad Road where Cantrell allegedly assaulted the victim by shoving and pinning her down on the bed. Due to the altercation, the victim had bruising to both arms. After a further investigation, it was determined that Cantrell was the primary aggressor and he was taken into custody.
22 year old Clay Andrew Bain of Lakeview Drive, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on September 11. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, September 5 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Lakeview Drive to speak with a man who reported that he was behind his son’s house when his nephew, Bain came out yelling that he (uncle) was on his land. The victim advised Bain that he was not on his land. Bain allegedly hit the victim in the face busting the inside of his lip. He then knocked the victim down into a fence, causing a cut on his left arm and a cut and knot on his forehead.
60 year old Anthony Curtis Johnson of Sparta is charged with criminal simulation and theft under $500. His bond is $6,500 and he will be in court September 11. He was arrested on Tuesday, September 2. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, August 1 Curtis committed the offense of criminal simulation by passing a fake check in the amount of $393.79 at a convenience market on Highway 56 south.
31 year old Johnny Lynn Devault of Talpha Drive Dowelltown is cited for driving on a revoked license. He will be in court October 9. Sheriff Ray said on Thursday, September 4 a sheriff’s department detective saw Devault driving a motor vehicle. The officer had prior knowledge that Devault’s driver’s license had been revoked for failure to pay child support. A computer check confirmed it.
40 year old Jeffery Lynn Sanders of Lincoln Street, Smithville is cited for possession of drug paraphernalia. He will be in court October 9. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, September 4 Sanders was a passenger of a vehicle that was stopped by a sheriff’s department detective. While the officer was conducting a search of his person, Sanders pulled from his pocket two hypodermic needles and three cut straws.
27 year old Frankie James Warrick of Vaughn Lane, Smithville is cited for driving on a suspended license and violation of the light law. He will be in court on October 15. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, September 5 a deputy saw a vehicle on Highway 70 with a head light out. He conducted a traffic stop and found the driver to be Warrick. A computer check revealed his license to be suspended for failure to satisfy a citation.
33 year old Cynthia Denise Walls of Cookeville Highway, Smithville is cited for driving on a suspended license, traffic control device, and violation of the financial responsibility law. She will be in court October 8. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, September 6 Walls was stopped by an officer for running a red light. Walls could only produce an identification. A computer check revealed that her license were suspended. She further could not provide proof of financial responsibility (insurance).

A Rutherford County man who allegedly phoned in verbal threats to staff at DeKalb Community Hospital last month has been charged with making false reports.
46 year old Keith Nations is under a $50,000 bond and is currently undergoing an evaluation.
According to Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger, Nations phoned the hospital several times on Saturday, August 30, making verbal threats. At one point, Nations said he would come to the hospital and blow it up. Chief Caplinger said police were notified and the hospital was placed on lock down during the investigation. Police discovered that Nations was responsible and that he used his cell phone to make the calls. Rutherford County authorities were contacted and they located and arrested Nations.
Chief Caplinger said its unknown why Nations phoned in threats at the hospital here since he is unknown to the staff and they have no record of him.
Meanwhile, Smithville Police, acting on an anonymous tip, found several potted marijuana plants in a wooded area near the Smithville Housing Projects last Wednesday, September 3. The marijuana was confiscated. No arrests have been made.
37 year old Wesley Chandler is charged with driving under the influence and cited for violation of the implied consent law. His bond is $4,000. Chief Caplinger said that on Thursday, September 4 police responded to Mapco Express to investigate a wreck. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the victim who said Chandler had backed into his vehicle. Chandler got out of his automobile and was found to be unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred and he had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. He kept trying to fall asleep while standing. Chandler performed poorly on field sobriety tasks but he refused to submit to a blood test.
24 year old Brittany Lee is charged with theft over $500 and theft over $1,000. Her bond is $7,500 and she will be in court on September 11. According to Chief Caplinger a member of Lee’s family reported that some jewelry went missing from her residence on West Broad Street. During the investigation, police learned that Lee had taken the jewelry and sold some of it to a business in town. The rest of the jewelry was found hidden at Lee’s grandparents home where she had been living. Total value of the stolen jewelry was $1,695.
35 year old Jason Jones is charged with theft over $1,000. His bond is $6,000 and he will be in court October 2. Chief Caplinger said that Jones allegedly took a Gibson electric guitar from his father’s home on Holmes Creek Road and pawned it at a McMinnville Pawn Shop. The value of the guitar is $1,500.
49 year old Wendy Goodman is charged with disorderly conduct. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court September 11. According to Chief Caplinger, an officer was called to Restview Avenue on Saturday, August 30 where Goodman had come out of her residence and began yelling profanity at another person who was sitting on the sidewalk across the street. As Goodman aggressively advanced toward that person, she was placed under arrest.
67 year old Virginia Ervin is charged with disorderly conduct. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court September 11. Chief Caplinger said that on Friday, August 29 police received complaints about a woman on Restview Avenue who was coming out of her home and yelling at neighbors, making threats. Police had been there only minutes earlier on a similar complaint and warned the woman (Ervin) at that time not to be causing a disturbance. After police were called back a second time, Ervin was placed under arrest.
20 year old Alex Murphy is charged with domestic assault and violation of his bond conditions. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court September 25. Chief Caplinger said that on Thursday, August 28 police responded to a residence on Foster Road in reference to a possible domestic assault. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Murphy who said he and a woman had been arguing. Murphy said he grabbed the woman to keep her from leaving. The victim said as she attempted to leave, Murphy grabbed her arm and slammed her left hand into the door leaving her hand swollen and red. She also had marks on her right arm. Murphy was determined to have been the primary aggressor and he was arrested.
23 year old Eden Petriz is charged with driving under the influence and resisting arrest. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court September 11. Chief Caplinger said that on Monday, August 25 police were dispatched to the corner of Juniper Lane and Bell Street to investigate an accident. Upon arrival, the officer saw a man stumbling in the middle of the street. The man, Petriz told police that he had been driving a vehicle (involved in the accident). He had a strong odor of alcohol on him and he was very uncooperative. Sobriety tasks could not be administered. As Petriz was being placed under arrest, he began fighting with the officer and a deputy who were trying to put him in the patrol car. He was taken into custody and charged.
23 year old Daniel Trey Hamilton is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $6,000 and he will be in court September 11. Chief Caplinger said that on Sunday, August 24 police were called to a residence on Hayes Street in reference to a possible domestic assault. Upon arrival, the officer heard yelling and crying from persons inside the house. He opened the door and found a woman lying on a couch with a baby in her arms. Hamilton was standing over her with a clinched fist. The officer was told by the victim that Hamilton showed up at this residence and told her to leave. Hamilton was placed under arrest. He has been arrested several times before for domestic assault of the same woman.
42 year old Tonya Silcox is charged with driving under the influence and cited for possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court September 11. According to Chief Caplinger, police were dispatched to McDonald’s Restaurant on Wednesday, August 27 to investigate a wreck. Upon arrival, the officer was told by a deputy that he saw Silcox’s automobile hit another vehicle in the drive through and then pull out onto the highway in front of traffic, almost causing another accident. Silcox was pulled over and she was asked to step out of her vehicle. Silcox performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and was very unsteady on her feet. During a search incident to arrest, police found a diabetic testing kit containing several syringes and crushed straws. The syringes contained a yellow residue consistent with drug use. One straw was found in her purse. Silcox was placed under arrest.
42 year old Marina Cornet is charged with disorderly conduct. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court September 11. According to Chief Caplinger, police responded Saturday, August 23 to a residence on Miller Road in reference to a woman with a knife. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the parties who said an argument began between Cornet and another person over a beer. Cornet’s daughter, who was present, warned the other person that Cornet had a knife. Cornet allegedly began making threats and gave the impression that she had a knife. Cornet continued yelling and acting disorderly with the officer present. Due to her level of intoxication and disruptive behavior, Cornet was placed under arrest.
Wallace Rackley is charged with evading arrest, tampering with evidence, and aggravated assault. He is further cited for simple possession of schedule II and IV drugs (diazapem and oxycodone) His bond is $28,500 and he will be in court on September 11. Chief Caplinger said that on Tuesday, August 19 police were called to a residence on Braswell Lane in reference to a 911 hangup call. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Rackley who was found covered in blood. Rackley said he did not call 911 but another person (victim) at the residence told the officer that he needed help. The man’s face was very bloody and swollen. The man (victim) said he was beaten with a steel pipe but he would not reveal who had assaulted him. DeKalb EMS arrived and transported the man to the emergency room of the hospital. He was later transported to a Nashville hospital for further treatment. Police learned that Rackley had committed the assault on the victim. The next day, Wednesday, August 20 police observed Rackley in the yard at his home on North Congress Boulevard. Having prior knowledge of warrants against Rackley for offenses in DeKalb and Putnam Counties, the officer pulled into Rackley’s driveway. When the officer got out of his patrol car and ordered Rackley to put up his hands, Rackley took off running toward the back of his residence and into the woods. He was apprehended and handcuffed. During a search, the contents of Rackley’s pockets were placed on the trunk of the patrol car including some pills. As police were emptying his pockets, Rackley learned over the patrol car and ate some of the pills.
53 year old Larry Lattimore is charged with assault. Chief Caplinger said that on Thursday, August 14 police were called to a residence on Jackson Street in reference to a fight. Upon arrival the officer spoke with several persons who reported that Lattimore had been in the area and that he began yelling at the victim and then attacked him causing bruises to his neck. Lattimore left the scene before police arrived but he was arrested later.
36 year old Jason Cripps is cited for simple possession of schedule II and IV drugs (Opana, Dilaudid, and Xanax). He will be in court September 11.
Chief Caplinger said that on Sunday, August 17 police were investigating an accident at DeKalb Auto Wash when they received information that someone involved in the accident (Cripps) had hidden something in the rocks near the dumpster. Upon a search, police found a vial containing the pills. When confronted, Cripps allegedly admitted that the pills belonged to him.
19 year old Bradley Mullican is cited for unlawful consumption of alcohol. Chief Caplinger said that on Monday, August 11 police responded to a residence on Hayes Street to a call of an unresponsive person. The man (Mullican) had been found lying outside on the sidewalk. Upon arrival the officer found that Mullican had been taken inside the residence and was on the couch. Mullican’s speech was slurred and he appeared to be very lethargic. Mullican told the officer he had consumed a lot of moonshine.