A surprise award ceremony was held for a local hometown hero Saturday night during his 40 year high school reunion at the First United Methodist Church Christian Fellowship Center in Smithville.
Sergeant Major Eddie N. Evans, US Marine Corps, whose military career spanned 30 years from 1974 to 2004, was formally recognized for receiving the Bronze Star Medal in 2004. Evans’ fellow 1973 DCHS Classmates and teachers attending the reunion rose to their feet as Captain Nathaniel McClung, US Marine Corps, made the presentation.
“We have an American Hero here in our midst,” said Captain McClung in an interview with WJLE. “This is a certificate for the Bronze Star Medal that was previously received by Sergeant Major Evans at the end of his service in 2004. We wanted to bring this certificate to this 40 year class reunion and honor him in front of his hometown,” said Captain McClung.
Sergeant Major Evans said this recognition was quite a surprise. ” I came here to attend my 40 year reunion and I wasn’t expecting this since I received it (Bronze Star Medal and citation) in the mail when I retired. It was a good honor and a surprise in what they did in recognizing this. I have not seen most of these people (classmates) in 40 years,” said Sergeant Major Evans in an interview with WJLE.

Having his mother, siblings, and other family members attend the ceremony made the evening even more special for Sergeant Major Evans. “I was surprised for them being here but it was good to see everybody because I don’t get a chance to come up here and see my family that often. I live in Rockwood, Tennessee,” he said.
In making the presentation, Captain McClung read from the following certificate: “The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Bronze Star Medal to Sergeant Major Eddie N. Evans, United States Marine Corps for service set forth in the following: For heroic achievement in connection with operations against the enemy as Regimental Sergeant Major, Regimental Combat Team-2, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, while assigned to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, from January 6 to June 24, 2003.”
“During movement, to secure two vital bridge heads in An-Nasiriyah, Iraq Sergeant Major Evans, along with security vehicles and the Regimental Commander, moved up to 1st Battalion’s 2nd Marine Regiment area of operations to check on their progress in securing the southern Euphrates River Bridge and northern Saddam Canal Bridge.”
“During this movement, the Regimental Commander came under direct fire from Iraqi positions from the west of the railroad bridge south of An-Nasiriyah that included small arms fire and rocket propelled grenade fire. Sergeant Major Evans, without regard for his personal safety, directed the movement of the security element and the Regimental Commander’s vehicle to a more secure position. His quick and selfless actions ensured the safety of the Regimental Tactical Command Post and ensured the Regiment’s ability to continue to fight, resulting in the Regimental Combat Team’s completion of their first objective. He significantly contributed vast experience and expertise gained from previous combat operations.”
“By his zealous initiative, courageous actions and exceptional dedication to duty, Sergeant Major Evans reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United State Naval Service.”
“The combat distinguishing device is authorized. For the President, James T. Conway, Lieutenant General, US Marine Corps, Commanding General, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.”

One man has been arrested in an undercover drug investigation by the Smithville Police Department.
47 year old Anthony Bullard is charged with two counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (dilaudid). His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court on June 20
Chief Randy Caplinger told WJLE Friday that detectives of the Smithville Police Department conducted undercover drug buys on November 14th and 15th in the parking lots of two local businesses using a confidential source. In both cases, Bullard allegedly sold two small round yellow pills believed to be dilaudid to the confidential source. The undercover buys were videotaped and audio recorded.
Meanwhile, 21 year old Kristen N. Waggoner is charged with five counts of forgery. More charges may also be pending against her.
Chief Caplinger said Waggoner allegedly stole several checks in May belonging to a former roommate and passed them at local businesses totaling more than $2,000.
Waggoner is under a $25,000 bond.
In other cases, 27 year old Joshua Bain is cited for simple possession. Chief Caplinger said Bain was stopped by police on Saturday, May 25 for an equipment violation on his vehicle. After being questioned, Bain gave the officer consent to search the vehicle and found were two grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in the glove box compartment.
41 year old Patsy Estes is charged with public intoxication and simple possession of a schedule III controlled substance (Suboxone). She is under a $5,000 bond and will be in court on June 13. Chief Caplinger said that on Saturday, May 25, police were called to a local business where a woman, Estes was alleged to have been harassing customers. The officer spoke to the store manager who pointed out Estes as the person responsible. According to the officer, Estes was hostile and confrontational. She had slurred speech and was unsteady on her feet. For her safety and that of the public, Estes was arrested. While walking into the police department, a plastic bag fell out of her pants, containing two plastic strips believed to be suboxone
35 year old Christopher Douglas Griffith is cited for theft. He will be in court on July 25. Chief Caplinger said that on Friday, May 24 Griffith was allegedly caught shoplifting from Walmart. When confronted, Griffith allegedly admitted to taking a pair of Wrangler blue jeans and a pack of three Hanes tee shirts.
39 year old Jared Lee Hendrixson is cited for shoplifting. He will be in court on June 13. Chief Caplinger said that on Thursday, May 23 an officer was called to check out a shoplifting incident at Walmart. The officer spoke with the manager and an employee. Hendrixson was confronted about some missing items and he allegedly admitted to taking them, valued at almost $300.
18 year old Kellyie Wilkey is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court on June 13.
Chief Caplinger said that on Saturday, June 1 Wilkey allegedly assaulted a family member at a residence on Earl Avenue by hitting her in the head with her hand.

Could your county property taxes be going up?
Members of the county budget committee are working hard to avoid that but they may have their work cut out for them.
During Thursday night’s meeting, the budget committee, while not taking a vote, looked at cutting over $300,000 from the proposed county general fund budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year. But even with those cuts, the proposed budget still shows a deficit of more than $700,000. To make that up, the county would need an additional seventeen cents on the property tax rate, according to the county’s financial advisor Steve Bates.
A major new spending program affecting next year’s budget is the federally mandated Affordable Health Care Act in which the county and school system must offer health insurance coverage to every full time employee. County Mayor Mike Foster said the cost to the general fund to meet this mandate could run from $360,000 to more than $400,000.
Foster said it’s too early to say if any tax increase will be needed. He said more cuts may yet be made in the proposed budget for the general fund.
One place the budget committee is looking to possibly cut back on is the proposal for four additional School Resource Officers. To fund all four, the county would need to come up with $236,969.
A majority of the budget committee members, Wayne Cantrell, Jerry Scott, and Larry Summers suggested cutting that back to two new SRO officers, which would slice the cost in half to $118,485.
Committee members Jack Barton and Marshall Ferrell preferred leaving four new SRO officers in the proposed budget.
“If the right thing happened, I would like to see four (SRO Officers) total, ” said Summers.
“I think you could split one (SRO Officer) between Northside and Smithville Elementary School,” said Cantrell.
Foster and members of the budget committee stressed that things remain “fluid” when it comes to the proposed budget and nothing has yet been finalized.
The board of education is expected to have a workshop and a special meeting Monday night to revise their proposed budget. The county commission’s budget committee will meet again next Wednesday night to review all budgets.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has announced road projects this summer which may affect traffic.
TDOT plans to resurface State Route 56 from the bridge over Pine Creek to south of U.S. 70.
Lane shifts will be altered throughout the project to allow shoulder work to be performed. Weather permitting; the contractor could have temporary lane closures. In the event of a temporary lane closure, the contractor will use flaggers to maneuver motorists through the project .Estimated project completion date is July 2013.
TDOT also plans to install a flashing beacon on U.S. 70 at the intersection of State Route 83 near Kilgore’s Restaurant.
The contractor may have short lane closures in order to install a flashing beacon at the intersection of SR-83. Estimated project completion date is July 2013.