The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Smithville and Alexandria
Police Departments will be out in full force combating drunk driving on our roads during the upcoming high school graduation.
As part of the effort to combat drunk driving, Sheriff Patrick Ray says his department regularly coordinates sobriety checkpoints in DeKalb County. “Our goal is to have a safe night for not only the graduates, but also their friends and family members who are traveling on our roadways. My department and I will also be at the graduation to assist you in anyway and also to support our graduating seniors.”
According to Sheriff Ray the areas where the checkpoints will be conducted on graduation night, May 22nd are Highway 70, Highway 56, Highway 146, and Highway 53 in Liberty and Alexandria. “If you come upon one of the checkpoints, you need to be on alert for officers standing in the roadway and be prepared to stop. If you see what you think might be a drunk
driver, gather as much information as possible such as a description of the vehicle and a tag number and then call the central dispatch at 215-3000 or dial 911.”
Sheriff Ray says grant funds help pay for equipment needed for these type of enforcement efforts. “My department and I , in conjunction with other area law enforcement agencies, often conduct sobriety check points in the county. I have applied for grants from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office to buy equipment such as traffic cones, traffic vests, flashlights, blue lights for the patrol cars, and other items so that the deputies may have the equipment needed to perform these types of check points. We have already received two grants to purchase this type of equipment and I have applied for another grant that we hope to get soon”.
Under the law, Sheriff Ray says these checkpoints must be publicized in advance. “Many of our checkpoints are mobile. This means the checkpoints that we do are set up at certain locations for a few hours, and then move to other locations. As a law enforcement leader, I am required by law and department policies, to advise the public where and when we will be doing the check points . Our department also performs saturated patrols within the county which means we target certain roads where we see increasing arrests for drunk drivers, accidents where alcohol may be the contributing factor, or maybe a road where we are getting a lot of complaints about drinking and driving. We try to have these type of checkpoints when traffic is at a higher rate
than normal for the safety of the public.”

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department arrested three people in separate drunk driving offenses last week and found a baggie of marijuana during one of the investigations.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says deputies arrested 30 year old John Robert Lucas of West End Avenue,
McMinnville last Wednesday, April 29th after he was stopped on Highway 56 South for weaving.
The officers detected an odor of alcohol on Lucas’ person. He was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. Lucas submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed. Upon receiving consent to search Lucas’ vehicle, deputies found under the seat, a baggie containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.
Lucas was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and simple possession of
marijuana. His bond was set at $3,000 and he will appear in General
Sessions Court on May 28th.
Also on Wednesday, deputies were on patrol in the Dowelltown and Liberty area of
the county when they spotted a vehicle driving erratically on Highway 70. An officer activated his blue lights but the vehicle continued going. After officers got the automobile stopped on Main Street in Liberty, they found 35 year old Luther Odell Miles of Granada Avenue, Nashville to be the driver. They also noticed that Miles had an odor of alcohol on his person. Miles submitted to
field sobriety tasks which he failed.
Miles was charged with a first offense of driving under the influence. His bond was set
at $1,500 and he will appear in General Sessions Court on May 28th.
On Saturday, deputies responded to a hit and run accident on Cookeville Highway and spotted the vehicle that had left the scene about three miles from where the mishap occurred. After stopping the vehicle, officers detected a strong odor of alcohol. The driver, 51 year old David William Boyd of Puckett’s Point Road, Smithville, submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed. Deputies also checked Boyd’s driver’s license and discovered that it was suspended.
Boyd was charged with a second offense of driving under the influence, a fourth offense of driving on a suspended license, and leaving the scene of an accident. Boyd’s total bond was set at $9,500 and he will appear in General Sessions Court on May 28th

A Sunday evening fire caused extensive damage to the home of Tony and Frankie Hagan at 220 Holmes Creek Road.
Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker says the Hagans were at home at the time and reported the fire around 7:32 p.m. They escaped unharmed.
Chief Parker says the fire heavily damaged the kitchen and utility room area on the first floor and caused some damage to the second floor. The residence also received some smoke and water damage.
The cause of the fire is undetermined.

Thousands of dollars in scholarships will be awarded to members of the Class of 2009 at DeKalb County High School during the annual Senior Awards Day program, set for Friday, May 15th at 8:30 a.m.
Representatives of colleges, universities, businesses, civic groups, and other organizations will be making the presentations.
WJLE plans LIVE coverage.
In addition to the awards by colleges and universities, local scholarships expected to be presented include the following:
DeKalb Community Hospital, DTC Communications, Jolly Angels, Smithville Women’s Club, DeKalb Retired Teachers, Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club, The Elzie and Nell McBride Memorial Scholarship, The DeKalb Farmers Coop, The Kyle and Kenny Robinson Memorial Scholarship, The Lucille Stewart Memorial Scholarship Award, The Hunter Davis Memorial Scholarship, Courtney Pirtle Memorial Scholarship, DeKalb County Republican Women’s scholarship, the Beecher and Wilma Moss Scholarship, AmVets Scholarship and AmVets Auxiliary Scholarship, The DeKalb County Soil Conservation District Scholarship, The DeKalb Firefighters Association Scholarship, the Liberty State Bank, DeKalb County Scottish Rite, Love-Cantrell Funeral Home, Alan Hooper Memorial Scholarship, Eddie Crips Memorial Scholarship, DeKalb Funeral Chapel, Smithville Rotary Club, First Bank, Class of 1966, Class of 1969, the Jeff Garrett Memorial Scholarship, the Middle Tennessee Times Scholarship, the Charlene Morrison-Johns Memorial Scholarship, and the Agee Oil Company Scholarship.

DeKalb Countians will rally in the fight against cancer during the 12th annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life Friday, May 8th at Greenbrook Park.
More than 30 Relay for Life teams will be set up offering food and lots of fun filled activities. A large silent auction will also be held.
Over $100,000 was raised last year.
In this overnight family-oriented event, participants walk relay-style around the track and take part in fun activities off the track. Cancer survivors will take center stage around 6:00 p.m.during the opening ceremony to receive medallions and to give a personal testimony as to just how long they’ve been a survivor.
The walking track will also be lined with luminaria in honor or remembrance of those who have battled cancer. This ceremony of light symbolizes the hope and courage with which we all continue to fight cancer
Chris Summers, Community Representative with the American Cancer Society says “Relay For Life is a unique opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against the disease. Many of the participants are cancer survivors.”
Funds raised at Relay For Life will enable the American Cancer Society to support local services and resources for cancer patients and their families. Funds also support critical cancer research and community education programs designed to teach people how to reduce their risk of developing cancer.
For more information, please contact Ivadell Randolph at 597-5296

The current economic downturn has forced many counties across Tennessee to put much needed infrastructure improvement projects on hold. However, Congressman Bart Gordon announced today that DeKalb County and Cannon County will together receive $830,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for several water extension projects.
“There are too many residents in DeKalb and Cannon who do not have access to clean public water services and have to rely on wells and springs,” said Congressman Gordon. “While this money will allow the counties to extend water services to more households, I am committed to obtaining the additional money needed so that every household has access to public water services.”
The USDA’s Rural Development (USDA-RD) agency awarded DeKalb and Cannon $625,000 in federal loans and $205,000 in grant money – together, this totals $830,000 for the water projects. In DeKalb, the money will be used to extend more than 10 miles of water lines. The extensions will occur along Dry Creek Road and Alexandria to Dismal Road. In Cannon, more than 6 miles of water lines will be constructed along Hurricane Creek Road and Bryson Hollow Road.
DeKalb and Cannon received the funds from the Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program at the USDA-RD. The mission of this program is finance the construction, extension, or improvement of water and waste disposal systems in rural areas and towns.