An undercover drug investigation by the Smithville Police Department has resulted in grand jury sealed indictments against eight persons.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL)
Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR.pdf (3.07 MB)
Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins told WJLE that six of the defendants have been arrested and will appear for arraignment Monday, December 12 in DeKalb County Criminal Court including 29 year old Gary Christopher Ponder of Old Mill Hill Road, Dowelltown; 37 year old Robert Lee Nichols of Hodges Road, Smithville; 55 year old Donald Gene Rigsby of Bethel Road, Smithville; Aron Dwayne Ponder; Mark Eugene West; and Nathan Bradley McMinn. Two vehicles were also seized by the police department as a result of the investigation.
“On January 14, the Police Department launched an undercover drug investigation based on several complaints of illegal drugs being sold throughout the city. Using a confidential informant we were able to make several buys throughout the city. The cases were presented to the DeKalb County Grand Jury on Monday, November 28 and sealed indictments were returned against these individuals and two others who have not yet been picked up,” Chief Collins told WJLE.
The indictment against Nathan Bradley McMinn and a co-defendant states that “On January 29, they did unlawfully and knowingly sell and or deliver a controlled substance, to wit: Hydrocodone, a schedule II controlled substance.
The indictment against Nichols and a co-defendant alleges that on February 22, they did unlawfully and knowingly sell and or deliver a controlled substance, to wit: Methamphetamine, a schedule II controlled substance, in an amount under 0.5 grams.
Aron Dwayne Ponder and Gary Christopher Ponder are co-indicted alleging that on January 29 they did unlawfully and knowingly sell and or deliver a controlled substance, to wit: Morphine, a Schedule II controlled substance
Aron Dwayne Ponder is indicted on a separate count alleging that on January 21 he did unlawfully and knowingly sell and or deliver a controlled substance, to wit: Morphine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The indictment against Mark Eugene West alleges that on February 1, he did unlawfully and knowingly sell and or deliver a controlled substance, to wit: Buprenorphine, a Schedule III control substance
Donald Gene Rigsby’s indictment alleges that on January 14, he did unlawfully and knowingly sell and or deliver a controlled substance, to wit: Buprenorphine, a Schedule III controlled substance.

DeKalb County High School is working to recognize students making strides on the ACT test. As part of the TN Department of Education’s Tennessee Succeeds initiative, the state is working to increase the state average for student ACT scores to 21 by the year 2020. The ACT serves as a gateway to college and career readiness in Tennessee, determining students’ eligibility for the HOPE scholarship, requirements for postsecondary remedial or developmental coursework, and sometimes entry-level salary. At DCHS, a 21+ Club has been created for students that have met the ACT readiness benchmark. This club currently contains 71 students. A 30+ club includes 4 students that have scored a 30 or above on their ACT. “We are very proud of these students and want them to have the recognition for which they have worked,” said Jenny Norris, DCHS Assistant Principal.
Members of the 21+ Club are as follows:
Eleanor Atnip, Myranda Bailiff, Alexis Bates, Kayla Belk, Madison Bouldin, Rebekah Brandt, Meghan Brandt, Kaylee Braswell, Alec Bryan, Madison Butler, Kaitlyn Cantrell, Madison Cantrell, Kayley Caplinger, Makayla Cornett-Bain, Katlyn Cox, Tyree Cripps, Callie Cripps, Chloe Cripps, Caelin Crips, Eli Cross, Lance Davis, Miranda Davis, Karlee Dickens, Lynzi Downey, Eli England, Abby Evans, Neely Evans, Malone Fletcher, Peyton Frazier, Rachel Fuson, Breanna Gibson, Brady Gill, Willow Godowns, Griffin Goldstein, Lucas Green, Gentry Harpole, Maegan Harris, Clayton Hoyle, Steven Jennings, Karen Johnson, Sahara Lafever, Caitlyn Lawrence, Allison Maynard, Kelsie Merriman, Bradley Miller, Braya Murphy, Katherine Parsley, Kristen Parsley, Zachary Parsley, Mackenzie Partridge, Ami Patel, Rosa Payne, Seth Pedigo, Jason Perricone, Kallie Petty, Baylee Phillips, Bailey Redmon, Megan Redmon, Julianne Richardson, Hunter Robinson, Allison Rogers, Alexis Roller, Jacob Self, Rebecca Snyder, Taylor Spare, Alex Steel, Jayrah Trapp, Jordan Vallem, Emily Wallace, Michael Warren, Tori Young
30+ Club – Madison Cantrell, Eli Cross, Baylee Phillips, Hunter Robinson

A teenager was injured in a pickup truck crash Saturday night on Highway 83 (Allen Ferry Road) near the Little League ball park.
Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said the 17 year old boy was traveling west in a 1995 Chevy S-10 when the truck ran off the right side of the roadway. After the driver overcorrected the truck came back across and went off the left side of the road striking a ditch and culvert. The teen, whose name was not released because he is a juvenile, was taken by DeKalb EMS to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital. He reportedly suffered a laceration to the head.
Trooper Johnson wishes to thank each member of the Smithville Fire Department for offering their assistance until the scene was cleared.

Smithville Police have now released the names of the victims in Sunday’s mobile home fire on South Mountain Street.
Dead are 27 year old Jeremy Shelton, 36 year old Crystal Fults, and 4 year old Caylix Johnson. Two others, 26 year old Heather Standridge and 23 month old Brantley Johnson were injured.
In a prepared news release, Police Chief Mark Collins reported that “Police responded to 1276 South Mountain Street Sunday, December 4 at 12:16 p.m. for a structure fire with people possibly still in the residence. Five people were inside thehome at the time of the fire including 27 year old Jeremy Shelton, 36 year old Crystal Fults, 26 year old Heather Standridge, and her two children 4 year old Caylix Johnson, and 23 month old Brantley Johnson”.
According to Chief Collins, ” Jeremy Shelton and Crystal Fults perished in the fire. The children were rescued from the fire by Smithville firefighter, Lt. John Poss and a passerby, Jerry Estes. Estes was passing the residence when he saw the trailer on fire and Heather Standridge standing outside the trailer yelling that her children were still inside. Mr. Estes then climbed through the window where the children were reported to be and rescued 23 month old Brantley Johnson. A short time later, Lt. Poss arrived on scene where he entered the structure and rescued four year old Caylix Johnson who later passed away at the hospital. Heather Standridge and 23 month old Brantley Johnson are currently in ICU at Vanderbilt”.
The investigation is still underway by the Smithville Police Department, Smithville Fire Department, and the Tennessee Fire Marshall’s Office. Chief Collins said the official cause of fire at this time is still undetermined.

An investigation is underway by the Smithville Police and Fire Departments and State Fire Marshal’s Office to determine the cause of a mobile home fire Sunday which claimed the lives of three people including a man, woman, and child, and seriously injured another woman and child.
Dead are 27 year old Jeremy Shelton, 36 year old Crystal Fults, and 4 year old Caylix Johnson. Two others, 26 year old Heather Standridge and 23 month old Brantley Johnson were injured.
A passerby, Jerry Estes spotted the fire at 1276 South Mountain Street, Smithville. He also saw Standridge standing outside the trailer yelling that her children, the Johnson siblings, were still inside. 911 was alerted at 12:12 p.m. and members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department and Police Department were summoned along with backup from the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department.

According to Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins, Estes climbed through a window, grabbed the 23 month old child, and pulled him to safety. After firefighters arrived, Lieutenant John Poss of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department rescued the 4 year old child. Shelton and Fults perished in the fire.
Standridge and the Johnson children were taken by DeKalb EMS to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital. Standridge and the 23 month old, Brantley Johnson were later transported to Vanderbilt Hospital where they remain in the Intensive Care Unit. The 4 year old child, Caylix Johnson died at the hospital in Smithville.
The mobile home was destroyed in the fire. After the blaze was out, the county’s deputy medical examiner Terry Martin was called to the scene along with the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Firefighters and others huddled near the trailer to bow their heads in prayer for the victims. Members of the American Red Cross were also on site ready to offer support to the victims’ families.
The investigation is still underway by the Smithville Police Department, Smithville Fire Department, and the Tennessee Fire Marshall’s Office. Chief Collins said the official cause of fire at this time is still undetermined.

The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department, sponsor of the Smithville Christmas Parade, escorts Santa to town Saturday.

DCHS Band performs in Smithville Christmas Parade

Pedigo’s New and Used won 1st place at the Smithville Christmas Parade Saturday for their float entry “Radio Flyer” wagon

The Smithville Lions Club received 2nd place at the Smithville Christmas Parade for their float entry “A Christmas Story”

The Smithville First Assembly of God received 3rd place at the Smithville Christmas Parade for their float entry “God of this City”

The DeKalb Junior Pro Football Players and Cheerleaders won the “Spirit Award” at the Smithville Christmas Parade presented by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club

Spectators lined the streets Saturday eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa in the annual Christmas Parade sponsored by the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department.
(SMITHVLLE CHRISTMAS PARADE: PART 1)

Enthusiastic kids and grownups alike enjoyed the sights and sounds of this long awaited annual event which included floats, horseback riders, horse drawn wagons, boy and girl scouts, veterans, vintage automobiles, emergency vehicles, the DCHS band, State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver and of course, Santa Claus.
Smithville Christmas Parade (Part 2)

Winning first place among the float entries was Pedigo’s New and Used” Radio Flyer wagon
Second Place went to the Smithville Lions Club’s “A Christmas Story”
The Smithville First Assembly of God received third place for their float “God of this City”.
The Spirit Award, presented by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club, went to the DeKalb County Junior Pro Football Players and Cheerleaders.
The Liberty Christmas Parade will be Sunday, December 4 starting at 2:00 p.m. weather permitting.

A man arrested by Smithville Police in June during a drug bust appeared for sentencing in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday.
35 year old Eddy Farris entered a plea by information to possession of a schedule II drug for sale and delivery and received a sentence of five years to serve. The term is to run concurrently with a violation of probation against him. He was fined $2,000.
Acting on a complaint of illegal drug activity, Smithville Police went to a residence on Jennings Lane Thursday, June 16 and found Farris with meth and drug paraphernalia. After entering the residence, police observed Farris trying to hide under a bed mattress. While there officers were informed by Central Dispatch that Farris had active warrants against him. During a search, police recovered a black camera case containing a baggie with a white crystallized substance believed to be meth weighing approximately 7 grams, a burnt glass straw with a copper filter, a set of scales, a burnt light bulb configured with a straw coming out of the end, a spoon with a white substance melted onto it and a loaded syringe with a white substance inside.
31 year old Donald Atnip, Jr. entered a plea to aggravated burglary and received a five year sentence all suspended to supervised probation except for one year to serve. The sentence is to run concurrently with a violation of probation against him. He was given jail credit from June 11 to July 11 and from October 31 to November 28. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Atnip allegedly broke into a residence on Page Drive on Sunday, November 1, 2015 and took a flat screen Visio television valued at $300. He allegedly admitted to entering the home and taking the TV. The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.
41 year old Richard Leon McDaniel entered a plea to reckless aggravated assault and received a two year sentence on supervised probation. He must also receive domestic violence counseling. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, February 11 McDaniel allegedly assaulted his girlfriend by shoving her into the wall which caused an injury to her face. He also allegedly tried choking and pointing a knife at her saying he was going to kill her. He was given one day of jail credit.
43 year old Regina C Valdez entered a plea by criminal information to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation supervised by CPS until court costs are paid and then her probation will be unsupervised. She was arrested for DUI and cited for violation of implied consent on August 2, 2015. Smithville Police Officer Lance Dillard observed a vehicle traveling on East Broad Street crossing over the center line without properly functioning tail lights. He initiated a traffic stop and spoke with Valdez who had a strong odor of alcohol on her person. Valdez performed poorly on sobriety tasks. Her speech was slurred and she was unsteady on her feet. Valdez refused to submit to a blood test.
50 year old Edward Wayne Tarpley, Jr. entered a plea by criminal information to aggravated assault and driving under the influence. He received a three year sentence in the assault case and 11 months and 29 days for the DUI to run concurrently with each other and concurrently with a Rutherford County case against him. He was given jail credit from January 21 to January 22 and from February 12 to November 28

Members of the DCHS Class of 2017 are asking for your support of Project Graduation by shopping the Christmas Marketplace and Yard Sale on Saturday, December 3.
The event will be held at the First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center on the corner of West Church and North College Street in Smithville. Pictures with Santa will be from noon until 3:00 p.m. Craft Vendors Marketplace Booths available for $25. An Indoor Yard Sale, Poinsettia Sale, Silent Auction, and Chili and Hot Dog Lunch will also be held. Come out and support Project Graduation. For more information contact Elizabeth Redmon at 615-464-5446 or Tracy Lawrence at 615-464-5229.
Also remember to make a donation to the Class of 2017 DCHS Project Graduation account at any DeKalb County branch office of Liberty State Bank