A Woodbury man is in trouble with the law after he went on a drunken shooting spree with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a Glock 21 semi-automatic handgun during an argument with family members Sunday putting their lives in danger.
Joshua Lorne Tate of Woodbury is charged with five counts of aggravated assault, stop frisk halt arrest, assault, and possession of a handgun while under the influence.
Although no one was injured, Sheriff Patrick Ray said Tate endangered the lives of his (Tate’s) wife, step daughter (juvenile), brother-in-law and his two sons (both juveniles), and a deputy.
The incident began after Tate and his wife and step-daughter got into an argument. The victims ran toward and hid under a bridge in a creek bottom as Tate produced an AR 15 semi-automatic rifle and began shooting several times in their direction.
Later, as Tate’s brother-in-law and his two sons drove up, Tate produced a Glock 21 semi-automatic handgun and began firing at them as they sat in their vehicle and continued shooting even after they started backing down the driveway to get away. The gunshots struck the automobile at least five times in the front end and the hood.
After 911 was notified, deputies arrived on the scene and found Tate uncooperative. According to Sheriff Ray, Tate disobeyed officer’s commands to stop and halt and he even advanced toward a deputy in a threatening manner. At one point, Tate ran toward his vehicle where officers suspected Tate had weapons. After Tate was forcibly taken into custody, officers found a loaded AR 15 rifle on the passenger seat of his automobile. The Glock handgun was also recovered.

A McMinnville couple has been arrested in a recent theft investigation.
36 year old Allen Dean Dolberry and 32 year old Dana Marie Dolberry of West Green Hill Road, McMinnville are each charged with theft of property over $1,000. Bond for each is $10,000 and they will make a court appearance on December 1.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, November 10 the Dolberry’s allegedly took several items from a residence on Cedar Drive including a Beretta 9 millimeter handgun, a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver, a Huskee log splitter, an Echo chainsaw, Echo grass trimmer, Stihl grass trimmer, an Oregon chainsaw, and other items with a total value of more than $1,000.
According to Sheriff Ray, detectives worked with officers in another county in solving the case. They identified the Dolberry’s as suspects in the theft and contacted the property owner who filed a report after conducting an inventory and listing the items taken. The Dolberry’s were subsequently arrested in the case.

An Alexandria man who was brought to the jail Sunday for booking on another offense was found with methamphetamine in his possession.
35 year old William Travis Malone of Curtis Avenue, Alexandria is charged with tampering with evidence, bringing contraband in a penal institution, and possession of methamphetamine. His bond is $20,000 and his court date is December 15.
Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, November 20 Malone was brought to the jail annex for booking by another law enforcement agency and he was placed in a holding cell. When a correctional officer entered the cell, he spotted a small bag next to Malone when he (Malone) stood up. The bag held a clear crystal like substance. When the officer asked him to hand over the bag, Malone tossed it into the toilet but before he could flush it, Malone was taken to the floor and the bag was retrieved from the commode. The contents of the bag field tested positive for methamphetamine.

A Baxter man escaped serious injury after his truck loaded with logs overturned today (Monday) on Allen Ferry Road near the Little League Ball Park.
The driver, Hobert Stover crawled out of the cab with only minor injuries.
According to Stover, he swerved to avoid a possible collision with an on-coming car that crossed the center line of the highway. The truck dropped off the roadway and overturned, spilling the load of logs onto the side of the road and in a field. The truck turned on its side and came to rest in the highway.

The accident is being investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were on the scene to divert traffic. The DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department was also on the scene.

The DeKalb Middle School Junior Beta Club today (Monday) placed in the top six of the “Group Talent” Division at the Convention in Nashville for the performance of their anti-bullying skit “Be the Change”.
The local club will compete Tuesday at 10 a.m. and the top three groups will advance to the national convention in Orlando, Florida next year.

Businesses in the City of Smithville wishing to sell wine in grocery stores or to serve liquor by the drink in restaurants will soon be able to file an application for a license with the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
“Once we get the certified election results from the election commission then we can begin processing applications,” said Zack Blair, Assistant Director of the TABC.
City voters approved a referendum on Tuesday, November 8 authorizing the legal sale of wine at retail food stores in the City of Smithville. The vote was 691 to 515. In a separate referendum that day, city voters also approved the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in the City of Smithville (Liquor By The Drink). It passed 665 to 597.
Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections, said the certified results of both referendums is being sent to the TABC this week.
“An establishment for either liquor by the drink or a retail food store seeking to sell wine will apply for a license with the TABC and we will then go through and make sure that they meet the requirements through the documents they have to submit to us,” said Blair in an interview with WJLE.
“For a restaurant, they have to submit an application, a manager questionnaire, declaration of citizenship form, a copy of any lease agreement, certificate of occupancy, bond, business plan, and various other documents liquor by the drink establishments have to submit in order for us to be able to match those documents up with the requirements,” Blair continued.
For more information on licensing requirements for liquor by the drink restaurants click link below:
http://www.tn.gov/abc/article/liquor-by-the-drink-restaurant
“For retail food stores, they will submit an application to us. We’ll have to ensure that they meet the requirements of the law, including the 1,200 square feet provision, that they maintain 20% of food or food related product sales, and that they submit other documents such as certificate of compliance from the city, etc,” he said.
For more information on licensing requirements for wine in retail food stores click link below:
http://www.tn.gov/abc/topic/retail-food-store-wine-license
“A liquor by the drink establishment does not need a certificate of compliance. They don’t have to go before the city except for getting their typical building inspection or certificate of occupancy.The retail food store would have to obtain a certificate of compliance from the city in order for us to issue the license,” Blair added.

Santa Claus is coming to town!
The first of three Christmas parades in DeKalb County this holiday season will be Saturday, December 3 when the Smithville Christmas Parade sponsored by the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department takes place starting at 1:00 p.m. The line up begins at 11:00 a.m. at Smithville Elementary School. To enter call Jeff Wright at 615-597-6750 or John Poss at 931-349-5598. The deadline to enter is Thursday, December 1.
The Liberty Christmas Parade will be Sunday, December 4 at 2:00 p.m. The line up will be at 1 PM at Salem Baptist Church.
The Alexandria Christmas Parade will be Sunday, December 11 at 2:00 p.m. To enter stop by or call the Alexandria City Hall at 615-529-2171 extension 2
Meanwhile, Christmas on the Square will also be held on Thursday, December 15th from 5 PM to 8 PM in Downtown Smithville.
•Activities include: ◦Courthouse and Chamber of Commerce Open House
◦Lots of great goodies provided by the County Officials in the basement of the Courthouse
◦Special holiday music
◦Boy Scout Troop #347 will have a Flag-Raising Ceremony
◦Photo Booth & DJ Music – Sponsored by the City of Smithville
◦Justin-Potter Library Activities for the Children
◦Great Christmas Shopping Downtown
◦Tree Lighting Ceremony
•For more info, call the Chamber office at 615.597.4163.

DeKalb County High School Tiger Basketball Coach Lynus Martin reached a coaching milestone Friday notching his 257th career victory and passing former Coach Danny Bond for 2nd on the all time list, behind former Coach Harold Luna. Martin is beginning his 15th season.
The victory came in the season opener against the Chattanooga Patriots in which the Tigers won 87-36.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to coach a lot of good players over the years that have helped make all this possible. I appreciate my wife and my kids for allowing me to do this. I appreciate Coach Danny Bond for all the years of mentoring me and allowing me to be in this position. Hopefully we’ve got a lot more years to come,” said Coach Martin.
Bond resigned as boys basketball coach in 2002 having recorded 256 wins in 17 seasons. Luna had 516 victories as a boys coach and girls coach (several years) from 1964-84.
DeKalb County travels to Trousdale County Monday night with action starting at 6:00 p.m.

The search is over for 8 month old Xavier Billings and his parents.
29 year old Andrew Billings and 19 year old Adriana Billings were found with the child at a residence in Flint, Michigan tonight (Friday). The Billings’ were arrested by the City of Flint Police Department and Xavier was placed in protective custody by the Michigan Department of Children Services. The Billings’ will be extradited back to DeKalb County to face charges of aggravated child abuse and initiation of methamphetamine manufacture process.
Since the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Endangered Child Alert on Thursday, the DeKalb and White County Sheriff’s Departments and TBI agents have conducted an around the clock investigation and, according to Sheriff Patrick Ray, they got a break in the case today (Friday) when it was discovered that the Billings’ were possibly staying at a residence in Flint, Michigan. “We were able to gather information as to the whereabouts of the Billings family. We were able to obtain a name and address of where the Billings family might be staying. We immediately contacted the Flint Police Department and in return, they were able to locate these individuals there,” said Sheriff Ray .
“At approximately 7:00 pm (Friday), Officers from the City of Flint Police Department in Michigan were able to capture Andrew Billings and Adriana Billings and were also able to take in protective custody their 8 month old child, Xavier Billings. The Michigan Department of Children Services were summoned to the residence and the State of Tennessee Children’s Services has been notified. Andrew and Adriana Billings will be extradited back to DeKalb County to face criminal charges of aggravated child abuse and initiation of methamphetamine manufacture process,” said Sheriff Ray.
“A special thanks goes to White County Sheriff Oddie Shoupe and his Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Johnson, DeKalb Central Dispatch and all of the people who have reported tips into our office and the Endangered Child Alert System,” Sheriff Ray added.
An Endangered Child Alert was issued for Xavier Thursday after his parents took him and fled the scene of a wreck investigation last week in which a meth lab was found in their vehicle.
“On Thursday November, 10th, the Tennessee Highway Patrol worked a two vehicle accident on Highway 70 east (Sparta Highway). After 3 occupants in one of the vehicles, including the child, had been examined by EMS, the adults fled the scene with the child. During the inventory of the vehicle, the Trooper found what he believed to be a methamphetamine lab. The Trooper has taken criminal warrants in the case on both of the adults for manufacturing meth and aggravated child abuse,” said Sheriff Ray.
Since the accident, the Trooper obtained information that the child might have a medical condition and notified the Department of Children Services.
Sheriff Ray said that at 11:19 p.m. Wednesday night, November 16, the Department of Children Services came to his office and filed a missing/endangered child report. The Sheriff said his department immediately entered the child into the National Crime Information System which prompted the Endangered Child Alert System.

The DeKalb West School Junior Beta Club inducted a new slate of officers and members in a special candlelight ceremony Nov. 14.
Peers elected Garrett Hayes, President; T.J. Alexander, Vice President; Gracie Griffin, Secretary; Jaden Johnson, Treasurer; Hannah VanDyne, Reporter; and Levi Driver, Chaplain.
“The Beta Club exists as much for the school as for the members,” Hayes told the crowd. “The aim of our organization is the same as the goal of education—preparation of an individual for his/her place in a democratic world.”
Taking the pledge for membership were Cameron Bailey, Isaac Brown, Alonna Christian, Gavin Conger, Makayla Cook, Allen Curtis, Nathan Dace, Caleb Dies, John Ellis, Noah Evans, Aniston Farler, Lane Goss, Aly Griffith, Bonnie Hale, Lucas Hale, Izzy Haugh, Jon Lawson, Jamison Marlar, Emma Martin, Madison Martin, Alex Moreno, Bralin Moss, Matt Nokes, Audrey Pierce, Kortnee Skeen, Ellie Vaughn, Hagen Waggoner, Brett Walker, and Parker Winfree.
Junior Beta members will leave for state convention Nov. 20 for a two-day stay at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. They’ll be competing in a variety of academic, arts and crafts, and other contests.