More than $3,600 was raised during a three hour radiothon Friday morning on WJLE for the DCHS Class of 2016 Project Graduation.
DCHS teacher Chris Vance hosted the program and several members of the class participated by answering phones and taking pledges. Some entertained. Parents who
serve on the Project Graduation committee were also involved in the program.
“We cannot say thank you enough to WJLE for giving us this time and to Chris Vance for giving us his time this morning. The response has been overwhelming for our children to provide a safe environment for them on one of the scariest nights of your child’s life if you are a parent. We want to thank everyone who made a donation. We appreciate it,” said Angela Johnson, a parent who serves on the Project Graduation Entertainment Committee.
Project Graduation is an all night drug-free, alcohol-free graduation party at the school for members of the DCHS Class of 2016 committed to having a safe, wholesome, yet entertaining celebration together for the last time as a class. “We will provide on that night a safe, drug free and alcohol free environment for the children. They will come in at eleven o’clock that night and stay until five o’clock the next morning. We will have activities such as the bubble balls, mechanical bulls, bungee jumping, etc. We will have food. There will be games and a dee jay there for the entire time. Every student who participates that night receives money or some type of gift,” said Johnson.
“I am so excited about the number of seniors who showed up today for the radiothon including Caitlin Jacobs, Noah Parsley, Keely McKay, Chloe White, Kaylene Ferguson, Azya McCoy, D.J. Thompson, Hailey Summers, Aspen Flarity, Hannah Walker, Hannah James, Brooklynn Seifert, Carly Moss, Delaney Johnson, Jerica Braswell, Morgan Vickers, Ashli Chew, Jailyn Bolding, Isabella Johnson, Haden Cripps, Kirkland Smallwood, Garrett Johnson, Hannah Lasser, Elijah Hendrixson, Caitlin Turner, Kyra Slager, Jennifer Caplinger, and Katlin Rhea,” said Karen Jacobs, a parent and member of the Project Graduation Committee
Other fundraising events are planned including a plant sale on Saturday, April 9 from 8:00 a.m. until noon at the DCHS parking lot. Local nurseries are donating plants for the sale. A Car Wash will also be scheduled in May.
If you would like to make a donation to Project Graduation you may send it to DCHS Project Graduation in care of Karen Jacobs at 831 Driver Street in Smithville 37166. You may also stop by Liberty State Bank in Smithville and give it to Rhonda Caplinger.
Project Graduation will follow the DCHS graduation program on Friday, May 20

Smithville Police have charged the mother of a now four month old baby with endangering a viable fetus because of her drug use while pregnant.
22 year old Samantha Shaye Goodson was arrested on Friday, March 18 for (endangering) a viable fetus as a victim. Goodson gave birth to a child in November 2015 and a drug test of the umbilical cord came back positive for hydromorphone and marijuana for which Goodson had no prescription. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court on April 7.
State law allows prosecutors to pursue criminal assault charges and potential jail terms if women bear children who are addicted or suffer other injuries because of the mom’s drug use.
27 year old Kyle Roger Stewart was cited on Thursday, March 3 for simple possession and for fraudulently altering a driver’s license. According to police, officers were investigating a possible auto theft when it was discovered that Stewart had given a local business an ID with his picture on it but with someone else’s name who is wanted out of Smith County. Police learned that Stewart found the driver’s license in the road and taped his photo to it. Also found were approximately five grams of marijuana in a baggie. His court date is March 31.
25 year old Ashley Marie Singleton was cited on Friday, March 4 for theft of property. Police were called to Tractor Supply in reference to a possible shoplifter. While speaking with Singleton officers discovered that she had items concealed in her purse belonging to the store.
30 year old Justin Lynn Murphy was arrested on Tuesday, March 8 for public intoxication. Police were called to the scene of a disturbance allegedly caused by Murphy. Officers arrived on White Street and spoke with Murphy who was found to have slurred speech. Murphy was unsteady on his feet and he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage about his person and on his breath. Due to his condition, Murphy was placed in custody for his safety and that of the public. Bond for Murphy is $1,500 and he will be in court on April 7.
26 year old Jeremy Silas Shelton was arrested on Sunday, March 13 for domestic assault. While investigating a domestic assault, police learned that Shelton and the victim had a disagreement that became physical when Shelton allegedly grabbed the victim around the neck with his left hand and slammed her on the bed leaving a red mark around her neck. Bond for Shelton is $2,500.
32 year old James Matthew Martin was arrested on Monday, March 14 for simple possession of a Schedule IV & VI drug and he was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia. In the area of Village Place, police spotted a man who appeared to be passed out at the steering wheel of his parked vehicle. Officers awoke the man, Martin and found that he had in his possession 2 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, 8 yellow round pills believed to be Benzodiazepines for which he had no prescription, and two glass pipes with containing burnt marijuana residue. Bond for Martin is $3,000 and his court date is April 21.
32 year old Daniel R Wilson was arrested on Tuesday, March 15 for evading arrest. Wilson was observed in the parking lot of East Side Inn talking on the phone. When he saw the police arriving he abruptly turned around and began walking toward the woods. A warrant check revealed that Wilson has an active Failure to Appear warrant against him out of Putnam County. Police initiated a foot pursuit and apprehended Wilson. He was charged with evading. His bond is $10,000 and his court date is March 24.
19 year old Braxton Kain Bennett was arrested on Friday, March 18 for public intoxication. Police were called to Wal-Mart in reference to a suspicious person. Upon arrival officers found Bennett who was unsteady on his feet. He bumped into several shelves while walking and nearly fell twice. Bennett submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He was placed under arrest for his safety and that of the public. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on April 14.
Three family members were arrested for domestic assault on Monday, March 21. Police responded to a residence on East Main Street where 49 year old Stevie Randell Reeder, 50 year old Tony Jeffery Reeder and, 51 year old Lisa Inez Vice had gotten into a verbal argument that became physical. Officers learned that the siblings had been drinking when the argument and assault ensued. Police could not determine who was the primary aggressor so all three were taken into custody and charged with domestic assault. Bond for each is $1,500 and they will make a court appearance on March 24.

A 40 year old man, indicted on a charge of sexual battery by an authority figure in 2014, entered a plea by criminal information to a lesser charge of simple assault on Monday, March 21 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
Judge Gary McKenzie presided.
Joseph Brandon Proctor received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days. He was granted judicial diversion and will be on supervised probation.
Proctor was named in a sealed indictment returned by the Grand Jury in April 2014 accusing him of having had sexual contact with an underage victim between April 1 and 30, 2013. At the time he was alleged to have had parental or custodial authority over the victim.
Proctor did not admit to the charge as indicted under this plea agreement.
The criminal information alleges that between April 1, 2013 and April 30, 2013 he did knowingly, intentionally, and or recklessly cause bodily injury to a minor, constituting the offense of assault.
In other cases, 34 year old Shawn Keith Buck entered a plea by criminal information to attempted aggravated assault and received a two year sentence on supervised probation. He must undergo domestic violence counseling and attend parenting classes. He was given 28 days of jail credit.
Smithville Police said that on Friday, February 19 officers were called to a residence where Buck had allegedly tried to choke his victim leaving a mark on that person’s neck. Buck had left the scene before the officers’ arrival. Upon questioning the witnesses police determined that Buck was responsible for the assault and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Buck later turned himself in on the warrant.
48 year old Gerald Brown entered a plea by criminal information to evading arrest and received a two year suspended sentence after serving 180 days. The sentence is to run consecutive to a White County case against him. He has been given jail credit for 130 days. According to the warrant, on November 12, 2015 while operating a motor vehicle, Brown intentionally fled or tried to elude Trooper Jeremy D.S. Tramel of the Tennessee Highway Patrol after he received a signal from the trooper to bring the vehicle to a stop.
50 year old Nohemi Sosa Brown entered a plea by criminal information to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days but she has been granted judicial diversion probation supervised by CPS.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Sunday, December 13, 2015 a deputy was traveling on Highway 70 when he spotted a red Chevy car in front of him cross the yellow line several times as well as the turning lane. After making a traffic stop the officer spoke with the driver, Brown and detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle. Brown’s speech was slurred and slow. She submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. She also took a blood/alcohol test.
43 year old Francisco Monzon Lopez entered a plea by criminal information to reckless driving and received a six month sentence on supervised probation by CPS. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, December 6, 2015 while on patrol a deputy spotted an automobile with its lights on and engine running in the parking lot of Jewel’s Market on South Congress Boulevard. The officer stopped and spoke with the driver, Lopez. Two bottles of liquor with the seal broken on them were within arms reach of the driver. He had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. His eyes were glazed and his speech was slurred. Lopez had in his possession a loaded 22 caliber rifle. He refused to submit to field sobriety tasks and a blood alcohol test. Lopez was placed under arrest.
35 year old Brandon Ryan Haggard entered a plea by criminal information to simple possession and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation by CPS. The sentence is to run concurrently with a DeKalb County violation of probation against him. Haggard was arrested on January 7. Smithville Police initiated a traffic stop on Luttrell Avenue after spotting a vehicle with a right tail light that was not operational. Officers spoke with the driver, Haggard and a computer check with Central Dispatch revealed that his license were revoked for driving under the influence. As Haggard was exiting the vehicle, officers noticed a baggie of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana sticking out of his front pocket.
45 year old Raquel Balderas entered a plea by criminal information to reckless driving and violation of the implied consent law and received a six month sentence on probation supervised by CPS. She will lose her license for a year.
41 year old Federico Torres entered a plea by criminal information to driving on a revoked license and received a six month sentence on supervised probation by CPS.
40 year old Darrell Wayne Crook entered a plea to resisting arrest and received a six month sentence. He was granted judicial diversion and will be on supervised probation. Smithville Police said that on Sunday, February 22, 2015 officers were dispatched to a residence on Oak Street. Upon arrival, an officer learned that Crook had been in an altercation with a woman over money which became physical. The woman suffered a cut and was bleeding from her hand. When the officer tried to place Crook under arrest, he resisted and had to be taken to the ground. A domestic assault charge against him was dismissed due to the plea for resisting arrest.

Members of the DeKalb County Emergency Communications District Board of Directors presented a plaque to former fellow board member and First District County Commissioner Elmer Ellis, Jr. during their regular meeting Tuesday evening.
Ellis was a member of the DeKalb ECD Board. He recently resigned his position with the board and as county commissioner.
The plaque reads “For eight years of dedicated service to the DeKalb County ECD Board of Directors. The leadership you have provided has been instrumental in making DeKalb County 911 one of the best 911 agencies in the state. We appreciate your service to our Board and the 911 community. You have been a valuable asset to our organization and to the citizens of DeKalb County.
Awarded this 22nd day of March, 2016”
The plaque was presented to Ellis by Brad Mullinax, DeKalb County ECD Director

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said that the Republican Senate majority “kept its promise to repeal the federal Common Core mandate, reverse the trend toward a national school board and restore local control in K-12 education” by fixing No Child Left Behind in 2015. The president signed the law’s replacement, the Every Student Succeeds Act, into law on Dec. 10.
Speaking to local Republicans during the DeKalb GOP Party’s Reagan Day Dinner Tuesday night in Smithville, Senator Alexander, who is Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said “When I was campaigning for re-election, I told Tennessee voters that if they would re-elect me to the Senate that I would end the federal Common Core mandate and that’s exactly what we did in this Republican Congress. The federal Common Core mandate is history. It’s over. Done with. Gone. It’s got a stake through its heart. It’s up to Tennessee and school teachers and school boards what the academic standards ought to be in our state. That’s a good step forward in the right direction,” said Senator Alexander.
“The law eliminates the waivers from No Child Left Behind which allowed the U.S. Department of Education to become, in effect, a National School Board for 42 states, including Tennessee. Additionally, the new law strengthens charter schools, providing parents with greater school choice,” he said.
Senator Alexander also spoke of the Brussels terrorist attack saying “We are reminded far too often that terrorists remain committed to attacking our way of life through evil acts such as those in Brussels. The American people stand with the people of Belgium today.”
“What happened in Brussels is a real sobering event and it makes even more important the law that we passed this last year on terrorism that allows our government, if it gets permission from a court, to listen in on telephone conversations that might come from Brussels to Smithville or Afghanistan to Nashville and if there is a suspicion that there is a terrorist activity, if we have gotten court approval of the seriousness of it, we should be able to find that out and take some action before a terrible event like that happens in our country. We’ve already had some but obviously we have people around the world who are so evil that they care nothing about destroying innocent lives,” Senator Alexander said.
Asked by the local media prior to the dinner what he thought of President Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia, Senator Alexander said he agrees with the Senate Republican leadership that the vacancy should be filled by the next President.
“This debate is not about Judge Garland. It’s about whether to give the American people a voice in the selection of the next Supreme Court justice.”
After Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said several weeks ago that the Supreme Court vacancy “should not be filled until we have a new president,” Alexander said “I believe it is reasonable to give the American people a voice by allowing the next president to fill this lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. Under our Constitution, the president has the right to nominate, but the Senate has the right to decide whether to consent at this point in a presidential election year. Sen. McConnell is only doing what the Senate majority has the right to do and what Senate Democrat leaders have said they would do in similar circumstances.”
Asked how DeKalb County voters should view the Presidential race, Alexander said voters should make up their own minds. “I learned a long time ago that Tennessee voters make up their own minds and they didn’t elect me to tell them how to vote. I think particularly in Presidential races people should make up their own minds. One thing we Republicans have to remember is that its not enough to nominate somebody that we agree with. We’ve got to get somebody we agree with and who can get a majority of the voters or Hillary Clinton is going to appoint the next Supreme Court Justice and we’re not going to be able to repeal and replace Obama Care,” Senator Alexander concluded.
First elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002, Alexander is in his third term having been re-elected in 2008 and 2014. He is also a two term Governor of Tennessee, having been elected in 1978 and re-elected in 1982. Alexander was President of the University of Tennessee from 1988–1991.
In 1991, Alexander was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education, from 1991 to 1993. Alexander ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996 and 2000.
Born in Maryville, Tennessee, Alexander is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and New York University School of Law. He worked as a legislative assistant to Senator Howard Baker and as an assistant in the Nixon Administration in the late 1960s.

A woman arrested twice within a month on separate drug charges appeared for sentencing Monday, March 21 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
Judge Gary McKenzie presided
44 year old Tammie Michelle Anderson entered a plea by criminal information to sale of schedule VI and II drugs. She received a two year sentence on the marijuana charge and five years in the oxycodone case. The two terms are to run concurrently with each other. Anderson will be on judicial diversion probation after having served 47 days for which she has been given jail credit. She was fined $2,000.
Anderson was charged by Smithville Police for possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale after allegedly purchasing oxycodone pills from 44 year old Sherry Dawn Gibbs on Wednesday, February 3.
Gibbs also entered a plea by criminal information to sale of a schedule II drug in the case on Monday, March 21 and received a sentence of three years all suspended to supervised probation on judicial diversion.
In the earlier case on Thursday, January 7 Anderson was arrested with a co-defendant, 35 year old Rickey Wayne Murphy for sale and delivery of a schedule VI drug (marijuana).
Murphy appeared in criminal court Monday, March 21 and entered a plea in the Anderson case from January and in a separate drug case from July, 2015. He pled to possession for resale of a schedule II drug and received a three year sentence on judicial diversion probation supervised by TDOC. He also entered a plea to possession of a schedule VI drug for resale and got a two year sentence on judicial diversion probation supervised by TDOC. The two terms are to run consecutively for a total of five years. He was given jail credit for 74 days of time served.
According to Police Chief Mark Collins, the February case against Anderson was made after Gibbs was pulled over in a traffic stop and subsequently charged with sale and delivery of a controlled substance. Gibbs was also cited for traffic offenses including a driver license and light law violation, and for no insurance, which is a violation of the financial responsibility law.
During the traffic stop, Gibbs was found to be in possession of an empty prescription bottle. The prescription for 120 oxycodone was in Gibbs’ name and had been filled on that day, Wednesday February 3. After questioning Gibbs, police learned that she had allegedly sold the pills to Anderson for $747.00. Officers recovered the pills after going to Anderson’s home to speak with her concerning the incident . They learned that Anderson had allegedly purchased the pills to re-sell.
In the January case, Smithville Police went to Anderson’s residence and asked if they could do a search after receiving numerous complaints and information of illegal activity there. Upon receiving consent to search, officers found in Murphy and Anderson’s bedroom a bag of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana weighing 2.5 ounces. A box of baggies was also found close by. The search of the residence further turned up a glass pipe used to smoke marijuana which belonged to 19 year old Charles Nathan Pack. He was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.
In the earlier case against Murphy, Smithville Police found drugs and paraphernalia at a residence where Murphy and another man, 36 year old B.J. Brown were residing on Earl Avenue Monday, July 6, 2015.
Acting on complaints, Officers Matt Farmer and Lance Dillard went to the residence and conducted an investigation. After speaking with Murphy, the officers were given consent to search his bedroom where they found 17 1/2 ounces of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, 58 pills thought to be a combination of Suboxone, Phenermine Hydrochloride, Hydrocodone and Oxycodone along with drug paraphernalia.
Brown also gave the officers permission to search his bedroom at the residence where they found one pill believed to be Lyrica and drug paraphernalia.
Neither Murphy nor Brown had prescriptions for the pills discovered in the home.
Brown was cited for simple possession of a schedule IV drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The DeKalb County Election Commission reminds potential candidates for the Smithville, Liberty, and Dowelltown Municipal Elections and the Board of Education races that Noon Thursday, April 7th is the qualifying deadline for the August 4th DeKalb County General Election.
Three school board members will be elected on August 4 including one from the 4th, 5th, & 6th districts. The terms are for four years except in the 4th district. The 4th district winner will fill an unexpired two year term.
The following candidates have returned qualifying petitions which have been verified by the election commission:
Kevin Hale in the 5th district
Barry Mabe in the 5th district
Incumbent W.J. (Dub) Evins, III in the 5th district
Incumbent Kate Miller in the 4th district.
Incumbent Doug Stephens in the 6th district
Three Alderman will be elected in the Smithville Municipal Election on August 4. The terms are for four years.
The following candidates have returned qualifying petitions which have been verified by the election commission:
Ronald D. Stanley
Danny Washer( incumbent)
Josh Miller (incumbent)
Shawn Jacobs (incumbent)
Richard Steinbach
Wesley Nokes (petition not yet returned)
Gary Durham (petition not yet returned)
A mayor and two aldermen will be elected in Dowelltown on August 4. The terms are for four years.
The following candidates have returned qualifying petitions which have been verified by the election commission:
William A. Davis for Dowelltown Alderman.
Pam Redman for Dowelltown Mayor (petition not yet returned)
Four alderman seats will be filled in Liberty on August 4.
The following candidates have returned qualifying petitions which have been verified by the election commission:
Eddie Dwayne Blair for a four year term as Alderman
Todd Dodd for a four year term as Alderman (petition not yet returned)
Jason Ray for a four year term as Alderman (petition not yet returned)
J.D. Bratten for a one year term as Alderman (petition not yet returned)

A 25 year old woman charged in a recent burglary and theft investigation entered a plea Monday, March 21 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
Judge Gary McKenzie presided.
Brandi Louise Proffer Brewer entered a plea by criminal information to burglary and received a three year sentence, suspended to supervised probation. The term is to run consecutive to a violation of probation charge against her in DeKalb County General Sessions Court. Her probation will be supervised by TDOC. She was given 74 days jail credit and she must make restitution to victims in the following amounts: $170, $359, & $120.
Her husband, 27 year old Dustin Matthew Brewer entered a plea by information last month to burglary and received a three year sentence suspended to probation. He must complete the Safe Harbor Treatment Program and make restitution to victims in the following amounts: $359, $120, and $170. Brewer was given 81 days jail credit.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on or about Monday, November 9, 2015 the Brewers allegedly broke into a building on South Tittsworth Road and stole two chainsaws, an air compressor, an air tank, two wrench sets, an Impact socket, a socket wrench, a hammer drill, a jigsaw, and a 12 volt drill. The total value of the stolen items comes to $1,374. Some of the goods were recovered and identified by the property owner.
The case was investigated by a Sheriff’s Department detective.
38 year old Jessie Eugene Thomas entered a plea to aggravated burglary and theft of property over $1,000. He received a five year sentence for the aggravated burglary and two years for the theft to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to another DeKalb County case against him. The sentence is to be suspended upon payment of fines, costs, and restitution.
Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 Thomas and a co-defendant 32 year old Terra Elaine Locklear broke into a residence on Dale Ridge Road and took several tools and building materials with a total value of $1,190. During the burglary, Thomas also broke out a window valued at $425. The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective. Thomas and Locklear were arrested on Friday, June 26.
Locklear entered a plea last month to aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000. She received a sentence of three years for the aggravated burglary and two years in the theft case to run consecutively with each other for a total of five years. The term is also to run consecutively with another case against her. Locklear will remain in the DeKalb County Drug Court Program and she is to make restitution to victims in the following amounts $500 and $425.
40 year old Paul Carlton Woodcock, Jr. entered a plea to burglary and received a two year sentence suspended to TDOC supervised probation

Although a car parked inside a garage was destroyed, members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were able to keep a fire from causing major damage to a home on Highway 146 south Friday night.
According to Lieutenant Brian Williams fire fighters were summoned to the residence of Thomas Perry at 3190 Short Mountain Highway just before 10:00 p.m. Friday. The residence is a rent home belonging to Larry Summers. Upon arrival firefighters saw heavy smoke and flames coming from a garage where parked inside was a 1992 Honda Accord on fire. While the garage itself is not attached to the house, there is a connecting breezeway.
They could not save the car, but firefighters were able to contain the blaze mostly to the garage area although flames also caused some minor damage to the eave of the house near the second floor.
Perry told firefighters that he returned home after being gone a short time and discovered the fire.
Members of the Short Mountain Highway, Main Station, and Keltonburg stations responded along with a tanker truck, DeKalb EMS, and the Sheriff’s Department. No one was injured.

A McMinnville woman was airlifted after a one car crash around 5:00 a.m. Friday morning on Highway 56 south at Sink Creek.
Trooper Mark Jones of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that Amanda Sowell was north on Highway 56 in a 2004 Acura when the car went off the left side of the road, into a ditchline, and struck a culvert. Sowell was treated at the scene by DeKalb EMS and then airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
Members of the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department and DeKalb County Fire Department were also on the scene.