Local health care providers are urging you to increase efforts to prevent flu and flu-related health threats by getting immunized. Since 2007 there have been 29 pediatric flu-related deaths recorded in Tennessee, including three in December, 2014, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. That is the highest number of pediatric flu deaths in the month of December since current reporting began in 2007. Prior to 2007 pediatric influenza deaths were not specifically required to be reported.
Almost five hundred people have been tested for the flu at the Family Medical Center and 139 cases have been confirmed, according to Office Manager Michiko Martin in a statement released to WJLE Wednesday. “Since October 1 until today (December 31), between our clinic here in Smithville and the one in Alexandria, we have performed 491 flu tests. Of those tested, there have been 99 testing positive for Type A and 40 testing positive for Type B. The majority of those have been positive this month (December),” said Martin.
Numbers of persons tested for the flu and confirmed cases at other local clinics were unavailable.
The Center for Disease Control has declared a flu epidemic with the number of deaths that have already occurred this season. The CDC is still urging people who have not yet been vaccinated to get their flu immunizations, which is recommended for nearly everyone over the age of six months.For one thing, the dominant version of the virus this year is H3N2 – which tends to lead to harder-hitting flu seasons. “H3N2 predominant seasons tend to have more hospitalizations and more deaths,” CDC director Thomas Frieden warned in early December.
The virus poses greatest risks to the very young and the elderly, and those with underlying medical conditions. Symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, runny nose, sore throat, headaches and fatigue. These are the recommendations from the CDC website:
CDC Says “Take 3” Actions To Fight The Flu
Take time to get a flu shot:
•CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.
•While there are many different flu viruses, a flu vaccine protects against the three or four viruses that research suggests will be most common.
•Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.
•Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine
•Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.
•People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
•Vaccination also is important for health care workers and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to high risk people.
•Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead.
Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs.
•Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
•If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
•While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
•Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
•Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
•Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.
Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.
•If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat your illness.
• Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. They are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) and are not available over-the-counter.
• Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For people with high risk factors treatment with an antiviral drug can mean the difference between having a milder illness versus a very serious illness that could result in a hospital stay.
•Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they are started within 2 days of getting sick, but starting them later can still be helpful, especially if the sick person has a high-risk health or is very sick from the flu. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking this drug.
•Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

Gas prices are falling in DeKalb County and across the state and nation.
According to published reports, Tennessee has some of the lowest gasoline prices in the country, with numbers continuing to fall.
As of this morning (Wednesday), at least three Smithville area convenience stores had advertised prices of regular unleaded at $2.17 per gallon, a reduction of eight cents per gallon since Tuesday. Prices at the others ranged from $2.19 to $2.29.
Average retail gasoline prices in Tennessee have fallen 8.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.102/g according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 3,821 gas outlets in Tennessee. This compares with the national average that has fallen 8.2 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.260/g, according to the gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.
Back in April, Tennesseans were seeing some of the highest gas prices in a very long time. The Auto Club Group AAA said the average price was $3.50.
Gas prices went below $3 just a few months ago. Now that number is under $2 in many places and experts said they will keep on falling.
“The world’s oil supply continues to outpace demand keeping downward pressure on oil and gas prices,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA in other published reports. “Speculators believe this trend will continue next year, so cheap gasoline should stick around for a while.”
The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded fell every day since September 25 to today’s average of $2.260, which is the lowest average price per gallon since May 2009.

Starting in the spring of 2015, anyone applying for new phone service in DeKalb County or elsewhere in north central middle Tennessee can expect to get a new area code once the availability of (615) area code numbers is exhausted. Ten digit local dialing will also be required to complete a call.
The Tennessee Regulatory Authority recently announced plans to implement the new (629) area code. Known as an ‘Area Code Overlay,’ this change ensures availability of an ongoing supply of telephone numbers. “The state TRA some time ago put out a comments page on their website and asked the people who lived in the 615 area code area if they would like to have another area code split, which is what happened when the 615 and 931 area codes came about, or if they would like to have an overlay. The overwhelming response was an overlay which means that a 629 area code will come into effect in March. They will have to start issuing new numbers under the 629 and 615 area codes,” Craig Gates, Chief Executive Officer of DTC Communications told WJLE.
The reason for the change is because the existing supply of 615 area code numbers is running out. “Across America, ever since cell phones came into being and in 1996 with the advent of the Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) and later IP or Voice Over Internet Carriers, everybody has been gobbling up the phone number pool that exists and they are running out of numbers with the plan they have,” said Gates.
According to rules of the Federal Communications Commission, when two area codes serve the same region, callers are required to change the way they dial local calls. While customers do not have to change their existing area code or phone number, they will be required to ten-digit dial all local calls (area code and seven-digit telephone number. ” Even though you’re going to dial ten digits instead of seven, it’s still a local call. But you will have to dial ten digits. Eleven digits will be used for long distance calling ,” said Gates.
In addition to landlines, ten digit dialing will also apply to cell phones, fax machines, and other communication systems . “That’ll be for cell phones and land lines, your home phone number but some other things people need to think about are automatic dialers, fax machines, alarm systems, security systems, Internet dial up numbers (if you still have dial up Internet), and speed dialers. Phone contact lists will need to be updated. Call forwarding settings will have to be changed. All of those things will have to be done so that people can complete those calls on a mandatory basis in February,” said Gates.
Beginning February 28, 2015, everyone in the 615 area code will be required to dial ten digits (area code + telephone number) and starting March 28, 2015, new telephone lines or services may be issued numbers using the 629 area code, if 615 numbers are no longer available.
According to Gates, DTC still has an ample supply of 615 area code numbers. “DTC has plenty of 615 numbers left and we will continue to give out 615 numbers for the foreseeable future but at some point those could become exhausted. Another thing that’s been done for the last few years is they can actually claim numbers from us. They can take back numbers. That could happen and if so we would end up with the 629 area code a little quicker than we would otherwise,” he said.
Gates urges DTC customers to become familiar now with the practice of ten digit dialing. “It will be a change. It’s going to take some education, especially once that mandatory time hits because people are not going to be ready for it. A lot of people are going to continue to dial seven digits and not think about it. When that day comes, I imagine we’re going to start getting some calls from those people who haven’t heard or forgotten about it,” Gates concluded.

A DeKalb County man was arrested recently in a year old theft case.
McKay Lindon Gray of Antioch Road, Smithville is charged with evading arrest and theft of property under $500. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court January 8. Gray was arrested on Sunday, December 21, 2014.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, a deputy was called to Antioch Road on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 to a possible theft in progress. When the officer arrived, he saw two men, Gray and Justin Keith Manley and a woman, Stephanie Gray loading a large pile of scrap metal onto a trailer. One of the men, Gray took off running through the woods when he saw the officer. The other man, Manley, and the woman stayed and spoke with the officer. The woman said that their landlord had given them permission to gather up the scrap metal. But a further investigation revealed that all the metal had actually been taken from the adjoining property of a neighbor. The officer found that a fence between the two properties had been cut. Manley was placed under arrest for the crime at the time. He was also issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia after the officer found a marijuana pipe in Manley’s pocket. Warrants were also taken for the arrest of McKay Gray who was not located until this month.
Meanwhile, 33 year old Garth Layne Cantrell of Pine Grove Road is charged with theft of property under $500. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court January 8. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, December 28 Cantrell allegedly entered a residence and took a new Maxx-35N vehicle battery. He also allegedly took a used side post battery from the front porch of the same residence. Both batteries were recovered from Cantrell’s 1999 GMC truck. The total value of the batteries is $195.00.
33 year old Jermaica Cherome League of Murfreesboro is charged in a grand jury sealed indictment with criminal conspiracy. His bond is $20,000. He was arrested on Saturday, December 27. League will be arraigned in criminal court on January 21.
30 year old Jeremy Mark Ashburn of East Main Street, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and possession of a firearm while under the influence. His bond is $4,000 and he will be in court January 22. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, December 20 a deputy spotted a truck on Highway 70 east which left its lane of travel. The officer made a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Ashburn. He had a strong odor of alcohol on his person and his eyes were glassy. Ashburn performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and was placed under arrest. His first DUI offense occurred on December 22, 2006. While being questioned by the officer Ashburn admitted to having a loaded handgun in the truck. The officer found the weapon in the center console.
32 year old John Wayne Leftwich, Jr. of Old Blue Springs Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court March 5. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, December 22 a deputy was dispatched to an auto accident on the Old Blue Springs Road. The officer spoke with Leftwich who was involved in the mishap. He had a strong odor of alcohol on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. Leftwich, who refused to perform field sobriety tasks, was taken to the hospital for a blood test and placed under arrest.
40 year old Glen Ray Jones of Hurricane Ridge Road is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court January 8. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, December 23 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Hurricane Ridge Road where an eight year old girl had come to report that she was afraid because her mother and boyfriend were fighting. The officer spoke with the child who said that she awoke to her mother’s screams for help. Jones also allegedly told the child that if she came into their room, he would slap her. The deputy then went to the Jones residence and spoke with both Jones and the child’s mother. The woman said that Jones, who had been drinking, started cussing and screaming at her after he arrived home. As the woman screamed for her child to go get help, Jones placed his hand over her mouth trying to keep her quiet. He then bit her on the hand as she grabbed his fingers. Jones then allegedly tried to strangle the woman which made it difficult for her to breathe. Jones was placed under arrest.
24 year old Spencer Montgomery Wallace of South College Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. He was further issued citations for failure to exercise due care and for not wearing a seat belt. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance January 15. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, December 24 a deputy was dispatched to a traffic accident on Short Mountain Highway. Upon arrival, the officer observed a red truck off the road in a ditch. The driver, Wallace was passed out behind the steering wheel. When awakened, Wallace was found to have slow reactions, slurred speech, and blood shot eyes. He allegedly admitted to the officer that he had smoked marijuana. In his jacket was a prescription bottle containing seven Oxycodone pills. Wallace submitted to and performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also took a blood test. Wallace was placed under arrest.
35 year old David Allen Sloan of Tramel Branch Road, Alexandria is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance January 22. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, December 24 a deputy was following a gray truck on East Broad Street in Smithville and noticed that the vehicle failed to maintain its lane of travel. The officer made a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Sloan who had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. His eyes were glassy and his speech was slurred. Sloan performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also took a blood test and was placed under arrest.
25 year old Jacob Ross Daley of Sparta is charged with criminal trespassing. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court January 8. Sheriff Ray said that on Christmas Day Daley entered property on Luna Lane without the owner’s consent. He was escorted off the property by a deputy and told not to return.
42 year old Gary Edward Matthews of Four Seasons Road, Smithville is charged with driving on a suspended license. His bond is $1,000 and he will be in court on January 22. Sheriff Ray said that on Christmas day a deputy saw Matthews operating a vehicle on West Broad Street in Smithville. Having prior knowledge that Matthews’ license were suspended, the officer stopped him. A computer check confirmed that Matthews’ license were suspended for failure to satisfy a citation on November 17. TWRA officers had previously warned Matthews not to be driving due to his license being suspended on December 21. Upon this latest offense, Matthews was taken into custody.
45 year old Robert Bruce Frutchey of Franklin is charged with driving under the influence. He was further issued a citation for a violation of driving on roads laned for travel. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court March 5. According to Sheriff Ray, a deputy was patrolling Highway 70 east on Saturday, December 27 when he saw a vehicle cross the center line. The officer made a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Frutchey who had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. He performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and took a blood test. Frutchey was then placed under arrest.
43 year old Vicky Lenae Alvis of Sparta Highway, Smithville is charged with a third offense of driving on a revoked license and leaving the scene of an accident. She was further issued citations for failure to maintain lane of travel, possession of a revoked license, and for violation of financial responsibility (no insurance). Her bond is $7,500 and she will be in court on January 8. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, December 27 Alvis was involved in a one vehicle crash on Midway Road in which she ran off the road and struck a mailbox causing property damage. Alvis then left the scene. A computer check revealed that Alvis’ license were revoked with two prior convictions.
22 year old Tony Lee Petty, Jr. of Johnson Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court January 8. He was arrested on Monday, December 29. Sheriff Ray said that on October 16 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Cleveland Way for a physical domestic. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who said that she and her husband, Petty had gotten into an argument over baby formula. During the argument, the woman grabbed Petty’s wallet. He then allegedly grabbed his wife, threw her against the bedroom door, a high chair, a couch, and an entertainment center. The woman had redness on the right side of her face and scratches on her wrist. Petty fled the scene on foot before the officer’s arrival.
A sheriff’s department deputy found drugs on two women during separate traffic stops on Broad Street in Smithville Saturday, December 20
41 year old Wendy Carol Bain of South College Street, Smithville is cited simple possession of a schedule II drug (Percocet), a schedule IV drug (Tramodol), and a schedule III drug (Suboxone) and failure to maintain lane of travel. According to Sheriff Ray, Bain was driving a white Impala on East Broad Street when the deputy observed her leaving her lane of travel. He made a traffic stop and spoke with Bain. After receiving consent to search, the officer found in Bain’s purse six Tramadol pills, a half Percocet pill, and a half Suboxone. Bain also could not provide proof of insurance.
Meanwhile, in a separate traffic stop on West Broad Street the same day, Saturday December 20, 28 year old Kimberly Ann Hall of Crossville was cited for possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia. In Hall’s possession were marijuana seeds, roach clips, four cut straws containing residue, a mirror with residue, and needles to shoot up methamphetamine.
WJLE had previously reported that both Bain and Hall were together in the same traffic stop, but they were actually not together. These were two unrelated and separate offenses.
Both women will appear in court on January 15.

A workshop on the epidemic of prescription medication abuse will be held in Smithville on February 20 at the DeKalb County Complex
“The Epidemic is Here” will offer CME’s for medical professionals but it is also open to all those who want to attend. The goal of this conference is not to alert people to the epidemic, but rather to discuss what can be done as a medical community to combat the problem. It will feature presentations on screening methods for addiction that are being used in medical facilities, better prescribing practices and the latest in treatment methods.
The featured speaker will be Dr. Steven Lloyd, a recovering addict who treats addiction.
The agenda is as follows:
8:00 – 8:30 Registration / Welcome
8:30 – 9:45 Angela McKinney Jones – SBIRT
9:45 – 10:00 Break
10:00 – 10:15 Judge Bratten Cook II
10:15 – 11:30 Dr. Stephen Loyd, MD, FACP –
The Power of the Pen
11:30 – 11:45 Break
11:45 – 12:45 Dr. Stephen Loyd, MD, FACP –
Medication Assisted Treatment
for Opioid Dependence
12:45 – 1:00 Closing remarks / Certificates /
Evaluation
This event will be sponsored by The Community Advisory Board of DeKalb County, The DeKalb County Drug Court, The Anti-drug Coalition of DeKalb County, DeKalb Community Hospital, Haven of Hope Counseling, Bradford Health Services, Lifeline of Tennessee, Ten Broeck of Tennessee, Health Connect America, Camelot Care, and The Tennessee Commission of Children and Youth. We have joined together to try help reduce the rates of addiction that are destroying our communities and to also treat those in need of help.
The cost is $50.00 for CME or $20.00 for general admission. A meal will be provided.
All proceeds for this training will go to the Community Advisory Board of DeKalb County.
If you or someone you know does not have available funding for training, there will be a limited amount of scholarships available.
For more information visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-epidemic-is-here-tickets-15042487485 or email jessica.tucker@tn.gov or rvalerio@bradfordhealth.net

Local landline telephone subscribers will soon be seeing a reduction in 911 surcharges. The rate will increase for cell phone customers.
According to Bradley Mullinax, Director of the DeKalb County Emergency Communications District, the Tennessee General Assembly in April passed a bill (SB 2407/HB2255) that will take effect in January 1, 2015 to effectively lower the 911 surcharge for DeKalb County citizens. “Currently, residential customers pay $1.50 per month for 911 service. The rate for business lines is $3.00. The new law will reduce the residential and business surcharges to $1.16 per month. We are excited about this law since the results will actually increase funding for DeKalb County 911. Essentially, the Tennessee General Assembly’s actions have set the 911 surcharge at $1.16 across the board for all counties. As a result, there will be a larger pool of money to be distributed among the districts,” said Mullinax.
“Cell phone customers will see a small increase in charges. The current rate is $1.00 per cell phone and that charge will also be set at $1.16, an increase of only 16 cents per cell phone,” he added.
The 911 Funding Modernization and IP Transition Act of 2014 was adopted by the Tennessee General Assembly on April 25, 2014. The Act, effective January 1st, updates the existing model for funding 911 to account for changes in technology and consumer choice by establishing a single, uniform 911 surcharge rate.
The new uniform rate accounts for advancements in technology needed to provide Tennesseans with prompt and accurate 911 services and it is intended to adequately fund local 911 services in light of the ongoing reduction of landline use across the State. Accordingly, DeKalb County residential and business lines, currently charged at $1.50 and $3.00 respectively, will be adjusted to $1.16 per month. The cellular 911 surcharge will also be adjusted from $1.00 to $1.16 per month. Under the new law all communications providers will remit 911 fees to The Tennessee Emergency Communications Board, which in turn will remit 911 funds to local 911 Districts throughout the State in an amount no less than the 911 revenue received by each district during fiscal year 2012.
“Our highest priority is the public safety to the citizens of DeKalb County. 911 call takers and dispatchers remain dedicated to ensuring the quality of 911 service and response,” said Mullinax.
The Act also supports the state’s Next Generation 911 program. Next Generation 911 will provide better information and data to first responders, which allows local 911 operators to more quickly assess an emergency. As a result, the necessary equipment and personnel can promptly respond to the scene, according to Mullinax.
“The 911 Funding Modernization and IP Transition Act of 2014 will provide the resources necessary to ensure that the citizens of Tennessee receive the best 911 service available,” said Tennessee Emergency Communications Executive Director, Curtis Sutton. “It is extremely important that local governments understand that this new law flattens the local 911 revenue and that those 911 Districts who provide Direct Dispatching services will have to charge receiving agencies for dispatching services or discontinue those services. It’s also important to understand that 911 surcharge fees were never meant to fund the cost of dispatch operations,” said Sutton
Customers will likely notice a change reflecting the new rate on their January telephone and cellular phone bills.

For the first time in many years there are new faces in the County Mayor’s and Road Superintendent’s office. Smithville voters said okay to liquor stores. And, Smithville lost its’ long-standing battle with the DeKalb Utility District.
In what could be described as a year of change, local election results headed the list of top news stories in 2014, with the Smithville-DUD battle coming in second.
Wallace (Butch) Agee won a tightly-contested race to succeed Kenny Edge as DeKalb County’s Road Superintendent. Edge, who had been in office since September 1, 1990 chose not to seek another term. Republican Agee defeated Democrat Jimmy Sprague by 188 votes in the August General Election.
And, Democrat Tim Stribling won the County Mayor’s spot after defeating 3-term incumbent Mike Foster in the May Democratic Primary. Stribling then went on to defeat Republican Chris Smithson and Independent Chris Bratcher in August.
Foster’s loss came even after he was cleared in February of any criminal activity in the UCHRA Living the Dream project.
There is also a new face in the County Clerk’s office following the August election. James L. (Jimmy) Poss defeated Mike Clayborn in the May Democratic Primary and was then unopposed in the August balloting.
Not only were there changes in county wide offices, when the Democratic Primary and August General elections were over, there were six new persons elected to the county commission. The six incumbents either chose not to seek re-election or were defeated in one of the two elections. And, there were four new school board members following the August election as three incumbents lost their re-election bids and another did not seek another term.
In November, Smithville voters did an about face and voted to approve retail package stores (liquor stores). But in a strange twist, voters rejected liquor by the drink in Smithville establishments.
It was the second time voters turned down liquor by the drink and the liquor store referendum had also previously failed.
After months of planning and legal battles with opponents including the City of Smithville who tried to stop the project, the DeKalb Utility District will soon be starting construction on its own water treatment plant. During its regular monthly meeting in October, the DUD board of commissioners awarded contracts to three companies who were the lowest bidders on three different portions of the project. The total cost comes to $12,958,390.
The Smithville/DUD issue was often in the news in 2014.
With no new water purchase contract in place with DUD, the Smithville aldermen voted to increase the rate for water sold to DUD from $2.05 per thousand gallons to the rate of $5.00 per thousand gallons effective January 1, 2014. The previous contract expired as of the first of the year.
In February, the DUD Board of Commissioners voted to take the City of Smithville to court in a move to bring down the new $5.00 per thousand gallon water rate the municipality began charging the utility January 1st which resulted in higher rates to DUD customers. The board also voted to authorize the DUD management team to bring down the rate DUD charges its customers, after the city rate to the utility is adjusted. Later that month, Chancellor Ronald Thurman held a hearing in Cookeville and ordered the city to immediately reduce its water rate to the DeKalb Utility District from $5.00 to $2.67 per thousand gallons, which a water study last year found to be the city’s actual cost to produce water. Chancellor Thurman granted a DUD motion for a temporary injunction barring the city from continuing to impose its $5.00 rate until the city gives proper notice to DUD and justification for raising the rate above $2.67 per thousand gallons.
The City of Smithville got more bad news in February when Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle dismissed a petition for a judicial review by DUD ratepayers and the City of Smithville who were seeking to overturn a decision by the Utility Management Review Board, who in April 2013 ruled against the petitioners in their quest to halt DUD’s plans for construction of a water plant. In her ruling, Chancellor Lyle affirmed the UMRB decision that the petitioners had failed to meet their burden of proof that DUD rates or services provided were unreasonable.
In March, attorneys for the city filed a counter claim in Chancery Court claiming that the DUD underpaid for water purchases from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013 and owes the city more than one million dollars. Even though the city had a water purchase contract with the DUD from March 15, 2004 through December 31, 2013 establishing the amount the DUD would pay for water each year, city attorneys claim a 2013 water cost study found that the municipality had not charged the DUD enough to cover all of the actual costs of producing and distributing water to the DUD, and the City did not recover any of its capital costs from DUD during the period between July 1, 2008 and December 31, 2013. In the answer, DUD attorneys contend that the water purchase contract governed the rate to be charged over the ten year period and that there is no authority for the City to claim that it should be paid more than the water rate that was mutually agreed upon in the 2004 Water Purchase Contract. The litigation remains pending in court.
Three people lost their lives in DeKalb County fatal traffic accidents in 2014 including 25 year old Jeremy Vick of Sparta, 19 year old Roberto Cruz, and 36 year old Sarah Clark of Alexandria. Three other persons drowned in Center Hill Lake including 71 year old Robert W. Tramel, his niece 49 year old Barbara Beach both of Smithville, and 57 year old Stephen R. Morris of Collierville.
A man living in DeKalb County,38 year old Alan Mooney, Jr., was charged in Wilson County with first degree murder, aggravated arson, two counts of arson and abuse of a corpse following an August fire which occurred at the home of his father Alan Mooney, Sr. at Statesville. Human remains found at the scene were identified as those of Mooney, Sr.
Meanwhile, another man serving a twenty five year prison sentence in a 2002 DeKalb County murder case could be a free man by May 2015. After a hearing in May, Tim Gobble, a member of the Tennessee Board of Parole, voted to parole 42 year old Melvin Eugene Turnbill provided he successfully completes a nine to twelve month substance abuse program called “Therapeutic Community” while still in prison. In September 2003, Turnbill received a twenty five year sentence after pleading guilty in DeKalb County Criminal Court to facilitating the first degree murder of Joshua Murphy, who was shot and killed in a secluded area in the Laurel Hill Community at the end of Old Eagle Creek Road on Sunday, September 15, 2002. His body was discovered three days later. Officials said Turnbill and a co-defendant, Christopher Nicholas Orlando suspected Murphy of stealing methamphetamine. Orlando, the triggerman in the killing, was tried and convicted of the crime by a DeKalb County Criminal Court Jury in April, 2004. Orlando, serving a 45 year prison sentence for facilitation of first degree murder, is incarcerated at the Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City, Tennessee. Orlando was denied parole following a hearing in March, 2013. He will be up for parole again in 2016
Governor Bill Haslam visited DeKalb County in February for a speaking engagement at the local Republican Party’s Reagan Day Dinner. A group of local educators, students, and others opposed to Tennessee Common Core standards greeted the Governor with protest signs and chants as he arrived in Smithville.
Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schorer visited DeKalb County in June as he began his three day “TDOT Projects Tour” in Region 2. His first stop on the tour was at the new Sligo bridge, where construction is underway.
In sports, DeKalb County High School Tigerette Coach Danny Bond got his 600th career victory as head softball coach in April with a 14 to 0 win over York Institute at Jamestown. He also led his team to the state tournament in May, the sixth state tournament appearance for the program in Coach Bond’s 28 year coaching career.
Meanwhile, the DeKalb County Tigers earned a berth in the state football play-offs after defeating the Smith County Owls 13-0 on a snowy Halloween night in Smithville. The Tigers traveled to Signal Mountain for the first round of the 4A playoffs on Friday, November 7 and lost 49-10 bringing down the curtain on their football season. The Tigers finished with an overall record of 5-6 and a second place finish in the district at 4-2. This was the fourth consecutive year the Tigers made it to the play-offs and it was their sixth appearance in the last seven years under Coach Steve Trapp.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TOP LOCAL NEWS STORIES MONTH BY MONTH FROM JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER, 2014 AS REPORTED ON WJLE:
JANUARY 2014
*A DeKalb County couple are the proud parents of the year’s first baby born in Warren County.
Elliot Bunch, son of Richard and Aleisha Bunch of Smithville, arrived at 7:54 a.m. on New Year’s Day at River Park Hospital in McMinnville. The child reportedly weighed seven pounds and twelve ounces and was twenty one inches long. The baby boy was delivered by Dr. Vanessa Streicher.
The family received gifts from several local businesses in Warren County.
*Senior defensive lineman Eli Gill was named Most Valuable Player of the 2013 DeKalb County High School Football Team during the annual Awards Banquet held Saturday night, January, 11th at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center building. The awards were sponsored by Liberty State Bank. The MVP trophy was presented to Gill by Coach Steve Trapp. Gill helped lead the Tigers to an overall 6-5 record and another appearance in the state play-offs in 2013. It was the third consecutive year the Tigers earned a berth in the state play-offs and their fifth appearance in the last six years. The Tigers lost in the first round of the play-offs to Knoxville Catholic. Gill is the son of Darrell and Beth Gill. Darrell won the Tiger MVP award after the 1987 season. They are apparently the only father and son to ever win the MVP at DCHS. Meanwhile, Senior and Captain McKenzie Poteete was named Most Valuable Cheerleader.
*A three month long undercover drug investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department resulted in grand jury indictments against sixty four people on Monday, January 13. Most of the defendants were arrested Wednesday, January 15 and brought to the Main Station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department on King Ridge Road where they were booked. ” We presented a total of 112 controlled drug buys to the DeKalb County Grand Jury. There was also an additional drug indictment on another person for a methamphetamine lab. So the total number of Drug Defendants is 64,”said Sheriff Patrick Ray. Some of the defendants charged in the drug sting are employees of local businesses. ” There were three businesses on West Broad Street in Smithville where we were able to conduct controlled drug buys. We had been receiving citizen complaints of drug sales and drug abuse from one business in particular where we made arrests. We were able to conduct 12 different controlled drug buys from 6 different employees who worked at this business,” said Sheriff Ray.
*Local, state, and federal law enforcement officials converged on a local pain clinic shortly after noon on Friday, January 17 in Smithville. The Health Care Team Clinic at 409 East Broad Street was under investigation by the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency, the Tennessee Inspector General’s Office, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and the Smithville Police Department apparently over the dispensing of narcotics. Activity at the clinic in prior months aroused suspicion with some patrons to the clinic coming here from counties many miles away. Sheriff Patrick Ray and Police Chief Randy Caplinger, in a joint statement said that “The sheriff’s department, police department, and federal DEA agents executed a search warrant at Health Care Team at 409 East Broad Street.” They would say no more about the investigation. Two persons were arrested on unrelated charges.
*Smithville Volunteer firefighter Lieutenant Donnie Cantrell received the “Highest Attendance Award” Friday night, January 17 during an appreciation dinner for city firefighters at the Smithville First United Methodist Christian Fellowship Center. The award was presented to Cantrell by Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker. Lieutenant Cantrell responded most to incidents during 2013. A total of 125 out of 144 total fire calls. Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale was next having responded to 123 calls followed by James R. Hunt with 118 and Lieutenant John Poss at 114. Deputy Chief Hale received an award for having put in the most training hours during the year at 227 followed by Lieutenant Cantrell with 161 hours, Lieutenant Danny Poss with 157 hours, and Lieutenant John Poss with 155 hours.
*The 2013 DeKalb County Volunteer Firefighter of the Year is Brian Williams, Station Commander of the Main Station, located on King Ridge Road.
Williams received the award Saturday night, January 18 during the Department’s Annual Awards Banquet held at the DeKalb County Complex. Williams was nominated and the evaluation of his nomination considered his fire call response, training attendance, and community service participation. Williams demonstrated an outstanding community service by taking the lead in allowing the department to partner with the Tennessee Fire Marshall’s Office in the “Get Alarmed Tennessee” Smoke Alarm Program. Starting in April 2013 and up to December 31, 2013, Brian sacrificed his personal time and expense to travel to every community in DeKalb County while installing 681 smoke alarms in homes with no alarms, or in homes with deficient alarms. Firefighter Steve Repasy received the Department’s 2013 “Git R Done” award and the “Rookie” award went to Firefighter Matt Boss of the Liberty Station.
*A January fire at a mobile home on Toad Road left a family homeless and an adult and a child with minor burns. County Fire Chief Donny Green told WJLE that Brandon Tramel was the owner of the mobile home but that it was being rented by Amanda Duke. The initial call to 911 was that children may still be inside the structure but a few minutes later it was reported that everyone inside got out. However, an adult and a child suffered burns “Duke, three other adults, and four children ages 6 to 16 were in the residence at the time of the fire and narrowly escaped,” said Chief Green. “One of the adults suffered first and third degree burns and one of the children had first degree burns on his arm and hand from the fire. The family also lost at least two dogs inside the home,” added Chief Green.
*Daily operating hours of the Liberty Post Office were reduced in a cost saving measure by the U.S. Postal Service. Scott Tinsley, Post Office Operations Manager for the Tennessee District, held a community meeting at the Liberty Post Office in January to explain the changes. About twenty concerned postal customers in the area showed up to learn more about the plan. “Today we discussed the changing of hours of the Liberty Post Office, basically going from a full eight hour a day office down to six hours a day at the retail window,” said Tinsley. What we have proposed is for the Liberty Post Office to be open Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. with a two hour lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.. Saturday hours would be from 7:45 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. Liberty postal customers recently received surveys outlining four different options for the Liberty Post Office. A total of 987 customer surveys were mailed and 219 of them were returned. Eighty eight percent of the respondents (193 customers) said given the options they preferred a realignment of the hours. The final decision officially making the change came weeks later by the Postal Service.
*DeKalb County High School was recommended for re-accreditation by a study committee with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools who visited the school, January 16 & 17. But while DCHS drew praise for advancements, the committee found a need for more space and better technology. “Plan a new school that will hold all the students and provide adequate technology for them,” said Committee Chairperson Karen Garner. The committee, made up of four Middle Tennessee educators, met with teachers, parents, and students in conducting its two day review. “We determine the institution’s effectiveness in meeting the requirements of accreditation,” said Garner, who spoke with WJLE at DCHS. A SACS re-accreditation committee review is conducted every five years to determine if member schools have made sufficient progress and to make recommendations for improvement. “This is a five year study. When the next five year study comes along they (DCHS) will be checked to see how they have progressed. If SACS deems it necessary they might check in two years to see if any of these things are being addressed sufficiently,” said Garner. A final decision on SACS Re-accreditation of DCHS came later in the year with the school receiving approval.
FEBRUARY:
*A preliminary autopsy report from the state medical examiner revealed that the two people found dead in Center Hill Lake in February drowned. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and TWRA Officers believe 71 year old Robert W. Tramel and his niece 49 year old Barbara Beach both of Smithville were the victims of a boating accident. No foul play is suspected. “We do feel like their vessel overturned and the result was that both of them actually drowned. They did not have life jackets in the boat,” said TWRA Officer Tony Cross. According to Officer Cross, Tramel and Beach boarded a small flat bottom John boat Wednesday, February 19 at the launch ramp for the former location of Hidden Harbor Marina at Holmes Creek near an area known as Redneck Beech. There were apparently no witnesses to the accident. Beach’s body was found by a fisherman late Wednesday afternoon. “A call was made Wednesday at 5:14 pm by a fisherman who said he found a body in the water. Through an investigation, we learned that the two (Tramel and Beach) had gone fishing earlier in the day around the Holmes Creek Boat Ramp off of Holmes Creek Road,” said Sheriff Patrick Ray. “Her body was in about 12-14 feet of water,” added TWRA Officer Cross. Tramel’s body was found early Thursday morning by the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad. “His body was found in the lake around 4:28 a.m. Thursday morning after the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad, using their sonar system, spotted an image of interest. The TWRA then used a submersible sonar, equipped with a camera and grab hook, to retrieve the body,” said Sheriff Ray. “His body was recovered approximately 400-500 yards from the boat ramp, about 200 yards from Beach’s body. He was in about 25 feet of water,” said Officer Cross.
*DeKalb County native Dan Foutch and his wife Lisa were honored by Belmont University. The University celebrated Homecoming Saturday, February 8 with the long-anticipated grand opening of a new Alumni House on campus, named for the Foutch family. Thanks to the support of numerous alumni and donors, one of the oldest structures on campus was recently renovated to become home base for Belmont’s 28,000 alumni. The building originally served as Ward-Belmont’s Clubhouse No. 10 during the early 20th century when 10 clubhouses lined campus in the former Club Village. Each club house hosted Ward-Belmont social clubs for resident students and was used for meetings, meals for special occasions, teas and dances and housing visiting alumni. The original fireplace, banister and beams remain in Clubhouse No. 10 and were integrated into its restoration. During Saturday’s ribbon cutting, the building was formally named the Foutch Alumni House in honor of alumni Dan and Lisa Foutch, both 1982 graduates from Belmont’s College of Business Administration. A member of Belmont’s Board of Trustees, Dan Foutch is senior vice president of J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc. in Glasgow, Kent.
*A ten year old child, who went missing from his home in Alexandria in February was found unharmed some four hours later around midnight. Alexandria Police Chief Mark Collins told WJLE that the boy, who lived with his mother and three siblings on Avant Circle, left home around eight p.m.. He was found by Chief Collins and Alexandria Police Sergeant Chris Russell around 11:57 p.m. hiding behind a central heat and air unit at a building on Edgewood Street about a quarter of a mile from his residence. The boy was wrapped in a comforter that he had brought from home. The child was also wearing a jacket and a back pack. Because of the extremely cold weather, officials knew it was imperative to locate the boy as soon as possible once he was reported missing by his mother. Although he appeared to be okay, the boy was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital to be checked out.
*Five months after being indicted by a federal grand jury as a result of the “Living the Dream” investigation, County Mayor Mike Foster was cleared of the charge against him. U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger signed the agreed order of dismissal in the case against Foster. Foster’s attorney, Hal Hardin, phoned WJLE to confirm that the indictment against Foster had been dismissed with prejudice, meaning that this particular case can never be brought against Foster again. Foster has also agreed not to sue for any claims he might have had against the government. “Prosecutors in the case filed a notice with the court stating that they no longer wished to pursue the charge,” said Hardin in his statement to WJLE. “I always felt Mr. Foster was an innocent man and I knew this day would come. I am just sorry it didn’t come sooner. I am very happy for him. I know it has been a tough time for him but he has stood tall through it all and it’s over now,” said Hardin.
*A ruling handed down in February by a Davidson County Chancellor cleared the way for the DeKalb Utility District to build its own water treatment plant. Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle dismissed a petition for a judicial review by DUD ratepayers and the City of Smithville who were seeking to overturn a decision by the Utility Management Review Board, which in April, 2013 ruled against the petitioners in their quest to halt DUD’s plans for construction of a water plant. In her ruling, Chancellor Lyle affirmed the UMRB decision.
*Three men accused of stealing more than $100,000 worth of copper and brass from Federal Mogul in Smithville last year were sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court in 2014. 56 year old Billy Joe Rigsby pleaded guilty in February to theft over $60,000 while 29 year old Corey Dickens entered a plea to theft over $10,000. Rigsby received a ten year sentence to serve at least 30% as a range one offender before parole eligibility. He was given jail credit of almost six months from August 13, 2013 to February 21, 2014. Rigsby also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of delivery of a schedule II drug and was handed a three year sentence in that case to run concurrently with the theft offense. He received a drug fine of $2,000. Dickens got a five year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Corrections. He was given jail credit of almost six months from August 1, 2013 to February 21, 2014. Dickens and Rigsby are to make restitution jointly and severally to Federal Mogul in the amount of $109,771. Meanwhile in September, 48 year old Martin Riley, III was sentenced to five years after pleading guilty to theft of property over $10,000 in the case. The sentence is to run concurrently with another sentence he is now serving. Riley will be eligible for probation after serving 35% of the sentence as a range II multiple offender. He has been given jail credit since October, 2013. Riley must also make restitution.
*Vowing to continue working to make Tennessee a better place to live, work and raise a family, Governor Bill Haslam addressed a gathering at the DeKalb County Republican Party’s Reagan Day Dinner at the county complex auditorium in February. The Governor commended state legislators for joining him in efforts to more wisely manage the taxpayers money, cut taxes, improve education so that high school graduates are more ready for college or a career, and create a business friendly climate in the state to attract more jobs.
*A group of local educators, students, and others opposed to Tennessee Common Core standards greeted Governor Bill Haslam with protest signs and chants as he arrived in Smithville to speak at the local Republican Party’s Reagan Day Dinner in February. The event was held at the county complex auditorium. The Governor did not acknowledge the protestors as he emerged from his automobile and entered the building where friends and supporters were waiting to welcome him.
*The City of Smithville was ordered by the Chancery Court to immediately reduce its water rate to the DeKalb Utility District from $5.00 to $2.67 per thousand gallons, which a water study last year found to be the city’s actual cost to produce water. Following a two hour hearing Friday, February 28 in Cookeville, Chancellor Ronald Thurman granted a DUD motion for a temporary injunction barring the city from continuing to impose its $5.00 rate until the city gives proper notice to DUD and justification for raising the rate above $2.67 per thousand gallons. The ruling was only on the motion for a temporary injunction. The lawsuit brought against the city by the DUD is yet to be litigated. The city has agreed not to disconnect water service to the DUD while it is pending. As a result of the ruling, DUD immediately reduced rates charged to its customers who receive water that the District purchases from the City of Smithville.
*Director of Schools Mark Willoughby was offered and accepted a new three year contract by the Board of Education. The school board met in special session Friday night, February 28 and voted 4-3 to enter into a new agreement with Willoughby, which will be from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2017. Board members John David Foutch, Charles Robinson, Kenny Rhody, and Chairman Johnny Lattimore voted in favor. Members Billy Miller, Doug Stephens, and W.J. (Dub) Evins, III voted against it, preferring a one year contract instead.
MARCH:
*A Sparta man lost his life in a three vehicle crash on Highway 70 near the Midnight Express/Gentleman’s Club in March. Dead is 25 year old Jeremy Vick. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Vick died when his 1997 Honda Civic struck the rear of a 2005 Ford Mustang, driven by 23 year old Joshua Smith of Morrison who had slowed to make a turn into a parking lot. The force of the crash caused Vick’s car to rotate sideways into the path of an oncoming 2004 Mitsubishi, driven by 22 year old Beth Holeton of Dowelltown. Vick died at the scene. No one else was injured.
*A suspected drug dealer, already on probation for prior offenses, was arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department after officers found more than $18,000 worth of pills in his possession. 43 year old Homer Anthony Petty of 1588 Banks Pisgah Road, Smithville was charged with possession of a schedule II drug for resale (Morphine), possession of a schedule II drug for resale (Dilaudid), and two counts of possession of a schedule II drug for resale (oxycodone). Sheriff Patrick Ray said as part of the department’s on-going investigation into the illegal sale of narcotics, drug detectives and other officers went to Petty’s home on Friday, March 7 to do a probation visit and search after identifying him as a suspect.
During the search, officers and detectives found 445 dilaudid pills in the pocket of a pair of jeans. The pills were packed in nine individual bags. Eight of the bags contained 50 dilaudid pills each. One bag had 45 dilaudid pills. Petty also produced a pill bottle that contained eighteen morphine 30 milligram pills, five oxycodone 10 milligram pills and twenty three oxycodone 15 milligram pills. Petty had no prescription for the pills. According to Sheriff Ray, the total street value of the pills is $18,735. While there, officers and detectives also seized $6,968 in cash, scanners, and security cameras which were set up on the premises so that Petty could monitor who was coming into his driveway. In September Petty pled guilty to possession of a schedule II drug for resale and received a three year sentence, all suspended to probation. He was fined $2,000 and must forfeit all seized property. The term is to run consecutive to a Warren County sentence against him. Petty was given jail credit for 93 days.
*Senior Ethan Roller was named the DCHS Tiger basketball Most Valuable Player at the annual team banquet in March, while Senior Paige Winningham and Junior Loren Cripps shared Lady Tiger Co-MVP honors. Senior Captain Ashley Medlin was the Most Valuable Cheerleader. The awards were sponsored by Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. The MVP and MVC awards are named in memory Allen D. Hooper. Roller, who scored 1,190 points in his career at DCHS and led the mid-state this season in three points shots made at 111, also received the best offensive player award and was named to the All-District 1st Team. In addition to winning the MVP honor, Winningham took home awards for best offensive player and best passer. She was also named to the All-District 3rd Team. Cripps, along with the MVP award, was honored for being the best defensive player, best foul shooter, and best three point shooter. Cripps, a Junior, has also scored over one thousand points in her high school basketball career. Cripps was named to the All-District 3rd Team. The season for the DeKalb County Tigers ended with a loss to Cannon County in the District Tournament at Sparta in February. The Tigers finished the season at 19-14 overall and 4-10 in district play. The DeKalb County Lady Tigers wrapped up their season losing to Central Magnet in the District Tournament. They closed out the season with an overall record of 20-14 and 4-10 in the district.
*Although the Smithville animal shelter is supposed to be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., a Smithville woman found it closed when she went there in March. But what she discovered when she arrived there disturbed her more. “I pulled up and found a dead dog inside of the fence and then I found ten to eleven (living) puppies were inside of a turned over trash can (outside the fence in front of the building). It was definitely upsetting,” said Lindsey Maestri. It’s not known exactly what caused the dog’s death but someone had apparently dropped off the puppies in the trash can. Maestri said the reason for her coming to the animal shelter was because she had lost her cat and was hoping someone had found it and brought it there. After finding the dead dog and the puppies she contacted the Joe Black Effort, a “no kill” animal rescue group. Mayor Jimmy Poss said sickness prevented animal shelter employees from being there that day. When they are on duty, Mayor Poss said the employees, David and Monica Summers sometimes have to be away from the shelter when they are answering a call regarding an animal. In some cases, they are also called out after hours. “They got called out last night because a dog had bitten a boy,” he said. As for animals who are brought to the shelter, Mayor Poss said they are fed and watered daily and he denies assertions by the Joe Black Effort that the city is not trying to care for them. “It’s not what Joe Black is saying. People drop dogs over here. Sometimes the dogs are sick. Some have Parvo. We can’t help it. They (people) don’t want them. Just like these eleven puppies brought here today. I can’t stop people from doing that. We do have an issue but anybody who wants these dogs, we’ll give the dogs to them. That’s our policy,” said Mayor Poss.
*A Dowelltown man, trying to outrun a state trooper in a December 2012 pursuit, was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court after pleading guilty to attempted initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine and tampering with evidence. 34 year old Jessie Comer Harris received a sentence of fifteen years to serve at 30% before his release eligibility date in the meth case and five years to serve at 30% on the tampering charge. The sentences are to run consecutively or back to back with each other for a total of twenty years but concurrently with a term he is already serving in another case. Other charges against him were nollied by the court. Harris was given jail credit of 421 days. Harris was found with meth lab components after he ran his car off the Old Snow Hill Road during the pursuit and he began eating the marijuana he had on him trying to get rid of that evidence.
APRIL:
*In the continuing legal battle between the City of Smithville and the DeKalb Utility District, attorneys for the municipality now claim that the DUD underpaid for water purchases from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013 and owes the city more than one million dollars. As a result, the city filed a counter claim in Chancery Court seeking a judgment against the DUD to recover the amount of the undercharges. The case remains pending in court. On June 2, the DeKalb Utility District filed an answer asking the Chancery Court to dismiss the city’s counter claim. In the answer, attorneys Dewey Branstetter, Jr. and Keith Blair for the DUD state that “the City of Smithville has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
DUD attorneys contend that the water purchase contract governed the rate to be charged over the ten year period and that the contract was reasonable and flexible and applied to these parties until its termination.
*The winner of this year’s Little Mister pageant was Skyler Chase Sullivan, the six year old son of Charity Sullivan of Smithville and the late Jamie Sullivan. The contest was held at DCHS sponsored by the Smithville Women’s Club. In addition to being named Little Mister, Sullivan also received the Mister Photogenic honor. The winner of the Little Miss Pageant was Averie Nicole McMinn, six year old daughter of Nathan and Amanda McMinn of Dowelltown. The first ever Young Miss was Carlee Elizabeth West, the eight year old daughter of D.J. and Megan Stewart of Smithville. The Young Miss is a new Spring Blossom Pageant started by the Smithville Women’s Club. Twelve year old Shaunta Rose Koegler of Smithville was crowned Junior Miss of the Spring Blossom Pageant. Koegler is the daughter of Brian and Leticia Koegler. Fourteen year old Morgan Faith Green was the first ever Teen Miss, a new Spring Blossom Pageant started by the Smithville Women’s Club. Green, daughter of Suzanne and Jon Harrison of Smithville, was also named Miss Photogenic.
*An employee of a company doing work at DeKalb Middle School during spring break was charged with theft for allegedly stealing items from classrooms including laptops, backpacks and other personal belongings of teachers and students. 30 year old Jason Michael Stockton of Cookeville was charged with one count of theft over $1,000 and four counts of theft under $500.
*The Tannery on West Broad Street was closed for a day after a Sunday night accident in which a man crashed through the front of the building in his Chevy Blazer, causing major damage. According to Smithville Police, 27 year old Jason Alexander Sturdivante was driving a 1998 Chevy S-10 Blazer when the vehicle entered the parking lot of the Tannery and crashed into the business, which was closed at the time. Sturdivant was apparently not seriously injured .
*A new group was formed to address the problem of abandoned and abused animals in DeKalb County. “It’s called the DeKalb Coalition for the Humane Treatment of Animals, and we are in the process of securing IRS 501 c 3 charitable status,” said David McDowell, Fourth District County Commissioner, who is a member of the Coalition. “The purpose is to provide for an adequate animal shelter and facilities; to provide a permanent & safe location for neglected, abandoned and abused animals; to provide an alternative low-kill policy so these animals receive medical attention, reduce overpopulation, and be cared for until they can be placed in permanent homes,” said McDowell in a statement to WJLE. The organization later received approval for 501 c 3 status.
*DeKalb County High School Tigerette Coach Danny Bond got his 600th career victory as head softball coach in April with a 14 to 0 win over York Institute at Jamestown. Bond is the only coach the Tigerette program has had since it began in 1986. In twenty eight seasons the programs district win-loss record is 254-53 (.827). The overall win-loss record is 578-236 (.710). Under Coach Bond, the program has won fourteen regular season district titles, twelve district tournament titles, made twenty one region tournament appearances, has won four region tournament titles, made nine sub-state appearances, won five sub-state titles, and made five state tournament appearances. Coach Bond has been named District Coach of the Year eleven times and he has one Mid-State Coach of the Year and one T.A.C.A. Coach of the Year honor. In recognition of his success as softball coach, the DeKalb County Board of Education in May voted to honor Coach Bond by naming the high school softball field after him.
*The winners of the annual Leadership DeKalb Alumni awards were honored in April during the Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet at the DeKalb County Complex. Darrell and Beth Gill received the Community Leaders of the Year Award and IvaDell Randolph was presented the Legacy Award. Meanwhile, the Chamber presented Golden Milestone Awards to WJLE Radio and Cantrell’s the home of Fluty. Each business marked 50 years of service to the community.
MAY:
*A man serving a twenty five year prison sentence in a 2002 DeKalb County murder case could be a free man within a year. After a hearing Thursday morning, May 1 Tim Gobble, a member of the Tennessee Board of Parole, voted to parole 42 year old Melvin Eugene Turnbill provided he meets certain conditions while still in prison. After the hearing, the file was sent to the other parole board members, who reviewed it and cast their votes. Three matching votes were needed for a final decision in this case. Members of the Tennessee Board of Parole voted to release Turnbill to parole supervision. However, prior to release, Turnbill will have to complete a nine to twelve month substance abuse program called “Therapeutic Community” and get a release plan approved. The board also voted that Turnbill receive a substance abuse after-care referral upon leaving prison, and that he be assessed for substance abuse treatment once he is under parole supervision. The assessment will be completed by TDOC staff. The parole hearing was held at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex in Pikeville, where Turnbill is incarcerated. Gobble was not at the prison. He presided by video conference from another location. In September 2003, Turnbill received a twenty five year sentence after pleading guilty in DeKalb County Criminal Court to facilitating the first degree murder of Joshua Murphy, who was shot and killed in a secluded area in the Laurel Hill Community at the end of Old Eagle Creek Road on Sunday, September 15, 2002. His body was discovered three days later. Officials said Turnbill and a co-defendant, Christopher Nicholas Orlando suspected Murphy of stealing methamphetamine. Orlando, the triggerman in the killing, was tried and convicted of the crime by a DeKalb County Criminal Court Jury in April, 2004. Orlando, serving a 45 year prison sentence for facilitation of first degree murder, is incarcerated at the Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City, Tennessee. Orlando was denied parole following a hearing in March, 2013. He will be up for parole again in 2016.
*An eighth grade teacher at DeKalb Middle School was named “DeKalb County Teacher of the Year” in May during the seventh annual Teacher of the Year banquet at the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church. Anita Puckett received the honor and a check for $150 from Liberty State Bank, the sponsor of the banquet. The presentation was made by Director of Schools Mark Willoughby and Roy Nelson Pugh of Liberty State Bank. Puckett was among five local educators who were recognized during the banquet for being chosen by peers as “Teacher of the Year” at their schools. The others were LeVaughnda Midgett, a kindergarten teacher at Smithville Elementary School; Kathryn Wisinger, an ESL(English as a Second Language) teacher at DeKalb Middle and DCHS grades 6-12; Elizabeth Nolt, a fourth grade educator at Northside Elementary School; and Tammy Payne, a sixth grade teacher at DeKalb West School.
*The Smithville Aldermen adopted an ordinance to annex six parcels of property and a portion of another parcel as well as the right of way of Old Snow Hill Road and part of Nashville Highway (Highway 70) on the west side of the city. The aldermen also approved an ordinance to amend the zoning map of the city to include three of these parcels in the R-1 Residential Zone along with a portion of the Right of Way on the Old Snow Hill Road. A third ordinance was adopted to amend the zoning map to include the remaining parcels in the B-2 General Business District as well as a portion of the right of way of Nashville Highway (Highway 70).
*Three term incumbents County Mayor Mike Foster and County Clerk Mike Clayborn lost their bids for a fourth term in the May DeKalb County Democratic Primary. Three incumbent county commissioners were also defeated including Jerry Scott in the third district, David McDowell in the fourth district, and Marshall Ferrell in the sixth district. A total of 3,313 persons voted in the primaries including 1,701 election day and 1,612 either during early voting or by absentee. Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack led the ticket with 2,426 complimentary votes.
*DeKalb Community Hospital celebrated National Nurses Week awarding Lindi Carter, RN with the hospital’s annual ‘Nurse of the Year’ award. The honor was awarded to Carter by her peers in nursing and presented by OR Director Nancy Trapp, along with ER Director Daniel Goodson, Chief Nursing Officer Kim Frazier and Chief Executive Officer Sue Conley.
*The Family Dollar Store in Smithville announced plans to close in June. The local store, which had been in operation since 1986, was among 370 underperforming Family Dollar stores across the country that closed as the company looked for ways to improve its financial performance.
*Ashley Barnes, the Class of 2014 Salutatorian at DeKalb County High School, took part in her college graduation ceremony at Motlow State Community College, two weeks before celebrating another educational milestone — high school graduation. While the numbers of students participating in dual enrollment has grown in recent years, a means for high school students to transition into college, Barnes is the only student in the history of the school at DCHS to ever have earned a college degree while completing high school credits. Through dual enrollment, high school students may take one or more college courses for which they receive both high school and college credits. On Saturday, May 10, Barnes graduated from Motlow with an Associate’s Degree in General Studies.
*Almost $660,000 in scholarships were awarded to members of the Class of 2014 at DeKalb County High School during the annual Senior Awards program in May. Representatives of colleges, universities, branches of the armed services, businesses, civic groups, and other organizations made the presentations. Mallory Sullivan received the largest single scholarship award of $115,000 from Belmont University where she will play golf. Kelsi Glenn received a perfect attendance award for not missing a day of school during her four years of high school. Sullivan was among fifty four students who received scholarships.
*DCHS Tigerette Softball standout Chelsey Brannon will play for the Tennessee Wesleyan Lady Bulldogs next season. A signing ceremony was held in May at the DCHS library. Her scholarship award is $58,000 from Tennessee Wesleyan. Brannon’s mother, coaches, and fellow players joined her for the signing. In addition to the $58,000 scholarship from Tennessee Wesleyan, Brannon also received a scholarship from Cookeville Regional Medical Center and Pepsi for $1,000 and the David Wayne Alexander Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 during the Senior Awards program at DCHS.
*The DeKalb County High School Tigerettes punched their ticket for the State Softball Tournament after winning at Chattanooga Central in the Sub-State 2 to 0. They were later eliminated from the State Tournament at Murfreesboro with a 1-0 loss to the Dyersburg Lady Trojans. DeKalb County concluded the season with an over-all record of 40-8.
*DCHS Softball standout Danielle Tyson was named “Miss Softball Middle Tennessee” by the Tennessee Softball Coaches Association. With the title, Tyson was also in the running with West and East Tennessee “Miss Softball” designees for the title of “Miss Tennessee Softball”. Meanwhile, Tyra Graham , another DCHS Tigerette, was named to the TSCA’s Class AA All State Team.
*Graduating seniors said their farewells to DCHS as students during the commencement in May. Three of the most outstanding members of the class were singled out for special recognition. This year’s White Rose Awards went to Kalab Ferrell and Kelsey Evins while the Citizenship Award was presented to Crystal Vickers . The 158 graduates received their diplomas during the commencement, each one shaking hands with Director of Schools Mark Willoughby as their names were called by Principal Patrick Cripps and Assistant Principal Kathy Bryant. Dr Hugh Don Cripps, a 1964 DCHS graduate and President of his Senior Class fifty years ago, was the commencement speaker.
*A physical education teacher at Smithville Elementary School and a third district county commissioner filed a federal employment discrimination lawsuit against the DeKalb County Board of Education and Director of Schools Mark Willoughby. Attorneys for Bradley Hendrix filed the lawsuit Thursday, May 29 in U.S. District Court in Nashville. He is represented by the Hendersonville law firm of Andy L. Allman and Associates. In the lawsuit, Hendrix alleges that he has been “subjected to a continuous and ongoing pattern of harassment and retaliation for his votes as a county commissioner on matters pertaining to the school system”, particularly his vote against purchasing land to build a new high school. According to the lawsuit, “On or about March 2011, the issue of the land purchase and school construction came before the county commission for approval. Hendrix voted against the measure. From that point on, Hendrix was subjected to harassment and retaliation by Mr. Willoughby in his employment”. Hendrix is suing the Board of Education and Director of Schools, both jointly and severally, seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He also wants a jury to try the case.
JUNE:
*The first ever Little Miss Jamboree is Isabella Faith Rackley. She was crowned queen among contestants ages four to six at the inaugural pageant held in June at the county complex. Rackley is the six year old daughter of Gordon and Jessica Rackley of Smithville. Nine year old Arista Isabella Rigsby won the Miss Jamboree pageant among girls ages seven to ten. She was also named Most Photogenic. Rigsby is the daughter of David and Tyroma Rigsby of Lebanon. The winner of the Miss Jamboree Pageant for girls ages eleven to thirteen is Abby Marie Evans, the thirteen year old daughter of Amanda Mathis of Smithville. Liz Abigail Qualls is the first ever Miss Jamboree among girls ages fourteen to sixteen. Qualls, the sixteen year old daughter of Brad and Kim Trapp of Smithville, was also awarded for Prettiest Eyes. Katie Sue Haggard won the Miss Jamboree Pageant for young ladies ages seventeen to twenty. Haggard is the twenty year old daughter of David and Vicki Haggard of Smithville. A McMinnville woman won the first ever Miss Jamboree Pageant for beauties ages 21-29. Shea Butcher is the 22 year old daughter of Kevin and Shelia Butcher of McMinnville. She was also awarded for Prettiest Eyes and Prettiest Hair.
*Starting almost 70 years ago, DeKalb County Historian Tommy Webb began devoting his life to learning everything possible about DeKalb County and its people and documenting that information. As a means of preserving those historical papers, Webb donated his files to the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Charles (Chuck) Sherrell, State Librarian and Archivist, his assistants, members of the local library board, and friends met at Webb’s home on College Street in June for a formal announcement followed by a luncheon. Although Webb’s original papers will be kept at the State Library and Archives, copies will remain at Justin Potter Library.
*Fifty state troopers received their badges in a graduation ceremony for the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s trooper cadet class in Hermitage in June. One of the new Troopers, Christopher Delong was assigned to DeKalb County in the Cookeville District of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
*Trooper Dewaine Jennings of the Tennessee Highway Patrol was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Jennings, who has worked in DeKalb County since joining the THP in 2007, received the promotion in March but was recognized in a formal ceremony on June 5 at the THP Training Center in Nashville. He received his Sergeant’s pin from THP Colonel Tracy Trott. Sergeant Jennings is a Supervisor in Putnam County.
*Shiroki North America, Inc. of Smithville announced plans in June to hire more workers to keep up with the production demand on a new product line for Subaru. “We are extremely busy right now. We’re right in the midst of launching a new door frame line for Subaru. This is for the Subaru Outback and the Subaru Sedan. We have recently added 80-90 people but we still have open jobs and spots to fill. So far it is starting out with a bang,” said Gina Haley, Plant Manager for Shiroki North America of Smithville in an interview with WJLE. “We have about 300 hourly employees out on the floor plus support staff here so there’s about 500 at this location. We’re working two shifts, more than eight hours a day, seven days a week,” Haley said. Workers will also be needed for another new line coming soon. “We have another door line. The Subaru Nissan Maxima door line is coming. We’ll be starting production on that early in 2015 and we are needing people to come right behind these current projects to start filling those jobs and start training,” she said.
*A ribbon cutting was held in June for the new 2,160 square foot Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad building which is located next to the existing facility near Green Brook Park. Joe Johnson, Treasurer and Technician for the Rescue Squad, told WJLE that while the new building is now functional, there is still some work yet to be done to complete it. Between the new building and the existing facility, Johnson said the Rescue Squad will be able to house all of its vehicles and equipment.
*Animal rights activists were back again in June holding signs in protest of the 2nd annual DeKalb County Young Farmers & Ranchers “Giggin for Grads” . The frog gigging tournament was held on one night from 7:00 p.m. until the weigh in at 1:00 am. the next morning. Participants met in the parking lot of the DeKalb County Complex. Proceeds from the tournament are used to fund an Agriculture scholarship for a high school student. Prize money also goes to the teams with the heaviest bags of frogs.
*Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer began his three day “TDOT Projects Tour” in Region 2 in June and the first stop was in DeKalb County. The Commissioner was joined by other TDOT representatives, State Senator Mae Beavers, State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Mark Pody and officials of Massman Construction during a luncheon at the county complex and most traveled by bus or vans afterward to the construction site of the new Sligo bridge. Upon arrival, each of the spectators donned hardhats, life jackets, and safety glasses and then boarded a barge for a ride on the lake to get an up close view of the construction. “It’s a massive project and very complicated,” said Commissioner Schroer. “Deep water bridge work is very hard but we’ve got a good tour of what they’re doing and how they are doing it. In April 2013, TDOT awarded the construction contract on Sligo bridge to the Massman Construction Company based in Kansas City, Missouri at $38,903, 917. The project is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2016.
*A 13 year old girl was commended for reporting an incident in June that led to the arrest of a convicted sex offender at the Smithville Municipal Swimming Pool. “If this little girl hadn’t told me then there is no telling what would have happened,” said Jeania Poss, operator of the Pool in an interview with WJLE. 41 year old Timothy Eugene Bowman of 1507 Big Hurricane Road was accused of making sexual comments to the 13 year old and two other teens. He was charged with three counts of solicitation of a person under 18 years of age and violation of the sexual offender registry law. According to Poss, the child came forward to report the incident which had occurred the previous week and when Bowman showed up at the pool again on another day, Poss immediately called police.
*An Alexandria man, 23 year old Shawn Patrick Byrd was charged with aggravated arson in June for allegedly setting fire to the residence where he lives on Lower Helton Road. According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire on Wednesday, June 18 at the residence. When firefighters found the source of the blaze they thought it to be suspicious and summoned a sheriff’s department detective to the scene. The detective conducted an investigation and discovered what appeared to be an intentionally set fire. Through the investigation, Byrd was identified as a suspect. During the interview with the detective, Byrd allegedly admitted to starting the fire. Sheriff Ray said the investigation reveals that the fire was set in the upstairs portion of the residence next to the HVAC unit in the closet using a table cloth and a piece of wood. Three other adults were in the home at the time including two downstairs and one upstairs.
*Jimmy Womack was reappointed to a new four year term on the DeKalb Utility District Board of Commissioners in June. The county commission voted in support of County Mayor Mike Foster’s appointment of Womack. Those voting in favor were county commissioners Elmer Ellis, Jr, Mason Carter, Jerry Scott, Bradley Hendrix, Wayne Cantrell, David McDowell, Rick Cantrell, Jeff Barnes, Marshall Ferrell, and Larry Summers. Jerry Adcock voted no and Jimmy Poss passed. Womack is one of two DUD board members whose current term expires this year. The other is Roger Turney of Cannon County.
*A DeKalb County man died in a pedestrian accident on Interstate 40 in Wilson County near the Smith County line at around 5:45 p.m. on Friday, June 13. Dead is 58 year old Gary A. Bouldin of Smithville. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a 2013 Dodge CVN Minivan, driven by 36 year old Amanda Hagler of Waverly, was traveling east on I-40 in the left lane near the 249 mile marker when a pedestrian (Bouldin) entered the eastbound lanes of I-40 from the south shoulder. The vehicle collided with Bouldin in the left lane and drove off the left shoulder into the median coming to final rest. The pedestrian (Bouldin) came to final rest in the middle of lane 1 on the east bound lane. Bouldin was taken by ground ambulance to UMC Medical Center in Lebanon. Three passengers were in the vehicle with Hagler but none of them were injured.
*A suggestion by the Town of Alexandria Beer Board to allow restaurants the opportunity to apply for a permit to serve beer by the drink gave cause for concern among many residents there. Several citizens attended the monthly meeting of the Alexandria Board of Mayor and Aldermen in June to speak out against the proposal. Mayor Tony Tarpley said the beer board, which is made up of the town’s aldermen, met recently in a workshop to discuss the idea. “The beer board met and made a suggestion to the city council to make an amendment to the beer permit ordinance where if it was a restaurant that applied for a permit that they could sell beer by the drink on the premises,” he said. The town already allows eligible stores to be permitted to sell packaged beer for off premises consumption. City Attorney Vester Parsley explained that no permits could be issued for beer by the drink in restaurants unless the aldermen were to vote to amend the current beer ordinance, which would require two readings at city council meetings and a public hearing. No such action has been taken.
*A DeKalb EMS paramedic is being hailed a hero after saving the life of a Lieutenant of the Tennessee Highway Patrol who suffered a heart attack during an outing on Center Hill Lake on Friday, June 20. Both the paramedic, Tyler Grandstaff and THP Lieutenant David Allred were off duty at the time. Allred and his family had just set up camp at Floating Mill Recreation area when he felt faint and then collapsed. Fortunately, Grandstaff , who was with his family closeby at the same time, came to his aide. “We were at the lake at Floating Mill and we had a man exhibiting signs of chest pain and diaphoresis (profuse sweating). He was pale, grayish and didn’t look well. I went to the truck and got my bag and my oxygen tank and did what we normally do. He was conscious but not alert and very disoriented. I started an IV and gave him some oxygen and fluids. Gladly an ambulance got there pretty quick,” said Grandstaff. As a show of appreciation, DeKalb EMS Director Hoyte Hale presented Grandstaff with a certificate for “Outstanding Service”. Allred and members of his family were also on hand for the occasion at the headquarters of the Central Dispatch/911 Center in Smithville.
JULY:
*A 31 year old man indicted for raping an eight year old boy between November 2012 and March 2013 stood trial and was convicted by a jury Tuesday, July 1 in DeKalb County Criminal Court. It took the jury of six men and six women only half an hour to find Jose Juan Reyes guilty on the charge of rape of a child. Although they could have, the jury imposed no fine. During a sentencing hearing later, Reyes received a 32 year prison term, just eight years short of the maximum penalty on the charge for which he was found guilty, Rape of a child. The range of punishment in the case was 25 to 40 years. “I am very pleased with the verdict. I think the jury did an outstanding job of listening to the proof and all the evidence in considering it and returning a verdict,” said Gary McKenzie, Deputy District Attorney General. According to McKenzie, Reyes was a trusted friend of the boy and his family prior to this incident and he had been renting a room in the home of the child’s aunt. The child, who has just turned ten years old, testified during the trial that he was at his aunt’s home when Reyes committed the act while the two of them were alone in Reyes’ bedroom. The trial judge was David Patterson.
*Jacob Carrigan of Nashville was the overall winner of the 16th annual Fiddler 5K and One-Mile Fun Run in July. Carrigan ran the course in 16 minutes and 42 seconds. Hope Ilias, best among women, ran the course in 20:22. One-Mile Fun Run (age 12 and younger) winner: TOP MALE: Joshua Burtnett at 6:55, and TOP FEMALE: Elizabeth Welch at 6:45. The 16th Annual Fiddler 5K and One-Mile Fun Run featured 356 participants. Funds raised will support Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County.
*Smithville’s own Darrin Vincent of the award winning bluegrass group, Dailey and Vincent, received the Fiddler’s Jamboree’s first ever Blue Blaze Award in July. The award was presented to Vincent by Shan Burklow of the Jamboree Marketing Committee and Alexis Grace Atnip, Miss Jamboree pageant 2nd alternate. Members of Vincent’s family joined him in receiving the award. The Jamboree Blue Blaze Award is presented to recognize a musician who is actively cultivating a love of bluegrass music.
*A Kentucky girl won the top Jamboree award as the best fiddler in the Jamboree’s National Championship for Country Musician Beginners. Annabelle Watts of Philpot, Kentucky was crowned the Grand Champion fiddler and won the coveted James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award, named for the man who started the children’s competition during the 1980’s as part of the annual festival. Meanwhile, the “Entertainer of the Year” Award went to Kyle Ramey of North Vernon, Indiana. This award is presented to the best overall instrumental entertainer among winners in the dobro guitar, mandolin, five string banjo, and flat top guitar competition for children up to age 12.
*For the first time two years ago a mother and daughter competed for the most coveted prize of the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival, the Berry C. Williams Memorial award, presented to the best overall fiddler. In a repeat from 2012, the same mother and daughter made it to the fiddle-off with the daughter again winning the showdown this year Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro, who took the Junior fiddling title earlier in the evening Saturday, July 5 and then went on to win the fiddle off against her mother, Marcia Denton of Murfreesboro, who had earlier won the senior fiddling competition. Fiddler’s Jamboree Coordinator Jack Barton presented Maddie her award at the conclusion of the festival.
*A Collierville man lost his life Saturday afternoon, July 5 on Center Hill Lake. The body of 57 year old Stephen R. Morris was recovered in about fifteen feet of water more than three hours after he fell off a jet ski and into the water. “If you went straight out from the mouth of Holmes Creek in a southeasterly direction, which is back upstream, it was about a mile across on the other side of the lake. There are a couple of small coves and they had pulled up in there on a houseboat,” said TWRA Officer Tony Cross in describing where the incident occurred. According to the TWRA, Morris was sitting on the back of a personal watercraft, which was attached to the house boat, when he fell off the back of it and never resurfaced. ” There were a number of folks who were on the houseboat and the front of it was actually grounded on the shore. The victim was on a jet ski which was pulled up on one of the slides or ramps on the back of the houseboat. It (jet ski) was actually not in the water. Our guess is that some sort of medical issue may have happened. He was sitting on the jet ski when he fell off into the water and went under. That was it,” said Officer Cross. Members of the TWRA, DeKalb County Rescue Squad, and Corps of Engineers began the search at around 4:00 p.m. “We were pretty sure we had located the body maybe within an hour or so with side scan sonar. Divers were called in from the Putnam County Rescue Squad and once they arrived on the scene and went down, it probably took only eight or ten minutes for them to locate the victim,” said Cross.
*DeKalb County native and former professional baseball player Greg Tubbs was inducted into the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame Friday, July 11 in New York. Tubbs, who is now an assistant baseball coach at Cookeville High School, played in the outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates-affiliated Buffalo Bisons in 1991, 1992 and 1994. He joined former Bisons manager Eric Wedge and long-time Buffalo-area scout Bob Miske in being selected for the Hall of Fame. During his three years with the Class AAA Bisons, the outfielder hit .283 (370-1,307) with 60 doubles, 19 triples, 12 home runs, 121 RBI and 67 stolen bases in 364 games. He’s third in the modern era in total hits (370) and is one of only two Bisons players since 1985 to have 100+ hits in three separate seasons.. Originally drafted by the Braves in the 22nd round of the 1984 June Amateur Draft, Tubbs played 11 combined seasons in Atlanta’s Pittsburgh’s and Cincinnati’s farm systems. In 1,243 minor league games, the outfielder hit .285 with 1,267 hits and 262 stolen bases. Tubbs made his Major League debut with the Reds in 1993 and hit .186 (11-59) with a home run and two RBI in 35 career games. Tubbs is a 1980 graduate of DeKalb County High School.
*A Dowelltown man, 29 year old Joseph Steven Audas was charged with the aggravated assault and rape of a woman in July. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, July 10 Audas allegedly tied the woman’s wrist and hands with a belt and held her down at knifepoint while hitting her in the face. During the assault, Audas allegedly struck the woman’s left ear and cut her under the chin and throat with the knife. He then allegedly raped the woman by digital penetration while armed with the knife and threatened to kill her if she refused to cooperate.
*Fast Pace Urgent Care officials and communit

Three people were involved in a crash Monday night at the intersection of Highway 70 and 96 at Liberty.
Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 19 year old Dustin Cole of Sparta was traveling north on Highway 96 in a 2007 Mazda when he failed to stop at the intersection and crossed into the path of a 2006 Toyota Camry driven by 57 year old Tomomi McDowell of Dowelltown, who was traveling east on Highway 70. 18 year old Sarah Webb of Sparta was a passenger with Cole.
Both McDowell and Webb were taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital. Cole was not injured. He was cited for failure to yield.
Others on the scene were members of the Liberty Station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and DeKalb Sheriff’s deputies.
Meanwhile, a Smithville woman was involved in a one car accident Monday on Braswell Lane.
Captain Steven Leffew of the Smithville Police Department told WJLE that 32 year old Michelle Brawley was driving west on Braswell Lane in a 2003 Nissan Altima when the right front tire went off the road. She was unable to get control and struck a culvert. She was taken by DeKalb EMS to the hospital.

DeKalb County’s unemployment rate for November was 6%, down from 6.1% in October and well below the 7.3% rate in November 2013.
The local labor force for November was 9,030. A total of 8,480 were employed at 540 were without work.
DeKalb County’s Jobless Rate for November was fourth lowest in the fourteen county Upper Cumberland region.
Here’s how they rank from highest to lowest:
Pickett: 11.8%
Van Buren: 8.9%
Clay: 8.8%
White: 7.7%
Cumberland:7.7%
Jackson:7.2%
Fentress: 6.8%
Warren:6.4%
Overton:6.2%
Putnam: 6.1%
DeKalb: 6%
Cannon:5.4%
Macon:5.3%
Smith:5.3%
County unemployment rates for November 2014 show the rate decreased in 18 counties, increased in 63 counties, and remained the same in 14 counties.
Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate in November at 5.1 percent, unchanged from the previous month. Davidson County was 5.2 percent in November, up from 5.1 in October. The Hamilton County November rate was 6.4 percent, up from 6.2 percent. Shelby County was 8.1 percent in November, up from 7.8 in October.
The Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for November was 6.8 percent, three tenths of one percentage point lower than the October revised rate of 7.1 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for November was 5.8 percent, unchanged from the prior month.
The state and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted while the county unemployment rates are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events from economic time series.

The American Cancer Society invites you to make a special donation in honor or in memory of a loved one during the holiday season through “Love Lights a Tree”. A special memory board has been erected on the south side of the courthouse that lists the names of loved ones.
The names of Honorees are as follows:
Cecil Adkins, Lisa Anderson, Ann Barnes, Jean Cook, Ralph Curtis, Bill Ertel, Earl D. France, Cathy Fuson Frazier, Ed Gass, Radley Hendrixson, Eddie Hobson, Chizuko Howard, Bobbie Joines, Linda Judkins, Betty Malone, Katrena Moore, Janette Moss, Ernest Ray, Carolyn Sheets, Margie Smith, Johnna Sprague, Lavelle Turner, Polly Turner, Sandra Wall, Georgia Willoughby, L.V. Young, and Susan Young.
Those in memory are as follows:
Harold M. Adcock, John D. Akin, Mai Akin, Angela Allen,
Dortha Barnes, Margie Barrett, Rebecca Beason, Bobbie T. Betty, Wayne Blair, Alan Bradford, Comer Bratcher, Larry Bratten,
Jeremy Caldwell, Joshua Caldwell, Clifton Cantrell, Frances Cantrell, Johnny Cantrell, Jodie Cantrell, Dianna Fuson Carter, Ronnie Carter, Martha Cathcart, Will Allen Cathcart, Mary Sue Chapman, Mary Collins, Arlo Cook, Bob Cook, Bratten Cook, Sr., James H. (Buddy) Cook, Jo Bill Cook, Jo Lynn Cook, Pam Baker Cook, Rubye Cook, Steve Cook, Eva Crook, Grady Crook, Jimmy (Cowboy) Curtis,
Earl Driver, Eddie Driver, Ravanell Driver, Tony Durso,
Barbara Easterwood, Ruth Elder, Homer L. Ellis, Roberta Ellis, Jerry Lee Estes, Nathan Estes,
Geraldine Fish, Byron Foutch, Willie Foutch, Billy J. France, James Alvie France, Billie Ann Frazier, Jim & Audrey Frazier, Joe Ronald Frazier, John Larry Frazier, Ronald Frazier, Ronnie Frazier, Woodrow Frazier, Leonard “Buddy” Freeman, Leonard Freeman, Sr., Margaret Freeman,
Royce L. Givens, Jr., James Goodwin, Brent Gregory, John Paul Grubb,
Brownie Haley, Sharon M. Harper, Lucille Cook Harris, Esker Harrison, Eva Harrison, Helen Hayes, Betty Herndon, Charles Wayne Herndon, Mallow Herndon, Vada Pauline Herndon, Edward Hobson, Billie Ruth Hooper, Harry Hooper, Lois Horn, Elby Howard, Kenneth Howard, Joe Huffman, Marvin Hutson, Sarah Hutson,
Johnnie Joines, Robert Joines, McKinley Jones, Earl Judkins, Len Judkins, Lillie & Grady Judkins, Marie Judkins,
Paulette Fuson Keith, Don B. Kilgore, Jennifer Renea Kincaid,
Claudette Frazier Lasser, Olene Lockhart, Brackett Luna, Nadine Luna,
Patsy Kilgore Majors, Billy Malone, Ida Malone, Linda Malone, Lou Autry Malone, Charles (Chuck) McCracken, T.C. McMillen, Amy Lynn Miller, Jeff Miller, Maude Lockhart Moody, Roy Murphy, Sr.,
Leonard Nixon, Lorene Nixon, Jo Ann Newbell, John Newbell,
J.C. Oakley,
J.W. Pack, Clarence, Jr. & Jewell Phillips, Donna Phillips, Bobby Pruitt, Dr. Jerry Puckett, Helen Putty,
Evelyn Ramsey, Clyde Randolph, David Randolph, Mary Alice Randolph, Author Redmon, Billy Rhody, Kenny Rhody, Edward Robinson, Lucille Robinson, H.R. Rosson,
Kevin Sanders, Larry Scurlock, Donald Smith, Nan Smith, Virgil Smith, Norman Sprague, Chris Stanley, Claude Stanley, Howard Stanley, Jordan Steinbach,
Shelby Tittsworth, Elizabeth Tramel, Dib Tubb, Gertie Tubb,
Betty Vaughn, Betty Nixon Vickers,
Green Wall, Maud Wall, Eveleen Walls, Jvan Walls, Sandy Wheeler, Bethel Steven (Steve) White, Sandra Willoughby, Louise Winchester, Ricky Winchester, Anthony Wright,
Amerce Young, Billy S. Young, Gary Ralph Young, John Cephas Young, Marie Young, and Stella Thweatt Young.
The names are in “honor of” and in “memory of” for a donation of five-dollars per name. Forms may be obtained at the local banks. For more information, contact Barbara Ashford at 417-6563, Ivadell Randolph at 597-5296, Lynda Luna at 597-5837, Renee Cantrell at 597-4551, Melanie Judkins at 597-1132, or Patsy Judkins at 597-4213.