The DeKalb County Fire Department responded to a structure fire Saturday afternoon at approximately 12:30 p.m. at 500 Bruer Drive off of Holmes Creek Road. A neighbor saw smoke coming from the eaves of the house, owned by Timothy and Tina Dedman, and reported the fire to DeKalb 911.
The Main Station, Short Mountain Highway Station, Cookeville Highway Station, and firefighters from other DCFD stations responded to the scene. Due to the narrow and steep driveway leading to the lake home, firefighters had difficulty getting equipment near the residence and water supply to extinguish the fire and protect a nearby structure. Firefighters were successful in containing and extinguishing the fire without any damage to a nearby house, located approximately 25 feet away.
According to Chief Donny Green, there was no one at home at the time of the incident and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The home was a total loss. Green said that after talking with the owners, he learned that the Dedman’s primary residence is in Lebanon.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and DeKalb EMS were also on the scene to assist.
Later Saturday evening, DeKalb County Firefighters were called back to the scene to extinguish the fire again.

No arrests have yet been made in the break-in at Jewel’s Market but Smithville Police now know that the Chevy Tahoe used by the two burglars to crash into the store building was stolen. It was apparently taken from the car lot of Glynn’s Auto Sales on West Broad Street.
Glynn Merriman, owner of the car lot, told WJLE Friday that someone broke into his office building during the night, removing a room air conditioner and making entry through a window. Three sets of car keys were taken from the office, including one set which went to the Chevy Tahoe. Merriman said the Tahoe was the only vehicle missing from the car lot.
After stealing the Tahoe, the thieves apparently wound up at Jewel’s Market on South Congress Boulevard just after midnight Friday morning where they crashed the SUV through the front doors to make entry, causing significant damage. The driver and passenger then got out of the vehicle and tried to steal the in-store ATM. The crime was captured on store video surveillance. The two men reportedly wore something covering their faces. They reportedly tied a chain to the ATM in an effort to pull it out of the store with the Tahoe. But when officers arrived, the two men abandoned the ATM and SUV and fled on foot, making their escape around back of the building and into the woods.
Nothing else appeared to have been taken from the store.

Three vehicles, including a DeKalb County ambulance, were involved in a traffic accident Friday at the intersection of West Broad and South Mountain Street.
Central dispatch got the call at 11:24 a.m.
Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that the ambulance, a 2009 Ford, driven by 50 year old Hoyte Hale of Smithville was traveling north on Highway 146 through the intersection when it was struck in the passenger side by a 2001 Chevy Blazer, driven by 33 year old Michael Jones of Smithville, who had run a red light while traveling west on Broad Street. The ambulance was then forced from the impact into a 1993 Buick Sentry, driven by 62 year old Phillip Atnip of Smithville, who was sitting in the turning lane on Highway 146 facing south. There was no patient on board the ambulance at the time of the accident.
Hale and a front seat passenger of the ambulance, 26 year old James Wesley Slager of Alexandria were taken to DeKalb Community Hospital where they were treated and released. Jones and Atnip were not seriously injured and reportedly refused transport to the hospital from the scene. One of them later went to the hospital for observation and treatment.
Jones has been charged with a second offense of driving under the influence, violation of the financial responsibility law, and failure to obey a traffic control device.
Due to the damage, the ambulance involved in the wreck has been taken out of service.
Members of the Smithville Police Department and Smithville Volunteer Fire Department were also on the scene.

Smithville Police are investigating a bold break-in overnight at Jewel’s Market on South Congress Boulevard across from Dogwood Plaza. At last report, the two people responsible remained at large.
The driver of a Chevy Tahoe apparently backed the SUV into the building, crashing it through the front doors to make entry. The front of the store received significant damage. The driver and passenger then got out of the vehicle and tried to steal the in-store ATM.
Officers arrived on the scene with the burglary still in progress and nearly caught the would be thieves red handed but the two fled on foot into the woods behind the store.
911 received the call at 12:13 a.m. Friday morning.
The ATM machine was left outside by the vehicle.
A store clerk said nothing else appeared to have been taken from the store

A 52 year old Liberty man has been indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury in a June traffic accident on Highway 70 at Snow Hill that claimed the life of one man and injured two others.
Johnny Lynn Hickey is indicted on one count of vehicular homicide, two counts of vehicular assault, and driving under the influence. He is under a $15,000 bond and will appear for arraignment in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday, December 10. He was arrested on Monday, December 3.
Hickey is charged in the death of 30 year old Chris Gammons who passed away Monday, July 9 at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
Gammons and Hickey were among four people in the accident which occurred on Saturday morning, June 23 on Highway 70 near the intersection of Highway 96 (Dale Ridge Road) on Snow Hill.
Gammons and Troy Bruno, both of Smithville were airlifted from near the scene of the crash by Life Force and Air Evac helicopter ambulances. The other person injured in the wreck was 32 year old Cleva Elaine Gammons of Smithville, wife of Chris Gammons. Hickey was not hurt.
Central dispatch received the call at 3:28 a.m that morning.
According to Trooper Darrell Knowles of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Hickey was traveling west on Highway 70 in a 2004 F350 full size flat bed truck when he crossed the turning lane and into the path of an eastbound 2002 Nissan Altima, driven by Cleva Elaine Gammons. Chris Gammons was a front seat passenger and Troy Bruno was a back seat passenger of the Altima. Chris Gammons was ejected and landed on the highway, in front of the Altima. Bruno was trapped in the backseat and had to be extricated by members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Extrication and Rescue Team.
Bruno and Chris Gammons were transported by DeKalb EMS to a helicopter landing zone on Highway 70 at the intersection of Toad Road. One of them was airlifted by a Life Force helicopter and the other was flown out by an Air Evac helicopter. Mrs. Gammons was transported to DeKalb Community Hospital, where she was treated and released.
On the scene were Trooper Knowles of the THP, DeKalb EMS, Sheriff’s Department deputies, DeKalb Fire Extrication and Rescue, and members of the Short Mountain Highway, Main Station, Liberty, and Cookeville Highway stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department.
The original complaint against Hickey stated that he admitted to consuming four beers. Several field sobriety tasks were given. Hickey did not perform as demonstrated. Hickey was transported to the emergency room of the hospital for a blood alcohol test and then to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department for booking.
The vehicular homicide indictment against Hickey alleges that he “killed Chris Gammons by the operation of the motor vehicle and that the killing was the proximate result of Hickey’s intoxication, constituting the offense of vehicular homicide”.
The indictments for vehicular assault allege that Hickey “recklessly did cause serious bodily injury to Cleva Gammons and Troy Bruno by the operation of a motor vehicle, and the serious bodily injury was the proximate result of Hickey’s intoxication, constituting the offense of vehicular assault”.
The indictment for DUI states that Hickey “unlawfully did, while under the influence of an intoxicant and/or drugs, drive or was in physical control of an automobile or other motor driven vehicle upon the public roads and highways… constituting the offense of driving under the influence of an intoxicant and/or drug, first offense”.

The Smithville Police Department is sponsoring a Christmas Coat Drive for needy children.
Records Clerk Beth Adcock, who is coordinating the coat drive, said gently used coats are needed for children, both boys and girls, from pre-school age sizes up to adult. “Right now we have some children that are not even asking for toys. They’re asking for coats. My goal right now is to get these children some coats. We are requesting anybody that has any coats that they are not wearing., that they’ve outgrown or have stored away, if they want to clean out their closet and donate them (coats) we would be more than thrilled to take them. We just want to make sure they (needy children) have something. We’re not asking anyone to go buy (new coats). We’re just asking for some good used coats. Please donate coats by Friday, December 14. That will give me a week to get it all together. You can contact me here at the police department at 597-8210, extension 1 or if you see an officer you can give the coats to them and they (officers) will bring them to me,” said Adcock.
Meanwhile, Adcock said the police department is planning a Christmas party for needy children and families. “We are planning a Christmas party for underprivileged children and families who are really needing help during this holiday season,” said Adcock. The party will be Friday, December 21 upstairs in the community room of city hall. We are working with Second Harvest getting the names (of those in need). We will be sending out letters inviting them. We will be providing food. We’ll have carolers and a local pastor will be reading about the birth of Christ. Santa will be there and we’ll be giving some presents. This is our first year of doing this. We are trying to give back to the community and let the children know that they can come to these officers if they are in need of anything. We want to make sure we have a good public relationship with them. We want to help these children and the families,” said Adcock.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation today arrested a Smith County woman for soliciting a minor after opening an investigation at the request of the District Attorney General last month.
Sabra Swaims Gentry, 35, of Brush Creek, Tenn. was indicted by the Smith County grand jury on one count of solicitation of a minor after sending sexually explicit texts and having sexually explicit conversations with a minor in November 2012. Gentry is the former cheerleading coach at Smith County High School. She was arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail today.

The Joe Black Effort, a not for profit group, is trying to establish a DeKalb County Coalition for the Humane Treatment of Animals.
Renee Stufano and Martha Conger, members of the Joe Black Effort, addressed the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen Monday night, offering to help address the issue of stray, neglected, and abused animals in DeKalb County.
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Stufano said the Joe Black Effort is willing to volunteer at the dog pound to help take care of the animals and they want a waiver drawn up that seeks to hold harmless the city and county from liability. “The Joe Black Effort, a not for profit organization, formed to help the animals in DeKalb County,” said Stufano. “We have a few different things we would like to see accomplished. The first thing we have seen is that there is an issue in the county about stray, neglected, and abused animals. All of us can agree that there is a problem. We wish to offer a temporary solution. We’ve already spoken with the county (commission). We are not asking for an answer today. But because it is a county wide issue and a lot of us are from the county, we would like to offer to volunteer at the pound to help take care of the animals. Clean up after them. The ones that need medical attention, take them out and get their medical attention. Get them fostered and adopted. The third thing we’d like to accomplish is to create a county wide coalition that has members of every city, not just Smithville, and members from the county commission to oversee the needs of the animals in DeKalb County. The Joe Black Effort is a non for profit rescue. We rehabilitate, take care of animals, and re- home them. We have one leaving for New York on December 12. We had one picked up today. There is a very good network for us to place animals. I think we can do a little bit better with the pound that we have now and I think our final destination will be a real rescue for the whole county. I’d like for you to think about perhaps letting some volunteers come and help. We’re happy to sign waivers or disclosures so that we wouldn’t hold the city or county responsible. We’re offering to come in for free. It doesn’t get any better than that,” said Stufano.
Martha Conger also stressed the need for a waiver to allow the volunteers to begin helping. “What we need at this time is permission to volunteer,” said Conger. “We need to get a waiver drawn up so that the city or county is not liable. I know there is a question about insurance and whether or not your (city) insurance will cover it. But we would like to see that happen. In addition to that we are forming a DeKalb County Coalition for the Humane Treatment of Animals. Basically that is a cooperative effort of both private and public sectors for the purpose of jointly implementing humane strategies for helping the abused and neglected animals of DeKalb County. What we hope to do is work with city officials and county officials. We may be talking to you individually about sitting on that coalition,” added Conger.
City attorney Vester Parsley, Jr. told Conger that the city and county would have to work together in resolving the liability issue. “There’s a double problem. The county owns the building and the city is running it,” said Parsley. ” I’ve talked to the county attorney (Hilton Conger) and we’ve got to work out a resolution as to if somebody falls in the building or somebody gets bit so we’re working on that but we haven’t been able to get our heads together to finalize it,” he said.

A 22 year old McMinnville man was injured in a one car crash at Warren County after trying to outrun a state trooper in a pursuit which started in DeKalb County just after midnight Tuesday morning.
Felony charges are pending against Aaron Gribble.
Trooper Dewaine Jennings of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that he was north on Highway 56 headed toward Smithville in the Seven Springs area of DeKalb County at around 12:23 a.m. when he saw a vehicle traveling south at a high rate of speed toward Warren County. Trooper Jennings said after clocking the vehicle by radar traveling at 92 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour speed zone, he turned around to make a stop for the violation but the driver of the vehicle, a 2003 Lincoln LLS refused to pull over. The car continued south into Warren County at speeds over 100 miles per hour until it turned left on Highway 287 East (Green Hill Road) in Warren County. The car continued a short distance on that road until it went out of control in a curve, entered a ditchline, and overturned. The car came to a final rest on its top with the driver, Gribble, trapped inside. Gribble had to be extricated from the car.
In addition to Trooper Jennings, members of the North Warren Fire Department, Warren County EMS, and Warren County Sheriff’s Department were on the scene. Gribble was transported by ambulance to Riverpark Hospital in McMinnville.

The City of Smithville does not allow stores with off premises permits to sell packaged beer on Sundays and the city prohibits on-premises permits, which keeps restaurants from being licensed to serve beer with meals in their establishments.
At least one alderman wants that changed.
In an interview with WJLE Tuesday, Alderman Danny Washer said he plans to seek a change in the city’s current beer ordinance. “Nobody is pushing me to do it. It’s something I’ve been looking into for a while and I’d even thought about it before I got elected,” said Alderman Washer.
The city’s existing beer ordinance states that “It shall be unlawful for any beer permit holder to make or allow any sale of beer between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. during any night of the week, at any time on Sunday, and at any time on Christmas Day”.
Alderman Washer said he understands those who may oppose a change in the beer ordinance based on a religious point of view, but public convenience and the economic impact is something to consider as well. “We’re losing a lot of income on Sunday. People who want to buy beer and go to the lake, to watch a ball game or what have you, they have to go to other counties to buy it (on Sunday). We’re one of the few that don’t sell it on Sunday. That money could stay here and benefit us,” said Alderman Washer.
According to the 2012-13 budget, actual Wholesale Alcoholic Beverage Taxes collected by the city for the year ending June 30, 2011 came to $190,697. Alderman Washer said additional tax revenue generated by on-premises and Sunday beer sales would help keep city property tax rates down.”We’ve got one of the lowest tax rates anywhere and we’d like to keep it that way. But everything (costs) goes up and to afford everything we’re going to need for the City of Smithville we’re going to need some new income otherwise the only way we’re going to keep going like we are is to raise taxes sooner or later. This will help that. We also have a lot of people on fixed incomes that can’t afford for their taxes to be raised. I think the opportunity is there to bring in more funds for Smithville that we’re not getting,” said Alderman Washer.
Earlier this year, city voters rejected proposals in public referendums to permit liquor sales by eligible businesses and restaurants. But unlike those issues, changing the beer ordinance to allow Sunday sales and on premises permits for restaurants does not require a public referendum. The ordinance can be amended on a majority vote of the Board of Aldermen, on a first reading, public hearing, and then a second reading.
City officials plan to consult with the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) for advice on how any proposed change in the beer ordinance should be handled.
This is not the first time an effort has been made to change the restrictions regarding Sunday beer sales, according to Secretary-Treasurer Hunter Hendrixson. “Back in January, 2008 the Smithville Beer Board voted to recommend Sunday and Christmas Day beer sales to the city council. The aldermen at that time chose not to act on their recommendation. The estimated figure from the state at that time would have been an additional $50,000 in yearly tax revenue. That comes to $250,000 that the city could have collected since the Beer Board’s recommendation to the council at that time through 2012,” said Hendrixson. “Adding on-premise permits would likely increase that tax revenue depending on how many permit holders there are. Currently, restaurants with an on-premises permit can serve beer that is located outside of the city limits in DeKalb County. Alexandria is the only city in DeKalb that allows Sunday beer sales off-premise (packaged) at this time,” according to Hendrixson. ” Other surrounding cities allowing Sunday beer sales are Gordonsville, McMinnville, Baxter, Cookeville, Watertown, and Auburntown just to name a few. With locals and all the tourists that come to Center Hill lake each season the city is leaving tens of thousands of tax revenue dollars on the table each year that other surrounding cities are enjoying just by selling beer seven days a week rather than six days like Smithville does at this time. Smithville enjoys one the lowest property tax rates compared to other cities of this size and by finding other revenue sources to fund the city those property taxes will remain one of the lowest around,” Hendrixson concluded.