Christmas is arriving early in Smithville, as Indian Creek Baptist Church prepares to serve as a collection point for Operation Christmas Child. Soon, with the help of local volunteers, the site will be brimming with festively wrapped shoe boxes full of gifts.
Through Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, Smithville residents are helping send shoe box gifts this year to more than 8 million children in 100 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty. From Smithville, the shoe box gifts will be sorted and sent using whatever means necessary—sea containers, trucks, trains, airplanes, boats, camels, even dog sleds—to reach suffering children around the world.
Operation Christmas Child uses tracking technology that allows donors to “follow your box” to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need. To register shoe box gifts and find out what country they are delivered to, use the EZ Give donation form found at www.samaritanspurse.org.
This is the first year Indian Creek Baptist Church has served as a drop-off point for Operation Christmas Child. The church is located at 967 Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville. The National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child is Monday, November 15th through Monday, November 22nd and the center will be open, as follows:
Monday, November 15th through Friday, November 19th – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 20 – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 21 – 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Monday, November 22 – 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
In 2010, organizers hope to collect over 500 gift-filled shoe boxes from families, kids, churches, schools and civic organizations in the area.
For further information please contact:
Indian Creek Baptist Church: 615/597-7299 or
Sue Puckett: 615/597-7370 (office)
615/597-7325 (home)
615/464-7700 (cell)
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, has delivered more than 77 million gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children in some 130 countries.
What You Can Do To Get Involved:
PREPARE—Enlist families, churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoe box gifts for needy children worldwide.
PACK—Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, hard candy and a letter of encouragement. Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.
PROCESS—Sign up to join Operation Christmas Child volunteers at collection sites in Smithville as part of the effort to prepare millions of shoe box gifts for delivery to underprivileged kids on six continents.
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 1-800-353-5949 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org. National Collection Week is Nov. 15-22.

It’s official.
63 year old Gerald Wayne (J.B.) Bounds of McMinnville will remain in prison at least for another year.
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles has voted to concur with a recommendation by two of it’s members Yusuf Hakeem and Charles Taylor that Bounds be denied parole due to the seriousness of the offense in the 1981 fatal shooting of 27 year old Sherman Wright of DeKalb County.
Following Bounds’ latest parole hearing last month, Hakeem and Taylor recommended that Bounds be “put off” for two years before his next parole hearing, but the state board has decided instead to review Bound’s case again in October, 2011.
The board has requested that Bounds undergo a psychological evaluation prior to his next hearing, as was recommended by parole board members Hakeem and Taylor.
Bounds, convicted of first degree murder, is serving a life prison sentence at the Southeast Regional Correctional Facility in Pikeville.

The Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps of East Tennessee is returning to DeKalb County on Saturday and Sunday, November 13th & 14th at DeKalb County High School providing free health care services to people of all ages regardless of income. A similar event took place in DeKalb County at the high school in August, 2005.
Remote Area Medical (RAM) is a non-profit, volunteer corps dedicated to serving mankind by providing free health care, dental care, eye care, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States and the world.
Founded in 1985, Remote Area Medical is a publicly supported all-volunteer charitable organization. Volunteer doctors, nurses, and support workers participate in expeditions (at their own expense). Medical supplies, medicines, facilities and vehicles are donated.
County Mayor Mike Foster says the November clinic will be open to anyone, no matter where you live. There are also no income guidelines. All you have to do is show up. “They go all over the eastern United States into areas that are in need and provide free medical care, especially eye care and dental care. Probably most of the people coming to this clinic would not seek medical help locally. Most of them are people who would go untreated.”
“They do eye care, dental care, and some general medical services. They’ve got 46 doctors and eleven fourth year medical students coming along with a lot of local assistants, nurses, lab techs, and others who will be here to help. One dentist is flying down from Chicago and bringing his entire staff. Everyone is donating their time for free. We had hoped to have the mammography unit here but it has already been scheduled to be somewhere else this weekend. We have about 125-130 volunteers who will be helping. We’re still in need of more local medical professionals who would like to come and they don’t have to be there for both days, maybe one day or part of a day. We’re also still in need of some donations.”
“All the county does is help pay the motel bill for the volunteers. We’re still a little bit short on donations for that. Some of the local businesses, banks, and industries have made pledges and we’re getting close.”
“Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church is cooking for the volunteers on Saturday. Sunday lunch meal is being prepared by the Smithville Church of Christ. We really want to thank them for stepping up and doing this.”
“This is a really good thing. We had about 700-800 people (patients) here last time. They (eye care providers) made close to 300 pairs of glasses. This weekend, they will start seeing patients around 6:30 a.m. each morning and they will take the first people in line. We’ve already had some people say they’re going to take their place in line as early as midnight if need be.”
If you would like to make a donation or provide food for the volunteers call the county mayor’s office at 597-5175.

The Chamber Prayer Breakfast will be held on Tuesday, November 23rd at 7 AM at the Smithville Church of God Fellowship Center. Our theme this year is “Prayer – Where Our Strength Lies.” Former local, Ralph Vaughn, will be the keynote speaker. Ralph is probably best remembered as the manager of WJLE for 15 years and as the Program Director and emcee of the Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree for 21 years.
Special music will be performed by pianist Tomomi McDowell and Fluty and the Flutones. Local Boy Scouts will present the flags. Prayers for our community, our leaders, and our children will make this a meaningful and memorable experience. A delicious breakfast will be catered by Jason Evans, head chef at The Inn at Evins Mill. Leadership Director Jen Sherwood and the Leadership DeKalb Class of 2011 will serve the beverages. Doors open at 6:30 AM. Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased at the Chamber office or from the Chamber Board of Directors.
Chamber Executive Director, Suzanne Williams says, “I would like to invite everyone to join with us at this special event in giving thanks to God for the abundant blessings He has given us in our county and to be able to begin this holiday season with our community family.” For more information, call the Chamber at 597-4163.

Upper Cumberland Regional Health Director Debbie Johnson joined other state and local officials today to present a total of $65,000 in federal funding from the United States Department of Agriculture for the Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Nutrition Program to DeKalb County. The funds will be used to assist with renovations at the health department clinic in Smithville to improve services to WIC clients.
“The goal of the WIC program is to protect the health of mothers and young children by providing nutritious foods and nutrition education,” said Johnson. “We are pleased the USDA has committed these financial resources to ensure the families of DeKalb County will continue to have access to these important health services.”
The DeKalb County WIC clinic has served more than 1,000 clients during the past year, which led to more than $422,000 in WIC vouchers being redeemed in the county. The federal funding award will be used for improvements to a WIC clinic room and the patient intake area at the health department facility in Smithville.
“We are thrilled to get these federal funds to assist with renovating our clinic,” said DeKalb County Health Director Frances Reese. “These improvements will help make WIC and other health department services more accessible for the residents of DeKalb County.”
DeKalb County is one of 20 Tennessee counties to receive federal funding to enhance WIC services. Funding awards are based upon the size of the county’s WIC population.
The WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program is a federal program designed to provide supplemental food to low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children until the age of five. The program provides nutrition education, supplemental foods, breastfeeding promotion and support and referrals for health care. WIC in Tennessee is administered by the Department of Health. Learn more about the program online at http://health.state.tn.us/wic/index.htm.
(Pictured Left to Right: Dr. Fred Vossel, Upper Cumberland Medical Director; Mike Foster, DeKalb County Mayor; Debbie Johnson, Upper Cumberland Regional Director; Frances Reece, DeKalb County Health Department Director)

Two employees of the City of Smithville have been charged with theft of property after allegedly taking scrap brass from the water treatment plant on three occasions and selling it to a recycling center.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 45 year old Kenny Waymon Dyal, Sr. of Floyd Drive, Smithville and 42 year old Christopher Derrick Ferrell of North Mountain Street, Smithville are each charged with two counts of theft over $500 and one count of theft under $500.
Dyal was the supervisor of the Smithville Water Treatment Plant and Ferrell was a city maintenance employee and water meter reader. Mayor Taft Hendrixson said both men have been discharged.
The warrants against them allege that on Thursday, October 21st; Wednesday, November 3rd; and Thursday, November 4th Dyal and Ferrell took scrap brass from the city water treatment plant without consent and took it to a recycling place where they sold it for $514.50 on October 21st; $156 on November 3rd, and $677.51 on November 4th.
Sheriff Ray says the brass scrap is part of the materials being removed from the water plant, which is undergoing a renovation.
Bond for each is $9,500 and they are scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on November 18th.
32 year old Travis Brent Shoemake of Hickman is charged with theft of property over $1,000. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on November 18th.
According to Sheriff Ray, Shoemake allegedly took a four wheeler from a residence on Lower Helton Road in Alexandria on Sunday, October 24th. He was arrested on Tuesday, November 2nd.
Sheriff Ray said other thefts have been reported in that area and more arrests may be forthcoming. ” The sheriff’s department has received reports of thefts in the Lower Helton area, about four wheelers having been stolen. After an investigation, Shoemake was arrested for stealing one of the four wheelers. Other arrests are pending. The investigation continues.”
Meanwhile, if you should be contacted about purchasing a four wheeler at a price too cheap, contact the Sheriff’s Department at 597-4935.
40 year old Frederick Michael Hughes of Barnes Mill Road, Smithville is charged with unlawful possession of a schedule II controlled substance (morphine). His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on December 16th.
Sheriff Ray said on Saturday, November 6th, a deputy stopped a vehicle on Jefferson Road, having prior knowledge that a passenger in the automobile had two state warrants on him. Upon placing the passenger in custody, the officer noticed that Hughes, who was the driver, was trying to hide something in the console. Thinking it might be a weapon, the deputy asked Hughes to step out of the vehicle. He also asked Hughes if he had anything illegal in the vehicle. Hughes replied “no”. The officer further inquired, asking Hughes if he had anything on his person. Hughes began emptying his pockets and two green pills, believed to be morphine, dropped from his pocket.
Hughes was then placed under arrest.
41 year old Robert Todd Hendrixson of Sparta Highway is charged with reckless endangerment. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court on November 18th.
According to Sheriff Ray on Sunday, November 7th, Hendrixson got mad at his girlfriend at their residence on Sparta Highway, took his pistol from the closet, and shot several times into the ceiling of their bedroom. Hendrixson’s actions placed his girlfriend and her children in danger. Two deputies responded to a 911 call and when they arrived, Hendrixson had left. Inside the bedroom on the bed were six shell casings and six holes were found in the ceiling. Hendrixson was later located at a cemetery on Johnson’s Chapel Road and he was placed under arrest. Authorities have not found the gun.
Meanwhile Smithville Police report that 31 year old Randy Lee Meeks of Midway Road was arrested on Saturday, October 30th and charged with a second offense of driving on a suspended license.
Sergeant Randy King saw Meeks driving a vehicle and was aware that his license were suspended. A computer check confirmed it. Bond for Meeks is $2,000.
27 year old Thomas Jacob Sims of Grande Avenue was arrested on Saturday, October 30th and charged with DUI. Sims was operating a motor vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. Sergeant Randy King, who made the stop, smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on Sims’ person and observed him to be unsteady on his feet. Bond for Sims is $1,000 and his court date is December 16th.
25 year old Cody Lee Crips of Forrest Avenue was arrested on Saturday, October 30th for evading by a motor vehicle, driving on a revoked license and a second offense of driving under the influence. K-9 Officer Brad Tatrow saw Crips operating a motor vehicle and tried to stop him for a traffic violation. When Officer Tatrow turned on his emergency lights signaling Crips to stop, he kept going until he got to his residence. Upon making contact with Crips, Officer Tatrow noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and Crips’ speech was slurred. Officer Tatrow checked his drivers license through dispatch and learned they were suspended. Bond for Crips is $9,500 and his court date is November 18th.
Meanwhile anyone with information on criminal activities is asked to please contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.
Any information received that will help Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential.

Drunk driving, speeding and failure to wear seatbelts has become a deadly combination in Tennessee and DeKalb County. This year fatalities are up statewide. While not all of those have been alcohol or speed related many of them could have been prevented by simply buckling a seatbelt.
That is why Sheriff Patrick Ray has announced today the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department will be joining with the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol and other agencies across the county this holiday season to ensure motorists reach their destinations safely.
Sheriff Ray says “Our message is simple. Always wear your seatbelt, drive the speed limit and don’t drink and drive. If motorists will take just a moment and think about these things before they get behind the wheel of a car, there would be less injuries and fatalities should a crash occur.”
“All it takes is a couple of seconds to buckle your seatbelt,” said Clint Shrum Law Enforcement Liaison for the Governor’s Highway Safety Office. “If people would take this one simple and easy step before they operate a vehicle we could easily reduce our fatalities by half.”
Driving without a seatbelt is illegal in Tennessee. Driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. Although fatalities were at a record low last year across the state, this year has proved to be different. Statewide fatalities are up by 53.
Sheriff Ray also said that “Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant. Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, time away from work, and dozens of other expenses.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department in conjunction with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Governor’s Highway Safety Office and other law enforcement agencies is planning high visibility patrols in problem areas throughout the county over the holiday period. Sheriff Ray iis urging everyone to buckle up and drive smart and enjoy the holidays.

14 year old Lauren Elizabeth Colwell captured the Fall Fest Crown Saturday night during the annual pageant at the DeKalb County High School gym. The event is sponsored by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club.
Sixteen young ladies competed for the title.
Colwell,daughter of Trent and Christie Colwell of Smithville succeeds the retiring Fall Fest queen, 16 year old Victoria Dawn Tatrow of Smithville, daughter of Vickie and Corey Funk and the late Shanna Tatrow.
Meanwhile, Camry Lou Colvert White was named Miss Congeniality of the pageant. She is the daughter of Steve and Lou Ann White of Smithville.
First runner-up in the pageant was 16 year old Jasmine Marie Dimas, daughter of Lynda Hamilton of Smithville.
Alyssa Perri Carter was second runner-up. She is the 17 year old daughter of Lindi and Stephen Carter of Smithville
15 year old Zoe Elaine Whaley, daughter of Celia and Scott Whaley, was the third runner-up
Fourth runner-up went to 16 year old Katie Sue Haggard, daughter of David and Vicki Haggard of Smithville.
Others in the top ten were Kristen LaCole Smartt, the 17 year old daughter of Aaron and Paula Taylor of Dowelltown and Leslie and Dedra Smartt; Kami Denise Bogle, the 14 year old daughter of Amy Dobbs and Chris Bogle of Dowelltown; Jessica Dianne Ball, the 16 year old daughter of Donny and Mary Lou Ball; Taneah Brooke Cantrell, the 14 year old daughter of Scott and Tammy Cantrell of Smithville; and Camry Lou Colvert White, the 17 year old daughter of Steve and Lou Ann White of Smithville.
Others in the pageant were Katelyn Lou Ann Goodwin, the 17 year old daughter of Joe and Kathy Goodwin of Smithville; Ashlee Michelle Whitehead, the 16 year old daughter of Keneth and Tina Whitehead of Smithville; Macie LeeAnna Bouldin, the 16 year old daughter of Mason and Renea Bouldin of Smithville; Makayla Shea Funk, the 15 year old daughter of Amie Funk of Dowelltown; Christian Janette Atnip, the 16 year old daughter of Veronica Atnip of Smithville; and Shauna Faith Taylor, the 15 year old daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor of Smithville.
(Top Photo: Fall Fest Queen Lauren Elizabeth Colwell)
(Second from Top: Left to Right- 3rd runner-up Zoe Elaine Whaley; 1st runner-up Jasmine Marie Dimas; Fall Fest Queen Lauren Elizabeth Colwell; second runner-up Alyssa Perri Carter; and 4th runner-up Katie Sue Haggard)
(Bottom Photo: Miss Congeniality Camry Lou Colvert White)

Seven year old Emma Brooke Jennings is the 2010 Autumn Princess.
Jennings, daughter of Chad and Shelly Jennings of Smithville, succeeds the retiring Autumn Princess Macy Elizabeth Hedge, the ten year old daughter of David and Trina Hedge of Smithville.
The pageant, featuring twenty one girls ages 7 to 10, was sponsored by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club and held Saturday night at the DCHS gym.
First runner-up was Anna Rachel Blair, the nine year old daughter of Keith and Amanda Blair of Smithville.
Second runner-up was Kayla Jayne Belk, the ten year old daughter of Chrisanne Belk of Smithville and Wendell Belk of Christiana
Abby Evans, the ten year old daughter of Amanda Mathis of Smithville and Clay Evans of Cookeville, was named third runner-up.
Madison Colwell was fourth runner-up. She is the ten year old daughter of Gabriel and Heather Colwell of Smithville.
Rounding out the top ten were Kyra Agee, the ten year old daughter of April and Donny Agee of Smithville; Sarah Anne Colwell, the ten year old daughter of Trent and Christie Colwell of Smithville; Santanna Nicole Ferrell, the ten year old daughter of Melissa Ferrell and Chris Ferrell of Smithville; Lacey Jade McMillen, the seven year old daughter of Chris and Kristina McMillen of Alexandria; and Abigail Hope Taylor, the ten year old daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor of Smithville.
Nine year old Megan LaFrance was name Miss Manners. She is the daughter of Robert and Kellie LaFrance of Smithville.
Others participating in the pageant were Briona Alysse Agee, the seven year old daughter of Kevin and Jennifer Agee of Smithville; Dasia Gurley, the seven year old daughter of Allen and Felicia Taylor of Smithville; Willow Grace Godowns, the ten year old daughter of Kelly Godowns of Smithville and the late William Thomas Godowns, Jr.; Julia Grace Curtis, the nine year old daughter of Bruce and Amy Curtis of Smithville; Sophia Bonifacio, the eight year old daughter of David and Melody Mahan of Dowelltown; Katherine Anne Malone, the eight year old daughter of Kevin and Dana Malone of Smithville; Karley Annie Elizabeth Knowles, the eight year old daughter of Melvin and Teresa Knowles of Smithhville; Alexis Grace Atnip, the seven year old daughter of Veronica Atnip and John B. Atnip; Carly Vance, the eight year old daughter of Chris and Cheryl Vance of Smithville; and Shelby Sprague, the nine year old daughter of Jimmy and Johnna Sprague of Smithville.
(Top Photo: Autumn Princess Emma Brooke Jennings)
(Second from top: Left to Right- 2nd runner-up Kayla Jayne Belk, 1st runner-up Anna Rachel Blair, Autumn Princess Emma Brooke Jennings, 3rd runner-up Abby Evans, and 4th runner-up Madison Colwell)
(Bottom Photo: Miss Manners Megan LaFrance)

A 34 year old man was seriously injured in a Friday afternoon crash on Highway 70 just east of the VFW Club.
The accident occurred around 12:55 p.m.
Scott Cory Harris of Cathcart Road, Dowelltown was transported by DeKalb EMS to the Midway community fire station, where he was picked up by a helicopter ambulance and flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
Trooper Allen England of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Harris was traveling west in a 1997 Nissan pickup truck and failed to maintain his lane of travel, crossed the center line in a curve, and made opposite direction sideswipe impact with an eastbound 2004 Kenworth straight box truck, driven by 35 year old David Emery Pippin of Cookeville. Pippin was driving for the J.R. “Buddy” Gaw Produce Company in Cookeville. There was no cargo on board.
According to Trooper England, the box truck broke into three sections. The rear axle dislodged and went to the southside of the roadway, while the cargo box came off the chassis and landed upside down. The truck chassis and cargo box came to rest across the highway, blocking traffic for about two hours. Motorists who came upon the scene from both directions had to be re-routed.
Harris’ truck came to a stop in a ditchline on the northside of the highway.
Members of the Short Mountain Highway and Midway fire stations and the DeKalb County Fire Department Extrication Team responded. Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker also rendered assistance and Sheriff’s department deputies were there. Harris had to be extricated from his truck. Pippin was not injured.
Harris also had two dogs in the truck cab with him. One of the dogs ran off after the wreck. The other was seriously injured and taken to the vet. Reports say the dog later died.
Trooper England said according to witnesses, Harris may have been going too fast, contributing to the crash. The roadway was also wet at the time. Charges are pending.