The first section of the proposed Highway 56 improvement project is scheduled for a TDOT bid letting in June but may be delayed again.
The original plans called for building a four lane road from south of the Warren County line (in Warren County) to near Magness Road in DeKalb County. TDOT now proposes to build a new two lane road (typical section) with twelve foot lanes and ten foot paved shoulders and passing lanes along the 3.30 mile existing alignment.
“The 3.3 mile section of SR-56 in DeKalb County from south of Warren Co. Line to Magness Road is currently scheduled to be let to contract on June 23, 2017, but it may be pushed back pending some environmental document re-evaluation issues,” Jennifer Flynn, TDOT Community Relations Officer told WJLE.
“This is an Expedited Project Delivery (EPD) project, and the construction re-evaluation of the environmental document needs to be approved by the Federal Highway Administration because the EPD recommendations do not match the original environmental document that was done for the full-build project. Once we get the re-evaluation approved, the project should move forward to the construction letting. Once the environmental document re-evaluation issues are resolved, we will submit the project for the next available letting. Currently our Project Development division is working with the Federal Highway Administration to arrive at a solution,” said Flynn.
Meanwhile, the second phase of the Highway 56 improvement project is tentatively scheduled for a bid letting next year.
“The project from South of State Route 288 to east Bryant Street in Smithville is currently tentatively scheduled for a summer 2018 letting. This is also an EPD project and subject to the same action by the Federal Highway Administration. The construction re-evaluation of the environmental document needs to be approved by the Federal Highway Administration because the EPD recommendations do not match the original environmental document that was done for the full-build project. We will need to get permits and most likely will reassess some of the environmental issues. That should take place this summer,” said Flynn.

The Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) Program has funding available to immediately assist applicants in need due to a temporary emergency situation. Applicants must be income-eligible and show their need for service based on guidelines for each program.
You may qualify for a one-time payment if you are 60 years old or above, disabled, a family caregiver, or have a child under the age of six.
You may qualify for a one-time payment toward rent, mortgage, electric, water, or food assistance if you have a household with one member working at least 29 hours or more a week.
Please contact your local UCHRA office during business hours for details.

DeKalb County will not be implementing a wheel tax anytime soon.
Although at least one county commissioner, Anita Puckett believes a wheel tax is needed to help secure funding for the future construction of a new elementary school, she has decided to delay asking for a vote on it until the Board of Education presents the commission with a building plan based on results of its own feasibility study.
Puckett addressed the issue during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the county commission. “I have spoken with (Director of Schools) Patrick Cripps Friday and today (Monday). They (school board) are actually meeting with the Upland Group Architectural firm and they are going to be getting them to do a more indepth feasibility study and with that study they will be able to tell us specifically what they desire and the cost on that. We’ll hold off on making any decisions about how to approve that revenue until we follow up with the board of education about what their desires are,” said Puckett.
Prior to the county commission meeting, the Board of Education Monday night adopted its tentative budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year which includes $20,000 for a school building feasibility study.
“We put in $20,000 for an architect to come in and do a study. It is my hope that with an architect study we will be able to get a break down of different school sizes (options) and what it would cost to build those schools,” Director Cripps told WJLE.
Puckett, who serves as a fifth district county commissioner and is also assistant Principal at Smithville Elementary School, first raised the issue during a county commission education committee meeting and then shared her suggestion with other members of the commission during an all committees workshop Thursday night at the courthouse.
The County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS) recently conducted a building feasibility study and concluded more classrooms are needed particularly at the lower elementary grade levels within the system.
Puckett said the county commission should adopt a wheel tax and earmark the funds for school infrastructure. The commission can take action on its own to implement a wheel tax but passage requires at least a two thirds vote (10 out of 14) in support on two separate readings at least a month apart. Residents opposed to a wheel tax could mount a petition drive between the first and second readings to force a public referendum on the question.
A proposed $50 wheel tax at the current car count in DeKalb County would raise approximately one million dollars a year.
“We’re in dire need of a new school. The need is pretty much pre-K through 8 but we can build any type of school in that range as far as the need. My point is whatever they (school board) chooses to build, we need to start looking at approving revenue to build a school. I mentioned to the education committee about a wheel tax. I know that is a sensitive subject but it is a very strong way of generating revenue to build schools. The average age of our schools is 41 years old. The newest building (Northside Elementary) is 17 years old. There is a need. It’s time to be building some schools. Its time to be moving forward,” said Puckett Thursday night.
The county commission took no action Monday night.

A 30 year old Hartsville man was arrested last week after he was caught in bed with a minor.
Jonathon Dewayne Lee of Woodmore Hollow Lane, Hartsville is charged with sexual contact. His bond is $5,000 and his court date is May 4.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL- Intakes & Releases From: 4/17/2017 Thru: 4/24/2017)Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR_20.pdf (2.37 MB)
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, April 20 a detective was called to a residence on Potts Camp Road, Smithville where a deputy had gone to do a welfare check on a juvenile and found a naked Lee in bed with the 17 year old girl.
Meanwhile, 54 year old Joseph Allen Maples of Potts Camp Road, Smithville is charged with filing a false report related to the same incident. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on May 4.
Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, April 20 a deputy went to a residence on Potts Camp Road to do a welfare check on a juvenile. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Maples who resides at this home. The deputy asked Maples several times if the girl was at home and warned that lying to an officer was against the law. Maples told the deputy several times that the girl wasn’t there but after receiving consent to enter the home, the deputy found the girl in the bedroom asleep with Jonathon Dewayne Lee.
57 year old Billy James Hobbs of East Main Street, McMinnville is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is May 4.
Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, April 22 a deputy was called to a business on McMinnville Highway where a man was found to be passing in and out of consciousness. Upon arrival, the officer found the man, Hobbs, passed out at a table inside the store. Hobbs showed signs of intoxication such as slurred speech, loss of balance, and an inability to maintain consciousness. Prior to this incident earlier calls came in from persons complaining that Hobbs was possibly intoxicated and had become a nuisance at three other businesses on South Congress Boulevard in the City of Smithville.

A McMinnville man was arrested last week after he was found with drugs during a traffic stop.
38 year old James Joseph Mingle of Drake Road, McMinnville is charged with possession of methamphetamine for sale or delivery. His bond is $5,000 and his court date is May 11. Mingle was also issued citations for simple possession of a schedule VI drug (0.25 ounces of marijuana); simple possession of a schedule III drug (subutex), violation of the registration law, violation of the light law, and possession of drug paraphernalia (glass pipe and digital scales used for illegal drugs).
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL- Intakes & Releases From: 4/17/2017 Thru: 4/24/2017)Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR_20.pdf (2.37 MB)
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, April 20 a deputy pulled over a red truck for a head light violation. While speaking to the driver, Mingle, the officer smelled an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. After receiving consent to search, the deputy found 0.25 ounces of marijuana in the pocket of Mingle’s cargo pants. A further search revealed a green container in the front pocket of Mingle’s overalls. Two baggies of methamphetamine were inside the container. One baggie held 0.7 grams of a clear crystal substance and the other baggie contained 0.4 grams of a white powdery substance. The contents of each baggie field tested positive for meth. Mingle was placed under arrest.
44 year old Regenia Kay Satterfield of Prater Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $1,000. Her bond is $6,000 and her court date is May 4. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, April 18 Satterfield allegedly stole a gold necklace and a ring from a residence on Carter Drive, Smithville. The total value of the property is $1,127.

The DeKalb County Ambulance Service has been awarded a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help purchase EMS equipment.
The operations and safety grant, in the amount of $24,000, was awarded through FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The local match is $1,142.
DeKalb EMS Director Hoyte Hale said plans are to purchase two transport ventilators to enhance respiratory care of patients while being transported to the hospital and between hospital transports. “I am very happy that we have been awarded this grant. They are few and far between and getting fewer. We are fortunate to have received it. This will allow us to improve patient care in the county,” he said.
The application for the grant was filed last fall. Hale said he received word that the grant was approved earlier this month from the office of U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander.
It still may be a few months before the ambulance service actually obtains the transport ventilators. Bids have to be advertised and the EMS staff has to be trained by a certified instructor in the use of the equipment.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation will have another bid letting on Friday, May 12 and the repair of the Veterans Memorial Bridge on College Street will be included.
TDOT initially let bids for the project on Friday, February 10 but the only bid received, from Mid-State Construction Company, Inc. was considered too expensive at $238,600.
“The project was rejected in the February letting because the bid prices came in too high. We are looking at ways to lower them and once we decide on how to do this we will re-let the project and see what we get. We understand that it is an inconvenience, but we must be good stewards of the public’s money and look for fair and equitable prices,” Jennifer Flynn, TDOT Community Relations Officer told WJLE.
If the contract is awarded this time, the project is expected to be completed on or before October 31, 2017. The bridge has been closed since Monday, June 27, 2016.

A woman who was allegedly caught shoplifting at Wal-mart last week became agitated with police and tried to resist arrest.
24 year old Abigail Diane Judkins was arrested on Saturday, April 15 for theft, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. Police responded to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The officer was informed that the suspect was outside in the parking lot. He tried to speak with the woman, Judkins but she was on the phone and wouldn’t communicate with him. Judkins became agitated and the officer had to ask her to move out of the way on a couple of occasions as customers tried to get in or out of their vehicles. Judkins began yelling and would not cooperate. She denied having any items that belonged to Wal-Mart and became loud and verbally defiant. At one point, she dropped her purse and when the officer bent over to pick it up, Judkins grabbed the purse and began to fight with the officer. With the help of another officer on the scene, police were able to restrain Judkins although she kicked one of them in the leg a couple of times before being cuffed. Judkins continued to be unruly and after being placed in the back of the patrol car, she began kicking the windows but quit before causing any damage. Items taken from Wal-Mart were returned to the store after being found along the path that Judkins walked through the parking lot. Judkins’ bond is $5,000 and her court date is May 4.
20 year old James and 18 year old Dustin Utley were both arrested on Sunday, April 16 for domestic assault after they were caught fighting in the parking lot of McDonalds Restaurant. Police learned that a motorist had witnessed the altercation but it couldn’t be determined who started the fight. Fearing that the fight might start again later, both brothers were arrested for their safety. Bond for each is $1,500 and they will make a court appearance on May 4.
36 year old Terry Junior Reeder was arrested on Saturday, April 1 for driving under the influence and he was cited for simple possession and violation of implied consent. Police conducted a welfare check on a person sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot of Hardees after hours. After multiple attempts, police awoke the driver, Reeder. His eyes were bloodshot and watery and his speech was slurred. Reeder consented to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. Incident to arrest, a search of his vehicle revealed two small rolled papers with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. His bond is $1,500.
50 year old Roger Tremain Rapp, III was arrested on Saturday, April 1 for a third offense of driving on a revoked license. Police responded to an area on Bright Hill Road due to a “Be on the Lookout” (BOLO) for a small black car that was involved in a hit and run accident in Warren County. Police were able to make contact with the vehicle just inside the city limits on Bright Hill Road. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Rapp and upon checking his license for validation, it came back being revoked. Bond for Rapp is $4,500 and his court date is April 27.
22 year old Tyler Aarone Duncan was arrested on Sunday, April 2 for driving under the influence and he was cited for speeding and violation of implied consent. Police performed a routine traffic stop on a vehicle for a speeding violation. Upon making contact with the driver, Duncan, police observed him to have slurred speech, red watery blood shot eyes, and an odor of alcohol on his breath. Duncan performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and he refused to give a blood sample. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is April 27.
31 year old Joshua L. McCowan was arrested for public intoxication on Sunday, April 2. Police responded to Wal-Mart due to a suspicious person who appeared to be intoxicated. The officer spoke with the man, McCowan whose eyes were blood shot and watery. His speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. McCowan was asked to step outside and submit to field sobriety tasks. McCowan performed poorly on the tasks. For his safety and that of the public, McCowan was taken into custody. His bond is $3,000 and his court date is April 27.
30 year old Joseph Michael Brew was arrested on Sunday, April 2 for driving under the influence and possession of a handgun while under the influence and he was cited for speeding, financial responsibility, and implied consent. Police performed a routine traffic stop on a vehicle for a speeding violation. The officer spoke with the driver, Brew who had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and red watery eyes. Brew performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Brew told the officer that he had a handgun in the vehicle. The officer recovered a 45 caliber handgun from the floor board. Bond for Brew is $3,000 and his court date is April 27.
45 year old David E. Driver was arrested on Tuesday, April 4 for being an habitual offender and evading arrest. On Sunday, April 2 police responded to a domestic that was determined to be verbal only but while enroute, the officer was informed by Central Dispatch that the man involved in the domestic had left the scene in a white Ford Ranger with a brown recliner in the bed of the truck. The officer spotted the vehicle on South Congress Boulevard in front of Dogwood Plaza and activated the emergency lights and sirens on his patrol car. The truck failed to stop and the officer pursued the vehicle approximately three miles before ending the pursuit due to traffic conditions. The driver was later identified as David Driver and it was discovered that his license are revoked for driving after being convicted as an habitual offender. Driver was later taken into custody without incident. His bond is $12,000.
22 year old Shawn L. Allen Jr. was arrested on Thursday, April 6 for being a fugitive from justice. Police initiated a routine traffic stop on a vehicle that matched the description of one involved in a theft case under investigation. The officer checked the identities of the occupants and the passenger was found to be Allen who had offenses against him in Ohio for burglary and felony possession of drugs. Allen was arrested and held for extradition to Ohio. His bond is $75,000.
48 year old Cynthia Ann Clevenger was arrested Tuesday, April 11 for a 4th offense of driving on a revoked license and she was cited for speeding. Clevenger was stopped for a speeding violation and she was found to have a revoked driver’s license. A check revealed her license were suspended on September 9, 2011 for accumulation of points. She was charged with driving on a suspended license on October 3, 2013 in Washington County; on February 11, 2015 in Cocke County; and December 1, 2016 in McMinn County. Her license had never been reinstated during this period. Her bond is $3,000 and her court date is May 4.
34 year old Deia Marie McCormick was arrested on Thursday, April 13 for driving under the influence and she was cited for a driver’s license violation and violation of implied consent. Police were dispatched to the area of South Congress Boulevard due to a possible intoxicated driver. The officer spoke with the driver, McCormick who had slurred speech and she was unable to keep her eyes open. McCormick consented to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. It was discovered through Central Dispatch that her license were suspended. She declined to submit to a blood test. Bond for McCormick is $1,500 and her court date is May 4.
55 year old Sharlett Ann Carioscia was cited for assault on Thursday, April 13. The victim was visiting a neighbor when Carioscia allegedly assaulted her by kicking her in the leg. Her court date is April 27.
23 year old Garrett Michael Johnson was arrested on Friday, April 14 for driving under the influence and he was cited for simple possession, violation of implied consent, financial responsibility, and stopping, standing, or parking in the roadway. Police responded to the area of Braswell Lane due to a vehicle in the middle of the road. Johnson, the driver, informed the officer he was out of gas. Johnson’s speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. Johnson also performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tasks. A search incident to arrest revealed a pill bottle without a label containing 9.5 pills. The bottle was found in the center console of the vehicle. Johnson said he had a valid prescription for the medication but couldn’t provide one at the time. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is May 4.
31 year old Tracy Ann Thomason was arrested on Friday, April 14 for driving under the influence. Police observed a silver car swerve over the yellow and white lines on East Broad Street. The officer made a traffic stop and found the driver, Thomason to have slow and slurred speech. She submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Thomason was deemed to be intoxicated and arrested for her safety and that of the public. Bond for Thomason is $1,500 and her court date is April 27.
47 year old Robert Edward White was arrested on Sunday, April 16 for driving under the influence. White was found in the drive through at McDonalds Restaurant passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle with his foot on the brake and the gear still in drive. After multiple police attempts to awaken him, White finally responded and the officer observed him to have slurred speech and his pupils were dilated. White consented to a field sobriety task but performed poorly. He did submit to blood test and then was taken into custody without incident. His bond is $2,500 and his court date is May 4.
28 year old Joshua Lynn McCowan was cited for fraudulent use of a credit card on Monday, April 17 after he allegedly used a card stolen from the victim’s vehicle on March 30. The card was used at Wal-Mart on three different occasions on the date of the theft. McCowan will make a court appearance on May 4.

Although the Board of Education has not yet offered a specific building plan, one county commissioner is advocating that the county adopt a wheel tax to raise revenue for the construction of at least one new elementary school whenever the school board is ready to move forward.
Fifth district commissioner Anita Puckett, who is also assistant Principal at Smithville Elementary School, raised the issue during a county commission education committee meeting and then shared her suggestion with other members of the commission during an all committees workshop Thursday night at the courthouse.
The County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS) recently conducted a building feasibility study and concluded more classrooms are needed particularly at the lower elementary grade levels within the system.
Puckett said the county commission should act now to adopt a wheel tax and earmark the funds for school infrastructure. The commission can take action on its own to implement a wheel tax but passage requires at least a two thirds vote (10 out of 14) in support on two separate readings at least a month apart. Residents opposed to a wheel tax could mount a petition drive between the first and second readings to force a public referendum on the question.
A proposed $50 wheel tax at the current car count in DeKalb County would raise approximately one million dollars a year.
“We’re in dire need of a new school. The need is pretty much pre-K through 8 but we can build any type of school in that range as far as the need. The feasibility study only came out in the last three weeks and the Board of Education has not had time to follow up with an architectural firm to move forward with what they want to build. But my point is whatever they choose to build, we need to start looking at approving revenue to build a school. I mentioned to the education committee about a wheel tax. I know that is a sensitive subject but it is a very strong way of generating revenue to build schools. The average age of our schools is 41 years old. The newest building (Northside Elementary) is 17 years old. There is a need. It’s time to be building some schools. Its time to be moving forward,” said Puckett.
Third district commissioner Jack Barton said he doesn’t feel comfortable voting for a wheel tax before knowing what the cost of a new school is going to be. “We’ve got a good credit rating and we can borrow money any time so I don’t agree with doing a wheel tax before we know the costs,” said Barton.
Fourth district commissioner Wayne Cantrell said he would rather the public decide the issue in a referendum. “I’m all for building a new elementary school but I wouldn’t be for a wheel tax unless the people vote it in. Put it on a referendum next August (2018). If they vote it in we’ll have the money. If they don’t we’ll do it the old way, “ said Cantrell.
Commissioner Puckett said she preferred the county commission making that decision fearing the public would reject a proposed wheel tax at the ballot box. “My honest opinion is that if it goes before a referendum it will not pass due to the fact that people look at just taxes increased and that’s all they look at. They don’t think about the needs. They are not in the buildings. They don’t see the buildings. They don’t understand what is going on within the building. They don’t see the feasibility study. They don’t hear this information. They don’t understand this information. I feel like it should be laid upon the hands of this commission,” said Puckett.
Commissioner Cantrell said if and when a new elementary school is built, the county doesn’t have to go looking for land since there is ample room for another facility at the campus of Northside Elementary. “We have 17 acres at Northside. We bought 34 acres there 17 years ago with the idea of expanding. I don’t know why we need any land,” he said.
Cantrell added that the bonds on Northside Elementary will be paid off within a couple of years which will free up funds to start another school building project through another bond issue. “When these bonds are paid off that money is freed up. That’s a lot of extra money,” he said.
After consulting with the county’s financial advisor Steve Bates by text message, Commissioner Barton said a $50 wheel tax might not be sufficient to service the debt on a $30 million note for a new school building. “$30 million at our credit rating on a 25 year note would be $1.8 to $1.9 million a year in a note. If our wheel tax is $50 it would (generate revenue) be only half of that. $60 million which would be two schools is $3.6 to $3.7 million a year in a note. We could have a wheel tax that even with the note paying off (on Northside) still doesn’t come close to paying the note on what we need to build,” said Barton.
Fourth district commissioner Jonathan Norris said the county still has to plan. “We can’t build four new schools. I don’t know if we can build two. But I do know that eventually we are going to have to a build a school whether it’s a K-5, high school or whatever we are going to have to build it. Our bonds are going to be paid off. But we’ve been paying 20 years at a half million dollars a year on Northside. That’s $10 million dollars. We can free up that half a million dollars but a new school in 2017 is $35 million. How long is that bond going to be,” asked Norris?
Third district commissioner Bradley Hendrix said he is not necessarily opposed to a wheel tax but would like its revenues to be divided for other needs. “I’m not against a wheel tax but I would like to see other projects done along with the schools. Do we give schools all the wheel tax money?. Do we give them a percentage of it?. I would like to see a big park built with baseball fields and soccer fields, etc. all together where parents don’t have to run back and forth from one field to another,” said Hendrix.
“I am a huge supporter of our athletics too and I don’t disagree with you Bradley but there are grants out there and to me that’s money you seek after for that (ball fields). There are not grants out there for education (school infrastructure). If we do a wheel tax it needs to go to the greatest need (schools) which affects the most kids,” said Commissioner Norris.
First district commissioner Julie Young said she doesn’t favor funding a school project until she sees a plan from the school board. Young went further saying she believes the school board also ought to make a good faith effort to cut their budget before asking the commission to spend more money.
“If our school board wants a school and we as a county commission want a school I’ll support it but I’m not going to hand them over money and say do what you will. I am taxed to death. Our elderly are taxed to death. Everybody is taxed to death. I will give them a school. Our students deserve it. But they (school board) are going to have to come over here and sit down and say I’m cutting every department,” said Young.
Puckett may raise the wheel tax issue again during Monday night’s monthly county commission meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse.

As a DCHS Project Graduation fundraiser, raffle tickets were sold for a Yeti Cooler, an 8 foot kayak, and a $150 gift card for fishing equipment at DeKalb Ace Hardware. The drawing was held Thursday afternoon on WJLE.
The winners are as follows:
*$150 DeKalb Ace Hardware Gift Card for fishing equipment- Keisha Payton
*8 foot kayak: Mike Bowman
*Yeti Cooler: Sean Driver
During the year, more than $33,000 was raised through various fundraisers in support of the DCHS Class of 2017 Project Graduation.
Participating in the drawing Thursday were members of the Project Graduation Committee: Kathy Bates, Elizabeth Redmon, Bailey Redmon (Elizabeth’s daughter), and Chenoa Whittaker