Governor Bredesen, Senator Mae Beavers and Representative Frank Buck announced today a $96,880 grant to DeKalb County Schools for after-school programs for the 2006-07 school year funded by unclaimed lottery prize money. The Lottery Education After-school Programs (LEAP) is geared toward public or non-profit agencies to expand or develop after-school programs serving at least 50 percent at-risk students for an average of 15 hours a week. The LEAP program has provided approximately $21.2 million in grants to date.
“These programs provide quality learning opportunities and a safe haven for thousands of Tennessee students after school hours,” said Governor Bredesen. “They provide our schools with additional resources to reach at-risk students and to improve their overall achievement. I am very aware of the high cost and challenge of providing services for at risk students, especially in urban districts, and I intend to work closely with the General Assembly to continue making progress in this area.”
The General Assembly passed new legislation this year for a second after-school grant program, the Test Preparation Pilot Project. This program is designed to provide ACT/SAT preparation, academic tutoring and study skills for at-risk students. Each site may serve no more than 60 seventh- through ninth-grade students for an average of 15 hours a week. The project will begin with six sites ? one urban and one rural in each of Tennessee?s three grand divisions. Each site will receive $50,000 a year for three years.
?Students need quality programs to engage them after school and help reinforce the learning that goes on during the school day,? Senator Beavers said. ?These grants will have a long term impact of the quality of life in our towns.?
?Not every child has the opportunity to receive extra help and enrichment after school,? Representative Buck said. ?These after school programs will give our children the boost they need to succeed in school and in life.?

Smithville Police made several arrests over the New Year holiday weekend.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says “On December 30th Smithville Police arrested Walter Hartman of 303 Manhill Road, Dowelltown on the charges of DUI and Reckless Endangerment. This is the 5th DUI arrest for Hartman. Police observed Hartman driving his Ford Thunderbird at a high rate of speed on Cookeville Highway near Northside School crossing the centerline multiple times. When the vehicle was finally stopped and the officer approached, a 9 year old female, who was sitting in the passenger seat, crawled across the driver’s seat frantically yelling “Please help me” to the officer. The officer immediately identified the smell of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle and asked the driver to get out of the vehicle. Upon further investigation it was discovered that the juvenile was the adopted daughter of the driver and was in fear due to Hartman’s reckless driving. Hartman had to be held against the vehicle as he was too inebriated to stand. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail. He was placed under $15,000 bond. Hartman’s vehicle was confiscated under the state’s Drug and Alcohol forfeiture act.
A second DUI arrest was made on New Year’s Day when Francisco Soto Perez of 232 Orchard Lane of McMinnville was confronted by another driver who claimed that Perez almost ran into his vehicle. Smithville Police responded to a reported disturbance in the Exxon Gas Station parking lot. Officers discovered that Perez smelled of an alcoholic beverage, slurred his speech and admitted to drinking and driving. Perez was arrested and processed and remanded to the DeKalb County Jail under a bond of $1,500
On New Year’s Eve Smithville Police Officers responded to 307 White Street regarding a domestic complaint. Upon arrival officer’s discovered that 19 year old Daniel Lee Clien had been drinking heavily and kept a female companion from leaving the residence. Officers found that the female tried numerous times to exit from a rear bedroom window only to dragged back by Clien which left bruises on the female. Clien damaged numerous items in the residence including phones which were ripped out of the walls and glass which was broken from items being thrown about. Clien was arrested for domestic assault and underage drinking and was transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $3,500 bond.
Smithville Police are committed to actively investigating and prosecuting drivers who are DUI. The Police Department asks that everyone help eliminate drinking and driving in our area.

Alexandria Police made a drug arrest after a routine traffic stop on Friday.
Chief Mark Collins says 25 year old Patrick N. Blevins of 533 Anderson Ridge Road, Silver Point is charged with possession of a schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia (pipe), and driving under the influence (4th offense).
Chief Collins says officers Chris McMillen and Cody Jenkins stopped Blevins vehicle on Highway 70 in Alexandria on a traffic offense. As Blevins got out of his automobile, the officers detected a strong odor of what they thought was marijuana. They conducted a field sobriety test and placed Blevins under arrest.
The officers found a small bag of marijuana and a pipe used to smoke drugs.
Two other arrests were made in a separate investigation on New Year’s Eve.
Chief Collins says 31 year old Travis Pinkerton of Watertown was pulled over in a routine traffic stop and charged with driving on a suspended license. Another man with Pinkerton was arrested. He was wanted on charges in Cannon County.

Smithville Police arrested a 48 year old man Wednesday for disorderly conduct at a local restaurant.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says Clyde Randall Young of 634 Crestview Avenue is charged in the case.
According to Stufano, “On Wednesday Smithville Police responded to Susie’s Restaurant on a reported disorderly person complaint. Officers responded and met with County EMS personnel who were both the complainants and witnesses to the incident.”
Chief Stufano says “The witnesses stated that Young had been in the restaurant making veiled threats against the President of the United States. They went on to state that the man seemed very agitated and mad making numerous remarks. Numerous patrons in the restaurant were so disturbed over the demeanor and comments that they got up from their tables and left. Young left the restaurant prior to police arrival but was stopped a short distance away. Witnesses identified the subject and he was detained and escorted to the Police Department for further investigation. Due to the nature and type of comments made, the US Secret Service responded to conduct a federal investigation of Young. Young was eventually booked on Disorderly Conduct charges and released.

The winter break is almost over for students and teachers.
They will return to the classrooms Tuesday to begin the third nine week session of schools.
The remainder of the calendar reveals that schools will be closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 15 and for President’s Day, Monday, February 19.
The spring break will be April 2 – 6.
Schools will be closed Friday, March 16 and Friday, May 11.
Students will not attend on Thursday, May 24. That will be an administrative day and all teachers must attend.. The last day of school will be Friday, May 25. That will be an abbreviated school day and report cards will be given to the students.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, March 13 at DeKalb County High School from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will also be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Thursday, February 1 at DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary, Smithville Elementary, and DeKalb West School.
Report cards will be sent home on Thursday, January 4 and Thursday, March 8.
Competency testing at DCHS will be February 13-16.
Gateway testing at DCHS will be May 1-3. Gateway test makeup will be May 4.
Writing Assessment for the 5th, 8th, and 11th grades will be February 1. Writing Assessment make-up will be February 2.
TCAP testing of elementary students will be April 23-27.

Smithville Police Officer Lilani Defore has been recognized as “Officer of the Month”
Defore is a three year veteran of the Smithville Police Department assigned to the Patrol Division. She is also the department’s Domestic Assault Coordinator and reviews all domestic assaults, sexual assaults, and child abuse cases.
Defore is originally from Texas but has been a resident in the area for over thirteen years.
The commendation, signed by Smithville Police Chief Thomas J. Stufano, Mayor Taft Hendrixson, and Police Commissioner Aaron Meeks, states that “On behalf of the City of Smithville Police Department I would like to commend you for your recent actions and diligent efforts in your capacity as Police Patrol Officer. Your determination and diligent efforts and participation in the recent investigation of a sexual predator resulted in the arrest of an individual that has caused hardship and mental anguish on young children. Due to the graphic nature and sensitivity of this type of crime your compassion, professionalism and expertise enabled the victim and the residents of our city to feel that justice has been served. Your impressive actions in this case are a credit to your professionalism as a Smithville Police Officer.”
“Additionally, your excellent work in traffic enforcement for the month of December has shown the motoring public that driving safety within our jurisdiction is a priority. Your work ethic and tenacity during the month of December has shown your true commitment to the citizens we serve and your fellow officers.”
“Last, your self initiation and strong interpersonal skills have shown favorably on the Police Department and our City Leadership. I appreciate your input and current performance and for that you are hereby formally recognized and commended with a copy of this Commendation becoming apart of your permanent personnel record for all to see.”
“Congratulations on a job well done.”
Defore says “I wanted to make a difference in someone’s life who needed help. By being a police officer, I can interact with a lot of people in various situations and the friendships I have developed over the year’s here in Smithville has satisfied that dream.”

DeKalb County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November was 5.3%, up from the October rate of 4.8%.
The DeKalb County Labor Force for November was 9,520. A total of 9,020 were employed and 500 were unemployed.
Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November was 5.0 percent, up from the October rate of 4.5 percent.
County unemployment rates for November show that two county rates decreased, 90 county rates increased, and three county rates remained the same.
Williamson County had the lowest unemployment rate for November in Tennessee at 3.0 percent, up from the October rate of 2.6 percent. Clay County had the state’s highest county rate at 9.3 percent, up from the October rate of 8.3 percent.
Knox County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate of the major metropolitan counties in November at 3.6 percent, up from 3.1 percent in October. Davidson County was 4.1 percent, up from 3.7 percent in October. Hamilton County was 4.0 percent in November, up from 3.7 percent in October; and Shelby County was 5.4 percent in November, up from 4.9 percent in October.

Smithville Police are reporting a busy holiday season with a number of arrests for DUI, drug offenses, domestic violence and shoplifting.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says “On December 23rd officers of the Smithville Police Department arrested 30 year old Juan Lucio with a listed address of Pirtle’s Nursery in Smithville for Driving under the Influence. Lucio was stopped at 10:00 pm at West Bryant and College Streets when officers saw the vehicle driving erratically, swerving into oncoming traffic and narrowly missing a head-on collision. Lucio was arrested and transported to the Dekalb County Jail and booked under a $1,000 bond.”
“On Christmas Eve Smithville Police Officers also arrested 45 year old Keith Dolberry of 914 Moore Street Toledo, Ohio for DUI when he was driving on Highway 56 South. A concerned citizen had seen the erratic driving of Dolberry and reported it to the Police. Upon contact with Dolberry Officers noted that he was so unsteady on his feet that he had to be held up against his car so he would not fall during the investigation. He was arrested and booked into Dekalb County Jail under a $1,000 bond.”
“A second arrest for DUI was made on the same night when Smithville Police Officers came in contact with 32 year old Jimmy Martin of 2454 Hurricane Ridge Road in Smithville. Officers saw Martin driving his vehicle on Miller Road at 5:00 am without his headlights on. While police tried to stop the vehicle, the driver repeatedly crossed the line numerous times before he was eventually stopped some 4 blocks away. The driver was processed for DUI, arrested, and booked into Dekalb County Jail under a $1,000 Bond.”
“Another arrest made over the holiday period was 18 year old John David Anderson of Kendra Drive in Smithville, charged with simple possession of a narcotic. He was taken into custody after officers responded to the area on a complaint of an illegal activity taking place in a parking lot. Anderson was seen throwing a bag of pills under the police car. He gave the officers a consent to search his vehicle where an additional bag of marijuana was also found. Anderson was arrested and transported to DeKalb County Jail and booked. He is under a $2,500 bond”.
Chief Stufano says “Smithville Police also responded to 805 Anthony Avenue in Smithville on a reported Domestic Violence complaint. Upon arrival they found 50 year old John Prater in a drunken state claiming that someone had broken out his vehicle windows and kicked in the residence back door. The investigation disclosed that Prater himself had broken out his windows and damaged two other vehicles. Prater was heard by witnesses that he was going to kill his wife and stepson. Officers found that Prater had also loaded a muzzle loader rifle just prior to the police response placing the weapon next to the door. Prater was arrested under the State’s Domestic Violence Act and transported to the Dekalb County Jail under a $2,500 bond”.
“On December 22nd Smithville Police responded to the Dollar General Store and arrested 39 year old Christopher Hendrixson and 32 year old Jennifer Hendrixson of 407 Hendrixson Hollow Road in Smithville for Theft as they tried to conceal over 30 items in their clothes without paying. Upon doing an inventory of their vehicle a large amount of additional items were recovered. The two were booked into Dekalb County Jail under a $2,500 each”.
Chief Stufano says “Smithville Police are committed to actively investigating all crimes occurring within the city limits and appreciate the citizens support in reporting suspicious activity”.

A man serving weekends at the DeKalb County Jail on a theft conviction was caught Friday trying to smuggle in tobacco and drugs.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 19 year old Gary Christopher Ponder of Old Mill Hill Road, Dowelltown is charged with introduction of drugs into a penal institution. His bond is set at $20,000 and he will be in General Sessions Court on the charge January 4th.
Sheriff Ray says when Ponder reported to the jail Friday, he was searched and nine white pills, believed to be seroquel were found along with some tobacco. He says the contraband was wrapped in a condom and covered with black electrical tape. Ponder had the package hidden in a body cavity.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has made an arrest in a recent burglary and theft case.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 35 year old Homer Petty of Banks Pisgah Road is charged with burglary and theft of property. His bond is set at $40,000 and he will be in General Sessions Court on the charges January 4th.
Sheriff Ray says Petty allegedly broke into Young’s Nursery and Greenhouses on Highway 56 south last Thursday night. A four wheeler, utility trailer, and rolls of copper wire were stolen from the nursery.
Officers have recovered the four wheeler, utility trailer, and some of the copper.
More arrests are forthcoming in the case.