Three people have been charged by the Sheriff’s Department with the theft of $250 in change from a Belk Road residence.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 28 year old Aaron D. Ponder and 19 year old Gary Ponder both of 7851 Old Mill Hill Road, Dowelltown; and 18 year old Britney D. Barnes of 9850 Belk Road have each been charged in the case.
Bond for each is set at $1,000 and they will appear in General Sessions Court October 19th.

Natural gas customers could see lower home heating costs this winter
Les Enoch, CEO of Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, says circumstances that drove prices up this time last year have changed this year. ” Natural gas prices have dropped drastically and we’ve lowered our rates as well. If the weather this winter is the same as last year, gas bills should be about 20% lower.”
“We didn’t have the hurricanes that were predicted like we had last year and that has made a big difference and the gas supply in underground storage has also been pretty significant and that’s had a big impact on it. This time last year was a different situation. We were focusing on devastation to the Gulf Coast region during a very active hurricane season and we were also confronted with high energy prices on a nationwide basis.”
Enoch urges consumers to conserve as much energy as possible to save even more money this winter. “It’s fall light up season. We provide free safety inspections and pilot lighting in preparation for the winter season. It’s also a good time top consider winterizing your homes, take a look at your insulation, and weatherstripping, change the filters, and keep your thermostats as low as comfortable because that’s another good way to save on your gas bill.”

Four members of the Smithville Fire Department recently graduated from the Tennessee Fire Service Academy in Bell Buckle.
Gary Johnson, Stephanie Brown, Randall Hunt, and Kevin Adcock, completed the three day “Live Burn” weekend learning the techniques of extinguishing Liquid Propane, Natural Gas, and other fuel enriched fires. They also practiced basic survival skills including search and rescue of victims from burning buildings in zero visibility.
With the recent graduates, the Smithville Fire Department has had 90% of it’s members complete Fire School and 80% obtain State Licensure as either a Paramedic, EMT, or First Responder. For more information on the Smithville Fire Department you can visit their website at www. smithvillefire.com.

Two people were injured in a traffic accident around 9:00 p.m. Tuesday night on old Highway 96 at Liberty.
Trooper Shannon Brinkley of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Flint W. Gilley II of 1745 Bethel Road, Smithville was traveling south on Highway 96 in a 1994 Saturn when his vehicle impacted an oncoming 1998 Ford Escort driven by Jeffery M. Stone of 576 Prater Road, Smithville in the northbound lane.
Trooper Brinkley says after the collision, Stone’s car came to rest in the northbound lane and Gilley’s vehicle veered across the northbound lane and struck a guardrail.
Stone was transported by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital. Gilley, who was cited for driving left of center, suffered a slight ankle injury but refused treatment.

Governor Phil Bredesen today announced the state is providing $3.6 million in disaster assistance funding to many Tennessee communities that suffered damages due to thunderstorms, flooding, and high winds and tornadoes in 2003. Under the plan, the state will provide retroactive matching funds to eligible agencies and local governments in 70 counties that were declared federal disaster areas in 2003. These payments will restore a portion ? 6.25 percent ? of the total eligible damages in these counties that were not provided when the previous administration suspended state payments for disasters during a period of budget crisis.
?Responding to a disaster can impose immense financial costs on a community if they are forced to shoulder that burden alone,? said Bredesen. ?It is only proper Tennessee continue to place a priority on assisting those communities and the public agencies that have been hardest hit during a disaster. Now that we have regained control of our state?s budget and restored fiscal discipline, it?s time to restore these funds to the communities that need them.?
DeKalb County will receive $17,167.66 for damages that occurred during the disaster which was declared on May 8, 2003. This figure is the combined total from among the eligible parties in this community.
Governor Bredesen has already restored the state?s policy of paying half of the 25 percent of local matching funds required to receive federal public assistance disaster funding for future emergencies. That announcement was made following the deadly tornadoes in April of this year.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency will provide budget oversight for issuance of the funds.
The federal public assistance program provides funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures, roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings, public utilities and public recreational facilities.

The DeKalb County Fighting Tiger band traveled to Lebanon on Saturday to compete in the 21st Annual Blue Devil Invitational.
The band took the field at 3:30 p.m. and performed a great show. After the last band had performed, the senior band students, guard captains, and field commander took the field for the award ceremony.
The band received an excellent rating. The DeKalb County group placed 4th in a very competitive medium class. Out of 22 bands at the competition, the Fighting Tiger Band ranked 7th. They scored higher than all small and large class bands. “The scores were very close. We were hurt by little things. Little things that can and will be fixed before next weekend”, said director Chuck Gilbert.
The best news of the day was the announcement of Dustin Estes as the top field commander in the medium class. Later, when the scores were reviewed, it was announced that Dustin had received the highest score overall at the contest with a 95 out of 100.
This Saturday, the band travels to Vanderbilt University to compete. Anyone wishing to travel with the band and would like more information can call the band office at 597-7213 or check the band’s website at www.dekalbband.com.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has charged a father and son in connection with a recent burglary at a residence in Liberty.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 46 year old Ricky Allen Ashford, Sr. of 120 Lavergne Street, Alexandria, and his son, 27 year old Ricky Allen Ashford II of 131 East Main Street, Liberty have each been charged with aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000.
Sheriff Ray says the burglary occurred a couple of weeks ago and some long guns, ginseng, and other items were stolen from the residence.
The Ashford’s are each under a $40,000 bond and will appear in General Sessions Court on October 26th.
Meanwhile in a separate investigation, the Sheriff’s Department has taken juvenile petitions against three juveniles charging them with vandalism over $500 and theft under $500.
Sheriff Ray says two 16 year old’s, one from Liberty and the other of King Ridge Road, Smithville, and a 17 year old Brush Creek youth allegedly went to a home in Liberty on September 22nd and vandalized two vehicles parked there by taking a key and scratching down the sides and beating them with a metal bar. They also allegedly squirted milk, ketchup, mayonnaise, and bathing lotion inside the vehicles and in the cd players of the radios. Several cd’s were also stolen from the vehicles.

During the weekend September 22-24, seven DeKalb County firefighters completed the Live Firefighting Course at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. The 22 hour course applies hands-on skills firefighters learned in the Basic Firefighting course.
Assistant Chief and Training Program Coordinator Roy Merriman says that Travis Johnson, Bobby Koger, Andy Pack, Jason Rice, Jonathan Scurlock, C.J. Tramel, and Calvin Tramel successfully completed the weekend training that involved rigorous hands-on drills that tested the firefighter?s skills. ?Our department is extremely proud of these men?s commitment to develop and improve their firefighting skills. Because of this commitment, our department is better prepared to handle the various emergency situations that we are faced with,? says Asst. Chief Merriman.
Chief Donny Green also commends these seven dedicated firefighters. ?In the end, it means that we are providing a higher level of service to the citizens we protect. It also means that we are doing everything we can to make sure our firefighters are trained to the fullest extent to allow them to do their jobs safely. Our goal is that everyone goes home at the end of the day. Training is a great place to start to make sure this happens,? added Chief Green.
DeKalb County Fire Department currently has 68 volunteer firefighters and officers that are 100% volunteer. The department works out of 10 stations that are strategically located throughout DeKalb County.

The 2006 Homecoming Queen at DeKalb County High School is Jessica Bain.
Bain is the 17 year old daughter of Larry and Teresa Johnson and Harold and Debbie Bain of Smithville.
Bain has been a DCHS football cheerleader for four years serving as co-captain her senior year. She was an All-American cheerleader nominee for three years. Bain was also a member of the Lady Tiger basketball team her freshman year.
Bain is a member of FBLA, the Literature Club, French Club, Science Club, and she is the treasurer of the HOSA Club. She has received the TSSAA academic achievement award for three years and was named “Most Improved Cheerleader” her freshman year. The football team voted her “cutest’ her freshman year and “Most Compatible” her junior year at the football banquet. She was voted “Most Popular” by her senior class.
Bain attends the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church.
The Senior Attendant is Martha Ilean Robertson, the 17 year old daughter of Bill and Joyce Robertson of Smithville and the late Judy Robertson.
Robertson has been a DCHS football cheerleader for four years serving as captain her senior year. She has been an NCA All-American cheerleader nominee for four years and was named to the NCA All-American cheering team her Junior and Senior year. She was chosen by her squad as “Most Spirited Cheerleader” her junior year. This year, her squad won the Top Team trophy at NCA camp.
Robertson is a member of FBLA, the Literature Club, French Club, FCA, and Science Club. She is an active member of the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church and their youth group.
She was chosen by the faculty as a Top 20 Senior and she received the TSSAA academic achievement award for three years.
Robertson is the youngest of eleven children.
The Junior Attendant is Geri Anna Wilson, the 16 year old daughter of Don and Vicki Wilson of Dowelltown. She is the older sister of Bruce Wilson, also of Dowelltown.
Wilson has been a football cheerleader for three years. She was nominated for homecoming attendant her freshman and junior years and was an NCA All-American cheerleader nominee her sophomore year. She has received the TSSAA academic achievement award for two years and was voted “Most likely to succeed” by the football team her sophomore year.
She is a member of FCA, FBLA, French Club, the Literature Club, Science Club, BETA Club, and Student Council. She attends the Smithville First United Methodist Church and is a member of the Smithville Church of God youth group.
Jessie Young Strickland is the Sophomore Attendant.
She is the 15 year old daughter of Jerry Strickland, Jr. of Alexandria and the late Melissa Strickland. She has an older sister, Kristen Strickland. She is a member of the FCCLA, Science Club, and the Literature Club. She enjoys playing softball, volleyball, and tennis. She attends the West Main Street Baptist Church in Alexandria.
Brittany Leeann Brown is the Freshman Attendant.
She is the 14 year old daughter of Glenn and Teresa Brown of Alexandria. She is a member of the DCHS football cheerleading squad. She was nominated for the NCA All-American cheerleading team this year.
Homecoming activities will be held at DCHS all week. The annual Homecoming Day Parade will be Friday, October 6th.
The parade will leave DCHS at 12:20 p.m. and arrive at Smithville Elementary School by 12:40 p.m. The parade will then move to Northside Elementary School by 1:00 p.m. and then make it’s way to the public square by 1:30 p.m., led by the high school band.
The Tigers will host the Upperman Bees Friday night in the Homecoming Game at 7:30 p.m.

If you want to become a registered voter in time for the November 7th Tennessee General Election, you have one more week to do so.
The deadline for voter registration in person is October 6th. If by mail, it must be postmarked by October 8th.
Early Voting will be October 18th through November 2nd.
The election will be held for the purpose of choosing a Governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. Congressman, State Senator, and State Representative..
The candidates for Governor are Democratic Incumbent Governor Phil Bredesen versus Republican challenger Jim Bryson. Independent candidates are David Gatchell, Maurivauna Stout Leinoff, Charles E. Smith, Howard M. Switzer, and Carl “Twofeathers” Whitaker.
Candidates for the United States Senate are Republican Bob Corker and Democrat Harold Ford, Jr., Independent candidates are Emory “Bo” Heyward, Gary Keplinger, and Christopher Joseph Lugo.
Candidates for State Senator of the 17th District are Republican Incumbent Mae Beavers and Democratic challenger Bob Rochelle.
Candidates for U.S. Representative of the 6th Congressional District are Democratic Incumbent Bart Gordon and Republican challenger David R. Davis. Independent candidates are Robert L. Garrison and Norman R. Saliba.
Candidates for State Representative of the 40th District are Democratic incumbent Frank Buck versus Republican Terri Lynn Weaver and Independent Carl Jones.