After more than sixteen months since the Holmes Creek Road bridge was ordered closed by the state due to deficiencies, frustrated residents and motorists longing for the re-opening of the road over Fall Creek will soon get their wish.
The new bridge will be completed within a few days after the railing and paving projects have been completed.
The bridge, at the bottom of town hill behind Love-Cantrell Funeral Home, has been closed since October 30, 2015.
The state forced the City of Smithville to close the bridge due to a Tennessee Department of Transportation Evaluation Report which detailed various bridge deficiencies making it potentially unsafe.
As WJLE has reported in previous weeks, the contractor, Twin K. Construction of Helenwood, Tennessee began work in early October and the completion date under the contract is March 18th.
In September, the Smithville Board of Mayor and Aldermen accepted Twin K’s bid of $687,791. It was the lowest of the five bids submitted and was recommended for approval by the city’s engineer for the project. In addition to the construction bid, other added costs including engineering, design, and inspection fees, geotechnical exploration, right of way, temporary construction easement, asbestos study, and permits, put the total project at $778,655.
The project is being funded under the state’s Bridge Grant Program. The matching cost to the city is going to be $196,625

DeKalb County Habitat for Humanity is now accepting applications for the next house to be constructed this year.
An Informational Meeting and Application Fair will be Tuesday, April 18 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Smithville First United Methodist Church Christian Fellowship Center next door to Love-Cantrell Funeral Home near downtown. During that meeting, families will receive help in completing the application and will be given information about the Habitat Program.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may call the Habitat phone number at 615-215-8181 and leave your name, address, and phone number and a Habitat volunteer will contact you to provide additional information and perhaps mail an application to you.
To be considered, completed and signed applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, May 3.
The purpose of Habitat is to build homes with families and sell the houses at no profit and no interest to families who could not otherwise afford a house. This Christian ministry is financed through private donations and utilizes volunteer labor and donated materials, if possible.
Habitat guidelines are basically 3 major qualifications: need for housing, ability to pay and a willingness to partner. In addition, partner families must have been a resident of DeKalb County for a least 1 year prior to April 15, 2017 and they must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident alien status.
A Family Selection Committee will consider applications based on those major qualifications as well as some other general guidelines as follows:
*Must have a housing need: For example, poor heating, leaks in the roof, overcrowding (3 to a bedroom), unsafe or unsanitary conditions or lack of adequate water or plumbing.
*For a family of 4, the maximum allowable annual income is $25,520 which is 55% of the median income for families in our community. If a household member is age 60 or older, or if there is a special needs household member, the maximum allowable annual income level for a family of 4 is $27,840. The income levels vary according to family size. You may get detailed information specific to your family at the informational meeting on April 18. With your permission, they will verify employment and other income, verify checking and savings account balances, get a statement from your current landlord, have a credit check completed and a criminal background check.
*Willingness to partner: If approved for a Habitat house, they will ask that you be willing to join in programs to learn and practice budgeting, home repair and home maintenance. Family members will be given “sweat equity” credit for attending these sessions. Other opportunities will be provided to help families learn and earn the hours they need.
*If approved for a Habitat house, they require that all adult household members (18 years and older) be willing to work a combined total of 500 hours of “sweat equity” with 100 of those hours completed before construction. Children who are members of the household may help with “sweat equity” by improving their grades in school and having good attendance at school. Friends and family may also help earn part of the “sweat equity”
Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is very anxious to help another family have their dream of home ownership become a reality.

Smithville Elementary has named the Students of the Month for March. These students were selected for their outstanding character, academics, and other traits that make them an all-around excellent student. Selected as Students of the Month for March are:
Pre-K: Ofelia Mata-Guzman
Kindergarten: Garrett Muskopf
1st grade: Lillie Close
2nd grade: Andrew Johnson
(Students of the Month are pictured with Principal Julie Vincent and Assistant Principal Anita Puckett. From left to right: Ofelia Mata-Guzman, Garrett Muskopf, Lillie Close, Andrew Johnson )

Everyone is invited to attend the 2017 Chamber Annual Banquet. The banquet will be Thursday, April 27, 2017 at the DeKalb County Complex, 712 South Congress Blvd., Smithville. “We are excited to again host this event and invite the all the public to share in this fun-filled night,” says Chamber Executive Director Suzanne Williams. “A common misconception is that this is an event for Chamber members only,” says Williams. “All are welcome to come. This is a wonderful networking opportunity and a great way to see some of the positive things that are happening in our county.”
The special evening begins at 5:30 PM with a “Silent Auction.” The dinner and program start at 6:00 PM. The delicious meal will be served by Leadership DeKalb Alum and Jr. Beta Club members.
NEW THIS YEAR! To spice things up, we are also going to have a “Live Auction.” Be ready to bid when Auctioneer Anthony Scott takes the stage. Lots of great items to bid on including signed guitars from country music stars. Anyone can donate to the Silent Auction. For the Live Auction, at least two items must be donated and delivered to the Chamber.
We would like to invite local industries and businesses to be a Corporate Sponsor. Being a Corporate Sponsor is not only a great way to support the Chamber and its many programs, but a wonderful marketing opportunity. The cost of corporate sponsorship is $250. Some of the advantages include:
•Corporate Sponsor Names will be included in the Annual Banquet Tabloid sent to thousands of homes as an insert in the Smithville Review & used as the Banquet Program
•Corporate Sponsor employees will be recognized at the banquet
•Corporate Sponsors will be announced on the April and May Chamber Chat Radio/DTC TV Programs
•Corporate Sponsors can also place a business item on banquet tables for attendees
If you would like to place an ad in the Chamber Banquet Tabloid, it will be inserted in the April 19th edition of the Smithville Review plus used as the night’s program. Deadline to place your ad in the tabloid is March 27th.
To donate silent or live auction items, place an ad in the tabloid, be the entertainment sponsor for $200 (supporting the DMS Jr. Beta trip), or be a Corporate Sponsor, contact the Chamber office at 615.597.4163 or email: swilliams@dekalbcountychamber.org.
DeKalb Performing Arts will provide the night’s entertainment along with a special viewing of the DeKalb Middle School Jr. Beta Club video of their State Championship performance, “Be the Change.”
Banquet tickets prices are $25 per person or you can RESERVE a table for $175 (for 7 people). Tickets can be purchased by calling the Chamber at 615.597.4163 or from the Chamber Board of Directors. Or, you can stop by the Chamber office located in the DeKalb County Courthouse, Room 201. Remember, you don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend. Everyone is welcome!
Special thanks to our Annual Banquet Committee Members: Shan Burklow, Isaac Gray, Sherry Harris, Connie Tjarks, Jen Sherwood, and Lora Webb for all the work they are doing to ensure a successful night. We are also grateful to the Appalachian Center for Craft for providing table arrangements and to DTC Communications for providing eco-bags.
We are going to have a great time and hope you can be a part of the Chamber’s 54th Anniversary.

Should the sale of fireworks be permitted within the City limits of Smithville?
Since 1982, the city has prohibited the sale of fireworks.
The mayor and aldermen may consider an ordinance lifting the ban at the next meeting in April.
City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson raised the issue Monday night. “Over the last several years I’ve had several people come to us to ask if we were going to allow the sale of fireworks inside the city limits. I’m just bringing this up to see if you want me to bring an ordinance to the next meeting. Obviously we can shoot them (fireworks) inside the city. The county allows the sale of fireworks. The state also regulates it. You have to be approved by the state first to sell fireworks. The most we would capture off that is about $1,000 per permit in the July time period and about $500 around December to New Year’s Eve. I think at the most the city stands to make maybe $5,000 to $7,000 and the sales tax as well. I just think it would be good for the city to capture permit revenues,” said Hendrixson.
“I agree Mr. Hendrixson and I don’t see a down side to it since they are so readily available already. It is legal to fire them in the city just not in the central business district,” said Alderman Shawn Jacobs.
The last time the aldermen considered lifting the ban was in December 2007 after a local businessman asked that city businesses and others have the same opportunity to sell fireworks inside the city as those outside the city limits.
The aldermen initially voted on first reading to lift the ban at a meeting in December 2007 but then two weeks later reversed the decision and voted the leave the ban in place citing complaints from concerned citizens.

Forty eight units of blood were collected Monday during the 1st annual “Spring into Action” Blood Assurance Blood Drive in a battle for bragging rights between public safety and elected officials versus the DeKalb County School System.
By the end of the blood drive, the public safety and elected officials claimed victory with 32 donations made on behalf of them versus 16 credited to the school system.
“The blood drive was a great success. In comparison to the one we conducted prior to Christmas we exceeded those numbers and collected 48 donations today. I accepted this challenge as a way to help others with medical conditions, sickness and injuries requiring the daily need of blood. As healthy individuals we sometime take for granted what a gift blood donation is and what it does for so many,” said DeKalb County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss, who sponsored the event.
“Many of our family members have been affected by Cancer, Leukemia, Burns, Trauma, low iron, etc. all requiring blood transfusions. It’s great having a Blood Assurance office in Cookeville that services DeKalb and other upper Cumberland areas as priority. For me that’s an added bonus of working knowing your efforts are assisting those here at home and around us,” said Poss
“The idea behind the title “Spring Into Action” was an attempt to create a friendly competition between our elected officials, local fire, police, EMS, 911 Dispatch, Rescue Squad and educators including the complete staff of our school system who all “Spring Into Action” providing service to our children and families daily by the career path each has chosen,” he continued.
“Thank you to Ms. Pam Redmon, Director of the Senior Citizens Center. Her hospitality, participation and use of their facilities has been a factor in the success of both blood drives I have sponsored. I want to thank each department head in spreading the word and thank you to each individual who took the time to donate. Many had to wait for various reasons, but most waited and the people receiving your donation greatly appreciates your gift and time,” Poss said.
“We did have a few who either chose not to wait or had prior obligations. Nevertheless it was an overall success. We aimed to keep the wait as minimal as possible and this is an area I’ll work on more for future drives. At the end of the drive we had 32 give on behalf of public safety and elected officials and 16 toward DeKalb County School system. Also, I want to say “Thank You” to both WJLE and the Smithville Review for the exposure, time and effort given for this cause,” Poss concluded.

A Liberty man has been charged with theft after allegedly stealing a gun from the home where he was working.
33 year old William Tommy Newsom, Jr. of Clear Creek Road, Liberty is charged with theft of property. His bond is $7,000 and his court date is March 9.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL- Intakes & Releases From: 2/27/2017 Thru: 3/06/2017)
Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR_13.pdf (2.66 MB)
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on September 24, 2016 while working on a house on Grand View Drive, Smithville Newsom allegedly took a handgun belonging to the homeowner.
The case was investigated by a Sheriff’s Department Detective but Newsom was only recently arrested for this crime after spending time in another jail for an unrelated offense.
31 year old Brian Adam Rogers of McMinnville is charged with theft of property over $1,000 and burglary. His bond is $15,000 and his court date is March 30.
Sheriff Ray said that on January 30 Rogers allegedly broke into and stole a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. The car was later recovered in Lincoln County while still in Rogers’ possession. He was also charged with stealing a Springfield 1911 handgun valued at $1,100 in a separate case.
56 year old Laddie Bill Jerrells of Long Street, Smithville is charged with violation of an order of protection and resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search. His bond is $4,000 and his court date is March 28.
Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, February 27 a deputy responded to a residence on Long Street to serve an ex parte order of protection on Jerrells. Upon arrival the officer spoke to Jerrells’ daughter outside the home. She is named as a protected person on the order. The deputy then entered the residence, spoke with Jerrells, and read to him the contents of the paperwork on the order of protection. According to the order, Jerrells is to immediately vacate the residence. After being told several times that he had to leave the premises Jerrells refused to cooperate by lying down with his arms behind his head. He would not allow his wrists to be handcuffed. The deputy had to forcibly place Jerrells’ hands behind his back in order to make the arrest. After arriving at the jail, Jerrells continued to be uncooperative while being booked into the facility.

Several people were fined and sentenced on Friday, February 24 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
Judge Gary McKenzie presided.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL- Intakes & Releases From: 2/27/2017 Thru: 3/06/2017)
Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR_13.pdf (2.66 MB)
29 year old Joshua Lynn Batey entered a plea to sale of a schedule IV drug and received a sentence of five years suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000.
33 year old Johnny Devault pled to theft under $500 and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation. The term is to run together with his current probation in another sentence.
31 year old Michael Redmon entered a plea to aggravated criminal trespassing, assault, and reckless burning. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run consecutively for a total of almost three years. He will be on supervised probation. Redmon is to make restitution of $2,100 to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
26 year old Stephanie Bequette pled to simple possession of a schedule VI drug and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days and fined $250. Her probation will be supervised for six months and unsupervised for six months. She must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and follow any recommended treatment.
61 year old Mark Eugene West entered a plea to possession of a schedule III drug for sale and delivery. He received a five year sentence on supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 and must make restitution of $55 to the Smithville Police Department.
37 year old Jerry Perdue entered a “best interest” plea to aggravated criminal trespass and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation by community corrections. The sentence is to run concurrently with another case against him.
47 year old Christopher Patterson entered a plea by criminal information to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation by CPS. All other charges against him have been nollied but he is to keep away from the victim.
47 year old Gary L. Mooneyham entered a plea to possession of drug paraphernalia and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation. He was fined $150 and must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.
56 year old Tommye Lou Bell pled by criminal information to reckless driving and received a six month sentence on supervised probation. The sentence is to run concurrently with her current probation in another case.
54 year old Victor Wilson entered a plea by criminal information to reckless endangerment and violation of implied consent. He was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation. He will also lose his license for one year.
31 year old Lloyd Wilson Smith pled by criminal information to a second offense of driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days with 45 days to serve. He was fined $600.
47 year old Clarence Edward Sexton, Jr. entered a plea to driving under the influence and was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days to serve 48 hours in jail and then be on supervised probation. He was fined $600 and he will lose his driver license for one year. The sentence is to run consecutive to his current probation in another case.
48 year old Lou Ann Sanders pled by criminal information to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to serve 48 hours and then be on supervised probation. She was fined $350 and must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment. The sentence is to run concurrently with a Warren County DUI case against her.
48 year old Jerry Ray Ferrell pled by criminal information to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to probation.
52 year old Rita Franklin entered a plea by criminal information to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation.

DeKalb County’s public safety and elected officials will be challenging employees of the DeKalb County School System in a battle for a good cause today (Monday, March 6) in the 1st annual “Spring Into Action”” Blood Assurance Blood Drive. DeKalb County Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
The “Spring into Action” blood drive, sponsored by DeKalb County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss will be held inside the Bloodmobile at the senior citizens room in the county complex building on Monday, March 6 from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
To schedule an appointment go to: www.bloodassurance.org/dekalb or contact Trudy Cody @ 931-239-9411 or TrudyCody@bloodassurance.org
Prior to Christmas, Blood Assurance coordinated a local blood drive through County Clerk Poss. After its success and because of the everyday need for blood donations, Blood Assurance is again working with County Clerk Poss who has agreed to sponsor and commit to this event annually.
“Our community and communities adjoining us need our support. I’ve been asked to sponsor a much needed blood drive and accepted the challenge. We wanted to have a little fun so all Public Safety, Elected Officials will challenge the entire DeKalb County School System. We want to get as many involved to help others as we can and have a little local fun,” said County Clerk Poss.
“Approaching is the season of spring and we encourage everyone to “Spring Into Action” and participate. Please give a gift that is of no cost to you but one that those in need cannot buy. I concluded on the title “Spring Into Action” thinking of the upcoming season and so many in our community who provide daily commitment and service to our families. Regardless of your dedication and work within our communities we are challenging our local school system to enjoy a friendly competition against public safety and elected officials,” Poss continued.
“The public safety and elected officials will include employees, friends, and family members of DeKalb EMS, DeKalb & Smithville Rescue Squad, Smithville City Fire & Police, DeKalb County Fire & Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County Clerk, Trustee, Register of Deeds, Circuit Court Clerk, County Mayor, Assessor of Property, Road Supervisor, General Sessions Judge, County Commissioners, and DeKalb 911,” said Poss.
“The DeKalb County School System includes employees, friends, and family along with School Board members, all employees of DeKalb West School, DeKalb Middle School, DeKalb County High School, Northside Elementary School, Smithville Elementary School, Board of Education, and the School Bus Garage,” added Poss.
“Remember this is a public event and is open to all. We ask at the time of your donation to please choose which team you would like your donation to be accredited to, whether it be employee, friend, or family member. We want this to be a fun competition and hope it encourages many to “Spring Into Action” for those in daily need of blood,” he said.
The team accredited with the most donations will be awarded a trophy and an engraved plaque to remain with them from year to year.
All blood collected from the Cookeville Blood Assurance Center services the needs of local community hospitals including DeKalb County, White County, Putnam County, Overton County, and others.
All donors will be given a FREE “Always Be Prepared” t-shirt! Donate & be entered for a chance to win a tent, sleeping bag & grill from “The Happy Camper”. Drinks and snacks will be also be provided.

Members of the DCHS Class of 2017 are asking for your support of Project Graduation.
Colby Bates, a DCHS Senior, urges you to stop by any DeKalb County branch office of Liberty State Bank to make a donation.
“I am a member of FFA and the Skills Club at DCHS. More importantly, I am a member of the 2017 graduating class. We are raising funds for our Project Graduation event that will take place the night of graduation in May. We will have food and fun activities. It is designed to keep us safe from the devastating effects of drugs and alcohol. In order to hold this event, we must raise funds and request the community’s help. Please stop by your local branch of Liberty State Bank in Alexandria, Liberty, or Smithville and make a donation to our account. All help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support,” said Bates.