A 22 year old Lebanon man has been charged with the Statutory Rape of a 14 year old Dowelltown girl.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Ricky Darnell Johnson of 135 Rogers Street, Lebanon was arrested Friday evening by Wilson County authorities.
He is under a $150,000 bond
Sheriff Ray says Johnson is accused of committing statutory rape by having sex with a 14 year old girl without her consent on October 14th in Dowelltown.
The victim identified the man to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Department was contacted since Johnson is from Lebanon.
Sheriff Ray says Johnson is a registered sexual offender having been convicted of an attempted aggravated sexual battery in Wilson County in September 2002. He has been on supervised probation.
In addition to the sex offense in DeKalb County, Johnson is also a suspect in a Wilson County rape, which occurred three weeks ago.
Tag Archives: 2006
Michael Anthony Shaw
34 year old Michael Anthony Shaw of Watertown died Sunday morning at his residence. He was a DeKalb County native, a plumbing and electric worker, and a member of the Temple Missionary Baptist Church. The funeral will be Monday at 2:00 p.m. at Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown. Gerald England will officiate and burial will be in New Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Survivors include his wife, Tina Hill Shaw of Watertown, a daughter, Macy Shaw of Gordonsville. His parents, Bill and Linda Shaw of Smithville. A sister, Tammy Hooper of Defeated Creek. Three brothers, Tommy Payne of Strawberry Plains, Jeff Payne of Lebanon, and Billy Shaw of Smithville. His father-in-law and mother-in-law, Silas V. and Melba Sue Hill of Watertown. Hunter Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Over 500 Take Advantage of Early Voting Through Saturday
A total of 511 people have cast ballots during the first four days of early voting for the Tennessee General Election including mail-in ballots.
All early voting will be in the basement courtroom of the DeKalb County Courthouse through Thursday, November 2nd.
Hours are 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Thursday hours are from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 7th.
W.C. Keyt
77 year old W.C. Keyt of Fairfield Glade, Tennessee died Wednesday of an extended illness. He was born in Crossville but moved to Smithville at the age of six months. He attended school in Smithville and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in the School of Transportation. He made transportation his career for 53 years. He was also a Korean War Veteran. The funeral will be Monday at 1:00 p.m. at the Whorton Springs Baptist Church. Roland Smith of the Central Baptist Church in Crossville will officiate and burial will follow in DeKalb Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel and on Monday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. at the church. He is survived by his wife, Antha Smith Keyt of Fairfield Glade and formerly of McMinnville. A daughter, Janice Marie Burris of Nashville. Two sons, Timothy Wade Keyt of Cookeville and Robert Keyt of Chattanooga. A sister, Louise Frazier of Dowelltown. Two brothers, Lloyd Keyt of Springfield and James Keyt of Columbus, Georgia. Several nieces and nephews also survive. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Widney Claude
77 year old Widney Claude “W.C.” Keyt of Fairfield Glade and a native of DeKalb County died Wednesday night in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He is survived by his wife, Antha E. Keyt of Fairfield Glade; two sons, Tim Keyt of Cookeville and Robert Keyt of Chattanooga; a daughter, Jan Burris of Nashville and a sister, Louise Frazier of the Dry Creek Community. Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel and Monday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. at Whorton Springs Baptist Church.
Corps To Address Seepage Problems At Center Hill Dam
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved plans for an extensive rehabilitation to address seepage problems at the foundation of Center Hill Dam, announced U.S. Representative Bart Gordon.
“Addressing the seepage problems at Center Hill Dam will greatly enhance safety for the Middle Tenneseans who live downstream, as well as the millions of people who visit the lake each year, said Gordon. “While the improvements may cause a tempprary inconvenience, the end result will be a safer place for recreation and residence.”
The Corps is planning a $240 million rehabilitation, which will involve the addition of grouting to voids where seepage is occurring in the 57 year old earthen dam. Installation of a concrete cut-off wall into the rock foundation of the dam will provide another level of defense against future seepage.
While Corps officials say there is no immediate danger of the dam failing, they are monitoring the seepage so that emergency actions could be taken to lessen the possibility of a catastrophic breach occurring.
According to the Corps, a catastrophic dam failure could result in significant damage and loss of life if water from the Caney Fork River were to flood downstream communities.
“The approval of our Major Rehabilitation recommendation for seepage problems at Center Hill Dam and the receipt funds to begin design mark an important milestone, said Linda Adcock, dam safety program manager for the Nashville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “These actions show the Corps is committed to keeping Center Hill safe and functional for the future. We promise to continue close monitoring of the dam throughout the construction period and to keep the public informed through public meetings, announcements and Web site updates.”
According to Corps officials, the design stage will be completed next year, and construction will begin in 2008.
The most recent rehabilitation to the dam occurred in 1992, when grouting was added to combat seepage.
Next month, the Corps will hold public meetings in Carthage, Cookeville, and Smithville to provide more information about the rehabilitation and to address any questions from residents. For more information on the meetings, residents should call the Corps’ Public Affairs Office at 615-736-7161.
Brenda Rosetta Walker
60 year old Brenda Rosetta Walker of McMinnville died Wednesday at NHC Healthcare Center. She was a retired shirt factory worker and a member of the Gath Baptist Church. The funeral will be Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mann and Ruth Arnold Hendrix; her husband, Charles “Butch” Edward Walker; a brother, Jr. Hendrix; a daughter, Tammy Tate; and a granddaughter, Tansey Talbert. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, David and Pansey Kilgore of McMinnville. A daughter, Lou Ann Self of Smithville. Nine grandchildren, Three great grandchildren, and eight brothers, Beecher Hendrix of Hendersonville, Aubrey, David, and Frankie Hendrix of McMinnville, Jimmy, Anthony, and Phillip Hendrix of Smithville and Norman Hendrix of Manchester. Three sisters, Linda Foster of Alabama, Carolyn Whitlock of McMinnville, and Lisa Byford of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Patricia Gail Foster
49 year old Patricia Gail Foster of Smithville died Tuesday at her residence. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. The family has chosen direct cremation. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence Hamby and Ruth Rogers Hoover; and a son, Eric Dwayne Foster. Survivors include two sons, Shane Foster of Smithville and Christopher Foster of Bristol. Two grandsons, Sydney Shane and Seth Daniel Foster of Woodbury. Two sisters, Darlene Reed of McMinnville and Denise Dougostano of Florida. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Virginia Ruth Herron
73 year old Virginia Ruth Herron of Smithville died Tuesday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a member of the Allen’s Chapel United Methodist Church, the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary and Combat Control Association. She was also a retired employee of Kingston Timer. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Ronald Whited, Tim Ferguson, and Phil Tollet will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her husband, Everett Erskin Herron; her parents, Joe Redmon and Stella Moore Redmon Clark; a son, Russell Herron; and a sister, Ida Mae Benoit. Survivors include two sons, Greg and his wife Letitia Herron and Ed Herron all of Smithville. Three grandchildren, Gregory, Ryan, and Destiny Herron. Two brothers, David and J.R. Redmon of Smithville and a sister, Judy Minnear of Smithville. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
7th Annual Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour Set For October 28-29
Adventure awaits at the 7th annual Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour set for Saturday, October 28th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Sunday, October 29th, Noon – 5:00 pm.
Ten different home studios in DeKalb and Cannon County will host over 20 award-winning artists who look forward to sharing with visitors their creative skills in glass, paper, wood, clay, fibers, cement and copper. Along with various unique forms of clay and glass design, the tour features the expertise of artists in sculpture, wood furniture, quilting, paper, and fiber art.
The Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour is nestled along a beautiful meandering drive through rural middle Tennessee at the peak of the fall season. This annual free event is offered by artists who genuinely care about their art, and who desire to open their private studios to educate and visit with all those interested in how fine art is created. Live demonstrations will be given throughout the tour at most of the studios.
Featured artists include: Tim Hintz, ladder-back chairs, winner of the 2005 Best of Tennessee Exhibition at the Tennessee State Museum; Susan DeMay, clay, associate professor at Vanderbilt University; Timothy Weber, clay, former director of Visual Arts, Craft and Media for the Tennessee Arts Commission; Louis and Christine Colombarini, clay, 2005 winner of the national Niche Award from the Rosen Group at the Philadelphia Buyer’s Market of American Craft and featured artists in American Style and Sunshine Artist magazines; Claudia Lee, paper, past president of TACA and a member of the Book Babes who will also be part of the tour; Tom Fuhrman, glass, whose works include a permanent glass installation at the Frist Center for Visual Arts; Ken and Dee Vanek, cement and copper, 2005 award winners at the Dave Macon Days Festival in Murfreesboro and the Webb School Art and Craft Show; William Kooienga, wood sculpture, featured artist in American Style and Crafts Report magazines; award-winning artist Arlene Knaak, clay; the innovative Meredith Novak, quilting; popular craftsman Rob Harvey, clay; Sharon Kooienga, weaving, featured artist in American Style and Crafts Report magazines; award-winning artist Sherri Gilbert Gard, clay; creative and talented Nancy Wunsch, glass jewelry and fiber art; Teresa Swystun, glass; and innovative Ed Wooten, lamp working and glass. New to the tour this year are: T. J. Edwards, clay; Breanna Rockstad-Kincaid, fibers art; and John Sellberg, clay.
This year’s major tour sponsor, Lifeworks Foundation, will host a hospitality center throughout the weekend at the Healing Stones Sanctuary off Lee Braswell Road in Smithville. The restored cabin will feature a collective Off the Beaten Path artists’ display. Light refreshments will be served. Also on display at the center will be the Lifeworks Foundation Empty Bowls collection, featuring vessels created by Tennessee craft artists in support of the Empty Bowls hunger project.
Brochures and maps are available at all the studios, Stella Luna Art Gallery, the Appalachian Center for Craft, and the Arts Center of Cannon County. For more information, visit www.smithvilletn.com, email obp@smithvilletn.com, or call Tim Hintz, (615) 597-8770.
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