Two people involved in a one auto traffic accident Thursday night near Alexandria remain hospitalized at Erlanger in Chattanooga.
Sergeant Billy Prater of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Joe Edge of Smithville and Kimberly April Dawn Cornett of Murfreesboro were passengers of a Jeep Liberty SUV driven by Warren Brandon Glasby of Smithville, who has been charged with driving under the influence.
According to Sergeant Prater, Glasby was driving west on Highway 70 when the vehicle went off the road into a ditchline, struck a rock bluff, and then overturned, coming to rest on it’s wheels. The mishap occurred between the old stock barn and the intersection of Old Liberty Road.
Both Edge and Cornett were flown by Life Force helicopter ambulance to Erlanger Hospital while Glasby was taken to DeKalb Community Hospital for observation.
The accident remains under investigation by Sergeant Prater and Trooper Allen England of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Others on the scene rendering assistance were members of the Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, DeKalb EMS, and the Alexandria Police Department.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has arrested two people in recent days in a couple of theft cases. One of them is also charged with drug offenses.
30 year old Christopher Daniel Gibbs of Morgan Drive Smithville is charged with Aggravated Burglary and Theft of Property
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Gibbs entered a residence on Banks Pisgah Road Smithville by breaking through a door. Upon entering the residence, Gibbs grabbed cash that was lying on a coffee table in the residence. Gibbs was unaware that the owners of the house were home. The owner grabbed Gibbs and he dropped the cash and left the scene. Gibbs was later arrested at a residence in Dowelltown. The owners of the house were uninjured. Bond is set at $15,000 and his court date is September 13th.
Meanwhile, 19 year old Samantha Devault of Highland Drive Smithville is charged with Possession of a Schedule II Drug (Dilaudid), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (needle and a straw), and Theft of Property under $500.00.
Sheriff Ray says Devault had in her possession a yellow pill believed to be Dilaudid and two syringes and a straw. Devault was also charged with a theft that occurred at a residence on Arrowhead Drive in Smithville where she took a High Point 9 millimeter pistol. Her bond is set at $7,500 and her court date is September 20th.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a 23 year old man on a sealed indictment, returned by the Grand Jury earlier this month.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Bobby Walker Vaughn of Halls Hill Pike, Murfreesboro was arrested on a sealed indictment charging him with two counts of Aggravated Burglary, Theft of Property, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.
Sheriff Ray says Vaughn is accused of breaking into a residence on Pea Ridge. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department recovered some of the items the day Cannon County authorities got in pursuit of Vaughn, after he stole the car of a Cannon County Investigator.
Vaughn appeared for arraignment in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday. His bond is $81,000.
Meanwhile, 20 year old Brandy Bone of Wade Street Smithville is charged with two counts of Forgery and Theft of Property.
Sheriff Ray says Bone took two checks from a family member and then forged and cashed the checks totaling approximately $200.00 at two stores in DeKalb County. Her bond is $11,000 and her court date is August 30th.

Smithville Police Chief Tom Stufano, Captain Steve Deffendoll, Investigator Bill Elliott, Sergeant Lilani Defore, and Central Records Supervisor Sue Mathis have all turned in their resignations.
All will be leaving as of September 4th, except for Mathis, who is stepping down at the end of the month.
In his resignation letter, read to the aldermen Monday night by Mayor Taft Hendrixson, Stufano cites deteriorating working conditions as a reason for his decision. “I would like to take this occasion and thank you for the opportunity of being able to serve you and the residents of this city for the last year in my positions of Executive Officer and as Chief of Police. I feel confident that during this time the majority of the officers have substantially increased their pride and professionalism and are now providing the level of service to the citizen¹s representative of any nationally accredited police agency.”
“Regrettably, current city working conditions have deteriorated for my staff
and me to the point that we are no longer able to do our jobs effectively
and efficiently. These unacceptable working conditions have led to a mass
exodus of highly skilled city employees that have provided a safe and
positive existence for the residents of our city over the years. This exodus
was as a direct result of the improper management, guidance and lack of
support being displayed by certain members of our elected leadership. These
individuals have aligned themselves with a small group of despondent
citizens and disgruntled ex-employees who are attempting to demoralize and
weaken city operations including the Police Department for personal benefit.”
“Recent publicized proceedings clearly support that these individuals have a
reticent agenda that includes unethical standards, immoral conflicts of
interest and do not support the general conscientious of the Smithville
citizens. Over the past (5) weeks, these persons have totally disrupted the
orderly functioning of the city’s day-to-day operations with gross innuendo
and unfounded malicious accusations.”
“The professional concept of working as a collective body that I brought to
this city over a year ago was to vacate the “good ole boy” methodology and
instill bipartisanship. It is unfortunate that this unhappy group does not
abide by those same standards so that the residents may live in comfort. My
integrity and promise to the citizens and my Officer¹s to uphold the law
unilaterally will not be compromised due to aspiring political prowessness
and dominance.”
“A recent case that was capitalized on by the Board of Alderman defines this
concept. During my tenure with the Smithville Police Department all criminal
cases have been vigorously brought forth to the proper higher authorities
for their review and guidance. The policy and responsibility of this agency
is to detect criminal activity, arrest suspects, and prepare and present
those criminal cases to the District Attorney’s Office with impartiality. It
is the District Attorney¹s Office that has the duty and responsibility to
make a prosecutorial decision as to charge a subject, not the Police
Department. Members of the Board of Alderman chose to ignore this policy
even after receiving documented evidence from the Senior District Attorney
advising of no wrongdoing by the Smithville Police Department.”
“The good citizens of this community are aware of the unscrupulous antics and
tactics employed again and again over the years in order to manipulate the
political structure of this community. In reviewing the position of Chief of
Police alone, history will show the City of Smithville will now seek a 6th
Chief of Police (3) years. This particular tactic creates cynicism and
unrest within the City and Police Department, destabilizes current
corruption and drug investigations and resets the leadership political tone
and agenda. This is a rate rarely heard of anywhere else.”
“I reiterate that I believe that the residents of Smithville have seen a
substantial increase in the professionalism of the Police Department and its
Officers over the last year. The Police Department has taken a tough stance
on violent crime, corruption, widespread drug abuse within our jurisdiction,
deviant sexual crimes and theft and revitalized this agencies direction with
community relations and a strong Neighborhood Crime Watch Program. One of my
strongest strategies in effecting positive change was having an open door
policy so that the public could have uninhibited access and feel confident
when expressing their confidential personal safety concerns regardless of
“who they are kin to” or “how much money the other guy has.”
“I would like to state that you, Mr. Vandergriff, Mr. Burger and Mr. White
has shown me reverence and substantive support during my tenure as the lead
administrator of this agency. This posture has allowed for progressive
innovations and a focused realignment in daily policies and departmental
future goals and structure.”
“It is my professional opinion that the city seeks a highly qualified
external candidate outside of the local political configuration, so that
unbiased supervision of the Police Department can be maintained.”
“As always, I will make myself available at anytime during this time period
so that a smooth operational transition can be coordinated. Please be aware
that effective September 4th, I will be starting a new Supervisory position
back with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”
“Again, I thank you for your guidance, support and friendship during my
administration.”

After eighteen years as City Recorder and Secretary-Treasurer for the City of Smithville, Burnace Vandergriff is calling it quits.
Vandergriff says he is tired of dealing with what he calls the “harassment” of a few people who frequent city hall on a regular basis, disrupting the work of city employees with their almost constant demand for city records as well as a majority of the city aldermen, who seem to cater to them.
Mayor Taft Hendrixson read Vandergriff’s letter to the Aldermen Monday night. In it, Vandergriff states that “I would like to thank the people who have allowed me to do my job and have had the confidence in me to allow me to work for this city for the past 18 years. I have enjoyed my service and I will miss most aspects of my job. I appreciate the encouragement, and vote of confidence from the current Mayor Taft Hendrixson. Until now, the Board of Aldermen have also been very supportive of my efforts and accomplishments and I would like to thank Mr. Aaron Meeks, Mr. Steve White, Mr. W.J. White, Mr. Paul Young, and all other previous members of this council. I have enjoyed working for you all.”
“Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the majority of the current Board. Without knowing anything about the day to day operations of the city government, they have chosen to listen to three or four disgruntled citizens who are doing nothing but breaking this city down as if we are ignorant and uneducated. When I started work here, this city could barely afford to pave any of its streets, and we were in terrible need of new equipment. We now have a surplus of funds, new police cars, new garbage truck, and fairly new equipment at the shed. I cannot and will not be a part of this evil and vindictive agenda, but I will stay long enough to prove that I, as City Recorder, have done nothing wrong.”
Also in his letter of resignation, Vandergriff stated that ” I have worked hard in this position and have been called upon during all hours of the day, night, and weekends to help with water leaks, water line breaks, sweeping the streets after the Jamboree, and plowing the streets after a big snow. I have been responsible for making sure this city is financially stable and that we have operated within our yearly budget for the last eighteen years. I was also instrumental in helping the city to receive the Small City Progress Award presented by the Tennessee Municipal League in 2003. This award was not achieved by back door deals or good ole boy tactics. This award was achieved by hard work, financial planning, and a highly competent staff. This award is proof that Smithville has progressed to a model of efficiency”
Vandergriff added that ” Unfortunately, all of this does not meet the so-called standards of a very small handful of citizens who grew up here, went off and have come back to imply that, all of a sudden, things are not being done right. The continuous harassment from these people have prevented me and other long time employees from doing our jobs as required and expected by this City. I have always taken pride in everything I have ever done. I came to work for this city with a good name, and I will leave with a good name. I refuse to stay in a position where the continuous harassment, newspaper articles, speak outs, and radio propaganda tarnish my name and reputation and prohibit me from doing my job.”
Vandergriff states that “The audit of the city has begun and I will stay on the job until auditor John Poole has signed off on it, to prove I have done nothing wrong. Mr. Pool has advised me this should happen sometime between September 4th and September 14th.”
After Mayor Hendrixson read Vandergriff’s resignation letter, several people spoke out in support of him including Alderman Steve White, Alderman and former Mayor Cecil Burger, former Alderman W.J. (Dub) White, city employee Jimmy Taylor, former city attorney’s Bratten “Butch” Cook and Sarah Cripps, and former Alderman and local businessman Cordell Walker.
Cripps spoke highly of Vandergriff and admonished the mayor and aldermen not to follow the dictates of a few. “Although you may not have agreed with every decision he made, he gave the best years of his life to public service and his honesty and his integrity are beyond repute. They are beyond question. You all have allowed our tax dollars to be frittered away with harassing, intimidating, disparaging tactics of a few. In other cities, a job like Mr. Vandergriff has pays $70,000 to $80,000 a year. He has qualified individuals over other departments. That has never been the case in this city. He has never been given the credit he deserves for the hours he has put in. His cell phone is never turned off. I or any other person was always able to reach him with a concern.”
Vandergriff, during the meeting gave credit to his predecessors, namely former Mayor Waniford Cantrell and former city attorney Bratten Cook for setting the city on the right financial path in 1982.
Cook, in speaking out in support of Vandergriff, reminisced about how far the city has come since those days. “Mayor Cantrell was elected in 1982 and he named me city attorney, which began a sixteen year period of me being city attorney. One of the first things we had to do was go to the old First Central Bank to borrow the money to catch an overdraft to pay the payroll that week. The Farmers Home Administration was about to foreclose on us because a payment had not been paid in a couple of years and from that meager beginning, today the city has six million dollars and has had no tax increase since before 1982. That does not come from anything except good management. Burnace is a friend of mine and has been for many years and I’m proud to call him a friend. That letter of resignation is just that. I didn’t hear ya’ll accept it. This man needs to stay right where he’s at for the betterment of this city.”
Walker says Vandergriff has been overworked for years and should have had some help. “I listen to people complain about Mr. Vandergriff and I’ve always defended him as I defend him today. I think he’s done a fantastic job for this city. I know he’s done a lot of hard work. When a man has to eat his lunch in his truck, he is overloaded. Ladies and gentlemen, get this man some help if he will stay. He’s needed help for a long time. There may be times when Mr. Vandergriff has been ill with people, but as a business person I know, when you’re overloaded, you have a tendency to be ill with people that you would ordinarily not be ill with. Mr. Vandergriff, If there is anything I can do for you, let me know and I thank you for the service that you have given to this city.”