Two Remain Hospitalized In Alexandria Wreck

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.

Bertha Rose McCullough

71 year old Bertha Rose McCullough of Alexandria died Saturday at the home of her daughter in Lebanon. She was a DeKalb County native and was retired from Wynns Precision where she worked for 28 years. She was also a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church. The funeral will be Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. at Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown. Donald Owens will officiate and burial will be in the Flatwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. She was preceded in death by her parents, John William Garrison and Nannie Clara Watson Garrison; her husband, Ed Carson McCullough; a son, Jackie Grandstaff; a brother, James Garrison; and a sister, Elsie Mae McGregor. Survivors include four children, Debbie and her husband Gary Jones, John and his wife Darlene McCullough, and Susan and her husband Nathan Cox all of Lebanon, and Phil and his wife Alice McCullough of Florida. Nine grandchildren, Gary Jones, Jr. and Melanie Jones, Dusty and Luke McCullough, Mike and Rachel Smith, and Kelly, Katlyn, and P.J. McCullough. Six great grandchildren, Ashtyen, Chase, Brandon, Anthony, Paris, and Daltine. A brother, Hoyte and his wife Lucille Garrison of Alexandria. A brother-in-law, Jerry and his wife Connie McCullough of Lebanon. A sister-in-law, Willie Mae Garrison. Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown is in charge of the arrangements.

George Tramel

96 year old George Tramel of Dowelltown died Sunday at his residence. He was a farmer and a member of the Gospel Light House Baptist Church. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Snow Hill Baptist Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Gocie Cassity Tramel; two brothers, Troy Tramel and Johnny Shade Tramel; and a sister, Bessie Tramel. Survivors include his wife, Robbie Hale Tramel of Dowelltown. Two daughters, Georgia and her husband Michael Young and Martha and her husband Tim Cantrell; and one grandson, Nelson Young all of Dowelltown. Three granddaughters, Latonya and Dylan Kleparek of Smithville, Dana Cantrell and Ashley Young both of Dowelltown. Three great grandchildren, Cody Goff and Jasper and Jacklyn Kleparek all of Dowelltown. Two sisters, Alton Hicks of Mount Juliet and Ola Jean Pack of Georgia. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Two Charged In Theft Cases

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.

Thurman Ray “Jack” Jones

76 year old Thurman Ray “Jack” Jones of McMinnville died Friday at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. He was born in DeKalb County. Jones was one of the original owners of McMinnville Funeral Home and was still serving the public at the time of his death. Jones was a previous chief of the Warren County Rescue Squad and a former coroner of Warren County. He served as a Warren County Commissioner for many years and he owned and operated a burlap business, a grave digging service, and C & N Machine Shop, where he worked as a welder. Jones was also a member of the Cornerstone Baptist Church and the Warren Masonic Lodge #125. The funeral will be Monday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of McMinnville Funeral Home. Phillip Rowland, Jackie Matheny, and Eddie Ware will officiate and burial will be in the Mount View Cemetery. A Masonic service will be held at the funeral home on Sunday evening at 5:00 p.m.. The Jones family will receive friends from noon until 9:00 p.m. on Sunday and again on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Jones was preceded in death by his parents, William Daniel and Margaret France Jones; brothers, Alec, Walter, Cephas, Tommy, Willie, Acquilla, and Burgess Jones; sisters, Gillie Allen, Florence Humphrey, Annie Mannon, Mary Jones, Percilla Warren, Pelina Marsh, Vina Turner, and America Turner. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Betty Lou Judkins Jones of McMinnville. A son, Jimmy D. Jones of McMinnville. A son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Becky Jones of Cedar Grove. Grandchildren, Andrea, Daniel, Emilie, and Kellie Jones all of McMinnville. Step-grandson, Chris Smith. A step-granddaughter, Amanda Rigsby. Former daughter-in-law, Gail Jones of McMinnville. Sisters, Sue Carter of Winchester, Elsie Newby and Louisa Jennings both of McMinnville and twin sister, Judy Berryhill of Nashville. Many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, family members, and friends also survive. McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the building fund at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 49 Golf Club Drive, McMinnville, 37110.

Leon C. Duke

90 year old Leon C. Duke of Lancaster died Friday at NHC of Smithville. He was retired from TRW and was a member of the Emmanuel Church of Christ. In 1994, he recorded “Old Time Banjo Rapping” music for the archives in the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Cove Hollow Boys, a musician at the Dollywood Amusement Park, a past winner for two years of the “Old Time Banjo” competition at the Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree, and a past winner of the harmonica competition at Uncle Dave Macon Days in Murfreesboro. The funeral will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in Whorton Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lena Mae Bates Duke; his parents, Homer and Beulah Putty Duke; and a brother, Odell Duke. Survivors include two daughters, Deborah and her husband Tony Glenn Rast of Pigeon Forge and Vivian Duke of Madison. Grandchildren, Darlene Rickles of Gordonsville, Delia Oldham of Carthage, Vivian Becker of Pigeon Forge, Tony Lee Rast of Colorado, and Venus Redman of Murfreesboro. Great grandchildren, Chris Rickles, Jessica Becker, Kasey Oldham, Crystal Rickles, Kayla Oldham, Victoria Konicki Hopper, and Andrew Redman, Two sisters, Ruthine Hackney of Murfreesboro and Ruby Tisdale of Lebanon. One brother, James Duke of Smithville and special friend, Clayton Anstis. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Murfreesboro Man Charged With Burglary & Theft in Sealed indictment

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.

Gladys White Young Morris

78 year old Gladys White Young Morris of Woodbury died Wednesday at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga of a short illness. She was a Cannon County native, a retired seamstress, a member of the Sunny Slope and Sugar Tree Knob Church of Christ, and a past board director and member of the Cannon County Walking Horse Association. The funeral will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Woodbury Church of Christ. Herb Alsup and James McDonald will officiate and burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be after 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Woodbury Funeral Home and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Woodbury Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Curtis Morris of Woodbury. One son, Donnie Morris of Woodbury. One daughter, Renita Haley of Woodbury. Two granddaughters, Callie and Hannah Haley both of Woodbury. Woodbury Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Cannon County Walking Horse Association.

Sheriff’s Department Debuts New Website

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has a new website and blog.
Sheriff Patrick Ray encourages you to visit on line at www.dekalbsherifftn.com. You will find information about the Sheriff and the Sheriffs Department. The new site also includes a survey of the Sheriff’s Department performance, a crime stopper report, TBI Missing Children and Sex Offender Search, TBI and FBI’s Most Wanted, Information about handgun permits, D.A.R.E. and information about DeKalb County. The site also has a link to a page for kids.
Sheriff Ray also urges you to visit the Sheriff’s Department’s blog page, which features information about crime news in our county and other interesting articles. The site is www.dekalbcountysheriff.blogspot.com

Judge Patterson Hands Down Sentences in Criminal Court

Several defendants appeared before Judge David Patterson in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday to settle their cases.
62 year old Charles E. West pleaded guilty to violation of the sex offender act and received a two year sentence to serve ninety days and then be on probation. The sentence is to run concurrent with a violation of probation case against him in DeKalb County General Sessions Court. He was also fined $350.
28 year old Jason Allen pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule VI controlled substance (over one half ounce of marijuana). He received a two year sentence to serve sixty days and then be on probation. He was fined $2,000. Allen must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and perform 100 hours of community service work. He begins serving his sentence September 17th.
32 year old Shane Orlando pleaded guilty to domestic assault and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to serve. The sentence is to run concurrent with a violation of probation case against him. He is also under a restraining order to stay away from the victim. Orlando was given 110 days of jail credit.
36 year old Rhonda Gail Lucci pleaded guilty to public intoxication and received a 30 day sentence suspended to good behavior probation. She was fined fifty dollars.
30 year old Tonia Smith pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to time served. She will be on PSI probation with restitution to be determined. She must perform 100 hours of community service work. Smith was given 53 days of jail credit.
44 year old Bobbie Lisa Andrews pleaded guilty to public intoxication and received a thirty day sentence, suspended to good behavior probation. She was fined fifty dollars.
25 year old Barry Gibbs pleaded guilty to driving on a revoked license and joy riding and received a sentence of eleven months and twenty nine days, suspended except for 120 days. The cases run concurrent with each other but consecutive to a parole violation against him. He must also pay restitution. Gibbs was given ninety seven days jail credit.
23 year old Amy Estes pleaded guilty to three counts of sale of a schedule II and one count of sale of a schedule III controlled substance. All the cases run concurrently. She received a total of eight years, all suspended except for one year to serve and then be on probation. Estes was fined $2,000 and must perform 100 hours of community service work.
23 year old Ginger Trapp, charged with sale of a schedule II controlled substance, was granted judicial diversion probation for three years. She must perform 100 hours of community service work and make restitution of one hundred dollars and undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.
46 year old Sammy Gene Taylor pleaded guilty to simple possession of a schedule II controlled substance and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days and fined $750. The sentence is to run concurrent with another case against him. He was given jail credit of five months.
25 year old Jennifer Brazle pleaded guilty to theft over $1,000 and received a sentence of two years and one day to run concurrent with a sentence in Clay County. She must perform 100 hours of community service work and restitution to be determined.
30 year old Ronald Jacobsen pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule II controlled substance (hydromorphone) and possession of a schedule III controlled substance (dihydrocodeine). The cases are to run concurrent with each other for a total of five years of which he must serve 180 days and then be on probation. He was fined $2,000 in each case and he must perform 100 hours of community service work. The sentence will run consecutive to a case against him in Trousdale County. Jacobsen was given jail credit of 164 days.
39 year old Troy Bain pleaded guilty to simple possession and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to serve. The case will run concurrent with a violation of probation sentence he is currently serving. He must also forfeit his weapon. Bain will serve thirty days in Cannon County and thirty days in DeKalb County.
30 year old Michael Bly pleaded guilty to five counts of forgery. He received a two year sentence, all suspended except for 60 days. The cases will run concurrently but consecutive to any other sentence against him. He must make restitution in the amount of $420 and perform 100 hours of community service work.
40 year old James Cargill pleaded guilty to theft over $1,000 and received a three year sentence, all suspended except for sixty days and then he will be on probation. He must perform 100 hours of community service work with restitution to be determined. He was given jail credit of sixty days.
40 year old Howard Robert Mayo pleaded guilty to theft of property under $500 and must serve nine months in jail. The sentence will run concurrent with a violation of probation sentence against him. He was given jail credit of 125 days.
36 year old Anthony Lynn Colwell pleaded guilty by information to two counts of theft over $1,000 and received a three year sentence. The cases will run concurrently with each other but consecutive to another sentence. He was given jail credit of sixty five days.
22 year old Victor Miguel Godinez pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days with 48 hours to serve and then he will be on PSI probation. He was fined $360.
34 year old Kathyerine Michelle Carr pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule II controlled substance (dilaudid), possession of a schedule II controlled substance (hydromorphine) for resale and sale of a counterfeit controlled substance. The cases are to run concurrently for a total of four years with 53 days to serve and then she will be on TDOC probation, supervised by community corrections. She was given jail credit of fifty two days. She was fined $2,000 and must forfeit her weapon. Carr must also perform 100 hours of community service work.
25 year old Amber M. Johnson pleaded guilty to facilitation of sale of a schedule II controlled substance and received a three year sentence. She was given credit for time served. Johnson will be on probation, supervised by DOC. She must perform 100 hours of community service work, pay $200 restitution, pay a $2,000 fine, and undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.
Sabino Solano Juaregui, charged with sale of a schedule II controlled substance and theft over $1,000, was granted pre-trial diversion for a period of two years. Solano must pay restitition of $610 and perform 100 hours of community service work.