Ten people have been arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department since last Monday on charges ranging from DUI and other traffic offenses to public intoxication, forgery, theft, and drug charges
38 year old Kelly Ann Gibbs of Evins Mill Road, Smithville was charged with forgery on Monday, July 2nd. Sheriff Ray says the checks were stolen from a residence on A.B. Frazier Road. Gibbs passed the checks at a business in DeKalb County. Both checks totaled over $250. Other charges are pending in Warren County where Gibbs allegedly passed more of the stolen checks.
35 year old Patsy Estes McCoy of Restview Avenue, Smithville was charged with Theft of Property over $500 on July 2nd. Sheriff Ray says Estes and 48 year old Ricky Eugene Reece of Restview Avenue, who was also charged, were found to have in their possession, a stolen camera valued at over $500. Sheriff’s department detectives, through an investigation, found a camera that was believed to be stolen. The camera had been stolen from a residence on Vaughn Lane. Estes and Reece later went to a residence in DeKalb County and sold the camera for $25. Reece’s bond was set at $1,500. Due to McCoy’s extensive background involving burglaries and thefts; her bond was set at $10,000. Their court date is July 19th.
25 year old David Allen Cobb, Jr. was charged with Public Intoxication on July 4th. Cobb was arrested on Cecil Hale Road after an altercation with another person. As deputies arrived, Cobb ran off in an attempt to avoid arrest. Cobb was taken into custody a short time later. His bond is $1,000 and his court date is July 26th.
28 year old Bobbie Sue Wilson of Crest View Drive, Sparta, was charged with DUI first offense on July 4th. Wilson was involved in a one-car accident on Highway 70 West. Wilson was East Bound in a 1993 Ford Escort when the vehicle dropped of the roadway. She over-corrected causing the vehicle to hit head on into a guardrail. Sheriff Ray says Wilson was very unsteady on her feet and incoherent of verbal commands. Wilson’s bond was set at $1,000 and her court date is July 26th.
36 year old Jeffery Vincent Overall was arrested on July 6th for possession of a schedule IV drug (Xanax) and possession of a schedule IV drug (valium). Overall and 37 year old Donna Blankenship of Corinth Church Road, Rock Island were found prowling around a house on Walker Road. Blankenship was charged in a State Warrant out of Rutherford County. Overall’s bond was set at $5,000. His court date is July 26th.
33 year old Scotty Wayne Neisz and 29 year old David Allen Neisz, Jr. of Green Pasture Road Alexandria were charged with Theft of Property over $1,000 on July 7th. Sheriff Ray says the Neisz brothers stole a 1997 Chevy Van from a residence on Green Pasture Road in Alexandria. In addition, David Allen Neisz Jr. was charged with Violation of the Tennessee Sexual Offender Law. Neisz was registered in Cheatham County for a 1996 Statutory Rape conviction. Neisz failed to Register with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department of his new address. Bond for David Neisz Jr.was set at $20,000 and bond for Scotty Neisz was set at $10,000. Their court date is July 26th.
23 year old Kevin Bly of Beasley Court, Carthage was charged on July 8th with 3rd Offense Driving on a Suspended License. Bly was stopped for a traffic offense and was found to have a suspended license for failure to satisfy citations. His bond is $3,000 and his court date is August 2nd.

Smithville Police made four arrests over the weekend for drugs, DUI, hit and run, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
Chief Tom Stufano says “It was a very successful Jamboree and the number of arrests were relatively small based on the large crowds that attended. The safety of the festival was a huge success due to the planning of the Jamboree Committee. The Jamboree atmosphere was very calm, family valued and enjoyed by all. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency was also on hand coordinating contingency plans just in case emergency conditions were required. Only one significant event occurred , a drunk driver, but with the help of concerned citizens, authorities were able to keep that person from driving onto the crowded streets.”
On Saturday afternoon, Chief Stufano says numerous 911 calls were placed simultaneously about a vehicle driving in an erratic manner along Church Street and that it had hit two other automobiles parked along the roadway. The vehicle then drove around a barricade and entered a parking lot on Church and 4th Street striking another automobile. The vehicle then drove around a second barricade and entered 4th Street heading toward the public square. Patrons at the festival saw the vehicle trying to enter the crowded area and were able to surround the car and pull the keys out of the ignition. Smithville Police were on the scene immediately and placed into custody 39 year old Robin Howard Russell of 861 Ward Mill Road, Baxter. Further investigation noted that Russell had been drinking from a gallon bottle of whiskey, which police found opened and in his lap at the time of arrest. A computer check disclosed that Russell had just been released from a neighboring county jail the day before for DUI. Additionally, Russell was driving on a Revoked Driver’s License. Charges against him included; DUI (3rd) offense, Reckless Endangerment, Leaving the Scene of an Accident (3 times) and Violation of the Open Container law. Russell could not perform a field sobriety test due to his inebriated state. His bond was set at $49,500.
Meanwhile, Smithville Officers responded to the BP Gas Station on Saturday afternoon after the manager reported that a female had locked herself in the facility bathroom for over a half hour. Officers found 37 year old Aimee Jobe of 7694 Holmes Creek Road, Smithville in the bathroom and after some coaxing she opened the door and came out. Jobe, upon opening the door, immediately stated to the officers “I know it smells like marijuana in there but I didn’t do it”. Officers did detect a strong odor of Marijuana emanating from the bathroom. Jobe then tried to push her way through the officers to leave. Upon detainment she became very irate screaming and yelling within the store. She was subsequently arrested for Disorderly Conduct and transported to the DeKalb County Jail for processing. Once there, officers also found that she had a used syringe along with an unmarked bottle of 44 ½ pills known as Flexril and 16 other various pills concealed in her purse. Jobe was charged with Possession of Legend Drugs for sale and Delivery. Her bond was set at $41,000.
Officers working the Jamboree arrested 31 year old Christopher Gibbs of 221 Sims Street, Smithville for Public Intoxication. While directing traffic a Smithville Officer observed Gibbs stumbling into traffic along North College Street. Upon contact with the officers, Gibbs stated that he had just drank 4 beers. Based on the volume of traffic and his condition, he was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,000 bond.
Police made a second arrest for public intoxication after receiving numerous complaints that a person camping along Main Street and Highway 56 was highly intoxicated. Officers contacted 47 year old Christopher Barnes of 101 Trebble Lane, Lebanon and found him lying on the ground passed out. He was awakened and found to be under the influence. For his safety and those camping around him he was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,000 bond.

The Smithville Police Department has made two arrests in an armed robbery Sunday night at the BP Station on Highway 70.
Chief Tom Stufano says a third person has been identified and another arrest is pending.
Most of the money, including the weapon, have been recovered.
No other details were available.
Chief Stufano says more information will be released Tuesday morning.

The Grand Champion Fiddler of the 36th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival is Ped Scruggs of Hartsville.
Scruggs won the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award early Sunday morning after the Grand Finale Fiddle-Off between the best Junior and Senior Fiddler.
Scruggs made it to the fiddle off by winning the Senior Fiddling competition and he won the Grand Championship by beating the winner of the Junior Fiddling contest, Aerin DeJarnette of Snellville, Georgia.
The two day festival came to a close at 12:50 a.m. Sunday morning.
Other winners in the Saturday session of the Fiddler’s Jamboree are as follows:
Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39): First Place- Aerin DeJarnette of Snellville, Georgia. Second Place- Bill Jones of Chapel Hill. Third Place- Eric Vick of Lyles.
Junior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages up to 39): First Place- Justin Frazor of Smyrna. Second Place- Jacob Campbell of Murfreesboro. Third Place- Devon Stewart of Lebanon.
Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Thomas Maupin of Murfreesboro. Second Place- Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro. Third Place- Tommy Scruggs of Hartsville.
Senior Buck Dancing (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Stanley Reece of Whitleyville. Second Place- Michael Oliver of Hartsville. Third Place- Darrin Stryker of Crossville.
Senior Clogging (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Michael Oliver of Hartsville. Second Place- Tammy Scruggs of Hartsville. Third Place- Tommy Jackson of Franklin.
Bluegrass Banjo: First Place- Jayce Crook of Toney, Alabama. Second Place- Brian Blaylock of Hixson. Third Place- Sarah Ward of Columbia.
Bluegrass Band: First Place- Crosswind of Olive Hill. Second Place- The Grasscutters of Cookeville. Third Place- The Ward Family of Columbia.
Senior Fiddlers ( Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Ped Scruggs of Hartsville. Second Place- Carl Franklin of Hendersonville. Third Place- Delmer Holland of Waverly.
Square Dancing: First Place- Rocky Top Revue of Franklin. Second Place- Rhythm-N-Motion Xplosion of Cookeville. Third Place- Little Harpeth of Franklin.

The first day of the 36th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival ran non-stop from about 9:00 a.m. Friday to 12:50 a.m. Saturday morning
Preliminaries were held in fifteen categories of music and dance competition followed by the finals featuring the top three acts in each event.
The following are the winners in each category:
Old Time Appalachian Folk Singing (Solo/Duet): First Place- Susie Coleman of Pegram, Tennessee. Second Place- Ty Jackson of Springfield. Third Place- Jack Horner and John Conner of Nashville.
Flat Top Guitar: First Place-Matthew Wingate of Lacey Springs, Alabama. Second Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna. Third Place- Will McMeans of Lester, Alabama.
Junior Clogging (Ages 13-39): First Place- Amanda Herron of Algood. Second Place- Joey Jonte of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Third Place- Emily Dean of Springfield.
Junior Buck Dancing (Ages 13-39): First Place- Kory Posey of Murfreesboro. Second Place- Justin Frazor of Smyrna. Third Place- Amanda Herron of Algood
Dobro Guitar: First Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna. Second Place- Will McMeans of Lester, Alabama. Third Place- Charles Butler of Nashville.
Mountain Dulcimer: First Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna. Second Place- Eric Vick of Lyles. Third Place- Isaac Vick of Lyles.
Hammer Dulcimer: First Place- Agene Parsons of Ooltewah. Second Place- Beth James of Newport. Third Place-Michael Brown of Beechgrove.
Novelty Event: First Place- Aerin and Emma DeJarnette of Snellville, Georgia. Second Place- Rob Pearcy and Heather Curry of Smyrna and Joelton. Third Place- Red and Jenny Denton of Joelton.
Old Time Fiddle Band: First Place- Blue Creek Ramblers of Waverly. Second Place- Slim Chance Band of Smyrna. Third Place- Coon Branch String Band of Murfreesboro.
Autoharp: First Place-John Dalton of Longview, Texas. Second Place- Bobby Nobley of LaGrange, Georgia. Third Place- Bill Rothe of Estill Springs.
Gospel Singing (Solo): First Place- Sydni Perry of Franklin. Second Place- Ty Jackson of Springfield. Third Place- Emily Dean of Springfield.
Country Harmonica: First Place-Ronnie Murphy of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Second Place- Lewis Taylor of Ringgold, Georgia. Third Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna.
Old Time Banjo: First Place- Rebekah Weiler of Murfreesboro. Second Place-Ben Bateson of Murfreesboro. Third Place- Eric Vick of Lyles.
Gospel Singing (Duet, Trio, & Quartet): First Place- Wildberries of Springfield. Second Place- The Greens of Ripley, Mississippi. Third Place- Eastern Sky of Morrow, Ohio.
Mandolin: First Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna. Second Place-Jesse Daniel of Toney, Alabama. Third Place- Will McMeans of Lester, Alabama.
State Senator Mae Beavers presented a United States flag to a member of the audience from China and a Tennessee State flag to a visitor from Seattle, Washington.
The flags go to the persons who travel the greatest distances, both from inside and outside the country, to get here.

A fire Friday afternoon damaged Shamrocks on East Broad Street.
Members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department, who were dispatched to the scene, found the blaze coming from the rear of the building.
The business was closed and no one was there.
Firefighters contained the blaze to the rear portion of the building, but smoke and water spread to other parts of the structure.
The cause of the fire was undetermined at last report. No one was injured.

A Georgia contestant took home this year’s top Jamboree award as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners.
Alex Thomlinson of Suches, Georgia was crowned the Grand Champion fiddler Saturday and won the coveted James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award, named for the man who started the children’s competition during the 1980’s as part of the annual Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival.
Meanwhile, Grant Rigney of Normandy, Tennessee received the “Entertainer of the Year” Award, which is presented to the best overall instrumental entertainer among winners in the dobro guitar, mandolin, five string banjo, and flat top guitar competition.
The National Championship for Country Musician Beginners showcases the talents of children up to age twelve in seven categories of competition.
This year’s winners are as follows:
Fiddle: First Place-Alex Thomlinson of Suches, Georgia. Second Place- Cole McCracken of Floyds’s Knob, Indiana. Third Place- Ruby Jane Smith of Columbus, Mississippi.
Buck Dancing: First Place- Rachel Huddleston of Livingston. Second Place- Ty Jackson of Springfield. Third Place- Caroline Dean of Springfield.
Clogging: First Place- Caroline Dean of Springfield. Second Place- Kelsey Tomlin of Springfield. Third Place- Sierra Tomlin of Springfield.
Dobro Guitar: First Place-Grant Rigney of Normandy, Tennessee. Second Place- Wesley Keckritz of Tullahoma. These were the only two contestants in this category.
Mandolin: First Place-Grant Rigney of Normandy. Second Place- Ruby Jane Smith of Columbus, Mississippi. Third Place- Bethany Ward of Columbia.
Five String Banjo: First Place- Aaron Thompson of Benton, Kentucky. Second Place- Alex Thomlinson of Suches, Georgia. Third Place- Dallas Gaynor of Apison, Tennessee.
Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Tyler Sellers of Springfield. Second Place- Grant Rigney of Normandy. Third Place- Abigail Ward of Columbia.