Lois Williams

76 year old Lois Williams of Smithville died Tuesday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a member of the Allen’s Chapel United Methodist Church and a retired factory worker. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Royce Martin and Phil Tollett will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Wednesday from 11:00 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 parents, Clifton Floyd and Dora Ethel Hullett Robinson; a brother, Edward Robinson; and two sisters, Delia Foutch and Clysta Pedigo. Survivors include two daughters, Patti and her husband Jim Coe of Lascassas and Annette and her husband David Medley of Smithville. Three grandchildren, Jenny Lynn and her husband Jeremy Hudgens of Murfreesboro, Louie Jack and his wife Constance Medley of Smithville, and Cindy Nicole Medley of Smithville. Two great grandchildren, Dustin and Kinsey Hudgens. Three sisters, Jo and her husband Jess Baker, Omega Hayes, and Mary and her husband Paul Parsley all of Smithville. Three brothers, Charles and his wife Jacqueline Robinson of Smithville, Carl and his wife Jo Robinson of Morrison, and Brisco and his wife Helen Robinson of Cookeville. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Ou Chen

45 year old Mr. Ou Chen of Palm Coast, Florida and formerly of Liberty died Sunday at the Halifax Medical Center in Daytona, Florida. He was a Christian and owner of the China American Garden Restaurant in Florida. The funeral will be Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the Liberty United Methodist Church. Wilson Williams will officiate and burial will be in Salem Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. at the church. He was preceded in death by his father, Boun Chen and a nephew, Ming Chansiya. He is survived by his wife, Lyla Hong Chen of Florida. A son, David Tyler Chen of Florida. His mother, Onith Heuang Chen of Tennessee and Florida. Two sisters, Wai Ying of Hong Kong and Song and her husband Vang Chansiya of Florida. Four brothers, Kiang and his wife Pinoy Chen of Canada, Siao Tsan Chen of Japan, Tiu Joe and his wife Thann Chen of Chattanooga, and Pheng and his wife Lynne Chen of Florida. Seven nephews and six nieces survive, Wilson and Lois Williams of Liberty and many friends and loved ones. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Mobile Home Destroyed In Early Morning Fire-Two Escape Unharmed

Two people escaped injury in a mobile home fire early Tuesday morning at 230 Huddleston Loop off Adcock Cemetery Road.
Captain Jeff Williams says firefighters received a call at 3:45 a.m. to come to a trailer belonging to Melissa King being rented by Billy C. Cantrell.
Cantrell and his caretaker Cissy Petty, who were inside the trailer at the time of the fire, escaped unharmed but the mobile home was destroyed.
Captain Williams says Petty told firefighters that she was on the couch asleep when she awoke to the screams of Cantrell, who was in the same room, lying in a hospital bed, which had caught fire.
Firefighters speculate that Cantrell, who was on oxygen, may have been smoking in bed.
Members of the Cookeville Highway, Short Mountain Highway, and Midway Stations responded along with a tanker truck. DeKalb EMS was also on the scene as a precaution.

Estelle Grider Hutchins

76 year old Estelle Grider Hutchins of Smithville died Saturday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a retired factory worker and attended the First Baptist Church. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Virgil Hibdon, Jr. will officiate and burial will be in Whorton Springs Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Nancy Thomas Grider; two sons, Phillip and Patrick Hutchins; and two brothers, Everette and Lilbern Grider. Survivors include two daughters, Paula and her husband Bobby Pinegar of Smithville and Pam Davenport of Smithville. Two sons, Paul and his wife Treva Hutchins of McMinnville and Perry Hutchins of Kentucky. Nine grandchildren, Sandy and her husband Darrell Knowles of Smithville, B.J. Pinegar of Smithville, Tony and his wife Shellie Davenport of Kentucky, John Davenport of Smithville, Alon and his wife Cristy Hutchins of McMinnville, Alicia and her husband Robert Garza of McMinnville, Amy Hutchins of California, Angela Hutchins of Nashville,and Dustin Hutchins of Smithville. Six great grandchildren, Breanna and Britney Knowles of Smithville, Cameron and Ty Davenport of Kentucky, and Kolton and Haylee Hutchins of McMinnville. Four brothers, Dillard Grider of Cookeville, Howard Grider of Cookeville, Virgil Grider of Cookeville, and Clarence and his wife Linda Grider of Cookeville. One sister, Billie Palk of Cookeville. Two sisters-in-law, Juanita Dunn and Mary Grider of Cookeville and Alberta Davis of Florida. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be Monday from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m.

Joann C. Braswell

52 year old Joann C. Braswell of Smithville died Sunday at her residence. She was a Baptist and a co-owner of J & J Game Room. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. David Mahan will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Monday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Caine and Anna Golden Conley; three brothers, Jim, Charles, and Jack Conley; and a sister, Bernice Conley. Survivors include her husband, James Braswell of Smithville. Three daughters, Teresa and her husband Brad Long of Cookeville, Stephanie Braswell of Smithville, and Lisa and her husband Terry Pease of Smithville. Four step-sons, Randy Braswell of Smithville, Johnny and his wife Maria Braswell of Nashville, David and his wife Brenda Braswell of South Carolina, and Jerry and his wife Carolyn Braswell of McMinnville. Thirteen grandchildren, Kayla and Bradley Long of Cookeville, Michael and Kelsey Braswell, Skylar, Tiffany, and Hannah Pease, Jimmy Pirtle, Christopher and Justin Braswell, and Shondra Braswell all of Smithville and Holly and Crystal Braswell of Nashville. One great grandchild also survives. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family requests that donations be made to the Hospice Institute of your choice, in lieu of flowers.

Drivers License Roadside Safety Checkpoints Scheduled Friday

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting driver license
roadside safety checkpoints Friday, June 15th on State
Routes 53, 56, 83, 96, and 146 in DeKalb County.
Recognizing the danger presented to the public by unqualified
drivers, Troopers will concentrate their efforts on vehicles being
operated by drivers who would violate the driver license laws of
Tennessee.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol has found these driver license
roadside safety checkpoints to be an effective means of enforcing driver
license laws of Tennessee while ensuring the protection of all motorists.

Stepped Up Police Visibility and Enforcement Efforts Lead To Several Arrests

Smithville Police Officers working traffic enforcement and drug interdiction were busy over the past few days in stepped up efforts to have more police visibility.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says on February 2nd Officers stopped 38 year old Celina Rena Tate of 848 Foster Road in Smithville leaving the Bridgeway Motel at 4:30 a.m. on a reported Domestic disturbance complaint. During the course of the investigation Officer?s found that Tate was under the influence of a drug or alcoholic beverage and was acting in a disorderly manner by beating on motel doors disturbing patrons. A records check disclosed that this was Tate?s 3rd offense for driving under the influence. She was eventually charged with DUI 3rd Offense, Refusal to Sign a Citation, Disorderly Conduct and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Syringes), and Simple Possession of a Scheduled III Drug. She was transported to the Dekalb County Jail under an $8,500 Bond. Tate?s vehicle, a 2000 Chevy S-10 4×4, was seized under the State?s Seizure Statute.
Meanwhile, Chief Stufano says on February 4th, 25 year old Juan A. Hernandez of 962 Blue Springs Road was stopped for a traffic infraction when Smithville Officers learned that Hernandez did not have a license due to it being revoked for a DUI. He was arrested and charged with a traffic citation and Driving on a Revoked License. He was transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,500 bond and his vehicle, a 2002 Chevy Avalanche, was seized under the State?s Seizure Statute.
Also on February 4th, 19 year old Leon Birlain of 122 Delano Street in McMinnville was arrested for having an open container of an alcoholic beverage while driving, speeding and he did not have a valid Driver?s License or Insurance. Smithville Officer?s working a dedicated traffic enforcement detail on Highway 70 originally stopped Birlain for speeding. He was eventually arrested and transported to the Dekalb County Jail under a $1,500 bond.
In a separate case 33 year old Jason Cripps of 774 Four Seasons Road was arrested for Theft under $500.00 from the Walmart store on Highway 70. Smithville Police responded to the store after a Night Manager stated that Cripps was seen concealing a Dremmel Power tool under his clothing and leaving the store. He was eventually stopped and the item recovered. At the time of arrest Cripps had $420 in cash on him. He was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,500 bond.
Chief Stufano says traffic enforcement efforts over the weekend yielded 18 citations for speeding infractions, no driver?s license, no insurance and DUI. The Smithville Police Department is committed to providing the citizens and guests of Smithville a safer driving experience and would like to thank the motoring public for helping identify those drivers that put us in jeopardy.

USDA Releases Payments for 2007 Tobacco Transition Payment Program

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb County Farm Service Agency, announces that annual payments for the Tobacco Transition Payment Program, for the 2007 payment year, were released Thursday, January 25. DeKalb County quota holders and producers will receive $496,726 in 2007 program year payments. Green says that direct deposit transactions should arrive in bank accounts within 3 business days while mailed checks should arrive within 10 business days for quota holders and producers who have enrolled in the program.
The Tobacco Transition Payment Program (TTPP), also called the “tobacco buy-out,” helps tobacco quota holders and producers transition to the free market.
The Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-357), signed by President Bush on Oct. 22, 2004, ended the Depression-era tobacco quota program and established the TTPP. The program provides annual transitional payments for 10 years to eligible tobacco quota holders and producers. Payments began in 2005 and continue through 2014. Payments are funded through assessments of approximately $10 billion on tobacco product manufacturers and importers. The remaining payments will be made in 7 annual installments that are issued in January of each year.
For more information on the Tobacco Transition Payment Program, please contact the DeKalb County Farm Service Agency at 615-597-8225, extension 2.

Revenue Department Extends April 15 Filing Deadline

Tennessee taxpayers will have until Tuesday, April 17, 2007, to file state taxes due April 15, the Tennessee Department of Revenue announced today. The revenue department’s decision to extend the filing time follows an announcement earlier this year by the Internal Revenue Service that it was changing its federal income tax deadline nationwide to April 17 for this year only.
The April 17, 2007, deadline will apply to the following: Hall income tax and franchise and excise taxes.
?We will follow the IRS?s lead in regard to the April 17 filing deadline. As always, we encourage taxpayers to utilize our online tax filing applications,? said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr.
The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws established by the legislature and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department of Revenue collects approximately 92 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2005-2006 fiscal year, the department collected $10.3 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes, $1.8 billion of local sales tax was collected by the department for local governments during the 2005-2006 fiscal year. Besides collecting taxes, the department enforces the revenue laws fairly and impartially in an effort to encourage voluntary taxpayer compliance. The department also apportions revenue collections for distribution to the various state funds and local units of government. To learn more about the department, log on to www.Tennessee.gov/revenue.

Larry Eugene Washer

59 year old Larry Eugene Washer of Lower Helton Road, Alexandria died Thursday at his residence. The body is at the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Home where the service will be held Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Brush Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Gordonsville Chapel on Saturday from noon until 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. Washer is survived by his wife, Cindy Skinner Washer of Alexandria. Children, Julie Ann Radar and her husband Bruce of Sykes; Lydia Michelle Foote and her husband James of Sykes; and Alicia Dawn Washer of Alexandria. Grandchildren, Gabriel Lee Radar, Elaina Ruby Foote, and Aidan James Foote. A brother and sister-in-law, Bernie and Carol Washer of Alexandria. Julie Ann Radar’s mother, Mary Ann Rose of Sykes. Memorials may be made to Alive Hospice of Murfreesboro. The Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.