Two alleged marijuana dealers in Warren and Cannon County are on trial in Federal Court in Chattanooga.
48 year old Jeffory Carl Young of Short Mountain Road, Woodbury and 53 year old Morris Edward Roller of Lance Road, McMinnville were each indicted in May by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to distribute over 2,200 pounds of marijuana and a multi-count indictment for distribution of marijuana.
The men, business partners, operated farmland on the Warren-Cannon County line.
The case stems from a two and a half year old undercover investigation by the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, the Southeastern Drug Enforcement Agency, the Middle Tennessee Drug Enforcement Agency, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Agency, and the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
Officers say they made many undercover buys leading up to the raids in May.
DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray worked for the Warren County Sheriff’s Department at the time and was involved in the investigation.
A state witness testified this week that Young and Roller trafficked over 100 pounds of marijuana every two weeks for several years.
During the arrest in May, authorities seized 31 parcels of land, equaling 1900 acres with a tax appraisal of $2.5 million; more than $10,000 in cash; and over ten pounds of marijuana.
Investigators also confiscated two farm tractors, a round hay baler, semi-truck, a ton truck, and a bob cat loader, all believed to have been purchased with proceeds from the sale of drugs.
The Tennessee Department of Revenue has also levied a $60,000 tax against the two men
The trial is set to resume Tuesday. If convicted, Young could be in prison for the rest of his life and Roller could get a 25 to 30 year federal prison sentence
Sheriff Ray says more arrests may be forthcoming as a result of this investigation, including some from DeKalb County.

DeKalb County Schools Closed Thursday

Tennesseans who are tired of trash along state roadways now have a new tool to report litter bugs. The Tennessee Department of Transportation announced today a new toll-free litter hotline, 1-877-8-LITTER (877-854-8837). The litter hotline is part of the new statewide anti-litter campaign, StopLitter?. The hotline provides a way for Tennesseans to report people they witness littering along the state?s roadways, such as a person throwing a paper cup or cigarette butt out of a window, or an item falling from an unsecured load.
?The new toll-free litter hotline gives citizens the ability to Stop It,? said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. ?Now anyone who witnesses a person littering can report it and trigger action to improve the quality of the environment and the cleanliness of our roadways. Tennessee has some of the best roads in the nation. With everyone?s help, we can have some of the cleanest, too.?
Citizens who witness a litter bug in action can call 1-877-8-LITTER (877-854-8837). Callers will reach a recording that asks them to provide information about the vehicle. The information that will be requested includes:
license plate number (Tennessee plates only)
type and make of the vehicle
day and time the incident occurred
location where the incident occurred
the type of item tossed or blown from the vehicle
TDOT will mail a letter to the registered owner of the vehicle along with a StopLitter? car trash bag or portable ashtray and other anti-litter information. The letter is a gentle reprimand reminding the recipient that littering is against the law and punishable by a fine of up to $1500.
The addition of the statewide hotline signals a new strategy in the effort to stop litter in Tennessee.
?Littering is not only an eyesore, it costs taxpayers money,? said TDOT Chief of Environment and Planning Ed Cole. ?Last year, more than $11 million was spent on litter clean-up and prevention efforts in Tennessee. Thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers also contribute their time and energy picking up litter from the state?s highways each year. The litter hotline allows people to address this problem but still remain anonymous.?
?The answer to the littering problem involves more than just cleaning up trash. Prevention is the key solution,? added Edith Heller, Keep Tennessee Beautiful State Leader. ?We hope everyone will join us in this effort by calling the hotline when they witness someone littering from a vehicle.?

Smithville Police Officer Mac Judkins has been named “Officer of the Month”.
The announcement was made Monday by Smithville Police Chief Thomas J. Stufano.
The commendation presented to Officer Judkins says “On behalf of the City of Smithville Police Department, I would like to commend you for your recent actions and diligent efforts in your capacity as Police Patrol Officer. Your determination and efforts this month in traffic enforcement specifically in the detection of drivers that were DUI has resulted in numerous arrests.
Due to your professional training in recognizing this type of serious hazard and taking immediate action, know that you have removed an opportunity for serious injury or death from their irresponsible actions as drivers. Your expertise enabled the citizens of Smithville, your fellow co-workers and guests of our area a safer passage while here in DeKalb County. You have served with distinction and are a credit to your profession as a Smithville Police Officer.
Additionally, your work ethic and tenacity during the month of January has shown your true commitment to the citizens we serve and your fellow officers.
I appreciate your input and current performance and for that you are hereby formally recognized and commended with a copy of this Commendation becoming apart of your permanent personnel record for all to see.
Congratulations on a job well done!”
The commendation was signed by Chief Stufano, Mayor Taft Hendrixson, and Police Commissioner Aaron Meeks.

A 33 year old truck driver was treated and released at DeKalb Community Hospital Friday morning after his tractor trailer rig overturned around 2:30 a..m on Student’s Home Road..
Sergeant Billy Prater of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Sirvan H. Rasul of Pelican Rapids, Michigan was driving a 2002 Freightliner for the Premier Freight Exchange Company and was enroute to the Goggin Warehouse where he was to deliver 43,000 pounds of brake parts for Federal Mogul.
Sergeant Prater says the truck, which was traveling toward Magness Road from Keltonburg Road, overturned as it approached a narrow bridge. “As he was making his turn, the trailer tracked off the right side of the road, the edge of the roadway gave way, and the truck and trailer laid over on it’s side.”
The load crashed through the side of the trailer as it overturned spilling some of the cargo onto the ground.
Rasul was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Hospital with minor injuries.
Sergeant Prater says Students Home Road was closed nearly all day while the truck was unloaded, pulled upright, and the cargo reloaded onto another truck. Officers cleared the scene around 7:00 p.m. Friday night.
The accident was investigated by Trooper Keith Maddux of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Others on the scene throughout the day included DeKalb EMS, DeKalb Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Charlie Parker, volunteer firefighters, and Troopers Brian Raymond, and Allen England of the THP among other volunteers.

DeKalb County Schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday because of flu like sickness among students and teachers
Higher than normal absentee rates at each of the schools had been recorded last week, but apparently not high enough to close schools. However Monday, it was a different story.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby says the overall student attendance rate Monday was 78%, when it is normally around 96% at the elementary schools and 94% at the high school.
The following are the numbers of students absent at each school Monday:
DCHS- 210 (attendance rate 70%)
DeKalb Middle- 104 (attendance rate 79%)
DeKalb West-87 (attendance rate 79%)
Northside Elementary- 100 (attendance rate 80%)
Smithville Elementary-116 (attendance rate 80%)
Willoughby says there is justification for closing schools when overall attendance falls below 80%.
Willoughby says closing schools for a couple of days will hopefully keep the sickness from spreading and give those who are sick more time to rest and recover.