Dewey Lee Love

85 year old Dewey Lee Love of Smithville died Friday at NHC Healthcare Center. He was a Baptist and he served as Mayor of Smithville from 1986 to 1988. The funeral will be Monday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Don Davidson will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. A Masonic service will be held Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Era Lawrence Love; his wife Margaret Ducker Love; and brothers, Alfred and Alvie Love. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Jim Stapp of Smithville. One nephew, Jason Love of Cookeville. He is also survived by Margaret and Rob Bockoven, Tara and Aaron Bockoven, and Chris and Matthew Cantrell all of Smithville. Special caregiver, Gayra Sanders. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. The family requests that donations be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital or the Real Life Community Church in lieu of flowers.

Goff Arrested On Drug Charges By Smithville Police

Smithville Police arrested a 25 year old man on drug charges Wednesday.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says Joshua Goff of 816 Gentry Avenue is charged with sale and delivery of narcotics.
He says “The case started after concerned citizens notified police that possible illegal drug activity could be occurring at 816 Gentry Avenue. There were reports that numerous cars and people on foot would frequent the residence at all hours of the day staying only for minutes after contacting someone there and then leaving. Smithville Police setup a surveillance of the property for four days validating the information after 40 cars were observed stopping in this fashion. After other investigative information was obtained officers entered the residence during an ongoing drug transaction and arrested Goff for the illegal sale of narcotics. Illegal schedule II narcotics and cash were recovered during the raid. Goff was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail with a Bond of $10,000.”
Chief Stufano says Smithville Police appreciate the continued support and vigilance the public is providing in helping law enforcement eradicate the selling of illegal narcotics in Smithville. The Police Department is committed to actively investigating all complaints of illegal drugs in our community.

Viola Schneider Scott

80 year old Viola Schneider Scott of Smithville died Friday at her residence. She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, a retired registered nurse, and an employee of Collier Ford. The funeral will be Monday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Dennis Clark will officiate. Visitation will be Sunday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Monday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Julius Frederick and Meta Roher Schneider. Survivors include three children, Harry Wayne Loveless of Lake Worth, Florida; Lawrence Dale Loveless of Sparta, and Carol Jean Loveless of Chicago, Illinois. One sister, Grace Marie Holverstott of Elijay, Georgia. Six grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and three step great grandchildren. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Nina R. Self

57 year old Nina R. Self of McMinnville died Thursday at her residence. She was a member of the Baptist church and a factory worker. The funeral will be Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home. Larry Neal and Larry Self will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until the time of the service. She was preceded in death by her mother, Willie Mai Pedigo Cantrell, a daughter Tammy R. Tate, a nephew Terry E. Miller, and her grandparents. Survivors include her husband, Jimmy L. Self of McMinnville. Her father and step-mother, Alton and Elizabeth Bain of Smithville. Two sons, Timmy L. Bain and Thomas Cripps of McMinnville. A step-daughter, Luann Cantrell of Lebanon. Brothers, James A. Bain of Cookeville, Toy (Buck) and his wife Rose Bain of Smithville and Kenny L. and his wife Deborah Bain of Smithville. Sisters, Sammie D. Hillis, Eva Mai and her husband Jessie Roberts, Annetta Bain, and Doreta Taylor all of McMinnville. Eleven grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home in McMinnville is in charge of the arrangements.

Vergia Rebecca Blair

88 year old Vergia Rebecca Blair of Smithville died Thursday at NHC Healthcare Center in Smithville. She was a homemaker and a member of the Mount Pisgah Baptist Church. The funeral will be Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Ricky Arnold and Reed Arnold will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from noon until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Levet and Estilla Moser Hubbard; her husband, Calvin Blair; a son, Eugene Blair; two brothers, Alton and Alvis Hubbard; and two sisters, Ophie Moser and Nettie Johnson. Survivors include three children, Dean Turner, Paul and his wife Gail Blair, and Brenda and her husband George Colgan all of Smithville. Six grandchildren, Judy Thompson, Rita Franklin, Jill Davis, Scott Turner, Dawn Davis, and Tonnette Boyd. Eighteen great grandchildren and fourteen great great grandchildren. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Cantrell Injured In One Car Crash

70 year old man was injured in a one car crash Wednesday night on Keltonburg Road, State Highway 288, just three tenths of a mile east of Highway 56.
Sergeant Billy Prater of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Lellon M. Cantrell was driving east on Keltonburg Road in a 1986 Pontiac four door car when he went off the right side of the road and clipped a utility pole. The wreck caused a power outage for many residents and businesses in the area for at least an hour or more.
Cantrell was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital and he was later airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.
Sergeant Prater was assisted at the scene by members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb EMS, and the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Team.

DeKalb County Schools To Receive $96,880 Grant For After School Programs

Governor Bredesen, Senator Mae Beavers and Representative Frank Buck announced today a $96,880 grant to DeKalb County Schools for after-school programs for the 2006-07 school year funded by unclaimed lottery prize money. The Lottery Education After-school Programs (LEAP) is geared toward public or non-profit agencies to expand or develop after-school programs serving at least 50 percent at-risk students for an average of 15 hours a week. The LEAP program has provided approximately $21.2 million in grants to date.
“These programs provide quality learning opportunities and a safe haven for thousands of Tennessee students after school hours,” said Governor Bredesen. “They provide our schools with additional resources to reach at-risk students and to improve their overall achievement. I am very aware of the high cost and challenge of providing services for at risk students, especially in urban districts, and I intend to work closely with the General Assembly to continue making progress in this area.”
The General Assembly passed new legislation this year for a second after-school grant program, the Test Preparation Pilot Project. This program is designed to provide ACT/SAT preparation, academic tutoring and study skills for at-risk students. Each site may serve no more than 60 seventh- through ninth-grade students for an average of 15 hours a week. The project will begin with six sites ? one urban and one rural in each of Tennessee?s three grand divisions. Each site will receive $50,000 a year for three years.
?Students need quality programs to engage them after school and help reinforce the learning that goes on during the school day,? Senator Beavers said. ?These grants will have a long term impact of the quality of life in our towns.?
?Not every child has the opportunity to receive extra help and enrichment after school,? Representative Buck said. ?These after school programs will give our children the boost they need to succeed in school and in life.?

Police Make Arrests for DUI and Domestic Assault Over New Year Holiday Weekend

Smithville Police made several arrests over the New Year holiday weekend.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says “On December 30th Smithville Police arrested Walter Hartman of 303 Manhill Road, Dowelltown on the charges of DUI and Reckless Endangerment. This is the 5th DUI arrest for Hartman. Police observed Hartman driving his Ford Thunderbird at a high rate of speed on Cookeville Highway near Northside School crossing the centerline multiple times. When the vehicle was finally stopped and the officer approached, a 9 year old female, who was sitting in the passenger seat, crawled across the driver’s seat frantically yelling “Please help me” to the officer. The officer immediately identified the smell of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle and asked the driver to get out of the vehicle. Upon further investigation it was discovered that the juvenile was the adopted daughter of the driver and was in fear due to Hartman’s reckless driving. Hartman had to be held against the vehicle as he was too inebriated to stand. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail. He was placed under $15,000 bond. Hartman’s vehicle was confiscated under the state’s Drug and Alcohol forfeiture act.
A second DUI arrest was made on New Year’s Day when Francisco Soto Perez of 232 Orchard Lane of McMinnville was confronted by another driver who claimed that Perez almost ran into his vehicle. Smithville Police responded to a reported disturbance in the Exxon Gas Station parking lot. Officers discovered that Perez smelled of an alcoholic beverage, slurred his speech and admitted to drinking and driving. Perez was arrested and processed and remanded to the DeKalb County Jail under a bond of $1,500
On New Year’s Eve Smithville Police Officers responded to 307 White Street regarding a domestic complaint. Upon arrival officer’s discovered that 19 year old Daniel Lee Clien had been drinking heavily and kept a female companion from leaving the residence. Officers found that the female tried numerous times to exit from a rear bedroom window only to dragged back by Clien which left bruises on the female. Clien damaged numerous items in the residence including phones which were ripped out of the walls and glass which was broken from items being thrown about. Clien was arrested for domestic assault and underage drinking and was transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $3,500 bond.
Smithville Police are committed to actively investigating and prosecuting drivers who are DUI. The Police Department asks that everyone help eliminate drinking and driving in our area.

Alexandria Police Arrest Silver Point Man On Drug and DUI Charges

Alexandria Police made a drug arrest after a routine traffic stop on Friday.
Chief Mark Collins says 25 year old Patrick N. Blevins of 533 Anderson Ridge Road, Silver Point is charged with possession of a schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia (pipe), and driving under the influence (4th offense).
Chief Collins says officers Chris McMillen and Cody Jenkins stopped Blevins vehicle on Highway 70 in Alexandria on a traffic offense. As Blevins got out of his automobile, the officers detected a strong odor of what they thought was marijuana. They conducted a field sobriety test and placed Blevins under arrest.
The officers found a small bag of marijuana and a pipe used to smoke drugs.
Two other arrests were made in a separate investigation on New Year’s Eve.
Chief Collins says 31 year old Travis Pinkerton of Watertown was pulled over in a routine traffic stop and charged with driving on a suspended license. Another man with Pinkerton was arrested. He was wanted on charges in Cannon County.

Jerry Clifton Smith

69 year old Jerry Clifton Smith, Pastor of the Smithville Church of the Nazarene, died Friday in Mexico. The funeral will be Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Home. Charles Knight and Ron McCormack, District Superintendent of the Nazarene Church, will officiate and burial will be in the Brush Creek Cemetery. The body will be at DeKalb Funeral Chapel in Smithville on Wednesday where the family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. The body will be at the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Home Thursday where the family will receive friends after 11:00 a.m. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Sarah Pritchett Smith. Children, Randy “Bubba” Smith and his wife Arlene of Brush Creek, Shane Smith and his wife Amy of Gordonsville, Connie Rodriguez and her husband Ruben of Brush Creek, Sonja Allen and her husband Sam of Coalmont, Debbie Bush and her husband James of Gordonsville, and Linda Pritchett of Smithville. Fifteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren survive along with brothers and sisters, Robert A. and his wife Geraldine Smith of Mount Juliet, Frank D. and his wife Lucille Smith of Lebanon, Sarah Lou and her husband R.L. Payne of Brush Creek, Betty Jo Jones of Lebanon, Rosie and her husband T.J. Jones of Lebanon, and Troy and his wife Estella Smith of Gordonsville. The Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to help pay the expense of returning the body from Mexico in care of the Smithville Church of the Nazarene, P.O Box 614, Smithville 37166 or to the Church Fund or to Gideons International.