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Trooper Dewaine Jennings of the Tennessee Highway Patrol has been named Trooper of the Year for the Cookeville District.
Jennings, a resident of Smithville, was among eighteen members of the THP who were honored as Troopers of the Year for their individual districts during a special ceremony held Friday at the THP Training Center on Stewarts Ferry Pike in Nashville.
Trooper Jennings is a member of the Strike Team and assists with the Field Training Officer Program, where he leads by example everyday. Trooper Jennings’ enforcement activity was also top in every category in his District. His work ethic, professionalism and pride in his everyday duties as Tennessee Highway Patrol State Trooper make Trooper Jennings one of the best and a clear choice for this award.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Safety’s top overall awards went to Trooper Kevin Curtis as Trooper of the Year 2007 and Trooper Andy Forsythe as Trooper of the Year 2008.
Trooper Kevin Curtis is assigned to McNairy County in the Jackson District and was named Trooper of the Year 2007 for the dedication he showed investigating a horrific crash that occurred during an exhibition in Selmer, TN. Trooper Curtis spent more than 300 hours investigating the crash that killed six bystanders and seriously injured 22 others. Trooper Curtis displayed true professionalism and compassion working with each of the families involved, while managing his normal day to day responsibilities.
Trooper Andy Forsythe has been a member of THP since 1998 and is stationed in Weakley County. Last May, Trooper Forsythe came upon a fiery crash where some of the occupants of both vehicles were trapped. Trooper Forsythe physically bent back the top of one of the vehicles to free the driver and helped rescue some of the other seven victims. His heroic actions most assuredly saved at least two of the victims from perishing in the burning vehicles, and for this, Trooper Forsythe has been named Trooper of the Year 2008.
“These Troopers represent the outstanding achievements of the men and women of the Tennessee Highway Patrol,” said Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “Often, the public does not see the good work done by the officers of this fine organization.”
THP Colonel Mike Walker added, “Many of these dedicated Troopers are being recognized for their hard work and enforcement activity, and others for concern for their fellow man and community involvement. All have exemplified Professionalism, Integrity, and Pride. I am proud of each one of them.”
Meanwhile, Trooper Michael Williams, who is assigned to the Cookeville District, was honored for his outstanding work and dedication to the department. Trooper Williams is among the top in his district. In 2007, he made 39 DUI arrests and 33 felony arrests. That year, Trooper Williams also made the arrest of a Brink’s Armored Carrier robbery suspect and recovered more than $110,000.00 in stolen money.

A mistake on the early voting ballot in the Smithville Municipal Election, in which the name Jerry Hutchins, Jr. was listed as a candidate for alderman, has now been corrected.
The ballot should have listed the name Jerry Hutchins, Sr. and not Jerry Hutchins, Jr.
In a prepared statement, Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley says “It was brought to my attention Thursday evening (May 28th) that there was a typographical error on the early voting ballot for the Smithville Municipal Election. The error was that incumbent alderman candidate Jerry Hutchins, Sr. was listed as Jerry Hutchins, Jr.”
“I, along with local election commission officials and state officials, immediately began to take steps to correct the problem. Before early voting closed Friday (May 29th), the error was corrected, and the ballot on the two early voting machines now correctly reads “Jerry Hutchins, Sr.”.
“Voters should rest assured that any votes cast for Jerry Hutchins, Jr. before the ballot was corrected will be counted for Jerry Hutchins, Sr.”
“As indicated, I was in constant contact with the proper state officials who guided me in correcting the error, consequently, voting (and the entire election) will continue as planned.”
State Election Coordinator Mark Goins told WJLE Friday says this was simply a minor typographical error and there is no reason to void the election because of it. “This is not the first time this has happened (in Tennessee). It occurs every election cycle where there is some type of mistake dealing with a name being misspelled or whatever. Occasionally this happens. But I think in this case, it’s the intent of the voter. They’re voting for who they think they are voting for. It’s a minor typo as opposed to where somebody might be running as say “Mark Shelby” and their name is really “Mark Smith”. That would be a huge issue. If the courts were to look at it, they would look at the intent of the voter and I would certainly think that the voter would be intending to vote for the person running for office. This guy (Jerry Hutchins, Sr.) is already on the city council and I don’t think the voter is going to be confused.”
The entire slate of candidates on the ballot are as follows:
Gary Durham, Jerry Hutchins, Sr., Shawn Jacobs, Aaron Meeks, Tonya Sullivan, Willie Thomas, W.J. (Dub) White, and Todd Van Dyne.

The DeKalb County Board of Education, for the second time, has delayed granting approval for the construction of a new field house for the high school football program.
During the May 14th regular meeting of the board, Darrell Gill of the Jr. Pro Football program formally made the request stating that new field house would be built with high school football and Jr. Pro funds and that the school system would not be asked for any money. He added that most of the construction would be done with volunteer labor.
The issue was referred to the board’s facilities committee, which met May 19th to study the legal and liability aspects of the proposal. The board was to have made a final decision during a special meeting which was held Thursday night (May 28th). But that decision has been postponed again until the next regular meeting on June 11th after Director of Schools Mark Willoughby received a legal opinion from an attorney for the Tennessee School Boards Association warning against possible violations of the federal Title IX law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.
The concern is whether building a new field house for the high school football program, even without school system funds, would constitute a violation of Title IX when there is no similar facility for girls soccer.
Director Willoughby, in a letter to attorney Charles W. Cagle of Nashville, posed the following question: Could the construction of a new field house for a boy’s football program on school property result in the need for similar facilities for girls soccer?
Cagle replied with the following response:” Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1973 states that no educational program that receives federal funding shall discriminate on the basis of sex. As a result of the adoption of these amendments, several complaints to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights have been filed concerning athletics. Indeed, several lawsuits have been filed over perceived disparities in boys and girls athletic programs. Many of these complaints/lawsuits arise over facilities that are constructed by support organizations for use by a single team. To be clear, many of these suits and complaints concern the provision of facilities, coaches, equipment, and preferential playing times for a boys athletic team versus the same considerations for a girls team. In each case, the U.S. Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights has been clear in their rulings: school systems are responsible to see that discrimination does not occur in the provision of these facilities, coaches, equipment, playing time, or other support. Even if the building proposed for DeKalb County is being built by a team support organization, DeKalb County remains responsible for seeing that the girls facilities and supports are equal to those provided to the boys team. If this is not the case, I would advise that plans need to be made to consider alterations in facilities and improvements in supports to bring the girls team into parity with the boys program.”
Willoughby said Thursday night that he is not opposed to a new field house but wants the board to be fully aware of the legal issues. “I’m for a field house but I believe the board needs to be aware that should there be a Title IX complaint and should they find out that the facilities are not equal, there’s not much of a defense. If the people who come and investigate and tell you to make sure that there’s equality and no disparity then you will say ‘yes sir’ or ‘yes ma’am’ and you will do it.”
Willoughby added that the major concern is with athletic programs which have their seasons at the same time of the year. “Let’s say that girls soccer was in the spring, you wouldn’t have to worry about it, as I understand the law. It is the teams in which their games are going on simultaneously. It doesn’t have to be on the same night. But if the boys have a nice locker room and the girls soccer team is playing the next week, they should also have a nice locker room.”
According to Willoughby anyone could lodge a complaint whether it be a parent or concerned citizen, triggering an investigation. “Here you’ve got someone (Jr. Pro and High School Football Program) wanting to give you $50,000 (new building), and they’re going to do everything to the building and we’ve got a federal law that basically says as long as nobody complains you’re hunky dori. If somebody complains, you’ve got to have a facility that is just as good (for another athletic program). It’s the federal government and usually they give you two years, but if don’t fix whatever they say to fix, we don’t get federal funds and we don’t operate (schools).”
But whether or not a new field house is built, could the school system already be in violation of Title IX since there is an existing field house and no facility of any kind for the soccer program?
DCHS Football Coach Steve Trapp said he believes building a new field house could actually address some of these very concerns. “We’re moving out of a facility (existing field house) and on their (soccer) game nights, we don’t have a problem with them using that (existing field house). It’s going to be used by the middle school football team when they have a home game and Jr. Pro football has a right to use that when they have games on Saturdays. But when soccer boys or girls, spring or fall, have a game they will be free to use those facilities. I don’t think there would ever be a complaint if they are allowed to do that. This will make it better for everybody. They will have a place on their game nights and that’s more than they’ve got right now.”
In response, Willoughby said this probably wouldn’t solve the problem since the existing field house would not be a place the girls soccer team could call their own.
Gill, during Thursday night’s meeting, renewed his request for board approval. “I would like to see you approve it just for the fact that our kids have worked hard and our parents have worked hard. We’ve got a great opportunity to get a nice facility at no cost to the county. I hate to see our kids deprived because we’re worried about somebody complaining.”
Board member W.J. (Dub) Evins III said he came to the meeting Thursday night prepared to vote for the request but now has reservations after learning of Cagle’s legal opinion.
Board member Bruce Parsley said he felt it was unfair to compare soccer and football. “I just don’t think we can compare football with girls soccer. I think you compare girls soccer with boys soccer, as long as they’re even, that’s fine. Or baseball and softball, or girls basketball and boys basketball, but you can’t compare football because it’s not an exclusive male sport.”
Board member Kenny Rhody responded, “I can’t see us not being able to provide this for our kids because of fear of what might happen. Somebody might complain, but our kids need this.”
Board member Johnny Lattimore made a motion, which was approved, to postpone final action until the June 11th school board meeting. In the meantime, Willoughby will ask Cagle to give his legal opinion as to whether the school system would be in compliance with Title IX by allowing the girls soccer, middle school football, and Jr. Pro football programs to share use of the existing football field house during the fall sports seasons. Since neither of the teams play at the same time, each one could use the facility on their particular game day
The new fieldhouse, a 50 x 70 foot block exterior structure with a metal roof, would be located near the existing facility between the practice field and playing field. It would be for the Tiger football program complete with a dressing room area, locker room, training room, utility room, showers and bathrooms, an office for the coach, and two dry storage areas, one of which would be for the youth football league.
Willoughby, in his letter to Cagle, also asked if “there are specific building requirements of which the board should be aware concerning the construction of the football field house.”
In his response, Cagle wrote, ” I am advised that the field house is to be constructed on school board (public) property and that the cost for this construction is to exceed $25,000. As such, the building must conform to the laws relating to construction of public works projects.”
“As this is new construction and not a renovation of, or an addition to, an existing structure and, since the site of the construction is to be on school board property with a cost exceeding $25,000, the law states clearly that there must be plans, specifications, and estimates that are prepared by a qualified registrant (in this case, a licensed architect or engineer). This school board has the duty to insist upon compliance with the law and is the agency against whom fines will be levied for non-compliance.”
“I know the school board appreciates the citizens who head this effort. However, please be aware that there are legal and programmatic considerations outlined in this memorandum relating to further specific responsibilities of the school board in the acceptance of the offer.”

Sheriff Patrick Ray and School Resource Officer Kenneth Whitehead have compiled stats for the 2008-2009 year from all the schools in the county.
Deputy Whitehead says in a letter to the Sheriff “As you can see it has been a busy year. I have met with many students and dealt with all kinds of problems throughout this school year. I feel that due to this contact I have helped these students deal with some problems and that my presence at the school does wonders for the student body. I hope that the school system and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department continues to see the importance of the School Resource Officer Program and what benefits it can obtain from having it. I have enclosed the 2008-2009 school year SRO report.”
The reports are as follows:
DeKalb West-
Assist Deputies- 1
Advisory Sessions with Students- 17
Advisory Sessions with Parents- 5
Advisory Sessions with Teachers or Staff- 16
Classroom Lectures- 4
Special School events- 4
Meetings attended- 2
Total for year- 49
Smithville Elementary
Advisory Sessions with Students- 2
Advisory Sessions with Parents- 2
Advisory Sessions with Teachers or Staff- 3
Total for year- 7
Northside Elementary
Assist Deputies- 1
Advisory Sessions with Students- 1
Advisory Sessions with Parents- 3
Advisory Sessions with Teachers or Staff- 3
Classroom Lectures- 1
Special School events- 3
Court Appearances- 1
Total for year- 13
1 citation wrote for cigarettes
DeKalb Middle School
Misdemeanor Arrests- 8
Drug Arrest- 4
Assist Deputies- 5
Advisory Sessions with Students- 60
Advisory Sessions with Parents- 24
Advisory Sessions with Teachers or Staff- 32
Special School events- 17
Court Appearances- 5
Motorist assist- 1
Total for year- 156
DeKalb High School
Offense reports- 7
Misdemeanor Arrests- 27
Drug Arrest- 8
Assist Deputies- 37
Advisory Sessions with Students about School- 699
Advisory Sessions with Students about Family- 4
Advisory Sessions with Students about Law Enforcement- 283
Advisory Sessions with Parents- 111
Advisory Sessions with Teachers or Staff- 308
Conflict resolutions- 6
Classroom Lectures- 31
Special School events- 56
Meetings attended- 13
Court Appearances- 17
Medical Assists- 2
Motorist assist- 20
Club Meetings- 4
Others not listed- 319
Cigarettes Citations- 27
Fights- 18
Unruly- 2
Total for year- 1999
Sheriff Ray says “Our School Resource Officer is stationed at the DeKalb High School, but responds to all schools in the county. For the safety of our children and school staff, I feel that the School Resource Officer is a great tool for our school system. I will be looking forward to meeting with the Director of Schools, Mr. Mark Willoughby, for the upcoming 2009-2010 school year and continuing the School Resource Officer position in our school system.”

The DeKalb County unemployment rate for April was 10.7%, down slightly from 11% in March, but still much higher than the 5.1% rate in April, 2008.
The local labor force for April was 9,830. A total of 8,780 were employed and 1,050 were unemployed.
Meanwhile, Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April at 9.9 percent is 0.3 percentage point higher than the revised March rate of 9.6 percent.
The United States’ unemployment rate for the month of April was 8.9 percent.
County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for April show that the rate increased in 29 counties, decreased in 59 counties and remained the same in seven counties.
Lincoln and Williamson County registered the state’s lowest county unemployment rate at 6.3 percent. Perry County had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 23.9 percent, down from 25.6 in March, followed by Scott County at 18.3 percent, down from 18.8 percent in March.
Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate of 7.4 percent, up 0.1 percentage point from the March rate. Davidson County was 8.0 percent, up 0.1 from the previous month. Hamilton County was at 8.3 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from the March rate, and Shelby County was 8.9 percent, unchanged from the March rate.

Nine people appeared in DeKalb County Criminal Court last Friday to settle their cases before Judge David Patterson.
The following persons entered pleas under negotiated settlements with the prosectuors:
44 year old Wendell Lee Gibbs pleaded guilty to theft over $10,000 and received a six year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Corrections, to serve 244 days. He must make restitution to be determined in a separate hearing. Gibbs must perform 40 hours of community service work. The case is to run consecutive to any other case against him.
25 year old Thomas Jacob Sims pleaded guilty to theft under $500 and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended except for 60 days to serve. He must make $250 restitution and pay $50 to the economic crime fund.. He was given jail credit of 41 days.
29 year old David L. Martin pleaded guilty to a second offense of driving under the influence and misdemeanor vandalism. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run concurrently. He must serve 45 days and then be on probation.. Martin was also fined $615, ordered to pay $250 to the economic crime fund, and his license has been revoked for two years. He must also attend anger management classes and undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.
21 year old John Anderson pleaded guilty to passing a forged prescription and received a two year sentence, all suspended to probation upon payment of court costs and a contribution of $150 to the economic crime fund. He must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and follow all recommendations.
19 year old Clinton Cope pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended to 48 hours to serve. The sentence is to run concurrently with a General Sessions Court case against him. He will lose his license for one year and must attend alcohol safety education classes. Cope was fined $365.
28 year old Steve Merriman pleaded guilty by information to reckless endangerment. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to CPS probation.
29 year old Eric Jarvis pleaded guilty to forgery and received a two year sentence, all suspended to probation. The sentence is to run consecutive to a parole violation against him but concurrently with a Rutherford County case. He will be on DOC probation and must pay $250 to the economic crime fund. Jarvis must also make restitution to DeKalb Community Hospital in the amount of $1,243
38 year old Michael E. Brown pleaded guilty to joyriding and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended to probation. The sentence is to run consecutive to a Cannon County case against him. He must pay $250 to the economic crime fund.
47 year old David Pack pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and received a 30 day suspended sentence on unsupervised good behavior probation. He was fined $50

The Alexandria City Election will be held Thursday, September 3rd. A mayor and three aldermen will be elected that day. The positions are currently held by Mayor Ria Baker and Aldermen, Charles Griffith, Eddie Tubbs, and Tony Tarpley. The qualifying deadline for the election is noon on Thursday, June 18th at the DeKalb County Election Commission Office. Call 597-4146 for more information. Meanwhile, Early Voting in the Liberty City Election will be held Monday, July 27th through Saturday, August 1st at the courthouse. Times have not yet been set. A mayor and two aldermen will be elected in Liberty on Thursday, August 6th. The candidates are the incumbents, Mayor J. Edward Hale, Jr. and Aldermen Jarrett Pistole and Howard Reynolds, Jr. All are running unopposed.

Smithville Police have charged three people in connection with a recent break-in at Center Hill Village Apartments at 1222 South College Street.
33 year old Jo Ann Ortega Rutland is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $1,000 while 32 year old Sharon Roseann Barnwell and 28 year old Brandon Smith are each charged with theft of property over $1,000. Bond for Barnwell and Smith is $5,000 each and Rutland’s bond is $15,000. All three will appear in court on June 11th.
Officer Matt Holmes reports that when Jose Narvaez arrived home from work on Thursday, May 21st, he noticed that someone had entered his residence through a rear bedroom window and taken approximately $3,300 worth of property including clothes, jewelry, DVD’s, DVD players, cell phone, amplifier, alarm clock, clothes basket, and VHS tapes.
Meanwhile, 24 year old Omera Martinez Lopez is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court June 11th.
Officer Matt Farmer reports that he responded to a domestic call at 670 Miller Road on Wednesday, May 20th. Upon speaking with the victim, she stated that her boyfriend had kicked her in the side as she was trying to get her stuff to leave the apartment. Officer Farmer says Lopez answered the door but did not want him to speak to the woman.
34 year old Misty Dawn Shehane is charged with simple possession of a schedule II controlled substance (Percocet). Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court June 18th.
Officer Randy King reports that he responded to Walmart to a report of a shoplifter. Upon arrival, he found one female in the vehicle and the other (Shehane) was inside the store. When Shehane came out of Walmart, Officer King asked her about some items that were in the vehicle that she didn’t have a receipt for. When asked if there was anything in her purse, she opened it and a pill bottle was found with the label torn off. She was placed in custody after the officer found two pills believed to be percocet.
39 year old Jose Eugenio Sagahon was charged with driving on a revoked license. Bond is set at $1,500 and he will be in court on June 18th.
Officer Randy King reports that on Monday, May 25th, Sagahon was operating a motor vehicle at South Mountain Street and Jackson Street. Knowing his license was revoked for a DUI, Officer King stopped the vehicle and placed Sagahon under arrest.
Felicia A. Walz was charged with a second offense of driving on a suspended license and driving under the influence. Her bond is $3,000 and she will be in court on May 28th.
Officer Travis Bryant reports that on May 12th, Walz was operating a motor vehicle on Bryant Street and was stopped for failure to use a turn signal. She did not have a drivers license and a computer check revealed that her license was suspended on March 17th, 2008 in Wilson County and there were offenses against her in Cannon County on December 11th, 2001. She was charged with DUI because she had slurred speech and was unsteady on her feet. She performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and did take a blood test.