One man was killed and another was injured in a two vehicle wreck this afternoon (Tuesday) on Highway 56 north near Keystop Market (Robert’s Grocery).
Dead is 43 year old Gerald F. Soules, Jr of Silver Point.
61 year old Kenneth D. Shepherd of Cookeville was transported by EMS to Cookeville Regional Medical Center. His injuries were not believed to have been life threatening.
Trooper Michael Robertson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says the accident occurred around 1:28 p.m. about ten feet south of 3638 Cookeville Highway.
According to Trooper Robertson, Soules was driving south in a 2002 Chevy Cavalier when he failed to negotiate a curve and crossed into the path of a northbound Dodge Durango SUV belonging to the Tennessee Department of Conservation, driven by Shepherd. The Durango struck the Cavalier in the passenger side.
The THP reports that both men were wearing their seatbelts.
Trooper Robertson was assisted in the investigation by Sergeant Greg Tramel and Sergeant Keven Norris of the THP’s Critical Incident Response Team.
Soules’ death marks the 4th traffic fatality of the year on DeKalb County Roads.

Smithville voters will begin going to the courthouse Wednesday, May 27th to cast their ballots for alderman in the Municipal Election.
Early Voting will be held Wednesday, May 27th through Thursday June 11th. All early voting will be in the basement courtoom of the courthouse from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays.
The Incumbents seeking re-election are Jerry Hutchins, Sr., Tonya Sullivan, and Willie Thomas. Challengers are Gary Durham, Shawn Jacobs, Aaron Meeks, W.J. (Dub) White, and Todd Van Dyne.
Last year, in which a mayor and two aldermen were elected, a total of 963 people cast ballots including 684 early voters, which was a new early voting record for a Smithville Election. A total of 279 voted on election day in 2008.
In the 2007 city election, in which three aldermen were elected, a total of 738 people voted including 555 early voters and 183 on election day.
In 2006, in which a mayor and two aldermen were elected, a total of 696 voted including 425 early voters and 271 on election day.
Numbers of voters in city elections from the year 2000 to 2005 are as follows:
Year 2005: 70 voters including 28 early voters and 42 on election day
Year 2004: 800 including 450 (early) and 350 (election day)
Year 2003: 450 including 231 (early) and 219 (election day)
Year 2002: 833 including 442 (early) and 391 (election day)
Year 2001: 473 including 218 (early) and 255 (election day)
Year 2000: 642 including 313 (early) and 329 (election day)
Election day is Tuesday, June 16. Voting will take place in the basement courtroom of the courthouse. The polls will open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. Everyone waiting in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote. To vote in the Smithville Election you must be a registered voter and be a resident of the city or be registered as a property rights voter. Please bring identification with you when you come to vote.
WJLE will have LIVE election return coverage starting at 7:00 p.m. at the courthouse or hear the results LIVE on-line at www.wjle.com

Members of the local American Legion POST #122 and The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7623 hosted a Memorial Day observance Monday morning at the 303 Building downtown Smithville.
Commander Edward Frazier moderated the program, Chuck Olson offered the opening prayer, and Doyle Smith led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The group “4 the Lord” entertained with gospel and patriotic music.
Warren Johns, the guest speaker, spoke of the brave service of patriotic heroes past and present. “There’s more than 150 veterans of service to their country who live in this county walking in our midst. They don’t talk about their record in military service because they beat their swords into plowshares.. They marked a trail of goodness and leadership in this town. No amount of thanks, no amount of praise, no amount of words, can ever appropriately honor what they’ve done. But there are some things we can do. We can make sure their years after service are well cared for and that once a year at least we come to honor them and that’s what we’re doing today. Secondly, we can walk in their trail to try to fill the big footsteps they have left for us. And not just for us, but for our children and our grandchildren who are inspired by their example. Finally, just a week ago, one of the aldermen introduced the idea of naming our airfield “Veterans Field”. I’m sure it will pass. That will honor every one of you.”
At the conclusion of the program, a wreath was laid at the veterans memorial monument outside the courthouse.

Aside from a few traffic offenses, all was apparently quiet on graduation night in DeKalb County.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Smithville and Alexandria Police Departments conducted sobriety check points in several locations and more than 800 vehicles were stopped as they passed through. Some arrests were made.
According to Sheriff Ray, 118 vehicles were checked on the Sparta Highway and one citation was issued to a motorist because a child in the automobile was not wearing a seat belt. In another case, 40 year old Jeffery L. Taylor of Peeled Chesnut Lane, Sparta, was charged with a second offense of driving under the influence after officers detected an odor of alcohol on his person. Taylor also failed field sobriety tasks. His bond was set at $3,000 and he will appear in court on June 11th.
A total of 123 vehicles were checked on Highway 53 in Alexandria
Sheriff Ray says 261 vehicles were checked on Highway 96 in Liberty and one arrest was made. 19 year old Nery Marcito Enriquez of Mercury Boulevard, Murfreesboro was charged after deputies discovered that he did not have a valid driver’s license. Bond for Enriquez was set at $1,000 and he will appear in court on June 11th.
A total of 231 vehicles came through the check point on McMinnville Highway and 23 were stopped on Cookeville Highway.
One arrest was made on Short Mountain Highway where 60 vehicles were checked. 20 year old Timothy (Tyler) William Patrick of Louis Drive, Goodlettsville was charged with driving under the influence. Sheriff Ray says Patrick had glassy, blood shot eyes and he failed field sobriety tasks. Patrick was also charged with driving on a revoked driver’s license. Patrick’s total bond was set at $3,500 and he will appear in court on June 11th.
Sheriff Ray, along with Alexandria Police Chief Mark Collins and Smithville Police Chief Richard Jennings wish to thank everyone for the kind words that were expressed to them and their Departments while conducting the check points. Sheriff Ray says all three departments working together tried to make this year’s graduation night a safe one for the seniors and their families and friends.
Meanwhile, in other crime news, deputies responded Friday to a motor vehicle accident on Vaughn Lane, Smithville. Upon arrival, officers noticed that the vehicle had run into a barn and the driver, 27 year old Matthew Allen Baker of Pine Orchard Road Smithville, was climbing out of the automobile. Baker was unsteady on his feet. He submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed but Baker refused to take a blood alcohol test. Baker was charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and violation of the implied consent law. His bond was set at $3,000 and he will appear in court on June 4th.
On Monday, May 18th, deputies, while on patrol, noticed a vehicle that failed to stop on Whorton Springs Road at a stop sign. 41 year old Carlos Reyes of Skyline Drive, McMinnville was arrested for driving without a valid driver’s license. Reyes’ bond was set at $1,000 and he will be in court on May 28th.
Also on Monday, May 18th, deputies stopped a vehicle on Jacobs Pillar Road Smithville for violation of the light law. 25 year old Christopher W. Miles of Earl Avenue, Smithville was arrested for driving on a suspended driver’s license. Miles’ license was suspended due to failure to satisfy a citation in DeKalb County on June 4th, 2008. Bond for Miles was set at $1,000 and he will appear in court on June 24th.
Meanwhile, a passenger with Miles, 37 year old Richard Manuel Standridge of Jacobs Pillar Road, Smithville, was arrested on a state warrant out of Bradley County. Standridge also had a cigarette pack that contained marijuana and a marijuana roach. Inside the vehicle, authorities found a case containing an ink pen shell, ½ pill of Suboxone and 10 Xanax pills. Strandridge was charged with possession of a schedule III drug (Suboxone), possession of a schedule IV drug (Xanax), simple possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His total bond was set at $7,500 and he will appear in court on June 25th.
On Wednesday, May 20th, deputies stopped a vehicle on South College Street in Smithville for erratic driving. 35 year old Eric Todd Dolberry of Depot Road, Rock Island was arrested for driving on a suspended license. His bond was set at $1,000 and he will appear in court on June 25th.
Also on Wednesday, officers arrested 38 year old Jimmy R. Baker of Pollard Road ,Walling for violation of the sexual offender law after he was found to be living in DeKalb County at the Lake Motel for approximately two weeks without registering with the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department. Baker was living in the room with a 16 year old youth. Bond for Baker was set at $75,000 and he will appear in court on June 25th.
On Thursday, May 21st, DeKalb County Jail Correctional Officers were moving an inmate in the old part of the jail when the prisoner tried to escape. Arrested for attempted escape was 40 year old Lisa Faye Gibbs of North Mill Street, Dowelltown. Gibbs made it outside of the jail but was apprehended on the Public Square. Gibbs is serving a sentence for violation of probation. Bond for Gibbs was set at $25,000 and she will appear on the escape charge on May 28th.
On Friday, May 22nd, 31 year old Jackie Darrell Ervin of Old Mill Hill Road, Dowelltown was arrested on a sealed indictment charging him with two counts of sale of a schedule II drug (Oxycontin) and delivery of a schedule II drug (Oxycontin) both in a drug free zone. Ervin’s bond was set at $150,000
Also on Friday, 40 year old Jeanna Snow Bain of Banks Pisgah Road, Smithville was arrested on a sealed indictment charging her with two counts of sale of a schedule II drug (dilaudid) and delivery of a schedule II drug (dilaudid). Bain’s bond was set at $100,000. Bain is currently incarcerated in the Tennessee Prison for Women.
On Saturday, a deputy, while on patrol on McMinnville Highway, stopped a vehicle for driving erratic. 19 year old Jose Luna Regalado of Highland Drive, McMinnville was arrested for driving under the influence. Officers found Regalado to be unsteady on his feet and he had a smell of alcohol on his person. Regalado submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed. He also refused a blood alcohol test and was issued a citation for violation of implied consent. A check of Regalado’s license revealed he had none. He was charged with driving without a license. Bond for Regalado was set at $2,500 and he will appear in court on June 11th. A passenger of Regalado’s vehicle, 25 year old Juan Cruz, was also arrested for public intoxication after he was found to be intoxicated and a danger to himself. Bond for Cruz was set at $1,000 and he will appear in court on June 11th.

Sounds of celebration emanated from DeKalb County High School Friday night as members of the Class of 2009 received their diplomas during graduation ceremonies on the football field.
Three of the most outstanding members of the class were singled out for special recognition. This year’s White Rose Awards went to Victoria Bennett and Thomas West and while the Citizenship Award was presented to Luke Willoughy.
The White Rose is presented to a boy and girl from the class for outstanding achievement and leadership, academics, and other activities. The Citizenship Award is given to the senior who has demonstrated outstanding service, devotion and loyalty to DeKalb County High School. The honors students were also recognized during the program.
A total of 162 students received diplomas during the commencement, each one shaking hands with Director of Schools Mark Willoughby as their names were called by Principal Kathy Hendrix.

In remarks to the Class, Valedictorian Kesha Staley quoted Dr. Seuss in making the point to “steer yourself in the direction you choose”. ”
“In Dr. Seuss’s book, ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go’, he explains how to conquer fear and make it through all the events in your future. Dr. Seuss states, ‘you have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go.’ So your decisions after this point tonight are your own choices, no one else’s.”
” Dr. Seuss also explains how your life will be positive. “you won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best, wherever you go, you will top all the rest.’ He also explains how everyone will have trials and tribulations, ‘ I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that bang ups and hang-ups can happen to you. You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a lurch’. He explains how even though you will go through rough times, you will make it. Dr. Seuss states, ‘ somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places.’
“Everyone here tonight has the chance starting right now to make wise decisions that will make your future bright. So as Dr. Seuss would say, ‘Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So get on your way!”
Class President Whitney Moss urged the graduates to live their dreams. “With our senior year coming to an end, and the Class of ’09 getting ready to go out and live out their dreams and achieve their goals, I would like to let you all know I have enjoyed the last four years with each and everyone of you, and I have made memories to last a life time. I have learned so much from you all and could not ask for a better group of students to be graduating with. I wish you all the best of luck and always remember Isaiah 58:11, The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your soul in drought and strengthen your bones. You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
“Thank you all for everything! God bless you all and know that you are always in my thoughts and prayers. Congratulations Seniors!”
Dave Bennett, a 1986 graduate of DCHS and now assistant mayor of Blount County in Maryville, admonished the Class of 2009 to face the future with courage and pride. “Tonight is a great night. You are taking a giant step into your future. I charge you to be proud of that first. Be proud that you are a DeKalb County High School graduate. As each of you walk across this stage and receive your diploma, I ask you to remember that the world is at your fingertips. All you have to do is reach for it and you’ll be amazed at the doors that will be opened.”
“I challenge you to dream big and never fear the unknown. Find your mentor and listen to them. You can learn so much more by listening and keeping your mouth shut.”
“As you leave here tonight, go and be leaders. You’ve got a foundation unlike anyone. As much as I love being in Blount County, this will always be home. And I’ve got a foundation that was built right here in the halls of DeKalb County High School that have given me so many opportunities and I’ve been so blessed but they started right here. Everyone of you have that same foundation. You have the ability to do whatever you want.”
“I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the world with my job. I’ve been in Tokyo, Korea, England, and France. I’ve had the opportunity to make presentations to Governors and even had the opportunity to meet the President of the United States but there’s nothing greater and nothing I’m more proud of than being a graduate of DeKalb County High School. I will always be a Tiger and you will always be a Tiger. Never forget where you’re from. No matter where you end up, you will always be a DeKalb County Tiger and that’s something to be proud of. Everyone of you can make a difference in this world. Take tonight as your first step graduates, your first step to greatness, and everyone of you will be great. God bless everyone of you and good luck in your path.”