The Grand Jury has given the DeKalb County Jail another good report.
After touring the facility Monday, the grand jurors prepared a brief report on their findings. The report states that “We, the members of the Grand Jury have found the DeKalb County Jail to be very clean, organized, well kept, and the facility is well maintained with top- notch security and a system of rewards for good behavior and stout discipline for those who do not cooperate within the system. Overall, the department has done an outstanding job operating within the budget. Prisoners are treated humanely with medical services readily available around the clock.”
Bonds were also inspected and found to be in good shape.

It may seem early to some, but the Smithville Municipal Election is just around the corner.
The election is set for June 21st and Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley says interested candidates can pick up petitions as early as December 17th.
Three aldermen seats will be up for election in June. The seats are currently held by Shawn Jacobs, Aaron Meeks, and W.J. White.
Stanley says the qualifying deadline will be Noon March 17th. The last day to register to vote in the Smithville election will be May 23rd.

The man originally charged with first degree murder in a brutal beating of another man on Center Hill Lake last year which resulted in his death, stood trial Tuesday in DeKalb County Criminal Court for second degree murder.
But when the jury, made of up six men and six women, returned from it’s deliberations Tuesday night, the verdict was something much less, reckless homicide. A blow to state prosecutors.
As a result, 39 year old James P. Vernon of Green Hill Road, Rock Island, who has been in jail for 509 days, could soon be released. He will be sentenced on January 26th . The range of punishment for reckless homicide is reportedly from two to four years. Judge Leon Burns, Jr. has set a $5,000 bond for Vernon, pending the sentencing hearing.
State prosecutors said Vernon was responsible for the death of 24 year old David Joseph Clark, who was severely beaten during an attack on a houseboat at Center Hill Lake July 7th, 2009. Clark died a week later from his injuries at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
The incident occurred in DeKalb County, only a short distance from Horsehoe Bend Marina, which is in White County.
Vernon, who testified in his own defense, said that he met Clark on the fourth of July, 2009 during an outing on the lake. Two days later, July 6th Vernon said Clark showed up at his boat, just to hang out, after going to see his friends on their boat and finding them asleep. Vernon, who was cooking some fish for himself and a friend, claims he invited Clark inside to join them. But a short time later, Vernon said Clark suddenly left, saying he had to go. Vernon looked around and noticed that his wallet, which he kept on the bar near the dining table, was missing. Thinking that Clark took it, Vernon followed after Clark and confronted him about the wallet, which he said contained $50 in denominations of two- twenty dollar bills and a ten dollar bill. Clark apparently denied taking the wallet, but Vernon had him to produce his (Clark’s) wallet, which revealed that Clark had two- twenty dollar bills on him. Vernon did not find his own wallet.
The next day, July 7th, Vernon testified that he and a friend, Steve Killion, who had a small houseboat next to his, went looking for his wallet and found a ten dollar bill in the parking lot (near the marina).
That night, July 7th, Vernon said he showed up at Killion’s houseboat, and that Clark later arrived. Witnesses testified that Clark was already at Killion’s boat when Vernon got there. Vernon apparently confronted Clark again about the wallet, but Clark told him that “we need to get past this wallet. I want you to be my friend.” Vernon said he told Clark that he couldn’t be friends with someone who stole from him. While Clark denied taking the wallet, Vernon said Clark admitted to stealing from others in the area, and added that they got what they deserved. Vernon said he took the comment personally, became angry and began punching him after Clark grabbed him. But witnesses, Steve Killion and Tanner Muncey, testified that Clark did nothing to provoke Vernon and that Vernon began hitting Clark, after the two men had shook hands. According to the witnesses, Vernon inflicted three or four blows to Clark, and then continued beating him after he fell to the floor unconscious, even though witnesses tried to restrain Vernon and called for him to stop.
After the attack, Vernon said he left Killion’s boat to go get some beer to calm himself. Killion testified that he confronted Vernon about getting some help for Clark. Vernon then returned to Killion’s houseboat, picked up Clark, apparently in a fireman’s carry, and took him to Clark’s car, where he placed him in the passenger seat. Others apparently called for help.
White County EMS came to the scene and transported Clark to the White County Hospital where he was later airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. Clark’s mother testified that her son never regained consciousness.
Dr. Thomas Deering of Nashville, who conducted the autopsy, testified that Clark died from intra-cranial hemorrhaging due to blunt force injury. Clark also had a fractured jaw.
Vernon said he deeply regretted what he had done. When asked by District Attorney General Randy York if he had said “I’m sorry’ to anyone. Vernon replied, “Yes, the Lord.”
York, in his closing remarks to the jury, said Vernon committed second degree murder, acting intentionally and knowing that Clark could die, especially when he continued the beating even after Clark had lost consciousness. Assistant D.A. Greg Strong assisted D.A. York in the trial.
District Public Defender David Brady and assistant Allison Rasbury, in their closing remarks, said they while Vernon was wrong in the attack, he did not commit second degree murder in that he could not have known with reasonable certainty that the injuries from the fight would lead to Clark’s death.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has awarded a bid for the rehabilitation of Hurricane Bridge.
Jennifer Flynn, Regional Community Relations Officer with TDOT in Region II, told WJLE Tuesday that OCCI Incorporated of Fulton, Missouri was the low bidder on the project with a bid of $26.9 million. Two other companies had also submitted bids, Bell & Associates of Brentwood at $33.7 million and Kay & Kay Contracting of London, Kentucky at $33.8 million.
“Bids were opened on the project October 29th and the low bidder was OCCI, Incorporated of Fulton, Missouri with a bid of $26.9 million. The contract was officially awarded to the apparent low bidder last week.

Flynn said it’s not yet known when construction will begin but OCCI has until October 31st, 2013 to complete the project. “It will take about a month to get all the paper work done. As soon as that happens, then the contractor will hold the pre-construction conference where representatives from the contractor’s office and TDOT representatives from the construction field office, the regional construction office, and any utilities that might be involved on the project, will meet at a pre-construction conference and determine how the work is going to be done and how they will approach the job. As soon as that is done, they can get to work on the project. The completion date for this project is on or before October 31st, 2010. ”
“This project is being funded through TDOT’s Better Bridges (bonding) Program and through this program TDOT will replace, repair, or rehabilitate 200 state owned structurally deficient bridges in Tennessee by 2013. Hurricane Bridge is part of this program.”
County Mayor Mike Foster said this is great news for DeKalb County and once construction begins, the county will no longer provide flaggers to control traffic across the bridge, since the state or contractor will be taking over that responsibilty.

A 63 year old Dowelltown woman has died from injuries she received in a head-on crash Monday night on West Broad Street near DeKalb County High School.
Dead is Wanda K. Harrison.
Lieutenant Randy Maynard of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Harrison was in a 2009 Honda SUV traveling west when her vehicle veered left into a 1994 Chevy pick-up, driven by 55 year old Mary Jo Britt of Dowelltown.
According to Lieutenant Maynard, Britt was east on Highway 70 preparing to make a left turn into the high school parking lot. As she was starting to get into the turning lane, she saw the Honda SUV coming toward her. Britt steered to the right, back into the eastbound lane trying to avoid a collision but the Honda SUV hit her head-on.
Central dispatch received the call at 4:58 p.m.
Harrison was airlifted from the high school/middle school parking lot by a Life Force helicopter ambulance and flown to Vanderbilt hospital, where she died. Britt was transported by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital.
Family members of Ms. Harrison claim she suffered from a medical condition, and Lieutenant Maynard said that may have contributed to the accident.
In addition to the THP, DeKalb EMS, and Life Force, members of the Smithville Police and Fire Departments, and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene.

A 24 year old man, who allegedly used somebody else’s 2006 Mastercraft X45 ski boat several times over the summer without the owner’s permission to entertain friends on the lake, was indicted Monday by the Grand Jury with vandalism over $10,000 and joyriding.
Zachary Ross Hendrixson was also indicted in a separate case, charging him with burglary and theft over $1,000. He will be arraigned in criminal court on the charges Monday, December 13th.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said Hendrixson was arrested on Monday, July 19th after the owner of the boat took warrants against him. The boat, which was docked at the time at Hurricane Marina, apparently received some damage to the interior and exterior while Hendrixson was using it. The boat is valued at approximately $100,000.
According to Sheriff Ray, Hendrixson took the boat out on the lake several times. ” He has been going down there since Memorial Day, taking people out on that boat, falsely claiming it belonged to his family. He even published pictures of the outings on his Face Book account.”
When the owner discovered that Hendrixson had been using the boat, he had him charged in the case.
After a further investigation, Sheriff Ray said Hendrixson was also charged with theft of property over $1,000 for allegedly taking items off another boat.”We started an investigation and found that he had stolen a surf board, a wake board, and life jackets from a boat at Cove Hollow Marina, valued at $1,180.”
Hendrixson is also accused of committing a theft at a residence on Mullican Drive, where tools and a battery charger were taken, valued at $250. Sheriff Ray said those items were later recovered in Mount Juliet.
Hendrixson is one of more than fifty people who were indicted by the Grand Jury Monday. Three people have been named in sealed indictments but their names cannot be disclosed until they are arrested. All those indicted Monday will be arraigned in criminal court on Monday, December 13th at 9:00 a.m.
In addition to Hendrixson, those indicted and their charges are as follows:
Mark Anthony Violet- theft over $1,000 (2 counts)
Lydia R. Judkins- introduction of contraband into a penal institution
Brandon Gurley- domestic assault
Brandon Gurley & Jamie L. Hodges-manufacture of methamphetamine
Robert “Bobby” Morris Turner- Rape
Ellissa S. Howard- DUI
Corey Wade Thomas- possession of a schedule IV controlled substance
Christopher J. Garrett- introduction of contraband into a penal institution
Justin C. Hale- theft over $10,000 and vandalism over $1,000
Michael E. Brown- driving on a revoked license (9th offense)
Jared M. Staggs-theft over $10,000 and auto burglary (2 counts); and DUI
Brian R. Gadbois- aggravated kidnaping and domestic assault
Barry A. Gibbs- theft over $10,000, evading arrest, and reckless endangerment
Nena B. Sprague- driving on a suspended license
William A. Cantrell- driving on a revoked license (3rd offense)
Chasity J. Phillips- possession of a schedule III controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia
Kenny Ray Herman- driving under the influence
Mary E. Tanner- initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine
Barry Cecil Ford- possession of a schedule III controlled substance, possession of a schedule IV controlled substance, possession of a schedule VI controlled substance, and driving on a revoked license
James Clarence Adamson- aggravated assault, violation of the habitual motor vehicle offender order, driving on a revoked license, and leaving the scene of an accident
William B. Seals, Jr.- driving under the influence (2nd offense)
Johnny A. Murphy, Jr.- possession of a schedule III controlled substance
Michael S. Saylors- possession of a schedule II controlled substance for resale and possession of paraphernalia
Jonathan D. Goff- assault
John A. Judkins, Sr.- assault and evading arrest
Darnell F. Gurley- prescription fraud
Grady L. Murphy- theft over $500
Tracey L. Guthrie- driving under the influence and violation of the implied consent law
David W. Gains- promoting the manufacture of methamphetamine (2 charges)
Melisha R. Cantrell- possession of a schedule IV controlled substance, possession of a schedule II controlled substance, and possession of paraphernalia
Billy R. Huddleston- possession of a schedule III controlled substance and DUI (2nd offense)
Brittney D. Barnes- possession of a schedule IV controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, and resisting arrest
Mark W. Green- promotion of the manufacture of meth, possession of a schedule II controlled substance, and possession of paraphernalia
Bradley Shane Redmon- promoting the manufacture of meth
Felicia Ann Walz- driving on a suspended license
Aaron D. Ponder- theft over $1,000; theft under $500; and driving on a suspended license
Aubrey Lee Kilgore- driving under the influence
Tracy A. Thomason- auto burglary and theft under $500
Kenny W. Dyal, Jr.- aggravated burglary (8 charges), theft over $1,000 (5 charges), theft over $500, theft under $500
David Dixon- aggravated assault
Johnny L. Devault- driving under the influence and violation of the implied consent law
Nieka D. Barrett- theft under $500
Gwynn G. Prater- theft under $500
Carlos L. Godsey- theft over $1,000
Edward L. Judkins, Jr. & Marie E. Biddle- aggravated burglary, theft over $500, vandalism under $500
Tony J. Reeder- driving under the influence (3rd offense) and violation of the implied consent law