Lieutenant Steven Leffew has been presented a Smithville Police Department Commendation from Mayor Taft Hendrixson and Police Commissioner Aaron Meeks.
The commendation states that ” 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 a Police Officer”.
“Recently, you were named Officer in Charge of the Smithville Police Department. Because of your dedication and through your direction, the department has been able to conduct numerous under cover investigations resulting in the recovery of illegal drugs, seized property, and numerous felony arrests. The officers of the Smithville Police Department consider it a privilege and an honor to serve the citizens of Smithville under your guidance. You have strived to make a difference for both the citizens of Smithville as well as your co-workers and for that you are commended.”
“Your determination and efforts in the continued performance of your duties exemplify your outstanding work ethic. Your action enables the citizens of Smithville and your fellow co-workers to know that the Smithville Police Department is continuously striving for quality service. You have served with distinction. You are a credit to the Smithville Police Department. I appreciate your current performance and for that you are hereby recognized and commended with a copy of this commendation becoming a part of your personal record.”
“Thank you and congratulations for a job well done!”

The DeKalb County Lady Tigers upset Grundy County in the Region 4AA basketball tournament Friday night 56 to 40
With the win the Lady Tigers will meet Cannon County in the next round of the tournament on Monday night at 6:00 p.m. at White County High School in Sparta. The Lionettes eliminated Blesoe County 69 to 39 in their region tournament game at Woodbury.
DeKalb County, the fourth seed from district 8, led 16 to 6 after the first period. Grundy County, the top seed from district 7, cut into the Lady Tiger lead in the second period, outscoring DeKalb 16 to 10, but still the black and gold held a four point edge, 26 to 22 at halftime. DeKalb County maintained that four point advantage at the end of the third quarter 38 to 34 as each team scored 12 points in the period. DeKalb County put the game away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Grundy County 18 to 6 enroute to the 56 to 40 victory.
Kristina Stephens led the Lady Tigers in scoring with 23 points, followed by Martha Webb with 19, Cynthia Woodward 6, Alex Meadows 5, Morgan Page 2, and Mercedes Luna with 1 point.
In addition to the DeKalb-Cannon County game, the Upperman girls will take on Livingston Academy at 7:30 p.m. Monday night in Sparta.

A Silver Point man was airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital Thursday night after a two car crash on Highway 56 (Cookeville Highway) less than a mile from the Putnam County line.
Central dispatch received the call at 6:17 p.m.
Trooper Darrell Knowles of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 62 year old Dennis Trahan of Silver Point was driving south on Highway 56 in a 1992 BMW when he went across the road and struck a northbound 1997 Chevy Cavalier, driven by 46 year old Steven Taylor of Baxter. According to Trooper Knowles, Trahan claims he blacked out. After making impact with Taylor’s car, Trahan’s vehicle also struck a guardrail. Taylor’s car spun counterclockwise after impact and came to rest in the emergency lane on the southbound side.
A Life Force helicopter ambulance landed near the scene and airlifted Trahan to Vanderbilt Hospital. Taylor received minor injuries and refused transport to the hospital by ambulance.
In addition to Trooper Knowles and THP Lieutenant Randy Maynard, others on the scene were members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, the Temperance Hall station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, and DeKalb EMS.

After making a routine traffic stop, Smithville Police Officer Scott Davis and State Trooper Mark Jones of the Tennessee Highway Patrol recently had to make a trip to the hospital.
According to Smithville Police, Officer Davis responded to a call on Dry Creek Road to aid in identifying possible narcotics. Trooper Jones was also on the scene. While searching a vehicle, belonging to 28 year old Mary E. Tanner of Old Mill Hill Road, the officers discovered a Sobe water bottle, containing an unknown substance. Trooper Jones opened the bottle and both he and Officer Davis inhaled fumes from chemicals inside the bottle which was determined to be methamphetamine.
Both officers were treated and released at the emergency room of DeKalb Community Hospital after they began having breathing problems as a result of exposure to the chemicals.
Smithville Police charged Tanner with aggravated assault on an officer. The Tennessee Highway Patrol also charged her with possession of methamphetamine, among other offenses.
The hazardous chemicals were properly disposed of from the scene.
Meanwhile, in other city crime news, police recently received information about a possible meth lab at a West Main Street apartment complex. Officer Matt Famer, trained and certified in handling and identifying components used to make methamphetamine, was summoned to the scene where he and other officers discovered what appeared to be a “shake and bake” operation, along with enough components for a full-blown meth lab.
A clean-up crew was called to properly dispose of all the components and chemicals at the scene. The case is still under investigation and arrests are pending.
33 year old Eric James Garner of Tabernacle Drive, Smithville, was arrested and charged with simple possession of a schedule IV drug (valium).
K-9 officer Bradley Tatrow received a report of a possible drunk driver, inbound on Highway 56 North. Officer Tatrow pulled the vehicle over on Allen Ferry Road and made contact with the driver, Garner, who allegedly had the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Garner allegedly admitted to drinking one beer and having taken his hydrocodone medicine.
After spotting a rifle in the passenger seat, Officer Tatrow asked Garner to exit the vehicle and found on him a plastic wrapper that contained different types of pills, including ten pills believed to be valium. Bond for Garner was set at $1,500, and he will appear in General Sessions Court, March 18th.
19 year old Stephanie Murphy of East Bryant Street, Smithville, was arrested on Friday, February 19th, and charged with disorderly conduct.
Corporal Travis Bryant responded to a call of a verbal altercation at the City Walk Apartments. Murphy admitted she had been in an argument with another party. Corporal Bryant was later informed of a fight upstairs at the apartment complex, in which Murphy was allegedly involved with another neighbor. He advised her to calm down, but she allegedly did not comply.
Bond for Murphy was set at $1,000, and she will appear in court on the charge, March 11th.
32 year old James A. Hesson of Sparta Highway, Smithville, was arrested on Friday, February 19th, and charged with leaving the scene of an accident and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Corporal Travis Bryant responded to a motor vehicle accident with property damage on North Congress Boulevard. Upon arrival, Corporal Bryant made contact with Patty Davis who had been involved in the accident. The other driver had fled the scene but Davis gave the officer a detailed description of the vehicle. Corporal Bryant said he was familiar with the vehicle and its owner.
Two days later, on Sunday, February 21st, while escorting someone to a Hayes Street residence to recover some personal items, Corporal Bryant saw Hesson in the passenger seat of another vehicle. He made contact with Hesson who admitted that he had fled the scene of the accident on Friday because he wasn’t sure if the truck he was driving had been stolen. Hesson claimed he purchased the truck just a few days before the accident. He also allegedly had a hypodermic syringe strapped to a case underneath his leg.
Meanwhile on Friday, February 19th, Linda Rigsby reported to Corporal Travis Bryant that she noticed three rings missing from the bedroom of her West Market Street residence. One was a gold ring, valued at $200, another was a gold wedding band, valued at $100, and the third was a gold ring with a quartz stone, valued at $600. Rigsby reported there was no sign of forced entry into her home, but three other people had access to the residence.
On Wednesday, February 17th, Sergeant Randy King was dispatched to a Smith Road residence, where Ethel Y. Cash reported missing a New England Firearms 22-caliber revolver. Cash said she had bought the gun several years ago, but last remembered seeing it on February 1st, 2009. She recently began looking for it and noticed it was missing.
On Thursday, February 18th, Brittany A. Scarpaci reported to Sergeant Randy King that all of her belongings had been taken out of her apartment while she was away from home for three days, visiting her mother. Among the items taken were a leather living room suite, a 19-inch color television, end tables, a lamp, a TV table, a microwave, skulls glass and porcelain, collector’s teddy bear, a rose lamp, a 26-inch color television, a DVD player, 60 VHS tapes and 100 DVD’s. The total value of the items was about $2,500.
Also on Thursday, February 18th, Jennifer Hicks reported to Lieutenant Steven Leffew that she had become aware of multiple transactions having been made on her debit card. She was made aware that her card had been mailed to the wrong address, and according to her bank statement, the transactions had started on or around January 5th.
On February 25th, Samuel Kennedy of O’Connor Street reported to Corporal Travis Bryant that his mailbox had been opened and his outgoing mail was missing. The post office had told Kennedy that the mail had not been picked up. Kennedy’s missing mail contained three checks, totaling $119. At the time of the report, none of the checks had been cashed.

The City of Dowelltown will elect three members to the city board on August 5th, the same day as the County General Election.
Qualifying petitions are available at the DeKalb County Election Commission office and potential candidates must return the petitions by noon, April 1 in order to be eligible for the ballot.
The election will be for the seats elected in 2006 and are currently held by Brad Driver, Keith Farler, and Ron Griffith.
Again, the qualifying deadline is noon, April 1st. Only the registered voters who are allowed to vote in the Dowelltown elections can sign a qualifying petition. The petitions must have the signatures of at least 25 eligible voters in order for the candidate to be placed on the ballot.

After leading Warren County authorities and the Tennessee Highway Patrol on a high speed chase through three counties Wednesday afternoon including DeKalb, three people were taken into custody after their van wrecked and caught fire in the Rock Island area of Warren County.
Trooper Dewaine Jennings of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 30 year old Joey W. Bradford of Manchester, the driver of a 2000 Nissan Quest van, was charged with evading arrest with a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment, and driving on a suspended license.
20 year old Chelsea Lynn Lawson, a front seat passenger of the van, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for violation of probation. Another passenger, 42 year old Troy Lee Lytle was arrested on an outstanding capias.
According to Trooper Jennings, officers of the Warren County Sheriff’s Department got in pursuit of Bradford in Warren County. An officer apparently tried to pull them over after spotting Lawson in the vehicle, knowing there was an outstanding warrant against her. At times during the pursuit, officers tried to get ahead of the van to put down spike strips, but were unsuccessful.
Trooper Jennings says the pursuit entered DeKalb County on Short Mountain Highway. The van turned onto Whorton Springs Road toward Highway 56, then headed south on the McMinnville Highway at Whorton Springs. The van entered the old Blue Springs Road near Mystik market and continued through the back roads until it reached Highway 287 in Warren County. The vehicle turned left onto highway 287, sped toward Highway 56, then crossed the road, and made it’s way toward the Rock Island area. Trooper Jennings says “He (Bradford) went from old Rock Island Road to Pine Bluff Road, missed a turn, left the road, bottomed out, and busted the fuel tank. He then went back onto the road, leaking fuel. He made a right turn, lost control, and went nose first into a ditch line. He attempted to put the van in reverse but he got stuck. We(officers) rushed the vehicle. We saw flames coming from the van. We jerked the (van) doors open and got them out. The van then exploded in flames.”
Trooper Jennings says he initially clocked the van at 88 miles per hour on Short Mountain Highway and later in the pursuit, Bradford at times exceeded speeds of 100 miles per hour. “He was passing double yellow lines, forcing cars off the road, and going through intersections.”
No one was injured.
Members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Smithville Police Department were called to assist as the pursuit entered DeKalb County.
(Photo provided by State Trooper Dewaine Jennings)

The court appointed attorney for a man charged with first degree murder in the beating death of another man last summer on Center Hill Lake wants out of the case.
Attorney Hilton Conger, recently appointed by the court to represent 38 year old James P. Vernon, has filed a motion asking that he be allowed to withdraw from the case due to a conflict.
The court may have a hearing on Conger’s motion next month.
Vernon is charged in 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. He later died from his injuries at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
Meanwhile, several other cases were resolved Wednesday in DeKalb County Criminal Court under negotiated settlements.
Judge David Patterson presided.
22 year old Troy Cunningham pleaded guilty to several charges including burglary of an auto, burglary other than habitation, vandalism over $1,000, vandalism over $500, vandalism under $500, theft over $1,000, theft over $500, theft under $500, and sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance. Cunningham received a total sentence of six years split confinement with one year to serve and the rest on probation. He is to undergo an alcohol and drug assessment, make restitution to the victims, and pay a $750 fine. Cunningham was given jail credit of 300 days.
21 year old Priscilla Leann Roberts pleaded guilty to an amended charge of simple possession and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation. She was fined $750.
20 year old Thomas Bagnell pleaded guilty to auto burglary and vandalism under $500. He received a two year sentence on the auto burglary, all suspended to supervised probation except time served. Bagnell received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in the vandalism case, suspended to supervised probation except time served. The sentences are to run concurrently. Bagnell is to pay $500 restitution to the DeKalb County jail and $100 to the economic crime fund. He was given jail credit of 188 days.
32 year old Aron Ponder was granted judicial diversion on a charge of driving on a suspended license. Facing a six month sentence, Ponder will be on unsupervised probation for one year.
46 year old Denise Jauregui pleaded guilty to theft over $1,000 and received a three year sentence, all suspended to probation. The sentence is to run consecutive to a criminal court violation of probation or any other violation of probation against her. She must make restitution of $1,172. She was given two days of jail credit
36 year old Jorge Luis Ramirez pleaded guilty to driving without a license and received a sentence of 48 hours with six months probation.
23 year old Brian Bly pleaded guilty to domestic assault and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to supervised probation. He must forfeit a shotgun and attend anger management classes.
40 year old Jeffery Taylor pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving under the influence. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended to supervised probation except for 48 hours to serve. He will lose his license for one year and he must pay a fine of $365, attend an alcohol safety education program, and undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.
61 year old James B. Metcalf pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended except for 48 hours to serve. He must pay a fine of $360 and complete and alcohol safety education program.
28 year old Jose Gerarvo Carillo pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended to CPS probation except for 48 hours to serve. His license will also be revoked for one year. He must pay a fine of $360. Carillo was given four days of jail credit.
33 year old Marco Perez pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving on a revoked license. He received a six month sentence, all suspended to supervised probation except for two days to serve. He will lose his license for a period of time and he must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.
23 year old Nathan Farris pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving under the influence. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended except for 48 hours to serve. He will lose his license for one year and he must attend an alcohol safety program. Farris must also pay a fine of $365.
24 year old Christopher Brian Deal pleaded guilty by information to charges of reckless driving and speeding. He will be on good behavior probation for 11 months and 29 days after serving 10 days. Deal was fined $350.
19 year old Michaela Bilbrey charged with two counts of theft under $500 was granted pre-trial diversion under a memorandum of understanding for a period of 11 months and 29 days. She must pay restitution of $80 and perform 40 hours of community service.
22 year old Billy Douglas Ferrell pleaded guilty to driving without a license and having a prohibited weapon. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended to supervised probation.
22 year old James Edward Gilles pleaded guilty to domestic assault and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to probation. He must also attend anger management classes. The sentence is to run concurrent with a violation of probation he is now serving.
26 year old Joseph Merriman pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving under the influence. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended except for 48 hours to serve. He will then be on supervised probation. Merriman must pay a $360 fine and he will lose his license for one year. He must also undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and follow any prescribed treatments.
34 year old Billy Paul Mooneyham pleaded guilty to burglary and received a sentence of two years and one day, all suspended to supervised probation except for time served. The sentence is to run concurrently with a violation of probation he is now serving.
20 year old Cody Murphy pleaded guilty to retaliation for past action. He will be on probation for one year and he must complete anger management.
30 year old Crystal L. Thompson pleaded guilty to simple possession of a schedule II controlled substance and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to probation except for eight days to serve. She was fined $750.
19 year old Christopher J. Garrett, charged with theft of property over $1,000, was granted pre-trial diversion under a memorandum of understanding for a period of two years. He must perform 100 hours of community service work as part of his probation.
38 year old Tina Beth Young pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving under the influence. She received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to serve 48 hours and then be on probation. The sentence is to run concurrently with a probation violation in another case. She was fined $360 and her drivers license has been revoked for one year.
Meanwhile the case against 36 year old Tonya Page, a former circuit court clerk bookkeeper, indicted for theft of property over $1,000, is set for trial April 13th. Motions in the case are scheduled to be heard April 5th.
Nick Robinson, recently convicted after a jury trial on a charge of theft of property over $1,000, was sentenced after a hearing on Wednesday. Robinson received a three year sentence, to serve 60 days, and then be on probation. He must make restitution of $7,000 to the victim.

DeKalb County Schools have been closed twelve days due to winter weather this school year, one day more than the eleven “snow days” allotted in the school calendar. So DeKalb County Schools will be open on Friday, March 5th, weather permitting, to make up that extra day missed.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby says March 5th was originally designated in the school calendar as a “stockpile” or professional development day and students were to be out of school. By having school on March 5th, schools will still close for the summer on time, provided no more days are missed this winter.
Eleven days are built into the school calendar each year for “snow days” or inclement weather and two days are included for so called “stockpile” or professional development days. On the stock pile days, students do not attend. One of the stockpile days has already been used and the other was scheduled for Friday, March 5th.
State law requires students to be in school a certain number of days each year.
The remaining school calendar calls for students to be off again for spring break March 29th to April 2nd
Students will not attend on Friday, May 21. That will be an administrative day and all teachers must attend.. The last day of school will be Saturday, May 22nd. That will be an abbreviated school day and report cards will be sent home.