Reservations are now being taken for the Seventh History Hayride at Edgar Evins State Park, which will be held on Saturday, October 13 starting at 2 p.m. Admission is still only $10 per person, including light refreshments, for this wholesome family friendly event. Participants are asked to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled wagon departure time for registration and other pre-loading activities.
The History Hayride sells out early every year so take time to make your reservations now by calling the park office at (931) 858-2114 or toll free at 1-800-250-8619. Cash or checks are due at the event, with a non-refundable advance deposit required for groups of four or more.
There will be nine wagon loads running about 30 minutes apart, stopping at ten or eleven sites where costumed re-enactors will portray characters and scenes representative of the history of the park and the area. The wagon trip will last approximately 90 minutes, departing from and returning to the Visitors Center where there will be cozy seating around the campfire and refreshments served inside.
Honoring the observance of the 150 year anniversary of the War Between the States there will be some new characters from that time period as well as some of the old favorites. “Old” characters include The Black Widow of Hazel Green (played by a new actress), Milton the Moonshiner, Mrs. Roley League, the Bible carrying, pistol packing mama of two Civil War soldiers, and Luke Denney, the legendary moonshine hauler.. Some of the new characters are local Civil War soldier, Captain Prettyman “Purt” Jones, and the lucky boy who found a valuable pearl in a mussel shell out of the Caney Fork.
The History Hayride is presented by the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park, along with park and other TN State employees. Fount Bertram, President of the Friends of Edgar Evins State Parks, suggests people dress warmly in layers and bring a blanket for the hayride as it tends to get chillier on the wagons with winds coming off the lake. For more information visit the Friends website at http://foeesp.ne1.net
For those wishing to make this a weekend or overnight outing there are cabins and camping facilities at the park. Information will be available at the same phone numbers given for reservations. In addition, The Galley Restaurant at the marina will offer a 15% discount that evening for patrons of the hayride

A 27 year old DeKalb County man has been arrested for allegedly beating up on a female family member.
27 year old Robert Justin Luna of Joe Turner Road, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $12,500 and he will be in court October 11. Luna has been incarcerated in White County on other charges. He was transported here for a court date last Thursday, October 4. At that time, he was served with this warrant for aggravated assault.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on August 29, Luna allegedly assaulted a family member with a pool stick at his residence on Joe Turner Road. Luna then forced the woman into a vehicle and drove her to a creek on Barnes Mill Road where he allegedly held the woman’s head under water. Luna allegedly kicked the woman, struck her in the chest and face, and then strangled her until she passed out. Luna later forced her to lay back in his vehicle while he drove away. After Luna ran out of gas, the woman was picked up by another person and transported to the hospital emergency room. The woman suffered black eyes, a busted nose, and red marks on her chest and neck. She also had contusions on her arms, hands, and legs.
23 year old Ross Matthew Peterson of Midway Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $1,000. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court October 25
Sheriff Ray said that on September 18, Peterson allegedly took from a residence on Midway Road, a gold slide bracelet, a gold locket, and a checkbook. The total value of the stolen goods was more than $1,000. Those items have been recovered. The case was investigated by a criminal detective of the sheriff’s department.
42 year old Robert Roy (Bobby) Atnip, Jr. is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court October 11.
Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, October 2 Atnip allegedly assaulted a family member at his residence on Allen Ferry Road by hitting her in the face with his hand causing the victim’s mouth to bleed. As a result, she required treatment at the emergency room of the hospital.
41 year old Vicky Lenae Alvis of Sparta Highway, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license. Her bond is $5,000 and she will be in court on October 25.
Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, October 2 a sheriff’s department drug detective saw Alvis operating a motor vehicle on Midway Road. Knowing that Alvis’ license were revoked, the officer stopped the vehicle. Alvis had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person and she was unsteady on her feet. Alvis submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. She also submitted to a blood alcohol test. A computer check confirmed that her license were revoked on October 13, 2011 for DUI. Alvis was arrested and taken to the jail for booking.
39 year old Keith Hall Hamilton of Mount Juliet is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on November 1. He was also issued a citation for failure to maintain his lane of travel.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, October 5, Hamilton was operating a motor vehicle on Highway 70 when he was stopped by a deputy for crossing the fog line, almost hitting the curb. Hamilton’s speech was very slow. He was unsteady on his feet. His pupils were constricted and unreactive to light or motion. He admitted to having taken Tramadol earlier. Hamilton submitted to but performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to a blood test. He was placed under arrest for DUI by drugs and transported to the jail for booking.
39 year old Rodney Hugo Gora of Short Mountain Highway, Smithville is charged with theft of property under $500. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on November 1.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, October 5, Gora allegedly took a chainsaw from property on Parsley Lane, valued at less than $500. The chainsaw was returned to the owner before the officer arrived on the scene.
William Jeffery Hale of Oakley Road, Liberty is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court October 11.
Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, October 6, a deputy stopped at a residence on Cedar Street in Liberty to do a knock and talk at the home of Hale, a felon. When asked about guns, Hale told the officer that he had two guns, a 30:30 rifle with six bullets and a 12 gauge shotgun with one shell. As a convicted felon, Hale is not supposed to have possession of weapons. Hale was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.

The Smithville Thunder travel baseball team is pleased to announce the inaugural running of the Liberty Mule Thunder Run, a 5K road/trail race and 1-mile fun run to be held on November 10 at Salem Baptist Church in Historic downtown Liberty.
The race director and coach Danny Jenkins said the race will get underway at 8:00 a.m. with the fun run taking place first, followed by the 5K. The fun run course will be out and back on Main Street toward downtown while the 5K course will head west out Highway 70 and loop around behind DeKalb West School.
“The 5K route is really unique in that it has some elements of both road and trail running,” Coach Jenkins said, “and I would rate it as a very easy and accommodating course for beginners and inexperienced runners. And, as its our first time staging this event, it is also a good place for intermediate runners to get that elusive age-group ribbon,” said Jenkins.
Entry forms can be obtained from several public locations in the area, on line at smithvillethunder.org or by contacting Coach Jenkins at 615-464-7540.
(Liberty Mule image being used here with permission from the owners of the trademark)

A Smithville woman, charged with TennCare fraud involving “doctor shopping,” or using TennCare to go to multiple doctors in a short time period to obtain controlled substances, pleaded guilty in DeKalb County Criminal Court Friday.
Under a negotiated settlement, 27 year old Krista Mahaney pleaded guilty to TennCare fraud. Judge Leon Burns, Jr. sentenced her to two years, all suspended to supervised probation, She must make restitution to TennCare in the amount of $1,113 and she will lose her TennCare benefits.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG), in a joint investigation with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, announced the arrest of Mahaney in January. She was originally charged with two counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain controlled substances by “doctor shopping.”
The charges accused Mahaney of seeing more than one physician within a 30-day period for the purpose of getting prescriptions for Suboxone, a drug used to treat heroin addiction by mimicking the effects of the drug without the addictive qualities. The physician office visits and the medications were paid for by TennCare.
“The unauthorized use and abuse of prescription drugs is a serious crime, and it’s compounded when TennCare is used to subsidize the activity,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “We’re committed to ensuring that TennCare benefits are not used for the purchase and eventual distribution of these drugs to people they weren’t prescribed for.”
TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years per charge in prison.
Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions. Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”
Meanwhile, in other cases Friday, 24 year old Steven Andrew Cantrell pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule III controlled substance (Dihydrocodeune) and received a two year sentence, suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000
30 year old Willie Murphy pleaded guilty to burglary and theft over $1,000. He received a four year sentence in each case to run concurrently with each other and concurrently with a violation of probation against him. Murphy must make restitution of $1,275 to Smithville Rental Center. He was given jail credit of 202 days.
23 year old Cougar Wayne Pursley pleaded guilty by information to reckless driving and received a sentence of five months and 29 days on probation. He was fined $350.
28 year old Desiree Snyder pleaded guilty to promotion to manufacture methamphetamine and prescription fraud. She received a two year sentence in each case, all suspended to supervised probation. The two sentences are to be served consecutively or back to back for a total of four years. Snyder was fined $2,000 and she must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment. Her probation is to be transferred to Michigan. Snyder was given nine days jail credit.
27 year old David Turner pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule III drug and received a suspended two year sentence. He was also fined $2,000.
32 year old William Wayne Graham pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule II controlled substance. He received a six year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Corrections and was fined $2,000.
41 year old Michael Thomas pleaded guilty by information to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended to supervised probation by community corrections. The sentence is to run concurrently with his current probation.
25 year old Justin Thomas pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and received a three year sentence, suspended to supervised probation. The sentence is to run consecutive with Wilson County cases against him.
20 year old Marv Cash pleaded guilty to theft over $500 and received a one year sentence, all suspended to probation. He has requested judicial diversion.
27 year old Robert Justin Luna pleaded guilty to theft under $500 and criminal trespass. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in the theft case, all suspended except for ten days. He must make restitution of $100 to the victim and pay $100 to the economic crime fund. Luna received a 30 day suspended sentence in the criminal trespass case. The sentences are to run concurrently with each other and with a White County case against him for domestic assault.
28 year old Rhonda J. Goff pleaded guilty to promotion of methamphetamine and received a two year sentence, suspended to probation with community corrections. She was fined $2,000. Goff must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and follow any treatment recommendations. She was given 49 days jail credit.
34 year old Jerry Goff pleaded guilty to initiation to manufacture methamphetamine and received an eight year sentence to serve at 30% before his release eligibility date. He was fined $2,000. The sentence is to run concurrently with a violation of probation case against him. Goff was given jail credit of 211 days.
50 year old Earl Yost pleaded guilty to a third offense of driving under the influence. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended to probation except for 120 days to serve. Yost was fined $1,110 and he will lose his drivers license for five years. He will report to jail on October 19.
21 year old Travis Davenport pleaded guilty to possession of a schedule VI controlled substance for resale and received a two year sentence, all suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000. The sentence is to run concurrently with his current CPS probation.
23 year old Porsche Cantrell Batey pleaded guilty to introduction of contraband. She received a three year sentence, all suspended to supervised probation except for one year to serve. The sentence is to run concurrently with a general sessions court case against her. Cantrell was given jail credit from March 4 to June 7.

Who makes the best chili in DeKalb County? Find out on Friday, November 2nd when Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County hosts its 9th annual Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale at the 303 Building on the square
Chili will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. You can purchase your bowl for $5.00, eat all the chili you want, and vote for your favorite chili and the best decorated booth. Handmade pottery bowls will be available for $10.00. Delicious baked goods will also be for sale.
“We are looking forward to another great day of good food and fellowship at the chili cook-off,” said Nolan Turner, president of Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County. “We have broken ground for our fourth home and construction is underway,” said Turner. “The proceeds from the Chili Cook-off will be used towards building our next house and give us momentum to continue building in DeKalb County. A strong turn out for the chili cook-off will help get us there faster,” he said.
Last year, the DeKalb County Board of Education won the “Best Chili” award, and “Blessed and Highly Flavored” from Allen’s Chapel and Buckner’s Chapel Methodist Churches followed in second place. “Wild West Gang” from the DeKalb County Board of Education also won first place honors in the decorating contest. The event raised $3,000.
Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity builds and renovates houses in partnership with volunteers and families in need, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.
For more information on the Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale, contact Tecia Pryor at 597-7370. To contact Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, call 215-8181.