The DeKalb County 9th grade Junior Beta Club attended the state convention at Opryland Hotel November 18-20.
Thirty nine out of 46 members participated this year. The students participated in many different area of competitions: Tower of Power, Poster, scrapbook, Banner, Science, Technology, Battle of the Books, Language Arts, Social Studies, Photography and Quiz Bowl.
This year’s Quiz Bowl team is the first team to make it to the second round at the convention by placing among the top nine statewide out of 52 teams. Members of the team were Anna Malone, Caitlin Turner, Keeley McKay, and Hailey Walker. The team made it through round one with a written test and was called back to compete in the semi-final round for an oral quiz in which the team had to ring in to answer questions. Other members of the club participating were: Jailyn Bolding, Jennifer Caplinger, Ashli Chew, Chase Bryant, Haden Cripps, Kaylene Ferguson, Rachel Gash, Tyra Graham, Caitlin Jacobs, Hannah James, Delaney Johnson, Harley Johnson, Makenzie Keaton, Hannah Lasser, Clara Knowles, Maggie Mahaffey, Joseph Moon, AJ Mooneyham, Eli Oliver, Katie Parker, Noah Parsley, Erin Perry, Austin Poss, Braxton Pugh, Alex Rhody, Kyra Slager, Kirkland Smallwood, Jorden Smoot, Hannah Walker, Carlee White, Chloe White, Samara Williams, Matt Wright and Seth Wright.

An Alexandria man has been indicted by the Grand Jury on drug charges as a result of an undercover investigation by the Alexandria Police Department.
Chief Mark Collins said that on Tuesday, November 27 Alexandria Police arrested 35 year old Gary Ray Ashford of Goodner Lane, Alexandria for Sale and Delivery of a Schedule IV controlled substance in a drug free zone .
According to Chief Collins, Alexandria Police made a controlled drug purchase of Alprazolam pills from Ashford after receiving complaints about illegal activities at Ashford’s residence on Goodner Lane, which is near the city park and a church daycare in a drug free zone.
The case, investigated by Chief Collins and Sergeant Chris Russell, was presented to the DeKalb County Grand Jury on Monday, November 26. A sealed indictment was returned by the grand jury later that day. Ashford will be in court on December 10. His bond is $10,000.
Meanwhile, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has arrested two people named in Grand Jury sealed indictments in a September burglary and theft case. One other person has also been arrested on a state warrant as a result of the investigation.
30 year old Rhonda Murphy and 27 year old Eric Wayne Tramel, both of Smithville, are co-indicted on charges of aggravated burglary, theft over $1,000, and fraudulent use of a credit card. Bond for each is $30,000 and they will be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday, December 10
Murphy’s boyfriend, 23 year old Jason Kyle Shepard of Dowelltown is charged on a state warrant for fraudulent use of a credit card. He will be in General Sessions Court on December 13. His bond is $5,000.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Murphy, Tramel, and Shepard are accused of using a credit card, taken from the home of a person on the Old Blue Springs Road that Murphy had been caring for. According to Sheriff Ray, while at the residence of the person she was caring for on September 28, Murphy left a window unlocked to allow Tramel to enter and steal some items from the residence. Tramel allegedly stole two laptop computers, valued at $2,000 along with assorted jewelry, valued at $3,000. Sheriff Ray said the three defendants participated in using the stolen credit card over a three month period to purchase an assortment of items.

The Community Chorus entertained during the Christmas on the Square and Tree Lighting Program held downtown Smithville Thursday night.
M2U00908 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

An elderly woman involved in a one car crash Wednesday afternoon on Highway 146 (Short Mountain Highway has died.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol confirms that 72 year old Martha J. Thomason of Short Mountain Highway, Woodbury passed away at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The body will be at Woodbury Funeral Home. Arrangements have not yet been set.
The accident occurred on Highway 146 between the Game Ridge and Whorton Springs Roads.
Central dispatch received the call Wednesday at 1:29 p.m.
Trooper Jeremy Wilhite of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that Thomason was driving south on Highway 146 in a 2004 Honda CRV when she went off the right side of the road, struck an earthen embankment, and overturned in a field. The car came to rest upright on its wheels.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Rescue Team were summoned to perform extrication in order to get Thomason out of the car. She was treated on site by DeKalb EMS and then loaded onto an Air Evac helicopter ambulance which landed at the scene. Thomason was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
Others on site were members of the Short Mountain Highway Station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued its own news release concerning the first degree murder indictments returned this week by the DeKalb County Grand Jury against David Dixon in the August double murder of Ervin Raymon Beacham and Jose Sagahon Ticante
The release states as follows:
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation presented a double homicide case to the DeKalb County grand jury earlier this week (Monday, November 26) which resulted in an indictment against a McMinnville man.
David Dixon, 44, of Hardaway Street, McMinnville was charged with two counts of first degree murder for the August 2012 shooting deaths of two Smithville men. On August 7, 2012, the Smithville Police Department responded to 311 Tommy Harrell Street and discovered the residence’s owner 55-year-old Ervin Beacham shot to death on the couch in his home. A second victim, 43-year-old Jose Sagahon Ticante was also found murdered and his body hidden under a tarp and some lumber in the backyard of the residence. TBI investigated the murders with the Smithville Police Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and the 13th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office.
Dixon was picked up after the murders on August 7 and has been incarcerated at the DeKalb County Jail without bond since for violation of probation and for failure to appear. His bond on the murder charges is set at $200,000. He is scheduled to appear in DeKalb County Criminal Court on December 10, 2012.
Dixon has a lengthy criminal history here including charges for possesson of a handgun while under the influence, manufacture and delivery of a schedule IV controlled substance, assault, public intoxication, violation of an order of protection, aggravated assault, theft, domestic asault, and simple possession.

The Christmas season is nearly upon us which means it’s almost time to celebrate Christmas on the Square & The Downtown Renovation Celebration! This holiday event will be celebrated on Thursday, November 29th from 5 PM to 8 PM on the Smithville Public Square.
The Community Chorus will sing from 5:00 to 5:25 PM on the west side of the Courthouse. Boy Scout Troop #347 will have a Flag-Raising Ceremony at 5:25 PM. Then more music from the Community Chorus after the Tree Lighting. “We’ve prepared secular music, “White Christmas”,”Silver Bells”, “Christmas in Dixie”, and those kinds of things setting the small town, home town stage for Christmas,” said Fay Fuqua, Director of the Community Chorus. “There will also be traditional carols as we light the tree. We’ve ordered 250 candles. Hopefully the wind will cooperate. They (candles) have little drippers. So the chorus will be lighting candles and we’ll be passing some out for those who have gathered. Then there will be a segment for children. Its going to work perfect together around the tree,” she said.
Tree Lighting Ceremony – Held at 5:30 PM on the west side of the Courthouse.
Courthouse Open House – Stop by to visit & enjoy the refreshments & festive atmosphere. Come by and visit the new Chamber office in the Courthouse, Room 201.
A FREE Photo Booth & Christmas DJ Music will be provided by the City of Smithville – Enjoy your favorite holiday music throughout the night plus have a fun, complimentary picture made at the Cosmo Creations Photo Booth located inside the east entrance of the Courthouse.
Downtown Renovation Celebration – Enjoy a walk around town to see all the new improvements to the downtown buildings, inside and out, as well as seeing the progress of the new Open-Air Stage at Evins Park across from the Smithville Post Office.
At the Justin-Potter Library, Children’s Book Author & Illustrator, Shan Burklow, will entertain & read to the children from 6 to 6:30 PM with a chance to win lots of great prizes. And the library will have a special visit from Santa immediately after, so don’t forget to bring your camera!
Inflatables & Train Rides for the Children, if weather permits.
There will be extended hours and Open Houses at several downtown stores, offices, and restaurants. This is a wonderful time for Christmas shopping and having a nice meal downtown.
Chamber Executive Director Suzanne Williams would like to invite everyone to this enjoyable and heartwarming experience – Christmas on the Square & the Downtown Renovation Celebration! For more information, call the Chamber office at 597-4163.

An elderly woman was airlifted after a one car crash Wednesday afternoon on Highway 146 (Short Mountain Highway) between the Game Ridge and Whorton Springs Roads.
Central dispatch received the call at 1:29 p.m.
Trooper Jeremy Wilhite of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 72 year old Martha Thomason of 8591 Short Mountain Highway, Woodbury was driving south on Highway 146 in a 2004 Honda CRV when she went off the right side of the road, struck an earthen embankment, and overturned in a field. The car came to rest upright on its wheels.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Rescue Team were summoned to perform extrication in order to get Thomason out of the car. She was treated on site by DeKalb EMS and then loaded onto an Air Evac helicopter ambulance which landed at the scene. Thomason was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
Others on site were members of the Short Mountain Highway Station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.