Estes Dies in Truck Wreck

A 38 year old Smithville man died in a pickup truck crash on Highway 264 (Temperance Hall Road) in Smith County Tuesday morning.
Dead is Nathan Estes.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that Estes was driving north in a 2000 Chevy pickup truck when he ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. The truck then skidded sideways, flipped, and came to rest against another tree. Estes was partially trapped under the vehicle. He was not wearing a seatbelt.
According to the THP, the accident occurred around 6:45 a.m.
The crash was investigated by Trooper Gerald Carter, Trooper Tommy Cooper, and Sergeant Eric McCormick of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Estes was a member of the Mount Hope The Baptist Church and he worked as a miner at Nyrstar Zinc Mine in Smith County.
The funeral will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Dwight Knowles will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, John Estes and his maternal grandparents, Sterling and Roberta Martin.
Survivors include his mother, Rita Estes Martin; his father, Phillip and wife Billie Estes; and three brothers, Andy and wife Emily Estes, Dustin Estes, and Gage Estes all of Smithville. Two step-sisters, Tammy Eaton of Watertown and Penny Edwards of Smithville. One step-brother, Stephen Patterson of Smithville. Paternal grandmother, Eleaise Estes of Liberty. An aunt, Donna and husband Dwight Knowles of Smithville. An uncle, Russell Estes of Dowelltown. A niece, Andrea Kate Estes of Smithville and special loved one, Makayla Cornett Bain of Smithville.
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Bobby Dale Redmon

67 year old Bobby Dale Redmon of McMinnville died Sunday at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville. He was a member of the McMinnville First Baptist Church. The funeral will be Thursday at 3:00 p.m. at the Chapel of High Funeral Home. Ray Weddington and John Jones will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until the service. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cephas and Wilma Young Redmon and a sister, Carolyn Bond. Survivors include a niece and her husband, Donna and Steve Daj of Harvest, Alabama. Three nephews, Wayne Bond of Bristow, Virginia; Tim Bond of Spring Hill; and Randy Bond of McMinnville. Two great nephews and two great nieces. Special friends, Louise Pearsall and Fay Winn. High Funeral Home in McMinnville is in charge of the arrangements.

Dorothy Evelyn Lambert

91 year old Dorothy Evelyn Lambert of Alexandria died Wednesday at Woodbury Health Center. She was born in Arcadia, Florida. Lambert was a school bus driver. A memorial service is planned for a later date. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Worley and Elsie Tyler Worley; her husband, Clifton S. Lambert; brothers, Paul Worley, Jr., Jim Worley, Jack Worley, and an infant brother. Survivors include daughters, Gayle and husband Richard Reinsch of Ball Ground, Georgia; Suzanne and husband David Dunn of Alexandria; Paula Lambert of Maryland; Michael S. Lambert of Titusville, Florida, and Kenneth Lambert. Four grandsons, two granddaughters, three great granddaughters, and two great grandsons. Sisters, Wanda Piper, Martha Queen, and Sandra Finley. Brothers, Jerry Worley, Ned Worley, and Joe Worley. Nieces and nephews also survive. Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria is in charge of the arrangements.

Sheriff’s Department Makes Three Arrests for Domestic Assault

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has made three arrests in recent days for domestic assault.
Sheriff Patrick Ray reports that 28 year old Casey Marie Givens of Dale Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court on September 26. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, September 16 a deputy was called to a residence on Dale Ridge Road to check out a complaint of domestic violence. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Givens’ mother who said that she tried to defend herself as Casey came toward her. She claims Casey threw a pen at her but missed and that is what started the fight. According to Sheriff Ray, others in the home witnessed the incident and related what happened to the officer on the scene. Givens was determined to be the primary aggressor and she was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
Donald Avery Donaldson of Johnson Chapel Road, Sparta is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court September 26. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, September 18 a deputy was called to a residence on Johnson Chapel Road in answer to a domestic complaint. The officer spoke with a woman who claimed she had been assaulted by her boyfriend, Donaldson. The woman had scratches around her eye and back. She also had a swollen place on her arm as if she had been bitten. The woman was transported to the emergency room of the hospital for treatment. Donaldson was determined to be the primary aggressor and he was brought to the jail for booking.
David Lynn Martin of Bethel Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 3. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, September 20 a deputy was dispatched to Martin’s residence to check out an assault call. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with 33 year old Abigail Vogel who had scratch marks on her neck, leg, and back. She claimed that Martin pushed her out the door and that he had broken a TV set and the windshield in her vehicle. Martin was arrested and brought to the jail for booking. Meanwhile, Vogel, who was apparently not supposed to be at this residence, was arrested for violation of an order of protection. According to Sheriff Ray, Vogel has had an order of protection against her since April. Vogel was brought to the jail for booking. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court on October 3.
52 year old Wilma D. Chupp of Dean Acres Lane, Liberty is charged with two counts of theft of property under $500. Her bond is $2,000 and she will be in court on September 26. Sheriff Ray said that Chupp took money from a purse twice at a residence off of Dale Ridge Road on the same day, Thursday September 12. According to Sheriff Ray, Chupp signed a statement admitting to having taken the money from this residence on these and other occasions.
64 year old Jerry Lynn Burger of Sparta Highway, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court October 3. He was also issued citations for leaving the scene of an accident, failure to maintain his lane of travel, and no insurance. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, September 20 Burger was operating a motor vehicle on Highway 70 but after stopping, an officer saw Burger get out of his vehicle and fall down. He had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he appeared to have used the bathroom on himself. No field sobriety tasks were given due to his level of intoxication but Burger did submit to a blood test. He was brought to the jail for booking and then transported to the emergency room of the hospital for further evaluation. According to Sheriff Ray, several persons claimed they saw Burger run off the road and hit a sign.
58 year old Floyd Eugene Lockhart of Midway Road, Smithville is charged with violation of the sex offender registry. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court October 3. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, September 20 Lockhart was in the same residence with a four year old male and his grandmother . As a sex offender, Sheriff Ray said Lockhart is to have no contact with any child under the age of eighteen. Lockhart was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
29 year old Megan Ann Tramel of Midway Road, Smithville and 38 year old Earnest Paul Barnwell of Lee Street, Sparta are each charged with criminal trespassing. Bond for each is $2,500 and they will be in court October 17. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, September 21 a deputy was called to check out a suspicious vehicle at the Lake Motel. Upon arrival, the officer discovered that the vehicle belonged to Tramel. Knowing where Tramel’s family lives, the deputy went there and found Megan Tramel and Earnest Paul Barnwell. Both Tramel and Barnwell had previously been ordered by a family caretaker to stay away from the residence. Tramel and Barnwell were arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
41 year old Kristie Renea Waggoner of Grandview Drive, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. She was further issued a citation for violation of the implied consent law. Her bond is $4,000 and she will be in court October 17. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, September 21, a deputy responded to a domestic call on Winter Drive. Upon arrival, the officer saw Waggoner sitting in the driver’s seat of her car with the engine running. She was holding an infant child in her lap. While speaking with her, the deputy smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle. The deputy asked her to step out of the vehicle to perform field sobriety tasks but she refused to submit to the tests. She was unsteady on her feet and her speech was slurred. While Waggoner was talking with the officer, he could smell alcohol on her breath. After speaking with Waggoner and observing her actions and behavior, she was placed under arrest. She refused to submit to a blood test. Because of a previous DUI against her and the fact that she had a child with her on this occasion, Waggoner was served with a search warrant to obtain a blood draw.
43 year old Anna Faye Colburn of King Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. She was also issued citations for possession of drug paraphernalia (two hypodermic needles and a cut straw). Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court October 3. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, September 21 a deputy was dispatched to the area of New Home Road on a disturbance call. Upon arrival, the officer made contact with Colburn who had reported to be running across yards in the rain. She was very unsteady on her feet and her speech was slurred. Colburn was placed under arrest.

Louelle Taylor

92 year old Louelle Taylor of Smithville died Sunday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a retired Smithville shirt factory employee and a member of the Snow Hill Baptist Church. A graveside service will be Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home at which time the body will be taken to DeKalb Memorial Gardens for the graveside service. She was preceded in death by her father, Leslie Dee Bailiff; mother, Amanda Helen Tramel Bailiff; husband, Alvie Taylor; two sisters, Mairene Keith and Talpha Moore; a brother, Charlie Bailiff; and a niece Sarah Tramel. Survivors include three daughters, Joyce and husband Charlie Stanley of Kentucky, Janis and husband Steve Anderson of Nashville, and Shirley Taylor of Murfreesboro. Three grandchildren, Holly Moberly of Kentucky, Sara Donahoe of Nashville, and Sam Stanley of Indiana. Seven great grandchildren, Jacob, Carter, and Rachel Moberly, Taylor and Andy Donahoe, Eli Stanley, and new baby Wyatt Stanley. Special nephew, Kenneth Tramel of Smithville. Great nieces, Jennifer Tramel of Smithville, Jill Tramel of California, and Beth Strode of Murfreesboro. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Dillard Wins Re-election to DTC Board of Directors

James H. Dillard, Jr. of the Gordonsville Exchange won re-election to the DTC Communications Board of Directors Saturday beating challenger Ronnie Burton.
Dillard received 266 votes and Burton garnered 115 votes.
The other three incumbent directors up for re-election all won without opposition including Roy N. Pugh from the Auburntown exchange with 229 votes; Jimmy Oakley from the Temperance Hall exchange with 231 votes and David Parker from the Woodland exchange with 218 votes.
The results of the election were announced Saturday during the annual meeting of DTC Communications at the fairgrounds in Alexandria
All four directors elected Saturday will serve for three years.
The DTC Communications Board of Directors, in addition to Pugh, Dillard, Oakley, and Parker is made up of Ronnie Garrison of Smithville, Randy Campbell of Liberty, Bennie Curtis of Alexandria, Terry McPeak of Norene, Charles Dwight Vinson of Milton, and Greg Rogers of Woodbury.

Evelyn Butler Speakman

75 year old Evelyn Butler Speakman of Smithville died Friday at St. Thomas Hospital West in Nashville. She was a member of the Covenant Baptist Church and a retired Food Service Supervisor at Tennessee Tech University. The funeral will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Bobby Thomason will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Jenny Lou Butler; her husband, Ronnie Speakman; a daughter, Mary Duke; and a granddaughter, Amanda Duke. Survivors include a daughter, Cindy and her husband Dwayne Ward of Smithville. A son, David and wife Julie Speakman of Smithville. Grandson, Chris and his wife Trista Ward of Lebanon. Granddaughter, Savannah Speakman of Beech Grove. Three great grandchildren, Lilly, Aiden, and Addison of Lebanon. Dear friends, Florence Redmon and Wanda Knox and special neighbor Haskel Martin. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Samantha Jones Hale

92 year old Samantha Jones Hale of Smithville died Friday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a Baptist and a retired factory worker. The funeral will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Hale and Don Kelly will officiate and burial will be in Whorton Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Venus A. and Ollie Hendrix Jones; husband, Howard Hale; a son, Carl Hale; three sisters, Christine Chapman, Sarah Lynch, and Ovie Hale; and two brothers, Brown Jones and J.B. Jones. Survivors include three children, Harold and wife Barbara Hale of Smithville, Jimmy and wife Jacque Hale of the Keltonburg Community, and Helen and husband Joe Taylor of Smithville. Grandchildren, Craig and wife Patricia Hale, Crystal Chalfant, Tyson Scott Hale, Audrey Leighton Hale and fiancé Cory Adams, and Becky and husband Mike Crocker. Great grandchildren, Christian and husband Charles Cox, Nicholas Hale, Elizabaeth Chalfant, Andrew Blake Hale, Micha Nicole Hale, and Byron Wilson. Three great great grandchildren, several loving nieces and nephews, and special caregivers Angela Davis, Cathy Clayton, and Paulette Duggin. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Betty Sue Gora

80 year old Betty Sue Gora of Smithville died Thursday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a retired factory worker. A memorial service will be Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at the Dowelltown United Methodist Church where she was a member. Matt Long will officiate. She was preceded in death by her parents, Johnny Luck and Jessie Hattie Ervin Hill; husband, Rodney Hugo Gora; brothers, Clarence Ervin, Fred, Jack, and I.B. Hill; and sisters, Julia Lyle and Nellie Hill. Survivors include three children, Gaylon Gentry and wife Tammy Gora, Georgette Gora and Jeff Shelton, Rodney Hugo, II and wife Tiffany Gora all of Smithville. Grandchildren, Sasha Covington, Natasha Cervenka, Michael Cervenka, Marissa Tramel, Derek Austin Gora, Jacob Andrew Gora and Malcolm Alexander Gora. Great granddaughter, Olivia Grace Tramel. A sister, Bobbie Pack of Smithville. A brother, Billy Joe Hill of Smithville. Several nieces and nephews. Brothers-in-law, Lewis Gora of Florida and George Gora of Crossville. Sisters-in-law, Helen Taylor of Smithville, Barbara Carter of Smithville, and Berta Merroli of Pennsylvania. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to DeKalb Funeral Chapel to help with funeral expenses.

Senior Class Takes Top Float Award at DCHS Homecoming Parade (SEE VIDEO HERE)

DeKalb County High School students celebrated the last day of Spirit Week with a Homecoming Day parade Friday afternoon.
The Tiger football team’s homecoming opponent Friday night is the Cannon County Lions and the floats in the parade had a Tiger versus Lions theme.

The parade featured Homecoming Queen Ashley Medlin and her attendants, the DCHS Fighting Tiger Band, lots of decorated cars and trucks, county and city law enforcement officers, and fire fighters, among others. The event concluded with a pep rally on the square led by DCHS Football cheerleaders.
Winners in the Float Competition were:
First Place: Senior Class- “Tigers Launch the Lions
Second Place: Junior Class- “Tigers Battle the Lions”
Third Place: Freshman Class-” Taking Over, Tiger Pride Rocks”
Fourth Place: Sophomore Class- “Tigers Rope the Lions”
Fifth Place: FCCLA Club- “Ok: Tigers Blow the Lions Away”
Best Decorated Automobiles:
First Place: Cason Oakley
Second Place: Harlli Silcox
Third Place: Kaylyn Thompson