The boards of directors of Citizens Bank of Lafayette and Liberty State Bank, which has three locations in DeKalb County, announced Tuesday they have entered into a definitive agreement to merge the two banks.
Under the agreement, Liberty State Bank will be merged with and into Citizens Bank of Lafayette, with Citizens Bank of Lafayette to be the bank to survive the merger. Citizens Bank of Lafayette will continue to operate the current Liberty State Bank branches under the Liberty State Bank name.
According to a prepared news release sent to media outlets, The merger is expected to be completed prior to the end of 2013, and will offer both businesses and consumers in surrounding communities a broader array of locations for banking services. With its acquisition of Liberty State Bank, Citizens Bank of Lafayette’s total assets will exceed $630 million, and Citizens Bank of Lafayette will have 15 branches covering Macon, DeKalb, Wilson, Sumner, Clay, Jackson and Smith counties.
“For over 100 years, both Citizens Bank of Lafayette and Liberty State Bank have consistently served our communities for their financial needs,” said Pete Williston, chief executive of Citizens Bank of Lafayette. “While our holding company, Citizens Bancorp Investment, Inc., has owned a majority of Liberty’s stock since 1999, Citizens Bancorp Investment, Inc.’s acquisition of the remaining Liberty State Bank shares via the merger of the two banks will be beneficial to our customers, employees, and shareholders.”
The definitive agreement providing for the merger of the banks was unanimously approved by the board of directors of each of Citizens Bancorp Investment, Inc., Citizens Bank of Lafayette, and Liberty State Bank. The merger of the banks is subject to certain conditions, including the receipt of all required approvals from regulatory authorities and the approval of the definitive agreement by the shareholders of Liberty State Bank.
“We believe that this merger is in the best interests of all of our key constituents, including our employees, who will have additional opportunities for growth,” said Roy Pugh, president and CEO of Liberty State Bank. “I am pleased to say that, in addition to keeping the Liberty State Bank name, all of our employees will retain their jobs. This is significant to our employees and their families, and the communities that we serve.”
Another advantage to customers is that they will have 13 ATM locations to utilize throughout Middle Tennessee, along with access to more than 23,000 surcharge-free ATMs all over the country through the Money Pass network. After the merger, it is anticipated that doing business in a Liberty State Bank branch will be no different than doing business at a Citizens Bank of Lafayette branch, Smith County Bank branch or Bank of Celina branch.
“Both banks have a similar history and philosophy that will greatly benefit our customers, shareholders and employees,” Citizens Bank of Lafayette President Joe Carter said. “Citizens’ focus for over 100 years has been to serve the needs of our communities, our friends, and our neighbors. Liberty has had that same focus, and we intend to continue that tradition. Our directors, officers, and employees look forward to working with Liberty’s officers and employees to better serve the DeKalb and Wilson county communities.”
The combined bank will continue to be headquartered in Lafayette, the site of the current headquarters of Citizens Bank of Lafayette. Liberty State Bank will retain its presence in DeKalb and Wilson counties, with five banking locations serving Alexandria, Lebanon, Liberty and Smithville.
“We’re helped by the fact that both banks have been operating under similar organizational structures and business models, and there is tremendous talent in both organizations,” Williston said. “In addition to the strategic benefits of combining two highly complementary banks, we can create substantial shareholder value through significant cost improvements and access to new growth opportunities.”
Citizens Bank of Lafayette is a state-chartered banking corporation with about $474 million in assets headquartered in Lafayette. It operates 10 banking locations as Citizens Bank in Lafayette, Westmoreland, Red Boiling Springs, Hermitage Springs and Gainesboro; as Bank of Celina in Celina; and as Smith County Bank in Carthage. Citizens Bank of Lafayette is owned by Citizens Bancorp Investment, Inc., a bank holding company headquartered in Lafayette.

Acting on numerous public complaints of possible illegal beer sales to minors, the Smithville Police Department conducted an investigation Monday targeting all eleven stores in the city licensed to sell beer for consumption off the premises.
Only one arrest was made. 19 year old Danielle Owens, a store clerk at On The Way market on South Congress Boulevard is charged with the misdemeanor offense of selling alcohol to a minor. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court on September 12.
Chief Randy Caplinger told WJLE Tuesday that the investigation was conducted by Lieutenant Matt Holmes and Detective Brandon Donnell. A 20 year old officer from another county, in plain clothes, attempted to make a beer purchase from each store.
The officer made an attempt to purchase beer from the following businesses in this order: Kwik-N-Ezy, Village Market, East Side Citgo, On the Way, Jewel’s Market, Food Lion, Dollar General Store, El Mariachi, Walmart, BP, and Mapco.
In all but one case, the store clerks refused to make the beer sales to the undercover officer after checking his ID and using an age chart to verify his age. He was denied the sale and told he was too young to buy beer.
The exception was with Owens at On the Way market. “Upon stopping at On the Way, the undercover person advised that the clerk checked his ID and then accepted his ten dollar bill and made the transaction for the alcohol, giving him $3.65 in change,” said Lieutenant Holmes. “A short time later the suspect (store clerk) was identified as 19 year old Danielle Owens. Warrants were taken and she was located at her home at 520 Miller Road. Owens was arrested and charged with selling alcohol to a minor,” added Lieutenant Holmes.
Police made contact with the store owner and the ten dollar bill used to purchase the alcohol was found in the cash register. Identification of the bill was confirmed by checking the serial numbers.
Lieutenant Holmes commended the store clerks who followed the law and did what they were supposed to do.
The store’s beer permit holder could also be subject to a suspension or revocation of the license by the city beer board because of this incident. The city’s beer ordinance states that “It shall be unlawful for any beer permit holder to make or allow any sale of beer to a minor under twenty one years of age.”
The beer ordinance further provides that “Under the finding of any violation of the beer permit holder, the punishment for the first offense shall be a minimum suspension of the beer permit for a period of 90 days. Upon any permit holder committing a violation a second time, the punishment shall be the revocation of the beer license.”

The county has received a $500 donation from the local Woodmen of the World Family Fraternity which will go toward the purchase of a curtain for the stage in the county complex auditorium.
Regina Wilhite, Field Representative for Woodmen of the World and local chapter President Wanda Poss presented the check to County Mayor Mike Foster during Monday night’s county commission meeting.
“On behalf of our membership in DeKalb County, we want to say thank you to the county for always supporting us when we are doing fraternal work here in the county and for keeping us abreast of anywhere a new flag is needed so that we can keep Old Glory flying here in this county very proudly,” said Wilhite.
“We are here to give you a donation toward the curtains at the new community center. On behalf of our membership Ms. Wanda Poss has a check for $500. Thank you for what you do and thank you for allowing us to be a part of the county,” Wilhite said.
County Mayor Foster said with donations like this and the recent Aloha 40 fundraiser, featuring the Stamps Quartet, the county has raised more than half the money needed to purchase the stage curtain. This brings our total past $14,000. Of course we’ve got to pay expenses out of that. The curtains are $12,800 and it looks like after all the expenses with paying the Stamps Quartet and all the things we did, it looks like we’re probably going to be at about $6,600 (in funds raised) to go toward those curtains,” said Foster.
Meanwhile, a special Woodmen of the World observance is planned for September 9 at 6:00 p.m. at the city fire hall in Smithville.
“I will ask you to put on your calendars now on September 9 that we will be having our “In Honor and Remembrance” program. We have a special presentation we’re going to be doing at the city fire hall at 6:00 p.m. It will be our annual presentation to honor the police, fire, rescue and everyone in this community who gives of their time in that special way. Its our time to say thank you to them,” concluded Wilhite.

A DeKalb County man was arrested last week after allegedly breaking into a residence on Short Mountain Highway and making himself at home, enjoying a meal and drinks.
53 year old Lonnie Ray Dyer of Patterson Road is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property under $500. His bond is $6,000 and he will be in court on September 12.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Saturday, August 24 a deputy was dispatched to a reported burglary on Short Mountain Highway. Upon arrival, the officer found that the garage door to the residence had been broken into. Dyer was also found inside the home eating food. According to Sheriff Ray, Dyer admitted to breaking into the residence and consuming the homeowner’s food and wine. The estimated value of the food and drink was $70. He had been staying there a few days. Dyer was placed under arrest and brought to the jail for booking.
67 year old Edward Joseph Guerin, Jr. of Silver Point is charged with public intoxication and possession of a handgun while under the influence. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court on August 29. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, August 21 a deputy stopped to do a welfare check of Guerin after spotting him walking on Wolf Creek Road. Guerin had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. Guerin admitted to the officer that he had been drinking alcohol. Upon a pat down search, a 45 caliber handgun was found in his right front pocket. According to Sheriff Ray, Guerin had threatened to kill his wife and burn the house earlier that day. Guerin was close to the residence at the time of his arrest. He was brought to the jail for booking.
29 year old Megan Ann Tramel of Midway Road, Smithville was issued a citation for driving on a suspended license on Wednesday, August 21. She will be in court on August 28. Sheriff Ray said that a deputy saw Tramel operating a motor vehicle on Midway Road. Having prior knowledge that her license were suspended, the officer stopped Tramel. A computer check confirmed that her license were suspended in Putnam County.
32 year old Nena Renea Chapman of Church Street, Liberty is charged with public intoxication and resisting arrest. Her bond is $3,000 and she will be in court on September 12. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, August 21 the sheriff’s department received a call that a person was knocking on doors at Eckles Heights in Liberty. An officer responded and made contact with the suspect, Chapman who appeared to be intoxicated and very disoriented. According to Sheriff Ray, Chapman’s movements were very rapid and she had difficulty understanding the officer’s commands. Upon being placed under arrest, Chapman began struggling with the officer. She had to be placed on the hood of the patrol car in order to be handcuffed.
36 year old Eddie Woodrow Young of McMinnville is cited for simple possession of a schedule II controlled substance. He will be in court on August 29. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, August 23 a deputy was dispatched to Blue Springs Road to check on a reported suspicious person walking down the road. The officer made contact with the man, Young. Upon searching Young, the deputy found a bag of methamphetamine and two empty bags inside his wallet. Young admitted to the officer that the substance was meth.
29 year old Rhonda Joy Goff of Students Home Road, Smithville is charged with assault and vandalism under $500. Her bond is $3,000 and she will be in court on August 29. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, August 24 Goff, who is an inmate at the county jail, assaulted another female inmate by punching her around the head several times with her fist. A sink was broken during the fight causing less than $500 in damage. The victim in the fight also suffered a cut on her back from the broken sink.
35 year old Jason Dwayne Johnson of Game Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and possession of a handgun while under the influence. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court on September 12. Johnson was also issued citations for a violation of the Roadways Lane for Traffic and for violation of the implied consent law. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, August 24 Johnson was operating a motor vehicle on Highway 70 when he was stopped by a deputy for failure to maintain his lane of travel. He had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. Johnson performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks and refused to submit to a blood test. When his driver’s license were checked, it showed he had a carry permit. The deputy asked Johnson about the gun and he replied that the weapon was in the center console. The officer checked the console and found a fully loaded 380 handgun. Johnson was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
48 year old Torsten Michael Jakob of Highland Avenue, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. He was also issued a citation for having a brake light out. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on September 12. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, August 24 a deputy received a call of a possible drunk driver in a red Chevy Blazer on Highway 70 east. The officer came upon the SUV and noticed it was swerving in the road and had a brake light out. The deputy pulled over the vehicle and spoke to the driver, Jakob. He had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. Jakob submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to a blood test. Jakob was subsequently brought to the jail for booking.
45 year old Vicente Roblero of Vaughn Lane, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court September 12. He was also issued citations for violation of the implied consent law, accidents resulting in damage to a vehicle, violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance), and no drivers license. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, August 24 an officer was dispatched to a wreck on Vaughn Lane. Roblero, the apparent operator of a white Chevy Blazer, had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. The keys to the vehicle were found in his pocket during a search of his person. He was placed under arrest and taken to the jail for booking.
41 year old Steven Blake Goad of Liberty is charged with a fourth offense of driving under the influence. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court on September 12. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, August 25 a deputy was dispatched to Liberty to investigate a report of a truck backed into a ditch. The driver was reportedly passed out at the wheel. Upon arrival, the officer found Goad sitting behind the steering wheel. He was passed out. The deputy woke him and asked for his driver’s license. Goad passed out again while trying to get his license. The officer woke Goad a second time and began talking to him. He detected a strong odor of alcohol on Goad’s person and his speech was slurred. Goad submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to a blood test. Goad was subsequently taken to the jail for booking.
21 year old Nathaniel Dylan Tippens of Redmon Road, Smithville is charged with evading arrest. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on August 29. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, August 25 a deputy had an active arrest warrant on Tippens. The officer stopped his vehicle to serve the warrant on Highland Drive but Tippens began to run. The deputy caught up with him at a residence on Tommy Harrell Street. He was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.