DeKalb County High School Baseball Coach Scott Odom will have to sit out the rest of the season.
DCHS Principal Patrick Cripps suspended Coach Odom this week based on allegations that a TSSAA regulation was violated when Little League umpires were scheduled for the DCHS game against Watertown Tuesday in Smithville. The Tigers won that game on senior night 8 to 7.
“Gene McNeese of the TSSAA called me on Wednesday with a charge that our baseball program had violated a TSSAA rule and regulation,” said Cripps in an interview with WJLE Friday. “That violation was using unregistered umpires in a TSSAA game. Upon investigation it was found that we did violate that rule. At that time I decided to suspend Coach Odom for the remainder of the baseball season. We’ve got to look at what’s best for the program,” said Cripps.
The suspension only applies to Odom’s coaching duties. It has no impact on his teaching job.
The game with Watertown, originally scheduled for Monday, April 29 using TSSAA umpires, was rained out. Reportedly, TSSAA umpires were not available for a Tuesday make-up game and Watertown could not re-schedule for Wednesday. The district tournament began Thursday.
WJLE contacted Coach Odom by email Friday. He replied stating he did not wish to make a comment at this time.
Assistant Coach Andrew Dixon will serve as acting head coach for the remainder of the post season.

While serving a search warrant on a convicted felon for illegal sale of weapons, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department Thursday night/Friday morning discovered that the man was also growing marijuana and had a meth lab at his residence on the Old Mill Hill Road, Dowelltown.
The arrest of 43 year old Anthony Mason Adcock came as the result of a lengthy investigation by the Sheriff’s Department. Two other arrests were also made, 42 year old Tammi Faye Adams, also of Old Mill Hill Road; and 34 year old Shawn Bradley Patton of Oak Place, Smithville. Patton, who was picked up at the Adcock residence for violation of parole.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Adcock has an extensive criminal history. “My drug detectives started an investigation on Adcock some time ago. Adcock has a lengthy criminal background and he is no stranger to law enforcement. Adcock has been convicted of many drug offences such as the Manufacture of a Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine), Simple Possession of a Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine), Conspiracy to Manufacture/Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Simple Possession of a Schedule VI Drug (Marijuana), and weapon charges such as carrying a Weapon for the Purpose of Going Armed and Possession of a Destructive Device (Pipe Bomb),” said Sheriff Ray.
“Adcock was one of DeKalb Counties first methamphetamine lab busts in the late 90’s and was one of the first meth labs I worked on,” said Sheriff Ray. Adcock also at that time had an explosive device, which was a pipe bomb, in his home. Adcock was charged here locally at that time and then we were able to get him into the Federal Court System. Since that time he has had even more drug arrests,” according to Sheriff Ray.
Sheriff Ray continued “We were able to get a search warrant on Adcock’s residence (recently) after an investigation into the illegal sale of weapons. Adcock is a convicted felon and cannot possess, buy, sale, or trade on any firearms of any kind. When we arrived at the Old Mill Hill Road address (Thursday night) Adcock, Adams, Patton, and three other individuals were there. While conducting the search warrant we found a .22 caliber pistol in his residence and we also found ammunition. During the search we also found marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia such as pipes, plastic grow trays, marijuana seeds, and over 30 small marijuana plants that Adcock had growing in a plastic tote. My Department and I stopped the search and my drug detectives and I went back to the jail and obtained yet another search warrant for the marijuana, the paraphernalia, and any other controlled drugs. When we executed that search warrant for the drugs not only did we find items to manufacture marijuana with, we also found items that are consistent in the manufacture of methamphetamine such as tubing, coffee filters, turkey basters, ammonium nitrate, drain cleaner, and acid in a 20 oz soda bottle,” said Sheriff Ray.
Adcock is charged with 2 counts of possession of a weapon by a felon, manufacture of a schedule VI drug (Marijuana) and initiating process to result in the manufacture of methamphetamine and his bond is set at $125,000. Adams’ charges are manufacture of a schedule VI drug (Marijuana) and initiating process to result in the manufacture of methamphetamine and her bond is set at $50,000. Both will be in court on May 16 2013. Adcock’s money, an outside security system, and car were seized and the residence has been quarantined due to the meth lab discovery.
Sheriff Ray said there are more charges pending in the case and Drug Detectives will be contacting the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms for possible federal charges.

A third grade teacher at Northside Elementary School was named “DeKalb County Teacher of the Year” Thursday night during the sixth annual Teacher of the Year banquet at the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church.
Sandy Willingham received the honor and a check for $150 from Liberty State Bank, the sponsor of the banquet. The presentation was made by Director of Schools Mark Willoughby and Roy Nelson Pugh of Liberty State Bank.
Willingham was among five local educators who were recognized during the banquet for being chosen by peers as “Teacher of the Year” at their schools. The others were Amanda Rhoady, a first grade teacher at Smithville Elementary School; Suzette Barnes, a seventh grade educator at DeKalb Middle School; Tammy Payne, a fourth grade teacher at DeKalb West School; and Joey Reeder, a History teacher at DeKalb County High School
Every year DeKalb County participates in the Tennessee Teacher of the Year program. Each school picks a Teacher of the Year from their school who is in the running for honors at the county and regional level. Teachers are selected in the categories of Pre-K through 4th grade, 5th through 8th grade, and 9th through 12th grade. The overall Teacher of the Year from DeKalb County is selected from among the five teachers of the year at the school level.
Principals and assistant principals introduced the Teachers of the Year at their schools and remarked on how they deserved the honor.
The guest speaker for the banquet was Billie Friel, Pastor of the Alexandria First Baptist Church.
(TOP PHOTO: Director of Schools Mark Willoughby, Sandy Willingham, Roy Nelson Pugh of Liberty State Bank, and School Board Chairman Johnny Lattimore)
(BOTTOM PHOTO: Mark Willoughby, Suzette Barnes, Amanda Rhoady, Joey Reeder, Tammy Payne, Sandy Willingham, Roy Nelson Pugh, and Johnny Lattimore)

May is the Joe Black Effort Membership Drive Month
For those of you who don’t know who we are, the Joe Black Effort is a “no kill” animal rescue group. In fact, we are the only “no kill” rescue in Dekalb County. By “no kill”, we mean that we do everything we possibly can to help the stray, abandoned, abused or neglected animals that are trying to survive on their own. Occasionally there is an animal that may be too sick to save. At those times, after all options are exhausted we must have them humanely euthanize out of kindness and caring so they won’t suffer.
We currently operate from a small office at 458 W. Broad Street. We house our animals with foster families until we can get them adopted out to a great home with people who will love them and care for them. One of the things we do when we have an animal come into our network is get them the medical care they need. That includes their shots, heartworm and feline tests and also have them spayed and neutered. We have many wonderful supporters who donate food, beds and toys for the animals, however, we are in need of your memberships and generous monetary donations to help pay the vet bills. With your help, we also plan to have a “no kill” shelter built in Dekalb County, which will be manned by the volunteers of the Joe Black Effort! We need it, our members know we need it and we are committed to making that happen. We are asking you to have a heart and do your part by supporting the Joe Black Effort.
That’s why May is our membership drive month! We have several memberships to choose from. One for every budget and every little bit helps. The Regular Joe Membership is $10 a year. You receive a membership card and 10% off all Joe Black Effort items and 10% off all of our events. Our Heart and Soul Membership is free to volunteers who give at least 20 hours a year to Joe Black. Heart & Soul members are welcome to donate as well, if they wish. These members will also get 10% off everything Joe Black Effort items such as t-shirts, bracelets, hats, decals and whatever events we have throughout the year. The Hearts of Gold Membership is sustaining members. This membership means a once a month donation, minimum is $10 up to whatever you’d like to give. A Heart of Gold membership receives 50% off all of our Joe Black Effort events and all items we sell again such as t-shirts, bracelets, hats and whatever we decide to sell to fund raise. If we have lots of members, each helping a little bit financially and a few volunteering some time, we can continue to grow into the kind of rescue Dekalb County animal and citizens need, want and deserve!
If you are interested in becoming a member, please call us at 615-464-LOVE, or email us at joeblackeffort@gmail.com and we will get a membership application to you asap. You can also pick up Membership Applications at Dekalb Animal Hospital (Dr. Little’s office), Dekalb Veterinary Clinic (Dr. Wheeler) and Smithville Veterinary Hospital (Dr. Burke).
Be part of the solution!
Let’s make Dekalb county a safe place for animals to live and a dangerous place for animal abusers to live!
Together we can make a difference…..one pup at a time…. One kitten at a time.

Hundreds of caring members of our community will gather at Green Brook Park on Friday, May 10 in the battle against cancer when the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of DeKalb County gets underway. Participants will be marking a major milestone in the Society’s fight against cancer – 100 years of saving lives.
The American Cancer Society is celebrating 100 years of saving lives from cancer and creating a world with more birthdays. It’s the progress we’ve made together – as a community, as volunteers, as survivors and as leaders – that has helped us reach this incredible milestone with tremendous success. By lending your support to the DeKalb County Relay event this year, you’ll be supporting Society’s efforts to finish the fight and bring an end to cancer as we know it.
The 16th annual Relay in DeKalb County begins with entertainment at 5:00 p.m. followed by the opening ceremony at 6:00 p.m. featuring an introduction of cancer survivors and then a Survivors’ Lap, during which those who have survived the struggle circle the track together to help everyone celebrate what has been achieved against cancer.
As the sun sets, Luminaria bags lining the track illuminate the night and then a hush falls over the event as Relay participants, survivors and caregivers gather together for a Luminaria Ceremony at 9:00 p.m. to remember loved ones lost to cancer and to honor those who have battled the disease.
The schedule of entertainment from the stage is as follows:
5:00: Denise Page
5:10: Infinity
5:25: Kathy Goodwin
5:40: Dessa Ray
5:55:
Presentation of the Colors by Boy Scout Troop #347
The National Anthem sung by Suzanne Slager
Invocation by B.J. Thomason, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church
6:00:
Opening Ceremony-Welcome by Renea Cantrell
Introduction of Cancer Survivors
Song honoring Cancer Survivors performed by Shelley Cross and Bonnie Rigsby
Prayer for Cancer Survivors by Don Rigsby, Pastor of Prosperity Baptist Church
6:45: David Turner and Friends
7:00: Denise Page
7:15: Clifford and Glenda Randolph
7:30: Suzanne Slager
7:45: Fluty and the Flutones
8:00: Kevin Roberts
8:15: Tina Boston
8:30: Terry Hodges
8:45: New Life Pentecostal Church Praise Group
9:00:
Luminaria Ceremony
Prayer by Jeff Armstrong, Pastor of the Smithville Church of God
9:15: Receive It Ministries of the Smithville Church of God
9:30: Rampage Youth Group by the Edge Worship Center
9:45: First Baptist Youth Group by the Smithville First Baptist Church
10:00: Smithville Assembly of God Youth Group
10:15: Brandon and Becky Duke, Elizabeth Chapel Singers
10:30: Denise Page
10:35: 61 Seconds
11:30: Closing Ceremony
Midnight: RELAY ENDS

Carbon monoxide from a natural gas water heater Tuesday night forced an evacuation of several occupants at City Walk Apartments on East Bryant Street.
The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department was called to the apartment complex to check out a possible natural gas leak in one of the buildings. After arriving, Chief Charlie Parker said firefighters entered the building to investigate and discovered the presence of carbon monoxide, using CO detectors. Chief Parker said a natural gas water heater in a maintenance closet of the building was the source of the carbon monoxide.
All occupants in the building were evacuated by firefighters and officers of the Smithville Police Department
Chief Parker said Middle Tennessee Natural Gas was notified and sent a crew to shut off the water heater. The fire department brought in fans to clear out the building of the potentially poisonous gases.
The residents of the apartment were later allowed to re-enter the building after it was re-checked for carbon monoxide and found to be safe. No one was injured.

County firefighters kept a carport fire from spreading to the rest of Bessie Atnip’s home at 6770 Short Mountain Highway Tuesday afternoon.

Central dispatch received the call at 12:52 p.m.
Atnip and her caregiver Diana Malone were at home when the fire started from a 2002 Dodge Ram pickup truck parked on the carport. They had apparently just started up the truck to let it run a while and went back inside to eat lunch when the pickup caught fire. Malone discovered the blaze and got Atnip out of the house. Neither of them was injured. The fire was then reported to 911.
According to County Fire Chief Donny Green, the fire destroyed the truck and caused extensive damage to a 1995 Pontiac Bonneville parked outside near the carport. He said the fire broke through the carport into the attic above the kitchen but firefighters got the blaze stopped before it could spread to the house. The fire and water damage was confined to the carport area but smoke spread to other parts of the home.
Members of the Short Mountain Highway, Blue Springs, and Main Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded along with the tanker and equipment truck. DeKalb EMS and officers of the Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has awarded the construction contract on Sligo bridge to the Massman Construction Company based in Kansas City, Missouri.
Massman, at $38,903, 917, had the lowest bid of the six bids submitted for the project. According to Jennifer A. Flynn, TDOT Regional Community Relations Officer, the bid came in at well under TDOT’s estimated cost of the project at $43.5 million dollars.
Flynn told WJLE Monday a pre-construction meeting will be held within a few weeks in which all parties involved will gather to discuss issues related to the project. Construction is expected to begin later this year.
Paul Degges, Chief Engineer for TDOT, met with County Mayor Mike Foster and members of the county commission in January to update them on plans for the Sligo project. Since the state could not reach a right of way agreement with Sligo Marina, the bridge will be built primarily from the water. “We brought in a lot of contractors and did a constructability review so now we have come up with a way to build the bridge from the water and from the roadway so we’re not going to have to be off our reservation so to speak with the bridge,” said Degges.
The project will be more costly to build the bridge from the river, according to Degges but the marina will not be impacted in this manner. A construction staging area will be set up at the Highland Trail (Dubland) Boat Ramp near Riverwatch where contractors may gain access to the lake in getting to the bridge. The project will be under construction by summer and should be finished within twenty four to thirty months. “For the most part we’re going to be building the bridge from the river. It is going to run our costs up but we believe we have the resources available to deliver it,” said Degges. Certainly there will be some construction delays through there but we won’t have a traffic signal. As far as construction impacts, there will still be access to the marina during construction and there will still be access across the bridge. It will be posted. Its at 22 tons right now and we hope to be able to keep it at that weight posting. I don’t see anything happening that’s going to have us change that,” he said.
The new bridge will be built next to the existing one. Once the new bridge is completed, the existing bridge will be removed. “We’re going to build what we call a steel plate girder bridge with a concrete deck,” said Degges. “Right now, the bridge is a truss.The bridge is somewhat narrow. The new bridge we’re going to put in here will have twelve foot lanes and ten foot shoulders. It will be what most people would consider a traditional bridge in that the beams of this bridge will be under the deck,” he said.
The project is being funded under TDOT’s Better Bridges, a four year program approved in 2009 by the Tennessee General Assembly that utilizes bonds to pay for the repair or replacement of more than 200 structurally deficient bridges in the state including Sligo. “We were able to come up with a new funding mechanism which we call our Better Bridges Program that allows us to utilize dollars available so we don’t have to borrow money. It is a way that we use bond authorizations that allow us to let bigger projects and pay for them as they’re being constructed. It keeps us from having to borrow any money but it allows us to advance pretty expensive projects,” said Degges.

The DeKalb County Election Commission has set the dates and times of early voting for the Smithville Municipal Election. Three aldermen are to be elected.
Voting will be May 29 through June 13 on the following days and hours:
Mondays: Noon until 5:00 p.m.
Tuesdays: 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Fridays: 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. until Noon
Election day is Tuesday June 18. All voting will be done on the first floor of the courthouse. The last day to register to vote in time for the election is May 20.
Candidates for aldermen are incumbents Gayla Hendrix, Shawn Jacobs, and Danny Washer and challengers Aaron Meeks, Josh Miller, and Anthony Scott.