An early morning fire destroyed a single wide mobile home at 5850 Walker Creek Road today
Central dispatch received the call at 12:42 a.m.
County Fire Chief Donny Green said firefighters of the Liberty, Main Station, and Temperance Hall stations responded but could not save the structure. Although the home contained some furnishings which were also destroyed, no one lived there. The residents, who had rented the home, recently moved out.
No one was injured. The cause of the fire is undetermined.
DeKalb EMS and officers of the Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene.

The discovery of two meth labs at a Smithville residence has led to the arrests of four people by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
30 year old Joseph Huff Ray of Snow Street; 44 year old Melissa Darlene Woods of Florence, Alabama; 39 year old Jeffery Lynn Sanders of Lincoln Street; and 42 year old Anthony Lynn Colwell of McMinnville are all charged with initiation of a process intended to result in the manufacture of methamphetamine. All are under a $50,000 bond and they will be in court on different dates in March, April, and May
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday, March 12, a drug detective of the sheriff’s department saw Colwell and his girlfriend Woods outside a residence where Ray was staying at 719 Snow Street. Colwell and Woods got a bag out of her Jeep and Colwell took it across the street and placed it behind a block wall. Inside the bag was a plastic bottle, also known as a one pot, along with other components used in the manufacture of meth. Both Colwell and Woods were placed under arrest and Woods’ jeep was seized by the sheriff’s department.
As the drug detective was attempting to make contact with the owner of the residence, he saw Sanders in the kitchen holding a yellow bag. After obtaining consent to search the premises, the drug detective found the yellow bag Sanders had held. It was hidden in the couch. The bag contained several pseudoephedrine pills. The detective conducted a pat down search of Sanders and found on him several coffee filters.
A search of the room where Ray had been staying turned up a black leather bag that contained a glass pyrex dish, lighter fluid, turkey baster, ph strips, and assorted tools. Also in the room was a plastic bottle, known as a one pot that is used to cook meth. Ray admitted that the components in the room belonged to him.
32 year old Joseph Robert Loff of Sparta is charged with criminal impersonation. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on March 28. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, March 14 a sheriff’s department drug detective made a traffic stop on Highway 70 in Dowelltown. The driver, Loff told the officer that his name was Robert James Loff and that his birth date was December 16, 1981. He did not have any identification on his person. The drug detective noticed a Region’s bank card in the name of Joseph R. Loff. After a further investigation, it was determined that Loff had given the detective his brother’s name. Loff’s actual birth date is September, 16 1980. Loff said the reason he didn’t give his real name is because he did not have a drivers license.
27 year old Michael Andrew Snyders of Smithville is charged with domestic assault and aggravated assault. He was also issued a citation for simple possession of a schedule III drug (subutex) and simple possession of a schedule IV drug (xanax). His bond is $6,000 and he will be in court March 28. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, March 15, a deputy responded to a residence on Dry Creek Road to investigate a possible physical domestic. Upon arrival, the officer spoke to a woman who said that Snyders became very angry and began assaulting her because she was on the phone. The officer saw that the woman had bruising and redness around her face and neck. She said Snyders had put her in a headlock and punched her. He broke her phone and porch light and he stomped on her right foot causing it to swell. It was determined that Snyders was the primary aggressor and he was placed under arrest. During the assault, the woman’s children, an eight year old and four year old were also assaulted. The eight year old told the deputy that Snyders grabbed her around the neck with his arm and squeezed it. She had redness around her throat area. Snyders also alleged fell on the four year old child. While talking to the officers, Snyders dropped a small bronze container, which held a blue oblong pill believed to be xanax and a quarter of a white pill believed to be subutex.
29 year old Carl Edward Schwartz is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court April 11. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, March 16, a drug detective of the sheriff’s department saw a truck behind Eastside Citgo with its lights on and the engine running. The store was closed. The detective stopped to check the vehicle and made contact with a man behind the wheel, Schwartz. The officer noticed a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and his speech was very slurred. Schwartz submitted to but performed poorly on several field sobriety tasks. He submitted to a blood test. Schwartz had a prior DUI February 5, 2010 in Michigan.
26 year old Juan Pablo Serrano of Smithville is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,000 and he will be in court March 28. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, March 16 a deputy was called to King Ridge Road to check on a man who was going to homes knocking on doors causing an alarm. The deputy made contact with the man, Serrano, who was very unsteady on his feet. He had slurred speech. Serrano had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Several attempts were made to have someone come and get him but no one came. Due to his actions, his level of intoxication and for the safety of the public, Serrano was placed under arrest.
33 year old Kasey Lee Frazier of Baxter is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court on April 3. Frazier was also issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia (syringe). Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, March 16, a deputy was called to a residence on Sunny Point Road to investigate a physical domestic. Upon arrival, the officer made contact with all parties involved. It was determined that Frazier was the primary aggressor. A woman said that Frazier began arguing with someone else at the residence and that she tried to stop it. Frazier got mad, shoved her down, and began hitting her. The assault continued outside. She said Frazier held her down with his knee on her throat and hit her in the face with his fist. She had a red mark on her neck and on her left cheek around an eye. Frazier was arrested. A pat down search was performed and found in his pocket was a used hypodermic needle.
43 year old Robert Lee Ried is charged with being a fugitive from justice. His bond is $50,000 and he will be in court March 28. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, March 17, Ried was picked up in DeKalb County as a fugitive from justice out of the state of Missouri where he is wanted by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department for a felony bad check charge. Missouri authorities plan to seek extradition of Ried

Two sixteen year old girls were airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital after a three vehicle crash Saturday afternoon on Highway 56 south near the Mystik Market at Shiney Rock. Two others were also involved in the accident.
Central dispatch received the call at 2:11 p.m.
The names of the two girls were not released by the Tennessee Highway Patrol because they are juveniles. WJLE has learned that the girls are Taneah Cantrell and Keri Sanders.
Trooper Jeremy Wilhite of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 57 year old Kenneth Lattimore of Smithville, driving a white 2005 Nissan car north on Highway 56, had stopped to make a left turn onto Old Blue Springs Road. Behind him was a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, driven by 42 year old Christopher Barrett of Rock Island, which had also stopped. A black 2012 Toyota Corolla, driven by a 16 year old girl, traveling north, came up behind and struck the back of the pickup truck. According to Trooper Wilhite, the truck spun around and hit the Lattimore car in front of it. The car driven by the teenager, went off the right side of the road and came to a stop ahead of the other two vehicles.
Lattimore was not hurt but Barrett went by a private vehicle to DeKalb Community Hospital. The teen driver and her teenage passenger were taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital where they were airlifted by a helicopter ambulance.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Blue Springs Station and extrication and rescue unit also responded.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation plans to open bids Friday, April 5 on a construction contract for the new Sligo bridge, the installation of a flashing beacon at U.S. 70 and State Route 83, and several highway resurfacing projects in DeKalb County.
The Sligo project calls for the construction of a welded steel plate girder bridge and three retaining walls on US. 70 (state route 26) over the Caney Fork River and Sligo Road. The completion date is on or before June 30, 2016.
TDOT will open bids for the installation of a flashing beacon on U.S. 70 (State Route 26) at the intersection of State Route 83 near Kilgore’s Restaurant. The completion date is on or before July 31, 2013. Many serious traffic accidents have occurred at this intersection in recent years.
Bids will be let for:
The resurfacing (either micro-surface or thin mix overlay) on State Route 96 beginning at Center Hill Dam and extending to the Putnam County line. Project length- 2.970 miles. Completion time on or before September 30, 2013
The resurfacing (either micro-surface or thin mix overlay) of State Route 141 beginning at State Route 96 and extending to the Putnam County line. Project length- 3.330 miles. Completion time on or before September 30, 2013
The resurfacing (either micro-surface or thin mix overlay) of State Route 264 beginning at State Route 96 and extending to the Smith County line including bridge deck repair. Project length- 5.480 miles. Completion time on or before September 30, 2013.
The resurfacing (micro-surfacing) of State Route 56 beginning at Church Street and extending to the Putnam County line. Project length- 11.760 miles. Completion time on or before September 30, 2013
The resurfacing (micro-surfacing) on State Route 56 beginning at the DeKalb County line and extending to the I-40 overpass. Project length- 0.540 miles. Completion time on or before September 30, 2013
The resurfacing (micro-surfacing) of State Route 141 beginning at the DeKalb County line and extending to State Route 56. Project length- 3.410 miles. Completion time on or before September 30, 2013.

In 2011, the latest year for which county-specific figures are available, DeKalb County’s age-adjusted suicide rate was 26.5 per 100,000 people, translating into five reported suicide deaths. This rate and number are down from the previous year but still above the state and national average as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Hancock County had the state’s highest suicide rate among the state’s ninety five counties at 74.5 per 100,000 with five deaths and Johnson County had the lowest rate at 5.5 per 100,000 with one death.
DeKalb County’s suicide rate was at 16.6 per 100,000 in 2006 and 2007 with three deaths each of those years. But the rate soared to 48.1 per 100,000 in 2008 with nine deaths. The rate dropped to 26.5 per 100,000 with five deaths in 2009 but went back up to 37.4 per 100,000 with seven deaths in 2010. The year 2012 numbers are not available.
Jackson County recorded the highest suicide rate among the fourteen Upper Cumberland Counties for 2011. Here’s how they ranked from highest to lowest.
Jackson 52.8 per 100,000 (6 deaths)
White 42.1 (11)
Clay 38.6 (3)
Van Buren 36.6 (2)
Fentress 33.3 (6)
Macon 26.7 (6)
DeKalb 26.5 (5)
Pickett 19.6 (1)
Cannon 14.6 (2)
Putnam 13.7 (10)
Cumberland 10.6 (6)
Smith 10.4 (2)
Warren 10 (4)
Overton 9 (2)
The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) has published its Status of Suicide in Tennessee 2013 report, detailing suicide trends and prevention efforts in Tennessee. The current report includes a summary of suicide trends within Tennessee, both overall and for various subgroups.
Tennessee’s age-adjusted suicide rate for 2011 was 14.6 per 100,000 people, translating into 938 reported suicide deaths. This rate and number are down from previous years but are still above the national average of 12.4 per 100,000 as reported for the year 2010 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Rates among teens and older adults, both groups traditionally at high suicide risk, remain stable. White males aged 35-64 account for the largest share of suicide deaths, and suicide rates are higher for white males across the lifespan.
Attention is also given to the nature of non-fatal versus fatal attempts and common suicide methods-almost two-thirds of all suicides in Tennessee involve a firearm.
“At least 150 Tennesseans who deeply care about the suicide prevention are meeting monthly to raise their own suicide awareness and to implement activities that educate their communities about suicide. They are also working together to apply the Tennessee Strategies for Suicide Prevention,” observes TSPN Advisory Council Chair Jennifer Harris. “The maintenance and growth of the regional and county efforts should inspire all of us.”
The document also includes a summary of common suicide risk factors and an account of TSPN’s suicide prevention projects. The report concludes with a listing of suicide numbers and rates for all 95 Tennessee counties for the years 2006 through 2011.
All over the state, TSPN offers presentations and training sessions for schools, churches, and civic groups and partnerships with state departments and other non-profits. TSPN also networks with and faith-based groups to implement suicide prevention strategies; debriefs schools and other institutions affected by suicide death; and promotes awareness and educational events across the state of Tennessee.
“Of course, our work here is hardly finished,” adds TSPN Executive Director Scott Ridgway. “Our goal is not merely fewer suicides, it is zero suicides. Suicide remains a major and tragic threat to middle-aged adults in our state. The ebb of the Middle East conflicts means more soldiers will be trying to reconcile their wartime experiences with civilian life. We hope to ensure that those who have served their country will get the help they need.
“We hope that the Status of Suicide in Tennessee 2013 report will inspire everyone to join us in the ongoing effort to make zero suicides not just an objective, but a reality for the people of our state.”
Status of Suicide in Tennessee 2013 will be published online via the TSPN website (www.tspn.org