Firefighters battled a blaze Sunday afternoon at an Alexandria residence but were unable to save the home.
Central dispatch received the call at 1:47 p.m.
The 201 Church Street home, which belonged to Charles and Cathy Quarles, was being rented. Brenda Acorn and Patsy Keyes lived there and were at home when the fire started but they were unharmed.
According to Assistant Chief John Partridge of the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department, firefighters were on the scene within minutes of the call but the blaze spread quickly and the home was lost along with family belongings. Two dogs also perished.
Assistant Chief Partridge told WJLE that the fire is believed to have started from an electric heater in a bedroom, which may have caught some bedding or clothing on fire.
Alexandria firefighters were assisted in fighting the blaze by members of the Liberty and Temperance Hall stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department under the recently approved “automatic aid agreement” between the city and county. The Watertown fire department was also summoned. One Alexandria firefighter was transported to the hospital for exhaustion. Two others were treated for exhaustion at the scene.
(PHOTOS ABOVE PROVIDED AS A COURTESY OF ALEXANDRIA POLICE OFFICER DAVID WARD)

A 21 year old McMinnville man who allegedly admitted to taking a Caterpillar front end loader for a joy ride has been arrested by the Sheriff’s Department.
Gregory Wayne Elliott of McMinnville is charged with vandalism and joy riding. His bond is $6,500 and he will be in court January 29.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Elliott admitted to taking the front end loader from a business in Liberty and then abandoning it in the roadway on Highway 53 on Thursday, January 15. As Elliott drove away from the business, the front end loader caused damaged to the front gate. Elliott was later found with two other people in an automobile at the intersection of Highway 53 and Main Street in Liberty. An officer spoke with Elliott and he allegedly admitted to taking the front end loader. He was arrested and brought to the sheriff’s department for booking. The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.
Meanwhile, a Smithville woman who allegedly passed a forged check to a bonding company has been charged with forgery. 29 year old Melinda Beth Murphy of East Broad Street, Smithville is under a $40,000 bond and she will be in court January 22. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, January 9 Murphy passed a forged check in the amount of $500 to a bonding company to make bail for Molly Lawrence. The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.
27 year old Molly Sue Lawrence of Highland Drive Smithville is charged with forgery. Her bond is $20,000 and she will be in court January 22. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, January 12 Lawrence was found with a check in her possession which belonged to someone else. The check was made out to Molly Lawrence in the amount of $350. According to Sheriff Ray, the victim did not give Lawrence the check nor permission to write one. The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.
Both Murphy and Lawrence were arrested on separate forgery charges earlier this month.
18 year old Ronald Gutierrez of Smith Road, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court January 19. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, January 16 Gutierrez was observed by the School Resource Officer at DCHS sitting inside a vehicle on campus during school hours. Upon speaking with him, the SRO found that Gutierrez had an odor of marijuana on his person and his eyes were glazed. Gutierrez admitted to smoking marijuana and he was placed under arrest.
44 year old Royce Avon Foster of Jacobs Pillar Road, Smithville is charged with driving on a revoked license (3rd offense), theft of property over $1,000, and burglary. His bond is $30,000 and he will be in court January 22. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, January 13 a deputy spotted Foster driving a vehicle on Jacobs Pillar Road. The officer had prior knowledge that Foster’s drivers license were revoked and that he has active warrants against him. The deputy made a traffic stop and a computer check confirmed that Foster’s license were revoked. He was brought to the jail for booking. In the burglary and theft cases, Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, January 12 Foster entered an outbuilding on Jacobs Pillar Road and took green wrought iron furniture, a Stihl weedeater, a weedeater blade, and a Chaise lounge all valued at approximately $1,090. The burglary and theft cases were investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.
48 year old Johnny Ramos of McMinnville is charged with a fourth offense of driving on a revoked license. His bond is $4,500 and he will be in court February 12. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, January 12 a deputy responded to a domestic complaint in which a man was reported to have left the scene in a white Ford van. While enroute, the officer spotted Ramos who was driving a van which fit the description. He made a traffic stop and learned that Ramos’ drivers license were revoked.
43 year old Scottie Dewayne Linder of Oak Drive, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and possession of a handgun while under the influence. He was further issued a citation for driving on roadways laned for traffic. His bond is $6,500 and he will be in court March 5. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, January 15 a deputy was dispatched to Highway 56 north for a possible impaired driver. The officer spotted a vehicle crossing over the center line and into the opposite lane of travel. He made a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Linder. After obtaining consent to search the automobile, the deputy found a Glock 21 caliber pistol. Linder submitted to and performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also took a blood test. Linder was then placed under arrest.
47 year old Mark Allen Thomas of Woodbury is charged with public intoxication. He was further issued a citation for simple possession. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court January 22. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, January 15 a deputy responded to Short Mountain Highway in reference to an intoxicated man who was reported to be beating on the door of a residence. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the homeowner who identified a neighbor, Thomas as the person responsible. The deputy located Thomas and advised him not to be knocking on his neighbor’s doors. But before the officer left the area, Thomas started walking back toward his neighbor’s homes. The deputy again confronted Thomas. According to Sheriff Ray, Thomas allegedly threatened the deputy by reaching into his coat pocket and making the statement “You’re going to hate me for this”. Thomas was unsteady on his feet and had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. For his safety and the safety of others, Thomas was placed under arrest. Two Klonopin pills, a schedule IV drug, were found in an unlabeled bottle in Thomas’ pocket.

U.S. Army Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Bill Hawkins, whose military career has carried him to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, returned home Saturday for a promotion ceremony and reception. Hawkins has been promoted to the rank of Chaplain Colonel.
The ceremony was held at the Smithville First Baptist Church, Chaplain Colonel Hawkins’ hometown place of worship. Members of Hawkins’ family, many friends, and veterans were in attendance. Military officials participating in the program were U.S. Army Chaplain Colonel Brent Causey, Retired Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Will Bearden, and Chaplain Captain Robert Sterling.
Chaplain Colonel Hawkin’s father, Billy Hawkins, Sr., his wife Trudy, and their daughter and son, Sarah and Ben pinned the Colonel insignias on his service dress coat during the ceremony.
“I’m just overjoyed and excited about being here in Smithville and getting to celebrate a promotion that has been long in coming but to do that with my family has been outstanding,” Chaplain Colonel Hawkins told WJLE after the ceremony.
Hawkins is a graduate of DeKalb County High School and Middle Tennessee State University. He began his Army career in 1985 when he simultaneously entered the ROTC program at Middle Tennessee State University and the Tennessee Army National Guard in Smithville. He received a reserve infantry Officer Commission in 1987 upon graduating from MTSU. After serving three years in both the Tennessee and Indiana Army National Guard, he transitioned to the Chaplain Candidate Program while studying at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. After a total of eight years of commissioned service in the Army National Guard and the Army Reserves, he entered Active Duty as a Chaplain at Fort Drum, New York in 1995.
Chaplain Hawkins’ multiple assignments, both overseas and within the United States, include tours of duty in New York, Germany, Macedonia, Washington D.C. (2 assignments), Texas, Iraq, and Washington. The units he served include Corps Support Battalion, Air Defense Artillery, Army Medical Centers (3 tours), Field Artillery, Wounded Warrior Ministry, and his current assignment as the Garrison Chaplain at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
His awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Ribbon (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Accommodation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Air Assault Badge, the Combat Action Badge, and other Service, Campaign, and Superior Unit Awards.
His marriage to Trudy Hawkins spans 26 years, and they have two young adult children, 22 year old Sarah and 20 year old Benjamin.
Asked how long he plans to continue his military service, Chaplain Colonel Hawkins told WJLE he is leaving that up to God. “I am going to stay in the military until I feel called to do something else. That’s God’s calling. He’ll let me know when it’s time to leave,” he said

The 2014 DeKalb County Volunteer Firefighter of the Year is Robin Summers, Station Commander of the Short Mountain Highway Station.
Summers received the award Saturday night during the Department’s Annual Awards Banquet held at the DeKalb County Complex.
Meanwhile,Lieutenant Brian Williams was named the DeKalb County Fire Department’s 2014 Officer of the Year and Jeremy Neal, Station Commander of the Blue Springs Station, received the Department’s 2014 “Git R Done” award. The “Rookie” award went to Firefighter Steven Lawrence of the Liberty Station. In addition to these four long standing awards, a new one has been created called the “EMS Star of Life Award” which will be presented annually to a member of the department who goes above and beyond to extend joint cooperation in improving emergency medical training and responses for members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department. This year’s winner is Kristie Johnson, Station Commander of the Main Station and a DeKalb EMS Paramedic.
The Firefighter of the Year Award was presented to Summers by Captain Anthony Boyd. “Robin was nominated this year and the evaluation of his nomination considered his fire call response, training attendance, and community service participation. The fire calls and training attendance stand for themselves. He excelled in both of those areas. As far as his community service, Robin has demonstrated an outstanding community service by taking the lead in allowing our department to be effective in fire prevention and education activities throughout the year. As Station Commander, Robin has gone to great extents to make himself available to train new recruits on his station, while also providing frequent refresher training to his veteran members assigned to the Short Mountain Station. The DeKalb County Fire Department attempts to recognize firefighters who reflect a positive image of the department in the community, and there’s absolutely no doubt that Robin has earned the honor of being named DeKalb County Fire Department’s 2014 “Firefighter of the Year”.
Chief Donny Green presented the “Officer of the Year” award and highlighted Lt. Williams’ achievement in training attendance, incident response, and community service. “Brian demonstrated an outstanding level of community service by taking the lead in allowing our department to partner with the Tennessee Fire Marshall’s Office in the “Get Alarmed Tennessee” Smoke Alarm Program. Starting in April 2013 and up to December 31, 2014, Brian has sacrificed his personal time and expense to travel to every community in DeKalb County while delivering and installing just over 1,000 smoke alarms in homes with no alarms, or in homes with deficient alarms. The degree of safety for our DeKalb County residents has been dramatically improved with Brian’s efforts in this program. A responsibility that he voluntarily accepted. “This type of community service so clearly demonstrates exceptional community service, while going above and beyond normal training and emergency response duties, and is exactly why Lt. Brian Williams was selected and recognized with the prestigious 2014 “Officer of the Year” Award, said Chief Green.
Neal’s “Git R Done” award was presented by Lieutenant Jay Cantrell. “This award is given to a firefighter who demonstrates exceptional sacrifices by attending work sessions, additional instructor-led fire related training, and working to enhance the department’s fundraising successes. Jeremy willingly took on a leading role in planning and redesigning the department’s Jamboree food booth. The food booth is used each year at the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival and is the department’s major fundraising event. Jeremy headed up the booth renovation project that doubled the size of the food booth and helped make our 2014 food booth fundraiser the most successful year ever. Jeremy’s commitment to sacrifice his personal time, while leading the numerous work sessions involved in this project, clearly shows why he is being recognized as the 2014 recipient of the DeKalb County Fire Department’s “Git R Done” Award.”
The “Rookie of the Year” award is exclusively based on hours of training and goes to a firefighter that completed his/her basic recruit training during 2014, according to Assistant Chief/Training Officer David Agee who made this year’s presentation. “The department feels that the most important thing we can do for our new recruits is to give them basic training and reinforce the importance of training. Consequently, training is the sole criteria used in the “Rookie of the Year” selection. From January through December 2014, Steven had 168.75 hours of training, including completion of the 64 hour Basic Firefighter Training. In addition to his Basic Recruit training, he has completed extra training to improve his firefighting abilities. We certainly want to recognize recruits who demonstrate an outstanding level of commitment to training. Our department is fortunate to have an excellent group of recruits who have excelled in training in 2014. We are proud of all of them and we are honored to name Firefighter Steven Lawrence as our “Rookie of the Year” for 2014,” said Asst. Chief Agee.
Johnson’s award, presented by Chief Green, is for her achievement in coordinating an Emergency Medical Responder course that was hosted in DeKalb County and which allowed many of the Department’s members to participate and complete the training. Kristie also conducted multiple CPR courses in the county. Because of her efforts, members of the Department have benefited by having better access to medical training opportunities. Chief Green commended Acting EMS Director Hoyte Hale for the cooperation and assistance extended to the department.
10 firefighters were recognized and presented pins for their years of service including the following:
5 years of service: Nelson Davis (Station Commander of the Cookeville Hwy. Station),
Bill Fowler (Station Commander of the Temperance Hall Station),
Robin Summers (Station Commander of the Short Mtn. Station), and
Gary King (Austin Bottom Station)
10 years of service: Jeremy Neal (Station Commander of the Blue Springs Station),
Tim Pedigo (Blue Springs Station), and
Calvin Tramel (Station Commander of the Midway Station)
15 years of service: Captain Michael Lawrence
25 years of service: Danny Parker (Johnson’s Chapel Station)
40 years of service: Wilson Williams (Liberty Station)
Assistant Chief David Agee was awarded the Department’s Honorary Lifetime Membership. David Agee, a former Captain, Lieutenant, and a member for 19 years is currently serving his second term as the Department’s Assistant Chief. He has made significant contributions to continued progress of the Department.
Thirty seven members of the department were also presented incentive awards for their “above and beyond” efforts in regards to training attendance and fire call response. Award incentives are provided to firefighters who made 100% of their monthly training and at least 35% of their assigned station calls, or at least 75% of their monthly training and at least 35% of their assigned station calls. Chief Green says the goal is to use these incentives as a tool to help encourage volunteer firefighters to stay engaged and involved with the training and operation in the department. Firefighters who met the 100% attendance criteria in 2014, each received $400 (or a prorated amount if they have been active for less than the full year). Firefighters who met the 75% attendance criteria in 2014, each received $200 (or a prorated amount if they have been active for less than the full year).
Firefighters receiving 100% Level Incentive Awards are as follows:
Asst. Chief David Agee, Matt Boss, Bill Fowler, Chief Donny Green, Donnie Johnson, Dusty Johnson, Jerry Wayne Johnson, Kristie Johnson, Wayne Johnson, Vert Komoroski, Ronald Merriman, Jeremy Neal, Andy Pack, Shawn Puckett, Brent Reed, Steve Repasy, Robert Sartin, Robin Summers, Calvin Tramel, and Lt. Brian Williams.
Firefighters receiving 75% Level Incentive Awards are as follows:
Matt Adcock, Josh Arnold, Brayde Baker, Seth Braseel, Lt. Kyle Casper, Gelasio “Marco” Chacon, Nelson Davis, Anthony Johnson, Mark Johnson, Gary King, Harley Lawrence, Steven Lawrence, Bob Myracle, Jason Neal, Danny Parker, Hugh Washer, and Lt. Chris Wyke.
Belk Station Commander Andy Pack presented a special Award of Appreciation to Joanna Pennington of the Belk Community. Mrs. Pennington has continuously helped secure financial support for the Belk Station.
To conclude the ceremony, Chief Green officially announced recent officer selections. Lieutenant Jay Cantrell has been promoted to the rank of Captain and Firefighter Jeff Williams has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
The Annual Awards Banquet began with a delicious meal and excellent entertainment from Steve Brogan, a comedian and ventriloquist who mixes stand-up comedy, puppetry, audience participation, and improvisation, along with his astonishing voice manipulations. Approximately 175 people were in attendance at the Awards Banquet, including firefighters, their families, local and state officials, graduates of the 2014 Citizens’ Fire Academies (Spring and Fall session), and community partners. County Fire Chief Donny Green presided over the ceremony.

DeKalb County School buses have passed state inspection. Bus drivers were also tested and have been recertified.
State Trooper Darryl Winningham of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, inspector for this district, completed his evaluation this week (January 13-16) of all the buses in the fleet including the substitute buses.
“We’ve got 37 buses on route and four sub buses and everything has passed inspection with the state that is in service. It’s been a long four days but they inspected all buses from front to rear including every switch, every air line, every fan motor, every light, and I’m proud to say that DeKalb County’s buses are safe. We passed 100%. There were some simple things found that were wrong such as light bulbs and we had one exhaust leak but all of that was fixed on the spot and there were no reinspections. The state passed them. Again, we have 42 buses in the fleet counting our band bus that hauls the band equipment and we have a shuttle bus we use. Thirty seven buses are on route and we have four buses that are used as sub buses, two handicapped buses and two class-D regular route 90 passenger buses that are substitute status,” said School Transportation Supervisor Jimmy Sprague in an interview with WJLE Friday.
“I do a level one inspection. I go from the front to the back and top to bottom from checking the tire tread depth to checking brakes, pads, rotors, and drums. I check the seats to make sure they are secure. I check the air pressure on the brakes to make sure it holds pressure and that there are no air leaks. I check every light inside and outside the bus. Anything that has to do with the safety of the bus, we check it. We’ve been here for four days this week and I usually inspect eight to ten buses a day. When we leave everything will be up and in service, running well,” Trooper Winningham told WJLE
“In this inspection, we found minor headlight, brake light, running light (deficiencies). They could have happened on their way in here today. Most things were a simple fix. Everything was fixed as we went. We didn’t find anything that runs the route that should be out of service. Our job is to maintain a level of inspection on the bus to keep it safe for all the children. We’re not here to put them out (of service) we’re here to keep them up. That’s our whole purpose here to inspect them to make sure they are safe and ready to pick up a child,” said Trooper Winningham.
On Friday, the bus drivers tested for recertification. “We did recertification of our drivers and I’m proud to say that all of our drivers are recertified with an endorsement through the state. Nobody failed,” Sprague concluded.

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, says the DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee met in regular session on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 to canvass and tabulate the ballots received in the 2014 Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 2 (DeKalb County) and LAA # 4 (Cannon County) County Committee Elections.
In the LAA # 2 election, Jack Campbell was elected to serve as Committee Member, and Thomas Chandler was elected to serve as 1st. Alternate. In the LAA # 4 election, Javin Fann was elected to serve as Committee Member, and Steve Foster was elected to serve as 1st. Alternate. All elected members began their terms on January 1, 2015.
The DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee met on January 6, 2015 to conduct its Organizational Meeting. The Committee selected Jack Campbell as the Chairperson, and Javin Fann as the Vice-Chairperson for 2015. Mary Sanders, R.V. Billings, Jr, and Charles Brown serve as members of the Committee. The Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at the DeKalb/Cannon County USDA Service Center located at 647 Bright Hill Rd.
Green says that the DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee and office staff wishes to express their appreciation to voters in LAA’s # 2 and # 4 who participated in the elections by voting and returning their ballots. “The local County Committees are a very important part of Farm Service Agency’s program delivery and administrative processes,” added Green.
For more information about FSA’s County Committees or other program inquiries, call 597-8225 (extension 2) or come by the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency office at 647 Bright Hill Street in Smithville. You can also visit the agency’s web site at: www.fsa.usda.gov.

Getting children excited about science, technology, engineering and math can be a challenge for any teacher.
Yet some of the teachers at DeKalb West School will have a new tool for four days next week to ignite their students’ interest, the STEMmobile.
The STEMmobile is scheduled to arrive Friday and will be there for teachers and students to make use of during the four days of school next week, January 20-23. “Next week, the four days of school our third through eighth grade will be able to go there and do some science, technology, and math activities with our science teachers. We’re going to incorporate that with our third through eighth grades along with some of our after school programs” said DeKalb West School Principal Sabrina Farler during Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting.
The STEMmobile is a mobile learning laboratory that provides a unique, on-site educational experience for pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade school children. The mobile classroom brings technology to the doorsteps of schools, and the students have access to state-of-the-art equipment to help them to learn about STEM topics in creative and hands-on ways.
This is the second STEMmobile visit to DeKalb West School and it will be open to the public on Sunday, January 25 from 2-3 p.m.
The STEMmobile is a one-of-a-kind product of the Oakley STEM Center and Tennessee Tech University as part of the Upper Cumberland Rural STEM Initiative, a grant project funded by Tennessee’s First to the Top program. UCRSI is part of the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network, where the mission is to enhance student participation and interest in STEM subjects.
The UCRSI project includes STEM platform schools in Putnam County and a hub school selected by each participating county or school district to become more focused on STEM learning. UCRSI also has a STEM Hub, the Oakley STEM Center at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville. The
UCRSI Hub represents a partnership between the 21 school districts, three post-secondary institutions and 11 STEM-related or innovative businesses and non-profit organizations committed to supporting STEM education.
UCRSI’s goal is to tackle the unique challenges of enhancing STEM education for younger learners in mostly rural areas, and to create innovative and collaborative solutions to these challenges.
Housed in a 53-foot tractor-trailer with self-contained power, the STEMmobile has its own heating and cooling system, a satellite uplink for Internet connectivity and workstations to accommodate about 24 students at a time. The classroom on wheels is stocked with equipment from the Oakley STEM Center and includes equipment and supplies for activities for each grade level.
The Oakley STEM Center also has a lending library of STEM instructional materials to partially equip the STEMmobile and classroom kits for STEM subjects are on board, ready to go. The trailer is moved from site to site by Averitt Express, Inc., which has sponsored a significant portion of the transportation costs for the school year.
The STEMmobile is designed to help students learn more about three core STEM themes particularly relevant to rural students: water, with a focus on its importance, usage and conservation; energy, which highlights how power is generated, ways to lower consumption, green energy and long-term energy needs; and my food, my body, my health, which helps students learn more about agriculture, health, nutrition and physical fitness.