Calvary Baptist Church of Smithville has a new minister.
Michael Martin began his pastoral duties there on Sunday, September 20. He and his family have re-located to Smithville from Alabama.
Martin grew up in Brewton, a small town in south Alabama. After graduating from Auburn University, he earned a Master’s Degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He then served two years with the International Mission Board in North Africa. There he met a fellow missionary, Erin, who is the love of his life. Michael and Erin married in 2010. Erin is from Murfreesboro, TN. She graduated from Belmont University, where she studied Early Childhood Education. She currently teaches preschool part-time. They have two children, Katie (3-years) and Titus (1-year).
Michael has served for almost five years as Associate Pastor of Youth and Children at First Baptist Church of East Brewton, AL. Michael’s passions in ministry are preaching God’s Word and seeking to reach others with the gospel. In his free time, Michael enjoys college football, playing sports, being outside, and family time.

DeKalb West School celebrated World Milk Day on Wednesday, September 30.
Cafeteria Manager Nancy Mulloy and her staff stashed 4 cartons of specially marked milk in the regular milk crates, and four lucky students won.
Pictured from left to right are Lauren Fry from Lori Pryor’s 3rd grade classroom, Kindergarten student Lucy Moore from Tonya Ellis’s class, Mulloy, Trenten Shores from Cynthia Preston’s 8th grade class, and William Buterbaugh from Jessica Antoniak’s 6th grade room.

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce had a Groundbreaking Ceremony Monday for Dr. Mitchell S. Tatum, DDS at 201 South Third St., Smithville.
Dr. Tatum’s new office is scheduled to be completed in March, 2016.
Pictured l-r:
Chamber Director Suzanne Williams, Chamber Past President Julia Vanderpool, Chamber Board Member Kathy Hendrixson, Misty Warden, Beth Gill, Zach Tatum, Gina Tatum, Drew Tatum, Dr. Mitchell Tatum, Will Tatum, Phyllis Asberry, Danyalle McMinn, Sandy Winter, Pat Tatum, Larry Tatum, Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss.

The Smithville- DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce had a Ribbon Cutting for new Chamber member, 1st Choice Flooring, 10894 Nashville Hwy., Liberty. 1st Choice Flooring offers a wide range of flooring products and services including carpet, linoleum, vinyl, tile, backsplashes, hardwood, engineered wood, laminate, wood alternatives, luxury vinyl tile and plank, and much more. They do residential and commercial and full installation on all products that they sell and free in-home estimates. Stop by and visit their fully stocked showroom. For more information, call 615-536-1212.
Pictured l-r:
Front: Shirley Mathis, Chamber Board Member Kathy Hendrixson, Chamber Director Suzanne Williams, Melissa Miller, Deanna Deaver
Back: Billy Orrick, Puggy Cook, County Mayor Tim Stribling, Liberty Mayor Dwight Mathis, Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss, Joy Orrick, 1st Choice Flooring Manager Jami Driver, Melinda and Mark Miller, Josh Miller, Telia Miller

A drunk driver who had his five year old daughter in the vehicle with him at the time was arrested last week after a traffic stop in Alexandria.
37 year old Eric Lee Linder of Kennedy Street, McMinnville is charged with reckless endangerment and a second offense of driving under the influence. His bond totals $5,500 and he will be in court on November 5.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said on Tuesday, September 29 a deputy was dispatched to the area of Highways 70 and 53 in Alexandria in reference to a reckless driver who was operating a Chevrolet Camaro. The deputy spotted the vehicle crossing the center line and right shoulder of the road. He made a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Linder who was found to have slurred speech and an odor of alcohol on his person. Linder performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to a blood test.
33 year old Zachary Patrick Greene of Oaks Street, McMinnville is charged with driving under the influence. He was also issued a citation for shoplifting, violation of the open container law, simple possession, and violation of the implied consent law. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court October 15.
Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, October 1 a deputy was dispatched to DeKalb Market in reference to a suspicious man in the parking lot. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the man, Greene who was found to be unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred and he seemed to be very nervous. Although Greene told the officer that someone in the parking lot was trying to fight him, no one else could be found there. During a pat down search of Greene, the officer found a small baggie containing a white pill believed to be Xanax. The deputy also found an open container of vodka on the front passenger side seat of Greene’s vehicle. Greene further had in his possession an electric charging device taken from the store. Greene performed poorly on field sobriety tasks but he refused to submit to a blood test. He was placed under arrest.

The DCHS Golf Team finished second in the district tournament at Fall Creek Falls this week. The boys advance to the regional tournament at Fall Creek Falls on Monday, October 5.
Pictured left to right top row: Lance Davis, Braxton Pugh, Coach Joe Pat Cope, Austin Poss, Isaac Walker, Marshal Evins Left to right bottom row: Hannah Brown and Lexi Spry. Not pictured Abby Evans

Smithville Police have arrested a man believed to be responsible for a recent break-in at Center Hill Wine and Spirits.
Captain Steven Leffew said that while conducting an investigation concerning a burglary earlier in the morning on Friday, September 25 at Center Hill Wine and Spirits, Detective Brandon Donnell arrested 50 year old John Amail Land for burglary, vandalism, and theft. At approximately 5:12 a.m. that morning Sergeant Travis Bryant responded to the store in reference to a burglar alarm. Upon arrival he noticed that the door to the business was busted out and a large rock was lying inside the store. Upon speaking with the owner of the business, it appeared that two bottles of Vodka had been taken. Land became a suspect in the case from store surveillance video. Bond for Land is $8,000 and he will be in court on October 29.
Meanwhile, 46 year old John Micheal Turner was arrested on Friday, September 25 for public intoxication and simple possession. Officer Andy Snow was called to Center Hill Wine & Spirits to check on a possible DUI incident. Upon arrival he spoke with Turner, who was inside the store at the counter. Turner had an odor of alcohol on his person and he became loud and belligerent as Officer Snow spoke with him. Turner was placed under arrest due to his level of intoxication and for being a nuisance in a public place. Upon making an inventory of his person, Officer Snow found white oval shaped pills believed to be Hydrocodone in Turner’ss front pocket for which he had no prescription. Turner’s bond is $3,000 and his court date is October 15.
31 year old Randall Ross Stanley was arrested for DUI on Sunday, September 27. Officer Will Judkins found Stanley passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle in the left lane of West Broad Street facing eastbound at the intersection of Short Mountain Highway. Officer Judkins woke Stanley and found him to have slow slurred speech, red watery eyes, and he was unsteady on his feet. Stanley submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on November 9.
Corporal Chip Avera responded to a half way house on Monday, September 28 in response to a resident having illegal drugs in his possession. Upon arrival, he spoke with 20 year old Samuel Dalton Hatfield who had five Oxycodone and 12 Neurotin in his possession. An investigation revealed that Hatfield had allegedly sold one Oxycodone to another roommate in the house. Hatfield was arrested for sale and delivery of a schedule II drug. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court on October 29.
71 year old Lloyd P Webb was arrested for DUI on Thursday, October 1. Officer Will Judkins conducted a traffic stop after observing Webb failing to drive within his lane of travel. While speaking to him, Officer Judkins found Webb to have red watery eyes, slowed slurred speech, and he was unsteady on his feet. Webb submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on November 19.

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting for new Chamber member, Smithville Sleep Center, 402 East Broad St., Smithville.
This new, locally-owned and operated mattress store offers a wide variety of mattresses to fit any budget, including mattresses from traditional spring to memory foam, along with adjustable bases, and a wide range of pillow options. Statistics show the wrong mattress can actually rob you of sleep and that mattresses are not one-size-fits-all.
Shown from left, are Chamber Director Suzanne Williams, Chamber President Jeff Crips, SSC employee Jonathan Morris, Smithville Sleep Center Owners Chris Wyke and Kyle Casper, Jessica Casper, Chamber Board Members Brandy Lawson and Julia Vanderpool, and Leadership DeKalb Director Jen Sherwood.