Surrounded by her parents, coaches, principal and fellow players, DCHS Softball standout Tyra Graham, a senior, signed scholarship papers Wednesday with Cumberland University of Lebanon to play softball after she graduates here.
“I chose Cumberland because I really wanted to be close to home and when I went to visit there they really made me feel welcome. They were really friendly,” said Graham.
“We’re really excited to have Tyra. I think that she is pretty versatile and definitely very athletic so we are looking for her to make an immediate impact. She seems like a well rounded person and that’s something we look for in our program,” Cumberland Softball Coach Heather Stanfill told WJLE.
DCHS Tigerette Coach Danny Bond said Graham is quite talented and has contributed to his teams making back to back state tournament appearances the last two seasons. “She has helped us to achieve success with our last two teams going to the state. Her freshman year she was on the team that went to the region. We’ve had a lot of wins under our belt with her. The last two years Tyra has played at shortstop. Her freshman year she played at second base and in the outfield some. She leads off for us in the top order of the lineup. She has great speed. Tyra is a real scrappy player. Her glove is tremendous. She has defensive ability and batting in the upper part of the lineup means she is pretty consistent with the bat and can go either way, left handed or right handed. She can play the small game and the big game. Tyra can hit the ball long or bunt it, drag it or slap it. She has a lot of tools in her tool box,” said Coach Bond.
Graham was joined at the signing by her parents, Kyle and Doris Graham, Coach Bond and his assistant softball coaches Danny Fish and Melissa Ruch, Cumberland Coach Heather Stanfill, DCHS Principal Kathy Bryant and members of the Tigerette Softball Team.
TOP PHOTO: Top Left to Right: DCHS Tigerette Coach Danny Bond, Cumberland Coach Heather Stanfill, and Assistant Tigerette Coach Danny Fish. SEATED: Left to Right: Assistant Tigerette Coach Melissa Ruch, Kyle Graham, Tyra Graham, Doris Graham, and DCHS Principal Kathy Bryant.
BOTTOM PHOTO: Top Left to Right: Kelly Roberts, Kristina Bain, Hailey Redmon, Kendal Taylor, Katie Hall, Hannah Walker, Cumberland Coach Heather Stanfill, Myranda Bailiff, Kayley Caplinger, Lexi Bates, Hannah Panter, Allison Maynard, and Maddie Dickens. SEATED left to right DCHS Princial Kathy Bryant, Melissa Ruch, Kyle Graham, Tyra Graham, Doris Graham, Danny Fish, and Coach Danny Bond.

A Dowelltown man charged with child rape for allegedly touching his eight year old niece in a sexual manner was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Wednesday, December 2.
Judge David Patterson presided.
22 year old Jonathan Everett Jay of Snow Hill Road, Dowelltown, who was indicted on two counts of child rape, entered a plea to one count of rape of a child and received a 25 year prison sentence. He is to serve 100% of the sentence day for day. Jay was given 447 days of jail credit.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, September 11, 2014 a Sheriff’s Department Detective responded to a residence on Snow Hill Road regarding a sexual assault of an eight year old girl. According to the mother, the child said that her uncle (Jay) had touched her inappropriately. The detective and a member of the Department of Children’s Services spoke with the child and she confirmed what her mother had reported. When confronted Jay agreed to speak with the detective at the Sheriff’s Department. After reading Jay his rights, the detective began the interview during which time Jay allegedly admitted to having had sexual contact with the child on two occasions, Wednesday August 27 and Thursday, September 11, 2014.

The county plans to reapply for a Community Development Block Grant for water line extension to a certain area of the county in need.
The DeKalb County Commission last fall adopted a resolution to apply for a $525,000 Community Development Block Grant for this purpose on behalf of the DeKalb Utility District.
Had it been approved by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, the grant would have funded the extension of water lines to Tramel Branch, Oakley Road, Carter Lane, Old Givens Hollow, and Dismal to Alexandria Road.
The maximum amount of the grant was $525,000. Had it been approved the DUD would have funded the local matching portion of 16% or $96,000.
This was the county’s second try for the grant involving the same project.
As with the first application filed earlier in 2014, the project was denied because it did not score high enough to be awarded a grant.
During last week’s county commission meeting, County Mayor Tim Stribling said discussions are underway to try again. “I met with Jon Foutch of DUD and Amanda Mainord, who wrote the grant, and we called Brooxie Carlton, the Director of the Department of Economic and Community Development. We had five more low to moderate income families added this year but our project impact score (for the grant) was lower. She (Carlton) said one way it might help would be that we get the cost per person down. By doing that DUD might could put in more money and ask for less money on the grant. That is something they (DUD) will discuss in a meeting to maybe put in more money on their end of it and lower the grant amount we’re asking for to try and get the cost per person down. There will need to be a public hearing before we pass a resolution to let people know that we will be applying for a grant again for those water lines at Tramel Branch, Oakley Road, Carter Lane, Old Givens Hollow, and Dismal to Alexandria Road,” said Stribling.
“She (Carlton) recommended last year (in applying for the grant) that we do 35% well testing instead of the standard 10%. We did that. We raised our score from 191 to 206 but they (state) raised the cut off (score) from 193 to 216,” Stribling added.
The state approved water line extension grants this year for seven applicants including Monroe County, Greene County, Hancock County, Jefferson County, Maynardville, Macon County, and Anderson County totaling $3,456,001.
Applicants who were denied a grant included DeKalb County, Bedford County, McMinn County, Coffee County, Hickman County, Unicoi County, and the Pittman Center.
The total amount of funding requested among all fourteen applicants was $6,628,001

A second arrest has been made in a recent burglary and theft investigation.
27 year old Dustin Matthew Brewer of Barnes Mill Road, Smithville is charged with burglary and theft of property over $1,000. He was arrested on Monday, November 23. His wife, 24 year old Brandi Louise Brewer was charged with the same offenses last week. Bond for each is $25,000 and they will be in court December 10.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on or about Monday, November 9 the Brewers allegedly broke into a building on South Tittsworth Road and stole two chainsaws, an air compressor, an air tank, two wrench sets, an Impact socket, a socket wrench, a hammer drill, a jigsaw, and a 12 volt drill. The total value of the stolen items comes to $1,374. Some of the goods has been recovered and identified by the property owner.
The case was investigated by a Sheriff’s Department detective.
Meanwhile, 30 year old Mark E. Johnson of Circle Drive, Dowelltown is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $1,000. He is under a $10,000 bond and will be in court December 10.
Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, October 25 Johnson allegedly broke into a home through a window and took clothing, sunglasses, watches, and sandals. All the items taken were new and valued at more than $2,500.
40 year old Richard Leon McDaniel of Hayes Ridge Road, Lancaster is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $2,000 and he will make a court appearance December 10.
Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, November 23 a deputy responded to a residence on Hayes Ridge Road for a possible gunshot wound. Upon arrival the officer spoke with McDaniel and his girlfriend who had been in an argument. The officer learned that McDaniel wanted her to leave the residence but she would not go. He then threatened to burn the house down which caused the woman to fear bodily harm. She went and got a gun for protection. As McDaniel tried to take the gun away from her it discharged but no one was injured. McDaniel was found to be the aggressor and he was placed under arrest.
33 year Taren Renee Pilley of Davis Street, Smithville is charged with being a fugitive from justice. Her bond is $25,000 and she will make a court appearance on December 10.
Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, November 24 a sheriff’s department detective conducted a traffic stop on Highway 70. Pilley was a passenger in the vehicle. A computer check revealed that she is wanted in Butler County, Ohio for failure to appear and child support. Pilley was placed under arrest.
46 year old Tammye Estes of Pea Ridge Road, Liberty is charged with driving under the influence. She was further issued citations for a violation of driving on roadways laned for travel and implied consent. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court December 17.
According to Sheriff Ray, on Wednesday, November 25 a deputy responded to Short Mountain Highway in the area of Tabernacle Road in reference to a one vehicle accident. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the driver, Estes. Her speech was slurred and eyes were glazed. She was also unsteady on her feet. Estes told the officer she had earlier taken a Percocet pill. She performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and refused to submit to a blood test. Estes was placed under arrest.
59 year old Johnny Wayne Trapp of East Bryant Street, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court December 10.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, November 27 a deputy responded to Highway 56 north and Pine Grove Road where someone was seen lying in a ditch. Upon arrival the officer found Trapp in the ditch. He appeared to be unsteady on his feet and he had a strong odor of alcohol on him. Trapp admitted to having been drinking. A 25 ounce can of Bud Lite, three quarters empty, was found beside of him. Trapp was placed under arrest.
18 year old Olivia Hope Barber of South Third Street, Smithville is charged with evading arrest. Her bond is $1,500 for evading arrest and she is being held without bond on a drug court order violation. Barber will make a court appearance on December 10.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, November 27 a deputy went to Yulonda Hills Road to serve a drug court order on Barber. As he approached the residence, the officer saw Barber run out the back door. The deputy identified himself and called for Barber to stop but she kept running. The officer caught up with Barber and placed her under arrest. The drug court order against her is for breaking house arrest, not attending classes, and no contact with the drug court staff.

Two separate traffic stops Saturday by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department yielded cocaine, marijuana, and morphine.
An arrest was made in one case while citations were issued in the other.
18 year old Braxton Kain Bennett of Smith Road, Smithville is charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance (1.9 grams of cocaine) for resale. He was also issued a citation for simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana) and for driving on the wrong side of the road. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court on December 10.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Saturday, November 28 a deputy stopped a black Cadillac which was traveling on the left side of the roadway. The officer spoke with the driver, Bennett and noticed a smell of marijuana. Bennett handed the deputy a container which held a plastic bag. Inside the bag was 1.9 grams of a white powdery substance that field tested positive for cocaine. Bennett admitted that it belonged to him. Bennett also turned over a baggie containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana which weighed 1.8 grams. Bennett admitted that the marijuana belonged to him.
Meanwhile in a separate incident, 30 year old Joshua Lynn McCowan of Midway Road, Smithville is cited for driving on a suspended license, failure to maintain lane of travel, and possession of a schedule II drug (morphine). He will make a court appearance on January 21.
Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, November 28 a deputy stopped a Honda Accord for failing to maintain its lane of travel. McCowan was driving the car. A computer check revealed that McCowan’s license were suspended for failure to pay fines. After receiving consent to search, the officer found in a plastic wrap, 30 milligrams of crushed morphine and a spoon.

The Grand Jury has indicted a DeKalb County man for child abuse.
Michael Andrew Judkins of Old Bildad Road, Smithville was named in a sealed indictment by the grand jury last Monday, November 23. He was served with the indictment on Tuesday, November 24. His bond is $1,000 and he will be arraigned in Criminal Court on Monday, December 7.
According to the indictment obtained by WJLE, “Michael Andrew Judkins, on or about the 4th day of March, 2014 did unlawfully, knowingly, and other than by accidental means, inflict injury on (a female born July 13, 2000), a child under eighteen years of age, thereby committing the offense of child abuse”.