January:
Petty ruled “career offender”
Sentenced to fifteen years
A local man who was convicted in DeKalb County Criminal Court on a burglary charge Wednesday was given a 15-year sentence in January as a career offender.
David Michael Petty, 54, was being sentenced for a July 2014 break in when the judge ruled that his seven felony convictions, some dating back to 1980, qualified him as a career offender. His convictions included three kidnappings, an assault with intent to commit a felony, and a grand larceny.
McKenzie gave Petty the maximum sentence allowed by law, a fifteen-year term for aggravated burglary as a career offender. Another twelve-year sentence was handed down for theft of property over $1,000 as a career offender. The terms were merged as one fifteen-year term, and Petty must serve at least 60 percent before he is eligible for parole.
DTC CEO steps down
DTC Communications head Craig Gates left his position with the co-op in January to pursue a new opportunity in Montana. Steve Johnson was named interim CEO until the DTC Board of Directors could choose a new CEO.
Gates career began in 1984. He came to DTC after serving as CEO and VP of Project Mutual, a cooperative in Rupert, Idaho.
Sartin named Firefighter of the Year
The DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department named Robert Sartin its 2015 Firefighter of the Year in January.
Sartin, of the Main Station, was presented the award by Captain Anthony Boyd at the annual fire department banquet at the county complex.
Other awards went to Captain Jay Cantrell, who was named 2015 Officer of the Year. Station Commander Andy Pack of the Belk Station took the 2015 "Git R Done" award. The Rookie of the Year honor went to Matt Adcock of the Belk Station.
February:
Missing horseman’s body found
Minnear located by rescue squad
The Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad located the body of a local man in February after he was reported missing on his horse.
Micheal Minnear was reportedly last see on horseback on Allen Ferry Road Sunday afternoon, where he split off from a group of riders and told them he was going home, a short distance away on Cordell love Road. When he did not arrive home, authorities were called, and a search ensued.
Members of the rescue squad began searching the area just before noon, and within 30 minutes they had located the body at the bottom of a ravine off Holmes Creek Road shortly after noon.
According to rescue squad member Joe Johnson, the man’s horse was found nearby as well.
Hale receives top city fire award
The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department awarded Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale the "Highest Attendance Award" at the annual city firemen’s banquet, held Friday night at the Smithville First United Methodist Christian Fellowship Center.
Hale received the honor from Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker, who said the deputy chief had attended 154 out of 175 calls in 2015, and participated in more hours of training than any other city firefighter last year at 136.
Runners-up were Lieutenant John Poss with 135 calls, Lieutenant Donnie Cantrell with 134, Lieutenant Danny Poss with 132, and Randall Hunt with 130. Gary Johnson was also honored for having the most training hours among non-officers of the department. Johnson participated in 50 hours of training in 2015.
Liberty bank robbed
The Liberty branch of Liberty state bank was robbed by a person wearing a hoodie and carrying a gun in February. The robber, described as a white male, five feet, six inches to five feet, ten inches tall, and wearing a black jacket with a hood at the time of the caper, reportedly made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, the robber ran into the bank just after 8 a.m. He reportedly approached a teller and brandished a firearm. The teller apparently gave the robber an undisclosed amount of money, and he fled on foot with the cash. He has not been seen since.
March:
Trump, Clinton take DeKalb
The winners of the presidential primary in DeKalb County were Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Trump took the Republican vote in the county with 1240 votes, winning all 15 precincts, while Ted Cruz received 600 votes. Marco Rubio took 344, Ben Carson got 175, and 88 ballots were cast for John Kasich
On the Democratic Primary ballot, Clinton won with 641 votes in DeKalb, taking all 15 precincts. Bernie Sanders took 286 votes in DeKalb, and Martin J. O’Malley received no votes.
DeKalb saw 938 voters take advantage of early voting for the DeKalb County Democratic Primary and the Tennessee Presidential Preference Primaries. A total of 595 chose to vote in the Republican Primary, and 343 voted in the Democratic Primaries during early voting.
DCHS Valedictorian, Salutatorian named
Chew, Pafford top scholars
The top scholars at DeKalb County High School Class of 2016 were named in March.
Ashli Chew, the daughter of George and Lori Chew, was named Valedictorian. The Salutatorian was Max Pafford, son of Mark and Beth Pafford.
Sligo ribbon cut
New bridge complete months ahead of schedule
The ribbon was officially cut on the new Sligo Bridge in March.
Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer was joined by state and local officials to celebrate the official completion of the project. The $38.9-million bridge is .8 mile long and 45 feet wide, and replaces the former 24-foot wide structure, which had been standing since 1948.
The new structure is 101 feet over the water, and the bridge depth below the water is 167 feet. Over 11,000 cubic yards of concrete and two million pounds of steel reinforcement were used on the bridge.
Massman Construction Co., Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri was prime contractor for the project, which was completed several months ahead of the June 30 completion date.
Woman charged under viable fetus law
Accused of drug abuse while pregnant
A 22-year-old woman was charged in March after tests allegedly revealed that her newborn baby had been exposed to drugs while in utero.
Smithville Police arrested Samantha Shaye Goodson and charged her under viable fetus as victim laws on March 18. Police said Goodson gave birth to a child in November 2015, and a drug test of the umbilical cord came back positive for hydromorphone and marijuana. Goodson reportedly was not prescribed either drug.
According to 2014 amendments to Tennessee code, a woman may be prosecuted for the illegal use of a narcotic while pregnant, if her child is born addicted to or harmed by the narcotic drug and the addiction or harm is a result of her illegal use of a narcotic drug taken while pregnant. The law also allows the perpetrator to be charged with aggravated assault, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, if they have a pregnancy complication after using illegal drugs.
April:
Former correctional officer indicted for misconduct
Rodriguez accused of smuggling contraband into jail
A former DeKalb County correctional officer was charged with smuggling contraband into the jail after being named in a sealed indictment on April 4.
Francisco Rodriguez, 24, was indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury last week after an investigation by the sheriff’s department allegedly revealed that Rodriguez had taken money from inmates to smuggle tobacco and other contraband to their cells. The former officer is charged with official misconduct and introduction of contraband.
Rodriguez had reportedly been employed as a correctional officer at the sheriff’s department for six months when Sheriff Patrick Ray terminated him in December 2015. Ray said the results of an internal investigation led to Rodriguez’ firing and indictment.
Ray said that law-enforcement officials who break the public trust will not be tolerated under his administration.
Hayes named Teacher of the Year
Lesa Hayes was named the 2016 Teacher of the Year in DeKalb County in April.
Hayes, a 17-year veteran who teaches seventh-grade math at DeKalb Middle School, received the John Isbell Memorial Award and a check for $150 at the ninth annual Teacher of the Year banquet, held at the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church last week. The award and a check was presented to Hayes by Roy Nelson Pugh, of banquet sponsor Liberty State Bank, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps, and Lori Isabell, for whose late husband the award is named.
All five local Teacher of the Year contenders were honored by school administrators and presented with the customary school bell for being chosen as Teacher of the Year at their respective schools.
Leah Magness, a first-grade instructor in her ninth year as a teacher was selected from Smithville Elementary School. Alisha Day, a 14-year teacher who teaches fifth-grade reading, language arts, and social studies in the fifth grade was chosen from Northside Elementary School.
Cynthia Pulley, in her eighth year as an instructor, and teaches all subjects in the fourth grade was picked from DeKalb West School. Amanda Fuller, an 11th-grade chemistry and biology teacher in her 20th year in the classroom, was selected from DeKalb County High School.
Lonnie Mack dies at 74
DeKalb County resident Lonnie Mack, a guitarist and singer whose instrumental hits in the early sixties influenced guitarists such as Keith Richards and Stevie Ray Vaughan passed away on April 21 at the age of 74.
Born Lonnie McIntosh in West Harrison, Indiana on July 18, 1941. His father was a farmhand and banjo player, and Mack began performing in the family bluegrass band at age seven.
The instrumentals "Memphis," and "Wham," apparently inspired young men all over the planet to pick up the guitar. His frantic marriage of blues and rock and roll set several people on the road to rock stardom, though Mack enjoyed limited success.
Mack also did session work for artists such as James Brown, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters and the Doors. His 1958 Gibson Fling V guitar became his trademark, and the company issued Lonnie Mack signature models of the axe for many years.
Warren men charged in botched robbery
Two arrested after attempt
Two Warren County men faced charges of attempted aggravated robbery after a botched attempt to take a McMinnville Highway man’s wallet at knifepoint on April 29.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Logan Tyler Martin, 19, and 18-year-old Charles Robert Fults, Jr., both of McMinnville, drove up to a local home where the intended victim was working in his yard. Fults allegedly exited the passenger side of the vehicle and drew a knife as he approached the resident, demanding the man’s wallet.
When the victim refused to give the wallet up, Fults reportedly got back into the vehicle, with Martin behind the wheel, and the two drove away. After the incident was reported to central dispatch, a "Be On The Lookout" (BOLO) was issued to other law enforcement agencies, and the vehicle was spotted in Warren County, where the duo was arrested.
May:
Student charged with making threat to blow up high school
An 18-year-old student at DeKalb County High School was taken into custody and accused of threatening to blow up the school in April.
Colby Ray Clark was charged with terrorism hoax. The sheriff said the School Resource Officer was called to a teacher’s classroom on May 12 to investigate the threat. An investigation allegedly determined that Clark had stated that he was going to blow up the high school. Several witnesses reportedly told the SRO they heard Clark make the threat.
Man holds gun to wife’s head
A 49-year-old local man was charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly threatened his wife’s life with a handgun on May 18.
William Boyce Butler was arrested after a sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a Lee Braswell Road home to check out reports of a domestic assault involving a firearm. According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, the officer made contact with a female who told him that her husband was intoxicated, and there was an argument about him being intoxicated.
The wife reportedly attempted to leave the residence, but Butler would not let her. He allegedly pushed the woman down and told her that she was not going to leave, then held a .38 Special revolver to her head and said he was going to kill her.
June:
Black Bear Illegally Killed in DeKalb County
TWRA agents cited a local man after he apparently killed a black bear in June.
Jim Beshearse shot the bear on his Old Snow Hill Road property, just outside city limits. He was issued a citation for killing big game during closed season, and was not arrested or taken into custody.
Beshearse was reportedly startled by the bear, believed to be the same one spotted in locations from Rock Island to Robinson Road in DeKalb County during the week, and shot the animal.
“This is isn’t the kind of day I like.” said Tony Cross, a 24-year veteran with TWRA. Cross said he believed the man had no intention of killing a bear when he left his house. “I think he just shot before he thought of another solution,” shared Cross. However, state laws were violated and the man was charged with shooting big game outside of the season. Additionally, there is not an open season for black bear in DeKalb County.”
DTC names new CEO
DTC Communications announced that Chris Townson had joined the cooperative as its new chief executive officer in June. Townson brings with him 22 years of industry experience, along with an understanding of and commitment to the cooperative business model.
Born and raised in northeast Alabama, Townson relied on cooperatives for both electricity and telecommunications service. He began work with Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative (based in Rainsville, Alabama) in 1994. His experience there included outside plant, information systems, industry and external relations, government affairs and business development.
Joining Townson were his wife, Melissa, a high school language arts teacher, and their two sons Christian, 17, and Ethan, 12.
County commissioner charged with DUI:
A member of the DeKalb County Commission faced dui charges after being pulled over by a sheriff’s deputy in June.
Jerry David Adcock, 65, was charged with a first offense of driving under the influence and was cited for driving on roadways laned for travel. According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, a deputy spotted a Ford pickup truck failing to maintain its lane of travel on Sparta Highway.
The lawman performed a traffic stop and found Adcock to be the driver. While speaking with Adcock, the deputy allegedly noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Adcock reportedly admitted to having consumed four or five alcoholic beverages earlier in the evening.
The sheriff said Adcock submitted to, but performed poorly on, field sobriety tasks, his eyes were bloodshot, he was unsteady on his feet, and his speech was slow. He reportedly submitted to a blood alcohol test.
44 pot plants worth more than $220,000 seized in indoor grow operation
Part of multi-county operation
Authorities busted an indoor operation with an estimated $220,000 worth of high-grade marijuana growing inside on Poss Road in June.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, agents of the TBI and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force executed search warrants at 1117 Poss Road while a Governor’s Task Force on Marijuana Eradication helicopter flew over of the property.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, 44 plants up to 7 ½ feet tall and 3 ½ feet wide were found in a metal barn. He said the plants were capable of producing as much as five pounds of pot per plant at an estimated street value of $2,500 per pound.
No one was found at the location at the time of the bust, but arrests were reportedly made later, as the operation in DeKalb was apparently part of a larger investigation, in which 11 arrests were made and 320 pot plants were seized across Middle Tennessee. On Wednesday, eleven individuals were arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and booked into the Davidson County Jail, including the man apparently listed as owner of the property at 1117 Poss Road, Alexis Ravelo, 51, of Madison.
Others arrested were:
•Carlos Hernandez Landerio, 25, Hohenwald
•Luis Orlando Rego, Jr, 32, Shelbyville
•Luis Orlando Rego, Sr, 54, Madison
•Holly Furlough, 23, Madison
•Nelson A Perez, 43, Antioch
•Pedro Martin, 28, Lafayette
•Hector Ruiz, 28, Antioch
•Israel Martinez, 58, Bloomington Springs
•Humberto Perez, 28, Antioch
•Luis Lopez, 25, Antioch
Of the 320 marijuana plants seized, 224 were found in Lewis County, 52 in Macon County, and 44 in DeKalb County. About 15 pounds of the marijuana, valued about $37,500, and multiple weapons were found in one of the Davidson County locations. Three guns were found in the Bedford County location, and a total of more than $140,000 in cash was seized from multiple sites.
Ponder charged in courthouse fire
A 52-year-old local man faced charges of aggravated arson after he allegedly set a fire in the courthouse in June.
City police took Gary Wayne Ponder into custody at his Old Mill Hill Road home after a review of video surveillance reportedly revealed that Ponder took newspapers out of a recycling bin and lit them on fire with a cigarette lighter around 2:55 p.m. The fire caused several thousand dollars in damage to the courthouse, charring the wall behind the recycling bin and cracking a window near the flames. The entire first floor of the building suffered smoke damage as well.
It was first believed that a lit cigarette had been thrown into a recycling bin, but the video footage seemed to show Ponder intentionally setting the blaze just inside the first-floor entrance to the building.
Landfill truck hits bridge:
A DeKalb County Landfill truck struck the Veterans Memorial Bridge over Highway 70 at College Street in June.
The driver of the 2013 Western Star truck, Roger Chapman, 54, was transported to St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital by DeKalb EMS for treatment of apparently minor injuries. According to Trooper T.J. Withers of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Chapman was traveling east on 70 with the lift raised on the truck when he struck the bridge.
The trooper said that Chapman had just dropped a dumpster off near DCHS, and the lift was not lowered. The collision caused a great deal of damage to the underside of the bridge, scattering chunks of concrete across the highway, the eastbound lane of which was closed by city police until TDOT could come out and inspect the structure.
College Street was also closed at the top of the bridge, and remains so today, pending repair. Chapman was issued a citation by city police for traveling 57 mph in a 40-mile zone.
