County Receives $65,000 In WIC Funds to Assist with Health Department Clinic Renovations

Upper Cumberland Regional Health Director Debbie Johnson joined other state and local officials today to present a total of $65,000 in federal funding from the United States Department of Agriculture for the Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Nutrition Program to DeKalb County. The funds will be used to assist with renovations at the health department clinic in Smithville to improve services to WIC clients.

“The goal of the WIC program is to protect the health of mothers and young children by providing nutritious foods and nutrition education,” said Johnson. “We are pleased the USDA has committed these financial resources to ensure the families of DeKalb County will continue to have access to these important health services.”

The DeKalb County WIC clinic has served more than 1,000 clients during the past year, which led to more than $422,000 in WIC vouchers being redeemed in the county. The federal funding award will be used for improvements to a WIC clinic room and the patient intake area at the health department facility in Smithville.

“We are thrilled to get these federal funds to assist with renovating our clinic,” said DeKalb County Health Director Frances Reese. “These improvements will help make WIC and other health department services more accessible for the residents of DeKalb County.”

DeKalb County is one of 20 Tennessee counties to receive federal funding to enhance WIC services. Funding awards are based upon the size of the county’s WIC population.

The WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program is a federal program designed to provide supplemental food to low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children until the age of five. The program provides nutrition education, supplemental foods, breastfeeding promotion and support and referrals for health care. WIC in Tennessee is administered by the Department of Health. Learn more about the program online at http://health.state.tn.us/wic/index.htm.

(Pictured Left to Right: Dr. Fred Vossel, Upper Cumberland Medical Director; Mike Foster, DeKalb County Mayor; Debbie Johnson, Upper Cumberland Regional Director; Frances Reece, DeKalb County Health Department Director)

Two City Employees Charged with Theft of Scrap Brass from Water Treatment Plant

Two employees of the City of Smithville have been charged with theft of property after allegedly taking scrap brass from the water treatment plant on three occasions and selling it to a recycling center.

Sheriff Patrick Ray says 45 year old Kenny Waymon Dyal, Sr. of Floyd Drive, Smithville and 42 year old Christopher Derrick Ferrell of North Mountain Street, Smithville are each charged with two counts of theft over $500 and one count of theft under $500.

Dyal was the supervisor of the Smithville Water Treatment Plant and Ferrell was a city maintenance employee and water meter reader. Mayor Taft Hendrixson said both men have been discharged.

The warrants against them allege that on Thursday, October 21st; Wednesday, November 3rd; and Thursday, November 4th Dyal and Ferrell took scrap brass from the city water treatment plant without consent and took it to a recycling place where they sold it for $514.50 on October 21st; $156 on November 3rd, and $677.51 on November 4th.

Sheriff Ray says the brass scrap is part of the materials being removed from the water plant, which is undergoing a renovation.

Bond for each is $9,500 and they are scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on November 18th.

32 year old Travis Brent Shoemake of Hickman is charged with theft of property over $1,000. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on November 18th.

According to Sheriff Ray, Shoemake allegedly took a four wheeler from a residence on Lower Helton Road in Alexandria on Sunday, October 24th. He was arrested on Tuesday, November 2nd.

Sheriff Ray said other thefts have been reported in that area and more arrests may be forthcoming. " The sheriff's department has received reports of thefts in the Lower Helton area, about four wheelers having been stolen. After an investigation, Shoemake was arrested for stealing one of the four wheelers. Other arrests are pending. The investigation continues."

Meanwhile, if you should be contacted about purchasing a four wheeler at a price too cheap, contact the Sheriff's Department at 597-4935.

40 year old Frederick Michael Hughes of Barnes Mill Road, Smithville is charged with unlawful possession of a schedule II controlled substance (morphine). His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on December 16th.

Sheriff Ray said on Saturday, November 6th, a deputy stopped a vehicle on Jefferson Road, having prior knowledge that a passenger in the automobile had two state warrants on him. Upon placing the passenger in custody, the officer noticed that Hughes, who was the driver, was trying to hide something in the console. Thinking it might be a weapon, the deputy asked Hughes to step out of the vehicle. He also asked Hughes if he had anything illegal in the vehicle. Hughes replied "no". The officer further inquired, asking Hughes if he had anything on his person. Hughes began emptying his pockets and two green pills, believed to be morphine, dropped from his pocket.

Hughes was then placed under arrest.

41 year old Robert Todd Hendrixson of Sparta Highway is charged with reckless endangerment. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court on November 18th.

According to Sheriff Ray on Sunday, November 7th, Hendrixson got mad at his girlfriend at their residence on Sparta Highway, took his pistol from the closet, and shot several times into the ceiling of their bedroom. Hendrixson's actions placed his girlfriend and her children in danger. Two deputies responded to a 911 call and when they arrived, Hendrixson had left. Inside the bedroom on the bed were six shell casings and six holes were found in the ceiling. Hendrixson was later located at a cemetery on Johnson's Chapel Road and he was placed under arrest. Authorities have not found the gun.

Meanwhile Smithville Police report that 31 year old Randy Lee Meeks of Midway Road was arrested on Saturday, October 30th and charged with a second offense of driving on a suspended license.

Sergeant Randy King saw Meeks driving a vehicle and was aware that his license were suspended. A computer check confirmed it. Bond for Meeks is $2,000.

27 year old Thomas Jacob Sims of Grande Avenue was arrested on Saturday, October 30th and charged with DUI. Sims was operating a motor vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. Sergeant Randy King, who made the stop, smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on Sims' person and observed him to be unsteady on his feet. Bond for Sims is $1,000 and his court date is December 16th.

25 year old Cody Lee Crips of Forrest Avenue was arrested on Saturday, October 30th for evading by a motor vehicle, driving on a revoked license and a second offense of driving under the influence. K-9 Officer Brad Tatrow saw Crips operating a motor vehicle and tried to stop him for a traffic violation. When Officer Tatrow turned on his emergency lights signaling Crips to stop, he kept going until he got to his residence. Upon making contact with Crips, Officer Tatrow noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and Crips' speech was slurred. Officer Tatrow checked his drivers license through dispatch and learned they were suspended. Bond for Crips is $9,500 and his court date is November 18th.

Meanwhile anyone with information on criminal activities is asked to please contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.

Any information received that will help Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential.