Andrea Coleman, Fifth Grade DARE Essay winner at DeKalb West School. Pictured with Sheriff Patrick Ray and Chief Deputy Don Adamson
Karley Knowles, Fifth Grade DARE Essay winner at Northside Elementary School. Pictured with Sheriff Patrick Ray and Chief Deputy Don Adamson
New Sign Erected Outside of County Complex
Erin Cantrell-Pryor received over $212,500 in scholarships at DCHS Thursday, the largest total award presented to any student, including a $186,000 scholarship from Cornell University
Rawlin Vanatta, owner/operator of the White Possom Grille in Smithville, talked about jobs in the culinary arts during Career Day at DeKalb West School
DCHS Class of 2013 Scholarship Recipients at Awards Day
Singer/Songwriter Sam Mullins talked to 6th-8th grade students at DeKalb West School about careers in music at the annual Career Day, coordinated by School Counselor Bill Conger.
Junior DCHS Golfer Mallory Sullivan signs with Cumberland University to play golf after she graduates. Members of her family joined Mallory at the signing Thursday along with DCHS Coach Joe Pat Cope
School Board Votes 4-1 to make cuts in Tentative Budget for 2013-14. (OLDER PHOTO) (READ STORY UNDER LOCAL NEWS)
DCHS Principal Patrick Cripps, Valedictorian Taylor Leach, Salutatorian P.J. Carroll, State Rep Mark Pody, State Sen. Mae Beavers, State Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver, and Director of Schools Mark Willoughby
Smithville Crime Stoppers Board meets with D.A. Randy York: Officer Matt Farmer, Shawn Jacobs, Randy York, Gayla Hendrix, John Daniels, Karen Caplinger, Mayor Jimmy Poss, and Phillip (Fluty) Cantrell
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society for Key Women Educators welcome new members Mandy Dakas and Kathy Bryant into the Beta Theta Chapter. Pictured with long-time members, Louise Frazier and Jenelle Pugh.
Sheriff Patrick Ray, detectives, deputies, and TBI agent Billy Miller examine Chevy Blazer pulled from the lake where Putnam County woman died after the vehicle ran into the water. (See Videos)
Chevy Blazer Pulled from Center Hill Lake at Johnson Chapel Boat Ramp. Putnam County woman died after the vehicle submerged in the water. Two others escaped unharmed (See videos)
Woman Dies After Chevy Blazer Runs off Boat Ramp and Submerges in Lake (SEE VIDEOS UNDER LOCAL NEWS)
Retiring teachers from Smithville Elementary left to right and their years of service. Ms. Jan Thomas- 35 years, Mrs. Sue Driver- 39 years, Mrs. Mary Pugh- 30 years
Cancer Survivors at Relay for Life
Presentation of the Colors by Boy Scout Troop #347 at Relay for Life
The DeKalb County Commission Monday night voted 12-2 to participate in a partnership with the City of Smithville and the school system to appropriate up to three thousand dollars a year toward the cost of hiring someone to direct traffic in the school zone at Northside Elementary. First district commissioners Elmer Ellis, Jr. and Mason Carter voted against the proposal
The Smithville Aldermen voted to make the same $3,000 appropriation earlier this month with the understanding that the county and school board would each fund one third of the costs as well.
Several county and city officials held an informal meeting at the courthouse a few weeks ago to discuss the plan which calls for the County, the City of Smithville, and the Board of Education to share in the cost of funding the position of one crossing guard or officer to direct traffic in the mornings and afternoons for a total of approximately four hours a day, Monday through Friday, in the school zone at Northside Elementary School. County Mayor Mike Foster said the cost is estimated to be eight to nine thousand dollars per year, which could be split equally between the county, city, and school system.
During Monday night's county commission meeting, seventh district member Jimmy Poss said he recently discussed the issue with Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger who mentioned that
a plan could be worked out to have someone directing traffic at both Northside Elementary and at DeKalb County High School each day, using the same amount of time and money. According to Chief Caplinger, Poss said instead of paying one person to spend four hours per day at Northside Elementary School (two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon), two people could be hired, one for Northside Elementary and one for DeKalb County High School each to direct traffic for two hours per day (one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon).
The school board has not yet taken up the proposal.
The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department has charged a 21 year old Smithville man in a recent burglary and theft.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Matthew James Wilbur of West Main Street is charged with one count of burglary and one count of theft of property over $500. Wilbur is under a $10,000 bond and he will be in court on September 30th.
Wilbur allegedly broke into a home July 14th on Old Hickory Place. Sheriff Ray says he entered through a back window and took from the home a hammock, exercise machine, a play house, and a trash can all valued at over $500.
40 year old Jenna Sue Murphy of Restview Avenue, Smithville was arrested on Wednesday, September 22nd and charged with simple possession of a schedule II drug (morphine), simple possession of a schedule II drug (oxycodone), and simple possession of a schedule IV drug (Xanax) Total bond for Murphy is $4,500 and her court date is October 7th.
Sheriff Ray says a deputy, along with Murphy's probation officer, went to her home to do a home check. While there, the deputy noticed Murphy putting a pill bottle behind her back as she sat down. The officer obtained the pill bottle and searched both the bottle and Murphy's pocket book. He found two and a half xanax pills, eight oxycodone pills, and two morphine pills.
39 year old Timothy Wade Ford of Brush Creek, an inmate at the jail, has been charged again with possession of a weapon in a penal institution, after correctional officers for a second time in recent weeks, found shanks or makeshift knives while searching his cell.
Sheriff Ray says the shanks were found under Ford's mattress. The shanks were made in jail from items he gathered around the cell, mostly wooden pieces stripped from mop and broom handles
Ford has taken responsibility for the shanks. His bond on this charge is $5,000 and he will be in court on October 21st.
26 year old Amy Leigh Estes of Vinewood Road, McMinnville was arrested on Tuesday, September 21st and charged with driving on a suspended license.
Sheriff Ray says Estes was operating a motor vehicle on Highway 146 and stopped for failure to drive in her lane of travel. A computer check revealed her license were suspended for failure to satisfy a citation on August 28th, 2006 in Cannon County. Estes is under a $1,000 bond and will be in court on October 6th.
49 year old Jimmy Dwayne Evans of Anthony Avenue, Smithville was arrested on Friday, September 24th and charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,000and he will be in court on October 7th.
While at Mapco, an officer saw a blue Nissan drive across the parking lot and almost hit the side of a deputy's patrol car. The driver of the Nissan stopped. The deputy got out to speak to the driver and noticed that the man (Evans) had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and very slurred speech. There was also an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The deputy asked Evans to perform field sobriety tasks which he failed. He was unsteady on his feet. He refused to submit to a blood alcohol test.
