Director Seeks No Additional Chamber Funding from County for 2024-25

April 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce is expected to receive the same $35,000 non-profit contribution from the DeKalb County Government in fiscal year 2024-25 as the current year.

During last Tuesday’s budget committee meeting, Chamber Director Suzanne Williams said she is not requesting an increase in funding from the county but is thankful for the $10,000 increase granted for the 2023-24 fiscal year and would like to be able to count on the same amount ($35,000) this coming budget year. The budget committee has not yet acted on Williams’ request.

Williams also gave the following report from the Chamber on priority goals that had been presented at last year’s budget meeting.

•The new tourism website has been created that includes the new tourism video. – www.visitdekalbtn.com

•A new tourism committee, separate from the Chamber Board, has been created and meets monthly.

• The Chamber purchased another full-page ad in the Upper Cumberland Stay and Play Magazine located on page 28.

• $15,000 for Downtown Alexandria Revitalization – The contract has been signed, and work is beginning now.

• Tourism Marketing Grant for 8 Jamboree Billboards

• Instead of $150,000, Suzanne was approved for a $300,000 grant for downtown Smithville Revitalization. The Chamber will be receiving the signed contract soon.

• The Chamber received a $50,000 Three Star Grant for the DeKalb County High School to purchase equipment for a Digital Media and Marketing Program. Brad Leach is in the process of getting that equipment now.

• Only 4 communities in the State of TN were chosen to be included in the new “Destination Branding” initiative. The Chamber wrote and submitted an application and is one of the four that was chosen. The marketing firm, ChandlerThinks, will be meeting with the Tourism Committee and a few other community leaders on April 18th to discuss branding ideas.

“For this grant period, the Chamber has been awarded $390,550 in grants with $77,500 in matches with none of the matches coming from the county or cities,” said Williams.

“In addition, the Chamber compiled the information for the Three Star Status Reports and the Middle TN Industrial Development Association (MTIDA) Data Profiles for the county and cities”.

Williams informed the group that the DeKalb County Clean Up Day is scheduled for May 4th.

Since the Leadership DeKalb Class has started back (since COVID shut it down for awhile), Williams requested that the Leadership DeKalb contribution be added back to the county budget in the amount of $500 to be used for the State Government Session held at the State Capitol.

April 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Looking for a sweet cat to keep you company?

They don’t come any sweeter than “Sugar”, the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”

“Sugar is about two years old. She has already been spayed, micro-chipped, and is up to date on all of her vaccines. Sugar is also sponsored by the Friends of the DeKalb Animal Coalition, so her adoption fee is only $50,” said Dakota Cool.

“Go to our website at https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/ and look for adoptable pets, select cats, and you’ll find Sugar. When you click the link for Sugar you’ll find at the bottom of her profile the option to apply for adoption. Fill out that application and then come to meet her,” added Cool

The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 8 to 4 and Saturday from 8 to 12 at 186 Transfer Station Road. Phone 615-597-3647.

April 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Police, summoned to the scene of a reported fight last month, made an arrest after finding a man there with methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.

33-year-old Jerry Cantrell of Adcock Cemetery Road, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of simple schedule II drug possession.

According to Chief Mark Collins, an officer responded to a report of a fight on Jackson Street March 6 and upon arrival observed Cantrell walking away from the area. The officer called for Cantrell to return so he could speak with him. Initially Cantrell began to move toward the officer but then he darted behind a building where he allegedly tried to discard items he had on him which were found to be a pink substance believed to be Fentanyl, a crystal-like substance thought to be methamphetamine, and a glass pipe believed to have been used to ingest illegal substances.

Seventeen days later, Police arrested a Dowelltown man during a traffic stop after finding him with methamphetamine and Xanax. He was also wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Putnam County.

32-year-old Travis Joe Davenport of Dowelltown is charged with possession of methamphetamine and Xanax with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and a second offense of driving on a revoked license. Chief Collins said that on March 23 an officer spotted a white GMC Sonoma traveling on West Broad Street and upon checking the registration of the driver, Davenport, the officer learned that his license was revoked. He stopped the vehicle and discovered through central dispatch that Davenport had a warrant against him from Putnam County. After obtaining consent to search the automobile, the officer found about 18 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, 14 Xanax bars, and 8 small baggies for resale.

34-year-old Ryan Marsinko of Murfreesboro is charged with driving under the influence, possession of a handgun under the influence, violation of the implied consent law, and driving on roadways laned for traffic. Chief Mark Collins said that on March 2 while on patrol, an officer spotted a red Nissan Titan cross the center line on East Broad Street. He then pulled over the automobile and spoke with the driver, Marsinko. The officer detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Marsinko and noticed that his speech was slurred. Marsinko also refused to submit to field sobriety tasks. While Marsinko was being arrested for DUI, the officer found a Glock 43x handgun in his waistband.

35-year-old Jeffery Dale Penuel of Mount Juliet is charged with two counts of domestic assault. Chief Collins said that on March 2 officers were called to a residence on O’Conner Street due to a domestic assault complaint. Upon arrival, they learned that Penuel had been in a physical altercation with his mother and ex-girlfriend. He allegedly struck both victims in the head and pushed them into a wall.

33-year-old Dustin Lynn Sissom of Jennings Lane is charged with evading arrest and driving under the influence. Chief Collins said that on March 3 while on patrol, an officer observed a black motorcycle operating at a high rate of speed on East Broad Street. He then got behind the bike and activated his lights and siren, but the operator of the motorcycle initially failed to pull over. After a pursuit for several miles, the motorcycle subsequently stopped and the officer found that the operator, Sissom had a strong odor of alcohol on his person and that he was unsteady on his feet. Sissom admitted to having had some alcoholic drinks at a bar. Sissom refused to submit to field sobriety tasks.

51-year-old Eric Matthew Blum of Nashville is charged with driving under the influence. Chief Collins said that on March 3 an officer saw a gray Toyota Tacoma cross the center line and the right side of the roadway several times. He pulled over the automobile and spoke with the driver, Blum who had a strong odor of alcohol on him. His eyes were red and watery, and his speech was slurred. According to police, Blum admitted to having consumed four beers within two hours at the Gentleman’s Club. Blum submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

47-year-old Tiffany Hendrixson is charged with possession of a schedule IV drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was also cited for a traffic control device violation. Chief Collins said that on March 4 an officer, while on patrol, spotted a vehicle run a red light on West Broad Street. The officer pulled over the automobile, spoke with the driver, Hendrixson and detected a strong odor of what he believed to be marijuana. According to police, Hendrixson told the officer a marijuana cigarette was in the ashtray. A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up three marijuana cigarettes, several burnt roaches, and two pills identified as Xanax.

44-year-old Joshua Crawford of Cookeville is charged with driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. Chief Collins said that on March 13 an officer pulled over a white Toyota Tacoma on East Broad Street for failure to maintain lane of travel and spoke with the driver, Crawford. The officer noticed that Crawford’s eyes appeared to be watery and that his speech was slurred. An odor of alcohol was coming from the automobile. According to police, Crawford said he had been at the Gentleman’s Club for four hours. Crawford consented to but performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tasks. A background check revealed that Crawford’s license was suspended.

33-year-old Anthony Richard Shay of Oak Drive, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. Chief Collins said that on March 17 while on patrol, an officer saw a vehicle fail to comply with the move over law while passing a deputy who had another automobile stopped. After pulling over the vehicle driven by Shay, the officer noticed that Shay’s eyes were red and watery and that his speech was slurred. He also had a strong odor of alcohol on him. Shay said that he had consumed about four beers and a shot of whiskey at a bar prior to driving. Shay submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

46-year-old Cynthia Ann Reeder of Morgan Drive, Smithville is charged with domestic assault and disorderly conduct. According to Chief Collins, an officer received a call on March 17 of an unwanted guest on Morgan Drive and upon arrival found a group of people in the front yard of the residence yelling and cussing. The officer intervened in separating the group and after speaking to witnesses determined that Reeder was the primary aggressor in a domestic dispute between Reeder and her boyfriend resulting in a facial injury to him.

Meanwhile, Chief Collins said that on March 18, police received a tip that juveniles had been sold alcohol at Broad Way Market. After an investigation including a review of camera images, 28-year-old Nicholas Dylan Gambill of Smithville, a cashier at the convenience market, was cited for sale of alcohol to an underage person.

50-year-old Shawn Edward Soales is charged with alteration of registration and driving on a suspended license. Chief Collins said that on March 21 while on patrol, an officer discovered through a background check that Soales’ license plate had been expired by almost a year even though the decal on the plate showed it still valid. After further examination of the decal, the officer discovered that it had been altered. During questioning by the officer, Soales admitted to having removed the decal from his girlfriend’s car, cutting it in half, and placing it over his car’s decal. Soales suspended license is from Alabama.

24-year-old Tyler Brock of Shady Drive, Smithville is charged with driving on a suspended license. According to Chief Collins, an officer pulled over a black Cadillac on Nashville Highway March 27 knowing that the registered owner’s license was suspended. The driver, Brock had been stopped and cited several times before apparently for the same offense.

21-year-old Russell Elliot of Brush Creek is charged with DUI and possession of a handgun while under the influence, and he was cited for speeding. Chief Collins said that on March 30 while on patrol, an officer clocked a vehicle on East Broad Street traveling at 70 miles per hour. He pulled over the automobile and while speaking to the driver, Elliot, the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from him and his speech was slurred. Elliott submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He admitted to having consumed several beers and he told the officer that he had a firearm in the vehicle. A fully loaded 9-millimeter handgun was found in the front middle seat to the right of where Elliot was seated. Bond for Elliot is $8,500 and his court date is April 18.

30-year-old Destry Jordan Wiggins of Evins Mill Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and cited for no proof of insurance, improper display of a tag, failure to maintain lane of travel, and violation of the implied consent law. According to Chief Collins at about 4 a.m. on March 31, an officer was on routine patrol when he spotted a vehicle with an improper display of a tag failing to maintain its lane of travel. The officer stopped the automobile and spoke with the driver, Wiggins who had a strong odor of alcohol on him and his eyes were red and watery. He also seemed to be disoriented and confused about his direction of travel. Wiggins said he had just left a bar on Highway 70 where had consumed alcohol. Wiggins performed poorly on field sobriety tasks, but he refused to submit to the implied consent law (blood test). A search warrant was subsequently obtained for a blood sample from Wiggins. Bond for Wiggins is $3,500 and his court date is April 18.

42-year-old Teodoro Garcia of Wade Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and violation of the open container law. Chief Collins said that on March 26 an officer was summoned to the On the Way Market on South Congress Boulevard where a man had reportedly passed out in the driver’s seat of an orange Dodge Ram. Upon arrival the officer found the man, Garcia passed out with an open container of alcohol in the cup holder next to him. The officer tapped on the window of the vehicle and Garcia awoke. When Garcia stepped out of the automobile, the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol. Garcia’s eyes were red and watery, and he was unsteady on his feet. Garcia, who admitted to having consumed four or five beers, submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. A search warrant was obtained for a sample of blood from Garcia.