News
Martin Found with Acid, Meth, and Ketamine during probation search
May 28, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A woman found with methamphetamine, acid, and ketamine during a recent probation search is now in more trouble with the law.
52-year-old Melisha Renne Martin “Buttons” of Cooper Avenue, Smithville is under a $93,000 bond and her court date is June 5.
Martin is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of another controlled substance (acid) with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of yet another controlled substance (ketamine) with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on April 30 a deputy assisted officers with the Tennessee Department of Probation and Parole on a search at Martin’s home. Inside a wooden tote the officers found a pink canister which held a clear crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine that weighed 0.22 grams; three stamped style materials believed to be acid, and a clear baggie containing a crystal-like substance thought to be ketamine that weighed 1.22 grams. The search also turned up a scale with residue, two spoons with burn marks, baggies with white residue inside, and several straws containing white residue.
No City Attorney, No City Meeting
May 28, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
No city attorney, no city meeting!
The town of Alexandria has been without a city attorney since lawyer Matt Boss stepped down from that position in March.
During Tuesday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Vice Mayor Bobby Simpson asked that the aldermen go no further with city business without being represented by counsel.
Absent from the meeting were Mayor Beth Tripp and her husband, Alderman Jonathon Tripp. After a quorum of the aldermen was established and following the prayer and pledge of allegiance, Alderman Simpson expressed his concerns.
“Folks I’d like to make this statement. Ever since I have been in town the city has always had a lawyer. As long as I can remember we have always had a lawyer here and I don’t feel comfortable doing any business without an attorney. You could make a mistake here that might come back to haunt you. I want to have a motion to adjourn the meeting,” said Alderman Simpson.
Alderman Luke Prichard made the motion to adjourn. Alderman Jeff Ford later offered a second to the motion and the meeting was adjourned after also getting the support of Alderman Sherry Tubbs.
At first, Alderman Tubbs said the aldermen did not have to adjourn the meeting to discuss city business and she added that perhaps because of the mayor no lawyer contacted so far has expressed an interest in the city attorney position.
“We can have it (meeting) without an attorney. We can’t make legal decisions,” said Alderman Tubbs.
“I don’t want to have nothing to do with it Sherry, I’m telling you. We’ve always had a lawyer here,” replied Alderman Simpson.
“I can tell you on record that two attorneys have reached out to me that Beth (Mayor) had reached out to. One (attorney) said she would not do it because she does not have the time to be a mayor to the city and be an attorney and that’s what other attorneys told her to be prepared for. The other one, he said that she (Tripp) doesn’t have enough education to be a mayor and that she doesn’t run the office the way our charter is written, and he is afraid that he would get caught up in another lawsuit. The man said the likelihood of getting an attorney in this county or surrounding counties is not very likely. Not many people are going to take on our town right now. I don’t know where we are going to go,” said Aldermen Tubbs.
“I just don’t want to be involved in making a decision here Sherry that could come back to haunt us,” replied Alderman Simpson.
The Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen Board is made up of Mayor Beth Tripp, Aldermen Jonathon Tripp, Jeff Ford, Sherry Tubbs, Bobby Simpson, and Luke Prichard, A vacancy now exist with the recent resignation of Alderman Tiffany Robinson.
Issues on the agenda for discussion Tuesday night were the open Alderman position, hiring a full-time police officer, hiring a street department employee, and adding federal holidays to the city charter.
Margaret Stevens, who once held an appointed aldermen position, said after the meeting she had planned to address the mayor and aldermen during the public comment period to express her interest in being appointed again to the town council as Alderman.
Going to Trial?
May 28, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
Going to trial?
A jury trial date has been set in federal court in the case of a former Alexandria city employee against the city and Mayor Beth Tripp.
(Read original story at link below)
Patricia Houser, a former town recorder, court clerk, tax collector, and backup water clerk, claims she was wrongfully terminated last fall and has sued the City of Alexandria and Mayor Tripp in her individual and official capacities for deprivation of due process under the 14th amendment and for slander, defamation, and defamation by implication, in violation of state law.
Motions for and against dismissal of the case have been filed by attorneys.
According to a court filing last month, “This case is set for a jury trial on October 20, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse, 9 East Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Cookeville, TN. Counsel for the parties shall appear for a pretrial conference in this Court on October 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in Courtroom 5D, at the Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse, 719 Church Street, Nashville, TN. All lawyers who will participate in the trial must attend the pretrial conference. If a settlement is reached before two business days of trial the cost of summoning the jury may be assessed against the parties”.
Houser is seeking a jury trial; reinstatement to her position; compensatory and punitive damages; payment of lost wages and benefits; attorney’s fees, etc.
She is represented by the Nashville law firm of Biesecker, Dutkanych & Macer, LLC. The attorney for the mayor and town is A. Ryan Simmons of the Brentwood law firm of Farrar/Bates/Berexa.
