Sparta Man Found in Possession of Incendiary Explosive Device

June 10, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

A Sparta man is facing charges including possession of an incendiary explosive device after being arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department on a unwanted guest complaint last Thursday, June 5.

22-year-old Mark Kennedy Derise Gribble, Jr. is charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless endangerment, domestic assault, possession of a firearm during a felony, aggravated burglary, and possession of explosive components His bond totals $81,000 and the court date is June 26.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on June 5 a deputy was summoned to Johnson’s Chapel Road due to a complaint of an unwanted guest. Upon arrival the officer spoke to the residents of the property who informed him that Gribble had shown up there and began beating on the door and windows before entering the home through a window intending to commit an assault. The mother of Gribble’s child, who was inside the residence, became afraid and hid in a closet to keep him from finding her.

Gribble who was outside, was confronted by the deputy and there the officer detected an odor of marijuana coming from Gribble’s vehicle. A search was conducted and found inside a suitcase in the bed of Gribble’s automobile was a round device (metal pipe) wrapped in duct tape that appeared to be a homemade silencer that fit on the end of Gribble’s Palmetto Dagger Compact 9-millimeter which was also found inside the vehicle. The search also turned up a Rossi 22 caliber, a Riley defense RKA 47 7.62×39, a Marlin Glenfield 22 long rifle, and what appeared to be an incendiary device described as a clear plastic tube containing smokeless black powder with a paper towel on both sides of it and a piece of a wick lighter cord coming out of the top. Gribble admitted to using the device to set fires. A crystal-like substance in a clear glass pipe along with a green leafy substance in a plastic pipe were also recovered during the search.

Assisting the sheriff’s department in the investigation was the state bomb squad who ensured the safety of the suspected explosive device which was found.

After being placed in custody, Gribble was asked about another call the sheriff’s department responded to on June 3 in reference to a black Dodge truck doing burnouts and shots which were fired out of the truck window from the roadway. Gribble admitted to having done the burnouts and firing the shots.

42-year-old Randy Kent Jarboe of Mclntosh Oklahoma is charged with public intoxication. He is under a $2,000 bond and his court date is June 26.

Sheriff Ray said that on June 8 a deputy responded to a call of a man spotted stumbling around close to the roadway on Sparta Highway. The officer found the man, Jarboe and stopped to speak with him. Jarboe smelled of alcohol and he admitted to having consumed a pint and a half of vodka.

51-year-old Matthew David Fayette of Yulonda Hills Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court June 26.

Sheriff Ray said that from April 28 to May 13 Fayette made 28 transactions on Cash-Out using a victim’s bank account information and stealing a total of $1,655 from the victim’s account. The case was investigated by a detective.

54-year-old Aimee Deanne Jobe of North Mill Street, Dowelltown is charged with driving on a revoked license. Her bond is $2,000 and she will be in court June 26.

Sheriff Ray said that on June 3 a deputy was north on Short Mountain Highway when he spotted a black Chevrolet Silverado also traveling north. The officer checked the tag on the vehicle and found that it had been expired since May 31. He pulled over the automobile and spoke with the driver, Jobe who said she was not able to provide proof of insurance. When asked if she had a valid license, Jobe said she believed she did. However, after running information through dispatch, it revealed the license to be revoked for DUI due to alcohol and drugs in DeKalb County on January 23, 2020. She was placed under arrest for DUI 1st offense.

June 10, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

Two teenage sibling runaways reported missing last week were later found safe and sound at an Alexandria residence.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that “on Thursday, June 5 a deputy was dispatched to Whorton Springs Road due to a report of two missing juveniles, a 13-year-old girl from Quapaw Oklahoma and her 15-year-old sibling, a boy from Smithville. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a family member who said that the two teens had left home in Smithville. We (sheriff’s department) then reported them missing and entered their information into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). A detective was assigned the case on Thursday, June 5. He learned that the teens had gone to a residence on Shady Lane in Alexandria. The detective went there and spoke to an adult who granted permission for a search of the home. There he found the kids hiding in a bedroom closet. They were taken into custody. It is not believed that the adult there was harboring the children or even knew they were in the home,” said Sheriff Ray.

June 10, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

(UPDATED) Retaliation?

One of the Alexandria city hall employees who was asked by Mayor Beth Tripp to “go home” from work for the day Monday is speaking out against the mayor’s actions accusing her of retaliation.

Jessica Howard, the town recorder, property tax clerk, water clerk, and court clerk, told WJLE Tuesday morning that she believes Mayor Tripp had a reason for asking her to leave work for the day beyond what she put down on paper.

Howard claims she is a witness in a criminal summons case against Mayor Tripp and Richard Potter, the town’s water and sewer manager, who are charged with trying to get the police chief to cancel a ticket against persons in separate cases.

“I feel this is retaliation on me because I am the court clerk and Richard Potter called me and asked me to rip up the ticket. The police chief was standing there. I informed him (police chief) and he took it from there. I feel like I am being retaliated against,” said Howard.

After WJLE posted this story, Mayor Tripp contacted WJLE Tuesday afternoon to deny Howard’s allegations of retaliation saying she was unaware that Howard was a witness in the criminal summons case against her. Mayor Tripp said her only motive has been budgetary concerns and the lack of cooperation among some at city hall in getting answers about the budget. Mayor Tripp further claims special called meetings held since she has been absent were held illegally in violation of city regulations in that at least three aldermen had not requested them in writing and that in some cases neither she nor all the aldermen were made aware of the meetings. Mayor Tripp added that when she left city hall Monday the things she was observed leaving with were not city records or documents but her own personal pictures. Mayor Tripp contends that while she has been away, someone has rummaged through her office and desk and boxed up some of her things. Mayor Tripp did not explain for WJLE why she has missed city meetings of late, and she said she does not intend to resign.

Both Howard and financial officer Rhonda Conatser were sent home by Mayor Tripp Monday for the following stated reasons:

*Saving on the budget

*Not following the charter

*Not following chain of command

The mayor signed and dated the order and had both Howard and Conatser to sign it.

Mayor Tripp contacted WJLE Monday afternoon to say that she had first advised the two city hall employees by phone to work only half a day Monday apparently for budgetary reasons but found them still working when she went to city hall. She asked them again to leave for the day and then put it in writing for the reasons given and had them sign it.

“She (Mayor) did not give us any prior notice. She did not tell us we were only going to work half a day (Monday). We hadn’t heard from her since May 30,” said Howard.

“The allegation that I violated the chain of command was because I could not get a hold of her (Mayor Tripp) for two weeks and I reached out to the vice mayor, which I am supposed to do because I am the town recorder. She (Mayor Tripp) then said I posted an agenda for a special meeting and three aldermen were supposed to sign it but they posted their own agenda and four aldermen signed it,” said Howard.

Howard explained for WJLE her version of what happened Monday.

“We had not heard from Mayor Tripp since May 30 until yesterday (Monday, June 9). Ms Dora Stranathan (part time water clerk) who works with me received a phone call about 10:15 a.m. She brought the phone up to my ear because she said it was Beth calling and we had not heard from her. When she answered the phone Beth said Hey are you at the office? Dora said yes. She said is Rhonda (Conatser) there? Dora said yes. She said is Jessica (Howard) there? Dora said yes. She asked if (part time water clerk) Amber (Ahlgard) was there and she said no. Beth said Well, I am still mayor and I can still enact my mayor powers. She said I need you (Dora) to tell Jessica and Rhonda to go home. Dora just said OK. She said if there are any refusals to call me back on my mayor’s phone. Dora said OK and they hung up,” explained Howard.

“I immediately called Aldermen Bobby Simpson, Luke Prichard, and Sherry Tubbs. I told them what was going on and they said no do not leave, she cannot do that. She has to give you a written notice, so we stayed. About 15 or 20 minutes later Beth came in the office with one of her friends who was recording us. She came in the office, looked at Rhonda and she said I need y’all to go home. Rhonda said I need that in writing. Beth said OK. I turned around and said what is the reason? You need to give us a reason. Did we do something? She said no I don’t have to give you a reason. I was recording every word she said. I said actually you do have to give a reason, per charter. That’s when she wrote the note and gave it to us. We signed it and we left,” said Howard.

“I am at the hospital today (Tuesday) with my son who is having knee surgery. I won’t be back until tomorrow (Wednesday) but I am afraid she (Mayor) is probably going to try to suspend me tomorrow because I reached out and tried to clear my name,” Howard concluded.

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