Sheriff’s Department Picks up Five People Named in Grand Jury Sealed Indictments

April 4, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has picked up five people who were named in sealed indictments by the grand jury last week.

All either have been or will soon make an appearance in DeKalb County Criminal Court for arraignment.

54-year-old Angela Joan Close of Carter Street, Smithville, was indicted on two counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver. Her bond is $100,000 and she will be arraigned on April 17. Sheriff Patrick Ray said the indictment against Close is from an undercover drug buy by the sheriff’s department.

Three people were indicted by the grand jury on charges in a companion case made by the sheriff’s department including 51-year-old Melissa Faye Murphy, 34-year-old Cody Lynn Murphy, and 33 year old Michaela Lynn Murphy all of Ferrell Road, Smithville.

“This was a search warrant that was done by the sheriff’s department on a death at that residence on Ferrell Road. The detective obtained a search warrant, served that, and found drugs, paraphernalia, and weapons,” said Sheriff Ray.

Melissa and Cody Lynn Murphy are each charged in the indictment with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Cody is also charged, along with Michaela Murphy with possession of a schedule V drug with intent to sell or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond for Melissa and Cody is $50,000 each and $25,000 for Michaela.

53-year-old Donnie Lee Ramsey of Gassaway Main Street, Liberty, is indicted on two counts of possession of a schedule VI drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. According to Sheriff Ray, the marijuana was discovered during a traffic stop in Liberty. Ramsey’s bond is $75,000 and he will be arraigned April 17.

April 4, 2024
By:

The Sozo Children’s Choir from Uganda, Africa will perform at Smithville First Baptist Church on Sunday, April 7. The choir will perform in the morning service at 10 a.m. and will host a full concert at 6 p.m. The free performances are part of a schedule of more than 80 concert dates on the U.S. portion of the choir’s 2024 Revolution Tour.

The choir, which performs in churches, schools and businesses around the country, is comprised of 13 children from Uganda who launched their 5th U.S. tour in February with performances in Alabama. The choir, which last toured in 2022, will perform at stops in New York, Maryland, Delaware, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. The children performed in churches in Uganda for most of 2023 before beginning the trip to America.

“The choir began as an outreach program for us in 2016 and is a great experience for the kids we serve in Uganda,” said Suzanne Owens, CEO of Sozo Children. “The choir tour is a mission trip but it’s more than just a chance for the kids to visit America. We want the kids to come away from this knowing they are loved and that they matter,” said Owens.

The performance is appropriate for all ages and will feature a traditional Ugandan dance, a video tour, upbeat Christian music and a chance to meet some of the children and staff after the show.

“Our goal as a ministry is to equip each of the children in our care to be effective disciples for Jesus,” said Owens. “They are the next generation of leaders in their homeland, so we aren’t trying to westernize them but we equip them by walking alongside them in faith sharing the common faith in Christ.”

Sozo Children is a Birmingham-based ministry serving children in Uganda who have been rescued from extreme circumstances such as abuse, abandonment and trafficking. The ministry provides housing, healthcare, counseling and an education to more than 150 children in Uganda and operates an upscale thrift store, Sozo Trading Co. in Birmingham which provides a portion of funding for the ministry and serves as a launching point for local outreach opportunities.

Doors at the church will open approximately one hour prior to the performance. Admission to the performance is free of charge. To learn more about the choir’s tour schedule or to make a donation to support the children, visit www.sozochildren.org/sozochoir.

About Sozo Children

Sozo Children was founded in 2010 to serve the needs of vulnerable children in the nation of Uganda. Currently, Sozo provides for more than 150 children and maintains an upscale thrift store, Sozo Trading Co. in Avondale, benefitting the ministry. To learn more about Sozo Children, or to support the ministry, visit www.sozochildren.org.

April 3, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

While State Representative Michael Hale (R) of DeKalb County and State Senator Janice Bowling (R) of Tullahoma will be unopposed in their State GOP primary races August 1 they will have opposition in the November 5th General Election.

Daniel T. Hawthorne of Dixon Springs has qualified to seek the Democratic nomination unopposed for State Representative in District 40 August 1.  With no independent candidates in the race, the November 5th state general election will be between Hale and Hawthorne. The term is for two years.

State Senator Bowling in District 16 will have two opponents this fall. Wayne Steele of Fayetteville has qualified to seek the Democratic nomination unopposed August 1 and Scott Bean, as an independent candidate, will join Bowling and Steele on the November 5th state general election ballot for the office. The term is for four years.

In the State Primaries on August 1, nominees in both the Republican and Democratic Parties will be selected for the offices of US Senate, US House of Representatives (6th District), Tennessee House of Representatives (40th District), and Tennessee Senate (16th District).

Meanwhile Congressman John Rose of Cookeville in District 6 will be unopposed in the GOP primary August 1.

In the Democratic Primary for the US House of Representatives (District 6) the candidates are Lore Bergman of Hendersonville,  Clay Faircloth of Nashville, and Cyril Focht of Cookeville. There are no independent candidates. The term is two years.

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn of Brentwood will have one challenger in the State GOP Primary August 1, Tres Wittum of Nashville.

In the Democratic Primary, candidates for the US Senate are Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, Marquita Bradshaw of Memphis, Civil Miller-Watkins of Rossville, Lola Denise Brown of Nashville and Kevin Lee McCants of Murfreesboro. Three Independent candidates for the US Senate have qualified for the November 5th ballot including Tharon Chandler of Lawrenceburg, Pamela Jeanine “P” Moses of Memphis, and Hastina Robinson of Memphis. The term is six years.

For Democratic state executive committeewoman, Rupa Blackwell is seeking to fill an unexpired term in district 16.

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