THDA taking applications for COVID-19 Rent Relief

March 5, 2021
By:

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency is allowing renters and landlords to apply for up to 12 months of cumulative rent and/or utility payments through its new COVID-19 Rent Relief Program.

The COVID-19 Rent Relief Program was developed to support renters who are, or have been, struggling to pay rent, utilities or other home energy costs due to loss of income resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

“The pandemic has had a tremendous impact on the livelihoods of countless Tennesseans,” THDA Executive Director Ralph M. Perrey said. “This program is designed to help people stay in their homes by covering eligible rent and/or utility costs they are unable to pay due to the challenges presented by COVID-19.”

THDA will administer this program in 91 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Renters in those counties who have experienced economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and earn less than 80 percent of the area median income may be eligible for this assistance. For example, in DeKalb County, a 4-person household making less than $43,850 annually could qualify for this funding. More details on eligibility are available online or individuals can call (844) 500-1112.

To start the application process, a landlord or tenant should access the online portal or call the COVID-19 Rent Relief Call Center at (844) 500-1112. Both landlords and tenants will be required to provide verification and documentation as proof of eligibility. Once approved, payments will be made directly to the landlord or utility company on behalf of the tenant. Individuals can monitor the status of their application and payment through the online portal.

THDA received $384 million in direct funding from the U.S. Treasury to administer the emergency rent relief program in 91 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Davidson, Knox, Rutherford and Shelby counties will administer their own rent relief programs.

For more information on the THDA COVID-19 rent relief program, or to apply for assistance, visit thda.org/covidrentrelief or call (844) 500-1112.

March 4, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Desmond Nokes has been one of the brightest stars on the DCHS Tiger football team over the last four years. Soon he will be advancing to the college ranks where he hopes to shine just as brightly as an athlete.

Family and friends joined Nokes Wednesday at DCHS where the senior signed a letter of intent to play for the UT Martin Skyhawks.

Nokes, who has left his mark at DCHS as a gifted football player on offense, defense, and as a kick returner, said he is anxious to further his skills at the college level.

“UT Martin for me was the best option I had as far as financially and the highest level football I can play at as far as offer wise so that is why I chose them,” said Nokes.

As for his studies, Nokes said he may explore music therapy and or possibly theology.

Nokes’ talents on the field contributed to many Tiger victories over the last three years including the game winning touchdown pass reception over Macon County in October to earn the Tiger program its first ever regular season region football championship in school history.

“He has played a lot of football for us. He was sprinkled in there as a freshman but ever since his sophomore year he has been a consistent name on the field. He has made plays in all three phases of the game. Twice in his career he was named All Region Return Man of the Year so he had a lot of plays on special teams. These last two years he really became a playmaker on offense as a wide receiver. This past year he averaged over 20 yards a catch so when he was catching the football it was big plays. His catch to touchdown ratio was also huge. He sealed the region win for us at Macon County with a touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter. Defensively he also helped us in a way that we didn’t have to worry about one side of the field as far as the passing game goes. Not a lot of people tested him. He was a student and technician of the game and worked extremely hard,” said Tiger Coach Steve Trapp.

With Nokes’ signing, that brings to four the number of DCHS football players from the 2020-21 senior class who will be playing at the college level including Axel Aldino (University of Central Missouri), Tyzaun Ladet (Bethel University), and Evan Jones (Tennessee Tech).

“ This class now has four guys who are going to play college football. We have never had that many before from one class. I am super proud of all of them for what they have meant to us. They accomplished a lot and they set the bar pretty high for every senior class coming behind them,” said Coach Trapp.

Team and All-Region Awards for Desmond Nokes are as follows:

*2018 Team Defensive Back
*2018 All-Region Most Outstanding Returner
*2019 Team Defensive Player of the Year
*2019 All Region Most Outstanding Returner
*2020 All Region Offensive MVP
* 2020 Team Offensive Player of the Year

The UT Martin Skyhawks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Tennessee at Martin in Martin, Tennessee. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision and are members of the Ohio Valley Conference. The school’s first football team was fielded in 1925, while known as Hall-Moody Junior College. The team plays its home games at the 7,500 seat Graham Stadium. They are coached by Jason Simpson.

March 4, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A man trying to evade arrest after being spotted looking in someone else’s mailbox will be in court for the offenses in May.

From the Smithville Police Department, 37 year old Brandon Lynn Tallent of 2138 Big Rock Road was arrested on February 23 for evading arrest and cited for mailbox tampering. Police were called to Morgan Drive where a man was spotted looking in a mailbox that didn’t belong to him. Upon arrival the suspect, Tallent had already left the scene. Soon after police spotted the vehicle the suspect was in and initiated a traffic stop. Tallent then opened the rear door and took off running on foot. After Tallent refused to stop for officers, he was tased and taken into custody without further incident. Bond for Tallent is $3,000 and his court date is May 12.

51 year old Jamie Stanton Bullard of 435 Holmes Creek Road was arrested on February 12 for resisting arrest, assault, disorderly conduct, and retaliation for a past action. Police were dispatched to the emergency room of Ascension St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital in reference to a patient throwing things. Upon arrival, the officer found Bullard standing in the door yelling. As Bullard approached the officer tried to restrain him but Bullard hit the officer on the side of the face and scratched his arm during the scuffle. After Bullard was cuffed, he began to threaten the well-being of the officer’s wife. Bond for Bullard is $8,000 and his court date is May 6.

25 year old Ariel Cheyanne Ayres of Bradyville was cited for Theft of Property on February 13. Police spotted Ayres at Wal-Mart taking several items without paying for them. The merchandise was recovered and returned to the store. Her court date is May 12.

34 year old Christopher Peter Mulford of 219 Hayes Court was arrested for DUI on February 13. Police were dispatched to South Mountain Street due to a vehicle crash. Upon arrival, the officer found Mulford sitting in the driver’s seat. He appeared to have run off the roadway before hitting a tree. Mulford’s eyes were red and glossy and his speech was slow. Police learned that Mulford had taken Xanax earlier. He submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. His court date is April 29.

32 year old Dustin Matthew Brewer of 816 Gentry Avenue was arrested on February 18 for domestic assault and resist/stop/halt/frisk. Police were called to the ambulance service in response to a domestic situation. Upon arrival the officer discovered that the victim had a head contusion after being knocked to the ground and placed in a headlock. The assailant, Brewer had left the scene by the time police arrived but he was located a short time later although he refused to speak with the officers. When informed that he was being detained for a domestic incident Brewer pulled away from the officer and acted as though he was going to hit him. Police told Brewer that if he didn’t comply, he would be tased. Brewer was then taken into custody without incident. Bond for Brewer is $7,000 and his court date is April 22.

40 year old Tracy Michelle Vincent of 848 Foster Road was arrested on February 20 for being a fugitive from justice. Police learned that Vincent had warrants against her in Kentucky for failure to appear on a child neglect charge and that she could be found at her daughter’s house. Officers took Vincent into custody there without incident and she will be extradited to Kentucky. Bond for Vincent is $50,000 and her court date is May 13.

54 year old Jeffrey Lee Johnson of 599 Pack Circle was arrested on February 21 for public Intoxication and cited for drug paraphernalia. Police were dispatched to the area of Juniper Lane and West Broad Street where a man was reported to have been standing outside for over an hour. Upon arrival police found the man, Johnson staring at a fence post, talking about things that didn’t make sense, and stumbling around. He smelled of marijuana and had three empty beer cans in his possession. During a search incident to arrest, police found on him a glass pipe with green residue and a piece of steel wool that appeared to have been used as a filter. Due to Johnson’s behavior, he was determined to be an endangerment to himself. Bond for Johnson is $1,500 and his court date is May 13.

62 year old Kevin Lamont Hitchcock of Nashville was arrested for DUI on February 25. According to police someone noticed a black BMW pulling in and out of private driveways and flagged down an officer to report it on Earl Avenue. Police later found the driver, Hitchcock and detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from his vehicle. Hitchcock’s eyes were red and watery and his speech was slurred. When asked to exit the vehicle, Hitchcock had trouble standing and had to use the vehicle for support to keep from falling. Hitchcock submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. In fact the officer had Hitchcock stop before completing the tasks due to his safety as he almost fell down several times. Bond for Hitchcock is $1,500 and his court date is May 13.