Car Wash Confrontation Lands One Man In Trouble with Law
by: Dwayne PageJan 29, 2025
A car wash confrontation has landed one man in trouble with the law.
19-year-old Izayah Young of Smithville is charged with aggravated assault, vandalism, and possession of a weapon. His bond is $13,500. According to Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins, officers were called to a report of an altercation January 13 between Young and a victim at the car wash on West Broad Street where Young allegedly busted the driver’s side window of the victim’s car and then pulled up his shirt to expose a gun in his waistband in a move to allegedly intimidate the victim. Young was taken into custody.
38-year-old Justin Murphy of Smithville is charged with violation of an order of protection. He is under a $2,500 bond. Chief Collins said that officers were summoned to Highland Drive on January 11 because of an unwanted person and upon arrival found Murphy, a respondent to an order of protection. The protected person in the order was also there. Murphy was placed under arrest.
32-year-old Sonny Smith of Smithville is charged with domestic assault and interference with an emergency call. His bond is $6,000. Officers were called to Wade Street on January 12 due to a domestic incident in progress and upon arrival they spoke with Smith and the complainant. Chief Collins said police found evidence of an assault and determined Smith to be the primary aggressor. They learned that the complainant had tried to call 911 but Smith disabled use of the phone. Smith was placed in custody.
Jerry Rackley of Smithville is cited for aggravated criminal trespass and will be in court on February 6. Chief Collins said that on January 14 police were called to Village Place due to a possible burglary in progress and upon arrival they found Rackley on the property. Police learned that the house was vacant but that Rackley was living there inside without consent of the owner.
Two people accused of property theft were cited by police on January 15. 43-year-old Eric Fish and 44-year-old Janet Fish of Smithville will make a court appearance on February 6. Chief Collins said that police were summoned to Kwik-N-Ezy and upon arrival learned that Eric and Janet Fish had allegedly electronically deposited their payroll checks in amount of $413 and $ 465 and then cashed the checks at Kwik-N-Ezy.
33-year-old Stephen Babich of Smithville is charged with public intoxication, violation of the open container law, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court on January 30. Chief Collins said that on January 17 police were called to check out a suspicious vehicle at a business on South Congress Boulevard and upon arrival found Babich in the automobile. According to police, Babich became aggressive, appeared to be impaired, and he refused to cooperate. Officers also spotted an open alcoholic beverage in the center console and a large glass pipe with white residue. When officers told Babich that he was under arrest, he physically pulled away but was subsequently placed in custody.
33-year-old NithunNag Kardi-Giridhar of Nashville is charged with DUI. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court January 30. Chief Collins said that on January 18 police pulled over a vehicle on East Broad Street for failure to maintain lane of travel. While talking with the driver, Giridhar, the officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol. Gridhar said that he had just come from Midnight Express and had been drinking. Giridhar submitted to but performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks and he was placed in custody.
31-year-old Dalton Moore of Smithville is charged with public intoxication. He is under a $1,500 bond and will be in court on February 6. Chief Collins said that on January 19 police were summoned to South Congress Boulevard due to a suspicious person and upon arrival found Moore who was acting very erratically and showed signs of impairment. He was placed in custody.
49-year-old Anthony Lewis of McMinnville is charged with DUI and cited for driving on roadways laned for traffic. He is under a $5,000 bond and will be in court on February 6. According to Chief Collins, police conducted a traffic stop January 25 on Short Mountain Highway for failing to maintain lane of travel. While speaking with the driver, Lewis, officers noticed he showed signs of impairment. Lewis submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and said he had been drinking. Lewis was placed in custody.
42-year-old Hollie Michels of Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $5,000 bond and she will appear in court on February 6. Chief Collins said that on January 26 police were called to Jennings Lane due to domestic incident in progress and upon arrival they learned that one of the parties had been assaulted and injured. Police determined that Michels had been the primary aggressor. She was placed in custody.
Brandon Donnell Appointed to Fill Third District Vacancy on County Commission
by: Dwayne PageJan 28, 2025
The third district has a new county commissioner.
During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission appointed Brandon Donnell to succeed Susannah Cripps as a member from the third district. Donnell was sworn into office by County Mayor Matt Adcock after the meeting. He will serve out Cripps’ term which expires August 31, 2026.
Six people had sought the appointment along with Donnell including Johnny Croom, Eden Nokes, Tim Perricone, Stuart Colwell, and Len Dickens.
The appointee had to get at least seven votes from the remaining 13-member commission in order to fill the vacancy. Donnell received 10 votes from the commission.
The names of Croom, Donnell, and Colwell were placed in nomination from the commission and the vote on each was taken in that order. Commissioners were allowed to vote for more than one candidate.
Croom, nominated by Commissioner Tony Luna, received five votes including from Luna, Larry Green, Beth Pafford, Myron Rhody, and Mathias Anderson.
Commissioner Tom Chandler nominated Donnell and his 10 votes came from Chandler, Larry Green, Greg Matthews, Andy Pack, Mathias Anderson, Glynn Merriman, Daniel Cripps, Jeff Barnes, Sabrina Farler, and Tony (Cully) Culwell.
Colwell was nominated by Commissioner Andy Pack and he received votes from Pack, Tony Luna, Larry Green, Myron Rhody, Mathias Anderson, and Tony (Cully) Culwell.
Donnell, a Smithville Police Department Detective, formally introduced himself to the county commission on Thursday night, as did the other five candidates, during a committee of the whole workshop meeting.
“I am a Christian and attend the Smithville First Freewill Baptist Church. I align myself with conservative values. I am a Republican and a lifelong resident of DeKalb County. I graduated high school here in 2005. I currently work at the Smithville Police Department as a detective. I have been with the department for 14 years. Before that I worked at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department for a little over four years. I started working there when I was 19 years old. I have been serving the people of DeKalb County pretty much all of my adult life. My wife is Kaylah. We have been married over 18 years. She is an assistant manager at Wilson Bank & Trust in Smithville. She has worked there over 18 years. I have two children. My son Carson graduated high school last year. He is now a student at Tennessee Tech. My youngest son Collin is an eighth grader at DeKalb Middle School. My whole family lives here. I am going to retire here. I care deeply about this county. I want this county to thrive. I want my kids to graduate here, go off to college and get a good education, come back, start their families here, raise their kids here and be proud of DeKalb County just like I am. I don’t know everything there is to know about all the issues this county is facing but that’s the reason why I would like to serve, to learn more and do more for the betterment of this county,” said Donnell.
The 14-member county commission (two from each district) is made up of nine Republicans, Tom Chandler, Sabrina Farler, Brandon Donnell, Tony (Cully) Culwell, Greg Matthews, Larry Green, Glynn Merriman, Andy Pack, and Mathias Anderson; three Democrats, Jeff Barnes, Beth Pafford, and Myron Rhody; and two Independents, Tony Luna and Daniel Cripps.ere
StormReady! (View Video Here)
by: Dwayne PageJan 28, 2025
StormReady!
The National Weather Service has recognized DeKalb County for earning accreditation as a StormReady community.
Caleb Cravens, Nashville Incident Meteorologist of the NWS presented the county with a plaque in recognition of the accomplishment during Monday night’s monthly county commission meeting.
County Mayor Matt Adcock asked Commission Chairman Pro Temp Jeff Barnes, who is also a 911 Board member, to accept the award.
“I am here to present DeKalb County with an accreditation that we do with the National Weather Service called StormReady,” said Cravens.
“The National Weather Service is a government weather service agency. We fall under the Department of Commerce and NOAA. There are 122 offices across the US that are in charge of forecasting the weather for the US and issuing all of your watches, warnings, and advisories. When you are at home and you hear a tornado warning or a flood warning that is us issuing those,” explained Cravens. “ Our mission is that we provide weather, water, and climate data forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property. We also work with local public officials and local emergency managers toward becoming more prepared for all weather extremes”.
“StormReady is a nationwide program that helps build a weather ready nation essentially focused on preparedness,” Cravens continued. “ It’s a grassroots effort across the US to help communities develop and plan to handle all types of weather from tornadoes to winter storms. Its voluntary. It is not required. Its completely up to each county, emergency managers, communities, and schools to participate. There is a standard set of guidelines, and they are not easy to maintain so being able to receive this accreditation is quite an accomplishment,” he said.
“Across the US there are around 3,500 StormReady communities. Before you can become a StormReady community you must have a 24-hour warning point with someone present at all times that can receive our warnings to alert the public. They also have to agree to promote the importance of public readiness through community outreach; have a formal hazardous weather plan; have multiple ways to receive, monitor, and send weather information; have an emergency operations plan and an emergency operations center; and they must also partner with the National Weather Service for safety and preparedness,” explained Cravens.
“DeKalb County has met all those requirements. We have been working with the county for the past several months to reach the ultimate goal of strengthening our relationship between the National Weather Service and the county itself to better prepare for hazardous weather to protect the community”.
“On behalf of the StormReady Advisory Board, I would like to congratulate DeKalb County for being certified as a StormReady community. The leadership and the progressive measures taken by the DeKalb Emergency Management Agency has really been outstanding through the whole process. They are really dedicated to preparedness and protecting this community. DeKalb EMA has put into place redundant methods of monitoring weather, receiving watches and warnings from the National Weather Service and disseminating severe weather warnings throughout the community. DeKalb EMA has also grown and strengthened its relationships with us through this process helping foster that relationship and that collaborative communication. They have dedicated themselves to participating in educational outreach programs and have written severe weather preparedness plans and conducted severe weather exercises. I want to say a special thank you to your Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie Parker. He played a key role in pushing this forward for the county. I also want to thank your 911 Director Brad Mullinax. He also played a key role. I congratulate you for your willingness and hard work in earning this accreditation,” said Cravens.
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