DeKalb County Awarded Emergency Food and Shelter and CARES Act Funding

May 18, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

County Mayor Tim Stribling has announced that DeKalb County has been selected to receive $7,105 Emergency Food and Shelter funds and $10,100 for Coronavirus, Aid, Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act. Funding is provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This is the fourth consecutive year that DeKalb County has been selected to receive the Emergency Food and Shelter funds.

The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from The Salvation Army; American Red Cross; United Jewish Communities; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA; and, United Way of America.

A Local Board made up of community representatives will determine how the funds awarded to DeKalb County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. The Local Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) have an accounting system, 3) practice nondiscrimination, 4) have demonstrated the capacity to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

The EFS Local Board will meet at the DeKalb Senior Center in the DeKalb Community Complex at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2020 to consider applications for funding. Applications must be delivered to the DeKalb Senior Center in Smithville by 1:00 p.m. that day or may be brought to the meeting by a representative, who is welcome to present the application to the Local Board.

Further information about the program and an application may be obtained by contacting, Pam Redmon, DeKalb Senior Center Director, located at 718 South Congress Blvd., Smithville, TN 37166 Phone: (615) 597-7575.

May 18, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A man who fired a handgun into the air during an argument with his girlfriend and sister is charged with reckless endangerment and will make a court appearance on June 11.

21 year old Jere R. Green of 402 South Mountain Street was arrested by Smithville Police on April 29. His bond is $15,000.

According to police, Green fired a handgun into the air outside the residence during a verbal altercation with his girlfriend and sister. Due to the close proximity of homes and businesses in the area and an ordinance against the discharge of a firearm in the city, Green was arrested as his actions placed the public in immediate danger and caused several people in the area to fear for their safety.

39 year old Adam Daniel Taylor of 102 West Market Street was cited April 8 for simple possession of methamphetamine. Taylor was found to have in the pocket of his shorts a small plastic baggie containing 0.1 gram of meth. The substance field tested positive for methamphetamine. His court date is June 11.

35 year old Stephen Brandon Pirtle of Nashville was arrested on April 9 for DUI. Police responded to a possible intoxicated driver coming into town on Cookeville Highway and spotted the vehicle parked on the side of the road. The officer stopped and spoke with the driver, Pirtle who had the smell of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Pirtle consented to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. His court date is June 11.

27 year old Josie Danielle Culwell of 381 Eagle Creek Road was cited on April 13 for simple possession/casual exchange. Culwell was stopped for a traffic violation and after receiving consent to search her vehicle, the officer found 3 capsules believed to be Gabapentine. Culwell could not produce a prescription for the medication. Her court date is June 11.

44 year old Teresa Pauline Thomas of 236 Meadow Brook Drive was cited on April 21 for allowing a dog to run at large. According to police, Thomas’ dog went into a neighbor’s yard and bit the neighbor. Thomas said that while the dog had been staying at her house for several months, it did not belong to her. Thomas’ court date is July 16.

36 year old Joseph Harvey Clark of Sparta was arrested on April 22 for domestic assault. Police responded to 536 West Main Street due to a physical domestic complaint and spoke with the victim who said that an intoxicated Clark began throwing beer bottles after being asked to leave. As the victim tried to knock the beer bottles away, Clark slammed him to the ground and put his arm and elbow on the victim’s throat keeping him from breathing. Clark let go after being pepper sprayed by the victim. Bond for Clark is $2,000 and his court date is June 11.

36 year old Gabina Pena Alfaro of 622 Highland Street was arrested on April 26 for DUI. Police responded to a single vehicle accident on Miller Road and spoke with the driver, Alfaro. Her speech was slurred and she appeared to have trouble remembering what had occurred in the accident. The vehicle also smelled of alcohol. The officer learned that Alfaro had earlier consumed four or five beers. She submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. Her court date is June 4.

36 year old Milton Martinez Yanes of 223 East Bryant Street was arrested on April 28 for domestic assault. According to the warrant, Yanes assaulted his girlfriend by hitting her in the face and mouth leaving visible injuries, including a busted bottom lip and bruises on her face. Officers learned that Yanes and the woman were in the bedroom when they got in a verbal argument which led to Yanes’ assaulting her. Bond for Yanes is $1,500 and his court date is June 11.

May 17, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

As you social distance with others, cuddle up with a new furry friend from the DeKalb Animal Shelter.

Meet Miranda, the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”

Megan Moore and Emmaly Bennett with Miranda from dwayne page on Vimeo.

“Miranda is a 7 month old heeler mix. She is super sweet. Miranda loves everybody and loves to play. She is learning how to walk on a leash and learning some manners. Miranda is a very loving dog,” said shelter employee Emmaly Bennett.

“To adopt Miranda, go to our website. www.dekalbanimalcoalition.org and look for a tab to fill out an application. Fill it out and email it back to us. We will call to set up an appointment time for you to come in and meet Miranda to see if she is a perfect fit for you,” said Bennett.

The DeKalb Animal Shelter is currently only open by appointment due to Covid-19.

“If you are interested in any of our dogs and cats fill out an adoption application and send it to our email. We will call and set up a time for you to come in and meet your favorite pet and go from there. We are not currently open to the public for in-person visits but all our pets are posted online. Stay up to date with us on our website, facebook page, or Instagram,” said shelter director Megan Moore.