DeKalb Recovery Court Honors Recent Graduates of Program

September 28, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A celebration was held Tuesday afternoon for two adults who have graduated from the DeKalb County Recovery Court Program and are on the path to sober living.

The program for recovery court graduates Larry Murphy and Michael Powell was held on the east side steps of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

Each of the graduates received a plaque and a $50 check from General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II in recognition of their accomplishments.

“Our uplifting graduation is evidence of the tremendous impact the DeKalb County Recovery Court has had on our community. It will send a powerful message that these programs are vital to the health and well being of our state. There are more than 4,000 treatment courts serving 150,000 people saving billions of dollars reducing addiction, crime, and recidivism. What an honor that Judge Bratten H. Cook has started and continued this program in our county. These graduates chose recovery court and we are privileged to be able to recognize them today,” said DeKalb County Recovery Court Coordinator Kate Arnold.

Recovery Court is an alternative sentencing program that gives local, non-violent offenders with substance use disorder the opportunity to complete an intense one year plus court supervised recovery program.

Participants undergo rigorous treatment for their disease and develop new habits for successful living. The program combines evidence-based substance use treatment with strict behavioral accountability and ultimately reduces the harmful effects of repeated and untreated addiction problems on the citizens of DeKalb County.

“When we take a participant into the Recovery Court program I let them know, if you want the easy way out just go on down and lay in jail because that is the easy way. You get three hots and a cot (three hot meals a day and a cot to sleep on) and you don’t have to do anything but you will come out the same or worse than when you went in. If you want to change your life then we are here to help you,” said Judge Cook.

The program opened with a prayer by John Quintero of Haven of Hope and a welcome by DeKalb Recovery Court Coordinator Kate Arnold. The guest speaker was Larry Latzman, certified peer specialist who works at Volunteer Behavior Health.

(DeKalb Recovery Court Team Members pictured left to right: Rhonda Tiefenauer- Recovery Court Case Manager, Allison West-Assistant Public Defender, Clara Knowles-PSI Probation; Kate Arnold-Coordinator; Larry Latzmanm Certified Peer Support; graduates Michael Powell and Larry Murphy, Judge Bratten H. Cook, II, Local attorney and Smithville Municipal Judge Gayla Hendrix, and John and Kay Quintero with Haven of Hope)

September 28, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The First Ever Cars and Paws Car Show will be held downtown Smithville on the public square Saturday October 2 starting at 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Awards will be presented at 2 p.m. Proceeds will go to benefit the DeKalb Animal Shelter. A pet adoption event will also be held in conjunction with the car show.

“My wife Sherry and I have lived in Smithville for the last couple of years and we wanted to do something to benefit the animal shelter so a car show was something that we naturally gravitated to because I love cars and especially old cars and she sells cars. Sherry formally worked at the local Ford dealership and now works for the one in McMinnville,” said Michael Shane Wilcher.

Pre-Registration is underway: 1 automobile-$20; 2 automobiles $30; 3 automobiles $35. An additional $5.00 the day of the show. Food vendors will be available: $20 will go straight to the charity the day of the show. No new food vendors on the day of the show.

“This will not be a super stringent or very polished car show. It’s a benefit that just happens to be a car show so we want people who love all types of cars to come out and think of showing their cars as a way to benefit that charity,” said Wilcher.

Visit the DeKalb Animal Shelter Facebook Page and look for the event tab to get more information or go to the First Ever Cars and Paws Car Show facebook page for registration details.

Contact Michael Shane and or Sherry Wilcher at 931-581-8416 or 629-207-1316.

Meanwhile the 2nd annual Hogs for Dogs Poker Run sponsored by the Friends of the DeKalb Animal Shelter will be Saturday, October 16 starting and ending at Twisted Oaks. A silent auction will also be held from around noon until 4:30 p.m. Check facebook later for more details.

A DeKalb County Haunted History Tour will be October 19 & 21 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. starting at the law office of Sarah Cripps. Tickets are $10 each.

September 28, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A man who led a county deputy on a pursuit Sunday is facing a meth charge and other offenses today.

35 year old Corey Robert Winchester of Miller Road, Smithville is charged with possession of Methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and evading arrest. He was also cited for reckless driving, failure to heed to a traffic control device (stop sign), violation of the light law, no insurance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving on roadways laned for travel. Winchester is under a $30,000 bond and his court date is October 21.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on September 26 a deputy spotted a red Chevy S-10 with no working brake lights traveling west on Broad Street turning onto Carter Street. After the vehicle failed to yield to the stop sign at Carter Street and Dry Creek Road, the officer initiated his emergency equipment on Dry Creek Road to pull the Chevy S-10 over but it failed to stop and began traveling all over the roadway leaving its lane of travel several times. During the pursuit, the deputy saw the driver (Winchester) throw something from the vehicle. After the Chevy S-10 was stopped on Cox Street, the officer spoke to Winchester and then retrieved the items thrown from the vehicle, two baggies of a white crystal-like substance believed to be meth that weighed 3.5 grams. Also found in the vehicle were 31 small baggies, 16 hypodermic needles, a glass pipe with residue, and a scale.

36 year old Shaterica McFarland of Mount Juliet is charged with simple possession of a schedule II drug (cocaine). Her court date is September 30. Sheriff Ray said that on September 22 a deputy made a casual encounter with several people at the Sunoco gas station in Alexandria. When asked if they had anything illegal, McFarland produced from her bra a piece of paper with white waxy rocks inside of it believed to be crack cocaine. McFarland admitted it was crack. She was placed in custody.

65 year old Fred T. Dowell, Jr. of Village Place Smithville is charged with a 4th offense of driving on a revoked license and possession of a schedule I drug (Heroin) with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond is $29,000 and he will make a court appearance on October 7. Sheriff Ray said a deputy spotted a small SUV traveling east on Nashville Highway with a white light emitting from the driver side tail light. Dowell was driving the vehicle. Knowing that Dowell’s license were revoked, the officer initiated a traffic stop and spoke with him. The deputy detected an odor of raw marijuana coming from within the vehicle. Dowell admitted to having the marijuana and handed it over. Upon a further search 3.6 grams of a white powdery substance was found and Dowell admitted that it was heroin. He was placed under arrest.

32 year old Travis Eric Patterson of Short Mountain Road, Smithville is charged with possession of Methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond is $25,000 and he will be in court October 7. Sheriff Ray said that on September 23 while conducting a search of a vehicle driven and owned by Patterson, a deputy found a baggy containing 4.7 grams of a white crystal-like substance believed to be meth under the fuse cover of the vehicle. Patterson said it was for personal use.

22 year old Emilie Jo Parrott of Liberty Hill Road, Alexandria is charged with public intoxication. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court October 7. Sheriff Ray said that on September 24 a deputy was dispatched to Poplar Place in reference to a suspicious person. The officer spoke with the caller who claimed to have witnessed someone climbing on a fence and into a shed. The officer found the suspect (Parrott) in the bed of the neighbor’s truck. Parrott said she had been drinking, had taken narcotics, and she was unable to tell the officer where she was. Parrott was placed in custody.

46 year old Raymond Chance Mayfield of Baxter is charged with aggravated burglary and vandalism. His bond is $11,500 and he will make a court appearance October 7. Sheriff Ray said that on September 22 a deputy responded to Lakeview Heights due to a burglary in progress. Upon arrival he spoke with two people who said Mayfield, an ex-husband of one of the two, had broken out a window on the front door and gained entry into the home. The estimated value of the damage was $700.

53 year old Tami Marie Arnold of Hixson is charged with forgery and theft of property. Bond for Arnold is $11,500 and her court date is October 7. Sheriff Ray said that on March 13 Arnold wrote herself a check in the amount of $169 and cashed it at Walmart in Hixson. The theft of the checkbook occurred at a location on Nashville Highway in Dowelltown.