Free Fishing Day in Tennessee Saturday, June 10

June 4, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee’s 2023 Free Fishing Day is set for Saturday, June 10 when anyone may fish free without a license in Tennessee’s public waters.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency provides the annual free day in hopes of increasing interest in fishing. The day allows anyone the opportunity to try this great outdoor sport to celebrate fishing as a wholesome and healthy recreational opportunity. In addition, children ages 15 and younger may fish without a license beginning on Free Fishing Day through the following Friday (June 16).

“From 7 a.m. until around 12 noon Saturday, June 10, we will have our annual Kids Fishing Rodeo at the big pond at Pea Ridge on Ferrell Road. This is for kids up to age 16. We will probably have some soft drinks and snacks for the kids. We are going to stock it a day or two before with catfish. We invite the kids to come up. You don’t have to register ahead of time. You can just show up that morning. We will try to get everyone’s name once you are there because we will have a few giveaways. Hopefully we will have bait to give out but you are welcomed and encouraged to bring your own bait. After we finish the rodeo at noon adults will be allowed and encouraged to come and fish there too,” said TWRA Officer Tony Cross.

The day and week are annual events in Tennessee and are great opportunities to introduce children to the enjoyment and excitement of a day on the water catching fish. The TWRA is among several organizations planning special fishing events, primarily for youngsters. The TWRA annually stocks several thousand pounds of fish for various events.

For a list of the events, visit the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org and the fishing page. Anglers and potential anglers should check the events list often since special events are frequently added.

Free Fishing Day and Week apply to Tennessee’s public waters, TWRA owned and operated lakes, and state park facilities. Some privately owned pay lakes and ponds continue to charge during this special day and week. Anglers will need to consult with those operators if there are any questions about a facility.

June 2, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Two men were sentenced for child sex crimes Friday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

35-year-old John David Stoops, Jr. of South Maple Street, Lebanon, who was originally indicted with three counts of aggravated sexual battery, entered a plea to one count of sexual battery by an authority figure and received a six-year sentence to serve at least 85% of the term. He must register with the state’s nonviolent sex offender registry. Stoops was given jail credit of 318 days.

At the time of the first offense in 2013, the victim was 6 years old. Stoops was named in a sealed indictment returned by the DeKalb County Grand Jury on Monday, July 18, 2022.

According to the indictment, between the dates of May 1, 2013 and May 1, 2014 in DeKalb County, Stoops (twice) did intentionally, knowingly and unlawfully accomplish sexual contact with a person less than 13 years of age (victim was born December 15, 2006) and a third time between the dates of January 1 and December 1, 2016 when the child was 9 years old.

Meanwhile, 63-year-old Carlos Restrepo entered a plea to aggravated sexual battery and received an eight-year sentence to serve at least 85%. Restrepo must register with the state sex offender registry, and he will be under community supervision for life. He was given 25 days of jail credit. Restrepo was indicted by the grand jury in this case on Monday, November 15, 2021 for Rape of a Child.

Restrepo was accused of digital penetration. The victim was 6 years old at the time.

Although the Restrepo case was from 2010, Sheriff Patrick Ray said at the time of the indictment that the victim did not disclose the crime until March 2021 after turning 16 years old. The minor child disclosed this information to the Tennessee Department of Children Service and a Detective of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office while being forensically interviewed at the Upper Cumberland Child Advocacy Center. This case was investigated by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s General Office.

In other cases, 61-year-old Julio Hernandez Battle entered a plea to aggravated assault and received a sentence of three years with six months to serve. He was given jail credit from November 27, 2022 to June 2, 2023.

29-year-old Raymond Marcelle Marks entered a plea to a 4^th offense of driving under the influence and possession of a schedule II drug. He received an eight-year sentence in the drug cases suspended to probation and was fined $2,000. He got a one-year sentence in the DUI case to be suspended after serving 150 days. Marks will lose his driver license for a period of time, and he must attend DUI school and undergo a victim impact and alcohol and drug assessment and follow the treatment directives. He was fined $1,300. The two sentences are to run concurrently as one eight-year term but he will be on probation after serving 150 days. He was given jail credit for two days.

61-year-old John Jay Miller entered a plea by criminal information to forgery and received a two-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. According to the charge, Miller forged a check in the amount of $2,361 in the name of his victim on May 15, 2023.

51-year-old Marcus John Peregoy entered a plea to two counts of attempting to sell a schedule II drug and received a three year sentence in each case all suspended to TDOC probation. He was fined $2,000. The sentences are to run consecutively for a total of six years. He was given jail credit of twelve days.

June 3, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Ready to bring a new pet into your home? How about “Xander”? The WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”

“Xander is a six-year-old English Bulldog, and he has been neutered, vaccinated, micro-chipped, the works. He is a big, sweet boy who never meets a stranger. He loves everybody. If you would like to adopt Xander and already have a dog, we ask that you bring him with you so they can have a meet and greet here at the shelter. Take home this big ole love bug today,” said Shelter Director Emmaly Bennett.

“If you are interested in adopting Xander please check out the adoptable pet’s link on our website to fill out an application at https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/ and we will call you to come in and meet him,” said Bennett.

The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 8 to 4 and Saturday from 8 to 12 at 186 Transfer Station Road. Phone 615-597-3647.