DeKalb Jury Convicts Man of Sexual Battery by An Authority Figure
by: Dwayne PageJun 25, 2025
A DeKalb County Criminal Court Jury returned a guilty verdict against 42-year-old William Ryan Hudgins Tuesday, June 24, 2025. It took the jury only 30 minutes to deliberate and return their verdict.
According to a media release by District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, the Defendant, Hudgins was originally Indicted in April 2023 by a DeKalb County Grand Jury for sexual battery by authority figure. The victim was his 17-year-old niece.
While the family was vacationing from Michigan in a rented cabin, the Defendant (the victim’s uncle) creeped into her room to commit the act. They were vacationing as a family here between the week of Christmas and New Year. The offense occurred on early morning hours of New Year’s Day January 1st, 2023.
The lead detective was Stephen Barrett with the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from Chris Isom, a Criminal Investigator with the District Attorney’s Office.
Great appreciation is also shown to Niles Michigan Police Officers Carl Adam Ashley and Jacob Rosin, who responded to the family home the evening of January 1, 2023. The victim disclosed to Michigan officers what happened to her in Tennessee at the hands of her uncle in the basement before they traveled back to Michigan. The Victim’s parents were protective and called police when they learned of the abuse. The Defendant confessed to his sexual battery of the child to law enforcement officers.
This case was prosecuted at trial by the Assistant District Attorney’s Jessica Krebs and Randal Gilliam, members of the District Attorney’s Child Abuse Prosecution Team.
Hudgins’ defense attorney was Mike Giaimo of Cookeville
More DeKalb County Fair Royalty Crowned
by: Dwayne PageJun 25, 2025
The 2025 Little Miss of the DeKalb County Fair is Livy Hollis Slager
The 5 year old daughter of Jon and Katie Slager of Lascassas won the crown Tuesday night during the annual pageant at the fair in Alexandria which featured 11 contestants.
Slager succeeds the retiring Little Miss Jazmin Perez of Smithville, the 5 year old daughter of Joel Perez and Blanca Jones.
First runner-up in the Little Miss Pageant was Anna Lee Brelje, the 6 year old daughter of Andy and Whitney Brelje of Alexandria.
Oaklynn Grace Ferrell, 6-year-old daughter of Keith and Devon Ferrell of Smithville was second runner-up.
Norah McKeown was judged Most Photogenic. She is the 4 year old daughter of McKaielywade and Jimmy McKeown of Smithville.
The title of Miss Congeniality went to Eloise Jean Hendrix, the 6 year old daughter of Jared and Jennifer Hendrix of Dowelltown.
Others in the top seven were Roxanna Grace Morales, 5 year old daughter of Carelis Garcia and Rodrigo Morales of Smithville; Annabelle Rose Bowen, 5 year old daughter of Jacob and Kayla Bowen of Smithville; and Brynlee Rankhorn, 6 year old daughter of Jacob and Ashlee Rankhorn of Rock Island, along with Eloise Jean Hendrix.
The 2025 DeKalb County Fair’s Mrs. Fair Queen is 22 year old Monica Perez of Smithville. She succeeds the 2024 queen 28-year-old Mariah Faith Kilgore of Smithville. Perez was also named Most Photogenic.
First runner-up was 30 year old MaKayla Shea Turner of Smithville and second runner-up went to 40 year old Virginia Rose Graham of Smithville.
52 year old Shelia Tiner of Sparta was awarded Miss Congeniality
The 2025 Senior Fair Queen of the DeKalb County Fair is 61 year old Twana Roberts of Smithville. She was also selected Most Photogenic. The retiring queen is 60-year-old Tammy West of Smithville.
First runner up in the pageant was 58 year old Teresa Faye Winchester Stanley of Smithville
Second runner-up went to 78-year-old Margie Ann Williams of Alexandria.
65-year-old Teresa Wright of Smithville was named Miss Congeniality.
DeKalb County Fair Events Tonight (Wednesday, June 25)
Lions Club Pavilion:
6:00 pm Little Miss Princess (7-9 years) Following: Miss Sweetheart (10-12 years)
8:15 pm OBC Children’s Choir
9:30 pm Cash Drawings
TC McMillen Arena and Ag Center
6:00 pm Lamb Grilling Ag Center
7:00 pm Kiddie Tractor Pull Ag Center
7:00 Bump N Run T.C. McMillen Arena
Kenneth Sandlin Center- Live Demonstrations
Canning by Marilyn Spence
6 p.m. Food preparation
7 p.m. Water Bath Canning
8 p.m. Pressure Canning
For information visit https://www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com/
Davey Horton Hired as County’s First Certified Part Time Building Codes Inspector
by: Dwayne PageJun 24, 2025
The county has its first certified building codes inspector.
During Monday night’s monthly meeting, the county commission approved the hiring of Davey Horton by the county mayor to fill the newly created part-time position. He will serve as a 1099 employee and receive no county benefits.
Horton has experience in the job. He currently serves as a certified building inspector for the City of McMinnville
Earlier this year the county commission adopted a resolution establishing the current state building codes for the county to go by in issuing its own building permits. Establishing a building permit system would allow the county to collect fees on inspections of new construction rather than the state.
With Horton’s hiring, the county commission voted to enter into a contract with him and his salary will be derived from 65% of fee collections from building permits and all inspections except for electrical which are done by the state. The county must submit to the state a completed 14-page survey which is to be followed by an audit to ensure local compliance. Audits are done every three years.
Funds for the program are included in the proposed 2025-26 fiscal year budget.