Three Star Grant Awarded to DeKalb County

July 19, 2021
By:

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce recently applied on behalf of the DeKalb County Government for a $50,000 Three Star Grant to create a commercial kitchen and meeting spaces for the newly constructed DeKalb County Agriculture Building located on the grounds of the DeKalb County Fairgrounds in Alexandria. Chamber Director, Suzanne Williams, received the phone call from State of TN Three Star Director, Jody Sliger, who delivered the well-received news that the grant has been awarded to DeKalb County.

This grant will provide the new Agriculture building the funding necessary to complete the interior space with meeting rooms, training areas, and a commercial kitchen that will offer a generous space to hold diverse events, trainings, sales, auctions, meetings, programs, etc. all throughout the year. An Ag Center Task Force will be formed to research resources, create entrepreneur courses for agriculture businesses, and to investigate agriculture-related resource enhancement for DeKalb County.

“We believe the economic impact of this project will be significant,” said Chamber Director Williams. “This multi-purpose ag building has the potential to be utilized in numerous ways including DeKalb Cattle Association events, equipment auctions, school functions, concerts and other entertainment-type events, culinary classes, 4-H development programs, cattle and horse sales, Senior Center events, community activities, birthday parties, family reunions, trainings, and much more.” Williams continued, “I am so grateful for the help from County Mayor Tim Stribling and DeKalb County Fair Association Board member, Jeff McMillen. Mayor Stribling helped provide information for the narrative and Jeff provided the construction plans and cost estimates. With the short timeline we had, I couldn’t have completed the grant without their invaluable help.”

County Mayor Stribling commented, “We are very thankful to the Three Star program for awarding DeKalb County this much-needed grant. We feel that DeKalb County businesses and especially the businesses community of Alexandria will highly benefit from the events held throughout the year at the Ag Center. The increased flow of visitors that will be attending the events will be a huge boost to Alexandria and other businesses throughout our county.”

Community Partners will include the DeKalb County Fair Association Board, DeKalb County Government, City of Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen, Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, Alexandria Lions Club, DeKalb Cattlemen’s Association, U.T. Extension, DeKalb County 4-H, DTC Communications, Alexandria Senior Center reps, School Agriculture Students, local businesses, and many local volunteers and farmers. In addition, we will work closely with and seek input from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

Three Star is a strategic community development program developed to assist communities in preparing for a better future, for today and tomorrow – and for generations to come.

July 19, 2021
By:

Eli Cross, member of the 2021 NAIA Football National Champion Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia Kentucky, has earned All American Academic honors.

Cross, a former DCHS football standout, and three of his teammates at Lindsey Wilson, Joe Gressette, Cameron Thurman, and Cameron Dukes, have been named to the 26-man College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America NAIA Football First Team. Dukes, the Blue Raiders’ star quarterback, was tabbed the Football Academic All-American of the Year.

A two year All-Conference player, Cross is a starting left tackle on the offensive line for Lindsey Wilson and helped the Blue Raiders to the first ever National Championship in May defeating Northwestern (Iowa) 45-13 at Grambling State University in Louisiana in the title game. The Blue Raiders completed an undefeated spring football season at 11-0 including the Mid-South Conference Championship.

Cross and Gressette are two of five offensive linemen featured on the (CoSIDA) Academic All-America NAIA Football First Team. Cross turned in a 3.93 Business Administration GPA – the second-highest on the team – as Gressette managed a GPA mark of 3.92 in Counseling and Human Development. The duo spearheaded a lethal offensive attack that posted the third-highest scoring average in program history at 46.3 points per game. The mark was the second-best in the NAIA this season.

Dukes is the only quarterback listed on the team after compiling a 3.87-grade point average in the classroom throughout his undergraduate and graduate course work. He is currently enrolled in the Master of Business Administration program. The quarterback started all 11 contests this season, completing 186 of 282 throwing attempts for 2,555-yards and 33 touchdowns. Dukes added 391-yards on the ground with 10 more scores.

Thurman was one of four defensive linemen named to the team after a 3.85 GPA in Counseling and Human Development. Thurman recorded 35 tackles on the season and 3.5 sacks. The Lindsey Wilson defense held its opponents to 14.4 points per outing, the lowest scoring average allowed in program history. The Blue Raiders also tied an all-time high with 33.5 sacks, ranking number five in the country.

The quartet’s honors mark the ninth time in program history a student-athlete has received national recognition at Lindsey Wilson College.

July 18, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Two people caught with a stolen 2021 Homesteader Intrepid trailer have been charged with theft of property over $1,000.

35 year old Ronald Joshua Carter of Carter Drive and 28 year old Lynette Holubek of Smith Road will be in court on July 22. Carter’s bond is $20,000 while Holubek is under a $10,000 bond.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on June 23 a deputy went to a residence on Carter Drive where he found Carter and Holubek in possession of a 2021 Homesteader Intrepid trailer valued at $20,000 which was stolen in Cookeville on June 19.

Two men will find themselves in court this week after being found in possession of methamphetamine earlier this month.

38 year old Warren Brandon Glasby of Manchester is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. He is under a $10,000 bond and 41 year old Jeremy Ray Likens is facing charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and fabricating or tampering with evidence.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 6 Glasby exchanged with Likens an object later determined to be approximately 1.5 ounces of a clear crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine.

Likens, who was found with three ounces of a clear crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine as well as a glass pipe commonly used to consume meth, threw those items into the dirt trying to get rid of them after being confronted by law enforcement.

Likens is under a $17,500 bond. Both he and Glasby are due in court on July 22.

58 year old Robert Lewis Judkins of Alex Lane, Smithville, is charged with vandalism. His bond is $2,000 and he will be in court July 22.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 6 Judkins was spotted picking up a bird feeder and breaking down a door to a building. The victim reported that damage to the door and a lock on the door amounted to at least $200.

64 year old Steve Mitchell Redmon of Miller Road, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court July 22.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 7 a restaurant employee on West Broad Street reported to a deputy in the parking lot that someone inside the diner was highly intoxicated and annoying customers and employees. The officer confronted Redmon and detected a strong odor of alcohol on him and his speech was slurred. Redmon admitted to having consumed a few drinks before he left home but said he was okay when he arrived at the restaurant. Redmon was placed in custody.

49 year old Jannah Lee Cowan of Hillview Heights, Dowelltown is charged with violation of an order of protection. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court August 5.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 8 a deputy drove by the Hillview Heights residence and noticed a vehicle in the driveway. Due to an order of protection having been served at that home earlier and the officer knowing there should be no vehicles there, he called for a check of the license plate through central dispatch and learned that the automobile parked there belonged to Cowan who was not supposed to be at the residence. The deputy then knocked on the door and the man who answered admitted that Cowan was inside the home. She was placed under arrest.

36 year old Michael Frederick Teachout of Students Home Road, Smithville is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court August 5.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 8 a deputy was patrolling Holmes Creek Road when he noticed a vehicle setting off the roadway almost in the creek. While conducting a welfare check a woman emerged from the woods. The officer asked if she was okay and that if there was anyone else around. She responded “yes, Michael” and then opened the door to the vehicle. Teachout was sitting in the passenger seat. Knowing there was an order of protection in place against Teachout to keep away from this woman, the officer placed him under arrest.

47 year old Jason Bradley Cripps of Four Seasons Road, Smithville is charged with fabricating or tampering with evidence and public intoxication. He is under a $7,000 bond and his court date is July 29.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 10 a deputy was dispatched to the area of Old Snow Hill Road where a suspicious person was spotted looking through windows at the Old Snow Hill Church. The officer found the suspect, Cripps who appeared to be unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. He was placed under arrest. While the officer was conducting a pat down search, Cripps removed a baggie from his shoe containing three white pills which he tried to put in his mouth. Cripps later said the pills were Subutex.

33 year old Justin Matthew Cripps of Grandview Drive, Smithville is charged with vandalism. His bond is $3,500 and he will make a court appearance on August 5.

Sheriff Ray said that on June 24, Cripps intentionally and knowingly vandalized property owned by the DeKalb County government. Cripps was observed on jail surveillance video walking around the dayroom area of the jail, striking the commissary box several times leaving the machine dented and broken. Cripps went before the disciplinary board, where he admitted to breaking the machine.

54 year old Douglas Wayne Easey of Tubb Street, Liberty, was charged on June 29 with violation of the sex offender registry. His bond is $5,000.

Sheriff Ray said Easey was released from the Wilson County Jail on June 23 and did not report to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department within the allotted time for a sex offender, which is 48 hours upon release.

39 year old Derrick Edmond Hale of Church Street, Dowelltown, is charged with failure to appear and criminal impersonation. His bond is $2,500.

According to Sheriff Ray, a deputy went to a residence on Church Street in Dowelltown June 30 to serve a failure to appear warrant on Hale, for expired registration, no seatbelt, and another failure to appear. Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with a man who said that his name was Jared Hale, and he gave a different date of birth from Derrick Edmond Hale. After an investigation, the officer confirmed that Derrick Edmond Hale is the man’s true identity.

38 year old Jimmy Joel Farris of Restview Drive, Smithville, is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell. He is under a $10,000 bond and is due in court on July 29.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 2 at approximately 11:36 p.m. a deputy was on patrol in the area of Holiday Haven Boat Ramp, when he observed two people sitting inside a white SUV. The deputy stopped and spoke with them and identified one as being Jimmy Farris. After a background warrants check, the officer received consent to search Farris’ vehicle, and found a clear baggy containing approximately 1.2 grams of a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. Farris said the substance belonged to him. He was placed in custody and taken to the DeKalb County Jail.

Jesus Fernando Martinez-Padillo of Winding Way, McMinnville is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on July 22.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 3 Martinez-Padillo was determined to have violated an active no-contact order from bond conditions against him out of Warren County. A deputy pulled over Martinez-Padillo’s vehicle which he was driving and found him with a female passenger. A background check through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) revealed that Martinez-Padillo was under an active no-contact order to keep away from this woman. He was placed under arrest.

56 year old Joey Lewis Derting is charged with driving under the influence. He is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is July 29.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 1 a deputy pulled over a green Chevy Cavalier on Woodbury Highway where the driver was observed failing to maintain his lane of travel. The officer spoke with the driver, Derting, whose eyes were bloodshot and glassy and his pupils were constricted. Derting consented to but performed poorly on field sobriety tests. He was then placed under arrest.

20 year old Jammy Wayne Bruce of Tabernacle Road, Smithville is charged with sale and delivery of a schedule IV & VI drug. He is under a $15,000 bond.

According to Sheriff Ray, a deputy was on patrol July 4 when he observed a gray Ford Taurus being operated by man he knew had no license, and that the registration did not belong to that vehicle. The registration displayed was to a black Ford Ranger. The deputy pulled over the vehicle at the intersection of Smith Road and Martin Street. As he approached Bruce’s automobile, the officer smelled marijuana and during a search of the vehicle, he found inside Bruce’s backpack, a clear baggy containing 28 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, as well as 20 yellow pills containing the imprint of R039, identified as Alprazolam. Bruce was placed into custody and transported to the jail.

35 year old Joseph Kilzer of Parkway Drive, Smithville, is charged with public intoxication. He is under a $2,000 bond and is due in court on July 22.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 5 a deputy responded to the area of Parkway Drive where a man was observed walking through people’s yards. The deputy spotted a man, Kilzer, who matched the description of the suspect and he stopped to speak with him. Kilzer admitted to walking through the yards adding that he had also taken methamphetamine and was trying to get on Youtube. The deputy noticed that Kilzer was unsteady on his feet and very fidgety. For his own safety, and the safety of the public, Kilzer was placed under arrest for public intoxication.