Woman found with 65 pills packaged for resale during traffic stop

February 3, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A woman is facing drug charges after she was found with 65 Alprazolam pills believed to have been packaged for sale and delivery during a traffic stop last week.

28 year old Rachel Danielle Overman is under a $5,000 bond for sale and delivery of a schedule IV drug and she was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia. She will make a court appearance on May 6.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Overman was a front seat passenger of a white Chevy Malibu which was stopped byu two detectives on January 26 after they spotted the car crossing the yellow line in the turning lane on West Broad Street in Smithville. The driver, who was not arrested, is on community corrections and gave the detectives consent to search the car. Found in a paper towel rolled up beside Overman’s leg in the car was a clear pipe with residue. Meanwhile on the driver ‘s side between the car door and seat was a plastic baggie containing 20 Alprazolam pills and on the passenger side between the car seat and door was a bottle with a purple lid which held 45 Alprazolam pills. The pills were packaged in two separate containers and believed to have been made ready for sale and delivery. Overman claimed the pills and the pipe all belonged to her but she could not produce a prescription for the pills.

31 year old Eric Dean Morgan of Smithville is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court April 15.

Sheriff Ray said that on January 26 a deputy spotted Morgan talking with the person in front of the hospital he was supposed to be keeping away from under terms of the order of protection against him. Another officer was called to the scene to investigate and learned from Morgan that he had picked up the petitioner the day before in Cookeville and they had been hanging out together since then. A background check through NCIC confirmed that Morgan was still under an active order of protection to keep away from this person he was found with at the hospital.

47 year old James Dewey Harris of Monteagle is charged with driving under the influence and sale and delivery of a schedule I drug, simple possession of a schedule IV drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond totals $37,500 and he will make a court appearance May 6.

Sheriff Ray said that on January 29 a deputy spotted a silver 4 door vehicle in a parking lot at the corner of McMinnville Highway and Old Blue Springs Road. The driver, Harris was slumped over the steering wheel with the engine running. The officer stopped and tried to get Harris’ attention but he was unresponsive. After knocking on the driver’s side door several times, Harris woke up. He was asked to get out of the car. The officer noticed that Harris had urinated on himself and that he was unsteady on his feet. Harris was so intoxicated he was unable to perform field sobriety tasks. In his left front shirt pocket, Harris had a syringe.
Before it was towed, Harris’ car was inventoried and found was a yellow pill believed to be Alprazolam for which Harris had no prescription. The officer also discovered two separate bags containing a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine with a total weight of 12.5 grams.

22 year old Courtney Marie Watson of Academy Avenue, Alexandria is charged with bringing contraband into a penal institution. Her bond is $5,000 and she will make a court appearance April 15.

Sheriff Ray said that on January 31 a correctional officer was informed that Watson had retrieved a baggie from her shirt and placed it inside her body cavity. Two female correctional officers searched Watson and found the baggie which contained 4 grams of marijuana.

February 2, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A long time member of the Smithville Police Department has been promoted.

Detective James Cornelius was recently elevated to the rank of Lieutenant by Chief Mark Collins and the promotion was formally approved by the Aldermen Monday night.

Chief Collins said Cornelius will fill the position held for former Lieutenant Detective Matt Holmes who retired last May.

“Detective Cornelius will be a fine Lieutenant. He has already shown character in that position and the things he will do. He will be a true asset to the police department as Lieutenant,” said Chief Collins.

Meanwhile the Smithville Aldermen Monday night approved the current list of volunteer firefighters and officers serving the department for the city in 2021 as recommended by Chief Charlie Parker

Members of the department are as follows: Chief Charles Parker, Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale, Captain Jeff Wright, Lieutenant Danny Poss, Lieutenant John Poss, Lieutenant Donnie Cantrell; William Brown, Chaplain Wallace Caldwell, Gary Johnson, James R. Hunt, Stephanee Wright, Glen Lattimore, Cory Killian, Photographer/Auxiliary Greg Bess, Becky Atnip, Auxilary Shawn Jacobs, Bradley Johnson, Dalton Roberts, C.J. Tramel, Kim Johnson, Seth Wright, Ryan Herron, Dillon Hicks, Jeff Prisock, Andrew Cooper, Auxiliary Kayla Williams, Dakota Nokes, and Auxiliary Mark Riggsbee.

The aldermen also voted to approve the recent hiring of John P. Poss to fill a vacancy as mechanic in the public works department. Poss is not the city volunteer firefighter John Poss.

February 2, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Tickets go on sale today (Tuesday) for tonight’s DeKalb County High School home basketball games with Cannon County.

Beginning tonight DCHS is returning to public attendance guidelines for sporting events that were in place when the season began.

“With the Governor lifting the most recent restrictions, TSSAA is allowing sporting events to return to a 1/3 seating capacity limit that was in place during the first part of the season,” said DCHS Principal Randy Jennings.

“There will be a limited number of tickets sold to the public each game. Tickets will be sold starting at 12:30 p.m. on game day and will be sold until the seating capacity is reached. Tickets are $7.00. All season ticket holders are guaranteed admittance to the game,” said Jennings.

“All fans will have their temperature checked and they must wear a mask upon entering the gym”, added Principal Jennings.

The remaining DCHS home basketball games are on Tuesday February 2 and Tuesday, February 9.

WJLE will have LIVE coverage of tonight’s games starting with the girls contest at p.m. followed by the boys game. WJLE’s Tiger Talk Show airs at 5:45 p.m. featuring the coaches and Tiger and Lady Tiger players Luke Jenkins, Brayden Antoniak, Ella VanVranken, and Madison Martin

DISTRICT 8AA TEAM RECORDS AND STANDINGS

BOYS:
Upperman: 16-4 (9-1)
York Institute: 12-8 (7-1)
Livingston Academy: 11-8 (6-2)
Watertown: 13-5 (6-4)
Cannon County: 11-12 (4-6)
DeKalb County: 7-11 (3-7)
Smith County: 6-11 (3-7)
Macon County: 3-14 (0-10)

GIRLS:
Upperman: 23-0 (11-0)
Macon County: 14-4 (8-2)
York Institute: 16-4 (7-2)
Livingston Academy: 14-6 (5-3)
Watertown: 16-6 (5-5)
DeKalb County: 8-11 (2-8)
Smith County: 6-11 (1-9)
Cannon County: 3-17 (0-10)

DCHS 2020-21 UPDATED SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, February 2: *Cannon County-Home- 6 p.m.
Saturday, February 6- *Livingston Academy- Away- 6 p.m.
Macon County, February 9-*Macon County-Home- 6 p.m.
Thursday, February 11: *Smith County- Away- 6 p.m.
Friday, February 12: Red Boiling Springs-Away-6 p.m.