It’s Time to Pack a Shoebox for “Operation Christmas Child” (VIEW VIDEO HERE)

November 9, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County residents will have the opportunity to donate Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes, beginning Monday, November 16.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993 Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 168 million shoeboxes to children in over 160 countries and territories. For many of these children, the gift filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received. Also, to help offset shipping costs, participants are asked to donate $9 per shoebox gift. They will receive a tracking label, enabling them to learn the destination of their shoebox gift.

The week of November 16th through 23rd, is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child. The drop-off/relay center for this area is located at the Indian Creek Baptist Church, 967 Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville, Tennessee, and is a convenient place for churches, clubs, schools, businesses, and individuals to bring their filled shoe boxes.

The local drop off center will be open, as follows:

*Monday, November 16 through Friday, November 20 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
* Saturday, November 21 – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
*Sunday, November 22 – 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
*Monday, November 23 – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

You may select from the above dates and hours to deliver your filled shoe boxes to the center.

This holiday season you can experience the true meaning of Christmas with a child in need by simply packing your shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and other small gifts. During this Coronavirus Pandemic: Now, more than ever, CHILDREN NEED HOPE.

For further information please contact:
Sue Puckett:
615/597-7370 (office)
615/597-7325 (home)
615/464-7700 (cell)suepuckett@dtccom.net (e-mail)
For more information, including guidelines for shoebox gifts and an option to virtually “Build a Box,” visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ

November 8, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Motorists traveling McMinnville Highway (Highway 56) south in DeKalb County will have to take things a little slower.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has reduced the speed limit from 55 to 45 miles per hour from the Smithville City Limits to the Warren County line where road construction is in progress. Posted 45 mile per hour signs are along the route.

Meanwhile in its weekly report, TDOT has announced that the contractor, Jones Brothers Contractors, LLC, will continue installing concrete box culverts and drainage structures. Grade work, bridge work, paving operations, and utility work on the new roadway alignment are ongoing with no change in traffic patterns. Traffic is still using the existing SR-56. Motorists are advised to use caution and watch for construction equipment adjacent to roadway. Flaggers may be present to move equipment across roadway, unload equipment, or complete utility work. The contractor is working at the intersection of Williams Road and the new alignment. Traffic will be shifted onto a diversion to allow the contractor to construct the new alignment. Motorists should use caution in this area and watch for flaggers and construction equipment.

The estimated completion date for the Highway 56 improvement project is May 31, 2022.

November 8, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Acting on a complaint last month from a caller who said someone was in the back yard tampering with their vehicle, police caught a man who had allegedly cut catalytic converters off the automobile.

46 year old Jeffery Lynn Sanders of 635 Restview Avenue was arrested October 8 for resisting arrest, theft, possession of burglary tools, and vandalism. Police were summoned to check out a complaint of someone tampering with a vehicle in the backyard of a residence and upon arrival spotted Sanders at the scene. When he saw the police, Sanders tried to run away even after being ordered by the officers to stop but he fell. According to police, Sanders had in his possession a bag containing an oscillating saw, what appeared to be two catalytic converters, and other assorted tools. Officers also spotted footprints around the victim’s vehicle and markings in the grass where someone appeared to have been underneath the automobile. During the investigation police discovered that catalytic converter parts had been cut off the vehicle in two pieces. Bond for Sanders is $15,000.

46 year old Shirley Ann Hardy of Cookeville was arrested on September 26 for driving under the influence. Police responded to a possible intoxicated driver in the area of South Congress Boulevard and spotted a vehicle matching the description cross over into the left lane several times. The officer pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Hardy whose eyes were glossy and her speech was slow. Hardy submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. Police learned that Hardy had earlier consumed a couple of beers and taken a Xanax. Hardy also consented to a police request for a blood draw. Her bond is $2,500.

50 year old Joey Dale Sain of 2370 Evins Mill Road was arrested September 29 for driving while restricted. Sain was observed running the red light at the intersection of Highways 56 & 70 where he almost caused an accident. Police stopped Sain’s vehicle and he admitted to running the stop light. He was cited for a violation of the traffic control device/signal. During a background check through Central Dispatch, Police learned that Sain had been declared an habitual offender on August 19, 1997 in Rutherford County following a DUI arrest and conviction. Bond for Sain is $10,000.

51 year old Michael Lynn Vance of 635 Andrew Street was arrested on October 1 for criminal trespassing. Police were called to 625 Highland Street due to a trespassing complaint against Vance. He had already been accused of trespassing on the property of the Housing Authority on July 20 and has been cited since for the same offense on August 17 and September 8. Vance was taken into custody and charged with criminal trespassing. His bond is $1,000.

59 year old Roy Douglas Atnip of 629 Restview Avenue was arrested on October 3 for public intoxication. Police were called to 625 Crestlawn Avenue due to an unwanted visitor. Upon arrival, officers found Atnip standing outside his own residence. Police had already confronted Atnip earlier that night and warned him to stay inside his home after officers detected an odor of alcohol on him and noticed that he was unsteady on his feet. Atnip was taken into custody and his bond was set at $1,000.

23 year old Trevor Wayne Jenkins of 354 Page Drive was cited for a light law violation and simple possession. Police pulled over Jenkins due to non-working tail lights and during the stop found a plastic bottle in the back seat containing 0.3 grams of methamphetamine.

34 year old Regina Thomas of 670 Miller Road was arrested October 10 for domestic assault. Police learned that Thomas was involved in a domestic altercation in which she used a knife to threaten her victim. Thomas claims that while the knife was open she had only been playing with it. However the victim said Thomas was trying to intimidate her. Bond for Thomas is $2,500.

30 year old Nathan Lynn Judkins of 5471 Short Mountain Road was arrested on October 11 for evading arrest and reckless endangerment and he was cited for speeding, driver license and financial responsibility violations, no tag light, and simple possession. During routine patrol, police spotted Judkins’ vehicle with no working tag lights and tried to pull it over but Judkins failed to stop exceeding speeds of 60 mph. Judkins led police on a pursuit from Riley Avenue to Village Market on North Congress Boulevard before coming to a stop. Police discovered that Judkins had no driver’s license, no insurance, and he was found with approximately 0.2 grams of methamphetamine. Bond for Judkins is $6,500.

48 year old Sheila Head Daniels of 612 South College Street was cited on October 11 for allowing a dog to run at large. Daniels is the owner of a brown and white dog that was observed on another person’s property where the dog had killed a cat. The officer found the dog on the victim’s property and the deceased cat. Daniels will appear in city court on November 10.

50 year old Bobby Knowles and 29 year old Bobby Allen Atnip both of 811 Luttrell Avenue were cited for theft on October 12. Police were called to Wal-Mart due to a possible theft and upon arrival spoke with Atnip who said that he was with someone whom he did not know who had taken items from the store. Police later learned that Atnip did know the person he was with but wouldn’t give his name. Atnip also lied about how they arrived at Wal-Mart. During the investigation, police discovered the other person involved was Atnip’s father, Bobby Knowles and he was found at Atnip’s residence. In addition to theft, Atnip was also cited for filing a false report.

34 year old Amy Marie Lynch of Gallatin was arrested on October 13 for domestic assault. Police were dispatched to 225 East Bryant Street, City Walk Apartments due to a possible domestic incident. Upon arriving, the officers were met by the two victims who reported that Lynch, who had earlier consumed a lot of alcohol, assaulted both while trying to get one of them out of bed. Both victims had marks on them. Bond for Lynch is $2,500.

42 year old Victor Lee Lewis of 632 Restview Avenue was cited on October 14 for vandalism. Police were informed that Lewis had kicked the victim’s car door during an argument causing damage to the vehicle.

57 year old Marshann Hensley of Indiana was arrested on October 16 for DUI and she was cited for violation of financial responsibility. Police were called to Jewel’s Market where someone was observed passed out in a vehicle. Police found the driver, Hensley unconscious at the steering wheel and the vehicle was still in gear with her foot on the brake. Once Hensley was awakened, she backed into a patrol car while trying to drive off. As she got out of the vehicle, Hensley was observed to be unsteady on her feet with red watery eyes and her speech was slow. Hensley submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. Police learned that she had taken Suboxone a couple of hours prior to this incident. Bond for Hensley is $2,500 and her court date is November 12.

37 year old Jacob Owen Lackey of Paris Tennessee was arrested October 18 for criminal trespassing. Lackey, who was at the emergency room of the hospital refused to leave upon being discharged even after being ordered to do so by medical personnel and law enforcement officers. His bond is $1,500.

18 year old Zachary Preston Ambrose of 720 Walker Drive, Apartment D5 was arrested for domestic assault on October 19. Police were called to Kingston Timers due to a domestic incident. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the victim who was crying and scared. According to the woman, Ambrose had grabbed her by the arm during a verbal argument and hit her in the mouth with his elbow leaving her with a busted lip. Bond for Ambrose is $5,000 and his court date is November 12.

64 year old Fred Thomas Dowell Jr. of 110 Village Place was cited on October 19 for a driver license violation, open container and financial responsibility violations, driving an unregistered vehicle, and misuse of registration. Police were summoned to Charity Lane due to a possible burglary where they stopped a vehicle, driven by Dowell, that matched the description. During the stop, police spotted open containers of Patron and Jack Daniels in cup holders and learned after a background check through Central Dispatch, that Dowell’s license was revoked, that the vehicle was unregistered, and that he had the wrong plate on the automobile. Meanwhile a passenger with Dowell, 32 year old Dana Seborn Cantrell of 218 Jennings Lane was cited for simple possession. Central Dispatch confirmed active warrants against Cantrell and during a search incident to arrest, the officer found on Cantrell a pill believed to be Gabapentin and a 2nd identical pill in the floor of the vehicle where he had been sitting. Both Dowell and Cantrell will appear in court on November 12.