Smoke from overheated central air system forces evacuation of jail

January 13, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Smoke from an overheated central heat and air unit at the DeKalb County Jail forced an evacuation of the building this morning (Wednesday).

Correctional officers and other jail staff sprung into action quickly escorting inmates from their cells to the fence enclosed exercise pen outside the jail. No one was injured and there was no damage to the building.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said a jail cook spotted smoke from a back hallway and alerted the officers.

“This morning (Wednesday) at around 7:47 a.m. the jail cook was walking in a back hallway near the kitchen area of the old part of the jail and noticed what she believed to be smoke in the hallway. She immediately went into the kitchen area and noticed smoke coming from the central heat and air ducts and the smoke was getting thicker and thicker. She immediately radioed other correctional officers who then called Central Dispatch for a possible fire,” said Sheriff Ray.

The Smithville Fire Department arrived on the scene a short time later.

“The inmates were outside long enough for the building to be cleared of smoke and then we moved them to the annex side of the jail. They are now back in their original cells. ” Sheriff Ray said.

“It is believed a central heat and air unit somehow got hot and produced smoke through the air ducts that run in the kitchen, the back hallway and administrative office in the old part of the jail. A central heat and air maintenance company came and inspected the air units today and as of now, they think they have fixed the problem,” he continued.

“The correctional officers in the jail are trained for emergencies like this and they conduct fire drills on each shift for the entire jail every three months. Our last fire drill was conducted on December the 11th and 14th on both day and night shifts”.

“I want to thank the correctional officers and other department personnel for their quick thinking and evacuation of the jail in a timely manner. I also want to thank the dispatchers at Central Dispatch, the Smithville Fire Department, Smithville City Police Department, DeKalb EMS and Constable Mark Milam for their assistance today,” added Sheriff Ray.

January 13, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Upperman completed a season sweep of the DCHS Tigers and Lady Tigers Tuesday night in Smithville winning the girls game 79 to 52 and 77 to 41 in the boys contest.

In the last meeting on December 15 the Tigers lost to the Bees at Baxter 57 to 45 while the Lady Tigers were defeated 75 to 40. Both the Bees and Lady Bees are state ranked in the top three.

On Tuesday night, the Lady Tigers trailed 20 to 8 after the 1st period, 38 to 19 at halftime, and 56 to 41 after the 3rd period before falling 79 to 52.

Madison Martin scored 13. Ella VanVranken had 12, Megan Cantrell 7, Kadee Ferrell and Cadee Griffith each with 6, Summer Crook 5, and Xharia Lyons 3.

In the boys game, the Tigers fell behind 11 to 8 by the end of the 1st period and trailed 36 to 22 at halftime, and 58 to 33 at the end of the 3rd period before losing the game 77 to 41.

Evan Jones scored 10, Conner Close 9, Jordan Young 8, Stetson Agee 5, Isaac Brown 3, and Luke Jenkins, Brayden Antoniak, and Elishah Ramos each with 2 points.

The Tigers,4-7 (1-4) and the Lady Tigers 5-7 (1-4) will travel to Macon County Friday night, January 15. WJLE will have LIVE coverage starting with the girls game at 6 p.m. followed by the boys contest.

Girls District Standings:
*Upperman: 18-0 (6-0)
*York Institute: 11-3 (4-1)
*Macon County: 9-1 (3-1)
*Watertown: 13-2 (2-2)
*DeKalb County: 5-7 (1-4)
*Livingston Academy: 9-4 (0-1)
*Smith County: 5-5 (1-3)
*Cannon County: 3-10 (0-5)

Boys District Standings:
*Upperman: 12-3 (5-0)
*York Institute: 8-6 (4-0)
*Smith County: 4-6 (2-2)
**Watertown: 9-2 (2-2)
*Cannon County: 7-7 (2-3)
*DeKalb County: 4-7 (1-4)
*Livingston Academy: 5-7 (0-1)
*Macon County: 2-8 (0-4)

January 12, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville couple has been charged with child abuse or neglect for exposing their child to drugs.

32 year old Dustin Matthew Brewer and 29 year old Brandi Louise Brewer are scheduled for an appearance in General Sessions Court on February 1. Dustin is also charged in a separate case for failure to appear. His bond is $11,000. Bond for Brandi is $10,000.

According to Smithville Police, officers were advised that the Department of Children Services received a referral on the Brewers for exposing their 4 year old child to drugs. DCS then got a hair follicle from the child and the drug test came back positive for methamphetamine. Warrants were then taken against the Brewers.