Man Gets Five Year Sentence for Sexual Battery of 11-Year-Old Child

November 9, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A man charged with having sexual contact with an 11-year-old child five years ago was sentenced Tuesday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

50-year-old Rogelio Rivera Palomo entered a plea by criminal information to one count of sexual battery and received a five-year sentence to serve at 45% before becoming eligible for parole. He was given jail credit from June 20, 2023 to November 7, 2023.

According to the charge, on or about July 20, 2018 in DeKalb County, Palomo did unlawfully or knowingly accomplish sexual contact upon an 11-year-old child with force or coercion in violation of state law.

November 9, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Grant James is now in the lead among WJLE’s Fearless Forecasters picking college football winners ten weeks into the season.

Grant has a record of 104-46 followed by Jared Davis and Ricky Atnip each at 103-47, Scott Goodwin, John Pryor, and Dewain Hendrixson each at 102-48, Chad Kirby 99-51, Scott Brown 97-53, and Darrell Gill 96-54.

For the week, Grant James had the best record at 12-3 followed by Ricky Atnip and Scott Goodwin each at 11-4, Darrell Gill, Chad Kirby, John Pryor, and Dewain Hendrixson each at 10-5, and Scott Brown and Jared Davis each at 9-6.

Two Fearless Forecasters hit their underdog picks last week.

Jared Davis added to his lead with 6 points as Arkansas defeated Florida 39-36 and John Pryor picked up 6 points with Oklahoma State’s win over Oklahoma 27-24.

Overall, Jared Davis still leads in underdog points with 47.5 followed by Dewain Hendrixson with 30, Ricky Atnip 26.5, Darrell Gill 18, Scott Goodwin and John Pryor each at 12.5, Chad Kirby 6.5, and Grant James with 3 points.

Today (Thursday) the Forecasters will be picking winners in the following games:

Michigan at Penn State, Texas Tech at Kansas, Utah at Washington, Oklahoma State at UCF, USC at Oregon, Fresno State at San Jose State, Washington State at California, Maryland at Nebraska, Florida at LSU, Ole Miss at Georgia, Auburn at Arkansas, Alabama at Kentucky, Vanderbilt at South Carolina, Tennessee at Missouri, and in the NFL the Tennessee Titans at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Catch the Fearless Forecasters on WJLE today (Thursday) at 4:30 p.m. on AM 1480/FM 101.7 and LIVE streaming at www.wjle.com.

The program is sponsored by the Charles D. Atnip Realty and Auction Company, DeKalb County Ace Hardware, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, FirstBank, DeKalb County Insurance, Gill Automotive, Love-Cantrell Funeral Home, Davis Auto Body, and Domino’s Pizza.

November 9, 2023
By:

Get ready to embrace the spirit of the season as Smithville gears up for an unforgettable holiday celebration. The Smithville Christmas Parade and the 22nd Annual “Christmas on the Square” are again joining forces to make Saturday, December 2nd, a day filled with joy, festivities, and cherished memories.

The Smithville Christmas Parade will kick off the festivities at 4 PM, but the line-up for the participants begins at 2 PM at the New Life Connection Center, located at 750 S. Congress Blvd., Smithville. The parade route will commence from the New Life Connection Center, proceeding along South Congress Blvd. and culminating in the heart of Downtown Smithville Square.

Following the Smithville Parade, the enchanting “Christmas on the Square” extravaganza will begin at 5:30 PM. The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber cordially invites all attendees to stay and immerse themselves in the joy of the holiday season with an array of delightful activities in downtown Smithville.

Highlighted Events at “Christmas on the Square” include:

* Chamber of Commerce “Live” Windows Contest: People of all ages love the “Live Windows.” Downtown businesses and offices will adorn their windows with amazingly creative “live” scenes, and beautifully decorated interiors for the occasion from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Attendees can actively participate by voting for their favorite “Live” Display Window. Share your top pick on the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber Facebook Page, and the window with the “Most Likes” will receive additional points in the judging process. Chamber Director Suzanne Williams will present awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, in addition to a “Chamber Choice” award.

*Christmas Shopping: Discover an array of holiday specials and extended shopping hours at downtown stores, making it the perfect opportunity to select unique and wonderful Christmas gifts. Shops will be open until 8 PM.

*DeKalb Courthouse: Make sure to visit the DeKalb Courthouse to visit with elected county officials and partake in complimentary refreshments within a festive atmosphere. The courthouse’s exterior will dazzle with large Christmas trees adorning both sides.

*FREE Photo Booth: Sponsored by the City of Smithville, a photo booth will be available on the main floor of the courthouse for visitors to capture cherished moments.

*Smithville City Hall: Experience the magic of the season with festive outdoor Christmas displays, accompanied by holiday music playing outdoors. Inside, you can enjoy cookies and admire the decorations.

*Justin-Potter Library: Bring your camera! Santa himself will be making a special appearance at the library from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, offering photo opportunities for children. Each child will also receive a Christmas take-home craft.

*Refuge Church: After the parade, head to Refuge Church at 303 Public Square, where they will be serving hot soup while it lasts and providing a place to warm up.

*Smithville Electric: Be captivated by the dazzling lights at Evins Park’s Open-Air Stage, beautifully decorated by Smithville Electric employees, creating a magical atmosphere.

Chamber Director Suzanne Williams encourages everyone to attend this year’s Smithville Parade and to linger for the delightful and heartwarming Christmas on the Square event, describing it as the perfect way to usher in the Christmas season.