Family of Fallen DeKalb County Soldier to be Given 100% Mortgage Free Home

September 30, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The family of a fallen soldier from DeKalb County will soon be given a mortgage-free home thanks to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

(Click link below to learn more)

https://tunnel2towers.org/gold_star_family/billy-anderson/

The foundation is honoring the late U.S. Army PFC Billy Anderson by providing a home to his wife Caitlin and daughter Lilly Grace who was just 8-months-old when her father was killed.

The home for the Anderson family is being paid for through the Foundation’s Gold Star Program, launched in September 2018, which honors the legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. The Foundation provides a 100 percent mortgage-free home to surviving spouses with young children. The Foundation is committed to raising $250 million to provide 1,000 homes to Gold Star Families.

U.S. Army PFC. Billy Anderson, 20, enlisted in the Army in June of 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan six months later in January of 2010.

With two months left on his deployment he was killed on May 17, 2010, when insurgents attacked his unit with IEDs.

Billy and Caitlin met in High School but didn’t start dating till after they graduated.

The two married in June of 2009 and then welcomed their daughter Lilly-Grace into the world.
Billy didn’t get to meet her until she was two months old and he graduated from basic training at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri.

Caitlin calls Billy a kind, good-hearted man, who was nurturing and a strong Christian.

Frank Siller is the chief executive officer of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation — a nonprofit organization created to honor his brother, Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter who died on Sept. 11. Stephen Siller, the youngest of seven siblings, was finishing his shift when the attacks occurred on that day in 2001. Strapped with 60 lbs. of gear on his back, he ran from the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the twin towers. He lost his life that day.

Foundation programming has expanded over the years as its team recognized the unique needs within the military and first responder communities. The Smart Home Program, as an example, builds mortgage-free smart homes for catastrophically-injured service members. To date, 85 homes have started construction or are in the design stage. Forty homes have been given to the families of law enforcement, firefighters and emergency workers that lose their lives in the line of duty through the Fallen First Responder Home Program. And in September 2018, the foundation launched a new program designed to support Gold Star spouses, like the Anderson family.

For more information about the foundation visit
https://tunnel2towers.org/

https://tunnel2towers.org/gold_star_family/billy-anderson/

September 30, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Former Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss and his son Tony have decided to take their cases of official misconduct and theft over $2,500 to trial.

Both were present in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday morning but the attorneys addressed the court on their behalf.

Judge Wesley Bray set the trial for March 31, 2020.

Jimmy is represented by attorney Brandon Bellar of Carthage. Tony’s lawyer is Jamie Winkler of Carthage

The charges stem from a move by the former mayor to put his son on the city payroll in September 2017 at the city golf course and swimming pool without the approval of the aldermen. Tony was on the city payroll for six months.

In July, 2018 the DeKalb County Grand Jury returned a sealed indictment against former Mayor Poss for Official Misconduct and Theft of Property over $2,500. Tony Poss was also named in the sealed indictment for Theft of Property over $2,500.

In other cases Monday, Clinton Cope entered a plea to a 2^nd offense of driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to 45 days to serve including 17 days in jail and the rest in an alcohol treatment facility. He was also fined $600.

Dewayne Reeder entered a plea to a 2^nd offense of driving on a revoked license. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to supervised probation.

Howard Robert Mayo, Jr. entered a plea to simple possession of methamphetamine and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to serve 30 days in either jail or rehab and then be on supervised probation. He was fined $750.

Jason Dyer entered a plea by information to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to 48 hours to serve and then be on supervised probation.

Justin Smith entered a plea to possession of drug paraphernalia and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $150 and given 25 days jail credit.

September 30, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Jones Brothers Contractors, LLC has begun clearing trees and structures on Highway 56 south to be followed by utility relocations in preparation for road construction.

During construction, the Tennessee Department of Transportation is advising motorists to use caution and watch for construction equipment and personnel in the roadway.

Much of the clearing work currently being done is between Seven Springs Road in DeKalb County to the Green Hill Community in Warren County.

TDOT opened bids in June and Jones Brothers Contractors, LLC was the low bidder on the construction project at $43,691,948 which will be done in two phases from south of state highway 288 near Magness Road to East Bryant Street in Smithville and from south of the Warren-DeKalb County line to near Magness Road in DeKalb County. A proposed third segment from near State Route 287 in Warren County to near the DeKalb County Line is not yet ready for bid letting.

The state plans to build largely two lanes of a proposed four lane project and maintain traffic on the existing Highway 56 (alignment) while construction is being done on the new portion.

The estimated completion date for the two phases is May 31, 2022.

Meanwhile, TDOT has announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is replacing a box culvert on State Route 141 as part of the Center Hill Dam restoration project. SR141 will be closed adjacent to Long Branch Campground from October 1 – 22. The road will be impassible during construction of the culvert and a detour route is posted.

One lane of State Route 96 is closed and traffic is controlled by a temporary signal due to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam restoration work. Motorists should exercise caution as they travel through the work zone. Estimated project completion date is June 2020.