DCHS to Host White County Tonight (Tuesday) (Listen to WJLE’s Tiger Talk Program Here)

December 13, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

After being on the road last week, the DCHS basketball teams will spend this week at home hosting White County tonight (Tuesday) and Cannon County Friday night.

https://www.wjle.com/tiger-talk/

The Lady Tigers are coming off a 57 to 55 buzzer beating win at Stone Memorial in the district opener Friday night while the Tigers lost to the Panthers (8-1, 1-0) 81 to 47.

Both the Tigers and Lady Tigers are now 6-2 overall.

Although the loss is a setback, Tiger Coach Joey Agee said his team didn’t play up to its potential in the game with Stone Memorial, which is considered among the top teams in the Region this year.

“We took some really bad shots and had some bad possessions on offense and I think that affected us on the defensive end too but that is something we are really working on. We don’t need to let a previous play affect what we do on the other end of the floor. I was also not pleased with the effort once we got down. It looked like we gave up a little bit so I put that second group in and they brought some energy,” said Coach Agee.

Tonight, the Tigers will host the White County Warriors (5-2, 0-1), another team considered among the Region’s best.

“Its always good to be home. We probably shoot the ball a little better in our own gym but they (White County) will come in here hungry too. They are not going to want to go 0-2 in the district starting off after getting beaten by Upperman in overtime the other night so they are going to be upset as well as we will be upset going into tonight’s game. It should be a good game and I hope everybody comes out and packs the gym for the kids. I hope we play well,” said Coach Agee.

The Lady Tigers would go to 2-0 in the district with a win tonight over White County (7-1, 1-0) after beating Stone Memorial (6-5, 0-1) last week.

“It was just great to watch the kids play as hard as they possibly could and bring the energy, they brought from start to finish. It was a fun game to win over a school I am very familiar with,” said Lady Tiger Coach Alley.

As for White County, “they are always going to be a tough, physical team and they will bring a lot of fans, but we are at home and we will have our crowd supporting and backing us up too so it’s going to be who wants the fight more,” said Coach Alley.

WJLE’s coverage begins with Tiger Talk at 5:45 p.m. featuring comments from Coaches Joey Agee and Brandy Alley with Tiger and Lady Tiger players Robert Wheeler, Seth Fuson, Dare Collins, and Camryn Branin.

Play by play action on WJLE starts at 6 p.m. with the Voice of the Tigers and Lady Tigers John Pryor. Catch the boys and girls games LIVE on WJLE AM 1480/FM 101.7 and on the LIVE stream at www.wjle.com

December 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man accused of threatening his father with a knife has been charged with aggravated assault.

43-year-old Jessie Comer Harris of Possum Hollow Road, Dowelltown is under a $10,000 bond and his court date is December 29.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on December 5 a deputy was summoned to Possum Hollow Road where a man (Harris) was outside with a knife. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Harris’ father who said that his son, Harris had threatened him while holding a large knife. The father said Harris was yelling and screaming causing him to fear for his life.

37-year-old Mark Anthony Murry of Crossville is charged with theft of property (2 counts). His bond is $8,000 and he will be in court December 29.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 12 Murry transferred money from the cash app account of another to his own cash app account in the amount of $1,156. Twelve days later on September 24. Murry committed a similar crime transferring money from the victim’s cash app account to his own in the amount of $2,900.

The case was investigated by Sheriff’s Department Detectives.

29-year-old Destry Jordan Wiggins of Evins Mill Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. Wiggins was also cited for no insurance. He is under a $2,500 bond and his court date is December 29.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 7 a deputy was called to the area of Vaughn Lane due to an automobile accident. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the driver, Wiggins who was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. Wiggins admitted to having consumed alcohol and he submitted to field sobriety tasks, but he performed poorly.

37-year-old Joshua Lynn McCowan of Andrew Street, Smithville is charged with possession of a schedule I controlled substance (Heroin) for sale or delivery and driving on a revoked or suspended license. McCowan was cited for no insurance, registration violation, simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana) and drug paraphernalia. His bond totals $52,500 and he will be in court December 22.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 10 a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a black Pontiac Vibe which bore a tag belonging to a different vehicle. While speaking with the driver, McCowan the deputy spotted in the vehicle a glass tube containing a powdery substance believed to be Heroin which weighed 2.74 grams. The officer also found several meth pipes, baggies with white residue, needles, a spoon, a scale, and 3.47 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. A background check through central dispatch revealed that McCowan’s driver license was suspended.

57-year-old Howard Lee Pyles of Antioch Road, Smithville is charged with no driver license. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court January 5.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 11 a deputy spotted Pyles driving on Nashville Highway. Knowing that Pyles had no valid driver license, the officer conducted a traffic stop and confirmed that Pyles’ license was still suspended. He had been cited for the same offense on December 5.

41-year-old Eddy Deloyd Farris of Hodges Road, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and driving on a revoked or suspended license. His bond totals $32,500 and he will make a court appearance December 22.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 9 a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle doing a burn out in the intersection of Evins Mill Road and East Broad Street. Farris had been driving the vehicle. Earlier in the day, the same deputy had issued Farris a citation for driving on a suspended license. After Farris had been placed in custody and taken to the jail, a bag of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine weighing 0.74 grams was found on him.

December 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man arrested during a burglary in progress at a business on Brush Creek Highway at Alexandria on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 has been sentenced for the crime.

21-year-old Michael James Dodd of Alexandria entered a plea by criminal information in DeKalb County Criminal Court before Judge Wesley Bray on Tuesday, December 6 to vandalism over $10,000 and burglary other than a habitation and received a total sentence of five years (5 years for the vandalism and 4 years for the burglary to run concurrently on supervised probation and concurrently with a case in Wilson County where he is under probation supervision.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on October 12, 2021 a deputy was called to the scene of the crime due to a burglary in progress. Upon arrival the officer saw that the front door of the business (Sunoco) had been broken and he found Dodd inside the building behind the counter stuffing items from the store in a bag. Two teens were also inside the business. When the officer ordered him to stop and show his hands, Dodd turned and took off running through the store trying to escape but he and the juveniles were placed in custody.

Several bags containing an estimated $5,760 worth of hemp, vape and tobacco products were recovered during the investigation which Dodd and the teens were apparently trying to make off with. Also found in the store was a pry bar, hammer, and bat believed to have been used in the break-in.

Vandalism to the building was estimated at $18,500 including damage to the front glass door, side glass window, glass stop and pay machine, three ceiling tiles, DVR, computer, and burglar alarm control box.

Dodd was originally charged in the case with possession of burglary tools, evading arrest, theft of property over $2,500, vandalism over $10,000, and burglary. Petitions were taken against the two teens charging them with committing a delinquent act in the case.

Meanwhile, a Woodbury man was sentenced for the crime of breaking into a building on Sparta Highway in May, 2020.

22-year-old Nicholas Miles Herlong entered a plea to burglary and received a four-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation to be supervised by TDOC Rutherford County.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 15, 2020 Herlong broke out several windows before entering the building but was later caught within one mile of the scene by law enforcement. Herlong was bleeding heavily from his arms upon his arrest and blood stains were found in the building he was charged with breaking into.

Two persons charged with vandalism for spray painting vulgar graffiti on the amphitheater and playground equipment at Green Brook Park in September have been sentenced for the crime.

20-year-old Daisy Elizabeth Hernandez Morales and 19-year-old Alex Diaz Vidal each entered a plea in DeKalb County Criminal Court by criminal information to the charge of vandalism over $1,000 and were given supervised probation for two years under a judicial diversion agreement. Restitution if any must also be paid.

Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins said Morales and Vidal along with a juvenile entered the park sometime late Monday night, September 19 or early Tuesday morning, September 20 and spray-painted vulgar graffiti on the amphitheater and playground equipment. The minor was named in a juvenile petition.

49-year-old Tonza Larue Wheeler entered a plea by criminal information to criminal simulation and theft over $2,500. He received a total sentence of four years (2 years in the simulation case and 4 years for the theft) to run concurrently and all suspended to supervised probation. Wheeler was given jail credit of 56 days.

According to the charges, Wheeler, on or about September 22, 2022, intended to defraud Liberty State Bank of $9,842 by making or altering an object (check) so that it appeared to have value because of authorship with the intent to pass the check.

A woman charged in an October knife attack was sentenced Tuesday.

25-year-old Megan Lynn Warden entered a plea by criminal information to aggravated assault and received a four-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. She was given jail credit of 54 days.

According to Smithville Police, Warden and the victim got into an argument behind the residence of 624 Highland Street and during the confrontation, Warden pulled out a knife and cut the victim on her face and jawline.

21-year-old Markus Jay Majka entered a plea to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) under 0.5 grams and received a six-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000.

Sheriff Ray said on August 4, 2020 two detectives pulled over a black Mazda for failure to maintain lane of travel (swerving) on Miller Lane. The driver, Majka, had no license. He consented to a search of his vehicle which yielded seven baggies of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine in amounts of 0.55 grams, 0.46 grams, 0.65 grams, 0.33 grams, 0.38 grams, 0.28 grams, and 0.39 grams. Also, during the search, the officers found a scale, 17 additional baggies with residue, several glass pipes, and other drug paraphernalia in the car.

53-year-old David Dewayne Anderson entered a plea to attempted possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) with intent to sell and received a sentence of four years to serve consecutively with another case. He was fined $2,000.

Sheriff Ray said that while on patrol March 23, 2020 deputies spotted a black Ford Escape leaving an area known for drug activity and discovered that the tag on the vehicle did not match. It was supposed to be on a red Nissan. Detectives conducted a traffic stop on West Broad Street, Smithville and learned that Anderson, a front seat passenger, was the owner of the vehicle. A check of Anderson’s driver license revealed that he had active warrants against him for violation of probation in DeKalb County. One of the detectives searched Anderson and found three baggies of a substance believed to be heroin that weighed 1.67 grams, one baggie of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine that weighed 0.52 grams, and a baggie with an orange pill believed to be suboxone. He also found seventeen additional baggies, two digital scales, residue, a glass pipe, needles, and other drug paraphernalia.

25-year-old Justice Namen Williams entered a plea to a second offense of driving under the influence (2 counts) and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run concurrently with each other, but all suspended to supervised probation except for 45 days to serve. Williams was fined $600 and will lose his license per Tennessee Department of Safety regulations. He must also undergo an alcohol and drug assessment. Wilson was given 46 days jail credit. The term is also to run concurrently with a Wilson County case against him.

Sheriff Ray said that on January 5, 2021 a deputy was dispatched to South Tittsworth Road where a vehicle was off the side of the road in a driveway. The two people inside were passed out.

Upon arrival the deputy found the driver, Williams passed out behind the steering wheel and the keys to the automobile were in the ignition. A strong odor of alcohol was also coming from the vehicle. An open can of Mike’s Hard Lemonade was on the driver’s side floorboard. After being awakened, Williams submitted to standardized field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. He resisted while being placed under arrest by trying to pull his arms free of the deputy. Williams had a prior DUI offense against him which was committed on August 29, 2017 in Wilson County.

While conducting an inventory of the vehicle before it was towed, the officer found 14 peach-colored pills and 3 half pills believed to be diazepam which were near where the passenger was seated in the automobile.