Smithville Police have arrested 20 year old Philando Darnell Fullilove of 104 Circle Drive in Dowelltown and 19 year old Brandon Matthew Byford of 805 Lutrell Avenue in Smithville for possession of a schedule VI drug.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says an off-duty Smithville Police Officer spotted Byford sitting in a vehicle stopped at the Sunshine Cleaners on Wednesday at approximately 4:30 p.m. Byford was wanted on unrelated charges. As the officers approached the vehicle they detected a strong smell of marijuana as the driver, Fullilove opened the window. The Police Department’s K-9 Dog, already at the scene, was utilized and the dog alerted to drugs inside the vehicle. Further investigation noted that the vehicle did contain marijuana. Fullilove and Byford were subsequently arrested. Both were transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,500 bond each.
Chief Stufano says the Smithville Police Department would like to advise the motoring public that new traffic control devices have been established for the entrance of Walmart on Highway 70 in Smithville. Please be advised that with the addition of this new 24 hour facility, traffic along this route will increase and motorists must be vigilant in their driving. Currently the traffic lights have been placed on flashing yellow by the State to establish their presence, but will be changed to a working stop and go system shortly. Smithville Police will be actively monitoring this highly traveled area for violations in an effort to curtail accidents and traffic congestion. Motorists are encouraged to maintain proper driving distances between cars and observe the posted speed limits.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has charged three people believed to be responsible for a burglary and theft last month on Poss Road.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 40 year old Roy Junior Wilkey, 18 year old William L. Morris, and 18 year old Mike Morres all of South College Street, Smithville are charged with theft of property over $1,000. They will appear in General Sessions Court on the charges January 25th. Bond for each is set at $5,000.
Sheriff Ray says these three men are accused of stealing thirty radiators, ten car rims, and about 200 pounds of aluminum cans from the Poss Road property on December 15th. . The items were believed to have been sold to recycling centers in White and Warren Counties.

Director of Schools Mark Willoughby presented his written report on personnel to the Board of Education Thursday night.
Those employed for the 2006-2007 school year since the last meeting include:
Kelly Driver- part time licensed PTA; Mary K. Hearn- substitute teacher; Denise Merriman- cafeteria worker; Marla Beshearse- certified substitute teacher; Kimela Griffith- part time speech/language; and Helen Faye Lohorn- part time cafeteria worker.
Those who have resigned include Mattie Ruth Frazier- custodian at DeKalb West School; Sharon Farler- school nurse; and Jeanette West- cafeteria worker at DeKalb West School.
Karen Pelham, teacher at DeKalb Middle School, was granted a leave of absence as requested.
In other business, the board set May 18th as the date of the DeKalb County High School graduation exercises. The last full day of school for students will be on Wednesday, May 23rd.
The board granted permission for the Junior Class at DCHS to host the 2007 Junior/Senior Prom at Stones River Country Club in Murfreesboro on April 20th.
Permission was granted for 5-8 band students to attend the honor band weekends at the Wind Band Conference at MTSU February 1-3, the Governors Honor Band at Austin Peay State University on February 8-10, and the Festival of Winds and Percussion at Tennessee Tech University February 15-17.
The board opened sealed bids and awarded surplus property to the highest bidders.
Timmy Kalmar of Smithville bid $250 on a 1978 Ford panel van with an engine problem and $401 on a 1986 Blue Bird 84 passenger bus with an engine problem.
Jamie Turner of Smithville bid $528 on a 1991 Blue Bird 72 passenger bus with a bad air compressor gear and $52 on a Jacobson Green King Field Mower that is not functional.
Dean Johnson of Lobelville bid $1,851 on a 1991 Blue Bird 72 passenger bus, $1,851 on a 1991 Blue Bird 78 passenger bus, and $1,851 on another 1991 Blue Bird 78 passenger bus.
Craig Newby of McMinnville bid $110 on a 1991 Blue Bird 66 passenger bus with no engine or transmission.
DCHS Principal Kathy Hendrix, in her brief report to the board, congratulated teachers Judy Fuson and Chris Vance who have been inducted into the National Honor Rolls Outstanding American Teachers. She says this has been established to provide positive recognition to educators who have been identified as the kind of teachers who go beyond and above the call of duty.
The board approved general purpose budget amendment requests for $43,450 from the Microsoft Class Action Settlement Grant and $10,000 from the Family Reunion Grant.
Director Willoughby says money from the Microsoft Class Action Settlement Grant will be used for the upgrade of computer software. The money from the Family Reunion Grant will be used to purchase a computer software program called Reading Academy to help close the achievement gap for some students
The board also voted to contract with the DeKalb County Health Department to provide and administer the Hepatitis B Vaccine at the rate of $45.70 per dose from January 1, 2007 to January 1, 2008.
Director Willoughby, in conjunction with School Board Appreciation Month, commended this board for “putting students first”. “They don’t do it for the money, they do it to help out our county and to improve education. They are thinking about tommorrow, not just today. I want you to know I appreciate you.”

A night around a campfire turned tragic for two women overnight after being struck by a four wheel drive pickup truck, driven by a man, who is the husband of one of the two victims.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says the case is being investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol
It occurred around 12:45 a.m. Thursday on property at 3980 Oakley Road.
A group of family and friends had an RV on the property and were apparently sitting around a camp fire when the operator of the truck, William M. Overdorf III, asked another woman in the group, Jewel M. Scott, if she wanted to go mudding in his 1991 GMC Sierra four wheel drive pickup.
The two took off in the truck and later upon returning, the truck failed to stop and struck the two women, Debra Overdorf and Cathy Justice, who were still sitting around the campfire.
Mrs. Overdorf was airlifted from the scene to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga
Justice was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital.
Officials say alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the incident.

Two people pulled off a noon time robbery at the Liberty office of Liberty State Bank Thursday taking an undisclosed amount of cash and making their getaway, possibly in a white colored car.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says the robbers, a male and a female, entered the bank around 12:45 p.m.
Pictures from the bank’s surveillance cameras reveal that the female was wearing brown coveralls and a paintball mask that covered her head. The male was wearing blue coveralls and a blue hoodie. He was also wearing a dark colored back pack with an orange colored letter “T” on it.
Sheriff Ray says the female first passed a note to a bank teller demanding money, but apparently got no satisfaction so she went to another bank employee and handed her the note.
The male then went behind the counter and helped himself to an undisclosed amount of cash.
The two then left the bank and are believed to have driven away in a white colored car.
Sheriff Ray says neither of the bank robbers produced a weapon during the hold up and none of the bank employees were injured.
After the robbery, one of the clerks called 911 and reported the hold-up and a BOLO was dispatched locally and to surrounding counties for authorities to be on the lookout for the suspects and the white car in which they may have been traveling.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
If you have information that could help solve the case, call the Sheriff’s Office at 597-4935

Smithville Police Chief Thomas J. Stufano says there have been a few re-assignments to better serve the needs of the citizens of Smithville and provide increased coverage within the department. The following Officers will assume their new duties effective immediately.:
K-9 Sergeant Steve Deffendoll from Road Patrol Supervisor to Detective Sergeant in charge of Investigations
Officer Lilani Defore from Patrol Officer to Drug K-9 Officer/ Sexual Assault Coordinator
Officer William Elliott from Patrol Officer to Investigator/Seizure Specialist
Officer Mac Judkins from Patrol Officer to Patrol/Traffic Officer
Officer Mark Milam to School Traffic Officer and Officer Johnny King to School Traffic Officer