The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are investigating a Saturday evening stabbing and shooting which occurred at the home of 22 year old Bransford (Brad) Patterson on Patterson Road.
In a prepared statement, Sheriff Patrick Ray says at 4:57 p.m. central dispatch received the call. Upon arrival, officers found two female victims who were each stabbed once and Patterson who had suffered a single gunshot wound.
Vanderbilt Life Flight was summoned to the intersection of Patterson Road and Turner Road and airlifted Patterson to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. At last report, Patterson was in stable but critical condition. The two female victims were transported to DeKalb Community Hospital by personal vehicle where they were treated and released.
According to Sheriff Ray, Patterson had gotten into an argument with members of his family and stabbed the two females, who are also related to him. Patterson then started beating one of the wounded females. In an attempt to get Patterson under control, another family member got a pistol and fired a warning shot. When that failed, the family member then shot Patterson one time and called central dispatch.
Patterson faces multiple charges pending his release from the hospital. The case is still under investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Sheriff Ray has not released the names of the females who were stabbed or the person who shot Patterson.
Members of the Main Station and Short Mountain Highway Station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, the DeKalb County Ambulance Service, DeKalb County Constables Mark Milam and Johnny King, Sheriff Ray, Deputies and Detectives from the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, and the TBI were all on the scene.
Meanwhile, in other crime news, 27 year old Roxanne Mignon White of Bill Cobb Road, Smithville was arrested on Tuesday, February 2nd for theft of property. Detectives allege that on January 1st White took jewelry and jewelry tools from a residence on Bill Cobb Road without the owners consent, including a diamond pendent, a set of gold earrings, a rope chain, a heart pendent, and some loose diamonds, and then sold them to a jewelry store in Smithville. Meanwhile on two other occasions, White took two jewelry buffing machines, two jewelry steam cleaners, a ring resizing machine, jewelry cleaner, scrap gold, and a bag of loose diamonds to another jewelry store in Smithville where she sold those items. The total value of the theft was $7,225. Bond for White was set at $10,000 and she will appear in court on March 4th.
On Wednesday, February 3rd deputies, while on patrol on Highway 70 West, stopped 21 year old Sarah Michelle Ferrell of Vickers Hollow Road for a traffic offense. When the officer asked for her driver’s license she replied that she did not have it on her. After the deputy ran a computer check, it revealed that Ferrell’s driver’s license were suspended for failure to satisfy a citation in South Carolina. Ferrell was charged with a second offense of driving on a suspended license. Her bond was was set at $2,000 and she will appear in court on February 24th..
37 year old Amy Jo Odell of Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville was arrested on Friday, February 5th for filing a false police report. Odell came to the DeKalb Sheriff’s Office on Thursday and reported that she had been pulled over by an unknown person who then assaulted and robbed her in Dowelltown. Odell said that after being hit, she fell to the ground and did not remember much after that. Odell also gave a list of items stolen from her vehicle. After Detectives interviewed Odell she finally admitted that she had made up the story so that her doctor would prescribe her more narcotics, thinking that her medicine was stolen. Bond for Odell was set at $2,500 and she will appear in court February 11th.
On Saturday, February 6th, deputies while on patrol on Highway 70 West, stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. The driver, 20 year old Juan Pablo Garcia of Park Way Drive, McMinnville was found to be driving on a suspended license for failure to satisfy a citation in Warren County. Garcia was charged with a first offense of driving on a suspended license. His bond was set at $1,000. He will appear in court on February 17th.

Members of the DeKalb County Republican Party held their convention Saturday morning at the courthouse.
There were no surprises.
The delegates formally nominated Republican incumbents Sheriff Patrick Ray, Trustee Sean Driver, Road Supervisor Kenny Edge, First District County Commissioner Mason Carter, and Second District County Commissioner Bobby Joines, who all announced their intentions to seek re-election in January.
These candidates will be on the ballot in the August DeKalb County General Election and will face any Democrats or Independents who may run against them.
Meanwhile, after the convention, Republican candidates for Congress, Lou Ann Zelenik and Dave Evans, spoke briefly announcing their intentions to run for the party’s nomination in the August State Primary.
Click here to listen to the speeches of Lou Ann Zelenik and Dave Evans
For more information about these candidates visit Lou Ann Zelenik’s website at http://www.votelouann.com/. Dave Evans’ website is www.daveevansforcongress.com.
(Pictured above: Left to Right- Sean Driver, Bobby Joines, Kenny Edge, Mason Carter, and Patrick Ray)

Smithville Police have charged a 37 year old man in connection with thefts from two local businesses.
Scottie Lynn Sykes of 605 Alexander Street was arrested on Wednesday, February 3rd for theft of property and possession of drug paraphernalia. Sergeant Randy King was dispatched to Ace Hardware where he spoke with Officer Matt Holmes. Officer Holmes said that he reviewed a store video and saw Sykes stealing a hammer from the store. Sykes was stopped by Deputies Jody Johnson and Roger Whitehead on Adams Street where he was placed under arrest. While getting Sykes out of the vehicle he was driving, Sergeant King spotted a used needle lying in the floorboard. The hammers found in his vehicle had been stolen from Ace Hardware. Also found were items stolen the previous week from Smithville Builders Supply. Bond for Sykes was set at $3,000 and his court date is February 25th.
56 year old Patricia Jade Farler of 111 Stone Street, Liberty was arrested Sunday, January 31st for a first offense of driving under the influence and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was also cited for failure to use due care. Officer Matt Farmer was dispatched to the intersection of Highways 56 & 70 to take a report of a wreck that had occurred. While taking the report, Officer Farmer noticed that Farler, a driver of one of the vehicles involved in the accident, was unsteady on her feet, she had slurred speech, and she could not follow a conversation that Officer Farmer was trying to have with her. This led Officer Farmer to believe she may be intoxicated. Farler also couldn’t perform the four field sobriety tasks requested of her. After placing her in the patrol car, police searched her vehicle and found drug paraphernalia. Bond for Farler is $2,500 and she will be in court on February 11th.
31 year old Jerry Goff of 356 Page Drive was arrested Sunday, January 31st for possession of a schedule VI drug for resale, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license. K-9 Officer Bradley Tatrow saw Goff operating a motor vehicle on East Bryant Street. Having prior knowledge that Goff’s license was suspended, Officer Tatrow made contact with him and Goff gave verbal consent for a search of his vehicle. Goff informed Officer Tatrow that there was some marijuana under the passenger seat. Approximately 4.5 ounces of marijuana were found under the seat in a zip lock bag. A set of digital scales were also found in Goff’s pocket. His bond was set at $5,000 and he will be in court on February 25th.
22 year old Coty Lynn McCormick of 524 Frazier Road was arrested on Tuesday, February 2nd for shoplifting at Wal-Mart. An employee saw McCormick leave the store with merchandise unpaid for. Officer Scott Davis found an item on McCormick during a search incident to arrest. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is February 18th.
28 year old Eddy Deloyd Farris of 732 Gentry Avenue and 23 year old Nathan Dewayne Farris of 405 Church Street were arrested on Tuesday, February 2nd for assault. Corporal Travis K. Bryant responded to a call of a fight in progress at the hospital emergency room. Witnesses said that Eddy and Nathan Farris assaulted Bobby Turner. Eddy Farris informed Corporal Bryant that he and his brother had assaulted Turner in retaliation for an incident that occurred earlier. Bond for each is set at $1,500 and their court date is February 18th.
32 year old Angela Jean Atnip of 1053 Greenhill Road was arrested on Thursday, February 4th for driving under the influence. Central dispatch informed Officer Bradley Tatrow that an off duty officer from McMinnville was behind a possible drunk driver inbound on McMinnville Highway. Officer Tatrow observed the vehicle weaving left of the yellow line several times. Officer Tatrow activated the blue lights on his patrol car but the vehicle in front of him continued on approximately one mile before it stopped on Jennings Lane. Upon contact with the driver, Atnip, Officer Tatrow found her to be unsteady on her feet and she had slurred speech. Atnip submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. Her bond was set at $1,500 and she will be in court on February 25th.
34 year old Juan A Valdivia of 1222 South College Street was arrested on Friday, February 5th for a second offense of driving on a suspended license. Officer Matt Holmes and Sergeant Andy Snow were following a person driving recklessly but could not catch up with the vehicle. Corporal Travis Bryant, who was in the vicinity, was able to stop the automobile, driven by Valdivia. A computer check revealed that his license was suspended in Warren County. He also has a prior offense of driving on a suspended license in DeKalb County. His bond is set at $2,000 and his court date is February 17th.
Any information received that will help Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential.

The DeKalb County Democratic Party has a new chairman.
Jim Judkins was introduced as the new party leader during Saturday’s mass meeting at the high school cafeteria. The retiring chair, Faye Fuqua, who has held the post for twenty five years, made the announcement.
Judkins, selected by the party’s executive committee, said he is honored to have been chosen for this position and thanked his predecessor for the work she has done for the party. “I want to thank former Chair, or Chair Imeritus Faye Fuqua for her many years of service and devotion. She has been a teacher and an inspiration to me for many years. She means a lot to me.”
“I am humbled and honored at the trust you have placed in me. This position is one I do not take lightly. This party is steeped in tradition. It is as old as DeKalb County itself, organized in 1838. The roots of the Democrat party run deep in DeKalb County. The founder of our party, President Andrew Jackson, spent the night about 1,000 yards from where we are, in the old Beckwith Inn.”
“This party, as all previous parties, faces new challenges. We will meet those challenges fairly and diligently.”
“Although the torch has been passed, we are still DeKalb countians. We share the same values, ideals, hopes, and dreams as our forebearers. While we look to the future, we must always remember from where we have come. We are the party of Edgar Evins, Joe L. Evins, and of McAllen Foutch.”
Fuqua, in her remarks, called this a “New Era for DeKalb County Democrats”.
“In the last 100 years, we have had only five chairs: Tom Webb, McAllen Foutch, Ed Fuqua, M.T. Puckett, and myself. It is indeed an honor and I am so very proud to serve the fine people of DeKalb County and the State of Tennessee for 25 years. The Executive Committee has been very supportive of me throughout all these years and I can say that I truly appreciate that.”
“I took office in 1984, first serving as Women’s Chair and then as the first woman to serve as County Chair. I also served on the state level as the State Chair.’
Speaking of her successor, Fuqua said “Jim is very in tune with both the long-standing traditions of the Democratic Party here in DeKalb County, as well as being the youthful embodiment of what our future holds. His leadership and drive, along with the tremendous support of all the young Democrats, is exactly what we need to move strongly into the future. More than all that, Jim knows and understands the people and politics of DeKalb County.’
“Of course, our team will depend on the rest of us to continue to provide support and share the wealth of experience we have gained throughout the decades. I will continue to serve on the Executive Committee and be a presence in whatever way I can. I encourage all of you to stay strong and supportive of the Party.”
“Now I feel is it time to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders.”
In addition to Judkins being named chairman, Larry Bain, Mack Harney, and Kim Luton were all named co- vice chairs.
Members of the executive committee are Mildred Clayborn, James Hale, Faye Iverlette, Sherry Bush, Jackie Smith, George Sperry, Betsy Driver, Jordan Wilkins, Glynn Merriman, Chris Summers, Katherine Pack, Faye Fuqua, and Mike Clayborn.
Several state and local candidates also announced their intentions during Saturday’s mass meeting including the following:
(Click here to listen to the announcements of candidates for county offices)
District Attorney General: Randy York
Circuit Court Judge: Amy Hollars
County Mayor: Mike Foster
Circuit Court Clerk- Katherine Pack
County Clerk- Mike Clayborn, Glynn Merriman, and Chris Smithson
Register of Deeds- Jeff McMillen
Road Supervisor-Jimmy Sprague
County Commissioner Candidates:
(Click here to listen to the announcements of county commission candidates)
First District- Elmer Ellis, Jr.
Second District- Jack Barton
Third District- Jerry Scott, Roy Merriman, Bradley Hendrix
Fourth District- David McDowell, Jesse Baker
Fifth District- Randy Braswell
Seventh District-Larry Summers
(Click here to listen to the speeches of State Representative candidate Jamie Winkler, State Senate candidate Aubrey Givens, and State Representative candidate James Hale in that order)
State Senate Candidate: Aubrey Givens
State Representative- James Hale and Jamie Winkler (Sarah Marie Smith attended but did not make an announcement)
Governor candidates: Kim McMillan and Jim Kyle. Mike McWherter could not attend. Bert Driver spoke in his behalf.
(Click here to listen to Governor candidates speak)
Democratic candidates were not required to make an appearance during the mass meeting. All potential Democratic candidates have until noon on Thursday, February 18th to qualify for the May 4th DeKalb County Democratic Primary.
Independents for county offices also have until February 18th to qualify for the August General Election.
Candidates for state offices, Governor, Congress, State Senator, and State Representative, have until noon April 1st to qualify for the Tennessee Democratic and Republican Primaries in August.
In addition to those who announced Saturday, the following Democrats have either picked up or returned a qualifying petition to the Election Commission Office.
County Mayor:
David C. Redmon (picked up petition)
Register of Deeds:
Clarence R. Trapp (picked up petition)
County Commission Third District:
Johnathan W. Willoughby (picked up petition)
County Commission Fourth District:
Wayne Cantrell
Ronald H. Rogers (picked up petition)
County Commission Fifth District:
Johnny Ringo Colwell
Bobby R.Taylor
John D. Green
County Commission Sixth District:
Jeff Barnes
Marshall Ferrell
County Commission Seventh District:
Jimmy W. Poss
County Commission candidates running as Independents in the August General Election
Fifth District:
Lloyd Emmons (Independent) picked up petition
Seventh District:
Richard Kinsey (Independent)
Meanwhile, candidates for the Board of Education who have picked up petitions for the August General election include the following:
School Board:
First District:
John David Foutch (picked up petition)
Second District:
Charlie Robinson (picked up petition)
Third District:
Kenny Rhody
Seventh District:
Johnny Lattimore (picked up petition)
School board candidates run as non-partisans and have until noon April 1st to qualify.
Meanwhile candidates who have picked up petitions for the Smithville Municipal Election include the following:
Smithville Alderman:
Steve White (picked up petition)
Smithville Alderman:
Cecil Burger (picked up petition)
Smithville Mayor:
Taft Hendrixson (picked up petition)
Smithville Mayor:
Bruce Medley (picked up petition)
The Smithville Municipal Election will be held on June 15th to elect a mayor and two aldermen. Candidates run as non-partisans and they have until March 18th to qualify.
(Pictured second from top: Bottom row left to right: Betsy Driver, Larry Bain, Jordan Wilkins, Kim Luton, and Glynn Merriman; Back row left to right: Chris Summers, Katherine Pack, Jim Judkins, Faye Fuqua, and Mike Clayborn)

Lenzi Dickens, a seventh grader at DeKalb Middle School, won the 7th annual DeKalb County Spelling Bee Friday night at DeKalb County High School.
Dickens, the 12 year old daughter of Len Dickens and Mandi Sullivan of Smithville was among almost forty students from the fourth grade to the eighth grade who participated in the contest.
She correctly spelled the words “cafeteria” and “ominous”” in the 12th round to claim the championship.

Nine year old Grace Godowns, a fourth grader at Northside Elementary School, was the runner-up in the contest. She is the daughter of Kelly Godowns of Smithville.
Students from DeKalb Middle School, DeKalb West School, and Northside Elementary School recently competed at the school level to become eligible for the county competition.
Along with students from thirty nine other counties, Dickens and Godowns will compete in the Tennessean Regional Spelling Bee on March 4th at Belmont University in Nashville.
The winner of the Regional Spelling Bee will compete in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.
The purpose of the County Wide Spelling Bee is to help students improve spelling skills, increase vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives.
WJLE taped the spelling bee and will air the broadcast Monday night, February 8th at 7:00 p.m.
Participants in this year’s County Wide Spelling Bee were:
Northside Elementary School:
Fourth Grade- Hannah Brown, Grace Godowns, and Hayley Martin
Fifth Grade- Erica Birmingham, Madison Bouldin, Timothy Cassinera, Katlyn Cox, Caelin Crips, Eli Cross, Madison Dickens, Hali Huang, Sara Beth LeFever, Baylee Phillips, and Taylor Spare.
DeKalb Middle School:
Sixth Grade-Chase Bryant and Kyra Trapp
Seventh Grade- Peter Antoniak, Lenzi Dickens, Matthew Foutch, Justin Johnson, Brandon Kircher, Makalee Rush, Makayla Starnes, and Jacob Washer.
Eighth Grade- Josh Davidson and Jacob Pittman
DeKalb West School:
Fourth Grade- Breanna Gibson and Danielle Theriaque
Fifth Grade- Jayra Plattenburg, Brandy Rock, and Paige Snyder
Sixth Grade- Ashley Grater
Seventh Grade- Leah Burchfield, Cason Oakley, Lydia Trail, and Bruce Wilson
Eighth Grade- Zach Bandy, and Crystal Vickers
(Bottom Photo: left to right front row- Grace Godowns and Lenzi Dickens; left to right back row- Michelle Burklow (Spelling Bee Coordinator) Mark Willoughby (Director of Schools), Charles Robinson (School Board Chairman), and Jon Fontanez (Official Pronouncer)

Citizens can now look up financial information for most counties across Tennessee online, thanks to a new service that is being offered by the state Comptroller’s office.
By clicking to a page on the Comptroller’s web site, it is now easy to find detailed financial information about revenues and expenditures for 89 of the state’s 95 counties. The web address is: www.comptroller1.state.tn.us/TAG/
“I am very pleased that we are able to offer this new service,” said Comptroller Justin Wilson. “This is an excellent way to follow the money or to see where it comes from and where it goes. Citizens will find that there is a great deal of information about their county governments that is now available at their fingertips.”
The information is compiled from the annual audit reports done by the Comptroller’s Division of County Audit. Jim Arnette, the division’s director, said revenue and expenditure data from the last four fiscal years is now available at the site, which is called Transparency and Accountability for Governments (TAG) in Tennessee. Arnette said several years’ worth of data will be kept available for access through the TAG Tennessee archives.
“We envision this as a tool citizens can use to keep up with what their local governments are doing,” Arnette said. “And local and state government officials should find it helpful to have easy access to this information as well.”
The TAG Tennessee site includes information about school departments, but not other agencies, component units or enterprise funds that are accounted for separately from the counties’ main budgeted operations.
Six counties are audited annually by private certified public accounting firms rather than the Comptroller’s office, so their financial information isn’t available on the site at this time. Those counties are: Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, McMinn, Shelby and Washington.

The new Smithville Roses store will be having a Grand Opening on Thursday, February 25th at 8:30 a.m. at 750 South Congress Boulevard.
Steve Swenson, Senior Vice President of Store Operations, made the announcement on WJLE’s Chamber Chat program Wednesday morning. “We want everyone to come out and help us celebrate our grand opening and ribbon cutting.”
“We’re a value priced merchant and we offer apparel, shoes, and accessories for the entire family. In addition, we offer housewares, home decor, health and beauty aids, food, toys, lawn and garden, and this fall Christmas decor.”
“We’re excited to be here. It gives us an opportunity to continue to grow in the market where we already have stores operating in McMinnville and Murfreesboro, Memphis, and Bowling Green. We have another new location opening the same day as Smithville in Livingston. Stores hours will be 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.”
“We’ll have a quiet store opening next Tuesday, February 9th at 9:00 a.m.”
“I hope everyone comes out to help us celebrate this big event. We’re extremely excited to be in Smithville and we look forward to being here for a long time.”

DeKalb Community Hospital and Senior Citizens Center Celebrate Healthy Heart Month
On Tuesday, February 16th at 11 a.m., Tammy Freeze, the Director of the Cardiopulmonary Department at DeKalb Community Hospital, will present information at the DeKalb County Senior Citizens Center on Heart Disease, symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, as well as things that can to keep your heart healthy. Those who attend will enjoy heart cookies and red punch compliments of the hospital.
February is recognized as National Heart Health Month. Here is some of the valuable information from the American Heart Association that can save your life:
Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense – the “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
“Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
“Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
“Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
“Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
Tammy states, “Learn the signs, but remember this: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out. Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives – maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1. It is always better to come to the E.R. and be safe rather than sorry”.
Stroke Warning Signs
The American Heart Association says these are the warning signs of stroke:
“Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
“Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
“Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
“Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
“Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, don’t delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical services (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for you. Also, check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared. It’s very important to take immediate action. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.
Heart-healthy nutrition, daily physical activity, eliminating tobacco, controlling diabetes and a commitment to follow your healthcare professional’s recommendations (including for cholesterol and high blood pressure) are all part of reducing your risk for heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
If you have any questions about heart health, please talk to your doctor or visit the American Heart Association’s website at www.americanheart.org.