For the first time in DeKalb West School’s history, a student will be advancing to the national finals of the Junior Beta Club. 8th grader Garrett Hayes, the DWS Junior Beta President, won second place this week at the Tennessee Junior Beta State Convention in the Visual Arts category of Color Photography. Hayes is the son of Alan and Lesa Hayes.
Thirty-six Junior Beta members left Nov. 20 for a two-day stay at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel to compete in a variety of academic, arts and crafts, and other contests. The theme was “Betas: Above and Beyond.”
Also representing DeKalb West in the academic competitions were Jaden Johnson in Math, and Brayden Antoniak, Science. Breanna Cothern, Abby Lawson, Riley Overstreet, and Nathaniel Crook were quizzed on 12 books that they read for the Book Battle contest. The Tower of Power team consisted of Aniston Farler, Madison Martin, Aly Griffith, Brett Walker, and Matt Nokes. The contest is designed for students to use innovative problem solving techniques and engineering concepts to create a straw tower that supports a tennis ball for one minute. Members of the Living Literature team were Bralin Moss, Jathan Willoughby, Lydia Willoughby, Lucas Hale, Dawson Bandy, Nathaniel Crook, Brayden Antoniak, and John Ellis. They created a set from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and they had the task of standing still like wax figures to recreate the piece of literature for viewers to see. Isaac Brown, Alley Beth Cook, Lynsey Ellis, and Nathan Dace made up the DWS Quiz Bowl team. For “Spotlight Your Club,” Alex Moreno, Kortnee Skeen, Lacey McMillen, and Kyndal Cox put their creative skills to the test to devise a tri-fold board that would demonstrate what the DWS Junior Beta Club is like focusing on the convention theme, “Betas: Above and Beyond.” Representing the club in the Scrapbooking contest were Gracie Griffin, Emma Damron, Summer Crook, and Bonnie Hale. Levi Driver sang “Little Drummer Boy” in the Special Talent contest. In the area of Visual Design, Emma Martin entered Sketching, Lydia Davenport, Black and White Photography, Kaia Howard, Recyclable Art, and Breanna Cothern, Sculpture.
“I am proud of our students,” said Bill Conger, DWS School Counselor and Junior Beta Sponsor. “They represented us well in the competitions and with their behavior at the convention. They’re always striving to be the best at DeKalb West.”
Amanda Mullinax, Jessica Antoniak, and Nadina Martel also sponsor the club.

Members of the DeKalb Middle School Junior Beta Club got a sheriff’s department escort and were greeted by cheers from the student body upon their return from the State Convention Tuesday where they won first place for their anti-bullying drama presentation called “Be the Change”.
The 46 member group from DeKalb Middle School beat out fifteen other schools in their division to earn the state honor and will compete next summer during the National Convention at Disney World in Orlando Florida.

“I’ve been a Junior Beta sponsor for 12 years and we have never done anything like this before. We’ve fought back tears of joy today. It’s been very emotional,” said Lori Hendrix, DMS teacher and Junior Beta sponsor.
After the first round of competition on Monday, the Junior Beta Club was named among the top six before moving on to the finals on Tuesday where they were judged “Best in the State” in their division.

“We’ve watched these kids work hard and perform but today was absolutely the most powerful message they have had. The crowd was moved to tears by the time they got done. The performance was outstanding and their hearts were in it. We’re just really proud of these kids. There were sixteen groups in our division and there was a lot of talent but I think the message we had about bullying just hit home with a lot of people. So many people have been bullied. Our theme was for everyone to take a look in the mirror and “Be the Change”. Sometimes we have to take a look at ourselves. It’s a good message for adults and children to always be that person who steps up and does the right thing,” said Tonya Sullivan, DMS teacher and Junior Beta sponsor.
Josh Isaac, who wrote and choreographed the skit, said it sends a powerful message. “It is about bullying. Basically in our society cyber bullying and bullying is a thing that kids deal with on a daily basis. We really wanted to emphasize that so we took a slogan called “Be the Change” and turned it into a drama to showcase how that one person can change everything that goes on in a person’s life,” said Isaac.
“This live human message was very moving and it’s very fitting with what goes on with children, preteens, teenagers and some adults these days. Our kids did a beautiful job. I could not be more proud of them. I’ve cried every time I’ve watched it (skit). I told them no matter if they placed or not to hold their heads high and know we are behind them 100%. We believe in them and the message. We also appreciate the leadership and the vision of Josh Isaac and the Junior Beta leaders, Lori Hendrix and Tonya Sullivan. Having received first place for the entire state, they will now get to represent the state of Tennessee at the Junior Beta National Convention,” added Amanda Dakas, Assistant Principal at DeKalb Middle School
Director of Schools Patrick Cripps was among those who welcomed home the students. “It’s exciting to see our kids succeed. This group had a powerful message and from what I have been told it moved the whole group. We’re really proud of them for their accomplishments and for representing DeKalb Middle School,” he said.
The club now seeks financial support from the community as it makes plans for the trip to Orlando next summer.

Smithville Police have charged a man in a shooting last week.
26 year old Bobby Jewel Wilson of Evins Mill Road was arrested Friday, November 18 for aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and unlawful possession of a weapon.
According to the arrest warrant, Wilson, a convicted felon, fired several shots from an assault rifle from his vehicle at another man. This occurred on Monday, November 14 in a highly populated area in the City of Smithville with houses in close proximity. No one was injured.
In the latest report from the department, Smithville Police report that officers were called to the residence at approximately 9:45 p.m. on Monday, November 14 where someone had fired shots into the home. Upon talking with the victims, police learned that two bullets had passed through two different windows. After the shooting, one of the victims looked outside and saw a white car quickly leaving the area. Police then talked to a neighbor down the street who informed them that Wilson had fired a shot at him after he asked Wilson to leave his residence because he was starting to get loud. Wilson had already left the neighborhood before police arrived to investigate but he was later found in Rutherford County and taken into custody.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that he and a deputy went to Wilson’s residence on Evins Mill Road after the shooting and found his vehicle but Wilson was not there. “On Monday, November 14 the city (police) got a call of a shooting. The city advised county (sheriff’s department) units that a witness stated it was Wilson (who did the shooting) and that he lived with his mother on Evins Mill Road. The witness stated that Wilson was driving a white Cadillac. I got dispatch to run his drivers license and found an address on Evins Mill Road. I along with another county deputy went to the address and found the white Cadillac setting behind a barn. After a search, Wilson was not found to be there,” said Sheriff Ray.
34 year old William Travis Malone was cited Saturday, October 29 for simple possession of schedule II & IV drugs. Police responded to Dairy Queen in reference to a person passed out at the wheel of his vehicle in the drive through. Upon arrival, the officer spoke to the man, Malone, and received consent to search. During the search, the officer found a clear container with four pink oval gel pills believed to be morphine, 14 blue round pills thought to be oxycodone, 14 pink round pills believed to be oxycodone, and seven yellow pills thought to be alprazolam. Malone had no prescription for the drugs. His court date is December 1.
40 year old Shannon Dawn Stanick and 47 year old Elsie Mae Judkins were recently arrested for sale and delivery of a schedule IV drug and 63 year old Kathy Ann Taylor was cited for simple possession. During an investigation it was discovered that Judkins made a phone call to Taylor in order to assist Stanick in selling her prescription resulting in the sale of twenty (20) somas. Bond for Stanick is $5,000 and $6,500 for Judkins.
47 year old Billy E. Cook Jr. was arrested on Wednesday, November 2 for burglary; resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest or search; and resisting arrest. Police responded to East Side Inn where Cook had allegedly broken into three rooms and stayed the night in one of the rooms without paying. As officers were placing him under arrest for the burglary, Cook pulled away and balled up his fist at them. Police were eventually able to get handcuffs on Cook and he was transported to the police department for paperwork to be filled out. When the time came to transfer him to the jail, Cook became belligerent and uncooperative with the officers. Due to his previous actions and concern for the officers’ safety, Cook was warned that a taser would be deployed if he didn’t cooperate. After Cook continued to be non compliant he was tased with a single 5 second burst, taken into custody without further incident, and then transported to the Sheriff’s Department for booking. His bond is $13,000.
31 year old Bessie C Gammons and 33 year old Bruce L Gammons were arrested for child abuse or neglect on Thursday, November 3. Police were summoned to a residence where a man and woman had been verbally arguing. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the Gammons’. After questioning all parties involved it was determined that Bruce had struck the minor in the face and that Bessie had hit the youngster twice in the face and once to the stomach/chest area leaving puffy, redness, and light bruising to the left cheek. Bond for each is $4,000 with conditions.
39 year old Teresa Lynn Lefever was cited for theft on Friday, November 4. Lefever was found to have several items in her purse belonging to the Dollar General Store.
47 year old Cathy Darlene Morton was cited for theft on Friday, November 4 at the Dollar General Store. Morton was observed taking an item out of its package and putting it in her purse.
23 year old Jessie Ray Herman was cited for simple possession on Saturday, November 5. Police were called to a residence where someone was causing problems. Herman was identified as the person responsible and upon consent to search his person, police found four small white round pills believed to be oxycodone in his right pocket. Herman had no prescription for the pills.
21 year old Elijah Caleb Poss was cited on Monday, November 7 for failure to show proof of insurance, texting while operating a vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, and simple possession. Poss was stopped after police saw him texting while driving. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer observed Poss trying to hide something behind him. The officer received consent to search and found .12 ounces of marijuana, rolling papers, grinder, and two pipes. Poss also could not provide proof of insurance. His court date is December 1.
21 year old Makayla Brooke Barrett was arrested Wednesday, November 9 for theft in connection with a stolen purse at Walmart. The purse was initially reported to be lost or stolen from a shopping cart on July 5. The store’s surveillance video showed Barrett in possession of the purse. An investigation revealed that a wallet in the purse had been turned in to a Wal-Mart employee but some of the contents along with the purse remain missing. Bond for Barrett is $2,500 and her court date is December 1
40 year old Tyrone D. Owens was arrested on Tuesday, November 15 for driving under the influence and possession with intent to sell a schedule II drug. He was also cited for simple possession of a schedule II drug and for violation of implied consent. Police were dispatched to the area of West Broad and South Mountain Street where a vehicle was in the roadway and the driver appeared to be passed out. Upon arrival an officer noticed that the driver, Owens appeared to be trying to put something down his pants or his pockets then acted as if he were trying to hide something in the console. Owens was asked to exit the vehicle and police conducted a search of his person . Found in his front pocket was a plastic bag containing one small baggie of a white powdery substance and another small baggie which held a white solid substance. Both substances were believed to be cocaine and weighed 6 grams. The plastic bag also held five smaller empty plastic baggies. Police further found in Owens’ right front pocket a small white round pill believed to be oxycodone for which he had no prescription and he had $497.00 in cash on him believed to be money from drug transactions given the fact that he had empty baggies and cocaine in his possession. Owens’ speech was slow and slurred. He performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and he refused to submit to a blood test. His bond is $6,500 and his court date is December 1
22 year old John Mason and 25 year old Joshua Anderson were arrested for theft of property on Tuesday, November 15. Mason and Anderson allegedly stole several items from their victim’s vehicle while brandishing a gun and a knife. Upon further investigation, police found no evidence to support any weapons having been used in the commission of the theft. Bond for each is $1,500 and their court date is December 1.
27 year old Joshua Ledale Baxter was cited for simple possession on Wednesday, November 16. Police were called to a business for a possible break in. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Baxter who informed him that he (Baxter) had been looking at some items outside. Upon consent to search, the officer found on Baxter a prescription bottle with 5 white bar pills and three blue oval pills believed to be Xanax for which Baxter had no prescription. His court date is December 1.
48 year old William Andrew Cantrell was arrested on Thursday, November 17 for resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search. Cantrell tried to flee from a county deputy and a Smithville Police Officer as they were serving a warrant on him. Because he would not cooperate, police tased Cantrell before taking him into custody. Cantrell’s bond is $2,500 and his court date is December 1.
21 year old Spencer Ervin Stanfield was arrested Saturday, November 19 for driving under the influence and cited for violation of the registration law and financial responsibility (no insurance). Police were called to a vehicle crash and spoke with the driver, Stanfield who had an odor of alcohol on his person. Stanfield was unsteady on his feet and he performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He was taken into custody. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is December 1.
38 year old Michael Alan Hendrix was arrested on Sunday, November 20 for aggravated assault. Police received a 911 call of shots being heard outside a residence. Upon arrival, police were informed that Hendrix had been observed leaving the area in a dark green Ford truck. Seven 9 millimeter shell casings were recovered from the front yard near the road. Police later spoke with Hendrix and determined through an investigation that he had fired rounds into the ground as a warning to one of his victims that he was coming for him. Bond for Hendrix is $5,000 and his court date is December 15.
52 year old Todd M. Yoder was arrested for domestic assault on Sunday, November 20. Police responded to a domestic call and upon arrival learned that Yoder had pushed his victim into the bathroom of their residence several times until she fell into the bathtub. Yoder then fell on top of the woman pinning her in the tub. Police determined that Yoder was the primary aggressor. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is December 1.

A Woodbury man is in trouble with the law after he went on a drunken shooting spree with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a Glock 21 semi-automatic handgun during an argument with family members Sunday putting their lives in danger.
Joshua Lorne Tate of Woodbury is charged with five counts of aggravated assault, stop frisk halt arrest, assault, and possession of a handgun while under the influence.
Although no one was injured, Sheriff Patrick Ray said Tate endangered the lives of his (Tate’s) wife, step daughter (juvenile), brother-in-law and his two sons (both juveniles), and a deputy.
The incident began after Tate and his wife and step-daughter got into an argument. The victims ran toward and hid under a bridge in a creek bottom as Tate produced an AR 15 semi-automatic rifle and began shooting several times in their direction.
Later, as Tate’s brother-in-law and his two sons drove up, Tate produced a Glock 21 semi-automatic handgun and began firing at them as they sat in their vehicle and continued shooting even after they started backing down the driveway to get away. The gunshots struck the automobile at least five times in the front end and the hood.
After 911 was notified, deputies arrived on the scene and found Tate uncooperative. According to Sheriff Ray, Tate disobeyed officer’s commands to stop and halt and he even advanced toward a deputy in a threatening manner. At one point, Tate ran toward his vehicle where officers suspected Tate had weapons. After Tate was forcibly taken into custody, officers found a loaded AR 15 rifle on the passenger seat of his automobile. The Glock handgun was also recovered.

A McMinnville couple has been arrested in a recent theft investigation.
36 year old Allen Dean Dolberry and 32 year old Dana Marie Dolberry of West Green Hill Road, McMinnville are each charged with theft of property over $1,000. Bond for each is $10,000 and they will make a court appearance on December 1.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, November 10 the Dolberry’s allegedly took several items from a residence on Cedar Drive including a Beretta 9 millimeter handgun, a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver, a Huskee log splitter, an Echo chainsaw, Echo grass trimmer, Stihl grass trimmer, an Oregon chainsaw, and other items with a total value of more than $1,000.
According to Sheriff Ray, detectives worked with officers in another county in solving the case. They identified the Dolberry’s as suspects in the theft and contacted the property owner who filed a report after conducting an inventory and listing the items taken. The Dolberry’s were subsequently arrested in the case.

An Alexandria man who was brought to the jail Sunday for booking on another offense was found with methamphetamine in his possession.
35 year old William Travis Malone of Curtis Avenue, Alexandria is charged with tampering with evidence, bringing contraband in a penal institution, and possession of methamphetamine. His bond is $20,000 and his court date is December 15.
Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, November 20 Malone was brought to the jail annex for booking by another law enforcement agency and he was placed in a holding cell. When a correctional officer entered the cell, he spotted a small bag next to Malone when he (Malone) stood up. The bag held a clear crystal like substance. When the officer asked him to hand over the bag, Malone tossed it into the toilet but before he could flush it, Malone was taken to the floor and the bag was retrieved from the commode. The contents of the bag field tested positive for methamphetamine.

A Baxter man escaped serious injury after his truck loaded with logs overturned today (Monday) on Allen Ferry Road near the Little League Ball Park.
The driver, Hobert Stover crawled out of the cab with only minor injuries.
According to Stover, he swerved to avoid a possible collision with an on-coming car that crossed the center line of the highway. The truck dropped off the roadway and overturned, spilling the load of logs onto the side of the road and in a field. The truck turned on its side and came to rest in the highway.

The accident is being investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were on the scene to divert traffic. The DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department was also on the scene.

The DeKalb Middle School Junior Beta Club today (Monday) placed in the top six of the “Group Talent” Division at the Convention in Nashville for the performance of their anti-bullying skit “Be the Change”.
The local club will compete Tuesday at 10 a.m. and the top three groups will advance to the national convention in Orlando, Florida next year.

Businesses in the City of Smithville wishing to sell wine in grocery stores or to serve liquor by the drink in restaurants will soon be able to file an application for a license with the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
“Once we get the certified election results from the election commission then we can begin processing applications,” said Zack Blair, Assistant Director of the TABC.
City voters approved a referendum on Tuesday, November 8 authorizing the legal sale of wine at retail food stores in the City of Smithville. The vote was 691 to 515. In a separate referendum that day, city voters also approved the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in the City of Smithville (Liquor By The Drink). It passed 665 to 597.
Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections, said the certified results of both referendums is being sent to the TABC this week.
“An establishment for either liquor by the drink or a retail food store seeking to sell wine will apply for a license with the TABC and we will then go through and make sure that they meet the requirements through the documents they have to submit to us,” said Blair in an interview with WJLE.
“For a restaurant, they have to submit an application, a manager questionnaire, declaration of citizenship form, a copy of any lease agreement, certificate of occupancy, bond, business plan, and various other documents liquor by the drink establishments have to submit in order for us to be able to match those documents up with the requirements,” Blair continued.
For more information on licensing requirements for liquor by the drink restaurants click link below:
http://www.tn.gov/abc/article/liquor-by-the-drink-restaurant
“For retail food stores, they will submit an application to us. We’ll have to ensure that they meet the requirements of the law, including the 1,200 square feet provision, that they maintain 20% of food or food related product sales, and that they submit other documents such as certificate of compliance from the city, etc,” he said.
For more information on licensing requirements for wine in retail food stores click link below:
http://www.tn.gov/abc/topic/retail-food-store-wine-license
“A liquor by the drink establishment does not need a certificate of compliance. They don’t have to go before the city except for getting their typical building inspection or certificate of occupancy.The retail food store would have to obtain a certificate of compliance from the city in order for us to issue the license,” Blair added.

Santa Claus is coming to town!
The first of three Christmas parades in DeKalb County this holiday season will be Saturday, December 3 when the Smithville Christmas Parade sponsored by the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department takes place starting at 1:00 p.m. The line up begins at 11:00 a.m. at Smithville Elementary School. To enter call Jeff Wright at 615-597-6750 or John Poss at 931-349-5598. The deadline to enter is Thursday, December 1.
The Liberty Christmas Parade will be Sunday, December 4 at 2:00 p.m. The line up will be at 1 PM at Salem Baptist Church.
The Alexandria Christmas Parade will be Sunday, December 11 at 2:00 p.m. To enter stop by or call the Alexandria City Hall at 615-529-2171 extension 2
Meanwhile, Christmas on the Square will also be held on Thursday, December 15th from 5 PM to 8 PM in Downtown Smithville.
•Activities include: ◦Courthouse and Chamber of Commerce Open House
◦Lots of great goodies provided by the County Officials in the basement of the Courthouse
◦Special holiday music
◦Boy Scout Troop #347 will have a Flag-Raising Ceremony
◦Photo Booth & DJ Music – Sponsored by the City of Smithville
◦Justin-Potter Library Activities for the Children
◦Great Christmas Shopping Downtown
◦Tree Lighting Ceremony
•For more info, call the Chamber office at 615.597.4163.