Another year has passed with politics, tragedy, and triumph topping the headlines in 2024. The Smithville Review is looking back at some of the top stories of the year, and how they shaped where we are today. The following is a retrospect of the first six months of the year.
January 2024
Nashville woman murdered; found in DeKalb
Only hours into the new year, DeKalb County was dragged into a Nashville murder case, where a man allegedly killed his wife, then brought her body to the Belk area to bury and hide his crimes.
According to a criminal affidavit from Davidson County, 70-year-old Joseph Michael Glynn is accused of killing his wife, 76-yearold Jackie Glynn, on New Year’s Day by striking her in the head with a hammer to knowingly cause her death. Mrs. Glynn had been reported missing by family members and a Silver Alert had been issued for the woman. She had last been seen on New Year’s Day.
The affidavit goes on to allege that Glynn had transported his wife’s body to Smithville, TN, and buried her, and towed and hid her Toyota Rav 4 in Smithville.
Local man killed in wreck
Local authorities worked the scene of a tragic one-car crash last Wednesday morning that killed a local veteran.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 30-yearold Thomas Claston Beltz was killed on Highway 146 (Short Mountain Highway) when his struck a telephone pole.
In a statement, the THP reported that Beltz was traveling south on Highway 146 in a 2017 Ford F150 when he failed to negotiate a curve and overcorrected. The vehicle went off the right side of the roadway, striking a utility pole, before overturning and coming to a final rest. Beltz was not wearing his seatbelt.
Jail Committee struggles over cost of new jail
The DeKalb County Jail Committee got some sticker shock at its meeting, January 25, after a jail consultant and architects at the meeting gave out some preliminary numbers as to the suggested size and cost of a proposed new jail.
An architect at the meeting explained some average cost for other jails that have been built in the Middle Tennessee area, saying that most averaged $600 per-square foot, with an average cost at $225,000 per bed. At the projected 272 beds for a 20-year growth plan, the cost of just the jail portion of a proposed judicial center would come in at $61.2 million, plus soft cost such as furnishings, fixtures and testing. That cost would not include office space, courtrooms, etc.
Prominent Alexandria businessman arrested for forgery
A well-known Alexandria businessman has found himself in trouble with the law after allegedly changing the amounts of customers checks without their knowledge.
According to DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray, 50-year-old Stein Edward Prichard of Brush Creek Road, Brush Creek, manager of Prichard’s Foods, was arrested on four counts of forgery.
Sheriff Ray said that, “People would come into the store and buy goods, and would write a check, and Prichard would allegedly change the amount of the check and run it through the bank. He would then take the proceeds from the forged checks for his benefit.”
DeKalb mourns passing of Attorney Frank Buck
Longtime local attorney and former state representative Frank Forrest Buck, 80, passed away last Wednesday at NHC HealthCare in Smithville.
He was a fixture in DeKalb County and at the State Capital, recognizable by his leather vest, khaki pants, and blue button-down shirt, along with his boisterous voice and outgoing personality. Buck served as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for 36 years and was Vice-Chair of the House Transportation Committee and the Chair of the House Public Transportation and Highways Subcommittee. He served as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, a member of the House Judicial Administration Subcommittee, and the House Criminal Practice and Procedure Subcommittee.
February 2024
Pack to fill seat
The DeKalb County Commission named a replacement last Monday night for the 6th District seat recently vacated by Justin Adcock last month. The commission voted for Andy Pack to fill the seat, until the August election when the position will be on the ballot.
March
Alley renamed for Tippin
The City of Smithville is set to honor yet another of DeKalb County’s famous residents by naming another alley as a tribute to the star. The move comes after another star was honored in the same manner.
At the regular meeting of the Smithville Board of Mayor an Aldermen on March 4, the board voted in favor of renaming the alley between Main Street and Market Street in honor of Aaron Tippin. John Anderson was honored in a similar way just 16 months ago when the former Walnut Alley was renamed in his honor.
Body and vehicle found floating at boat ramp
A car was found floating at a local boat ramp, and a body discovered shortly after. At around 6 a.m., on March 16, a kayaker navigating the waters of Center Hill Lake came upon a car floating in the water about 20 feet from the Indian Creek boat ramp. A body of a woman was then found floating face down in the water outside the vehicle. The woman, whose body was recovered, was identified as 61-year-old Terri Lynn Patterson.
Town meeting held over proposed jail
The DeKalb County Commission held a town hall meeting just before its Jail Committee session on March 18, which allowed local residents to ask questions and voice their concerns over a proposed new Judicial Center and Jail. With the main battle cry from the public as, “Not in My Back Yard,” the committee is still struggling to find a site for the project, but a solution may have presented itself. The question of whether the facility could be built on the existing location of the jail was answered with designers saying that it is possible.
April 2024
Smithville residents oppose rezoning request
Several Smithville residents voiced their opposition to a rezoning request, leading the Smithville Board of Mayor and Aldermen to take no action on the request. The rezoning measure was requested by Sullivan Walter Homes. LLC for 11.85 acres of a 39.49-acre property, located adjacent to Walmart. The request was to rezone from R-1 (residential) to C-1 (commercial).
The city planning commission met March 11 and recommended rezoning the property, but at a public hearing eleven residents spoke in opposition to the proposal. Residents of Oakhaven Subdivision showed up to ask the aldermen to deny the request.
Residents marvel at solar eclipse
It looked as if DeKalb County might be shielded from the latest celestial event crossing the afternoon skies, but the clouds and rain broke just in time for the 2024 solar eclipse Monday.
The eclipse began at 12:44 p.m. locally, with its peak occurring at 2:03 p.m. It was then that a rare crescent sun appeared with the moon covering around 95 percent.While not as impressive as the total solar eclipse experienced in the area in 2017, the phenomenon drew onlookers from all over the county.
May 2024
Tornado rips through Smithville
The City of Smithville and the surrounding area was hit with what is presumed to be a tornado, downing powerlines, uprooting trees, and even destroying a few area homes. Large hail was also reported all across the county.
Tornado warnings began at around 4:26 pm on Monday afternoon, and soon after reports began coming in of downed trees and structure damage along Allens Ferry Road next to the Smithville Golf Course. A portion of a large storage building near the intersection of Holmes Creek Road was also leveled.
A home at 550 North Congress Boulevard also sustained substantial damage, while a brick home across the street also saw some damage and a large number of trees down on the property. Three people were reportedly inside the home, but no injuries were reported.
County settles on new Justice Center design
After months of meetings, looking at proposed designs and hearing from county officials, the DeKalb County Commission looks to have made some progress as to a new judicial center.
The commission previewed three options for a new judicial center. In the end, the committee voted 11-0 to approve the cheapest option, a two-story design to be built at a new location.
The estimated cost for the project will be $63,817,500, not including the purchase for the land and the cost of three times more staffing. At that price, the county is looking at as much as a 65-cent property tax increase, or a combination 47-cent property tax with a $50 wheel tax.
Northern lights seen in DeKalb
No, that wasn’t a forest fire you might have seen on the northern horizon last weekend. If you noticed an eerie sky, you most likely witnessed something that is very rare among the southern United States; the aurora borealis, or better known as the Northern Lights.
Bond resolution for Judicial Center fails yet again
While the DeKalb County Commission has approved a measure to move forward with a proposed judicial center, and the general design of the facility has been accepted, exactly how to fund the project is seemingly up in the air. The County’s Budget Committee has twice failed to move forward with the process of a bond resolution, which will now include the purchase of a new fire truck and two new ambulances.
During a May 14 meeting of the Budget Committee, the motion to adopt a bond resolution, not to exceed $65 million, once again failed on a four to two vote.
Jail Committee hears from public
The DeKalb County Commission’s Jail Committee met despite the Budget Committee’s failure, for the second consecutive week, to move forward with a bond resolution needed to fund a proposed judicial center. The commission has voted to move ahead with building a new judicial center, and has approved preliminary designs for the project, but the bond issue and the accompanying property tax rate increase needed to fund the development, is still in the air. Twice the budget committee has voted down a bond resolution, not to exceed $65 million to fund a judicial center with housing for 190 inmates at a tax levy to be determined prior to passage of the 2024-25 budget.
June 2024
County to ask cities to extend sales tax
The proposal for building a new Smithville Elementary School has been on the minds of local officials for several years now, but how to fund such a project has seemingly been a major obstacle. With county officials grappling with how to fund a proposed judicial center or jail, property owners are already bracing for a property tax increase. In order to keep from hitting residents again with a property tax hike, officials say they need to extend an agreement with area towns so they can plan for future school expansion.
Tragedy strikes at county transfer station
A tragic accident at the DeKalb County Transfer Station on Transfer Station Road, next to the DeKalb Animal Shelter, claimed the life of a beloved long-time DeKalb County employee. The accident highlights the need to be cautious around high-profile commercial vehicles, where sight lines may be obscured.
Authorities say that 69-year-old Alvin Armour was killed Monday morning after being run over by one of the county’s solid waste vehicles. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Amour had been driving his own garbage truck and had unloaded a load when he parked at the side of the facility. As Amour parked, two other trucks entered the facility to unload.
Ray reports inmate death
DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray has reported the death of an inmate at the DeKalb County Jail following a medical episode.
According to a statement by Sheriff Ray, “On June 15, 2024, at approximately 9:35 p.m., DeKalb County Jail Correctional Officers were notified about an inmate located in the Annex area of the jail needing to see the nurse. Correctional Officers immediately got the inmate to the nurse. While in the nurse’s station, the inmate experienced a medical episode.”
Commission tackles property, wheel tax hike
DeKalb County Commission met June 24, with the 2024-25 consolidated budget and a $65 million bond resolution as its priority. At the center of the discussions was a proposed increase to the property tax rate from the current $2 per $100 of assessed value to $2.61. The 61-cent increase would be the second tax rate hike in as many years, up from $1.7308 to $2 last year.
In the end, there were a few changes made to the budget, with the commission split down the middle over the bond issue and the tax rate, voting 7-7 on each with County Mayor Matt Adcock breaking the tie with a “Yes” vote.
