The past year saw triumph and tragedy in the news, with top stories ranging from tragic fires and wrecks, to high school seniors being honored at graduation. Here’s a look at the top stories in DeKalb County news from January to June 2023.
JANUARY
Alexandria Mourns Passing of Mayor
Only four months after taking office, Alexandria Mayor Lloyd Dyer passed away suddenly. It was to be his first four year term as mayor, having been sworn in on August 23 during an Alexandria Town Council meeting. Dyer, 72, passed away four months to the day, on Friday, December 23 at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital. Dyer had served previously as an Alexandria alderman and vice mayor.
Woman perished in fire
On Tuesday, December 27, at 10:23 a.m., a Smithville city worker noticed smoke coming from a home at 201 Hayes Street, near NHC Healthcare. Upon arrival, fire crew found the house with heavy black smoke in the front of the home and fire raging at the back of the structure. After a search through the rubble, eventually authorities discovered the body of 37-year-old Brittany Schemmer. Officials say that it appeared the woman could not exit the house and had hid inside a closet in the bathroom. The woman’s dog and cat were also discovered near the body.
Evans charged for rape, incest
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, 40-year-old George Daniel Evans of Cookeville Highway, Smithville, was arrested on January 6, for two counts of rape, two counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, and two counts of incest.
Authorities allege that between the dates on September 1, 2021, and October 3, 2021, that Evans knowingly and intentionally committed the act of rape, statutory rape and incest by forceful sexual penetration multiple times against two minor victims.
Towns, county OK fire hall
Construction on the new Liberty/Dowelltown fire hall would begin after both Liberty and Dowelltown agreed on a lease proposal which was later approved by the DeKalb County Commission.
During a special-called meeting of the DeKalb County Commission the lease agreement was approved for the property jointly owned by both towns. The agreement is for 8.65 acres, on a 99-year lease for the price of $1. The property is the old Liberty/ Dowelltown Park, off Highway 70 on West Main Street, which has not been used for many years. The DeKalb County Commission had already allocated $382,912 in ARP funding for the project pending the lease agreements.
One killed in early morning crash
Only 10 days into the New Year DeKalb County recorded its first traffic fatality. An early morning crash on Tuesday, January 10, killed a 38-yearold Sparta man on Highway 70, atop Snow Hill near Trapp Lane.
According to Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Brent Collier, at 4:23 a.m., Rodney A. Henry was traveling east on Highway 70 in a 2004 Ford Ranger. At the same time, 34-yearold Matthew Murphy of Smithville, originally of Springfield, was traveling west in a 2020 Ford Mustang.
Authorities say that Henry’s Ranger crossed over the middle turn lane and entered the west bound lane, striking the Mustang head on. The Mustang traveled a short distance west before coming to a final rest in the westbound right lane.
Henry was pronounced dead at the scene. He was reportedly not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Hale sworn in as member of 113th General Assembly
State Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville, was officially sworn in as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
Hale took the oath of office during the first legislative day of the 113th General Assembly. He was elected in November to represent House District 40, which includes all of Cannon, DeKalb, Jackson, Smith and part of Wilson counties.
FEBRUARY
Police, sheriff's departments make major drug arrests
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Smithville Police Department have been working together in a joint operation that is taking a big bite out of crime. Authorities say that two major drug dealers have been arrested so far.
On February 5, 61-year-old Tommye Lou Bell of Hawkins Drive, Smithville, was arrested for schedule II drug Fentanyl, schedule I heroin, schedule VI marijuana, schedule II morphine, schedule IV Diazepam, and possession of a weapon.
Also arrested that night was 35-year-old Gary Christopher Ponder of South College Street, Smithville. He is charged with two counts of sale and delivery of a schedule I drug. He is under a $100,000 bond and he is due in court on February 23.
Smithville police foil kidnapping
Smithville Police made an arrest last week after a man called reporting that he had been kidnapped by an acquaintance. After a traffic stop of the suspect vehicle, the bomb squad had to be called to the scene.
On February 26, Officer Lane Ball received a report of a possible kidnapping taking place on DeKalb County roads. The victim in the case had allegedly texted his niece, reporting that a man, 20-year-old Kobe Keelan Ray Cantrell, had taken him hostage and was holding him at gunpoint as they traveled in the victim’s gold 2000 Chevy Blazer.
Later, Officer Ball made contact with a vehicle matching the description given by the caller, at South Congress Boulevard and Jennings Lane, heading south out of town.
According to the arrest warrant, after a stop at a local market, the victim in the case was recovered in the backseat of the vehicle and confirmed that he had been held against his will. The victim reported that he had allowed Cantrell to drive his vehicle, but then he refused to give the keys back and that he would be driving from then on. The victim stated that he believed that Cantrell might harm him if he attempted to flee of call for help.
Students ask for change in prom policy
Local DeKalb County High School students attended the regular meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Education last Thursday, requesting a change to the policy that says who can and cannot attend the senior prom.
Currently, only DCHS students in good standing may attend the prom, but some students want that to change to allow students from other schools, and recent graduates of DeKalb, up to the age of 20, to be able to attend the event.
Fire destroys home
An early morning fire destroyed a local family’s home and claimed all of their belongings.
According to Assistant Chief Anthony Boyd with the DeKalb County Fire Department, on Sunday, February 12, at 3:45 am, the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at 738 New Home Road.
Upon arrival, fire crews found the home of James and Ashley Milam with fire on the roof and attic area of the residence.The family was not home at the time of the fire.
MARCH
Where's Brittany? The search continues
The search for a missing DeKalb County woman continued as local law enforcement joined with other area county and state agencies to conduct the most thorough search as of yet. The controlled ground and air search, held last Saturday, is only the latest of several searches conducted since the woman went missing on the Fourth of July, 2022.
Brittany Miller, who is now 32- years - old, vanished from her home on Hurricane Ridge Road and has not been heard from or seen since. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, possibly saying “DCHS Tigers,” and was wearing black knee-length shorts and black tennis shoes with black “no show” socks. She is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. Her eyes are blue and she has dark brown shoulder-length hair. She also has a tattoo saying “Adam” across her forearm and “Tyler” on her right ankle.
Skull discovered. Remains could belong to fugitive
The mystery of the whereabouts of a missing man, who was allegedly running from authorities in December 2021, may have been solved after a skull was discovered on a steep embankment near Center Hill Lake. Though the remains have not been positively identified, they are believed to be that of 29-year-old Matthew Braswell, who had not been seen or heard from since he fled into the woods after a crash on Ponder Road.
APRIL
Pool to remain closed this summer. Shortage of lifeguards causes first-ever closure
Sad news for sun lovers and those who enjoy lying out by the pool during the hot summer months. For the first time in its history the City of Smithville Swimming Pool will not be opening. Officials say the lack of available lifeguards and the cost of chemicals is forcing the pool not to open.
Three local women charged with murder in drug deal
Three local women are facing second-degree murder charges after they allegedly sold a deadly drug to the victim in the case. All three were indicted last week by the DeKalb County Grand Jury and were taken into custody on April 4.
According to the indictment, 62-year-old Tommye Lou Bell of Smithville, 48-year-old Sharon Joyce Malone of Smithville, and 45-year-old Vanessa Louise Lance of, Smithville, were named as co-defendants in sealed indictments returned by the grand jury on Monday, April 3.
Each are charged with second-degree murder, along with two counts of possession of schedule II drugs (fentanyl & cocaine) with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver.
Car plummets 150 feet over Sligo bluff
A local driver is lucky to be alive this week after being involved in a freak car accident that plunged his vehicle over a steep bluff and nearly hit the water of Center Hill Lake.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, on Thursday, April 6, at 10:14 am, 62-year-old Bryan K. Boring was traveling southbound in a 2016 Ford Escape on Sligo Road, into the entrance of Sligo
Marina. As he attempted to negotiate a left turn he ran off the right side of the roadway, traveled over a concrete barrier, and overturned and rolled over a steep embankment. The car is estimated to have rolled 150-200 feet before coming to rest against some small trees very close to the waters of the lake.
More remains found in woods
More remains have been discovered near the area where a skull was found near Center Hill Lake. Authorities say the bones appear to be that of a man who had run from authorities after the car he was in crashed into a tree.
On April 17, officers from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, members of the Smithville DeKalb Rescue Squad, officers from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, rangers from the Corps of Engineers, and members from the Middle Tennessee State University Anthropology Team searched the area again for the remains of a body where a skull was found earlier this year on March 10. The remains are believed to be that of Matthew Braswell.
MAY
Lucio honored by commission
The DeKalb County Commission adopted a resolution last Monday evening, honoring the life of a US Marine from Smithville who was killed in a 2021 California traffic accident. Lance Cpl. Alberto Lucio was killed in December 2021 while he was assisting a driver and passenger from another crash on Interstate 5 near where he was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California.
CLASS OF 2023 Graduates honored at ceremony
Years of hard work and studying all came down to the one night so many had been waiting for. DeKalb County High School held its graduation ceremony last Friday night for 163 members of the Class of 2023. Grads were joined by friends and family, along with teachers and school administrators for the special night.
Plane crash lands near Temperance Hall
The skies weren’t so friendly for some East Tennessee residents after their plane had mechanical issues and made an emergency landing in a rural hayfield near Temperance Hall. Both the pilot and a passenger were able to walk away from the crash.
According to DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray the single engine plane went down in an open field near Old Temperance Hall Road.
JUNE
Two sentenced for crimes against children
Two men were sentenced last week in DeKalb County Criminal Court for horrific crimes against very young children.
Authorities say that between the dates of May 1, 2013 and May 1, 2014 in DeKalb County, 34-yearold John David Stoops, Jr., of South Maple Street, Lebanon, entered a plea to one count of sexual battery by an authority figure and received a six-year sentence to serve at least 85 percent. He must register with the state’s nonviolent sex offender registry.
In another case, a Liberty man accused under a sealed indictment for rape of a child, pled guilty in Criminal Court. Carlos Restrepo, 63, of Cook Road, Liberty, made a plea after being accused of intentionally or knowingly sexually penetrating a person less than 13 years of age back on September 10, 2010.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department said that Restrepo was charged in the case for the rape of six year old victim. Although the case is from 2010, the victim did not disclose the crime until March 2021 after they had turned 16 years old.
Budget Committee proposes tax increase
The DeKalb County Commission’s Budget Committee has finished its recommendations for the 2023-24 fiscal budget, which will include a property tax rate increase by of .2692 cents from the current level of $1.7308 cents. The property tax rate would go to $2.00 per $100 of assessed value if passed. All of the increase would be slated to go into the county general fund.
Firefighters battle large fire in Liberty
Smoke filled the air around Liberty as local firefighters battled a large blaze at a local business. Fire crews were reportedly at the scene of the fire for over five hours attempting to control the blaze and keep it from spreading.
On June 9, at 3:28 p.m., the DeKalb County Fire Department was dispatched to Hickory Creek Enterprises, LLC, on Woodbury Highway (Highway 53) in Liberty for a report of a controlled burn of pallets that got out of hand due to weather conditions.
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a large pile of pallet debris had ignited and was out of control. The fire was so intense that it destroyed a DTC fiber optics line as well as a power line with Caney Fork Electric.
Troglen, White Jr. sentenced in Operation Ice Pick sting
Two leaders of a major local drug trafficking operation, that spurred an eight-month-long undercover investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, were sentenced to 20-year prison last week in DeKalb County Criminal Court. The men were among nine people arrested in the sting.
Indictments were handed down in June, 2023 against 52-year-old Shawn David Troglen of Charlie Dickerson Road, Sparta, and 49-year-old Charles Edward White, Jr. of Johnson’s Chapel Road, Sparta, both of which were involved in what a law enforcement investigation termed “Operation Ice Pick.” The men were two of nine people indicted in a special session of the DeKalb County Grand Jury for conspiracy to sell more than 300 grams of methamphetamine. The TBI and other agencies joined the sheriff’s department in the investigation from February to October 2021, in which drug buys were made through confidential informants.
