06/17/03
Smithville man drowns
after jumping from bridge
By Chris Tramel
A Smithville man was killed last Saturday morning after a daring stunt turned terribly wrong. Around 12:40 a.m. E-911 dispatchers received a call concerning a missing man on Center Hill Lake near Sligo Marina.
Authorities say that minutes earlier 39-year-old Michael Andrew Snyder and 17-year-old Michael Andrew Snyder Jr. of Cherry Street, Smithville, and 18-year-old Nicky Eudene Reese of Bright Hill Road, Smithville, had jumped off the east side of Sligo Bridge into the deep waters below.
Snyder Jr. reported to The Middle Tennessee Times that he and his friend had previously talked about jumping from the bridge. His father had told the boys that he had jumped from the daring heights before and while on a trip to a local convenience store, the trio decided to go through with the stunt.
Snyder reported that his father was the first to jump in. When the man hit the water the boys say that he came to the top and was moving. But soon Snyder started floating like he was unconscious. The boys say that at first they thought Snyder was just kidding with them, but then he started thrashing in the water. The boys say that it was then that they realized something was wrong.
Reese jumped in after the man with Snyder Jr. quickly following. Reese reportedly reached the man first and attempted to pull Snyder towards the eastern shore, but the man soon was pulled under the water. Reese, overcome by exhaustion, yelled to the younger Snyder that his father had gone under. In desperation the young Snyder dove underneath the dark waters in an attempt to find his father but could not locate the man.
Snyder told The Middle Tennessee Times that there was a fishing boat near the bridge and the two boys yelled for help, but the bass boat started up and drove away from the scene. Another boat did come to the boys' aid and helped them back to the shoreline.
Emergency crews were notified and Sheriff's Department Captain Mark Collins, Deputies Rick Hughey, Stuart Colwell and Bobby Hammond, Constables John Agee and Mark Milam, DeKalb EMS and Tennessee Wildlife Resource Officer Ben Franklin responded to the scene.
The Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad and members of the White County Rescue Squad responded with their boats in an effort to locate the man.
Rescue efforts soon turned to a recovery operation and a little over two hours later Snyder's body was found in about 20 feet of water, nearly 20 feet from the bank. Rescuers and officers held a prayer over the man's body before he was loaded onto a waiting ambulance.
Authorities say no charges have been filed in the incident.
Authorities make drug arrests
By Chris Tramel
The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department arrested three people last Thursday morning, June 12, after an undercover drug operation produced a suspected drug dealer.
Sheriff Lloyd Emmons told The Middle Tennessee Times that after making a controlled buy from a residence on Allen's Ferry Road, a search warrant was executed at the rented home of 36-year-old Phillip Wesley York.
Authorities say that York, along with two others, 37-year-old Lisa Gail Mingus and 39-year-old James E. "Shorty" Herman, were arrested at the scene.
Emmons says that a search of the home produced eight bags of cocaine, syringes, coke spoons and tourniquets. Cocaine was also found in a spoon in a bathroom of the home. Emmons says that it was likely that one of the occupants of the home was in the process of injecting the drug when authorities arrived at the scene.
Two empty prescription bottles for Oxycontin and Xanax were also confiscated in the home. Sheriff Emmons says that the prescriptions were for 90 tablets each and were dated June 6, 2003, which authorities say that indicates excessive use or sale of the drugs.
York, Mingus and Herman are each charged with one count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance with additional charges for felony possession of cocaine for resale and possession of paraphernalia to be presented to the August term of the Grand Jury.
Sheriff Emmons told The Times, "Sooner or later the drug dealers in DeKalb County will figure out that we mean business and either find another line of work or move out of DeKalb County. Until then we'll keep them guessing whether the next knock on the door is going to be the sheriff's department."
In other Sheriff's Department news a suspected meth lab was discovered on Sunday after a concerned citizen notified authorities about the find.
Sheriff Emmons says that a motorist noticed the lab situated near the scenic overlook on Highway 56 North or Cookeville Highway. Captain Mark Collins told The Times that the lab was nearly completed with only one chemical and a heat source missing.
Collins says that several potentially deadly chemicals were present at the site and warns anyone that may come across a suspected lab not to handle or come near any of the components.
Authorities say that evidence has been collected and an investigation in the case is underway.
In another case, deputies executed a search warrant Sunday at the homes of 67-year-old John Judkins, 29-year-old John Judkins Jr., and 41-year-old Edward Judkins in the Whispering Pines area of the Jefferson Community. Sheriff's officials say that the department had received information that the men might be housing several items of stolen property.
A search of the homes produced several items of lawn and garden equipment, power tools and some jewelry that authorities suspect may have been stolen property.
Authorities say that while an investigation into the stolen property continues at least one of the suspects was arrested at the scene. Sheriff Emmons says that John Judkins Jr. was arrested and has been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Teacher arrested on drug charges
has case dismissed
By Lisa Tramel
The third grade teacher who was arrested at Northside Elementary School in January for allegedly passing forged prescriptions had the charges against her dismissed last week.
Tonya Silcox was set to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 2 in Putnam County General Sessions Court, but the charges were dropped on Wednesday said Jack Lowery, Silcox's attorney. Silcox was charged with one count of passing a forged prescription at the Bi-Lo Pharmacy in Cookeville on December 6 for the pain killer oxycontin.
Lowery told The Times, "There was no evidence...she had never been in the drug store in Cookeville. They thought it was her because the person who passed the prescription had a drug card in her name. However, it seems to be a mix-up in documentation." Lowery continued, stating, "An agreement was made ahead of time with the Judge and Assistance District Attorney from Putnam County for the case to be dismissed under the condition that she [Silcox] would resign her teaching position."
After a warrant was obtained from Putnam County, Silcox was summoned to the office at the school where the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department placed her under arrest. In a telephone interview with The Times, Silcox expressed, "It hurts me that the students that I've had over the years had to see this on TV, something that wasn't even true. I think that Mr. Emmons should have looked into it more before he came and arrested me at school." She added, "I could have gone back to teaching, but I'm not going back. I've got a job out of town."
At the time, Silcox was suspended without pay pending the outcome of the case. Director of Schools Jim McCormick told The Times, "Now we do have her resignation, and it has been accepted by the Board."
Sheriff Lloyd Emmons stated, regarding the dismissal of the case, "She's no longer teaching school in DeKalb County and that was part of the agreement", adding, "All of these events took place outside of DeKalb County and have now been turned over to Blue Cross / Blue Shield (insurance) to be looked into further."
Rescue Squad in search
of community support
By Chris Tramel
The Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad is one of the lesser-known emergency service units active in the area, but their specialized skills and equipment make them an important and needed resource during emergency rescue situations. Situations that Captain David Sharp says are becoming more and more common.
Captain Sharp says the Rescue Squad was formed in the 1960's as a civil defense unit and later joined the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads (TARS). The team responds to all sorts of special situations that range from cutting trees from roadways after severe storms, to steep mountain and cave rescues. The unit is also equipped for water rescue and recovery situations that occur in and around Center Hill Lake.
The squad is called to the scene of missing person cases where it utilizes K-9 and grid search techniques to find victims. Captain Sharp says that recently an Alzheimer's patient was found using a grid search operation where the victim was discovered about a half mile from the house where they were last seen.
Law enforcement also utilizes the squad's abilities by using the team's K-9 unit. Escapees and suspects are occasionally tracked using the squad's bloodhounds, which are trained tracking dogs.
Even though the squad is not dispatched to a large amount of calls every year, Captain Sharp says the team more than makes up for it in the number of man-hours spent at a scene. He explained that on just one drowning case last year the squad logged over 650 man-hours.
Training is also very important to the squad. Recently the squad participated in a Rope Rescue Techniques training course provided by Progressive Rescue Solutions, Inc. Captain Sharp says that out of the 40 hours required most squad members actually attended 65 hours during the course. Sharp says that as more people settle around the steep lake area, it's getting more common for mountain rescue situations. An example was a call the team responded to a few weeks ago where the squad had to cut a fallen tree off of a victim in the Austin Bottom area. Sharp says that the incident happened at the bottom of a 300-foot embankment, and the man had to be hoisted up the steep grade.
Sharp says that with the training, the squad is now better prepared and more aware of how to safely rescue victims. In addition, the squad is aware of the required specialized equipment needed in certain situations.
Sharp says in the early days the squad didn't have boats or motors and had to borrow them when an emergency occurred. "Right now the squad has three boats, and one of them is down. We're hoping to raise enough money plus what the county donates to us to receive another boat this year." He continued, "The first and only new truck the squad has ever received was a 1969 model that has 19,000 miles on it today."
We're taking part in more training today than we ever have. We want to become certified for everything we do, and we want to have the right equipment for the right situation. We're looking to purchase about $5,000 worth of equipment for the mountain rescue."
Sharp hopes that people in the community will help them to purchase the much-needed equipment with their tax-deductible donation. He says Squad members hope to be set up at the Jamboree and will welcome all that stop by. Donations can be sent to Rescue Squad, 356 Allen Bend Road, Smithville Tennessee, 37166. For more information call 597-8524.
School Board proposes"No fat - No frills" Budget
By Valerie Laprad
The DeKalb County Board of Education has approved a tentative budget for the 2003-2004 school year in the amount of $16,088, 750. This budget represents only a slight increase from last year, but the extra funds would be enough to cover much needed increases in several areas, including raises for school bus drivers.
After numerous meetings of the budget committee, Chairman Keith Garrett presented the tentative budget to the Board, explaining the need for the slight increase. "There's only about $210,000 difference in the actual expenditures. This budget calls for total expenditures of $16,088,750 with $2,705,000 of that being a designated fund balance for capital outlay purposes only so the operational cost is a little over $13,000,000. This budget does include some needed pay raises that have been needed for a bunch of years for bus drivers, custodians, and maintenance, and teacher aides because [the] teacher aides now, those hired after January 8, 2002 have to have two years of college minimum. The other people are being subjected to a competency test; this is one of the qualifying items for them. There's also raises in there for the teachers based on monies received from the state of Tennessee, $535,000 in equality-type pay to equalize these salaries across the state."
Chairman Johnson added that, from what he has seen, this year's budget is a "no-fat / no frills" budget. The Board voted unanimously to accept the proposed budget, thus sending it to the County Commission for final approval.
Director McCormick presented the personnel report to the Board, including those persons hired as 2003 - 2004 support staff.
Those employed for the remaining 2002-2003 school year were Rob Alexander, Lindsey Greene, Jared Hendrix, Melanie Molander, Kelly Parkerson, Trista Pirtle and Laura A. Young as substitute teachers.
Those employed for the upcoming 2003-2004 school year include Mandi Franklin as a teacher at the Smithville Elementary School; Mark Anthony Fuller as a teacher at DeKalb County High School; and Carrie Welch as a music teacher for both the Smithville Elementary School and the DeKalb Middle School.
Willie Brown Adams, Educational Assistant at Smithville Elementary School, has retired.
Seven people in the DeKalb County School System have resigned their positions including Lynus Martin, the DeKalb County Junior High Football Coach; Vicki Wilson, an Educational Assistant at DeKalb West School; Tonya Herrera, a teacher at Northside Elementary School; Jimmy Foutch, a custodian at DeKalb West School; Tonya Silcox, a teacher at Northside Elementary School; and Shannon Pirtle, as music teacher/band director.
Holly Hendrix, a speech teacher and Martha Damron, a teacher at the DeKalb West School, were both granted a leave of absence, as requested.
The support staff for the DeKalb County School System for the 2003-2004 school year has also been hired.
Those employed for the DeKalb County High School are Regina Amonett, Secretary; Rachel Bandy, Cook; Linda Cyphers, Vocational Rehabilitation Secretary; Sherrie Driver, Special Education Assistant; Debbie Eaton, Special Education Assistant; Joe Ellege, Custodian; Beverly Ferrell, Special Education Assistant; Kelly Garrett, Records Clerk; Billy Golden, Custodian; Faye Hendrix, Half Time Vocational Secretary / Half Time Special Education Assistant; Jerry Herman, Custodian; Rita Leichtfuss, Special Education Assistant; Deborah Magness, Bookkeeper; Frances Mahler, Cook; Tina Myers, Educational Assistant; Mary Carolyn Neal, Cook; Brandy Pack, Special Education Assistant; JoAnn Pittman, Custodian; Jo Dean Redmon, Cook; Daniel Seber, Vocational Case Manager; Linda Sorrell, Special Education Assistant; Sarah Tramel, Cafeteria Manager; Faye Tyree, Educational Assistant ADP; Jennie Young; Educational Assistant Altern; and Agatha Young, Cook.
Those employed for the DeKalb Middle School are Helen Burt, Cook; Sean Cantrell, Special Education Assistant; Helen Cantrell, Cook; Fay Gilreath, School Bookkeeper; Johnna Goff; Special Education Assistant; Connie Haggard, Cook; Truitt Hale, Custodian; Barbara Hibdon, Cook; Ashley Hobbs, Special Education Assistant; Samanta Lester, Special Education Assistant; Reba Malone, Custodian; Paulette McDonald, Special Education Assistant; Lisa Norton, Special Education Assistant; Wanda Kay Pack, Cook; Melissa Pirtle, Secretary; Bonnie Rigbsy, Special Education Assistant; Rebecca Satterfield, Educational Assistant; Eldon Vanatta, Cafeteria Manager; and Rhonda Waynick, Custodian.
Those employed for the Smithville Elementary School are Austin Bain, Custodian; Cathy Beltz, Special Education Assistant; Pauline Braswell, Special Education Assistant; Barbara Ervin, Cafeteria Manager; Jennie Foster, Cook; Betty Griffith, Educational Assistant; Frances Haggard, Cook; Patricia Hale, Student Health Assistant / PT-Cafeteria; Murrianna Herman, Cook; Donnie Hickey, Custodian; Vickie Jeffries, Educational Assistant; Sara Lomas, Custodian; Tina Miller, Educational Assistant; Dori Mooneyham, Special Education Assistant; Freeda Pedigo, Cook; Rhonda Pelham, Secretary / Receptionist; Lori Poss, School Bookkeeper; Amy Raymond, Special Education Assistant; Beth Stehno, Special Education Assistant; Tammy Tyler, Cook; Phyllis Walker, Special Education Assistant; Annie Walker, Special Education Assistant; and Rita Young, Educational Assistant.
Those employed for the Northside Elementary School are Faye Adkins, Custodian; Vickey Atnip, Special Education Assistant; Charles Ayers, Custodian; Tracy Baker, Special Education Assistant; Suzanne Bradford, Educational Assistant; Nancy Burger, Cook; Gail Crips, Secretary; Ervil Cubbins, Educational Assistant; Rebecca Ervin, Cook; Starr Ferrell, Educational Assistant; June Gilbert, Cook; Phyllis Hallum, Special Education Assistant; Dena Haugh, Special Education Assistant; Betty Malone, Cook; Thelma Martin, Special Education Assistant; Angie Moore, Special Education Assistant; Kim Stanfield, Custodian; Regina Taylor, Cafeteria Manager; Diane Trapp, School Bookkeeper; and Rebecca Wilkins, Cafeteria Monitor
Those employed for the DeKalb West School are Betty Boss, Early Childhood Assistant; Jean Cook, Cook; Dorothy Duggin, Custodian; Tena Edward, Educational Assistant; Pauline Frazier, Custodian; Tina Gipson, Cook; Lisa Hale, Special Education Assistant; Donna Hale, School Bookkeeper; Ann Jennings, Cook; Shelby Jennings, Educational Assistant - Title I; Mary Joines, Early Childhood Assistant; Faye Nixon, Cook; Debra Rowland, Educational Assistant; Roenia Turner, Half-Time Library Assistant and L/R Monitor; Jalene Vanatta, Educational Assistant; Jamie Vickers, Secretary; Jeanette West, Cook; Vickie Wilson, Special Education Assistant; and Georgia Young, Cafeteria Manager.
Those employed for County-Wide positions are Chandra Adcock, School Nurse; Jennifer Agee, Special Education Assistant; Ana Bain, ESL Assistant; Holly Bain, Bus Assistant; Jenean Bain, Bus Assistant; A.W. Beshearse, Maintenance Worker; Pattie Clayborn, Bookkeeper / Payroll - Central Office; Brenda Crook, Library Assistant, Half-Time at Smithville Elementary School and Half-Time at Northside Elementary School; Phyllis Dalton, Bus Assistant; Cathy Driver, ADP Assistant; Theresa Garrison, Part-Time Occupational Therapist; Scott Howell, Computer Technician; Earl Jared, Maintenance Supervisor; Teresa Jared, Secretary - Central Office; Eddie Roy Judkins, Maintenance Worker; James Miller, Maintenance Worker; Brad Mullinax, Technology Director; Jennifer Nixon; Bookkeeper / Payroll - Central Office; Shirley Ours, Special Education Secretary; Hobert Page, Grounds; Jo Dean Redmon, Part-Time Custodian; Anthony Roysdon, Part-Time LPN; Jewell Tate, Part-Time Custodian; Kimberly Turner, School Nurse; Cindy Twilla, Food Service Bookkeeper; Allison Young, Part-Time Clerical; Jean Young, Bus Assistant; and Rena Adcock, Janice Bratcher, Joyce Satterfield, Barbara Vanatta, Margaret Vanatta and Judy Wilson, as Substitute Cafeteria Workers.
Those employed for Transportation positions are Myron Rhody, Transportation Supervisor; Tony Higgins, Mechanic; and Bobby Hale, Part-Time Mechanic.
Bus drivers hired for the next school year are Deborah Ashburn, Harold Ashford, Karen Atkins, Clarence Burton, Donna Byrd, Ann Cantrell, Dwayne Cantrell, Lynn Colwell, Dinah Cripps, Elaine Davis, Debbie Eaton, Marshall Ferrell, Starr Ferrell, Linda Fowler, Billy Joe Goodwin, Lynn Griffith, Judith Hale, Bobby Hale, James Jackson, Kimberly Lawson, Bobby Martin, Ronald Merriman, Jimmy Mullican, Jack Patterson, Walter Phillips, Faye Pollard, Tony Poss, Peggy Pursell, J.T. Pursell, Myron Rhody, Juanita Salazar, Danny Tatrow, and Vickie Simpson.
Substitute bus drivers hired for the next school year are Stuart Colwell, Julie Fitts, Bill Fowler, Larry Johnson, Daniel Lawson, Jarod Norrod and Jimmy Poss.
Local departments
prepare for disaster
By Chris Tramel
Local law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical service and medical personnel recently held a disaster drill to help prepare and train members in the case of the unthinkable. The drill was held at the DeKalb West School and portrayed the scenario of a gunman taking hostages inside the school. The gunman was also suspected of spraying an unknown substance inside the school. Observers watched and made recommendations to the various departments as they dealt with problems posed during the drill. Pictured - Members of the Smithville’s S.E.R.T. team enter the school in search of an armed suspect. |
