News

A done deal!

Thanks to the Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen, the final piece of the puzzle is in place to make construction of a new Smithville Elementary School eventually become a reality.

By a six to nothing margin, the Alexandria Aldermen Friday night voted to extend their existing local option sales tax agreement with the county through the year 2055. The current agreement was set to expire on July 16, 2037.

The county commission had set February 1, 2025 as the deadline to hear from Alexandria on the proposed extension.

Aldermen voting for the extension were Jeff Ford, Sherry Tubbs, Luke Prichard, Bobby Simpson, Tiffany Robinson, and Jonathan Tripp. Mayor Beth Tripp is the mayor.

Alexandria now joins all the other municipalities, Smithville, Liberty, and Dowelltown in extending its local option sales tax agreements in partnership with the county and Board of Education to ensure that funding is in place for debt payment up to $55 million for the life of a 30-year bond yet to be issued for new school construction. The county commission went on record last fall committing to proceed with the funding for a new school if all the cities signed on to an extension of their local option sales tax agreements with the county. Smithville made its extension conditional upon the county issuing bonds within 12 months.

Prior to the vote Friday night, County Mayor Matt Adcock addressed the Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen.

“This agreement was set in place in 1967 with all the municipalities and the county,” said County Mayor Adcock. “Although they are a separate department of county government, we do approve the school budget and their debt. Any debt they accrue we have to fund. We are a funding source for the school board, but they run the school operation”.

“In 1967 DeKalb County and the municipalities made an agreement to create a school sinking fund. Its also called the Local Purpose Fund,” said County Mayor Adcock. “The state statute requires that every municipality in DeKalb County provide 50% of their sales tax proceeds toward schools. This agreement calls for an extra one third of the sales tax to go into the school sinking fund only to be used for school construction and operation ($1.9 million budgeted annually for school operation). In the past we have used this money for construction of Northside Elementary. We built a storm shelter (Tornado Safe Classrooms) at DeKalb West School and a new cafeteria at the high school. An energy efficiency project was funded at the west school. The initial agreement between the county and cities was extended for another 30 years and the agreement we are under now runs through 2037,” said County Mayor Adcock.

“The school board approached the county commission about replacing the elementary school. It is the oldest school and it is antiquated. This (sales tax money) would go toward construction of a new pre-K to 2^nd grade Smithville Elementary School and it would be put next to Northside Elementary School on North Congress Boulevard,” County Mayor Adcock explained.

“As a county our responsibility is to find a way to fund it. When we started looking at what a bond would take to build this facility, we couldn’t guarantee any revenue for it past 2037 which is when our sales tax agreements with the cities would expire,” Adcock said. “This is just one school in a plan they have to eventually replace all their schools. Revenues after 2037 cannot be allocated into our debt service forecast because we don’t know if its going to be there. The only way we can know for sure that we have the funding in place to make future payments is if we extend this agreement at least through the life of the bond. That’s why we have based it (sales tax extension) only on the life of a 30-year bond. We are adding another 18 years to go from 2037 to 2055. On July 16, 2055 this agreement would expire at the same time that the school bond would expire. If they want to build another school past that date in 2055 they would have to seek another sales tax extension agreement in order to build the next school,” said County Mayor Adcock

“I would like to ask for your vote for this. All the other municipalities in DeKalb County have passed this along with the county and school board. We would appreciate your cooperation. The only way we have been able to fund schools like we have in DeKalb County is because of this agreement. We have all worked together to make it happen,” Adcock concluded.

Several members of the county commission attended the meeting in support including Daniel Cripps, Sabrina Farler, Tony Luna, Glynn Merriman, Larry Green, Andy Pack, and Beth Pafford.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps also addressed the Mayor and Aldermen.

“We have not made a decision on what we would do with that (existing Smithville Elementary School) property but I do want to add to what the county mayor said about the infrastructure of the school. We are outgrowing that school. We actually have two second grade classes at Northside Elementary School and we are looking at moving another one next year. Those second-grade kids are separated from their peers at Smithville Elementary because we have run out of space due to the different programs we have had to add at Smithville Elementary to meet the individual needs of the students that are attending that school,” said Director Cripps.

During the public comment period, William Lambert, who lives just outside the city on New Hope Road spoke out against the extension of the sales tax agreement.

“I am here tonight as a concerned citizen of DeKalb County and a close neighbor and friend of the town of Alexandria,” said Lambert. “I have lived in this area for 20 years both here and in Smithville.  My family of origin has lived here for almost 30 years.  I can remember when this little town was bustling. I am here to ask you to retain your sales tax for local use. Everywhere I look around town I see ways revenue could be used to improve the area. Further because of our geographic proximity to Davidson and Wilson Counties we could be a growth anchor for the entire county if the town invests properly. Look past today and what the future might be for this town I love so much,” he said.

City resident Mike Prichard spoke in support of the move.

“I am Mike Prichard and I have lived in this town for 73 years. I think the county has made a good presentation. This is DeKalb County. Its not Wilson County or Smith County. We’re DeKalb County. Our school system is all together here in DeKalb County. I would encourage the city to vote yes on this and give them the tax money like they deserve. We need a school,” he said.

Keeping kids away from drugs and alcohol is one key part of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program. Sixth grade students have been learning from the law enforcement curriculum during the first part of the school year at DeKalb West School. Under the guidance of School Resource Officer Billy Tiner, students were also taught assertiveness training techniques, anger management and conflict resolution skills, interpersonal and communication skills, how to enhance self-esteem, positive alternatives to substance use, and developing risk assessment and decision-making skills.

DWS D.A.R.E. students graduated from the program Friday (January 31) in a special ceremony that was coordinated by Officer Tiner and attended by county officials, law enforcement personnel, Coordinated School Health staff, the DeKalb Prevention Coalition, school administrators, families and students. Students were handed certificates for their successful completion of the program. Essay winners for the best paper on what they learned in D.A.R.E were announced. Jace Davis was the essay winner from Ms. Missy Sliger’s homeroom while Bradi Turney had the best paper in Ms. Kayley Curtis’ homeroom. Each received a $25 gift card from the DeKalb Prevention Coalition and other prizes. Paisley Avera was the top essay winner overall. She won a $50 gift card from the DeKalb Prevention Coalition and other gifts. Paisley read her essay during Friday’s D.A.R.E. graduation program.

Paisley will compete with the overall DeKalb Middle School essay winner to be named later and one of the two will advance to the state for the Tennessee D.A.R.E. Essay Competition sponsored by the Tennessee D.A.R.E Officer’s Association. If a student from this district wins the state competition, the Tennessee D.A.R.E Officer’s Association will pay for the student and their family to attend the D.A.R.E. luau in Pigeon Forge at the state D.A.R.E. conference.

Members of the 2024-2025 D.A.R.E. Graduating Class include: Paisley Avera, Wyatt Bain, Oliver Bell, Hayden Caraway, Jameson Carter, Leah Chittwood, Samson Chittwood, Tyler Clemons, Taelyn Cork, Jayden Curtis, Jace Davis, Stanton Fakes, Zara Fox, Kylnee Griffith, Caison Grisham, Chase Groshong, Nixson Hale, Cash Hancock, Addison Harbaugh, Sawyer Hendrix, Sylar Hickman, Bella Holder, Cainnan Humphrey, Lorenzo Johnson, Luke Johnson, Waylon Ketchum, Holden Leiser, Jackie Lloyd, Bailey McDaniel, Hailey Medrano, Ivy Melton, Zadah Miller, Karson Mullinax, Jaxson Murphy, Mason Nicholas, Griselda Nicholson, Adysen Olivas, Karlee Pierce, Derek Pinkston, Shayla Rebertus, Conner Robinson, Jasen Sandlin, Colton Saso-Varble, Isabella Scott, Kayla Sebolt, Lexie South, Turner Stanley, Bradi Turney, Maddox Vickers, Kensley Womack, and Lucas Yancey.

Permit approved!

Document

Jones Alexandria Quarry at Old Highway 53 at Liberty, owned by Jones Brothers Contractors, LLC has cleared a hurdle in its plans to open a new 110. 8-acre limestone quarry and processing facility.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Mining Section announced Friday, January 31 that it has approved an application by Jones Brothers Contractors for a NPDES permit to discharge treated mine wastewater and storm water into Helton Creek from the proposed quarry which has yet to open.

In making the announcement of the decision, Bryan W. Epperson, Director of the Division of Mineral and Geologic Resources, said “Based on its review of all relevant data, the Division has determined that the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit complies with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, is protective of water quality, and can be issued”.

The permit may be appealed to the Board of Water Quality, Oil and Gas pursuant to state law.
It remains to be seen if enforcement of the County Powers Act could still halt the project since the quarry is not yet in operation and apparently does not meet the 5,000-foot distance requirement from residences as called for the in the act. Under the County Powers Act quarries must apply to the court for a permit and those not in operation by October 28, 2024 must give reasons why they should be grandfathered.

The Division issued a draft NPDES permit for Jones Alexandria Quarry on August 22, 2024 and issued a public notice document concerning the draft permit action on August 28, 2024. Due to the amount of public interest in the project, the Division issued a notice of public hearing on November 13, 2024 which requested comments from other regulatory agencies and members of the public.

A hybrid Public Hearing was held at the DeKalb County Complex and via Microsoft Teams video-teleconference on December 17, 2024. Approximately 54 people attended the meeting, and 30 written comments were received during the Public Comment period.

TDEC responded to many of the public comments except for those not directly related to the proposed project. For example, questions were raised about whether the proposed quarry activity would cause pollution of surface water into Helton Creek and impact fish, wildlife, and livestock. In its response, TDEC said the Division has determined that this permit is protective of the designated uses of Helton Creek.

Another concern raised was whether the proposed mining activity would cause pollution of ground water and damage nearby wells, springs, and aquifers. TDEC’s response was that the Division’s Mining Section is not aware of any contamination or damage to water wells due to limestone mining facilities within the state.

A commentator during the public hearing mentioned the location of a possible historic cemetery within the permitted boundary. TDEC’s response was that the NPDES permit is a water discharge authorization and does not authorize impacts to cemeteries.

Others asked what impact the County Powers Act could have on the project. TDEC responded that “The NPDES permit issued by the Division does not have jurisdiction or authority over these issues and does not supersede any local or county rules or regulations, nor can it enforce any local ordinances. Likewise, the Division cannot hold up issuance of an NPDES permit to wait on a determination from local jurisdiction.

The DeKalb County Jail Committee met Thursday night at the county complex to renew discussions about building a jail.

It was the committee’s first meeting since the Tennessee Corrections Institute voted in December to keep the existing jail certified under a plan of action to address deficiencies and the second meeting since the November referendum when voters soundly rejected the county’s plans to issue bonds up to $65 million to build a judicial center/190 bed jail complex.

Bob Bass, former Deputy Director of the Tennessee Corrections Institute, who now serves as a county correction partnership consultant, met with the entire 14-member county commission, which comprises the jail committee along with County Mayor Matt Adcock and he did a power point presentation of a proposed master plan for the county to follow. The jail committee listened but took no action Thursday night.

With some preliminary work already having been completed such as an inmate housing study, conducted by Jim Hart Jail Consultant and Field Manager of the County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), as well as plans and proposals by Bell Construction and Treanor Architects, Bass said the county does not have to start the process over. The county’s next step, he said is to develop a master plan for building a jail and to follow it in steps and phases through to completion. Part of that master plan is site selection for the jail, which should come next.

“The county has done a lot of work,” said Bass who spoke with WJLE after the meeting. “This jail as everyone knows is really in jeopardy of losing its certification. The county is actually under a plan of action. It is what TCI allows and its what the law allows. If you can’t fix some ratios like overcrowding in your jail, you can file a plan of action on how you are going to correct that. The plan they (county) originally filed with us (TCI) was to build a criminal justice center and jail. We are all aware of what happened with the referendum. The citizens spoke. They did not want a courthouse, so they (county) are not going to do that,” explained Bass. “The county is now looking at building a jail because that is what they really need. This is going to be less money because you are not paying for a courthouse”.

“They (county) are not actually starting over. What this was about tonight was how to build a master plan. Lets take the good work that has been done, the feasibility studies, the projections, and start putting things in a format, where the county commissioners can follow and tackle one problem at a time, and then go through phases. Obviously, it is going to start with site selection. They have already selected an architect and construction manager. They have already done a study that was provided by CTAS and myself.
All the data is back. They (county) will get to make decisions on how big it (jail) needs to be built. They will start a concept development and once the concept is done the construction manager will help give them a cost. They will look at the financing to see what they can afford and then they will move forward with it,” said Bass.

Asked what he thought the minimum number of beds should be; Bass suggested a minimum of 150 though he added that decision would be left up to the county.

“Bed space is based on historical data and then its done on population growth and projections. Its also what your incarceration rate is. How many people are you arresting in your county. You look at what your population is today and what your population growth is going to be 20 years out,” said Bass. “We already know that when this process began five years ago you were keeping around 100 inmates and somebody decided to go down in the basement (older jail) and put in a makeshift jail that did not meet our standards. We (TCI) had to show the jail at what it is today at actually 51 beds (down from 102 certifiable beds) They (county) can no longer use that (basement) which immediately put them overcrowded. A 100-bed jail is not sufficient. They (county) have that now. They are farming people out. They (county) have options. You can do 150 beds, shell it out and add 50 more beds later. The actual (future) projection (based on the CTAS study) was around 270 beds,” said Bass.

Asked if the county could just build initially for 125 beds, Bass said “it’s still going to be under a plan of action after you spend all that money (for 125 beds). You’re still going to have those state regulations. Regulatory is not what we do but our standards have to be met in order to be certified. I would say 150 beds is very minimum. I really believe in the science, so they (county) really need to look hard at what that (CTAS) study says and what the (future) bed projection shows but let’s be realistic. We need to build what we can afford and if we can’t afford 272 beds today maybe we can afford that in say five years. So let’s build it where it can be expanded and added onto relatively easy without a lot of extra cost,” said Bass.

Asked if the county could build on the existing site of the jail, Bass said “I have never been a proponent of doing that. It’s a site that is not going to work. You could tear it down and start over and it wouldn’t work. That property will not support that size of a footprint of a jail they need today. It (jail annex) was set up as a dormitory facility with no isolation cells. They (DeKalb Jail) don’t have a cell up there to put just one person in. Refitting it (jail annex) would be so expensive, and you would lose square footage you have now,” Bass explained.

“Your compatibles and non-compatibles (prisoners) you have to keep separate. What we are seeing is a trend toward more violent inmates. Years ago, the standard rule in the industry was about 10% of your jail cells had to be isolation cells. If you had a 110-bed jail, 10 of those cells needed to be solitary, one person cells. That rule is gone now. There is more gang activity even in rural Tennessee and people with anger issues, and more violent crime. Its called classification. When you (inmates) come in you go through a process”.

Although building a dormitory style jail is not preferred, Bass said some county’s still have them.

“That’s part of what we call a housing plan. Tonight, we talked about concept development, and we will do a housing plan. That’s why one jail is different from another. Does the sheriff run a program where he wants to put minimum security in and do work release or they go out? What is he housing and who is he holding. Those studies have been done so when we start doing those housing assignments they will recommend some four person cells, or six person cells, etc. TCI recommends two person cells and to never build a single person cell because the square footage requirements are still the same. You (county) don’t have programs for inmates. Lets have programs for inmates. That is the secret. When they build this new jail lets put them (inmates) out better than they came in,” said Bass.

Although Bass no longer works for TCI as deputy director, his job as consultant is funded by the state, and at no cost to DeKalb County.

“Its an educational based program that TCI offers counties either building jails or expanding. My job is the educational part of it to help with studies or any data needed to be gathered for the decision making. Its at no cost to the county. It is part of what TCI offers,” said Bass.

Do you have cattle, sheep, goats, or equine animals? If so, you could be eligible to receive payment from the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency. According to Donny Green, County Executive Director, signup for the Livestock Forage Program will end January 30, 2025.

The Livestock Forage Assistance Program (LFP) was approved on September 24, 2024 for DeKalb and Cannon counties due to recent and extreme drought conditions that have affected livestock grazing during the 2024 normal grazing period. LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock on land with permanent vegetative cover or planted specifically for grazing.

Since the LFP signup began in October 2024, just over 400 livestock producers in DeKalb and Cannon counties have been approved and received $887,909.

If you are a livestock producer and have not filed your LFP application since the signup period began in early October, please visit the FSA office in Smithville to file your application before the January 30, 2025 deadline. There are no approval provisions for late filed LFP applications.

For more information, call the office at 615-597-8225, Ext. 2, or come by the Smithville USDA Service Center located at 647 Bright Hill Rd., Smithville, Tennessee. The Farm Service Agency’s office hours are 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

DeKalb County property taxpayers have a month to pay their 2024 county property taxes.

2024 Property taxes are due and payable through February 28, 2025 before any interest becomes due on March 1, 2025. Interest will accrue on March 1, 2025 @ 1.5% per month. If you choose to mail in your tax payment, it must be postmarked on or prior to February 28, 2025 to avoid any accrued interest.

Trustee Sean Driver reported to the county commission Monday night that as of Monday 55.94% had been collected of the $16.5 million in 2024 DeKalb County property taxes to be collected by February 28, 2025 which includes property, residential, commercial, personal, and public utility taxes.

“For prior year 2023 taxes, we were responsible for $12.9 million and at this time we still have about $282,000 out. We are at 97.81% collected. We have notices ready to go out Friday, January 31 that gives individuals that have not paid their 2023 taxes another chance to pay those before April 1, 2025. I do have to relinquish those that are unpaid to the Clerk and Master April 1, 2025.

The Trustee’s office offers up to 6 different options to pay your property taxes:

1. Come in person to the office to pay

2. Mail in your payment

3. Pay online @ www.tennesseetrustee.org, then select DeKalb and follow the instructions to the next screens – The Vendor BIS/I3 Verticals accepts Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or American Express – The Vendor convenience fee of 2.75% on the total tax bill will apply and fees are subject to change using Credit/Debit Cards. Also, a $2.75 fee will be assessed on an E-CHECK payment of any amount. DeKalb County does not collect any online payment fees.

4. A QR (Quick Response Code) is also on your notice to access the website with your I-phone, smartphone, etc. @ www.tennesseetrustee.org

5 A Dropbox is located on the outside of the building at the County Complex (County Offices Section) for your convenience after hours and/or weekends.

6. Partial Payments are accepted, and you the taxpayer sets the amount to pay until full payment is satisfied.

Eligibility for Property Tax Relief:

The State of Tennessee offers qualified property owners Tax Relief on property taxes. This program was implemented in 1973 and the program has a few changes every year. At this time, DeKalb County has 431 applicants on the program for 2024. So, as a property owner for 2024, you can qualify for Tax Relief if:

(A) Your DeKalb County home is your primary residence,

(B) You are 65 years old (or older) on or before December 31, 2024, or

(C) You are under 65 years of age with a totally and permanently disability per SSA or another qualifying agency, and last

(D) Your 2023 Annual Income of all living owners on the deed and their spouses that DID NOT exceed $36,370.00.

If the State of Tennessee qualifies you for Tax Relief, then you can receive a rebate up to $134.00 for the 2024 tax year. You must pay your 2024 tax bill IN FULL to start the application process. Applications are handled, executed, and sent to the State of Tennessee by the Trustee’s office.

The State of Tennessee also offers Tax Relief to Disabled Veterans and the Surviving Spouses of a Disabled Veteran. You must provide proof from the Veteran’s Administration that you have a total and permanent disability rating that was service connected. You and your spouse will NOT have to report any amount of income to apply as a disabled veteran or the widow/er of a disabled veteran. If the State of Tennessee qualifies you as a disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, then you can receive a rebate up to $740.00 for 2024.

Meanwhile, DeKalb County has a “Tax Freeze” program authorized by the state and Trustee Driver explains the qualifications for that.

‘TAX FREEZE’

• Established through voters in the State of Tennessee through a referendum passage in 2007

•The Program is only for ELDERLY – 65 years or older

•Income Limit (2023 Annual Income) is $36,370.00. All owners on the property

•Can only have Tax Freeze on your primary/principal residence

•The TAX AMOUNT is frozen. The property value, assessment, and tax rate are Not Frozen.

•You can apply or have both Tax Relief and Tax Freeze.

•Applications are administered and executed by the Trustee’s office.

•There are acreage limits that can be frozen.

The Trustee’s office is accepting applications for the Tax Relief & Tax Freeze Programs through April 5, 2025. If you would like to inquire more about a possible Tax Relief for property taxes or about the Tax Freeze Program, come by the County Complex in the Trustee’s office @ 732 S. Congress Blvd – Room 103, Smithville, TN 37166 or call @ 615-597-5176.

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Will they, or won’t they?

The Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen are scheduled to meet Thursday night, January 30 at city hall and on the agenda is the “local sales tax” issue.

A decision was expected December 17 by the mayor and aldermen on whether they would extend the town’s local option sales tax agreement with the county through the year 2055 to help support long term debt payment on new school construction as the other three municipalities have done but there was no vote, because there was no meeting due to the lack of a quorum.

This month’s meeting, set for Tuesday, January 28, was also postponed until Thursday night, January 30 at 7 p.m.

Alexandria has not yet publicly signaled whether it will or won’t extend its sales tax agreement. The county’s self-imposed January 1 deadline to hear from Alexandria was extended to February 1, 2025.

Under the existing sales tax agreements with the county, which are set to expire in 12 years on July 16, 2037, the four cities, Smithville, Alexandria, Liberty, and Dowelltown turn over to the county for schools a greater percentage of their local option sales tax collections than they would otherwise be required to do. By law, the municipalities must contribute 50% of their sales tax money to the county for schools but by agreement, since 1968, the towns give basically two thirds of their share and all that sales tax money goes into what is called the Local Purpose Tax Fund for Schools to help fund school operation and debt. Officials say the county must be able to count on that extra sales tax money coming in from the cities over the life of a 30-year bond up to $55 million in order to cover the costs of a new school without having to use or raise property taxes to fund it.

All five county schools have benefitted over the years from this local purpose sales tax fund which has helped support various school construction and renovation projects including at DeKalb West School. In fact the debt has apparently yet to be retired on the Tornado Safe classroom addition project which was completed over 10 years ago. The construction debt on Northside Elementary School was paid off only recently, within the last two or three years.

Meanwhile the Alexandria city meeting agenda for January also includes the following:

*Mayor Beth Tripp opening the meeting

*Roll Call

*Prayer and Pledge

*Approval of previous meeting minutes

*Zoning-second and final reading

*County Mayor Matt Adcock (scheduled to speak)

*Open floor for residents (public comment)

*Local Sales Tax

*Department monthly reports (mayor, fire, police, streets, financial, attorney)

*Unfinished business

*New business- Seay Church, Senior Citizens Center

*Any other business properly submitted by board members

*Adjourn

A car wash confrontation has landed one man in trouble with the law.

19-year-old Izayah Young of Smithville is charged with aggravated assault, vandalism, and possession of a weapon. His bond is $13,500. According to Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins, officers were called to a report of an altercation January 13 between Young and a victim at the car wash on West Broad Street where Young allegedly busted the driver’s side window of the victim’s car and then pulled up his shirt to expose a gun in his waistband in a move to allegedly intimidate the victim. Young was taken into custody.

38-year-old Justin Murphy of Smithville is charged with violation of an order of protection. He is under a $2,500 bond. Chief Collins said that officers were summoned to Highland Drive on January 11 because of an unwanted person and upon arrival found Murphy, a respondent to an order of protection. The protected person in the order was also there. Murphy was placed under arrest.

32-year-old Sonny Smith of Smithville is charged with domestic assault and interference with an emergency call. His bond is $6,000. Officers were called to Wade Street on January 12 due to a domestic incident in progress and upon arrival they spoke with Smith and the complainant. Chief Collins said police found evidence of an assault and determined Smith to be the primary aggressor. They learned that the complainant had tried to call 911 but Smith disabled use of the phone. Smith was placed in custody.

Jerry Rackley of Smithville is cited for aggravated criminal trespass and will be in court on February 6. Chief Collins said that on January 14 police were called to Village Place due to a possible burglary in progress and upon arrival they found Rackley on the property. Police learned that the house was vacant but that Rackley was living there inside without consent of the owner.

Two people accused of property theft were cited by police on January 15. 43-year-old Eric Fish and 44-year-old Janet Fish of Smithville will make a court appearance on February 6. Chief Collins said that police were summoned to Kwik-N-Ezy and upon arrival learned that Eric and Janet Fish had allegedly electronically deposited their payroll checks in amount of $413 and $ 465 and then cashed the checks at Kwik-N-Ezy.

33-year-old Stephen Babich of Smithville is charged with public intoxication, violation of the open container law, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court on January 30. Chief Collins said that on January 17 police were called to check out a suspicious vehicle at a business on South Congress Boulevard and upon arrival found Babich in the automobile. According to police, Babich became aggressive, appeared to be impaired, and he refused to cooperate. Officers also spotted an open alcoholic beverage in the center console and a large glass pipe with white residue. When officers told Babich that he was under arrest, he physically pulled away but was subsequently placed in custody.

33-year-old NithunNag Kardi-Giridhar of Nashville is charged with DUI. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court January 30. Chief Collins said that on January 18 police pulled over a vehicle on East Broad Street for failure to maintain lane of travel. While talking with the driver, Giridhar, the officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol. Gridhar said that he had just come from Midnight Express and had been drinking. Giridhar submitted to but performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks and he was placed in custody.

31-year-old Dalton Moore of Smithville is charged with public intoxication. He is under a $1,500 bond and will be in court on February 6. Chief Collins said that on January 19 police were summoned to South Congress Boulevard due to a suspicious person and upon arrival found Moore who was acting very erratically and showed signs of impairment. He was placed in custody.

49-year-old Anthony Lewis of McMinnville is charged with DUI and cited for driving on roadways laned for traffic. He is under a $5,000 bond and will be in court on February 6. According to Chief Collins, police conducted a traffic stop January 25 on Short Mountain Highway for failing to maintain lane of travel. While speaking with the driver, Lewis, officers noticed he showed signs of impairment. Lewis submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and said he had been drinking. Lewis was placed in custody.

42-year-old Hollie Michels of Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $5,000 bond and she will appear in court on February 6. Chief Collins said that on January 26 police were called to Jennings Lane due to domestic incident in progress and upon arrival they learned that one of the parties had been assaulted and injured. Police determined that Michels had been the primary aggressor. She was placed in custody.