Five Teens and One Adult Charged in Mailbox Vandalism Cases
by: Dwayne PageMar 16, 2025
One adult and five juveniles have been charged with mailbox vandalism by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
18-year-old Aidan Michael Malone of Smithville is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is March 13. The other teens are all minors including a 15- and 16-year-old and three 17-year-olds. Because they are juveniles, Sheriff Patrick Ray is not releasing their names.
The charge against Malone alleges that “between February 17 and 27 he did knowingly and intentionally commit the act of vandalism by damaging mailboxes throughout DeKalb County using various items including a baseball bat, wood, rocks, etc. The combined damage was $4,003,” said Sheriff Ray.
“The juvenile petitions allege that between the dates of February 17 and 27 the juveniles did intentionally vandalize multiple mailboxes throughout DeKalb County using various items including baseball bats, concrete bags, rocks, etc. The combined damage investigated by the sheriff’s department is $4,003,” said Sheriff Ray.
The mailbox vandalism occurred on Ike Adcock Road, Old Bildad Road, Turner Road, Patterson Road, McMinnville Highway, Creek Road, Old Blue Springs Road, Antioch Road, Jacobs Pillar Road, Students Home Road, Keltonburg Road, Medlen Lane, Short Mountain Highway, Green Hill Road, and Joines Road.
Paxton Media Group Purchases Southern Standard and Smithville Review
by: Dwayne PageMar 16, 2025
Paxton Media Group, which owns Cookeville Herald-Citizen, has purchased the Southern Standard and Smithville Review from Morris Multimedia.
The Southern Standard was established in 1879 and will continue to be published three times per week. The Smithville Review started in 1892 and is published weekly.
Paxton Media is a family-owned company headquartered in Paducah, Ky. The company publishes daily and weekly newspapers in more than 120 communities in the Midwest and South and operates an NBC-affiliated television station. The company is currently managed by fourth- and fifth-generation family members.
The Southern Standard and Smithville Review will join the ten other Paxton-owned newspapers in Tennessee managed by Group Publisher, Jana Thomasson.
What A Dog! (View Video Here)
by: Dwayne PageMar 10, 2025
Make friend for life with Jackson! The WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”
Jackson is a two-year-old pointer/Coon hound that is already neutered and has had all of his vaccinations. He loves being outdoors. Jackson is sponsored by the Friends of the DeKalb Animal Coalition, so his adoption fee is only $50.
If you are interested in meeting Jackson, fill out an application on the animal shelter website or come in. Visit https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/ or call 615-597-3647.
The shelter is open Mondays-Fridays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Transfer Station Road off Highway 70 east behind Tenneco.