Two Gleason men, who led McKenzie police and other law enforcement authorities on a high-speed chase Monday, remain incarcerated and face charges for cattle thefts in Carroll, Henry and Weakley counties.

    Jacob Wayne Davis, 20, and Billy Andrew Smothers, 22, were arrested at approximately 5:30 p.m. Monday at a barn just north of McKenzie in Henry County after evading police for more than two hours.

According to authorities, the men allegedly stole cattle in all three counties and sold the livestock at out-of-town stock barns.

    Smothers is incarcerated in Carroll County Jail on charges of theft of property over $1,000, felony evading arrest, aggravated assault with a vehicle, felony reckless endangerment, vandalism, vandalism over $1,000, and driving on a revoked license.

    Davis is charged with misdemeanor evading arrest and theft of property under $500 in Carroll County. He made bond in Carroll County and was transported to Weakley County Jail, where he remains incarcerated on theft of property over $1,000 and theft of property over $10,000 charges, according to Investigator Randall McGowan. Davis is being held on $5,000 bond in Weakley County, with a Wednesday date set for a preliminary hearing.

    McGowan and Chief Deputy Mark Black stated both men are suspects in theft of cattle in that county, estimated to be in the thousands of dollars. Davis has allegedly admitted to his part in the cattle thefts, while Smothers has not, said McGowan.

    McGowan stated the two men allegedly stole numerous cattle from the Snider farm in Weakley County and a lesser amount from another farm on Rhinda Road between Pillowville and Greenfield.

    The WCSO investigator stated that the stolen cattle were allegedly being taken to land leased by Smothers in Weakley County, between Dresden and Martin. Several cattle from the Snider farm and one or two cows taken in Carroll County were recovered from that location before they could be sold, he said.

    The stolen cattle were taken to the location and intermingled, said McGowan. The mixed cattle were then taken to various sale barns, making it harder for authorities to identify the owners.

    Once Weakley County takes custody of Smothers, he will be held on $25,000 bond, said McGowan.

    Henry County also has holds on Smothers and Davis. Warrants have been filed on both men in that county for their alleged involvement in the theft of four cows from a Briarpatch Lake Road home near Como on November 17.

 

(Read the rest of this story in the December 3rd print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

    Members of the Martin Police Department and Kentucky state police are investigating a forgery case involving businesses victimized in Martin and Mayfield, Kentucky.

    According to a Martin police report, at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, November 29, Kentucky State Trooper Kyle Nall contacted Martin P.D. Ptl. Guy T. Pryor and informed him two credit cards and a checkbook had been stolen from the Mayfield area, and the credit cards had been used at Wal-Mart and Hibbett Sports in Martin.

    Ptl. Pryor contacted the victim, Ms. Phyllis Thompson, who stated her cards and checks were stolen and that the credit card company had contacted her telling her they had been used in the Martin area.

    Ptl. Pryor then went to Wal-Mart, located at 134 Courtright Road, Martin and spoke with J.J. Cheney, a manager at the store, about the illegal transactions. Further investigation revealed the victim’s Bank of America credit card was used to charge purchases at Wal-Mart on four separate occasions in the amounts of $316.92, $600.00, $365.99, and $765.59, respectively. The victim’s Citi Advantage credit card was used once for a charge of $257.56.

    Also, the victim’s checkbook was used to produce two forged checks in the amounts of $325.70 and $361.89. Ptl. Pryor then went to Hibbett Sports, located at 162 University Plaza, to investigate charges to the victim’s credit cards. The officer learned the victim’s Bank of America credit card was charged once for $384.49, and her Citi Advantage card had been charged once for $170.72.

Ptl. Pryor later learned that the two suspects also attempted to pass a check from the victim’s account at a Union City Wal-Mart.  Additionally, the suspects used the credit cards at a Fulton, Wal-Mart.

    The total dollar amount merchandise fraudulently obtained in the case amounts to $3,548.86.

    Photographs of the suspects obtained from Wal-Mart surveillance cameras were positively identified by the staff of Hibbett as the individuals who used the cards.

(Read the rest of this story in the December 3rd print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

  

    Santa’s Village will celebrate its 24th year of operation, December 11-14. The Christmas winter wonderland, which will be held inside the Ned R. McWherter Agricultural Pavilion at the University of Tennessee at Martin, serves the dual purpose of providing a place for families to come and enjoy the festivities of the season by furnishing the sights, sounds and fun of Christmas, while simultaneously providing donations of food and toys for the less fortunate.

    Slated for 6-9 p.m., December 11­12; 11 a.m.-9 p.m., December 13; and 1-5 p.m., December 14, the event will carry out the “Christmas Around the World” theme in scenes from holiday festivities in 10 different countries. Also featured will be a giant Christmas tree, wagon rides on Friday through Sunday, MTD model train display, children’s inflatables and 54 shopping booths. Twenty hours of continuous entertainment, highlighting regional talent, and a petting farm, will add to the festivities. Opening ceremony is set for 6 p.m., December 11. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 worth of nonperishable foods and/or toys.

Martin Parks & Recreation Program Director Kim Kirby said, “The theme for Santa’s Village is ‘Christmas Around the World.’ ” She added there are 12 different pods planned, and the giant Christmas tree will be decorated a little bit differently this year. Kirby also noted the opening ceremony features Santa Claus.

    C.E. Weldon Library Director Roberta Peacock described some of the decorations at this year’s event saying, “We’re going to have different pods set up representing different countries that shows the traditions of each of these countries. The countries are: England, Mexico, Australia, Germany, Italy, China, Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.”

    Reba Wade of Reba Wade Music Studio in Martin, entertainment coordinator for Santa’s Village, said, “We have 20 hours of entertainment planned, with lots of local groups. We’ve got a lots of instruments - piano, guitar, accordions, trumpets, banjos, oboes, bells, and all different kinds of instruments that will be making music.” In addition to Christmas music, she stated there would be songs made famous by Miley Cyrus who plays Hannah Montana, singer Brittany Young, The Beach Boys, and several Disney songs. There will also be songs from “The Wizard of Oz,” the musical “Grease,” and other types of music. “There will be something for everybody,” Wade said. “There will be a family time, where mothers and daddies will sing with their children. There will also be karaoke.” She added performers would be from Martin, Dresden, Greenfield, Sharon, Gleason, Union City, Paris, Huntingdon, and Jackson.

 

(Read the rest of this story in the December 3rd print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)