Woman Airlifted, Another Also Injured in Two Vehicle Crash

February 5, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

One woman was airlifted and another was also injured in a two vehicle crash Friday night on West Broad Street near DeKalb Middle School.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 31 year old Ann Taylor of Smithville was pulling out of Tiger Drive onto West Broad Street in a 2015 Dodge Dart when she crossed the path of a 2015 Honda CRV , driven by 49 year old Myra Sircy of Lebanon who was traveling west on Broad Street. The front of Sircy’s vehicle struck the driver’s side door of Taylor’s car.

Taylor was transported by DeKalb EMS to a helicopter landing zone at DeKalb Middle School and airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital. Sircy was transported by ground ambulance to St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation by Trooper Danielle Neal of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department and Smithville Police Department were also on the scene providing assistance.

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February 4, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Election Commission Office has released another candidate update.

Local attorney Brandon Cox has picked up a petition to run for Smithville Alderman on August 2

Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss has filed his petition to run for re-election on August 2 and it has been verified

Meanwhile Eddie Dwayne Blair and Jason Ray, both incumbent Liberty Aldermen have obtained petitions to seek re-election on August 2

February 4, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Students in the Career Technical Education Program at DCHS have more up to date equipment to work with in their training thanks to a $120,000 state funded grant.

“We received a Career and Technical Education Grant through the State of Tennessee for $120,000 that was used for three of our Career and Technical Education Programs including the Advanced Manufacturing Program which is taught by Todd Cantrell; Information Technology, which is taught by Coach Steve Trapp; and the Health Science Programs, which are taught by Angie Anderson and Jane Rice. This money was used to buy equipment for those areas for our students at DCHS,” said Brad Leach, Career and Technical Education Director.

The Advanced Manufacturing Program was the first to receive new shop equipment from the grant funds including a computer numerical controlled mill machine and lathe along with a manual milling machine, belt sander and horizontal /mitering bandsaw. New equipment for the other programs are coming soon.

Computer numerical control (CNC) is the automation of machine tools by means of computers executing pre-programmed sequences of machine control commands to form metal into different shapes for various projects and applications. This is in contrast to machines that are manually controlled by hand wheels or levers mechanically automated by cams.

“Some of the equipment we got was to replace older ones that been here and needed updating. The two biggest pieces of equipment we got were the new CNC Mill and CNC Lathe. Its a step up from the manual mills and lathes. With the manual milling machine, students have to crank it by hand. They have to move everything. They have to think, measure and they have to keep up with a lot of information. Now we can have computer numerical controls. Students can set at a computer, design a part, program it and tell the machine what to do based on their knowledge and the part can be reproduced in a fraction of the time it would take if it were done on the manual machines. It makes it easier because the computer doesn’t have to think or stop and measure,” said Cantrell.

Leach said the newer equipment is more like what these students will see when they get into the workforce.

“With the way it is with our nation today and the need for advanced manufacturing workers, its one of the reasons the state has got on board with us to try and update that (technology) so we can better prepare students for the work force and help keep our jobs here in America. It (new equipment) is a good addition for us to get students better trained to become good quality workers in our local and regional work force,” said Leach.

DCHS also has a dual credit agreement with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in McMinnville under which high school students can accumulate credit hours toward training at the TCAT center.

“Students who get an education here can transfer the time they have spent here in our shop and get up to 360 hours of credit at the TCAT center in McMinnville. That’s our dual credit agreement. It helps students get more prepared to go out and make a smoother transition into the work force,” said Leach.

“I want to say thank you to the state of Tennessee especially our state representatives and senators for getting this grant money for us to use and we hope to continue to work with them for more funding for our programs,” Leach concluded.