Smithville woman killed in head on crash near Liberty

March 11, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville woman lost her life in a head on crash Thursday afternoon on Highway 96 near Liberty. Another person was seriously injured.

According to Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol 64-year-old Sally Potts was traveling north in a 2002 Honda Civic when she crossed the center line of the highway and into the path of a southbound 2001 Ford F-150 driven by 57-year-old Darryl Meadows of Smithville. Potts died at the scene. Her body was extricated from the mangled car by members of the DeKalb Fire Department extrication and rescue team.

Meadows was taken by DeKalb EMS to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital and later by ground ambulance to Vanderbilt Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.

Trooper Johnson was assisted in the crash investigation by Trooper Caleb Bain and Sergeant Tracy White. Others on the scene along with DeKalb EMS and the DeKalb Fire Department were members of the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

Potts’ death marks the first traffic fatality of 2022 on DeKalb County roads.

March 11, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville will soon undertake a $700,000 project to rehabilitate deteriorating sewer lines and manholes in certain parts of town including Earl Avenue, West Main Street, and Carter Street.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the aldermen voted to enter into a contract with the J.R. Wauford & Company Consulting Engineers to provide services related to the project.

The city’s share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) grant funds will be used to cover costs of the rehab effort.

(The audio starts 4 minutes into the video as the actual business meeting begins)

Daniel Tribble, Manager of Field Services for the J.R. Wauford Company who addressed the mayor and aldermen Monday night, said the project will be done in phases.

“We have been requested to review sewer lines that have been identified by your city personnel that are subject to what is believed to be inflow. Inflow is simply when water that is collected in streets and roadways or flowing in ditches and creeks enters your sewer lines, which in turn increases the sewer that you have to treat at your wastewater plant. A lot of times the vitrified clay pipe (VCP) like any utility has a certain life span and over years it simply deteriorates. The reports we have received are that in this case gravels, dirt, and other material that is not sewer has been found in these locations where the sewer line is believed to be failing or collapsing which allows the debris and inflow into your sewer lines. More than likely these lines would be replaced with PVC pipe which is the standard 8-inch PVC that we call SDR-26 sewer line pipe,” said Tribble.

“Due to the estimated cost of this job and the available funds we (J.R. Wauford Company) have proposed a phased approach to complete rehabilitation of the subject lines. Phase one of this project includes the open cut sewer replacement of approximately 2,700 feet of sewer line along Earl Avenue, West Main Street, and Carter Street. The second part of phase one of this job is the CCTV or closed-circuit television inspection of approximately 7,400 feet of sewer lines mostly in cross country areas that flow along creeks and not in roadways. Our plan is to review the CCTV footage and make a recommendation to the city as to the appropriate rehabilitation methods for these areas,” Tribble continued.

“The estimated cost of phase one of the project is $703,000. We need an executed contract between the City of Smithville and J.R. Wauford & Company in order for us to mobilize our survey crew and begin design work to get this project bid,” added Tribble.

The aldermen gave approval to proceed with the bid process.

March 10, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A fire late Tuesday night destroyed a residence at 5753 Walker Creek Road between Temperance Hall and Alexandria.

Central dispatch received the call at 11:25 p.m.

The two occupants of the home escaped unharmed after discovering the blaze.

The owner and resident of the home, Melinda Griffith told firefighters that she awoke to popping and sizzling noises and found the fire in the attic. After evacuating the residence, Griffith called 911.

County Fire Chief Donny Green said firefighters found the blaze already fully involved and coming through the roof upon their arrival and could not save the home. They were able to keep the fire from spreading to automobiles and other property in the yard.

The cause of the fire has not been determined but might have been due to an electrical shortage. Except for the clothes there were wearing the occupants lost all their personal belongings from inside the home.

Members of the Temperance Hall, Liberty, and Main Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded along with the tanker truck, DeKalb EMS, and the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department. The local chapter of the American Red Cross also had a representative there to help the couple with their immediate needs.

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