Two Airlifted After Separate Crashes

November 23, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Two people were airlifted after separate crashes Thursday night and early Friday morning in DeKalb County.

The first wreck occurred at 8:41 p.m. Thursday night on Highway 96 (Dale Ridge Road). Trooper Chris Meness of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said 18 year old Russell Elliott of Brush Creek was driving north in a 2002 Ford Ranger. A 17 year old boy was with him. Elliot went off the left side of the road while trying to negotiate a curve too fast. The truck went off a steep embankment and hit three trees before coming to a stop. The DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department performed extrication to remove Elliot from the truck. He was airlifted from near the scene to Vanderbilt Hospital. The boy was taken by DeKalb EMS to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital.

The second crash occurred Friday morning at 2:27 a.m.. Trooper Meness said 21 year old Samantha Hutson of Cookeville was traveling east on Sparta Highway near Sligo in a 2010 Honda Accord when she lost control while attempting to negotiate a curve. The car went off the right shoulder and crashed into a rock embankment. Hutson, who was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered a severe head wound and neck injury and was airlifted from near the scene to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. She has since been released from the hospital.

November 23, 2020
By:

The Walk Across Tennessee recently finished a six week competition. During a time when everyone is trying to socially distance to decrease the pandemic numbers, this friendly competition allows everyone to get much needed exercise. The goal of Walk Across Tennessee is for each team of up to 8 people to log 500 miles of exercise, which is the distance across Tennessee. Teams do not literally walk across the state. They can choose any type of exercise and convert the mileage to walking miles.

There were 10 teams and 80 people participating. The teams walked a total of 7,637 miles. Congratulations to the 1st place team, The Wholly Walkamolies who walked 1355 miles. Team members were: Kim Cabral, Marilyn Cabral, Kristen Kulkam, Dawn West, Jenny Evans, Trish Cabral, Sharon Garcia, and Angie Vettraino.

The second place team was the Hurricane Hikers. Team members included: June Keith, Tiwanda Hall, Kalah Donnell, Julie Corcoran, Carina Lundberg, Laurie Chaple, Scott Kolb, and Harriet Adrian. The third place team was Footloose with 1232 miles. Team members included: Lauren Hall, Clay Medley, Brendon Wagner, Carrie Cantrell, Terry Caldwell, and April Martin.

In addition the top individual female award went to Kim Cabral who had a total of 330 miles. The top male award went to Clay with 274 miles.

Be on the lookout for another Walk Across Tennessee in the spring. Walk Across Tennessee is a program by the University of Tennessee Extension office in DeKalb County. The University of Tennessee offers all its programs to all eligible persons regardless or race, color, sex, national origin, or handicap.

November 22, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The 2020 Prayer Breakfast, sponsored by the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, made history twice this year. It marked the 50th annual golden anniversary of the event and for the first time was held virtual due to COVID-19.

The prayer breakfast is typically held on the Tuesday morning before Thanksgiving in which community and business leaders come together to pray and give thanks.

Chamber Director Suzanne Williams moderated the virtual program which featured Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

“While we can’t be together in person it is an honor to be a part of your 50th annual prayer breakfast. There is no doubt the events this year from natural disasters to COVID and uncertainties in our community have left many Tennesseans with a sense of unease and feeling disheartened. Hebrews 4:16 tells us we can walk confidently together before God as we seek mercy for our state and ask for continued grace for our nation. As a faith community, we can take comfort in knowing that God does hear our prayers. Today as we come together before the Lord let’s take time to acknowledge our blessings, to pray for one another, to seek wisdom, and give thanks to God for His faithfulness,” said Governor Lee.

Smithville Mayor Josh Miller was the keynote speaker.

“2020 has been a year like I have never seen before. It has set forth a lot of challenges in our businesses, families, and government. Our community has rallied behind others and helped people who are hurting. Proverbs 24:10 says If you faint in the day of adversity your strength is small. We have a lot of people whose strength is not small in this community. We live in one of the best places I know we could ever live and I am thankful for our community,” said Mayor Miller.

The virtual program also featured State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver who performed the Star Spangled Banner; Instrumentalist Susan Hinton on piano, Jason and Ethan Hardwick of Cub Scout Pack 347 who posted colors and recited the Pledge of Allegiance; Neal Kelley, President of Saint Thomas Regional Hospitals who offered a prayer for the community and health care heroes; Kevin Young of Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital who prayed for military servicemen and women and first responders; Northside Elementary School students Lillie and Miller Williams who read from 1st Corinthians 13; Lisa Cripps of the DeKalb Prevention Coalition and Chamber President who prayed for families and children; Mr. and Miss DCHS Tyzuan Ladet and Megan Cantrell who congratulated the Chamber on the 50th anniversary of the Prayer Breakfast; DeKalb Middle School siblings Annabella and Andrew Dakas who offered a prayer for the schools, teachers, and students; Entertainers Aaron, Thea, and Tom Tippin who performed Aaron’s song “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly; State Senator Mark Pody who prayed and asked blessings for county residents and teachers; Chad Ramsey, Pastor of the Smithville First Baptist Church who prayed for the community and its leaders; Ella and Sabrina Kirksey who sang “You Say” accompanied by Graden Kirksey on guitar; local minister Larry Green who prayed for senior adults; and Ryan Vaden, Administrator of NHC Healthcare who asked that the community pray for the mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing of patients and those who care for them. Shan Stout of Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital joined Williams in mentioning several upcoming events prior to Christmas to close out the virtual program.

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