DeKalb County Records Fewer Traffic Deaths and Drownings in 2019

December 23, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Although even one death is too many, DeKalb County has seen fewer traffic fatalities and lake drownings in 2019 compared to the previous year.

With one week left in the year 2019, a total of three people have lost their lives due to DeKalb County crashes, down from eight in 2018, and one drowning has been recorded on Center Hill Lake compared to three last year.

A 20 year old Warren County man was killed in a motorcycle crash on Monday, March 11 on Highway 70 east at a guardrail near Sligo bridge (Smithville side).

Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Zane Jefferson was traveling west on Highway 70 on a 2004 Suzuki motorcycle when he failed to negotiate a curve and slid into the guardrail. Jefferson, who was wearing a helmet, died at the scene. Members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and DeKalb Volunteer Fire Department were also on the scene to render assistance.

A suspected drunk driver believed responsible for a fatal head on crash in March on South Congress Boulevard was named in a sealed indictment returned by the DeKalb County Grand Jury in November.

39 year old James Christopher Vaughn was indicted for driving under the influence, vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, simple possession of a schedule VI drug (Marijuana), and failure to maintain lane of travel.

The crash occurred on Sunday, March 31. 65 year old Bessie Blevins was seriously injured and died two months later.

According to Smithville Police, Vaughn was driving north on South Congress Boulevard in a Chevy Cobalt when he crossed into the southbound lane and struck a Mercedes SUV driven by Billy Blevins near the intersection of Congress and Bryant Street. Bessie Blevins was a passenger.

After impact, Vaughn’s car came to rest in the center of the road and burst into flames. The SUV stopped in the grass on the west side of Congress Boulevard.

Vaughn, though seriously injured in the crash, was not believed to have suffered any burns. He apparently got out of his car before it caught fire. Before going to the hospital, Vaughn submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Vaughn’s speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. He also had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. Vaughn agreed to a blood test. He was taken by DeKalb EMS to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital and then airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Bessie Blevins was taken by EMS to the hospital. Mr. Belvins went to the hospital by private vehicle.  She passed away Wednesday May 29 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro.

The crash was investigated by Smithville Police Sergeant Travis Bryant.

A 67 year old Smithville woman, Linda Lawrence, who was airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital after a one car rollover crash Friday night, November 15 on West Main Street later died.

Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Lawrence was driving east in a 1995 Geo Prizm when the car went off the right side of the road and struck a curb, utility pole, and guide wire before overturning and coming to rest on its top. Members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department were called for extrication to enable Lawrence to be removed from the car. She was wearing her seatbelt. Lawrence was taken by DeKalb EMS to Ascension St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital and then airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital where she passed away.

A man lost his life on Center Hill Lake Wednesday afternoon, July 17.

73 year old Joe Elkins of White County was believed to have drowned.

In a media release, Sheriff Patrick Ray explained what happened.

“On July 17th at 4:47 pm, DeKalb Central Dispatch received a call of a possible drowning at the Johnson’s Chapel Boat Ramp. When deputies arrived on the scene, they found the victim receiving CPR. The victim was identified as 73 year old Joe Elkins of White County Tennessee. It appeared Elkins and another person were swimming at the Johnson’s Chapel Boat Ramp area when Elkins was found to be struggling in the water. The person who was swimming with Elkins tried to retrieve Elkins from the water and also shouted to other people who were in the area for help. Elkins was pulled out of the water and CPR was administered to Elkins at that time,” said Sheriff Ray.

Elkins was transported to St Thomas DeKalb by DeKalb EMS where he was pronounced deceased. Elkins’ body was then transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Nashville for an autopsy.

December 23, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church is again sponsoring a drive thru mobile food pantry on Saturday, January 4 rain or shine.

In partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, the church plans to prepare enough food boxes to serve up to 300 families regardless of their income status, on a first come, first served basis.

(VIEW VIDEO FROM THE DRIVE THRU MOBILE FOOD PANTRY ON NOVEMBER 10, 2018)

IMG_2628 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Families will receive enough food to last them for a full week. Second Harvest will bring in pallets of food on trucks. The food will then be off loaded and organized in preparation for the distribution.

Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the food will be distributed stating at 9:00 a.m. Unlike most food distributions, those being served by the mobile pantry will not have to get out of their automobiles. They will drive thru in a pickup line and volunteers will deliver the food directly to their vehicles, placing the food boxes either in the back seat or trunk. Cars will line up facing north on College Street across from the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

“We will line up right across from the church (Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church) on College Street. We’ll start registration at 8:00 a.m. We’ll need the name of the recipients and how many families are being served. We’re limited to two families per vehicle to make sure we have enough food,” added Isaac Gray, Minister of the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Others who wish to volunteer may show up Friday, January 4 or call for more information at 615-516-6662 or 615-597-4197 between 8 a.m. and noon.

December 21, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Children at the Smithville Head Start Center were treated to bags of gifts Friday thanks to the Smithville Police Department’s “Cops4Kids” program.

In what has become an annual event, Police Chief Mark Collins, Mayor Josh Miller and other members of the police department joined Santa in presenting the children with the gifts. Other guests included the Doug Collins Family who sang for the children and Randy Pedigo, a local minister who shared the Christmas story.

“This is the fifth year I have been doing it. It’s a really good day for us. I don’t know who gets the most out of it us (Police Officers) or the kids but we come and spend a couple of hours with the children here at Smithville Head Start and we bring them gifts. Santa Claus makes a special appearance. We have singing. Its just a good thing for them. All the guys at the police department really enjoy it,” said Police Chief Collins.

The bags of gifts for the kids were provided as a courtesy of Cash Express of Smithville who recently held a collection drive. Others make personal donations toward the effort.

Doug Collins from dwayne page on Vimeo.

“Cash Express in Smithville and the girls there are phenomenal . They put out collection boxes in the community and the public donated toys. Cash Express in turn gave the toys to us. Each year if we don’t have enough gifts we go and buy what we need for these kids but most of the gifts come from Cash Express from the donations made to them by the citizens of DeKalb County and I want to say thank you to all. You really have to be here to experience how touching this is because this may be the only Christmas some of these children get because their parents can’t afford to buy Christmas gifts,” added Chief Collins.

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