City Names Airport Field in Memory of Local Aviator Wayne Hubbs

November 1, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville is paying tribute to a long time local aviator who passed away in July.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Smithville Aldermen voted unanimously to name the field at the Smithville Municipal Airport in memory of Wayne Hubbs. The name of the airport itself will not be changed.

Former airport manager Joe Johnson formally made the request on behalf of Roth Terrell, Chairman of the Smithville Airport Advisory Board who was unable to attend the meeting Monday night. Johnson said the airport board had gone on record to make this recommendation to the mayor and aldermen.

“We are not asking you to change the name of the airport. We are only asking that you name the field for Wayne Hubbs just like the field at the Nashville International Airport is named Berry Field,” said Johnson.

Hubbs, who had been a resident of Smithville for four decades, was not only a local pilot himself but a friend to other aviators and members of this community and a great supporter of the Smithville Municipal Airport. Flying was Wayne’s greatest passion. He could be seen regularly soaring through the skies of Smithville and beyond in “Big Red”, his beloved Magni Gyro.

“He was the nicest person you could ever meet. He served on the airport board and was active in his church and community. He did things for a lot of people,” said Johnson. “ I was airport manager for two years and he helped me in many ways. I remember he would mow around the taxiway and runway weekly. That’s three trips around at 2.1 miles each or six miles on a lawnmower not counting the rest of the yard. When something tore up at the airport he fixed it. He helped repair planes and he worked with me on getting new t-hangars built, pulling wire and putting up doors. He worked on those hangars everyday so that people could have a place to put their airplanes. He did so much for the airport that we would like to ask the city council to name the airport field the Wayne Hubbs Field,” said Johnson.

Hubbs’ daughter Sheryl May of Heimbuchenthal, Germany, who was present for the meeting Monday night, told the local media later that she is proud of this moment and her father would have been too. She added that since her father’s body had been cremated and his ashes scattered over the airport field this tribute would serve as a lasting memorial to him.

“This is my proudest moment. I know if he were here it would be his proudest moment too because that airport and the people there, like Joe Johnson and Roth Terrell, and all the others meant more to him than anything. He would do anything for anybody. You won’t hear a bad story about him,” said May.

“My dad’s body was cremated. We felt that this is what he would have wanted because before his death he had just planned his friend Jim Dorroh’s funeral. Dad planned all his financial things for my sister and me to know what to do but none of the private part such as how he would want his memorial service to be or any of those things so I had watched what he had done for his friend and thought that must be what he wanted for himself so he was cremated and his ashes were spread over the airport that he loved. He has no marker anywhere so the airport field being named after him is his marker and that is where my heart will be,” added May.

November 1, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Four prisoners at the DeKalb County Jail have been charged with assaulting fellow inmates.

44 year old Jermaine Derperise McCoy of Smith Road, Smithville; 30 year old Jeremiah Daniel Martin of Martin Lane, Smithville; 27 year old Ronald Deshon Reeder of Smith Road, Smithville, and 40 year old Michael Chad Owens of Shady Drive, Smithville are each charged with assault. Bond for each is $5,000 and they will make a court appearance on November 18.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on October 22 while bringing inmates to the jail, a correctional officer heard banging on the cell door of the jail annex as he was walking through the hallway. When he opened the window flap on the cell door, the officer saw an inmate pointing toward the opposite side of the annex. Officers entered and found an inmate who had been assaulted struggling to stand against the wall as other inmates were yelling at him. After reviewing jail video surveillance footage, the correctional officer saw that McCoy, Martin, and Reeder were all involved in the assault by striking and kicking the injured inmate several times.

The charge against Owens was for a separate inmate assault on the same day.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 22 while passing lunch to inmates at the annex door, a correctional officer noticed that several prisoners in the cell had formed a circle. The officer entered the annex and found an inmate bleeding from his mouth, nose, and elbow. Owens was yelling at the injured inmate. After reviewing jail video surveillance, the correctional officer saw that Owens had been the aggressor by striking the inmate several times.

November 1, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A man who stole more than $4,500 worth of athletic gear from the girls softball concession stand locker room at DeKalb County High School will answer to the charges against him November 18 in General Sessions Court.

37 year old Daniel Ray Wilson of Yulanda Hills, Road Smithville is charged with burglary and theft of property over $2,500 . His bond is $27,500.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on October 4 Wilson entered the DCHS girls softball concession stand locker room and stole bats, ball gloves, helmets, fielding masks, ball bags and other items valued at $4,561 which belonged to the softball team, student athletes, and parents.

There was no damage to the building.

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