Four-Year-Old Gassaway Child Recovering from Vicious Dog Attack Last Week

August 15, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A 4-year-old Cannon County child, seriously wounded in a dog attack almost a week ago is improving.

Meredith Smith, daughter of Trey and Mary Wells Smith of the Gassaway Community, was airlifted to Erlanger Children’s Trauma Center in Chattanooga last Wednesday, August 9 after being mauled by a dog which did not belong to the family.

According to the family’s GoFundMe page, Meredith “suffered extensive bite injuries to her legs, arms, back, neck, and head on both her face and her scalp. Over the next several weeks, she will need various emergency treatment followed by other long-term care. She began a first surgery on August 9 at around 7:00PM EST after being Life Flighted.”.

In a social media post Monday evening, Meredith’s mother updated her condition.

“As unspeakably grateful as we are that Meredith’s face is healing and she’s getting back to her old self, most of you have probably figured out by now they’re not keeping her here because of her face. The majority of the muscle tearing is from the waist down. We hit another major milestone today: Taking steps with a walker. Unfortunately, her wounds are so extensive she can’t yet even wear a hospital gown, so her physical therapy and — all of the things — are all still au naturale at this point. It’s hard watching your child have to re-learn how to walk (I almost lost it mid-session, to be honest), but progress is progress. Tomorrow the goal is to walk more with the walker and then figure out how we’re going to shower/bathe her in a position she can maintain and withstand. Thank you again to all for prayers, those of you coordinating meals, helping me brainstorm adaptive clothing ideas, coming to visit—it’s overwhelming”.

This fundraiser is starting at $10k but may be increased should additional needs arise. Please consider donating to this family as they face this crisis. Updates will be posted to https://www.gofundme.com/f/meredith-smiths-medical-expenses-dog-attack

August 14, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

After 14 years, the DeKalb County Election Commission has selected a new Administrator of Elections.

During a meeting Monday evening, a majority vote of the five-member commission chose Dustin Estes of Smithville to succeed Administrator Dennis Stanley, who recently announced his resignation effective at the end of the month. Stanley has served in the job since 2009.

Estes will officially take over on Tuesday, September 5.

“I am very excited. It’s an opportunity that I have been looking forward to for quite a while. I just appreciate everyone’s vote and I am looking forward to getting started. It’s a really big deal for me and my family,” said Estes after the meeting.

Estes said his first goal is to get familiar with the duties of the office.

“First, I’d like to learn the job as well as the ins and outs. That’s day one. I do have some long-term visions that I am thinking about, and I want to work with other local election administrators to get their input on what’s working for them so we can better implement those in DeKalb County,” he continued.

A lifelong resident of DeKalb County, the 33-year-old Estes is married to the former Courtney Rice and the couple has a daughter, Wyatt Estes, who is almost 15 months old, and another baby is due in February.

Estes is a graduate of DeKalb County High School, and he furthered his education at MTSU where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. He currently works at Shiroki North America where he serves as Human Resources (HR Generalist).

“They (Shiroki) have been excellent for me. I have been there for almost seven years and in Human Resources for the last couple of years,” said Estes.

Two other candidates were in the running for the election administrator position including Tina Gee, who has worked as Stanley’s deputy administrator in the office for several years, and Roger Sharp, Jr., a computer tech for the election commission and a former computer tech for the DeKalb County School District.

After Stanley announced his resignation, the election commission advertised seeking resumes from persons interested in the position and Estes, Gee, and Sharp were the only respondents.

During the meeting Monday night, all three names were placed in nomination and seconded for administrator and a roll call vote of the five commissioners determined the outcome.

Commissioners Loree Hall, Ron Sifford, and Chairman Brandon Gay voted for Estes while Commissioners Kim Luton and Yvette Carver passed. Carver initially voted for Gee but then changed her vote to pass after the result was determined.

August 14, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man found in possession of a stolen truck has been charged with theft of property and vandalism.

32-year-old Justin Clay Penuel of O’Conner Street is under a $10,000 bond and he will be in court August 31,

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on June 19 Smithville Police responded to 850 O’Conner Street due to a report of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival the officers spotted a 1993 Chevy reported stolen in DeKalb County. Penuel was found in possession of the title and vehicle. Sheriff Ray said the truck had been altered with spray paint to make it unrecognizable from the description given of the stolen vehicle.

Meanwhile a McMinnville man found with methamphetamine at a former county landfill location on Moore Taylor Road off Sparta Highway has been arrested for possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver.

38-year-old Brandon Keith Thomas is under a $20,000 bond and he will make a court appearance August 24.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 11 Thomas was found in possession of 4.05 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine contained in two separate baggies. Thomas entered an unapproved area owned by the DeKalb County government at the end of Moore Taylor Road. He quickly exited the vehicle and ran behind a building there. One of the detectives on the scene found baggies of methamphetamine a few feet away from Thomas’ vehicle and along the same path on which Thomas ran behind the building.

23-year-old Shaun David Lee West is under a $1,500 bond for public intoxication, and he will be in court August 31. Sheriff Ray said that on August 14 while investigating a harassment complaint, a deputy spoke with West at Village Market on Congress Boulevard and found him to be agitated and acting in a threatening manner. He allegedly admitted to having made threats about killing someone and would continue making those threats. West also allegedly admitted to having consumed alcohol and that he was drunk. West had an odor of an intoxicant on him. He was placed under arrest.

32-year-old Eddie Lee Smith of Old Mill Hill Road, Dowelltown is charged with aggravated assault. He is under a $3,500 bond and his court date is August 31.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 6 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Toad Road due to a physical domestic complaint. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who had phoned in the complaint. She stated that her boyfriend, Smith tried to strangle her and during the assault it became difficult for her to breathe. He then allegedly pushed her into the kitchen sink.

50-year-old Dwayne Edward Reeder, Jr. of Old Highway 53, Alexandria is charged with driving under the influence. His court date is August 24.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 7 a deputy responded to the area of Nashville Highway and Dry Creek Road to do a welfare check on a male spotted slumped over in a vehicle by the side of the road. Upon arrival the officer found the man, Reeder slumped over in the driver’s seat. After waking the man, Reeder, the deputy asked him to shut the engine off and step out of the vehicle. Reeder complied but he was unsteady on his feet and his pupils were constricted. He admitted to having taken suboxone earlier in the day and to having smoked methamphetamine the day before on August 6. Reeder refused to submit to field sobriety tasks.

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