Fire and water related deaths, traffic fatalities, and COVID among top stories of 2021 in DeKalb County

December 27, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Fire and water related deaths, traffic fatalities, the rising number of COVID deaths, swift water rescues, a major apartment fire in Smithville that left several families homeless, a legal tug of war between the City of Smithville and the DeKalb Animal Coalition, a visit by Governor Bill Lee to the Fiddlers Jamboree, an investigation into the source of a fish kill in Hickman Creek at Alexandria, and a jury trial conviction of a man who shot and killed his stepson on Halloween in 2019 were among the top news stories of the year for 2021 in DeKalb County.

In part 1 of a series this week, WJLE begins a review of the top local news stories of 2021.

2021 was full of ups and downs in the fight against the coronavirus locally and across the nation-a year in which vaccines first became available to the general public, but also a year in which variants caused spikes in infections, hospitalizations and deaths. While vaccines were first approved and administered last December, they were mostly reserved for use by health care workers and first responders. For months, the vaccines were only available to those people and others who were elderly. As time progressed, the age limit declined, and vaccines were made available to larger groups of people. Although more businesses, schools, sporting events, the courts, etc. began to reopen the public was repeatedly warned and, in some cases, mandated to keep wearing masks and to take all the available vaccines and boosters against the alpha, delta, and now the omicron variants. Like counties across the state and nation, COVID has taken its toll in DeKalb County. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, DeKalb County’s COVID death count grew from 33 on January 1, 2021, to 81 by December 23, 2021 (dating back to March 2020) while the number of hospitalizations went from 39 to 115 during the same period. The CDC data tracker also shows that only 39.2% of the DeKalb County population has been fully vaccinated through December 23, 2021.

*18-year-old DeKalb County High School senior Cassie Maxwell lost her life in a two-car crash Monday, April 5 on Highway 70 between Dowelltown and Liberty. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Maxwell was traveling east on US 70 in a 2018 Hyundai Elantra and as she negotiated a right curve Maxwell crossed into the continuous turn lane, entered into the oncoming traffic lane and struck head-on a 2021 Nissan Rogue driven by 24-year-old Carly Newby of Rock Island. Newby was injured and transported to the hospital. The crash occurred at around 7:13 a.m. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts. Maxwell was remembered during the May 14 commencement at DeKalb County High School. As she began her address, Valedictorian and Class President Carly Vance called for a moment of silence in honor of Maxwell and during the program there was one vacant chair with only a framed photo of Cassie in the place where she would have sat among her classmates on the football field. And during the awarding of diplomas, black and gold balloons were released when Cassie’s name was called. Principal Randy Jennings also paid tribute to Maxwell during his remarks to the class.

*One week after Cassie Maxwell’s death, another head-on crash claimed a life. 42-year-old Thomas Higginbotham of Silver Point died after being flown by helicopter ambulance to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville Monday afternoon, April 12. Trooper Brandon Johnson of the THP said Higginbotham was north on Highway 56 near Silver Point in a 1990 Ford Ranger as 39-year-old Eric D. Fish, driving a 2015 Chevy Traverse, was heading south. According to Trooper Johnson, Fish crossed into the path of Higginbotham and the crash occurred as both drivers swerved trying to avoid a collision. Fish and his wife and son, 40-year-old Janet Fish and 20-year-old Derek Fish were all injured. Trooper Johnson said Mrs. Fish was airlifted by helicopter ambulance to Skyline Medical Center while Mr. Fish and his son were transported by DeKalb EMS to Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s extrication and rescue team responded with backup support from the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department. A Putnam County firefighter/paramedic, who was passing by stopped to help render assistance.

*Three people, including a Smithville man, died after being involved in a Rutherford County crash Thursday, April 29. 22-year-old Zachary Tyler Parsley passed away Friday, April 30 at Vanderbilt Hospital. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Parsley was a passenger of a 2012 Ford Escape driven by 19-year-old Sebastien Tarin of Manchester who was traveling east on Interstate 24. The THP reports that Tarin’s vehicle drove off the interstate and into the median before traveling through the grassy divide and into the Westbound Lane of traffic around 11 a.m. near the 95-mile marker west of the Shelbyville/Beech Grove exit. Once in the oncoming lane, the small SUV driven by Tarin collided head-on with a 2015 Nissan Frontier pickup truck driven by 65-year-old Stanley Peterson of Beechgrove. All three persons were wearing their seatbelts but were trapped and extricated by Rutherford fire. Both Tarin and Peterson were killed in the crash.

*19-year-old Savannah Buckley of Cookeville lost her life in a fiery wreck Monday, May 3 on Highway 70 at Liberty. Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Buckley was traveling east in a 2000 Ford Ranger when she lost control in a curve and crossed into the path of a westbound 2005 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 31-year-old Ryan Robinson of Sparta. Buckley’s truck caught fire after impact. She died at the scene. Robinson suffered minor injuries and was taken by DeKalb EMS to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital where he was treated and released. Trooper Delong said the highway was wet from the rain and may have contributed to the crash. He was assisted at the scene by THP Captain Wesley Stafford, Lieutenant Dewaine Jennings, and Trooper Brent Collier. Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department rendered assistance and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and TDOT employees helped with traffic control. The Liberty station extinguished the fire and the Main Station performed extrication on Buckley’s truck in order for her body to be removed. After learning of the crash involving Buckley, State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver contacted the Tennessee Department of Transportation urging the Commissioner to fix the drainage problem immediately in the “kill zone” on Highway 70 at Liberty where this and other fatal crashes have occurred in recent years due to hydroplaning. TDOT sent a maintenance crew to the area within a few days to improve the cross-slope of Highway 70.

*A 20-year-old U.S. Marine from Smithville was struck and killed Monday, December 6 while he assisted a driver in a disabled vehicle on Interstate 5 near where he was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California. Lance Cpl. Alberto Lucio was a 2019 graduate of DeKalb County High School. According to the Los Angeles Times, Lucio, who served in the Marines as a military policeman, stopped after a Ford Edge crashed in the southbound lanes near Las Pulgas Road about 3:20 a.m. Monday, December 6. The vehicle was in the traffic lanes without its lights on, according to the California Highway Patrol and San Diego County medical examiner’s office. As Lucio assisted the driver and a passenger, a box truck crashed into him and the disabled SUV, the CHP said. Lucio died at the scene.

*43-year-old Edward Layne Lemmons died in a fire at his home at 5056 Jacobs Pillar Road on December 7. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The investigation is ongoing by TBI fire investigators and the Sheriff’s Department. Lemmons was reportedly upstairs when the fire started, and he couldn’t escape. Central dispatch received the fire call at around 8 p.m. County firefighters, DeKalb EMS, and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department rushed to the scene. The home was extensively damaged. Sheriff Ray said TBI fire investigators were contacted as is customary especially when there is a fire fatality. In addition to DeKalb EMS, TBI, and Sheriff’s Department, members of the Blue Springs, Short Mountain Highway, Belk, Cookeville Highway, Main Station, and Liberty Stations of the DeKalb County Fire Department responded along with the county medical examiner. County Fire Chief Donny Green said a special thanks goes to neighbors in the community who assisted by bringing in heavy equipment used in the recovery effort. Lemmons’ body was sent to Nashville for an autopsy.

*60-year-old Shelia Dowell, who suffered severe burns in an early morning fire Sunday, March 21 at her 319 Jackson Street residence died on Tuesday, March 23 at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. The fire started in Dowell’s side of the duplex of the Smithville Housing Authority and spread to an adjoining dwelling at 321 Jackson Street at 4:41 a.m. Dowell was helped from the residence during the fire by neighbors and bystanders and transported to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital by DeKalb EMS. She was later airlifted by helicopter to Vanderbilt Hospital. Two dogs inside the Dowell residence perished in the blaze. Both dwellings were destroyed in the fire. A man, woman, and child at the 321-address escaped unharmed and firefighters were able to rescue their cat. The cause of the fire was undetermined at the time.

*38-year-old Jason Tallent died in a mobile home fire Wednesday morning, July 14 at 1383 Dale Ridge Road. He was employed by the City of Smithville and owner of In the Flesh photography. The cause of death has been not released but authorities did not suspect foul play. The DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department was summoned by 911 at 6:08 a.m. reporting a fully involved structure fire there. Members of the Liberty, Cookeville Highway, and Main Stations responded along with the Sheriff’s Office and DeKalb EMS. Upon arrival firefighters found the mobile home fully in flames and learned that someone might still be inside. After extinguishing the blaze, firefighters discovered the remains of a body. TBI was contacted to assist the Sheriff’s Department in the investigation. The cause of the fire was not determined at the time.

*Several families were left homeless after a fire swept through and destroyed much of Towne’s Edge Village Apartments on Kendra Drive in Smithville Sunday, July 4. All the residents there at the time were safely evacuated. One source said the fire might have started from a grill, but authorities have had not determined the cause at the time. The 20-unit apartment complex consists of buildings housing 10 units on either side of the parking lot. The fire started in one of the units and spread to others adjoining it destroying eight dwellings and heavily damaging two others. Families lost most or all belongings in the fire. Although they were still livable, several units on the other side of the parking lot received damage from the intense heat which melted siding on the exterior of the building.

*36-year-old Stephen Kyle Anderson of Spring Hill, who had just celebrated a birthday, lost his life in a lake accident on Center Hill Lake Saturday, May 22. DeKalb Central Dispatch (911) received the call at 2:36 p.m. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Anderson, his wife, and two other couples were on the lake celebrating Anderson’s birthday which was on Friday, May 21. Tragedy struck after Anderson decided to climb a rock bluff to jump off into the lake. While attempting to climb the bluff, the rocks Anderson were holding onto gave way and Anderson fell and rolled down the bluff hitting several rocks along the way before plunging into the water. TWRA was summoned and brought in an Aquatic Robot device from Chattanooga. With the robot, officers were able to locate Anderson’s body at a depth of approximately 165 feet. After the body was recovered the medical examiner ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department Officers were assisted by other agencies including the TWRA, members from the Smithville/DeKalb County Rescue Squad, and Rangers from the US Corps of Engineers.

*31-year-old Porsche Lynn Cantrell of Cedar Street Liberty lost her life in Smith Fork Creek at Liberty on Wednesday afternoon, July 21. The body was recovered from the creek underneath the bridge on Highway 70 and sent to the State Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy. In a statement, Sheriff Patrick Ray said at the time that” On July 21 at 5:34 p.m. central dispatch received a call about a female who drowned. The female and two other people were swimming in the creek under the bridge. The location of the incident was the bridge at the intersection of Highway 70 and Liberty to Dismal Road. The Smithville/DeKalb Rescue Squad was summoned to the scene to assist law-enforcement by getting the body to the top of the hill. The body was sent to the State Medical Examiner ‘s office for an autopsy. DeKalb EMS and members of the DeKalb County Medical Examiners were also on the scene,” said Sheriff Ray.

*An intense situation unfolded on Sligo Bridge early Thursday morning, September 9 as a suicidal man threatened to jump. Highway 70 at the bridge was closed for two and a half hours as officers tried to talk the man out of it. He was later safely taken into custody and transported to the hospital for a mental evaluation. The name of the man was not disclosed. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department issued the following media release: “Today September the 9th, 2021 the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a possible suicidal male wanting to jump off the bridge at 4:32 A.M. After officers arrived on scene at 4:39 A.M. they came into contact with a middle-aged male standing on the bridge. As officers attempted to talk to the individual, he became very irritated and emotional and stepped up onto the ledge of the bridge. Officers notified TWRA, and the DeKalb Rescue Squad to be on standby under the bridge and in the area as a precaution. This caused Sparta Highway to be shut down for approximately two and a half hours. Several THP officers were also on scene and helped officers of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department take the male individual safely into custody. The male individual was transported to the DeKalb ER for a mental evaluation. We would like to thank TDOT, TWRA, The DeKalb Rescue Squad, Central Dispatch, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol for their assistance in this incident”.

*For the second time within five days in February swift creek waters swept a vehicle off Odom Page Road (Preston-Vickers Road) at Liberty. It happened in the exact same place Sunday afternoon, February 28 where an Amazon commercial van was washed off the road the previous Tuesday, February 23 This time five people, including a 16-month-old child, were trapped in their truck until help arrived. According to Trooper Brent Collier of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 29-year-old James Sellars of Hendersonville, who later told authorities he and his passengers were out on a Sunday sightseeing trip, was traveling south on the Odom Page Road (Preston-Vickers Road) in a 2014 Dodge 1500 Ram pickup truck when he tried unsuccessfully to cross where the road was submerged in swift water. The truck was swept into the creek with Sellars and his passengers inside including 29-year-old Stormy Creasy of Hendersonville, 61-year-old Charles Patrick of Smithville, and 63-year-old Margaret Humphrey of Smithville, along with the 16-month-old boy. “All five occupants, including the child were safely rescued with the help of swift water rescue teams from Lebanon Fire and Rescue/Wilson County Emergency Management, the Putnam County Rescue Squad, Smith County Rescue Squad, DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (bucket truck), and Caney Fork Electric Cooperative (bucket truck). Multiple agencies and partners with specialized training and equipment made this a successful rescue,” said DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green. No one was injured but Sellars was charged with driving on a suspended license. On Tuesday, February 23 the driver of a 2019 Ford Amazon commercial transport van escaped injury as his vehicle was nearly carried away by swift creek waters on Odom Page Road (Preston-Vickers Road) at Liberty. According to Trooper Jonathan Burke of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 25-year-old Clarence J. Stewart of Lebanon was traveling south on Odom Page Road (Preston-Vickers Road) attempting to cross the road that was submerged in swift moving water when he was swept off the road to the left and came to a final rest in the stream just off the roadway. In addition to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Engine 65 of the DeKalb County Fire Department Liberty Station, County Rescue, EMS, and Sheriff’s Department helped provide for a quick and safe rescue without injury. In March, the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad got some financial help it needed from the county to organize a Swift Water Rescue Task Force. During its regular monthly meeting, the county commission voted unanimously to appropriate $18,000 from the general fund balance as an extra contribution to the Rescue Squad to train and equip up to fifteen volunteers for the task force. That comes to a little less than $1,200 per person. The task force, to be led by the Rescue Squad, will also include volunteers from the DeKalb County, Smithville and Alexandria Volunteer Fire Departments and possibly local law enforcement officers and others who would be specially trained and equipped for swift water rescues.

*The Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad had a busy weekend March 27-28, participating in three water rescues and a rope rescue. Captain Dusty Johnson said the first call came on Saturday, March 27 at 5:09 p.m. after a woman fell down the side of a steep hill near the lake on Aaron Webb Road off Potts Camp Road in the Jefferson Community. According to Johnson the woman was with others clearing a wooded area behind a residence when she lost her footing and slid down the hill. A tree stopped her slide, but she could not get back up the hill without help. “We launched our boat on the lake at the end of Potts Camp Road, docked below the hill, and used ropes to climb the hill to gain access to her. EMS paramedics arrived at the top of the hill and walked around the bluff to meet us. We placed the woman in a stokes basket and lowered her down below the hill to our boat. We placed her in our boat, went back to the ramp, and then transported her by vehicle to the ambulance. EMS then took her to Ascension Saint Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville,” said Captain Johnson. Later that night the rescue squad was summoned to 602 Possum Hollow Road near Dry Creek where three adults and three children were trapped at their home due to rising water. Captain Johnson said the call came in at 10:45 p.m. “One place in the road was washed completely out down to the tile. It was so flooded that it kept us from being able to drive to the residence. We had to walk probably two miles to get there and cross several areas where swift water was crossing the road. We finally got there and helped the people get to a neighbor’s house across the road but higher on the hill where they would be safer,” said Captain Johnson. The Rescue Squad was again summoned at 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning, March 28 to 787 East Main Street, Dowelltown where a man and his dog were trapped in their home by rising flood waters. “We got a call from a man who said water was rising near his home and he and his dog needed help getting out. We got nearly to his house when another wave of storms moved in. Because the water was getting so deep, we called Wilson County to come and help us so they sent four people including two from Watertown. After we got the man and his dog out of the house someone from Murfreesboro came to pick them up,” said Captain Johnson. Another call came in Sunday afternoon, March 28 at 1:38 p.m.at the Alexandria to Dismal Road bridge where a motorist stalled after trying to drive through a flooded area but before the Rescue Squad arrived bystanders came upon the scene and got the woman out of her car to safety.

*A February ice storm downed trees and utility lines creating widespread power outages in DeKalb and surrounding counties. “We have about 75% of our customers in DeKalb County without power right now,” Caney Fork general manager Bill Rogers said Monday afternoon, February 16. CFEC crews worked for several days to get power fully restored in the region.

December 27, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A DeKalb County Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blood Assurance Drive to benefit God’s Food Pantry will be Thursday, December 30 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the DeKalb Community Complex.

The blood drive will be set up outside in the parking lot on the mobile. A $10 donation will be made to God’s Food Pantry for every donor who donates, and Jimmy Poss will match the $10 donation per donor for the pantry.

All donors will receive an “Adventure Awaits” long sleeve t-shirt and their names entered into a drawing for a chance to win a “2021 Side-by-Side”. To schedule an appointment, go to Bloodassurance.org/GODSFOODPANTRY or contact Jimmy Poss at 615-464-7426 or jimposs72@yahoo.com.

Please remember to EAT A GOOD MEAL, drink additional water, avoid energy drinks, and bring a photo ID. Blood Assurance is the SOLE blood provider for our local hospitals. Save time on your donation by answering your health questions the day of the drive prior to arriving. Download “bloodassurance.org/quickscreen” onto your phone. This will save you 10 minutes on the mobile.

December 26, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Motorists on Whorton Springs Road will have to travel a bit slower.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting (December 20), the DeKalb County Commission by a unanimous voice vote, granted a request by individuals who live on Whorton Springs Road to set the speed limit there at 45 miles per hour.

Over the past couple of years, the county commission has set speed limits on several county roads at the public’s request in the interest of safety.

The following are a few examples:

*November 2019, the county commission voted to establish a 35 mile per hour speed zone on Tramel Branch Road near Alexandria

*June 2020, a 35 mile per hour speed limit was set for Johnsons Chapel Road.

*July 2020, the county commission voted to establish a 35 mile per hour speed limit on the Ragland Bottom Road to the US Army Corps of Engineers line; a 30 mile per hour limit on the Four Seasons Road from the Young Bend Cemetery to the Corps of Engineers line; and a 30 mile per hour speed limit on Dearman Street from the Smithville City Limits to Bright Hill Road. The portion of Dearman Street in the city was already posted at 30 miles per hour.

*August 2020, a continuous 20 mile per hour speed limit was established for Puckett’s Point Road. Up until then the first 2/10s of the two-mile road had been posted 30 miles per hour with the remaining 1.8-mile stretch being 20 mph.

*July 2021, a 30 mile per hour speed limit was set for Big Hurricane Road

Under state law, the speed limit on any county road is 55 miles per hour unless the county commission acts to change it. Some members of the county commission say they believe there should be more consistency in the speed limits established for county roads.

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