A 50 year old McMinnville man was airlifted after a near head-on crash Thursday on Highway 56 south near Evins Mill Nursery.

Homer Sharp was flown by a helicopter ambulance to Vanderbilt Hospital.

According to Trooper William Jackson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Sharp was traveling south on Highway 56 in a red BMW when his car was struck by a 2004 Chevy Colorado pickup truck driven by 31 year old Victor Santos of Smithville.

Santos was traveling north on Highway 56 when a car stopped in front of him to make a turn. Santos slowed to avoid a collision with the car and then swerved to the left but crossed into the lane of Sharp.

Santos had minor injuries and was taken by family members to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital. The helicopter ambulance landed near the scene to fly out Sharp.

Santos was cited for failure to exercise due care.

Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department, and EMS were also on the scene.

A 32 year old man charged in a stabbing almost two years ago stood trial Tuesday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

Eric Dewayne Frazier, indicted for aggravated assault, was found guilty of the lesser offense of reckless endangerment.

The jury of 10 men and 2 women deliberated for over an hour before delivering the verdict Tuesday evening.

Frazier was charged with stabbing Jonathan Judkins during an altercation at Judkins’ home on McMinnville Highway October 24, 2016. Judkins suffered a stab wound to the left side of his body and was airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. He later recovered.

Frazier reportedly claimed he was acting in self defense.

A sentencing hearing is set for October 5. The range of punishment is from one to six years.

The American Public Gas Association (APGA) recognizes Jim Hodges, Executive Vice President & Chief Executive Officer of Middle Tennessee Natural Gas District, for his service on the association’s Board of Directors. Mr. Hodges’ term ended on July 25 at the 2018 APGA Annual Meeting in Portland, Ore. Mr. Hodges is also a past Chairman of the association. APGA is a national, not-for-profit association representing over 700 publicly-owned natural gas distribution systems in 37 states. APGA is the only trade association that solely represents the interests of public natural gas systems at the federal legislative and regulatory level. The following statement can be attributed to APGA President and CEO Bert Kalisch.

“Mr. Hodges brought to the APGA Board of Directors many years of experience working in the natural gas industry. His leadership ability and knowledge of energy issues, especially with natural gas utilities, served our members and industry well.

“APGA was fortunate to have had Mr. Hodges on the Board of Directors during an important time in Washington. With the many natural gas issues our industry faced in Congress, the administration and federal agencies, public natural gas systems were presented with numerous challenges and opportunities. Mr. Hodges understood the issues we faced, and APGA thanks him for his leadership and guidance to meet these challenges and to address the needs of natural gas consumers. We also express our appreciation to Middle Tennessee Natural Gas District for allowing Mr. Hodges to serve on our board.”

APGA is the national association of municipally and publicly-owned local distribution systems. There are about 1,000 public gas systems serving more than 5 million customers. These public gas utilities are not-for-profit retail distribution entities that are owned by, and accountable to, the citizens they serve. They include municipal gas distribution systems, public utility districts, county districts, and other public agencies that have natural gas distribution facilities.