NHC Smithville was recently recognized at NHC’s Management Conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina. They received the award for the Highest Customer Satisfaction in the company and were recognized as a Center of Excellence. NHC Smithville was also a finalist for the Quality of Life Award and Highest Percent Increase in Customer Satisfaction. The banquet was held on Thursday, April 5, 2018. NHC owns and/or operates 76 skilled healthcare centers in 8 states.

“We are truly humbled to receive these important awards,” said Clint Hall, Administrator at NHC Smithville. “These achievements are a reflection of our commitment to quality and excellence in patient care. Our expectation is excellence, nothing less. Our partners work closely to make sure that we communicate effectively with our patients and families. We believe that when a patient comes to our center, they become a part of our family, the NHC Smithville family. It is an honor for our family to serve the Dekalb County community.”

NHC Smithville had the Highest Customer Satisfaction for 2017 for the entire company. Customer Satisfaction is measured independently through a third party vendor (NRC Health, My InnerView). Satisfaction surveys are sent to patients and families on the quality of care they received while at the center.

The Center of Excellence is awarded to previous Center of the Year recipients who maintain the highest level of quality care and service. It is the equivalent to being a finalist for Center of the Year again. NHC Smithville won the Center of the Year in 2000 and is ineligible to win the award again until 2021. NHC Smithville also received a Center of Excellence Award in 2007.

NHC Smithville offers inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative care and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, workers compensation, managed care, and private funds. The inpatient healthcare center offers skilled nursing and rehabilitation services to adults of all ages on a short-term and continuing care basis. NHC Smithville’s outpatient clinic offers physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. For more information about NHC Smithville, visit www.nhcsmithville.com or call (615) 597-4284.

Sentences were handed down Monday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

Judge David Patterson presided.

20 year old Daniel Dillard entered a plea to attempted aggravated arson and received a 10 year sentence all suspended to probation. He must make restitution to the victim jointly and severally and forfeit his vehicle which was seized.

48 year old Billy Eugene Cook entered a plea to theft over $1,000 but under $2,500 and received a two year Tennessee Department of Correction sentence to run concurrently with another case against him. He was given jail credit of 155 days.

51 year old Mark Goodson entered a plea to possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell and received a 10 year sentence all suspended to probation except for 120 days. He was fined $2,000 and must report to jail on April 16. He was given 31 days jail credit.

48 year old Randy A. Caldwell entered a plea to possession of drug paraphernalia and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation. He was given jail credit from May 18, 2017 to April 9, 2018.

30 year old Jonathan Turner entered a plea by criminal information to unlawful possession of a weapon and received a 4 year Tennessee Department of Correction sentence on probation.

51 year old Melissa Poss Petty entered a plea to vehicular assault and received a 3 year sentence to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction but she has been furloughed into the Crossville Mission Bible Training Center. The sentence is to run consecutive to a violation of probation against her. She was given credit for jail time served.

40 year old James Matthew Maynard entered a plea by criminal information to a 3rd offense of driving under the influence and was ordered to serve 120 days and pay a fine of $1,100. He is to report to jail on May 4 and his license has been restricted.

42 year old Tyrone D. Owens entered a plea to possession and sale of a schedule II controlled substance. He received a sentence of 8 years for possession and 4 years for sale and the terms are to run consecutively for a total of 12 years but all suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 in each case and must make restitution of $450 to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

25 year old Jonathan Wayne Hall entered a plea to two counts of simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case suspended to probation pursuant to judicial diversion. He must pay a fine of $750 and make restitution of $600 to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

42 year old William Jeffery Hale entered a plea by criminal information to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to supervised probation by CPS.

22 year old Christopher Derrick entered a plea to driving under the influence and was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days to serve 48 hours in the DeKalb County Jail. He was fined $350 and will lose his license for one year. He must attend an alcohol safety class. The term is to run concurrently with a violation of probation sentence he is currently serving.

23 year old John Thomas Mason entered a plea to evading arrest and received a two year sentence to run concurrently with a 10 year sentence he is serving in another case.

47 year old Jamie Ashford entered a plea to possession with intent to sell over 0.5 grams of methamphetamine and received a 10 year sentence suspended to supervised probation except for 120 days to serve. She was fined $2,000. Ashford was given jail credit of 31 days. She will report to jail on April 16.

22 year old Zachary Jacob Poss entered a plea to two counts of simple possession of marijuana and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run consecutive for a total of almost two years. The term has been suspended to CPS probation pursuant to judicial diversion.

25 year old Christopher T. Pack entered a plea to two counts of simple possession of marijuana and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run consecutively for a total of almost two years suspended to probation. He was fined $750 and must make restitution of $1,200 to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

34 year old Johnny Devault entered a plea to sale and delivery of a schedule III controlled substance (buprenorphine) and received a 4 year TDOC sentence. Devault was given jail credit of 128 days. The term is to run consecutively with other cases against him for an effective sentence of 12 years but the sentence is stayed upon his entering a long-term faith based alcohol and drug rehabilitation recovery program. He was fined $2,000.

Meanwhile on Monday, April 2 the following persons entered pleas in criminal court.

Judge Gary McKenzie presided.

43 year old Jason Cripps entered a plea to theft up to $1,000 and driving under the influence. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run concurrently. He will be on supervised probation after serving 48 hours and must make restitution of $90 to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and pay a fine of $350. He will also lose his license for one year.

32 year old Caleb Rigsby entered a plea by criminal information to aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000. He received a 4 year TDOC sentence for the aggravated burglary and 2 years for the theft. The terms are to run concurrently for a total of 4 years. He must make restitution of $900 to the victim. He was given jail credit from December 7, 2017 to April 3, 2018.

44 year old Jennifer Elizabeth Benton entered a plea to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation.

36 year old William Travis Malone entered a plea to possession of a schedule II controlled substance over 0.5 grams and received an 8 year sentence. He was given jail credit from August 7, 2017 to April 2, 2018.

48 year old Thomas P. Courtney entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to probation except for 48 hours to serve. His license is suspended pursuant to Tennessee Department of Safety regulations. He is to report to jail on April 25.

55 year old Jay Kent Williams entered a plea by criminal information to reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, and violation of the implied consent law. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run concurrently but all suspended to probation. He will lose his driver’s license for one year.

A total of 245 people have cast ballots to date for the May 1 DeKalb County Democratic Primary.

According to Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections 63 people voted Friday including 59 in person and 4 by absentee.

Voters are making their choices as to who will represent the Democratic party as nominees in the August General Election for the offices of Road Supervisor, County Mayor, Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff, Register of Deeds, County Clerk, and for the county commission in each of the seven districts. There is no Democratic candidate for Trustee

The primary will feature two county wide contested races for County Mayor and Circuit Court Clerk. There are four contested county commission district primary races including in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th districts.

Early voting days and times are as follows:
Mondays—1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesdays—9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesdays—9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursdays—2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Fridays—9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturdays—9 a.m. to noon.

Early voting runs through April 26 on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse