Driver says he “Blacked Out” before Crash Friday Morning

April 14, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The driver involved in a crash Friday morning on Holmes Creek Road claims he “blacked out” before running into two vehicles parked at a residence.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 28 year old Shawn Edwards of Smithville was traveling north in a  2011 Maroon Nissan Altima when he lost control and ran off the left side of the roadway into the yard of 7978 Holmes Creek Road hitting both a 2008 blue Toyota and a 1972 yellow Ford F100 pickup truck belonging to Troy and Jeanna Bain which were parked in the driveway of the residence. The impact of the crash forced the Toyota into a support beam of the home’s carport. Edwards’ car then struck a tree. Edwards said he blacked out while driving causing him to lose control and run off the roadway. No one was injured.

The accident was investigated by Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Meanwhile two people were involved in a wreck Sunday night on Barnes Mill Road.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 43 year old Troy R. Walls of Smithville was north on Barnes Mill Road in a 2001 Dodge R1500 pickup truck. 42 year old Shannon N. Walls was a passenger. The weather was stormy at the time and Walls struck a tree that had fallen across the roadway. Shannon Walls was taken by EMS to Ascension St. Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville for treatment of suspected minor injuries.

The accident was investigated by Trooper Benny Cannon of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

A Woodbury woman and child received minor injuries in a rollover crash last Monday, April 6 on Highway 146 (Short Mountain Highway).

According to Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 26 year old Mary Seward was traveling north in a 2001 Chevy when the car went off the right side of the road into a ditch while negotiating a curve. The car then struck a driveway culvert and overturned coming to a final rest on its top in the roadway.

Seward and her passenger, a 6 year old girl, were taken by DeKalb EMS to Ascension St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital for treatment of suspected minor injuries.

April 14, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A new form of food pantry has started in Smithville to serve the needy especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s called a “Blessing Box” , a miniature outdoor cabinet stocked mostly with non-perishable foods and other essential items, and it has been placed outside the DeKalb County Complex. The Blessing Box is designed for those in the community trying to make ends meet during hard times and anyone needing help or wanting to donate food is encouraged to “Take what you need. Bring what you can. Above all, be blessed. ”

The idea is simple. People place their donations inside the box so people in need can take what they need, anytime of the day or night.

Kristi Longmire got the idea for the project here after seeing it done elsewhere and she enlisted the help of Wesley and Valerie Slager to build the first Blessing Box for DeKalb County.

“I had noticed on facebook and other websites how that Blessing Boxes were popping up all over Tennessee and I thought how great it would be if we had one in Smithville. I am not a builder so I knew I couldn’t build it myself so Valerie Slager contacted me and said she and her husband Wesley would be glad to build a box and donate it. They got it done within a couple of weeks and set it up on Saturday. It is accessible anytime someone needs a little food to help them get by and they can also do it discreetly,” said Longmire.

“Although we have other food pantry programs in DeKalb which are wonderful, sometimes people needing help are reluctant to reach out to them. With the Blessing Box, they can get a few items discreetly, even in the middle of the night if they want to as a way of getting by until they get their next paycheck,” Longmire continued.

The Blessing Box is already having its intended effect.

“Word has already gotten out. Valerie set it up on Saturday. I went by Sunday and it was still full but Valerie checked Monday and it was empty. She filled it back up. Its all on the honor system. People can take what they need from the Blessing Box and people who want to donate to help others are encouraged to stop by and add things to it. We’re going to keep it full and hopefully it will be a blessing to anybody who needs it in DeKalb County,” added Longmire.

Plans are to also place a Blessing Box soon in Alexandria.

“I want to thank County Mayor Tim Stribling. He liked the idea of the Blessing Box and he was nice enough to let us put it at the complex,” said Longmire.

April 13, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Shawn Washer has formally announced his candidacy for the Board of Education in the 6th district on Thursday, August 6.

Washer is hoping to succeed two term incumbent Doug Stephens, who is not seeking re-election.

“I am a lifelong resident of DeKalb County and a 1991 graduate of DCHS. I am the son of Billy and Sharon Washer. My wife Cindy and I have been married 23 years and we have 5 children, three of whom are graduates of DCHS including Mica (Class of 2009), Jacob (Class of 2015), and Justin (Class of 2020), as well as Dylan and Andrew who are still in grade school. We attend Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church. I am employed at Nissan North America (Smyrna) as an Industrial Maintenance Electrician in the Body Assembly department and have been there for 23 years this September,” said Washer.

“I have always been a big proponent of educational opportunities for the students in our school system. I believe that students, teachers, and all other staff deserve to have the tools and resources needed to succeed. Working at Nissan has given me the opportunity to work with people from all over Middle Tennessee, as well as people who have moved here from all over the country. This has allowed me to hear and talk to people from all over the state about their experiences and views on public education. I will use this knowledge to try and help improve our school system for the betterment of our students, teachers, and all staff. I am running for the School Board because I believe it is our responsibility to ensure a safe, productive, and equal-opportunity education for all of our students AND a quality workplace for teachers and staff,” Washer continued.

“I look forward to meeting, talking, and most importantly, listening to as many people, whether affiliated with the school system or not, to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns about our school system. Your support and vote will be greatly appreciated as we all work to make the DeKalb County School System the best it can be,” Washer concluded.

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