Two Seriously Injured in Thursday Morning Crash

March 6, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

Two people were seriously injured in a crash this morning (Thursday) at the intersection of Highway 56 south and Turner Road.

According to Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol a 16-year-old Smithville girl was driving a red Chevy Monte Carlo when she pulled left from Turner Road onto Highway 56 and into the path of a southbound Chevy Tahoe, driven by 22-year-old Katey Urbina of Smithville.

Both were taken by DeKalb EMS to the hospital. The teen was later taken to Vanderbilt hospital.

Trooper Delong was assisted in the crash investigation by THP Lieutenant Dewain Jennings. Members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department also responded. The DeKalb County Fire Department’s extrication and rescue team had to free the teen who was trapped in her car.

March 5, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

One of the most successful high school coaches ever at DeKalb County High School is being recognized with an honor for all time.

A dedication ceremony will be held Friday, March 7 to name the DCHS baseball field for former coach Joey Reeder, who guided the Tiger baseball program for 16 seasons from 1982 to 1997. The dedication will take place around 5:15 p.m. prior to the Tiger baseball game with Macon County at 5:30 p.m.

The Board of Education voted to rename the field in honor of Coach Reeder during the August 2024 monthly meeting.

Last August, Coach Reeder sat down with WJLE for a video interview (shown below) to reflect on his 27 years as head of the Tiger program and the honor bestowed upon him by the Board of Education in naming the DCHS baseball field the “Joey Reeder Field”.

For the last several years, Reeder has served as the Attendance Supervisor for the DeKalb County School District

The following statistics further tell the story of Coach Reeder’s success:

13 District Tournament Championships
13 District Regular Season Championships
2 District Runner-up
1 District 3 rd place
2 Regional Championships
2 State Quarterfinals
16 Consecutive Seasons Without a Losing Record
17 Former Players signed or walked on to play College Baseball
2 Former Players selected in Major League Draft
2 Years Finished Ranked in the Johnson City News High School Baseball
Poll Top 25 (All Classes)

12 District Coach of the Year
4 District Coach of the Year Award (Tenn Athletic Coaches Association)
1 Regional Coach of the Year (Tenn Athletics Coaches Association)
1 Regional Coach of the Year (Tenn Baseball Coaches Association)
2 Years Coached for the East Squad in the Tennessee State High School All Star Game

March 5, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

Time for a new city fire truck?

Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker said the City of Smithville should be making a commitment now to purchase a new fire engine to replace the oldest truck in the fleet, a 2001 model (Engine 2).

He made his request during Monday night’s workshop of the mayor and aldermen.

Chief Parker is asking that the city purchase a Pierce Custom Enforcer PUC Pumper currently priced at $1,248,449 with a prepayment discount of $130, 143 making the city’s actual cost $1,118,305. Delivery of the new fire truck would be within 37-38 months of order date. The cost would be only for the truck itself, and not the hoses and other apparatus to equip it.

Along with the factors of safety, liability, and reliability, Chief Parker said part of the reason for keeping city fire department equipment and apparatus up to date is to maintain a good Insurance Service Organization (ISO) rating so that residents and businesses are able to take advantage of lower insurance premiums.

“My purpose here tonight is to convince you to buy a truck. Engine 2 which is a 2001 model came off of first line service in 2016 and in 2021 it was a 20-year-old truck that reverted to reserve status and as of next year it will be considered an antique,” said Chief Parker. “When I think about an antique fire apparatus I think about a shiny truck in a parade or its in a museum. I don’t think about an antique fire truck being a first line apparatus that is protecting our citizens of Smithville. Its also an antique truck that my firefighters have to ride in and that also concerns me,” Chief Parker continued.

“Since this truck was manufactured in 2001 the fire truck manufacturers association which sets the standard on fire apparatus has identified 65 changes on that engine including safety changes, emission changes, and other things from cab protection to seatbelts and airbags. That’s 65 changes in 25 years. If it were one or two it wouldn’t be a big deal but with that many changes it could be a big safety concern,” said Chief Parker. “In my opinion its time for it to be replaced. ISO states that you should have a first line apparatus within 15 years of service. Anything else can be a reserve up to 25 years but then it is considered an antique. We have our trucks on a cycle so that when one starts going out we start looking at the next one so that we don’t end up buying them all at once. We could keep this one (2001 model) as an older reserve truck but we have to decide is having this truck as a reserve more important than the $30,000 we would get out of it. We would still have to house it, maintain it, and test it but at what point does it get to be more expensive for us if we don’t need it for a reserve,” said Chief Parker.

In addition to the 2001 fire truck, the Smithville Fire Department has in its fleet a 2018 rescue pumper and a 2012 ladder truck.

Monday night’s workshop was only a preliminary discussion. The mayor and aldermen have not yet begun budget planning for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Should the city later vote to purchase a new fire truck, the mayor and aldermen would have to decide whether the city should write a check for the full amount to save interest payments or finance it over a three-, five-, or seven-year period with interest.

Mayor Josh Miller said either way the city would not have to raise property taxes to pay for it but he warned that the city must keep an eye on spending going forward with other needs the city has upcoming including the purchase of an expensive new garbage truck.

“We spent a lot of money last year. I am not for raising taxes right now. I can’t say I am against the fire truck by any means, but I will tell you this. It’s one item (fire truck). We also have to have a garbage truck. That’s about $250,000 and it can’t wait. Man, I’m telling you there is fixing to come a time when we are going to have to pump the brakes (spending). The brakes are going to have to be pumped. I’m not against. I’m just telling you the big picture,” said Mayor Miller.

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