Woman Injured in Crash on Dale Ridge Road

April 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A 64-year-old woman was injured in a crash Thursday night on Highway 96 (Dale Ridge Road).

Trooper Brent Collier of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said that Karen White was driving a 2015 GMC Terrain south on Highway 96 when the vehicle went off the right side of the road, hit a guard rail, and struck a tree. According to Trooper Collier, White was not wearing her seat belt and sustained a head injury. She was transported by ground ambulance to a Murfreesboro hospital.

The DeKalb County Fire Department responded to the crash and issued this prepared statement. “The DeKalb County Fire Department responded to a single vehicle crash Thursday evening in the area of 908 Dale Ridge Road. The vehicle was traveling south and left the roadway in a sharp curve, struck the end of a guardrail, went over a steep embankment, and collided with a tree”.

“The driver was the sole occupant and was trapped inside the vehicle. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel were able to successfully free the patient. The patient was subsequently transported to a Murfreesboro hospital for trauma treatment because air medical transport could not be arranged due to cloud cover”.

“The DeKalb County Fire Department’s Vehicle Extrication Unit, Liberty Station, DeKalb EMS, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and Tennessee Highway Patrol provided assistance at the scene”.

April 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce is expected to receive the same $35,000 non-profit contribution from the DeKalb County Government in fiscal year 2024-25 as the current year.

During last Tuesday’s budget committee meeting, Chamber Director Suzanne Williams said she is not requesting an increase in funding from the county but is thankful for the $10,000 increase granted for the 2023-24 fiscal year and would like to be able to count on the same amount ($35,000) this coming budget year. The budget committee has not yet acted on Williams’ request.

Williams also gave the following report from the Chamber on priority goals that had been presented at last year’s budget meeting.

•The new tourism website has been created that includes the new tourism video. – www.visitdekalbtn.com

•A new tourism committee, separate from the Chamber Board, has been created and meets monthly.

• The Chamber purchased another full-page ad in the Upper Cumberland Stay and Play Magazine located on page 28.

• $15,000 for Downtown Alexandria Revitalization – The contract has been signed, and work is beginning now.

• Tourism Marketing Grant for 8 Jamboree Billboards

• Instead of $150,000, Suzanne was approved for a $300,000 grant for downtown Smithville Revitalization. The Chamber will be receiving the signed contract soon.

• The Chamber received a $50,000 Three Star Grant for the DeKalb County High School to purchase equipment for a Digital Media and Marketing Program. Brad Leach is in the process of getting that equipment now.

• Only 4 communities in the State of TN were chosen to be included in the new “Destination Branding” initiative. The Chamber wrote and submitted an application and is one of the four that was chosen. The marketing firm, ChandlerThinks, will be meeting with the Tourism Committee and a few other community leaders on April 18th to discuss branding ideas.

“For this grant period, the Chamber has been awarded $390,550 in grants with $77,500 in matches with none of the matches coming from the county or cities,” said Williams.

“In addition, the Chamber compiled the information for the Three Star Status Reports and the Middle TN Industrial Development Association (MTIDA) Data Profiles for the county and cities”.

Williams informed the group that the DeKalb County Clean Up Day is scheduled for May 4th.

Since the Leadership DeKalb Class has started back (since COVID shut it down for awhile), Williams requested that the Leadership DeKalb contribution be added back to the county budget in the amount of $500 to be used for the State Government Session held at the State Capitol.

April 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Looking for a sweet cat to keep you company?

They don’t come any sweeter than “Sugar”, the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”

“Sugar is about two years old. She has already been spayed, micro-chipped, and is up to date on all of her vaccines. Sugar is also sponsored by the Friends of the DeKalb Animal Coalition, so her adoption fee is only $50,” said Dakota Cool.

“Go to our website at https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/ and look for adoptable pets, select cats, and you’ll find Sugar. When you click the link for Sugar you’ll find at the bottom of her profile the option to apply for adoption. Fill out that application and then come to meet her,” added Cool

The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 8 to 4 and Saturday from 8 to 12 at 186 Transfer Station Road. Phone 615-597-3647.