One Airlifted After Head-on Crash Thursday Afternoon on Highway 146

September 9, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating a head-on crash which occurred Thursday afternoon at around 2:45 p.m. at 6730 Short Mountain Highway involving a SUV and a dump truck.

The driver of the SUV was extricated by members of the DeKalb and Smithville Fire Departments and transported by DeKalb EMS to a nearby helicopter landing zone where he was reportedly airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital. The driver of the dump truck was not believed to have been seriously hurt. More details to be released later.

September 9, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Board of Education has a new chairman.

During Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, Seventh District member Shaun Tubbs was elected to serve as chairman for the next twelve months. He will succeed First District member Danny Parkerson who has served as chairman for the past two years. Parkerson will remain a member of the board.

Meanwhile, Third district member Jim Beshearse was elected Vice Chairman of the Board while Sixth District member Jason Miller will serve as the board’s Tennessee Legislative Network (TLN) representative.

The board re-organizes each September electing officers to serve for the year.

In other business, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps gave his monthly personnel report.

Jaimie Bloise has been hired as an Educational Assistant at Smithville Elementary School to replace Melinda League who has resigned from that position.

Those granted a leave of absence as requested were Vickey Barrett from DeKalb West School; Megan Carroll and Kristen Rowland from Northside Elementary School, and Joseph Green and Jessica Griffith from DCHS.

September 9, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

An intense situation unfolded on Sligo Bridge early this morning (Thursday) as a suicidal man threatened to jump.

Highway 70 at the bridge was closed for two and a half hours as officers tried to talk the man out of it. He was later safely taken into custody and transported to the hospital for a mental evaluation. The name of the man has not been disclosed.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department issued the following media release:

“Today September the 9th, 2021 the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a possible suicidal male wanting to jump off the bridge at 4:32 A.M. After officers arrived on scene at 4:39 A.M. they came into contact with a middle aged male standing on the bridge. As officers attempted to talk to the individual he became very irritated and emotional and stepped up onto the ledge of the bridge. Officers notified TWRA, and the DeKalb Rescue Squad to be on standby under the bridge and in the area as a precaution. This caused Sparta Highway to be shut down for approximately two and a half hours. Several THP officers were also on scene and helped officers of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department take the male individual safely into custody. The male individual was transported to the DeKalb ER for a mental evaluation. We would like to thank TDOT, TWRA , The DeKalb Rescue Squad, Central Dispatch, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol for their assistance in this incident”.