Six Injured In Traffic Accidents

Five people were involved in a two vehicle crash Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 96 and U.S. 70 in Liberty.
Trooper Brian Raymond of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 52 year old Sandra Hudson of Lower Helton Road, Alexandria was in a 2003 Dodge Caravan attempting to turn west on U.S. 70 from Highway 96 when she crossed into the path of an eastbound 1996 Suzuki Rodeo SUV, driven by 21 year old Jessica Tittle of Mill Street, Dowelltown.
Trooper Raymond says Hudson was ejected from the vehicle upon impact. Her husband, who came upon the wreck, put her in the back of his pickup truck and rushed her to DeKalb Community Hospital.
Tittle and her two children, 4 year old Ethan Tittle and 2 year old Anthony Tittle, and her mother-in-law, 39 year old Betty Lott, were taken to the hospital by EMS where they were treated and released.
Trooper Raymond says Hudson was charged with failure to yield the right of way.
Others on the scene rendering assistance were members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, and DeKalb and Wilson County EMS.
Meanwhile, a 33 year old Cookeville man escaped serious injury in a traffic accident Friday afternoon on Highway 56 near Puckett’s Point Road.
Trooper Raymond says Jeromy York of Salem Road, Cookeville was traveling north in a 1999 Sterling Dump truck pulling a skidder on a trailer.
Trooper Raymond says as York was rounding a curve, the load shifted and the chain, anchoring the skidder, broke causing it to roll off the trailer. The truck then went out of control and overturned coming to rest on it’s side.
York received minor injuries but was not transported to the hospital by EMS.
Traffic was tied up for several hours with only one lane of travel open most of the time during the investigation and cleanup.
Members of the Tennessee Department of Transportation, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, and DeKalb EMS were also on the scene rendering assistance.

Billy Close Cantrell

69 year old Billy Close Cantrell of Alexandria died Friday at his residence. He was a self employed carpenter and a Baptist. A memorial service will be held Monday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Dr. Haskel Greer will officiate. Visitation will be Monday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Floyd and Opal Close Cantrell. Survivors include three sons, Mike and his wife Nickie Cantrell of Walling, Gary Cantrell of Mississippi, and Randy Cantrell of Algood. Eight grandchildren, Joey Cantrell of Virginia, MiKayla Cantrell of Walling, Nikki Cantrell of Smithville, Brendi Whittaker of Cookeville, Amber Scott of Clarksville, Tara Cantrell of Bristol, Felicia Cantrell of Florida, Breenna Cantrell of Florida. One great grandchild, Cheynne Scott of Clarksville and special friend, Helen “Sissy” Petty of Alexandria. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Betty Sue Hancock

87 year old Betty Sue Hancock of Liberty died Thursday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a member of the Sycamore Baptist Church, a member of the Eastern Star, and a retired teacher in the Metro-Davidson County area. The funeral will be Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at the Sycamore Baptist Church. Phil Hancock will officiate and burial will be in Sycamore Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 4:00 p.m. at the church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Valter Ray and Nonnie Bess Craddock Hancock; brothers, Reed, Ben, Alfred, and John Hancock; and sisters, Nell Hancock, Jane Phelps, and Mary Ruth Cripps. She is survived by a brother, Will Hancock of Whitwell and several nieces and nephews. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Bass and Foutch Receive Allen D. Hooper Memorial MVP Basketball Awards

DeAndre Bass and Kelsey Foutch received the Allen D. Hooper Memorial Most Valuable Player Awards during the annual DeKalb County High School Basketball banquet held Thursday night at Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church.
The MVP trophies were presented by Chad Kirby of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. The awards are named in memory of Kirby’s grandfather.
Kirby also presented the Allen D. Hooper Memorial Most Valuable Cheerleader Award to Amber Evans.
Tiger Coach Lynus Martin presented the individual awards to members of his team. This year’s winners are:
Best 6th Man- Hunter Stewart
Most Improved Player- J.J. Herriott
Best Practice Player- Zach Rowland
Smartest Player- John Malone
Hustle Award, Best Athlete, Best Passer, and Best Ball Handler- Travis Woodward
Best Offensive Player, Best Defender, Best Rebounder, Tiger Charge Award, and MVP- DeAndre Bass.
Best Attitude- Thomas Hale
Best Free Throw Shooter- Keith Johnson
The individual Lady Tiger Awards were presented by Coach Amy Tobitt. This year’s winners are:
Best Practice Player and Best Attitude- Victoria Bennett
Best Defender- Kayla Fish
Best Rebounder- Crystal Street
Most Improved Player and Best 6th Man- Lauren Hansard
Hustle Award- Kelsey Foutch
Best Athlete and Best Offensive Player- Katie Herman
MVP-Kelsey Foutch
Cheerleader Coach Walteen Parker presented the individual cheerleading awards. This year’s winners are:
Most Improved- Amanda Ours
Captain Award-Courtney Rhody
Tiger Spirit-Courtney Rhody
MVP- Amber Evans
Dance-Amber Evans
Jump- Lacey Parchman
Stunt: Spot- Lacey Parchman
Stunt:Base- Alison Curtis
Stunt:Flyer- Heather Luna
One year cheerleading awards went to Caroline Carter, Kendra Foutch, and Amanda Ours. Two year awards were presented to Rosemary Apple, Jessica Cook, Alison Curtis, Brittnee Linn, Heather Luna, and Mindy Mofield. Three year awards went to Amber Evans and Lacey Parchman, and a Four Year Award was presented to Courtney Rhody.

Smithville Police Department Sponsors Display To Help Prevent Drunk Driving

Smithville Police Chief Thomas Stufano says the residents and merchants of the City of Smithville are serious about the ill effects of Driving Under the Influence.
In a current campaign Smithville Police in cooperation with the Dekalb County School Board and the Tennessee Governor?s Highway Traffic Safety Office are promoting the ill effects of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) by placing an illustration vehicle involved in a serious accident in the Food Lion parking lot and at DeKalb County High School. This promotion also includes corporate sponsors including DeKalb Tire and Service, Bradley Printing Company, the Movie Gallery and Food Lion.
Chief Stufano says the campaign is to promote safe driving practices specifically DUI and aligns with the annual Dekalb High School graduation and prom festivities in April. Smithville Police have made over (74) DUI arrests in the last year within the city limits and have been awarded a government Traffic Enforcement Grant to cover overtime for extra patrols. He says “The City leadership is committed to the program with the Police Department having recently appointed Officer Mac Judkins as the department?s Traffic Enforcement Officer.”
In the current ?Booze It & Lose It? program administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Tennessee Governor?s Highway Safety Office, flyers are being distributed advising that:
?A first-time DUI conviction will take your license away for an entire year.In addition, a first-time DUI conviction will put you in the county jail or workhouse for at least 48 hours.
?The average American has a 30% chance of being killed or injured by a drunk driver in his or her lifetime.
?Someone dies from an alcohol-related crash every 33 minutes and someone is injured every two minutes.
?A DUI driver on the average drives their vehicle 80 times a year DUI
Chief Stufano says “Smithville Police are grateful to the residents and merchants of Smithville for their active participation in calling in suspicious activity and drunk driving. It is everyone?s business to help identify those that are senselessly hurting our love ones when they elect to drink and drive.”

Harry Gordon Foutch

95 year old former Trustee and County Judge Harry Gordon Foutch of Smithville died Wednesday at NHC Healthcare Center. He served as DeKalb County Judge and Trustee for a total of 12 years. He was a U.S. Army World War II veteran and a member of the American Legion. Foutch also formerly worked as a Federal Loan Officer for the Small Business Administration in Nashville and he was a member of the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The funeral will be Friday at 3:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Jonathan Watson will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 3:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Cora Close Foutch; his wife, Irene Wheat Foutch; and a brother, Clyde Foutch. Survivors include daughters, Helen Malone and Harriett and her husband Wayne Cantrell of Smithville. Grandchildren, Nancy and her husband Roger Waynick of Brentwood, Richard Malone of Frisco, Texas, and Garth and Elise Cantrell of Smithville. Great grandchildren, Elizabeth, Will, Roger, and Katie Waynick and Henry Malone. A brother, Osborne Foutch of Lebanon, and several nieces and nephews. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. The family requests that donations be made to the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church in lieu of flowers, in memory of Mr. Foutch.

John W. Watson

82 year old John W. Watson of Green Hill Road, Smithville died Wednesday at his residence. He was a Dairy farmer and a member of the Banks Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The funeral will be Friday at 2:00 p.m.. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Virgil Hibdon, Jr and Greg Hibdon will officiate and burial will be in the Banks Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Bedie Vanatta Watson; a brother, Steve Watson; and a grandson Berry Melton. Survivors include his wife, Loretta Bratcher Watson of Smithville. Three daughters, Patsy Helton of McMinnville, Rose and her husband Leonard Melton of Smithville and Barbra and her husband Virgil Hibdon, Jr. of Smithville. A son, Charles Watson and his fiance Carisa Myers of McMinnville. Eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild. A brother, Tom and his wife Christine Watson of Smithville. A sister, Elizabeth and her husband Eddie Grisweld of McMinnville. An aunt, Sally Hibdon of McMinnville. Special niece, Ernesteen Cantrell of McMinnville, and several nieces, nephews, and friends also survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Lester C. Franks

91 year old Lester C. Franks of Manchester and a former resident of Warren County, died Monday at the United Regional Medical Center. The funeral will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Central Funeral Home in Manchester. Westley Hazel will officiate and burial will be in the Webb Cemetery in Warren County. The family will receive friends Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. He is survived by his wife, Era Webb Franks of Manchester. Two daughters, Sherry G. Clapp of Wentzville, Missouri and Brenda F. Krause and her husband Richard of Milton, Florida. Five grandchildren, Jason and his wife Jodi Clapp, Jeff and his wife Heather Clapp, Jamie Lauren Clapp, Erin Krause, and Meredith Krause. Four great grandchildren, Sara, Leigh, Lexy, and Jaylen, and a host of other relatives, friends and loved ones, some of whom live in the Smithville-DeKalb County area. Central Funeral Home in Manchester is in charge of the arrangements.

DeKalb Emergency Management District Approved For Homeland Security Grant

The DeKalb County Emergency Management District has been approved for a Homeland Security Grant for 911 Mapping Software.
Brad Mullinax, DeKalb County ECD Director, says “The software will allow us to update and correct map errors on a more frequent basis, assist with the county Reverse 911 system, and assist with many regional projects in the Upper Cumberland Region.”
Mullinax says “Our agency will be able to provide emergency responders with more accurate map of emergency incidents. The grant is 100% funded by the Department of Homeland Security with no local match funds.”
In a letter to Mullinax, Corey Gruber, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Grants and Training for Homeland Security, writes, ” I am pleased to inform you that your application submitted under the fiscal year 2006 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program has been approved. Through CEDAP, your agency will receive the ArcGIS Geographic Information System Software Package.”
“CEDAP provides emergency response agencies with the equipment and technology they need to fulfill their homeland security mission. It is an important component of a larger, coordinated effort to strengthen our Nation’s overall preparedness baseline. CEDAP’s primary focus is to enhance regional response capabilities, mutual aid, and interoperable communications in jurisdictions ineligible to receive assistance under the DHS Urban Areas Security Initiative.”

Robert D. (Bob) Jones

70 year old Robert D. “Bob” Jones of Liberty died Tuesday at University Medical Center in Lebanon. He was a Catholic, a U.S. Army Veteran, and a retired office worker. The funeral will be Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from noon until the service at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence P. and Bernadette Jones. Survivors include a brother and sister-in-law, Charles P. and Lee Jones of Orchard Lake, Michigan. Nieces, Linda Mahoney and her husband John Wanamaker, Karen Roberts, and Paula Roberts. Nephews, Michael and his wife Cindy Mahoney, and James Jones. Great nieces, Kelly Roberts and Crystal Roberts Rowe. Great nephews, Sean Mahoney, Charles Roberts, and Andrew Weiss. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.