Wendy Askins is to report to federal prison on January 9
The former director of the Upper Cumberland Development District will be spending eighteen months in a minimum security federal women’s prison in Alderson, West Virginia.
Askins entered a plea on August 31 to two counts of theft from a federally-funded entity stemming from the “Living the Dream investigation and was sentenced on October 28. The sentence will run concurrently with a state sentence after her plea in Putnam County Criminal Court on October 31 to forgery over $60,000. After her release, Askins will be on supervised probation for two years. She must also pay restitution of $233,000 to the UCDD.
Meanwhile, her co-defendant, Larry Webb, will be sentenced December 8. His sentencing was originally set for Monday, November 14. Webb pleaded guilty August 7, 2015, to one count of bank fraud.
According to a report in the Herald Citizen, the anticipated offense level is seven, which carries a guideline range of up to six months. Under the plea agreement, Webb should be sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release.

In a restructuring move, Saint Thomas Health has reportedly trimmed staffs at hospitals in this region, affecting approximately 40 positions overall including 11 at Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital, several being LPNs.
The other hospitals involved are River Park in McMinnville, Highlands in Sparta and Stones River in Woodbury
In a prepared statement, hospital officials say “Saint Thomas Health is in the process of coming together as a statewide network with the goal of improving the healthcare quality and experience at an affordable cost for the patients and communities we are privileged to serve. Our statewide integration involves re-thinking some services and positions across our system to ensure the long-term strength of our organization as we continue to deliver compassionate, personalized care to those who need it most”.
The decision to integrate positions within the organization has been an ongoing issue for several months. It was just less than five months ago when the corporation announced that the DeKalb, Woodbury and Sparta facilities would immediately become under the management of a single chief executive officer, eliminating the positions of Sue Conley and Bill Little. Within the statement given at that time, Gordon Ferguson, President and CEO Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital and Regional Hospitals, stated, “There are, though, additional opportunities for consolidating operations and leadership and we need to make changes.”
Saint Thomas Health is a family of Middle Tennessee hospitals and physician practices united by a single mission: to provide spiritually centered, holistic care that sustains and improves the health of the communities it serves.
Saint Thomas Health is the leading faith-based health-care system in Tennessee and is a part of Ascension, the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system.

In DeKalb County Criminal Court last Tuesday, 26 year old Nicholas Byrge entered a plea by information to theft over $1,000 and received a three year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. He was given jail credit from July 14 through November 8. He must make restitution of $1,850 and is under a restraining order to keep away from the victim. Byrge must also undergo an alcohol and drug assessment. Byrge is alleged to have stolen on May 16 a Bushmaster .223 rifle and a .22 rifle valued at over $1,000.
43 year old Jeffrey Sanders entered a plea by information to possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and received a three year sentence to run concurrently with a violation of probation against him. He must serve at least 30% of the term before his release eligibility date. Sanders was given jail credit from August 8 through November 8. The offense occurred on July 25.
26 year old Nicholas Byrge entered a plea by information to theft over $1,000 and received a three year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. He was given jail credit from July 14 through November 8. He must make restitution of $1,850 and is under a restraining order to keep away from the victim. Byrge must also undergo an alcohol and drug assessment. Byrge is alleged to have stolen on May 16 a Bushmaster .223 rifle and a .22 rifle valued at over $1,000.
49 year old Scott Pedigo entered a plea by information to reckless driving and received six months on probation supervised by CPS. Smithville Police said that on February 11, 2015 Pedigo was found to be unconscious behind the wheel of his vehicle. After being awakened, Pedigo submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. His speech was slurred and he was very unsteady on his feet.

Cash Express will be hosting a “Fill the Police Car” event on Black Friday, November 25th at noon until? at their business location 126 E. Bryant Street. The Smithville Police Department is partnering with Cash Express in this event and providing the vehicle to fill up with food, toys, and coats. Please stop by with your gift of love and grab a bite to eat as there will be food available.
The food collected will be donated to “God’s Food Pantry” where it will be distributed to families that need help with food. The coats will be donated to local schools to provide warmth to children that do not have one and adult coats will be donated to the Clothes Closet where citizens will be able to obtain one from them. The toys will be donated to St Gregory’s Catholic Church where they will be distributed to families that are in need of something extra this year.
If anyone is unable to stop by Cash Express during the event and wants to help someone this year, you can drop off any of your items at many local businesses. Collection boxes are set up at 150 businesses in DeKalb County so there is one or more available near you. The collection boxes will be taken up by December 9.
For questions concerning this event, you may contact Jamie Dawson or Athena Knauer at Cash Express, 615-597-3427.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today issued a proclamation declaring a regional ban on burning in 51 counties including DeKalb in response to the ongoing drought and destructive wildfires throughout Middle and East Tennessee.
Effective immediately, residents in counties covered by the regional ban are not permitted to conduct any open-air burning. The ban includes campfires, and burning of brush, vegetation, household waste or construction debris. The ban will remain in effect until December 15. The counties under the ban are listed below.
Currently the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) Division of Forestry is fighting 67 wildfires across nearly 16,000 acres in the Cumberland and East Tennessee districts.
A violation of a burn ban is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor which carries a fine of $2,500 and/or up to 11 months, 29 days in jail.
Robertson and Sumner counties continue to be under a burn ban issued by TDA Commissioner Jai Templeton. A governor’s ban includes municipalities, whereas a commissioner’s ban is superseded by municipal ordinances.
Residents in counties not included under any of the current bans must obtain a safe debris burning permit to burn brush, vegetation, household waste or construction waste. The TDA Division of Forestry, however, does not expect to issue any permits until the state receives substantial precipitation. A violation of burning without a permit is punishable as a Class C misdemeanor which carries a fine of $50 and/or up to 30 days in jail.
Daily updates on the wildfire situation, active burn bans and tips to protect your home and property can be found at www.burnsafetn.org.
Counties under a regional burn ban:
Anderson
Bledsoe
Blount
Bradley
Campbell
Cannon
Carter
Claiborne
Clay
Cocke
Coffee
Cumberland
Dekalb
Fentress
Franklin
Grainger
Greene
Grundy
Hamblen
Hamilton
Hancock
Hawkins
Jackson
Jefferson
Johnson
Knox
Loudon
Macon
Marion
McMinn
Meigs
Monroe
Morgan
Overton
Pickett
Polk
Putnam
Rhea
Roane
Scott
Sequatchie
Sevier
Smith
Sullivan
Trousdale
Unicoi
Union
Van Buren
Warren
Washington
White

An arrest has been made in a recent pickup truck break-in.
37 year old Robert Lee Nichols, Jr. of Hodges Road, Smithville is charged with burglary, theft of property under $500, vandalism, and driving on a suspended or revoked license. His bond is $11,500 and his court date is December 1. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Wednesday, November 9 Nichols and another person broke into a 1998 Nissan Frontier and stole a machete and foldup chair. Entry was made by breaking out the glass window to the truck. The next day, Thursday November 10, Nichols was arrested after being stopped on Hodges Road for driving on a revoked license. The case was investigated by a detective of the sheriff’s department. No other arrest has yet been made.
54 year old David Ray Johnson of Forrest Avenue, Smithville is charged with criminal impersonation and evading arrest. He is further cited for simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana), driving on a suspended license, and driving with expired tags. He will make a court appearance on December 16. Johnson is being held without bond due to violations of court orders.
Sheriff Ray said that on September 8 a detective responded to McDonalds in reference to a wanted person (Johnson). The officer spotted Johnson sitting inside a vehicle and approached him. Johnson told the officer his name was Kenneth Jones. Authorities later learned that Johnson lied about his identity. Because of a medical condition, Johnson was admitted to the hospital that day.
The sheriff’s department did not encounter Johnson again until Sunday, November 13 when a deputy tried to stop a white Honda for a registration violation. When the officer turned on his emergency equipment, the Honda accelerated heading west on Main Street in Dowelltown. Although the Honda disappeared from his view, the deputy continued west on Main Street until he came upon the scene where the car had crashed. Johnson, the driver, got out of the vehicle and tried to hide in a rock ravine. He was placed under arrest. Found near Johnson was a pill bottle bearing his name, containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.
25 year old Clay Andrew Bain of Lakeview Drive, Smithville was charged on Thursday, November 10 with vandalism. His bond is $5,000. Sheriff Ray said that on August 25 while two correctional officers were transporting Bain to the Robertson County Jail, Bain began kicking on the back window of the car until he broke the frame away from the car door and bent the outer door body.

Two dump trucks loaded with dirt overturned in a bizarre accident Saturday afternoon on Rutherford Lane off Coconut Ridge Road.
Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said 61 year old Bobby Hughes of Lebanon was driving a 2015 Mack dump truck down a steep hill on Rutherford Lane trying to negotiate a curve when he was rear ended by a 2016 Kenworth dump truck, driven by 53 year old Harlan Galinelli of Gallatin. Both trucks belong to the Hunt Construction Company of Wilson County.
According to the investigation, Galinelli lost control and ran into Hughes’ truck causing it to overturn on its side in the roadway. Galinelli’s truck then went off the road, plunged some 100 yards down an embankment, and overturned on its side.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Extrication and Rescue Team were called to the scene to help free Hughes, who was trapped in his truck. He was taken by DeKalb EMS to a nearby helicopter landing zone and flown to Tri Star Skyline Medical Center in Nashville where he was treated and released.
Galinelli was transported by DeKalb EMS to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital where he was treated and released.
According to Trooper Delong, Galinelli has been cited for failure to exercise due care. A citation is pending against Hughes for not wearing his seat belt.
Meanwhile, in a separate accident, three people were involved in a one car crash at around 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning on Students Home Road.
Trooper Delong said 21 year old Brandon Winne lost control of his 2015 Ford Fusion while trying to negotiate a curve. The vehicle went off the road, through a barbed wire fence, and hit a tree. Winne and front seat passenger Thomas Bowen were taken by DeKalb EMS to the hospital. A back seat passenger, Titus Ekumdayo was not injured.
According to Trooper Delong, alcohol was a factor in the crash and Winne is facing charges of violation of the open container law, failure to exercise due care, and not wearing a seatbelt.

The 2016 Upper Cumberland 911 Dispatcher of the Year Award goes to Tony Thomas of DeKalb County
Thomas, an employee of the DeKalb County Emergency Communications District (Central Dispatch/911 Center) recently received the award for his outstanding performance during two events that both involved assisting in the life saving efforts of multiple children in DeKalb County responses.
The award reads “The Upper Cumberland 911 Directors awards you for your outstanding service to DeKalb County and the Upper Cumberland Region. We would like to thank you for your outstanding service and devotion to our profession.”
Thomas was nominated for the award by Brad Mullinax, Director of the DeKalb ECD.
“For this year’s dispatcher of the year award, DeKalb County would like to nominate Mr. Tony Thomas with DeKalb County 911. Tony has been employed with DeKalb County 911 for the last 12 years. He has served as Supervisor, TAC, Alt TAC and addressing coordinator for our agency. He always goes above and beyond the call of duty to help do anything that I ask him to do. Additionally, I routinely receive compliments on Tony from the general public on how well he does his job and how professional he sounds on the radio,” wrote Mullinax in making the nomination.
“In addition, he has been involved in two recent incidents in which his actions helped save the lives of many in our county. First, Tony and his partner were recognized as part of the State of Tennessee “Star of Life” award winner for the entire State of Tennessee on May 5 2016. The actions of everyone involved, including Tony, helped save the life of a severely injured eight year old boy in June of 2015. Secondly, and more recently, Tony was on shift and part of another award winning incident in August of 2016. This incident occurred in rural DeKalb County and involved a multi-injury accident involving three children that were all air lifted by multiple aircraft to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. This event also recently received the Upper Cumberland 2016 “Call of the Year” award. He is known for being able to maintain his composure and the accuracy of his work. I am very proud that he is a part of our agency,” Mullinax continued.
“Many times the efforts of the silent heroes go un-recognized in these type events. The heroic efforts of Tony and many others in our field play an important role in the outcome of the event. Therefore, I would like to recognize and formally nominate Tony for the 2016 Upper Cumberland 911 Director’s Dispatcher of the Year,” concluded Mullinax.

A 46 year old Smithville woman died from injuries in a two vehicle crash Friday night on Highway 70 at Liberty.
Dead is Tammy Renae Greco. She was a nurse at the Family Medical Center.
Greco was a rear seat passenger of a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, driven by her husband, 44 year old Daniel J. Greco. Their son, 24 year old Christian D. Greco was a front seat passenger. They were traveling east on Highway 70.
A 17 year old female of Gordonsville was driving the other vehicle, a 2009 Dodge Avenger heading west on Highway 70.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the juvenile’s car crossed through the east bound lanes, struck and bounced off the eastbound guardrail, and hit Greco’s car in the passenger side. The Dodge Avenger came to rest in the east bound lane and Greco’s car came to a stop on the shoulder of the west bound lane.
Tammy Greco was ejected from the Chevy Equinox. Christian was also injured. Both were transported from the scene by DeKalb EMS to a helicopter landing zone near DeKalb West School and airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital. Tammy later died.
Daniel Greco was not injured. The juvenile was taken by private vehicle to the hospital where she was treated and released. All had been wearing their seatbelts except for Tammy Greco.
According to the investigation, the crash was due to the teenager having fallen asleep while driving. She has been cited for failure to exercise due care.
The accident was investigated by Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene.
Tammy was a member of the First Assembly of God. She was preceded in death by her father, Donald McCormack and a brother-in-law, Chuck Canady.
Survivors include her husband of 26 years, Danny Greco; a son, Christian Greco; and a daughter, Shelby Greco all of Smithville. Two brothers, Donnie and Melissa McCormack of Ripley and Joe and Michelle McCormack of Watertown. A sister, Melissa Canady of Dyersburg. Mother, Brenda Hart of Dyersburg. Mother and step-father in-law, Charlotte and Michael Nadeau of Florida. Father and step-mother in-law, John and Zenny Greco of Arizona. Sister and brother-in-law, Julie and Shawn McFay of Texas and brother-in-law, Kevin Greco of Arizona.
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Complete arrangements will be announced later.

Think back. When was the last time your family gathered together for a family meal? If your last family meal seems like a distant memory, you can make a change by participating in the Dine In Challenge on Family and Consumer Sciences Day. On December 3rd, UT Extension in partnership with the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) encourages you to gather your family and Dine in together!
Participating in the event is easy. Simply:
1.Visit http://www.aafcs.org/FCSday/commitment.html
2.Complete the sign up form and pledge to dine in as a family on December 3rd.
3.On December 3rd, prepare and eat a meal with your family.
Signing up for the Dine In event is simple. Yet, this simple act can have profound, positive benefits for your family. According to Dr. Christopher Sneed, Extension Specialist with UT Extension, family meals serve as a time for children to learn positive food habits. “Research shows children who eat meals with their families tend to have less rates of obesity, consume more nutrient dense foods and are less likely to develop an eating disorder,” states Sneed.
Even beyond these benefits, a host of other benefits can result from time spent as a family around the table. “Family meal times produce amazing effects on children’s academic and social development,” reiterates Sneed. Children who take part in regular family meals have:
•greater vocabulary growth,
•fewer behavioral problems, and
•better academic performance.
The key thing to remember – it is the process of actually sitting down as a family, having conversation and spending time together that is the most important. Many families may worry they are not able to cook the “perfect” meal and thus forego sitting down to family meal time. Worrying over preparing the perfect meal should not be a concern. Any healthy meal whether it’s a one skillet recipe or something prepared using the slow cooker is the perfect meal for family meal time.
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up today and take the Dine In Challenge. The time you spend around the family table on December 3rd may be the start of a new family tradition and the start of some amazing benefits for your children and your family.
For more information, visit: www.aafcs.org/FCSday.