Three people were airlifted after a rear end collision Monday evening on Highway 56 south.
Trooper Gerald Carter of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 48 year old Todd Van Dyne was driving a 1987 Dodge pickup truck south on Highway 56 when he crashed into the rear of a southbound 2011 Nissan Rogue, driven by 50 year old Mark Cardwell of Nebraska. Cardwell’s mother, Lady Belle Cardwell of Crossville was a passenger.
All three were flown from the scene by different helicopter ambulances. Van Dyne was airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. The Cardwell’s were flown to Vanderbilt Hospital.
DeKalb EMS, the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene. The cause of the crash remains under investigation

Northside Elementary School presents its tenth annual fifth-grade musical titled “Country Must Be Country Wide” on Thursday, May 14th at 6:30 in the NES gymnasium. Directed by Kelly Jo Birmingham, the fifth grade students will present a tribute to country music and the artists.
Northside Elementary School’s spring musical provides our students with the opportunity for artistic expression. This year’s production is comprised of approximately two hundred fifth grade students plus staff and community members. “Country Must Be Country Wide” is a student-based community project, combining the talents of Northside students, faculty, and staff, as well as the talents of several Smithville community members. Smithville’s Josh Issac Melton will be performing in this year’s musical. He was the winner of DeKalb’s Got Talent Competition and The Voice’s VIP Pass. The VIP Pass guaranteed that he be able to skip the first few rounds of the audition process. Melton says, “This is my third year helping with the fifth grade musical. I love how it makes all the kids a part of something big and it helps them explore their talents. I love being able to give back and help them grow in the arts. I know this is a time they will never forget.”
Former resident of Smithville, Mr. Greg Owens, also known as “StyckMan” of 106.9 Kicks Country, assists with the musical production each year. He states, “I am told the kids look forward to being in the fifth grade musical from their very first year at Northside. Each group does their best to outperform the previous shows. I can honestly say every year, I am amazed at how well the kids perform. It is the highlight of my year. I love working with the students to create a fun show.”
NES Music Director, Kelly Jo Birmingham says, “It’s truly an honor to get to work with such talented students and colleagues. Each year, I am blessed by the overwhelming support from the parents and community businesses.” Birmingham goes on to state, “this year, we had several organizations donate money to help make this year’s musical a memorable one for our students. I would like to personally thank NES PTO, Stonehaus Winery, Tenneco, DTC Communications, Family Medical Center, DeKalb Community Hospital, Optimus, Sarah J. Cripps, Atty, Tecia Puckett Pryor, Webb Anesthesia Services, PLLC, Cliff Duke, DDS, Fast Pace Clinic, Glenda Davis, CPA, Citizens Bank, State Farm Insurance, Bumpers Drive-In of Smithville, Herndon Farms, Wilson Bank and Trust, Bratten Cook III, DeKalb Funeral Chapel, Bates Apparel, and Rob Ramsey for supporting us this year. This is a student-based community project, and we are very grateful for the continued support from the community each year.”

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department made arrests last week for driving under the influence and domestic assault.
21 year old Brandon Allen Adcock of King Ridge Road Dowelltown is charged with driving under the influence. He was further issued citations for violation of roadways laned for travel and possession of drug paraphernalia (marijuana pipe). His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court June 4.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Monday, May 4 a deputy was dispatched to investigate a rollover wreck on King Ridge Road. Upon arrival, the officer found a white SUV on its side in a yard. Beside the vehicle was a bag containing a pipe. The officer spoke with the driver, Adcock who had an odor of alcohol coming from his person. Adcock allegedly admitted to drinking and smoking marijuana during the day and said that the pipe belonged to him. He also submitted to and performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. After submitting to a blood test, Adcock was placed under arrest.
42 year old Ernest Brian Osment of Will Daniel Road, Woodbury is charged with driving under the influence and possession of a handgun while under the influence. He was further issued a citation for driving on roadways laned for traffic. His bond is $4,000 and he will be in court June 4.
Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, May 6 a deputy observed a blue truck leave its lane of travel on North Congress Boulevard and cross into the turning lane. After stopping the truck, the officer spoke with the driver, Osment who had an odor of alcohol coming from his person. He also had slurred speech. Osment allegedly admitted to drinking during the day. He submitted to and performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to a blood test and was placed under arrest. During an inventory search of his vehicle, the deputy found a holstered and loaded 22 six shot revolver located in the cab of the truck in an arm rest. Osment told the officer that the handgun belonged to him.
43 year old Kendra Guinn of Bright Hill Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court May 14. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, May 9 Guinn allegedly physically assaulted her husband by ripping his shirt and scratching his neck area. Both parties involved were interviewed by a deputy and it was determined that Guinn was the primary aggressor.
53 year old Carl Everett Martin of Cookeville Highway, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court May 28. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, May 9 a deputy responded to Cookeville Highway for a physical domestic between Martin and his wife. Martin allegedly caused bodily harm to the woman by breaking her tooth, busting her lip, and bruising her eye lid and eye brow. The woman said that Martin held her down by the hair and beat her in the face while in the living room of the home. The woman said she feared for her safety.

DeKalb County Mayor Tim Stribling joined Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, U.S Army Corps of Engineer, and Tennessee State Parks officials Monday May 11, 2015 on Center Hill Lake at Edgar Evins State Park and presented an official proclamation declaring May 16th through 22nd 2015 as “Safe Boating Week.”
DeKalb County Safe Boating Week coincides with National Safe Boating week. The week serves as an opportunity to highlight the importance of safety precautions and responsible behavior when spending time on our local lakes and rivers.
National Safe Boating Week is the official launch of the 2015 Safe Boating Campaign. This year long campaign promotes safe and responsible boating and the value of wearing a life jacket by recreational boaters.
DeKalb County, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tennessee State Parks, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officials on Center Hill Lake have teamed up with the National Safe Boating Council and other boating safety advocates across the U.S. to promote safe and responsible boating during National Safe Boating Week.
Before casting off for a day on the water, boaters should take appropriate precautions. File a float plan with a friend or family, get a vessel safety check and take a boating safety course. Boaters should also check the weather forecast and make sure everyone onboard is wearing the correct type and fit of life jacket. Boaters can develop “boater’s hypnosis” a condition in response to sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion, which causes fatigue and slows your reaction time. Combining this condition with alcohol or drugs greatly reduces your coordination, judgment and reaction time, which could lead to deadly consequences so please boat sober.
“We want everyone that boats in the waters of our county to enjoy themselves,” said Mayor Stribling. “and that starts with observing safe boating practices and wearing your life jacket.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the nation’s largest provider of water-based outdoor recreation, managing more than 420 lake and river projects in 43 states and hosting more than 370 million visits per year. With 90 percent of these recreation areas within 50 miles of metropolitan areas, the Corps of Engineers provide a diverse range of outdoor activities close to home and to people of all ages. For more information on Corps of Engineers recreation sites and activities, visit www.CorpsLakes.us.