A 51 year old man, involved in a hit and run accident Wednesday morning on Broad Street in Smithville, is in more trouble with the law now after the female passenger who was in the van with him has died.
Dead is 44 year old Priscilla Judkins
Smithville Police have charged Donald Henson with leaving the scene of an accident, driving under the influence, and vehicular assault. Other charges may be pending. Henson, who has a Cookeville address, actually lives near the Putnam county line in White County.
According to Officer Matt Farmer, Henson was traveling east on Broad Street in a Dodge Caravan when he rear-ended an eastbound 1994 Toyota pickup truck, driven by Randy Paris, who was stopped at the traffic light at the intersection of Broad and South Mountain Street.
Central dispatch received the call at 9:12 a.m.
Officer Farmer says after crashing into Paris’ truck, Henson left the scene, still heading east on Broad Street. Paris received minor injuries in the collision but refused EMS transport to the hospital. His truck received considerable damage.
Sheriff Patrick Ray then had a close encounter with Henson. According to the sheriff, he was driving west on Broad Street near Bumper’s Drive-In and had pulled into the turning lane to make a turn, when he saw the eastbound Dodge Caravan, also in the turning lane, fast approaching him. Sheriff Ray says he quickly maneuvered into the westbound lane and the van went on by him, still heading east.
Sheriff Ray says he turned around to catch up with the van and saw it turn into the parking lot of Curve’s on East Broad Street. When he pulled in behind the van at Curves’, Sheriff Ray says the man behind the wheel was trying to drive the van up an embankment. The van rolled back and came to a stop in the parking lot.
Sheriff Ray says when the driver got out of the van, he also noticed a woman passenger who appeared to be seriously injured. He called for an ambulance.
Henson was placed in custody by Smithville Police at the scene and Judkins was taken by EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital. She was later airlifted by a helicopter ambulance and flown to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, where she died.
Henson, who was believed to have been intoxicated at the time of the crash, told police that his brakes “went out” and that his accelerator “hung”. He also had in the van several cans of beer, three empty liquor bottles, and at least one bottle of Tequila which was half full.
The investigation continues.

A total of 236 members of DTC Communications voted early in the election of directors this week.
Early voting took place Monday through Wednesday at four locations, Alexandria, Gordonsville, Smithville, and Woodbury.
Early voting totals at each location for the three days combined are as follows:
Alexandria- 65
Gordonsville- 35
Smithville-98
Woodbury- 38
Total- 236
The annual meeting of DTC Communications will be Saturday, September 18th at the DeKalb County Fairgrounds in Alexandria. Gates will open at 11:45 a.m., with voting from noon until 4 p.m. The business meeting will begin at 4 p.m. or once the last person in line at that time has voted.
Directors will be elected in four exchanges, including the Auburntown (464), Gordonsville (683), Temperance Hall (548), and Woodland (765) exchanges.
Incumbents Roy N. Pugh, James H. Dillard, Jr., and David Parker are running unopposed in the Auburntown, Gordonsville, and Woodland exchanges, respectively.
The Temperance Hall exchange is represented by two candidates: Incumbent Robert Don Malone and one candidate who qualified by petition – Todd S. Perry.
Only DTC members may vote, and each member must present identification. For a single membership, only that individual may vote. Either member of a joint membership may vote, but not both. In the case of a business membership, a business affidavit is required.
For questions regarding membership and voting guidelines, refer to the by-laws section included in the current DTC phone directory, or call DTC at 615-529-2955.

Governor Phil Bredesen and Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely have announced that highway safety grants have been awarded to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, the Alexandria Police Department, and the Smithville Police Department.
The Sheriff’s Department and the Alexandria Police Department will each get $5,000 to support high visibility law enforcement efforts and the Smithville Police Department will receive $15,000 to support Multiple Traffic Violations enforcement efforts.
The Governor’s Highway Safety Office (GHSO) mission is to save lives and reduce injuries on Tennessee roadways through leadership, innovation, coordination, and program support in partnership with other public and private organizations. The grants awarded will be used to promote this mission.
“These highway safety grants reflect a continued commitment to working with local and state agencies to make our roadways safer,” said Bredesen. “These grant funds will support the efforts of highway safety agencies and advocates to reduce the number of people killed and injured in traffic crashes in Tennessee each year.”
The grants are awarded to agencies that successfully applied for funding based on a defined problem and statistical need. Each year, the GHSO accepts applications from agencies across the state for available highway safety funds. Applications are reviewed and scored by the GHSO and external highway safety advocates. The agencies that meet the criteria for funding received awards.
“These grants help fund a variety of enforcement, legal and educational activities across the state including speed enforcement, first responder equipment purchases, DUI prosecutors and child passenger safety training,” said Nicely. “These grants will make a difference in the effectiveness of our highway safety partners.”
There are several elements that contribute to a sound and safe roadway system. Some of those aspects are an accurate traffic safety data collection and analysis system; well-trained and equipped law enforcement personnel; and effective emergency medical and trauma systems. A major part of roadway safety is educating motorists about laws and good driving behaviors.
“Grants awarded by the GHSO are provided in areas of need,” reported GHSO Director Kendell Poole. “Statistics show our problem areas and we strive to put the funding where it will be most effective. We are dedicated to saving lives across Tennessee and pledge to work with grantees statewide to accomplish our mission.”
Senator Mae Beavers and Representative Terri Lynn Weaver worked to secure funds for these departments.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides the funding for GHSO grants.

October 4th is an important date for the upcoming November State General Election.
DeKalb County Administrator of Elections, Dennis Stanley said October 4th is the last day to register to vote in the November 2nd election. “October 4th is the last day to register in person at the local election commission office,” Stanley said. “Voter Registration forms mailed in must also be postmarked no later than October 4. A by-mail voter registration form lacking a postmark, but signed and dated on or before October 4th will be considered as filed timely if it is received by October 6th
Voters who have moved are encouraged to come by the election commission office and inform them of their new address so they can obtain an accurate voter registration card. “By informing us of your move in advance, it will make the election-day voting process go much quicker and easier,” Stanley said.
Meanwhile, voters who plan on requesting an absentee ballot are reminded of another important date. “October 26th is the last day the election commission office can receive a request for an absentee ballot,” Stanley said.
Local voters will cast their ballots in November for Governor, the 6th Congressional District seat, the State Senate, the State Representative seat, and a Constitutional Amendment giving Tennesseans the personal right to hunt and fish, subject to reasonable regulations and restrictions prescribed by law.”
Election-day voting will be held at the various precincts throughout the county from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Early voting begins October 13th and runs through October 28th. Early voting hours are 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays.

State inspectors took a close look at the Dismal bridge on the Alexandria to Dismal Road over Smith Fork Creek Monday and the findings were not good.
Road Supervisor Kenny Edge says damage to the bridge is “critical” but not serious enough to close it, although weight limits may have to be posted. “I met with the state bridge inspectors Monday and they took one of those huge trucks that sets on the bridge with a long arm and they went back under it and took pictures of it all the way across. They said it did have critical damage to it but they felt like it was safe for local traffic, small vehicles. But they said if it was a main road and a lot of trailer trucks were on it I might wind up having to close it.”
“They’re going to send all of the information to the engineers in Nashville and they’ll get back with me and tell me what safe bridge limit sign to put on it and what I may have to do in the future to try to eliminate some of the problem as far as the danger part of it because a lot of the rebar, which is the steel inside of the beams, are exposed and concrete jumped off of those beams due to that heat all the way across under there for approximately thirty feet. It looks terrible but I feel like it’s safe for small cars and local traffic and they (inspectors) felt like it would be alright for the school bus and our (county road department) trucks to travel but they said the engineers will get back with me and tell me exactly how many tons it’s safe to carry and what to post it.”
Last Wednesday, someone set fire to the driftwood and debris underneath the bridge, which had washed up and lodged there during the May floods. County Fire Chief Donny Green said members of the Liberty and Temperance Hall stations and a tanker truck from the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department rushed to the scene upon receiving the call and when they arrived, firefighters found a roaring blaze coming from under the bridge. Firefighters even had to use a floating pump to draw water from the creek to help put out the blaze. Green said the fire was so intense that it caused chunks of concrete to break apart from the bridge.
The $1.1 million bridge was completed two years ago. Edge says it was built with eighty percent federal funds, fourteen percent from the highway department budget, and six percent from the county general fund.
Last week, Edge estimated that the repair costs could run as much as half a million dollars and he won’t know how to deal with it. Edge says he’ll have to do what the state mandates. “There’s probably two or three ways to do it (repair the bridge) but you’ve just got to do what you’re told to do through the state on a bridge that’s twenty feet or longer. There could be another pier put under it from where the good part is on out to support it and then work on the thirty or forty foot section that got damaged or you could take down one third of it and go back with it (replace) like the original. I don’t have that choice. I’ve got to do what’s passed down to me (by the state).”

A 32 year old Dowelltown man is accused of going to the same farm on Banks Pisgah Road twice within five days and committing thefts
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Aron Dewayne Ponder of Old Mill Hill Road, Dowelltown was arrested on Tuesday, September 7th and charged with a first offense of driving on a suspended license, theft of property over $500, and theft of property over $1,000. He will be in court on September 30th and his bond totals $41,000.
Sheriff Ray says on Tuesday, September 7th, a deputy saw Ponder operating a motor vehicle on New Home Road and having prior knowledge that his license were suspended, the officer stopped the automobile. After making the traffic stop, the deputy checked through central dispatch and learned that Ponder’s license were suspended for failure to pay child support on November 15th, 2008.
In regard to the thefts, Sheriff Ray says on Thursday, September 2nd Ponder allegedly went to the farm on Banks Pisgah Road and stole a tobacco setter, horse drawn mower, a single wing turning plow, a trail behind turning plow, along with various other types of turning plows with a total value of 825.00.
Ponder allegedly went back to the same farm on Tuesday, September 7th and stole a 1959 Ford pickup truck, valued at $1,500. Ponder allegedly sold the truck to a scrap yard.
In a separate investigation, 18 year old Terry L. Jones of Chapman Hollow Road, Dowelltown is charged with burglary and theft of property. Jones will be in court October 7th and he is under a $7,500 bond.
Sheriff Ray says on Saturday, September 11th Jones was arrested for entering a vehicle on Church Street in Dowelltown and stealing a portion of the radio. Jones allegedly confessed to the crimes, stating that he had a radio just like this one and needed the piece he stole for his own radio. The value is less than $500.
Meanwhile, 32 year old Phillip Edward Miranda of Cecil Hale Road, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and a second offense of driving on a revoked license. His bond is $5,000 and his court date is October 7th.
Sheriff Ray says on Saturday, September 11th a deputy, while on routine patrol, saw a vehicle on Short Mountain Highway that appeared to be abandoned. After stopping to check, the officer saw a man inside the automobile who was apparently passed out. The deputy opened the door and had to yell several times to awaken the man, identified as Miranda. The officer also detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on the man’s person. Miranda submitted to several field sobriety tasks and performed poorly on all. He was also very unsteady on his feet. Miranda further submitted to a blood alcohol test.
During Miranda’s arrest, the officer ran a computer check which revealed that Miranda was charged with his first DUI offense on June 17th, 2008. He was convicted on August 20th, 2008 in DeKalb County. The background check also revealed that his drivers license were revoked on February 22nd, 2010 for failure to file security after an accident on October 4th, 2009 in DeKalb County. Miranda was first charged with driving on a revoked license on October 3rd, 2009 and he was convicted March 31st, 2010 in DeKalb County.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has arrested two men for promoting the manufacture of methamphetamine
32 year old David Wayne Gaines of Short Mountain Street Smithville and 27 year old Bradley Shane Redmon of A.B. Frazier Road, Smithville were arrested on Wednesday, September 8th and they will appear in court on September 30th. Bond for each is $25,000
Sheriff Patrick Ray says a deputy went to Gaines’ home on Short Mountain Street in answer to a complaint of methamphetamine being cooked there. After arrival, the officer received consent to search the home. Redmon, who was also present, told the officer that he had a glass pot with him. Found in a spare bedroom of the home where Redmon was staying were the glass pot, heating element, plastic bottle with liquid residue, and a plastic bag that contained new and used wet coffee filters.
A search of the bathroom turned up a black bag that held a two liter bottle, which contained black and white substances, and there was a 16 ounce bottle containing a bi-layer liquid. The officer also found fans, tools, lithium batteries, tape, lighter fluid, and other items to manufacture methamphetamine.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, 24 year old Justin Lynn Murphy of 625 Restview Avenue, Smithville was arrested on Friday, September 10th and charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful manufacture of a schedule VI (marijuana), unlawful possession of a schedule IV controlled substance (xanax), and unlawful possession of a schedule II controlled substance (morphine). Murphy is under a $9,000 bond and his court date is September 30th.
Sheriff Ray says on Thursday, September 9th detectives accompanied probation officers to the home of Murphy to check on him. Found in the kitchen inside a planter pot were three marijuana plants. One larger marijuana plant was found growing outside the home by the steps. Authorities searched Murphy and found a pocket screwdriver. When the lid to the screwdriver came off, a pill believed to be xanax was found inside. Also found on Murphy and in his bedroom were a total of five hypodermic needles and six straws. The search of the bedroom further yielded a pill believed to be morphine.

Students from pre-k to the second grade will help raise money for their school during the 19th annual Wildcat Fun Run at Smithville Elementary School on Friday, September 17th.
Dr. Bill Tanner, SES Principal, says the Fun Run is a project of the school’s PTO. “For nineteen years, Smithville Elementary along with the PTO has put on a Fun Run. We used to do this with Northside Elementary but two or three years ago Northside decided they wanted to do something else. So now we’re doing it on our own. ”
“Our PTO does the whole thing on their own. It’s called the Fun Run. Children go out and they get pledges from family members and friends for walking laps and then that money goes into a pot. The PTO sponsors some things for us. They’ve bought benches in the past. They’ve helped re-mulch the playground, bought computers, helped with our P.A. system that we have in the gym. This last year we added some cameras to our security system. We get a safety grant from the Tennessee government but it only buys cameras internally. Some of those cameras we put outside on the playground so we can keep an eye on what’s going on outside or if somebody is on campus that doesn’t need to be.”
” They (PTO) have averaged from ten to fifteen thousand dollars raised during that time (Fun Run) and it comes in handy. They buy the things that we can’t normally buy out of our (school) budget. You can’t image how much a small amount of money that they (PTO) give helps us out during the year. Two times during the year, they give the teachers one hundred to two hundred dollars to go out and buy things for their classrooms. They feed them a couple of times during the year. Maybe a child needs some clothes, or maybe a child needs some other things. They (PTO) help pay for those things. And then the big things we need around campus like benches and other odds and ends that are normally not in our budget, the PTO helps buy those things. Twice or three times a year, they pay to have somebody come in and clean up around the campus, the shrubs that’s been planted and that type of thing.”
This event is held each year in an effort to raise money for the school. Students are asked to accept pledges or donations prior to the day of the run. During the Fun Run, students walk or jog on a track with each lap being recorded for each student. After the event, the students then collect money from their pledges.