In an effort to reduce overall costs to the county of providing inmate healthcare, the DeKalb County Commission has approved a one year contract with another company, Advanced Correctional Healthcare.
The agreement will take effect August 29.
A 60 day notice of termination has been given to the current provider, Southern Health Partners.
Although the new company’s services are more expensive, $204,000 per year compared to $175,000 for Southern Health Partners, Sheriff Patrick Ray believes the county will save money in the long run by having healthcare practitioners at the jail more often which could prevent taking inmates on unnecessary trips to the emergency room of the hospital for more costly treatment. “In the plan we’re on now we have a nurse who is there at the jail 32 hours a week. We have a doctor or a nurse practitioner from Southern Health Partners who comes in every other week or is on call as needed”.
“The proposal by the new healthcare company, Advanced Correctional Healthcare provides a doctor to us every week and we’ll have a nurse there for 12 hours a day, seven days a week. It gives us more healthcare coverage for inmates so we don’t have to take them to the emergency room all the time when the nurse is not there. We’re hoping this will cut down on some of our ER trips because a nurse will be there more often to view the inmates and determine what the next step will be,” the Sheriff said.
According to Sheriff Ray, when no doctor or nurse is on site and a prisoner gets sick, the protocol now is that a call is made to a nurse for a decision on whether to carry the inmate to the emergency room of the hospital. “The way our health care system is now , if an inmate gets sick after hours after the nurse has already left, we have to call the nurse. The nurse then has to call the doctor, and the doctor will make a determination what to do and call the nurse back, and then the nurse will call us. With this new program through Advanced Correctional Healthcare, our correctional officers will make the call and talk directly with the doctor and he will tell us what to do,” he said.
Advanced Correctional Healthcare will also be active in trying a negotiate a better deal for the county on medical services to inmates who have to be hospitalized or treated elsewhere. “In this plan is a bill reduction for the county. If we have to send an inmate to a hospital other than our local hospital then the company will take those bills and try to get a reduced rate. We’re hoping for a Medicare rate on those instead of full price,” he said.
“They have also agreed to take some bills left over from the prior healthcare company (Southern Health Partners) probably $100,000 worth of bills and get a reduced rate. We had one inmate that was airlifted out and we have a bill of $44,000 for the air helicopter that took him there (hospital) and also a bill for his three day stay at an outside hospital. They have agreed to try and get those costs reduced down,” said Sheriff Ray.
Advanced Correctional Healthcare also offers group pricing on office supplies and products that other entities of county government could share in to save money. “This healthcare company offers a program of group pricing on some things that the whole county can take advantage of. It can be anything from copy paper to ink pens and office furniture, etc. and we can also order mats, blankets, wash cloths, and other things at a reduced rate. We’re hoping with this that we can save an additional amount of money,” Sheriff Ray said.
The company will further reimburse the county if the jail does not house an average of 85 inmates per day. “We told them we averaged housing 85 inmates per day. In reality we’re at 70 to 75 inmates per day unless we have a court date coming up or something like that. They have agreed to refund money to the county if we do not have 85 prisoners per day so anything left over at the end of the month, if the average is below 85 inmates then they will reimburse us money back,” said Sheriff Ray.
The County Commission’s Emergency Services and Budget Committees recommended making the switch to Advanced Correctional Healthcare and the new contract was approved during the regular monthly meeting of the County Commission on Monday, June 27.
Funding for the new contract has been included in the proposed 2016-17 budget to be acted upon by the County Commission on Monday, July 25.

Smithville Police found drugs and a gun on a woman while answering a possible domestic call at the health department on Thursday, June 23.
35 year old Maranda Michelle Murphy is charged with simple possession of schedule III and IV drugs and methamphetamine. Her bond is $4,500 and she will be in court on July 21.
Police were called to the DeKalb County Health Department in reference to a possible domestic. Upon arrival an officer spoke with Murphy and found her to be evasive with him concerning her identity and she appeared to be trying to hide her purse. For the officer’s safety she was told to face him and when she turned he spotted in her purse the handle of what he knew to be a gun. The officer recovered the weapon and then cleared and secured it. After obtaining consent to search her vehicle, he found 2 baggies containing a crystallized substance weighing approximately 3 grams believed to be methamphetamine and some pills believed to be xanax and hydrocodone. Murphy had no prescription for the drugs.
31 year old Stephanie Sue Summers was cited for shoplifting at the Dollar General Store on Thursday, June 16. Summers was observed by store employees placing items in her purse. Her court date is July 14.
45 year old Johnny Darrell Murphy was arrested on Monday, June 20 for assault. Murphy allegedly punched the victim on the left side of the face leaving physical evidence of an open wound. After an investigation, police took Murphy into custody. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is July 14.
27 year old Jessica Hope Elkins was arrested on Thursday, June 23 for theft and simple possession of schedule II, IV & V drugs. Police were informed of a theft which had occurred earlier in the day and upon arrival at Elkins residence they found in Elkins’ purse medication that was taken from the victim. Elkins’ bond is $9,500.
57 year old David Anthony Watkins was arrested on Saturday, June 25 for public intoxication. Police responded to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital due to a belligerent patient. Upon Watkins’ release from the hospital, police tried several times to contact his family to pick him up but could not find anyone willing to do so. Due to his level of intoxication, Watkins was arrested and taken into custody. His bond is $1,000.
27 year old Mindy D. Reed was cited for shoplifting at the Dollar General Store on Tuesday, June 28. Store employees said they saw Reed putting items in her purse. Upon exiting the store, Reed was stopped and a search of her purse revealed unpaid for store property. Her court date is July 14.
Police cited two people for drug offenses on Tuesday, June 28. 44 year old Marina G. Cornett was cited for simple possession of a schedule VI drug and 54 year old Jackie Mark Mullican was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia. While conducting a probation search at Mullican’s residence, a small baggie of approximately 5 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was found on the couch where Cornett was sitting. Three burnt spoons with residue and a hypodermic needle were found in Mullican’s bathroom. Both will appear in court on July 21.

If you want to vote in the August 4 elections the last day to register with the local election commission is Tuesday (July 5).
“If you are not registered but want to participate in the August 4 elections, then Tuesday (July 5) is the last day you can register in person at the election office,” said Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections. “Our office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.”
“Tuesday’s voter registration deadline also applies to those who wish to register as property owners in the City of Smithville,” he added.
Five elections are set for August 4—the DeKalb County General Election, the Tennessee Republican and Democratic Primaries, and city elections in Smithville, Liberty and Dowelltown.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW SAMPLE BALLOT)
DekalbTN-PG6-InfinityNewspaper.pdf (37.26 KB)
“With elections on the mind of voters, it is also a good time to make sure your address is up to date,” said Stanley. “So many times voters move since the last time they voted and they fail to notify our office, which can cause a delay when they come to the polls. If you are not sure your voting address is current, call our office and we’ll be glad to check for you. Or you can check the address on your voter card. If that address is not where you currently live, you need to update it long before election day or before you participate in early voting.”
Early voting begins July 15 and runs through July 30. Early voting will be conducted on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse. Hours are Mondays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until Noon.

The Grand Champion Fiddler of the 45th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival is Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro, Tennessee.

For the second year in a row, Giri Peters of Nashville has won the top Jamboree award as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners.
Peters was crowned the Grand Champion fiddler Saturday and won the coveted James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award. Members of the Driver family made the award presentation including Driver’s grandson Robin Driver, grand daughter Kim Luton, and great grandchildren Russell Ambrose, Kiana Driver, and Jamie Driver.

The Rocky Top Revue of Franklin repeated as champions of the Square Dancing competition Saturday during the 45th annual Smithville Fiddlers ‘ Jamboree and Crafts Festival

Danny Roberts who competed on the Fiddlers Jamboree stage several years ago now has a professional career as a member of the popular group the Grascals but he took time out of his busy schedule to return to the Jamboree stage Saturday evening and was presented the Jamborees’ Blue Blaze Award, which is given to a musician who is actively cultivating a love of bluegrass music.
Roberts performed with his family and members of the Grascals.

Roberts began playing guitar to back up his friend Jimmy Mattingly (founding member, The Grascals) when the two were growing up on adjacent farms in Leitchfield, KY. Soon he was winning contests on his own as a guitarist and, eventually, mandolin player. In 1982 he co-founded the New Tradition, a dynamic, ground-breaking bluegrass/gospel group that toured the country for close to 20 years (the last ten on a full-time basis), recorded ten CDs, made “Seed Of Love,” the first bluegrass video to feature the banjo – it reached #1 on the TNN channel – appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, and helped to bring the bluegrass sound and gospel message to a new generation of fans. When the group dissolved in 2000, Danny went to work for Gibson Musical Instruments, where he rose to the position of plant manager at the company’s Original Acoustic Instruments luthiery. Still, he kept his hand in as a musician, giving workshops with mandolin colleagues like Sam Bush, Chris Thile and Bobby Osborne, making guest appearances with artists such as Marty Raybon, Larry Cordle and Melonie Cannon, and touring and recording with bluegrass/country veteran Ronnie Reno as a member of his band, the Reno Tradition, before reuniting with Mattingly in The Grascals in 2004. His solo recording, MANDOLIN ORCHARD, received extensive airplay and was touted by the Chicago Tribune as one of the Top 10 Bluegrass Releases of 2004. Roberts was also honored with the 2006 and 2008 SPBGMA Award for Mandolin Performer of the Year.

Two people were injured after their 2012 GMC Terrain struck a metal utility pole on West Broad Street Saturday morning near the ford dealership.
The driver, 67 year old James Taylor of Smithville and a passenger, 39 year old Shannon Taylor were taken by DeKalb EMS to St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital.
According to Trooper T.J. Withers of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Taylor was driving west when his vehicle left the highway to the right and then struck the curb and the pole. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
In addition to Trooper Withers and DeKalb EMS, members of the Smithville Police and Fire Departments were also on the scene to render assistance.

The Grand Champion Fiddler of the 45th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival is Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro, Tennessee.
She won the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award Saturday night after the Grand Finale Fiddle-Off between the best Junior and Senior Fiddler. The two day festival came to a close at around 10:30 p.m.
Phillips made it to the fiddle off by winning the Junior Fiddling competition and she won the Grand Championship by beating the winner of the Senior Fiddling contest Gail Johnson of Lavergne.
Phillips is also a two time Jamboree fiddling champion of the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners in 2012 and 2013.
Winners in the Saturday session of the Fiddler’s Jamboree are as follows:
Junior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages up to 39): First Place-Hillary Klug of Shelbyville; Second Place- Chris Stewart of Hermitage; and Third Place- Justin Yates of Adams, Tennessee.
Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Tommy Scruggs, Jr. of Hartsville; Second Place- Thomas Maupin of Murfreesboro; and Third Place- Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro.
Senior Buck Dancing (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Thomas Maupin of Murfreesboro; Second Place- Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro; and Third Place- Ruth Alpert of Santa Barbara, California.
Senior Clogging (Ages 40 & Over): First Place-Tammy Scruggs of Hartsville; Second Place- Darrin Stryker of Crossville; and Third Place- Sherry Guenther of Monterey.
Bluegrass Banjo: First Place-Joey Gipson of Manchester; Second Place-Kurt Stephenson of Dyersburg; and Third Place- Garry Adams of Joelton.
Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39): First Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro; Second Place- Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro; and Third Place- Tyler Andal of Nashville.
Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Tyler Andal of Nashville; Second Place- Daniel Amick of Centerville; and Third Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna.
Contest Fiddle (Neil Dudney Award): First Place- Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro; Second Place- Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro; and Third Place- Hillary Klug of Shelbyville. The Neil Dudney Award was presented to Phillips by Dudney’s grandsons Ethan, Brandon, and Dylan Shaw.
Bluegrass Band: First Place- Tennessee Bluegrass of Dyersburg; Second Place- Pocket Change of Murfreesboro; and Third Place-Blue Hart of Chapmansboro.
Senior Fiddlers ( Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Gail Johnson of Lavergne; Second Place- Marcia Denton of Murfreesboro; and Third Place- Tim Daniels of Lawrenceburg
Square Dancing: First Place-Rocky Top Revue of Franklin; Second Place- Harpeth River of Franklin ; and Third Place- Main Stage Fusion of Springfield.
Meanwhile, for the second year in a row, a Nashville boy has won the top Jamboree award as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners. (VIEW SEPARATE STORY FOR PHOTOS OF WINNERS)
Giri Peters was crowned the Grand Champion fiddler Saturday and won the coveted James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award, named for the man who started the children’s competition during the 1980’s as part of the annual Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival. Members of the Driver family made the award presentation including Driver’s grandson Robin Driver, grand daughter Kim Luton, and great grandchildren Russell Ambrose, Kiana Driver, and Jamie Driver.
In addition to winning the top fiddler prize, Peters also captured first place in the Dobro Guitar, Mandolin, and Flat Top Guitar competition.
Peters also repeated as the “Entertainer of the Year”. The award is presented to the best overall instrumental entertainer among winners in the dobro guitar, mandolin, five string banjo, and flat top guitar competition.
The National Championship for Country Musician Beginners showcases the talents of children up to age twelve in seven categories of competition.
This year’s winners are as follows:
Fiddle: First Place- Giri Peters of Nashville; Second Place- Mary Parker of Mountain View, Arkansas; and Third Place- Iris Shepherd of Henry, Tennessee
Buck Dancing: First Place- Kaelin Wade of Paris, Tennessee; Second Place- Braden Chunn of Greenbrier, and Third Place- Gracie Parrish of Pleasant View
Clogging: First Place- Braden Chunn of Greenbrier, Second Place- Gracie Parrish of Pleasant View, and Third Place- Kaelin Wade of Paris, Tennessee.
Dobro Guitar: First Place- Giri Peters of Nashville; Second Place- Maddie McKenney of Cullman, Alabama; and Third Place- Uma Peters of Nashville
Mandolin: First Place-Giri Peters of Nashville; Second Place-Mary Parker of Mountain View, Arkansas; and Third Place- Braden Chunn of Greenbrier.
Five String Banjo: First Place- Uma Peters of Nashville; Second Place- Conner Derryberry of Shelbyville; and Third Place- Cooper Brown of Smithville
Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Giri Peters of Nashville; Second Place- Robert Wheeler of Smithville; and Third Place- Gordon Parker of Mountain View, Arkansas

For the second year in a row, a Nashville boy has won the top Jamboree award as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners.
Giri Peters was crowned the Grand Champion fiddler Saturday and won the coveted James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award, named for the man who started the children’s competition during the 1980’s as part of the annual Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival. Members of the Driver family made the award presentation including Driver’s grandson Robin Driver, grand daughter Kim Luton, and great grandchildren Russell Ambrose, Kiana Driver, and Jamie Driver.
In addition to winning the top fiddler prize, Peters also captured first place in the Dobro Guitar, Mandolin, and Flat Top Guitar competition.
Peters also repeated as the “Entertainer of the Year”. The award is presented to the best overall instrumental entertainer among winners in the dobro guitar, mandolin, five string banjo, and flat top guitar competition.
The National Championship for Country Musician Beginners showcases the talents of children up to age twelve in seven categories of competition.
This year’s winners are as follows:
Fiddle: First Place- Giri Peters of Nashville; Second Place- Mary Parker of Mountain View, Arkansas; and Third Place- Iris Shepherd of Henry, Tennessee
Buck Dancing: First Place- Kaelin Wade of Paris, Tennessee; Second Place- Braden Chunn of Greenbrier, and Third Place- Gracie Parrish of Pleasant View
Clogging: First Place- Braden Chunn of Greenbrier, Second Place- Gracie Parrish of Pleasant View, and Third Place- Kaelin Wade of Paris, Tennessee.
Dobro Guitar: First Place- Giri Peters of Nashville; Second Place- Maddie McKenney of Cullman, Alabama; and Third Place- Uma Peters of Nashville
Mandolin: First Place-Giri Peters of Nashville; Second Place-Mary Parker of Mountain View, Arkansas; and Third Place- Braden Chunn of Greenbrier.
Five String Banjo: First Place- Uma Peters of Nashville; Second Place- Conner Derryberry of Shelbyville; and Third Place- Cooper Brown of Smithville
Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Giri Peters of Nashville; Second Place- Robert Wheeler of Smithville; and Third Place- Gordon Parker of Mountain View, Arkansas