The DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department quickly snuffed out a small fire at the home of John Atnip Thursday night at 6625 Jacobs Pillar Road.
Central dispatch received the call at 6:35 p.m.
County Fire Chief Donny Green says Atnip was sitting on his front porch when he noticed a ceiling fan light go out. When he went back inside the house, he saw fire and smoke coming through a wall near the ceiling at the top of the staircase on the second floor. Atnip filled a coffee pot with water and poured it on the blaze, but couldn’t extinguish it. Atnip called 911.
Members of the county fire department, who were in the area returning from a grass fire on Pea Ridge, rushed to the Atnip home and were able to quickly put out the fire. Green says the firefighters used very little water but there was some smoke and heat damage. The fire damage was confined to the upstairs hallway and the top of the staircase near the ceiling. Firefighters had to tear out part of the wall and ceiling to get to the smoldering fire.
Chief Green says the cause of the blaze appeared to be electrical.
Members of the Blue Springs, Keltonburg, Short Mountain, and Main Station tanker responded along with DeKalb EMS and the Sheriff’s Department. No one was injured.
Meanwhile in a follow-up on the fire at the home of Jerry Williams after midnight on Thursday morning, Tammy Speakman, daughter of Mr. Williams sent WJLE an e-mail with an update on his condition. Speakman wrote “My father, Jerry Williams, is recovering well at Vanderbilt’s Burn Unit. He did receive burns to his hands, feet and back, escaping the house fire. My sister, Cindy Flarity and I, and his grandchildren Savanna Speakman and Aspen Flarity, would like to thank the Fire Department and EMS of DeKalb County, Vanderbilt Burn Unit, and everyone who has called, texted and helped in any way, for doing a Great Job. It is times like this that we can really appreciate what our community, professionals, and friends are there for.
Unfortunately, the house could not be saved, but most importantly, our father and grandpa is doing well.”
Williams’ wife Pam would also like to express her appreciation.

A Smithville man received burns and smoke inhalation while escaping from his home which caught fire around midnight on Pine Grove Road.
Central dispatch received the call at 12:08 a.m.
County Fire Chief Donny Green says Jerry Williams of 161 Pine Grove Road was in his bedroom watching television when a fire started in the kitchen. “Shortly after midnight we got a call to go to 161 Pinegrove Road off the Cookeville Highway to a reported structure fire. When we got there we realized that we had a victim and DeKalb EMS was already there treating him. He was apparently the occupant of the home. He lived in his daughter’s house. His name is Jerry Williams. He was in the back bedroom watching television. His dog started barking erratically. Williams smelled the smoke and then he opened the bedroom door to investigate what was going on and realized that the house was full of smoke. So he had to get down on his knees to crawl up the hallway to the back of the house where the kitchen was. He saw the kitchen was on fire and he had to go out a door. In the process of getting out, he received some burns to his back, hands, and arms. Also during the course of exiting, he apparently had some respiratory injuries due to breathing in the super heated air. So EMS was treating him and it’s my understanding they transported him to DeKalb Community Hospital and he was later transferred to Vanderbilt Hospital. We don’t know exactly what caused the fire. We know it started in the kitchen and it’s still under investigation. The home was totally destroyed. When we got there the whole back end of the house had fire coming out of the windows and out of the roof. We attempted to make entry through the front to put out the fire but it was already too involved. We had to do an exterior attack just to keep it from spreading to other properties there.” Two dogs and a parrot were also lost in the blaze.
Members of the Cookeville Highway, Short Mountain Highway, Midway, and the Main Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded along with DeKalb EMS and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

Cooler weather, campfires, storytelling, roasting marshmallows – a chance to snuggle down under blankets – all these are pleasant happenings in the fall and are part of Edgar Evins State Park’s 5th Annual History Hayride, on Center Hill Lake Saturday, October 16. There are still a number of seats available!
This is a wholesome, family-oriented event rather than a Halloween ride although one of the new characters will be a gravedigger from the 1930s when bodies were exhumed from existing cemeteries to be reinterred during the construction of Center Hill Reservoir. Some of the other characters will include an area moonshiner, a local foxhunter, and the Revolutionary War veteran who founded the town of Liberty. Back by popular demand will be Elizabeth Dale, the lovely daughter of the founder of Liberty who later became known as “The Black Widow of Hazel Green.”
Click here to listen to Park Manager Carl Halfacre talk about the History Hayride
As many as nine wagon loads will leave at 30-minute intervals from the park’s office at the observation tower. The ride will take approximately 90 minutes to make a complete circuit, stopping at several scenes where costumed re-enactors will present historical sketches.
Hosted by the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park, this event is an opportunity to learn about the history of the park and the area, while enjoying fresh air and spectacular lake and hillside scenic views. Reserve your spot now as this event sells out quickly! Admission is $10 per person, with all proceeds benefiting the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park whose efforts help improve and preserve the park. Light refreshments also will be served, including marshmallows – and it is recommended you BYOB (Bring Your Own Blanket) and dress warmly in layers. Phone the park office for reservations: (931) 858-2446 or toll free at (800) 250-8619.
Edgar Evins State Park is located on the shores of Center Hill Lake in the steep, hilly Eastern Highland Rim. The 6,000-acre park provides excellent recreational opportunities and accommodations on one of the most beautiful reservoirs in Tennessee. Wildlife is abundant, including three different owl species, numerous hawks and wintering bald eagles as well as the rare Cerulean Warbler – a summer resident of the park’s mixed hardwood forests, which include stands of Tulip Poplar, Oak, Hickory, Buckeye and Wild Cherry. The park was dedicated in 1975 and named for James Edgar Evins, a DeKalb County businessman and mayor of nearby Smithville. As a two-term state senator, Evins was instrumental in the development of Center Hill Dam and Reservoir. For more information about the History Hayride, please call (800) 250-8619. Additional information about the park can be found at www.tnstateparks.com/EdgarEvins.

Enjoy chili and delicious baked goods while helping raise money for Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County during the 7th annual Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale Friday, October 29th at the 303 building downtown Smithville.
Serving time will be from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. YOU BE THE JUDGE! Purchase your bowl for $5.00 (or $10 for a pottery bowl) and eat all the chili you want from all the teams and vote for your favorite! Come and have lunch. Take out available. All proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County.
Tecia Puckett Pryor says the chili cook-off and bake sale is one of two major fundraisers held during the year for Habitat. “We just completed our third Habitat house and we’ll be starting on our fourth house next year and we’ll be choosing a family this winter. So the proceeds from this year’s cook-off will be going toward that house.”
The event last year raised approximately $3,500
Last year “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials won the “Best Chili” award, and “Monster Mash” from the DeKalb County Board of Education followed in second place. In the decorating contest, the “Red Hot Chili Papers” from The Smithville Review won first place honors.
For more information or to enter a team, contact Tecia Pryor at 615-597-7370 or Jeff McMillen at 597-4153.
Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity builds and renovates houses in partnership with volunteers and families in need, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged. To contact Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, please call 215-8181.

The Smithville Mayor and Aldermen want more information before deciding on whether or not to apply for a downtown revitalization grant.
Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber announced last week in a press release that applications are now being accepted for Tennessee Downtowns, a competitive community improvement program for cities and counties seeking to revitalize traditional commercial districts. The program is open to communities with downtown commercial districts established at least 50 years ago and whose citizens are ready to organize efforts for downtown revitalization based on the successful program “Main Street Four-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalization.” Applications are available online at www.tennesseemainstreet.org and must be completed by Monday, Nov. 8.
“Having a thriving downtown benefits and promotes economic development efforts for a community and lays the groundwork for a growing local economy,” said ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber. “The Tennessee Downtowns program is the first step toward reviving a community’s central business district in a comprehensive, sustainable way.”
Mayor Taft Hendrixson said Monday night during the city council meeting that he would contact the state to learn more about the program. “We’ll call and see what the grant match is, if any. I think we have $10,000 in our budget for that project (downtown beautification) but we’ll find out what the match is and what’s available and what it can be used for.”
Alderman Steve White then made a motion that the city “check into it and then move forward it, but first come back with the numbers for final approval.”
The aldermen approved White’s motion.
Tennessee Downtowns is a tiered program affiliated with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s Tennessee Main Street Program. Communities selected to participate in Tennessee Downtowns will form a volunteer committee of local citizens who will participate in a multi-month training curriculum supported by the National Main Street Center. The curriculum is designed to teach citizens about comprehensive, sustainable downtown revitalization and historic preservation. The training includes attendance at a two-day downtown revitalization workshop and a grant to complete individualized downtown development projects.
Communities participating in the Tennessee Downtowns program may wish to continue a self-initiated downtown revitalization effort at the end of the program or apply for certification in the Tennessee Main Street Program through the competitive application process. Successful completion of the Tennessee Downtowns program does not automatically result in qualification for the Main Street program.
Main Street revitalization is a comprehensive, incremental, self-help economic strategy that also focuses on developing public-private partnerships to enhance community livability and job creation, while maintaining the historic character of the district. For information about the Main Street Program and the Main Street Four Point Approach, visit http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/about-main-street/.
Tennessee’s Main Street program provides communities with technical assistance and guidance in developing long-term strategies that promote economic growth and development. The program provides information and assistance in forging public networking and training opportunities for downtown commercial districts.
For more information about Tennessee Downtowns, visit www.tennesseemainstreet.org.

A Smithville man who suffered a gunshot to the abdomen in September 2009 during what his assailant described as an argument over a drug deal died last Friday from complications of the wound.
Based on Saturday’s autopsy findings, the death of Donald Taylor, 61, is being classified as a homicide.
The Metro Nashville Police Department, in a prepared news release states that the suspect in the case, Keith Collier, 45, was indicted last December on charges of especially aggravated robbery, unlawful weapon possession by a convicted felon and drug selling. He remains jailed and is scheduled to appear in Criminal Court next month. South Precinct detectives have made prosecutors aware of Taylor’s death.
Taylor was shot in the 100 block of Lafayette Street in Nashville on the evening of September 1, 2009. Taylor then drove to a convenience market on 8th Avenue South from where he telephoned for help. Investigation by South Precinct Detective Brandon Dozier led to the identification of Collier as the man involved in the fatal confrontation with Taylor.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is re-bidding the rehabilitation of the Hurricane Bridge after rejecting the one and only bid received last month.
Jennifer Flynn, Community Relations Officer in the Chattanooga TDOT Office told WJLE Monday that bids for the project were due September 17th, but only one bid was submitted. According to Flynn, Bell & Associates of Brentwood bid $39.5 million dollars and TDOT rejected it for being “over estimates” .TDOT officials have said that the estimate for the project is $12 to $15 million dollars.
TDOT is accepting bids again on the project through October 29th. According to the notice posted on TDOT’s website, the contractor has until October 31st, 2013 to complete the project.
Flynn said the project will entail a rehabilitation of the existing bridge. ” The rehabilitation project will replace the deck at the bridge. New guardrails will be installed and it will strengthen the steel structure underneath and make the bridge a lot safer and it won’t have to be weight posted anymore upon completion of the project.”
The rehabilitation of Hurricane Bridge is among the projects to be funded through TDOT’s Better Bridge bonding program in the fiscal year 2010-11 state budget, which was approved by the legislature this year.

If you are interested in managing the Municipal Golf Course and Swimming Pool for the City of Smithville, the mayor and aldermen would like for you to submit a written proposal to the city before the next meeting on October 18th.
The aldermen Monday night voted to seek written proposals from interested parties and publish an advertisement in the local newspapers. The mayor and aldermen stress, however, that the city is not looking for bids to lease the golf course and pool at this time, only proposals to manage the operation for the city.
Alderman Aaron Meeks made the suggestion during Monday night’s meeting, “I understand there’s some folks interested in taking it over (golf course and pool). I don’t know who they are or what they’re proposing. I don’t have any information other than there are people who have contacted who are interested. Would it be feasible, and we are not asking for bids, to ask whomever these folks may be, to give us a written proposal of what they think they would do if they were able to become the manager of the golf course.”
Alderman Steve White said he thought Meeks had a good idea. “I think that would be definitely appropriate.”
Farron Hendrix, doing business as Smithville Golf Management LLC has given notice to the mayor and aldermen of his intention to terminate the lease agreement with the city to operate the municipal golf course and swimming pool, effective October 23rd.
In the notice, Hendrix adds “Smithville Golf Management, LLC also agrees to assist the city in the management of the golf club until the new management can be secured.”
Basically, the city has two options: To re-bid the lease of the golf course and swimming pool to someone else; or the city could assume control of the operation and hire someone to manage it.
Last month, Alderman Steve White suggested that the city contact the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Recreation Educational Services Division first to see what grant opportunities are available to improve the golf course and pool operation, as well as other city owned parks and recreation areas before taking action on the future of the golf course. White said Monday night that he has tried but has not yet been able to make contact with state officials to set up a meeting.
Mayor Hendrixson last month appointed a committee made up of Aldermen Steve White, W.J.(Dub) White, and Aaron Meeks to join him in setting up a meeting with whoever the state sends here to tour the city’s parks and learn more about what funding sources are available to improve and possibly expand the city’s existing recreational areas.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department made three arrests last week for traffic offenses.
25 year old Brandon Keith Thomas of West Broad Street was charged with a first offense of driving under the influence on Friday, October 1st.
Sheriff Ray says an officer was on West Bryant Street when he met a vehicle coming from the opposite direction. After passing the officer, the vehicle then ran off the road. The deputy turned around and stopped to investigate. He noticed that the driver, Thomas, had slurred speech and he was unsteady on his feet. Thomas submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed but he refused to submit to a blood test
Bond for Thomas is $1,500 and his court date is October 21s. Thomas was also issued a citation for violation of the implied consent law for failure to submit to a blood test.
25 year old John Bryan Pedigo of Lee Homer Road, Smithville was charged Friday, October 1st with a first offense of driving on a revoked license.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says a deputy, while on routine patrol on Dry Creek Road, noticed Pedigo operating a motor vehicle. Having prior knowledge of Pedigo’s license being revoked, the officer made a traffic stop. A computer check confirmed that Pedigo’s license were revoked for failure to file security after an accident on May 10th.
Bond for Pedigo is $1,500 and he will be in court on October 28th.
49 year old Jesse Lynn Epps was charged Saturday, October 2nd with driving on a revoked license.
Sheriff Ray says a deputy, while on routine patrol saw a vehicle turn into a business on Highway 70 east. The officer stopped the vehicle and made contact with the driver, Epps who said his license were revoked. A computer check verified that his license were revoked for a DUI conviction on August 25th, 2005 in Warren County,
Bond for Epps is $1,500 and his court date is November 3rd.

Saturday, October 2nd started just like any other “contest Saturday” for the DCHS Fighting Tiger Band. They were set to perform at the Blue Devil Marching Invitational band contest at Lebanon High School.
The Band gathered at DeKalb County High School at noon for a rehearsal in preparation for their 5:30 performance in Lebanon. The students were on the practice field, cleaning and perfecting small trouble spots in their marching show titled, “Big Top Catastrophe.”
The Parents and Boosters were buzzing around the band room working on the new back drop for the show. The new set is designed to look like a “Big Top Circus Tent” and it is a full ten yards long. This is, by far, the biggest prop that the band has ever used in a marching show.
At the end of the rehearsal, the Band packed up and boarded their buses and made their way to Lebanon. Upon arrival, one thing had changed…the weather, more specifically, THE WIND. The National Weather Service reported winds at the Nashville International Airport, the closest reporting location to Lebanon, at 18mph with wind gusts as high as 25mph. This made for some interesting moments for the Parents and Boosters who had taken on the task of moving around the new set piece.
The 30ft long, 8ft high prop acted as a sail in the wind. Six parents gave everything they had to move the set into place for the band’s performance. Just as the band stepped on the field, the wind gave one final gust that snapped the set in half. Director Jonathan Wright made the quick call to get the prop off the field for the safety of the students.
With the “wind sail” removed from the field, “The Show Must go On.” The Contest announcer said, “Now entering the field, The DeKalb County Fighting Tiger Band from Smithville, Tennessee. Their show is entitled, ‘Big Top Catastrophe.'” Assistant Director, Mr. Joey Wilburn, jokingly said, “Well, we’ve already taken care of the ‘catastrophe’ part.”
At awards time, the Big Top Catastrophe (the prop, not the show), was the last thing on anyone’s mind. The DeKalb County Band finished in 1st place in Class 2A. DCHS Field Commander, Katie Merriman, also won 1st place in Class 2A. The score sheets indicated that the band scored 2nd highest in the Small Division, which is the combination of the three smallest classes, 3A, 2A, & 1A. Katie Merriman also scored highest in the Small Division. Percussion and Color Guard received 2nd highest scores in Class 2A.
“I would like to thank all of the parents that help our band operate, but I would like to say a special thank you to the parents that were fighting our gigantic prop,” said Mr. Wright. “Our band doesn’t operate without the dedication of our students and parents. As our band continues to improve, I’m very excited about completing the show for our football and contest audience. I’m very proud of our band this year, they are working very hard and I think you’ll really enjoy what we have in store.”
The band has a few weeks to prepare for their next contest, but will continue to perform during half-time of the DCHS Tiger Football games.
· 10/8 – Macon County Home Game (Senior Night)
· 10/15 – Upperman High School Away Game
· 10/29 – Livingston Academy Away Game
· 10/30 – Mid-South Marching Invitational Contest at Austin Peay State University
· 11/6 – Division II State Contest at Independence High School
You are also invited to come out and support the DCHS Band during the Tiger Football Bye Week at their Chili Supper on Friday, October 22nd at Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church on 201 South College Street. Tickets are just $5 each and include a bowl of chili, crackers, a desert, and drink. Tickets can be purchased from any DCHS Band Student or Booster or at the door. Your help and support would be greatly appreciated.
You can learn more about the Band on Facebook or log onto www.DekalbBand.com.