Ray Donald Slagle

68 year old Ray Donald Slagle of Red Boiling Springs died Friday at Riverview Regional Medical Center in Carthage. He was a member of the Pisgah United Methodist Church. The funeral will be Monday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in the Mount Holly Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Chadwell and Gladys Jones Slagle. Survivors include a brother, Jerry and his wife Patty Slagle of Dixon Springs. A nephew, Steve and his wife Chryson Slagle of Carthage, and nieces, Anita and her husband Bubba Dunbar of Defeated and Hollie and her husband Michael Fisher Farmer of Gordonsville. One great nephew and five great nieces also survive. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Billy Gene Thomason

69 year old Billy Gene Thomason died Friday morning at his residence in Smithville. He was a member of the Covenant Baptist Church, a U.S. Army Veteran, and he served 28 years as constable and member of the Tennessee Constable Council. The funeral will be Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Bobby Thomason will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 3:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Vivian Thomason; a daughter, Kathy Sue Thomason; a grandchild, Joshua Lee Murphy; great grandchildren, Adarn and Kaiden Reese. A brother, James Thomason; and sisters, Patsy Thomason and Wanda Jenkins. Survivors include his wife, Mary Thomason of Smithville. Children, Tammy Thomason and Billie Robin Bibby both of Smithville. Grandchildren, Billy Martin, Shawn Buck, Danny Ray Murphy, and Robin Beth Buck all of Smithville. Great grandchildren, Damien Martin and Keith Buck of Smithville. Sisters, Louise Jones, Virginia Jones, Fay Simmons, Betty Certain, and Janice Pollard all of Smithville. A brother, Jonah Thomason. A special uncle, Tommy George and a special life long friend and mother of his children, Ruth Thomason. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. The family has requested that donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to DeKalb Funeral Chapel, to help with funeral expenses.

Earnest (Sonny) Harville

The funeral for 63 year old Earnest (Sonny) Harville will be Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Baxter Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Odd Fellows Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday after 7:00 a.m. Survivors include his wife, Ruby Harville; a son, Wayne Harville; and a sister, Betty Palk. Whitson Funeral Home/Baxter Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Homer O. Pedigo

90 year old Homer O. Pedigo of McMinnville died Wednesday at his residence of an extended illness. He was a farmer and a member of the Baptist Church. The funeral will be Friday at 2:00 p.m. at Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home in McMinnville. Ray Gilder and Ricky Stewart will officiate and burial will be in the Providence Cemetery in McMinnville. The family will receive friends Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee F. and Tennie Bond Pedigo; three brothers, John Pedigo, Edward Pedigo, and Dan Pedigo; and a sister, Alta Burton. He was the husband of Emma L. Roller Pedigo for 65 years. Survivors include a daughter, Emma J. and her husband James Steeley of Mount Juliet. A son, Rayburn O. and his wife Cynthia Pedigo of McMinnville. Four grandchildren, Russell and his wife Teresa Pedigo, Brad and his wife Sandy Pedigo, Jonathan and his wife Jenny Steeley, and Melody and her husband Thomas Greene. Ten great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends survive. Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Joan Dickey Anderson

Paducah Kentucky native and former McMinnville resident, Joan Dickey Anderson died at home on St Simons Island Georgia May 27th. Born September 28, 1929 in Paducah, she was the daughter of the late John E. and Mary King Dickey, who moved to McMinnville shortly after her birth and opened a florist business. A graduate of Central high school, Mrs. Anderson studied music and English at the University of Kentucky and Peabody College. A talented keyboardist, Joan provided music at many weddings, and events in McMinnville. After moving to Sebring FL, in 1985 she joined fellow musicians to form The Sun Dance Band which performed regularly until early 2007. A voracious reader, she was a generous supporter of literacy and made many contributions to Magness Library. She is survived by her husband, J.W. Anderson of St Simons; children and spouses, Dickey and Lisa Anderson of St Simons, Nancy and John Prince of Sewanee, Mary and Bill Wilson of Knoxville, Jack and Pamela Anderson of Smithville, and Caroline Anderson of Nashville. Eleven grandchildren also survive. Her remains were cremated. A celebration of her life will be held at Magness Library in McMinnville on Sunday June 1from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Magness Library.

Delbert Lamar Tochterman

59 year old Delbert Lamar Tochterman of Murfreesboro died Saturday. He was a native of Asheville, North Carolina and the son of the late John and Jessie Mae Tinsley Tochterman. The funeral service will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Anderson-Rice Funeral Home in Asheville, North Carolina and burial will be in the Green Hills Cemetery with Military Honors. He is survived by his niece, Candy Thomas of Murfreesboro. Sisters, Brenda and her husband Billy Thomas of Arkansas and Martha Tochterman of Ashville, North Carolina. Three nieces, four nephews, eight great nephews, and one great niece. Tochterman was a U.S. Army Veteran. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel.

Robert H. Driver

87 year old Robert H. Driver of Alexandria died Tuesday at NHC Healthcare Center in Smithville. He was a farmer, a Smith County native, and a member of the West Main Baptist Church in Alexandria. The funeral will be Thursday at 3:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Amos Jarman and Phillip Lane will officiate and burial will be in Hillview Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tosh and Minnie Belle Hunt Driver; his wife of 62 years, Lorene Driver; brothers, Charlie, Herman, Odis, Willie, Claude, and Clyde Driver; and sisters, Bessie Ballinger, Bonnie George, and Johnnie Wilkerson. Survivors include a daughter, Betty Sue Vaughn of Smithville. Grandchildren, Randy and his wife Natasha Vaughn of Alexandria and Cindy Vaughn of Murfreesboro. Great grandchildren, Drake Vaughn and Ellie Grace Vaughn both of Alexandria. A sister, Lura Bell and her husband Riley Cox of Lebanon. Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria is in charge of the arrangements.

Eight People Involved In Three Vehicle Wreck Near Hurricane Bridge

Eight people were involved in a three vehicle wreck Monday night around 7:40 p.m. on Highway 56 north near Hurricane Bridge, including an off duty Smithville Police Officer, who was in his personal vehicle.
Trooper Dewaine Jennings of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 39 year old Julie Ann Rogers of Murfreesboro was driving south in a 2005 Jeep Liberty when she failed to negotiate a curve, slid across the road, and struck a northbound 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix head-on, driven by 26 year old Travis K. Bryant of Algood, an off duty Smithville Police Officer. Meanwhile, after the initial crash, a 2000 Chevy Tracker, driven by 19 year old Jacob Kyle Walker of Cookeville, rear-ended Bryant’s car.
Rogers and her son and daughter, 9 year old Phillip Hall and 13 month old Alana Hall were taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital. The baby, who was in a child safety seat, was not hurt. The boy suffered burns to his face when the air bag in front of him deployed. Mrs. Rogers was also injured. They were treated and released from the hospital.
Bryant and a passenger of his car, 21 year old Darla Emberton of Smithville were taken by DeKalb EMS to Cookeville Regional Hospital.
Walker and passengers of his truck, 21 year old Joshua Benton Ragland and 20 year old Grant Matheny Cooper all of Cookeville were not injured.
Trooper Jennings says Rogers was charged with failure to maintain the proper lane of travel and violation of the financial responsibility law.
Walker was charged with violation of the registration law, violation of the financial responsibility law, a drivers license violation, and consumption of alcohol under age 21.
Cooper was also charged with consumption of alcohol under age 21.

SUV Goes Over Embankment on Big Rock Road

Four people were injured Monday afternoon around 4:45 p.m. when the 1997 Ford Explorer they were in went off Big Rock Road and over a steep embankment.
Trooper Dewaine Jennings of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 43 year old David Spencer Vaughn of 714 South College Street was driving north in the Ford Explorer, going too fast, and failed to properly negotiate a curve. The SUV went off the road to the left, but Vaughn overcorrected, causing the vehicle to go back across the road and overturn. The SUV went off the right side of the road and rolled approximately 150 to 200 feet down an embankment, before coming to rest upright on it’s wheels in the hollow below.
42 year old Michelle Paiva-Nunez, her 14 year old son, Keith Clifford Lafreniere II, and 43 year old Ellis Dywane Mullins, all of 715 Long Street, were passengers of the Ford Explorer.
According to Trooper Jennings, Vaughn, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected as the SUV began to overturn. The passengers were restrained.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and Extrication Team and DeKalb County Rescue Squad were on the scene along with DeKalb EMS.
Firefighters had to pry open one of the doors to the vehicle to get to Paiva-Nunez, who was trapped.
Because of the steep climb back up the hill to the road, a basket and rope were used to carry Paiva-Nunez. The other two, Mullins and Lafreniere, apparently made it back up under their own power.
All except Vaughn were transported from the scene by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital. Vaughn initially refused treatment and was taken to the DeKalb County Jail, where he was charged with driving under the influence, felony reckless endangerment, violation of the implied consent law, not wearing a seatbelt, and violation of the financial responsibility law. His bond is $12,500. Vaughn was later released and taken to a Nashville hospital for treatment, after complaining of pains.
The crash was investigated by Troopers Dewaine Jennings and Brian Raymond of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Officers of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene.
Meanwhile, a 24 year old man was injured in another wreck Monday night around 9:45 p.m. at a different location on Big Rock Road.
Trooper Todd Logan of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Brandon Taylor of Smithville was driving a 2003 Chevy Silverado pickup truck south when he went off the road.
According to Trooper Logan, Taylor claims he was blinded by the bright lights from an oncoming vehicle as he came around a curve, causing him to go off the road and some 20 feet off an embankment.
Taylor was taken to DeKalb Community Hospital where he was treated and released.

Velma Farler

95 year old Velma Farler of the Snow Hill Community died Sunday. She was a life long member and at the time of her death, the oldest member, of the Snow Hill United Methodist Church. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at the Snow Hill United Methodist Church where visitation will be Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Royce Martin and Doyle Slager will officiate. Burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Farler was preceded in death by her parents, Johnny F. and Ellie Crook Hendrixson; her husband, Othel Claxton Farler, and a brother, James Monroe Hendrixson. Survivors include a daughter, Billie Sue Parker of Smithville. A grandson, Kenneth W. Parker and his wife Doris of Gallatin. Memorials may be made, in lieu of flowers, to the Snow Hill United Methodist Church, 3895 Dale Ridge Road, Liberty 37095. The Family Heritage Funeral Home in Gallatin is in charge of the arrangements.