A Smithville man was airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga Saturday night after a two vehicle accident on New Home Road.
Trooper Darrell Knowles of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Greg Mayo was traveling north on New Home Road when the Ford pickup truck he was driving went over the center line and sideswiped a southbound Ford truck, driven by Douglas Barnes.
According to Trooper Knowles, Mayo told him he looked down for an instant making a call on his cell phone when the accident occurred.
Barnes’ truck went off the road into a ditch and then struck a fence. Barnes apparently swerved to try to avoid the collision but was unsuccessful.
Mayo was taken by DeKalb EMS to the parking lot of DeKalb Middle School where he was airlifted by a helicopter ambulance and flown to Erlanger Hospital.
Barnes and a passenger of his truck were not injured.
Members of the Main Station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department along with the Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene.
The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department reportedly set up the landing zone for the helicopter.

The DeKalb County Tigers will meet the Greenbrier Bobcats in the first round of the TSSAA football play-offs Friday night, November 6th.
The Tigers, a fifth seed, will have to travel as they take on the 4th seeded Bobcats at Greenbrier. Both teams finished 6-4 during the regular season. The winner of the game will advance in the state play-offs to meet either Maplewood or Scott County on November 13th.
Maplewood, who finished the regular season at 6-4, is a number one seed. Scott County, who has a 4-6 record, is an eighth seed.
Meanwhile, Livingston Academy, a number three seed at 7-3, will host Stone Memorial, a sixth seed at 3-7. The winner of that game will advance to meet the winner of Whites Creek, a number seven seed at 7-3, and the second seeded White House Blue Devils who had a regular season record of 6-4

A great crowd turned out on Friday to enjoy chili and delicious baked goods at Habitat for Humanity’s Sixth Annual Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale, which was held at the 303 Building on the square. “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.
According to Tom Janney, President of the local Habitat Board of Directors, the event raised approximately $3,500.00, which will be used toward the building of the third Habitat house in DeKalb County. “This was possibly the best turnout we have had for the Chili Cook-off,” said Janney. “We appreciate all the chili teams for their hard work and dedication to this event and to everyone who brought the delicious baked goods. This is a great community event and a great help to Habitat,” Janney added.
Twelve teams participated in the event, including the “Sligo Canvas Shop Chili Toppers” from Sligo Canvas Shop, “Liberty Bell Peppers” from Liberty State Bank, “BTU Chili – Best Tasting Utility Chili” from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, the “Red Hot Chili Papers” from The Smithville Review, “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials, “Monster Mash” from the DeKalb County Board of Education; “Hot Checks Chili” from DeKalb Community Bank; “Edgar Evins Chili Peppers” from Edgar Evins State Park; “The Bean Counters” from Tom Janney, CPA and Associates; “The Risk Takers” from Jackie Smith State Farm Insurance, The Inn at Evins Mill, and Allen’s Chapel Methodist Church.
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.

Halloween is a fun night for both children and adults, but the Tennessee Department of Safety (TDOS) and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) remind parents, children and especially motorists to do their part to make sure that everyone gets home safely. The celebration can quickly turn into a real night of horror if someone is hurt by a carless or impaired driver.
“With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, we want to make sure revelers aren’t taking the party to the roadways, putting trick-or-treaters and responsible motorists at risk,” said Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “Law enforcement officers throughout Tennessee will be out in full force arresting and removing drunk drivers from our roadways.”
Halloween is a particularly deadly night due to drunk drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, 58 percent of all highway fatalities across the nation on Halloween night involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 or higher. Last year in Tennessee, eight people were killed in seven crashes on Halloween between 12:00 a.m., October 31, 2008, through 6:00 a.m., November 1, 2008. Four of those crashes involved alcohol. That compares to three people killed in crashes on Halloween during the same time period in 2007. One crash in 2007 involved alcohol.
“One foolish decision can turn a fun Halloween into a real nightmare,” stated THP Colonel Mike Walker. “We want everyone to have a good time, but be smart about it. Designate a driver. This is your warning, because if you drink and drive, you will go to jail.”
Parents and children have a responsibility to be safe this Halloween too. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that the number of deaths among young pedestrians (ages 5-14) is four times higher on Halloween evening than any other evening of the year. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) reports that fatal collisions between motor vehicles and young pedestrians (under the age of 15) happen most frequently between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., prime trick-or-treating time. Parents should remind teens just how terrifying and dangerous and illegal it is to drink and drive. In 2008, 31% of young drivers, 15 to 20 years old, who were killed in crashes, had a BAC of .08 or higher. Drivers are less likely to use restraints when they have been drinking. In 2008, 63 percent of young drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes who had been drinking were unrestrained.
There are simple precautions partygoers can take such as designating a sober driver in advance or taking a taxi. Below are tips parents, children and motorists should keep in mind before heading out the door this Halloween.
HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS
Tips for Motorists
Slow down. Watch for children walking on roads, medians and curbs.
Be extra alert when pulling in and out of driveways.
Be especially alert for children darting out from between parked vehicles and from behind bushes and shrubs. They’re excited – and they are not paying attention.
Do not pass other vehicles that have stopped in the roadway. They could be dropping off children.
If you are driving to a Halloween Party, put your mask on after you park the car.
Never drink and drive – tonight or any night. If you are partying, designate a driver.
Tips for Parents
Adults should accompany children at all times and supervise their “trick or treat” activities.
Teach children to “stop, look left-right-left, and listen” before they cross the street.
Instruct children to stay on sidewalks and to cross only at corners or crosswalks.
Use a flashlight and wear retro-reflective strips or patches on your clothing or costume to be more visible to motorists.
Be certain that the mask does not obstruct vision or hearing.
Ensure that costumes do not impede walking or driving ability.
Tips for Pedestrians
(children and adults)
Before crossing a street, stop at the curb or edge of the road and look left, right and left again to be sure no cars are coming. Continue to check for traffic while on the street.
Walk – never run – from house to house or across the road.
Cross the street only at intersections and crosswalks.
When crossing at an intersection with a traffic light, be sure to watch for turning cars. Obey all pedestrian signals.
Walk on sidewalks whenever possible. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the street facing traffic.

The DeKalb County Tigers dropped their regular season finale to the Livingston Academy Wildcats Thursday night in Smithville 35 to 14 and will now wait to see if they will get a berth in the state play-offs which begins next week.
In the game Thursday night, Livingston Academy got on the board first on a 10 yard touchdown run by Paul Daniels. The P.A.T. by Jake Huitt was good and the Wildcats led 7-0 with 8:26 left in the first period.
The Wildcats extended the lead with 2:53 left in the first period on a 30 yard touchdown run by Quarterback Brannon McCoin. The P.A.T. by Jake Huitt was good and Livingston Academy led 14-0.
The Tigers scored their first touchdown of the night with 7:17 left in the second period on a four yard touchdown pass from Quarterback Hunter Poteete to Kevin Kijanski. The P.A.T. by Zach Taylor was good and the Tigers trailed 14-7.
The Wildcats struck again with 1:15 left in the second period on a 43 yard touchdown pass play from Quarterback Brannon McCoin to Creed Hayes. The P.A.T. by Huitt was good and Livingston Academy built it’s lead to 21-7.
Livingston Academy took a three touchdown lead with 9:37 left in the third period on a Paul Daniels one yard run. Huitt’s P.A.T. kick was good and the score was 28-7.
DeKalb County cut the lead to 28-14 with 1:12 left in the third period on a three yard touchdown pass play from Quarterback Hunter Poteete to Justin Bragg. Zach Taylor’s P.A.T. kick was good.
The Wildcats added their final touchdown of the night with 4:52 left in the fourth quarter on an eight yard run by Quarterback Brannon McCoin and Livingston Academy went on to win 35 to 14.
DeKalb County concludes the regular season at 6-4 overall and 3-2 in District 8 AA.