Someone driving a white van rear-ended a DeKalb County school bus this morning (Monday) on Short Mountain Highway, and then left the scene. No one was injured
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby and Transportation Supervisor Peggy Pursell says the incident occurred around 6:50 a.m.
According to Pursell, Walter Phillips, driving bus #3, had stopped to pick up two children in front of their home when the van came up behind the bus and rear-ended it. The driver of the van then backed up into a driveway and drove away in the opposite direction going toward town.
Pursell says neither the children boarding the bus, nor the bus driver were injured and the bus was not damaged, other than a scratch. No one else was on the bus at the time.
Another bus and driver were used to run the route this morning (Monday) while the accident was being investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Pursell and other school officials were also at the scene.

For the fifth year in a row, Britney Campbell, a junior at DeKalb County High School, has been chosen to represent Middle Tennessee in its most prestigious musical ensemble, Tennessee’s Mid-State Band.
On Saturday, December 5th, Britney traveled to McGavok High School in Nashville to audition for Mid-State, which selects its musicians from the Middle Tennessee area based on the students’ level of musical ability. At the senior high level, any 10th – 12th grade student in Middle Tennessee can audition. During the audition process, each student is tested in three general areas of musicianship. Students are asked to perform a prepared piece of music, which is a song that has been rehearsed prior to the audition date. Students are also required to demonstrate their ability in playing scales, a basic pattern of musical notes. They are also tested on sight-reading skills, which displays the ability to perform a song without having to rehearse it.
Among the hundreds of Bb clarinet players in grades ten through twelve who auditioned for this event, Britney placed fourteenth chair in the Gold Band, Mid-State’s top ranking band. There were only three other juniors besides Britney who achieved such an achievement.
In January 2010, all the students who made the Mid-State Bands will rehearse in Murfreesboro. Students will only have a couple days to prepare for a concert, which will be held at Middle Tennessee State University. DeKalb County High School’s Band Director, Jonathan Wright, says, “I heard her audition through the door and she did a wonderful job. She worked really hard for this and put in a lot of hours practicing. I’m glad she did so well. She deserves it!”
Britney is the daughter of Mike Campbell and Kimberly Cox of Smithville. Britney’s dad says, “It is such an honor to have such a talented daughter. I am so proud of her for using her God-given talent to its fullest. She gives everything she attempts all she has to give.”
Log on to www.mtsboa.org/ for more information regarding Tennessee’s Mid-State Bands and performances. You can also find out more information about the DeKalb County Band Program by clicking on www.dekalbband.com.

The Town of Liberty and Liberty State Bank hosted their annual Christmas Parade Sunday and all those there shared in the fun and excitement. Some won cash and other prizes.
Meteorologist Lelan Statom of NewsChannel5 in Nashville was the Grand Marshal. The parade also featured floats, the DCHS band, horseback riders, vintage automobiles, and Santa Claus among many other attractions.
The Dowelltown United Methodist Church won the float competition and the Liberty United Methodist Church took second place.
Albert and Sue Kelly won the Antique automobile category for their 1978 Pontiac. Chris Hale received second place for his 1952 John Deere..
Among the miscellaneous entries, Justin and Eli Johnson won first place and Howard and Jared Pyles took second place.
(Click here to see more pictures of the Liberty Christmas Parade)http://www.wjle.com/2009-liberty-christmas-parade

The Smithville Christmas Parade helped put folks in a festive mood Saturday afternoon.
As always, the parade featured floats, vintage automobiles, local kings and queens, scouts, horseback riders, the DeKalb County High School Fighting Tiger Band, local law enforcement , firefighters, DeKalb EMS, Rescue Squad, among many other entries. Of course, the highlight of the parade was the appearance of Santa Claus who rode into town on a fire engine tossing candy left and right to everyone along the parade route.
The Covenant Baptist Church won first place in the float competition.
The Eagles Flag Football Team took second place and received the Spirit Award, presented by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club.
Third Place went to the Dowelltown United Methodist Church Float
The Smithville Parade is sponsored each year by the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department. This year’s parade was conducted in tribute to the late Assistant Fire Chief Robert Eller for his 64 years of dedication and service. Mr. Eller recently passed away.
(Click here to see pictures of the Smithville Christmas Parade)http://www.wjle.com/2009-smithville-christmas-parade

A Smithville man was the victim of a robbery Friday morning at his home at 826 Anthony Avenue. Central dispatch received the call at 4:49 a.m.
Smithville Police Officer Scott Davis, in his report, states “I was dispatched to 826 Anthony Avenue in reference to a robbery. Upon my arrival, I made contact with the complainant, W.J. Page who stated that he was going to his garage when an unknown male with a mask and a camouflage coat came out from behind his truck and pointed something at him and stated “give me your money, wallet, watch” or words to that affect. Mr. Page stated that he threw his watch toward him and started running toward his house. Mr. Page stated that the suspect ran toward J.E. Evins Avenue. A search of the area by Sergeant Joey Jones and Deputy Barrett and myself (Davis) could not locate the suspect.”
The suspect was described as a male, 5′ 9 to 5′ 10 inches tall, average build, wearing a mask, a camo jacket, and possibly armed with an unknown type of gun/knife.
Items taken were a Pulsar watch with a silver band. Total value $70.00
Anyone having any information on this or other offenses is urged to contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.
Meanwhile in other city crime news, Patrolman Travis K Bryant responded to the court room on Thursday morning regarding an intoxicated person. Upon arrival, Officer Bryant saw Jackie Sanders sitting on the front row. He fell asleep several times. The officer made contact Sanders and asked him to step out of the court room. As he was walking out, Sanders appeared to be unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. Sanders stated that he took some medication about 9:30 a.m. His bond was set at $1,000 and his court date is December 17th.
On Sunday, November 29th, Officer Matt Holmes responded to 416 Whaley Street where he met with Brad Johnson who reported a trailer missing. Johnson said he had been working on the house late Saturday night and was sure the trailer had been there as late as midnight. But Johnson said when he returned to the house approximately seven hours later at 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning, he discovered that the trailer was missing. The trailer is black, approximately twelve feet, mesh, with fold up gate and wooden floor. Johnson said the pins in the gate do not match and one of them is longer than the other. He added that when he left, the trailer was full of scrap sheet rock. Witnesses say a maroon dually truck drove by the residence on the day the trailer went missing, arousing suspicion. Johnson said he did not have a serial number belonging to the trailer but would contact police if he found it.
Any information received that will help the Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential.

The Smithville Police Department is joining the DeKalb County HELP program in a holiday food drive for needy elderly and physically challenged persons in our community.
If you would like to donate food or make cash donations toward this effort, contact Wanda Poss, HELP program coordinator at 597-7575 or Lieutenant Steven Leffew of the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210,
Lieutenant Leffew says officers of the police department will help distribute the food to eligible recipients before Christmas.
The HELP program serves the entire county, but the Smithville Police Department will be providing assistance in the city.

Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were called to a mobile home at 529 R. Arnold Road Thursday morning.
County Fire Chief Donny Green says the woman who lives there had left home around 7:15 a.m. to take her daughter to school and discovered the fire when she returned about a half hour later. She said flames and smoke were coming out of a back bedroom window. The woman yelled for the neighbors to call for help.
The Keltonburg, Blue Springs, and Short Mountain Highway stations responded along with DeKalb EMS and the Sheriff’s Department.
Chief Green says the cause of the fire is undetermined but it apparently started in a back bedroom, which was destroyed. Firefighters were able to save the rest of the home, although there was heat and smoke damage throughout.