1. COVID-19 exempts no one
The novel coronavirus, which began in Wuhan, China in December 2019, first surfaced in DeKalb County mid-March with the first death reported in July. The first confirmed case was only the beginning of temporary closures, furloughs and loss of jobs, virtual learning, meetings and court proceedings, sickness and deaths.
The first pandemic since the H1N1 pandemic of 2009, COVID-19 exempted no one from its highly contagious grasps. As the numbers of positive tests began to climb across the world, DeKalb County was no exception being labeled a top hot spot or a red zone multiple times. As local cases seemed to level out for a short time, a second wave hit even harder mid-September only got worse after the Thanksgiving holiday. The United States has a reported _______________ deaths due to COVID-19 as of press time, with ________________ of those being here in DeKalb County. The county reports ______________ tests having been given with __________________ being positive since the virus began.
A glimmer of hope may be in sight as a vaccine was released mid-December. Local frontline workers were eligible to begin receiving the vaccine on Dec. 21. It’s reported the inoculation will be available for the general population in early spring.
2. Site found for new elementary school
The DeKalb County Board of Education proposed a multi Pre-K – eighth grade school construction project to the county commission with a price tag of at least $48,685. The request was denied in February as the commission felt this was something the county could not afford long term and still be able to fund other future needs. School board members met and re-evaluated funds already approved by the county commission for one Pre-K-eighth and began looking for a location suitable for the new school. Property was purchased adjoining Northside Elementary belonging to owners of Family Medical Center. During a video conference of the regular monthly meeting in May, the board voted to purchase the 24.5 acres of property on North Congress Boulevard in Smithville. The total cost being $441,000. The property is adjacent to Northside Elementary School and will adjoin with a new traffic route.
3. Trump wins every district in DeKalb County
Voters went to the polls on Nov. 3 to not only cast their ballots for local seats but for the 46th President of the United States. President Donald Trump won every precinct in the county. The Republicans carried DeKalb County in the Tennessee General Election. A record number of voters turned out for this election locally totaling 8,542 including 4,606 early voters, 511 absentees and 3,425 on Election Day. DeKalb County has 12,509 registered voters.
4. Jail recertified
On the brink of being decertified near the end of the year in 2019, the DeKalb County Jail and Annex was recertified for another year, and an ad hoc jail committee was formed. The Tennessee Corrections Institute granted recertification after the county has agreed to seek a partnership with TCI and the County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS) in developing a “plan of action” for addressing deficiencies found at the Jail and Annex during recent state inspections. TCI had threatened to decertify the jail had the county not requested the partnership.
5. Tornado sirens installed
The City of Smithville discussed the importance and need for tornado sirens to assist in saving lives and were able to use grant money to purchase the badly needed alert system. In April, the council adopted a resolution requesting funding which had already been allocated through a one-time state grant in the about of $135,744. The amount $70,000 of that grant was used to purchase the sirens. In June Smithville Fire Chief and DeKalb Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie Parker said two sirens would be installed including one on the city’s water tank near the high school on Highway 70 and the other at the city’s water tank on Miller Road. The system is capable of adding more sirens later if needed including the reactivation of a siren on top of city hall.
6. City police department
After more than 40 years of the Smithville Police Department being housed in Smithville City Hall, discussion began in May to build a new department on property donated to the city on the north side of the city hall/fire department complex at Don Cantrell Street. A ground breaking ceremony was held on Sept. 3 for the $2 million project with construction beginning a few weeks later. Not long after digging began, a problem arose with the soil but was solved after meetings between Mayor Josh Miller, city officials, the city attorney, city contractor Wayne Oakley and Mike Ballard the contractor, Boyce Ballard Construction. The new police department is projected to be completed in late summer of next year.
7. Jamboree holds virtual competition
The pandemic brought hundreds of events in Tennessee to a dead halt, but not the 49th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree. The actual festival was suspended but some competition was still held virtually.
With this being Smithville’s largest event, the loss of revenue impacted local economy somewhat and the missing lingering sounds of bluegrass left downtown eerily quiet. However, Director Sam Stout and the Jamboree Board held online competitions with thirteen categories from youngest clogger to contest fiddle. Contest Fiddle winner was John-Mark Sowell of Knoxville while Justin Branum of Murfreesboro was named Grand Champion Fiddler and received the Berry C. Williams Memorial Grand Champion Fiddler Award. The festival is already preparing for a better 2021 with the 50th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree & Crafts Festival entitled, “The Jamboree Family Reunion” planned for July 2 & 3, 2021.
8. Six fatalities on roadways
DeKalb County recorded six roadway fatalities in 2020. Samuel Dewayne Wright, 20, of Smithville lost his life in a two-car crash on February 1. The accident happened on Hwy. 56 north around 8:17 pm.
Thirty-two year-old Brandon Hutchings succumbed to injuries he received in a two car wreck on Highway. 70 east in late July. He was flown to Skyline Medical Center where he later passed away.
A horrific three car crash took the life of 22 year-old Keley Roller of McMinnville on July 31. She was traveling west on Highway 70 in Liberty when her car crossed the turning lane hitting a truck, spun and was hit by another vehicle. A medical condition may have played a part.
A motorcycle wreck claimed 50 year-old Mark Anthony Graham of Smithville in mid-September. He was traveling on Jefferson Road, not wearing a helmet when he crashed.
A 53 year-old Baxter lost his life in a two vehicle crash on Highway 56 north of Hurricane Bridge. Mickey James, driving a Ford Ranger, was hit as the vehicle coming toward him crossed the center line hitting his truck. James, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was partially ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.
Brian Edward Clark, 41, of Smithville lost his life in a two car crash on Dale Ridge Road near Jones Lane. Clark was traveling south when he crossed into the oncoming lane while negotiating a right curve and struck a northbound vehicle. He died at the scene.
9. Hendrix makes history
Attorney Gayla Hendrix was sworn in as Smithville Municipal Judge during the Sept. 4 city council meeting making her the first female judge for Smithville. She was appointed to the position by aldermen after veteran Judge Hilton Conger did not reapply for the position. Conger served on the bench for almost 30 years.
10. COVID vaccine released
After the novel corona virus sweeping across the world, taking out lives and businesses, two companies released vaccines mid-December. Pfizer and the German biotechnology company BioNTech developed one of the COVID-19 vaccines that was authorized by the FDA, BNT162b2. Moderna, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotechnology company, developed a COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273. Front-line workers were first to receive the vaccine, including local physicians and emergency personnel. Residents of nursing facilities were also in the first-round of inoculations. The general public is expected to get access to the vaccine by spring or summer.
