Smithville Area Local News

Smithville Police Department Crime News

Dwayne Page — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:22:47 -0600

The Smithville Police Department has released it's crime report for the week.

37 year old Sara R Grizzle of 406 Todd Road, Woodbury was arrested on Sunday, March 7th for an eighth offense of driving on a revoked license and criminal impersonation. Corporal Travis Bryant saw a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign on Hayes Street and Short Mountain Highway. He initiated a traffic stop at Green Brook Park and requested personal information for a citation. As he was writing the citation Ms. Grizzle informed him that she had lied and given him someone else's name because she knew that he would have arrested her for driving on a revoked license. A driver's license check of her real name revealed her license to be suspended. Ms. Grizzle was placed under arrest. Her bond is $5,000 and she will be in General Sessions Court on March 18th

The LOOP- A Legislative Update from State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver

Dwayne Page — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:13:05 -0600

The following is a legislative update from State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver

Greetings! The General Assembly is in full swing and bills are being heard left and right. One such bill, House Bill 2789 was debated at length Tuesday evening in the House Judiciary Committee. This bill, the Juvenile Sexual Offender Registry, would strengthen the state’s sexual offender laws and ensure that we as a state are completely in compliance with the federal government’s Adam Walsh Act. It would require violent juvenile sexual offenders age 14 years or older to register on a sexual offender registry.

Walk Across Tennessee Contest to Kick-Off March 27

Dwayne Page — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:51:02 -0600

Being physically active is one of the best things you can do to improve and maintain your health, yet nearly two-thirds of Americans aren’t getting the activity they need. Consider taking up walking with friends or your family by participating in Walk across Tennessee, which is an eight-week program that will spark some friendly competitions in DeKalb County. Beginning Saturday, March 27, teams of eight will compete to see who can log the most miles walking, jogging, biking, and other forms of exercise in their community. Biking or jogging teams can have a team of four. The miles walked are not literally across the state, but reported on a map posted at Greenbrook Park under shelter #1, on the Walk across Tennessee website, and other community areas.

SHIP Program Seeking Eligible Participants Needing Help with Medicare Costs

Dwayne Page — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:52:13 -0600

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) has recently received information from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding 515 people who reside in DeKalb County who may qualify for additional help with their Medicare costs. This is the number of residents who may not currently be paying low co-pays at the pharmacy as well as get assistance paying their Part B premiums. The Extra Help Program (also called Low-Income Subsidy) is a program that is processed by Social Security Administration which helps certain low-income beneficiaries by paying zero dollar monthly premiums, no deductibles and very low cost share at the pharmacy. This program also eliminates the coverage gap, or as most calls it, the “donut hole.” The extra help program is valued up to $3,900.00 per year per beneficiary as well as the possibility of getting back the Part B premium which is $96.40 (for most individuals) and deducted out of SSA checks automatically.

Replace smoke alarm batteries, as you spring forward

Dwayne Page — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:38:21 -0600

As clocks move ahead this weekend for daylight saving time, Tennessee State Fire Marshal and Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Leslie A. Newman would like to remind Tennesseans to change their homes’ smoke alarm batteries, as well.

“ ‘Change your clock, change your battery’ is an easy phrase to remember and practice, when you update your clocks this weekend,” says Newman. “Smoke alarms, even those that are hard-wired, should have their batteries replaced regularly and be tested monthly to ensure you have the protection you need,” Newman says. “Use this time to protect your home and family.”

A working smoke alarm will double your survival chances during a home fire by giving you the critical time needed to escape. Most home fires occur at night when people are sleeping. The smoke and toxic gases from a fire can cause you to sleep more deeply, diminishing the chances of survival.

Senator Mae Beavers Announces Her Decision to Run for Re-Election to the State Senate

Dwayne Page — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:10:51 -0600

Senator Mae Beavers, surrounded by her Senate colleagues, announced today that she is running for another term for the State Senate seat representing Wilson, Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, Sumner, and Trousdale counties. The decision came after much deliberation and prayerful consideration. There had been discussion that Senator Beavers could possibly be running for the Wilson County Mayor position; however, at the insistence of many colleagues and a multitude of constituents, Beavers has declared her desire to continue her work in serving the people of the 17th District.

“This decision is based upon my desire to serve the state,” Beavers stated. “I’m proud of what we have been able to accomplish in the state legislature in the past eight years, and I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish in the next four years, especially if we have a Republican Governor and Republican majorities in both the House and Senate. My work here is not done.”

DeKalb Jobless Rate for January Increases to 11.7%

Dwayne Page — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:03:47 -0600

DeKalb County's unemployment rate for January increased to 11.7%, up from 11% in December. The rate for January, 2009 was 11.3%.

The Labor Force for January was 9,620. A total of 8,490 were employed and 1,130 were without work.

Meanwhile, Tennessee's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for January was 10.7 percent, unchanged from the revised December rate of 10.7 percent. The national unemployment rate for January 2010 was 9.7 percent.

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for January 2010 show that the rate increased in all 95 counties.

Lincoln County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 8.3 percent, up from 7.3 in December. Marshall County had the state's highest unemployment rate at 20.3 percent, up from 18.7 in December, followed by Henderson County at 19.9 percent, up from 18.5 percent in December.

Fire Destroys Trailer Home

Dwayne Page — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:21:19 -0600

A fire Thursday morning destroyed the trailer home of Shawn Pyles at 563 Adcock Cemetery Road. Pyles was renting the trailer from the owner Billy Tisdale.

Central dispatch received the call at 4:25 a.m.

Pyles and his girlfriend Melissa Genzak awoke to smoke and escaped from their burning home unharmed but three of the family pets perished.

County Fire Chief Donny Green says the fire apparently started in the kitchen area but the exact cause is undetermined, although it appears to have been accidental.

Members of the Midway, Cookeville Highway, Short Mountain Highway, Main Station, and Tanker truck of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded along with DeKalb EMS and the Sheriff's Department.