Smithville Police Nab Two for selling Vape Products to Minors

April 23, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

An undercover investigation by the Smithville Police Department into allegations of illegal sales of vape products to minors has resulted in citations against clerks at King Vape and Jewel’s Market.

Hassan Ellahi and Ranjanben Dabi were cited on April 2 for sale of a vape product to a minor.

“After receiving complaints of minors purchasing vape products at locations in Smithville, an investigation was conducted April 2 by detectives of the Smithville Police Department using a 16-year-old female confidential source,” said Chief Mark Collins.

“The confidential source attempted to purchase vape products at seven establishments in Smithville but was unable to at five of the businesses. However, two of the stores did sell to her”.

“The undercover teen entered King Vape on April 2 at approximately 10:48 a.m. and bought a vape product from the clerk who was later identified as Hassan Ellahi,” explained Chief Collins.

“Our source later entered Jewel’s Market on April 2 at 11:50 a.m. and purchased a vape product from the clerk identified as Ranjanben Dabhi”.

Ellahi appeared in General Sessions Court Thursday, April 18 where the citation was dismissed pending his complying with probation conditions for six months and payment of court costs. The case against Dabhi was continued until May 9th.

April 23, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Is the County following proper protocol for displaying the Tennessee and American flags at night?

During the public comment period of Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, Steven Cantrell addressed the county commission about his concern that the flags are not being illuminated at night at county buildings.

Cantrell, a veteran who is now retired, resides in the third district and has an extensive military career background, said he recently took notice of the flags being flown at night without the proper lighting and thought he should bring it to the attention of the commission.

“This is a problem I only became aware of in my nightly walks through downtown Smithville—but not immediately,” said Cantrell.

“One night I was admiring the beautiful nighttime illumination of the US and TN flags in front of the Smithville police station—truly beautiful”.

“Then it dawned on me that for some reason, I assume because of fiscal/or mechanical issues or both the county no longer illuminates the courthouse. And unfortunately, as an unintended consequence, the US and TN flags are no longer illuminated at night—yet they are, being flown disrespectfully 24 hours a day, every day of the year,” Cantrell continued.

“Institutions and individual citizens across this country fly the American flag and their state flags with pride. The last thing they want to do, is disrespect those flags; and I assume the same goes for those involved with the county government. If anything, we all want to set the standard as patriotic citizens”.

“The rules for handling and displaying the US flags are defined by US and TN Code (US Flag Code: United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 or TN Code 4-1-406 Flag Display Protocol), Quoting from the US Flag Code:

“It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if property illuminated during the hours of darkness.”

“Those who have served in the US military understand this very well as they recall standing at attention and saluting as the Stars and Stripes were raised in the morning or lowered in the evening around the world. It is something school children learn and is reflected by the fact that DeKalb County schools raise the flags in the morning and lower them at the end of the school day”.

“The county government is not alone in this oversight…the Smithville City Hall, Post Office, Library, and numerous institutions and private citizens across the county share in this same oversight,” said Cantrell.

“Our respect for the flag was reflected at the beginning of this meeting when each one of us recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.”

“Bottom line: Ladies and Gentlemen, if the county can’t afford to illuminate the flags at night, then the low-cost solution is to lower them—especially, the flag outside the County Complex which has no illumination capability at all”.

However, if your patriotism deems these flags should fly 24 hours a day, year-round, then it needs to be done right. In the interim, until the switch is flicked, and the lights come back on, the County Government needs to follow the procedures to respectfully lower and raise the flags each day. An honor I’m sure our patriotic firemen and law enforcement officers would be proud to do,” said Cantrell.

Commissioner Larry Green suggested that the county address Cantrell’s concerns and to elicit his help.

“We could probably put to bed the issue Mr. Cantrell brought up about the flags, especially the one here at the complex. Most of the time we have two people on duty here and it takes two people to take the flag down in order to fold it properly. We could designate two people to take the flags down at the county properties which most of the time would be the courthouse and county complex and ask Mr. Cantrell to train them. You (county mayor) could designate any two people you want to do it and he (Cantrell) could provide the training if he is willing to do that,” said Commissioner Green.

The commission took no action.

April 23, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Removed from the agenda!

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission was scheduled to discuss and act on a proposed non-binding resolution in opposition to Governor Bill Lee’s “Education Freedom Act” voucher plan. Although it was on the meeting agenda under new business, the commission voted 10-3 to remove it from consideration.

Last month, the commission failed to take up the resolution for a vote. Seventh district commissioner Beth Pafford made a motion in March to add the issue to the agenda for consideration under new business but during a roll call vote it failed to receive the votes needed.

After spending months advocating for statewide school vouchers with a Republican supermajority in both the House and Senate, Governor Bill Lee announced Monday that the issue is dead for this year as the two chambers have admitted they just can’t agree on a path forward. Tennessee House and Senate Republicans had vastly different visions for how to implement school choice, but ultimately couldn’t meet in the middle. The issue is expected to be resurrected next year.

Still, Commissioner Pafford wanted the commission to take an official position on the issue and said she was disappointed that they chose not to at this time.

“I am disappointed we didn’t get a chance to vote on this,” said Pafford. “I understand that it was disposed of (state level for this year) but it will be back. Voucher studies dating back to the nineties demonstrate that they do not work if your intent is to help students have better learning and achievement outcomes. And in the few instances where they do, its in a very rare situation,” explained Pafford. “Also, we have seen a shift in the language about vouchers change from “we want these to help improve learning outcomes for students” to “we just want freedom and parent choice”. What study after study has shown is implementing universal vouchers segregates student population by class and race. Public education is very important to me and I think it is very important to the health of this community. We (county commission) are a body that has been talking for over a year about needing to fund and build a new jail and it needs to happen. Its unsafe there. But we have also been a community in need of more schools, school buildings because facilities matter for decades and the two are connected,” said Commissioner Pafford.

During the public comments period, local educator Amanda Goodwin of Golf Club Drive urged the commission to go on record in opposition to the Governor’s voucher proposal.

“I am currently in my fourth year as a special education interventionist at Northside Elementary School. My husband and I have two sons that are in the public school here. I am here to address Governor Lee’s proposed education freedom act. I understand it was released earlier today that this act failed with our legislators not being able to come to an agreement on how to provide these services. However, it is still of importance for this commission to take a stand and vote to adopt a resolution stating that they oppose this act. Governor Lee has made it very clear through documented public statements reiterating his intention to continue his mission. Each member of this commission has an obligation to their constituents and to this community to make informed, educated decisions on our behalf. I would hope that you all have thoroughly gone over the education freedom act and that you are informed of what it entails. That would specifically include the impact that this type of act would have on our public special education students. The proposed act states that it is about providing every Tennessee student with opportunity to succeed no matter their income level or zip code. The Tennessee Commissioner of Education Lizzette Reynolds has confirmed that private schools under the plan are not required to take students with disabilities. The act is purposely structured to leave out our state’s most vulnerable kids,” said Goodwin. “The federal funding that we receive for our students is vital to their success and any decrease in that be it big or small has a negative impact on the success of our students. I support private education, but private education is a choice. We have four members of this board that work for the public education system. Some of you (commissioners) have numerous family members that are either bus drivers, teachers, or other valuable parts of the staff. One of you has a daughter recently voted in as a member of the school board. Each member is vitally important. From my understanding at one time or another each of you has commented that you agree that public education is important and should be supported. Whether that be in the form of a badly needed school or taking a stand to support public education in a situation such as this. I trust your actions will reflect your words and our students, faculty, and staff will know that they have your support,” said Goodwin.

At the beginning of the meeting when it came time to approve the Monday night meeting agenda, Commissioner Andy Pack moved to remove the resolution opposing the education freedom act from the agenda. Commissioner Myron Rhody offered a second to the motion.

Ten commissioners voted to remove the issue from the agenda including Daniel Cripps, Sabrina Farler, Myron Rhody, Greg Matthews, Tony (Cully) Culwell, Larry Green, Glynn Merriman, Jeff Barnes, Andy Pack, and Mathias Anderson. Three commissioners, Beth Pafford, Susannah Cripps, and Tony Luna voted against removing the resolution from the agenda. Commissioner Tom Chandler was absent.

Commissioner Matthews mentioned that the issue could be revisited at a future meeting and suggested that the commission should seek input or a discussion with the school board before any action is taken on the resolution.