Cemetery Preservation Workshop Saturday

October 16, 2018
By: Marsha Darrah

Historical Town Cemetery will be the site of the prestigious Cemetery Preservation Workshop presented by Middle Tennessee State University Center for Historic Preservation this Saturday, October 20th.

Dr. Stacey Graham, cemetery preservation specialist, who directs the project, will be assisted by MTSU grad students.  Jeff Milstead, a noted World War II tombstone preservationist, who was featured in a piece by WSMV TV, will also be joining Dr. Graham. The workshop will consist of a morning classroom session where participants will learn about preservation techniques.  At the cemetery in the afternoon session, participants will receive individual, hands-on instruction in cleaning, caring for, and preserving gravestones using information they learned in the morning session.

The Beautification and Restoration Committee of the Smithville Town Cemetery Association
with the help of the Girl Scouts is making a valiant effort to restore the cemetery to its once-beautiful state.  The  Preservation Workshop is the first step In their campaign.

Bethel Thomas, Jr., formerly of Smithville, now of Memphis and Chairperson of the Committee, states, “We are appreciative and honored that the Center for Historic Preservation has selected Smithville to present its fall Cemetery Preservation Workshop and help us kick off our campaign.” He goes on to say that this presents an opportunity for all community members to learn preservation techniques and to take that knowledge back to their own cemeteries.

County Historian, Tommy Webb, declared that the old cemetery is a Smithville landmark, dating back to I838, the year that DeKalb became a county and Smithville was declared the county seat. By the I880’s the cemetery had attained park-like status. It was eventually enclosed by a stately iron fence and became a prominent feature of downtown Smithville.  He commented that folks would take beautiful, home grown flowers and buckets of water and decorate the graves .  Then they would stroll through the cemetery, admire other gravesites, and enjoy the afternoon visiting with friends.  Benches provided a place to rest when the strolling and visiting became too arduous. People were known to have picnics there and it was even used as a lovers’ lane by the teenagers.

Don’t forget  Rain or Shine
Morning Workshop: 9-11:30 a.m. Community Room, Smithville City Hall, 104 East Main Street, Smithville
Afternoon:  Smithville Town Cemetery:  1-3:30 p.m.

For the afternoon session everyone will need to bring a bucket, a soft, natural bristle brush, and
a pump spray bottle.  Nitrile Gloves and chemicals for use on the historic stones will be furnished by the Cemetery Association. If you decide to do some cleaning and grounds work, please bring rakes, clippers, a trash bag, and possibly rain gear.

October 16, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man was caught twice in less than two weeks for driving on a revoked license. The first time he was also found with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia

35 year old Michael Ryan Sullivan of Midway Road was cited in the first case for driving on a revoked license, violation of the light law, simple possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine), and possession of drug paraphernalia. He will make a court appearance on October 25.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Monday, October 1 a deputy stopped a vehicle on Sparta Highway. The officer learned that the license of the driver, Sullivan  had been revoked for a DUI on March 14, 2016.  A search of Sullivan’s vehicle turned up 0.9 grams of a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine. A set of scales, baggies, and a glass pipe  were also found in the automobile.

Sullivan was cited again on Saturday October 13 after a deputy spotted his Chevy Trailblazer stop over the white line in the intersection on South Congress Boulevard, Smithville. The officer stopped to investigate and found the driver to be Sullivan, who was again driving on a revoked license. He was further cited for violation of a traffic control device. He will make a court appearance on those citations November 8.

34 year old Rhonda Joy Goff of Adams Street, Smithville was cited for possession of a schedule III drug (suboxone). Her court date is November 8.

Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, October 14 a deputy confronted Goff on West Broad Street. She had active state warrants against her. The officer found on Goff a crushed orange pill believed to be suboxone.

October 16, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A Lebanon man, formerly of Smithville, who crashed his car and fled the scene after a law enforcement pursuit has been arrested.

33 year old Caleb Isaiah Rigsby of Castle Heights, Lebanon is charged with evading arrest in a motor vehicle. His bond is $7,500 and he will make a court appearance November 8. He is also being held without bond for violation of probation. Rigsby will be in court for that offense November 9.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Wednesday, October 3 a deputy spotted a green 2002 Nissan Altima traveling  at excessive speeds on Nashville Highway and tried to stop it. The car overtook two other vehicles in the turning lane near the Clover leaf Restaurant at high speeds exceeding 85 miles per hour.  The pursuit turned from Highway 70 to Dry Creek Road but the officer lost sight of the car near Dry Creek Baptist Church. The deputy terminated the pursuit but continued to follow. Minutes later, he found the car, which had crashed on Pea Ridge Road. The driver had fled on foot.  Inside the car, the deputy found a wallet containing Rigsby’s driver license. The wallet was in the side compartment of the car door. A few hours later, a family member of Rigsby  called central dispatch to report that Rigsby had crashed his car while running from the cops.  Rigsby was arrested on Tuesday, October 9 .