
News
Woman Accused of Bringing “Pot” to the Jail in a Coffee Pot
January 14, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A woman is charged with bringing a coffee pot to the jail containing pot (marijuana).
23-year-old Caitlin Lynn Clouse of Students Home Road is charged with bringing contraband into a penal institution. Her bond is $3,500 and she will be in court January 23.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 4 Clouse entered the front office of the jail offering to donate a free coffee pot to the jail annex. Correctional officers took the coffee pot and reported smelling marijuana. They searched the container and found inside a mixture of a green and brown leafy substance believed to be marijuana and tobacco which weighed 78 grams.
A convicted felon has been arrested after accidentally shooting himself with a handgun.
50-year-old Eric Trent Johnson of Joines Road, Smithville is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court January 23.
Sheriff Ray said that on December 24 Johnson, a convicted felon, had possession of a handgun which accidentally discharged, wounding him. Johnson is on state probation on a Cannon County methamphetamine conviction, and he is not supposed to have possession of a weapon.
47-year-old Brandy Mae Murphy of AB Frazier Road is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court January 23.
Sheriff Ray said that on January 11 a deputy was summoned to a residence on AB Frazier Road and upon arrival he spoke with Murphy and a man, her alleged victim. Both said they had been arguing over a necklace.
Murphy claimed that the man pushed her out the doorway to the home. He said Murphy scratched his back leaving marks before he moved her away from the door. The officer noticed visible scratch marks on the man’s back.
Witnesses said they saw Murphy grab the man by his neck and back during the argument. She was determined to have been the primary aggressor.
26-year-old Dakoda Lane Vance of Cookeville Highway is charged with two counts of violating bond conditions. His bond is $5,00. Sheriff Ray said that on January 7 Vance allegedly made contact with his victim in a domestic assault case in violation of his bond conditions. The next day, Sheriff Ray said while in jail a correctional officer discovered that Vance had made several phone calls over a period of seven days to the same victim in violation of bond conditions.
35-year-old Kelli Michelle Bess of College Street, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. Her bond is $5,000 and she will be in court January 23.
Sheriff Ray said that on January 8 a deputy was called to Woodbury Highway, Liberty due to an unwanted guest. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the complainant who reported that Bess came to his home in her white Chevy SUV and pulled into a parking lot extremely quick nearly hitting him with her automobile.
Rep. Michael Hale seeks annual bonus for campus and public safety officers
January 14, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
State Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville, has proposed legislation ensuring certified campus police and public safety officers receive supplemental annual training pay, similar to bonuses already granted to law enforcement each year.
Police, campus police and public safety officers all complete the Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) commission certification training and meet identical requirements under current law, (TCA § 38-8-107(d)).
“These men and women are protecting our most valuable asset—our children,” Hale said.
House Bill 0008 would provide an $800 annual training pay supplement.
To qualify, eligible officers must complete the same annual in-service training as public police officers.
The P.O.S.T. Commission, the state agency responsible for employment standards and training for law enforcement agencies, would allocate funds to the appropriate institutions, boards and schools, ensuring the bonuses are paid to campus and public safety officers.
“By providing this supplemental pay, we can help these departments offer compensation that aligns with other law enforcement agencies, making it easier to recruit new officers,” Hale said. “This is the right thing to do for these officers and our colleges across the state.”
The 114th General Assembly convenes at noon on Jan. 14.
State Rep. Michael Hale represents House District 40, which includes Cannon, DeKalb, Jackson, Smith and part of Wilson Counties.
City Planning Commission Recommends Passage of Tiny House Regulations
January 14, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
With more homeowners focusing less on size and more on sustainability, it should come as no surprise that tiny houses are having a massive surge in popularity. These mini dwellings are redefining how people build and live in their homes, from the property built on to the amenities inside the houses.
Currently, the City of Smithville has no “Tiny House” regulations under the zoning ordinance in a residential zone. One tiny house has already been located on Juniper Lane in an R-1 residential district.
During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Smithville Planning Commission voted to send a regulation recommendation to the mayor and aldermen for adoption. Members voting in favor were Shawn Jacobs, Glen Nichols, Meshia Johnson, Hoyte Barrett, and Brandon Miller. Donnie Crook voted no.
Under the proposed zoning ordinance amendment, Tiny Houses would be permitted only in the R-2 district as a use permitted and defined as anything 727 square feet or below restricted to only one tiny house per parcel by right. More than one tiny house must be subject to mobile home park regulations and submitted with a site plan. Tiny houses would also be subject to the city’s international residential codes including existing setback requirements.
Tiny house floor plans are designed to use every square inch of space efficiently. Typically, the kitchen, dining room, and living room are essentially the same space, but with innovative design and if more living space is desired, a loft area above could be included as a sleeping area to open up the small footprint.
In other business the planning commission voted to recommend to the city council passage of a proposed zoning ordinance amendment to permit zero lot lines for multi-family residential developments as a special exception in all districts accept R-1.
“We have had a couple of folks come in and request zero lot lines,” said Tommy Lee, Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District, who serves as UCDD staff planner and advisor to the City of Smithville. “What we have been having to do so far is send them to the BZA to get variances, but we are having more of these requests. This amendment would address that,” he said.
According to the planning commission, this amendment would primarily apply to owner occupied developments.
“Typically, if they own the property, they take more pride in ownership. They would still have to adhere to setbacks for common areas. It would just be sidewalls that would be shared,” said Lee.
Meanwhile, the planning commission voted to recommend another amendment to the zoning ordinance to clear up some language by revising the multi-family residential structures standards.
Under the proposal, 20,000 square feet is required for the first four units plus an additional 2,000 square feet per unit. The change would be to require the addition of two off street parking spaces per apartment.
