State Lawmakers Pay Tribute to Local Church Youth Group

February 1, 2019
By:

The Smithville First Assembly of God Youth Group was asked to come to the state capital to be honored on the Senate floor on Thursday January 31st.

Relentless Student Ministries has been active in drama and dance for years and in August 2018 they attended the National Fine Arts Festival in Houston Texas and won Nationals in Readers Theater.

“ This was the first time we entered the Readers Theater Category so we had no idea what to expect,” said Josh Issac who coached the team to victory. I wrote this piece entitled “Life Flight” because I believe abortion is a major issue for our country. It was a personal topic that I really wanted to write a piece about that made people think” Issac continued. When Life Flight won Nationals our group was also asked to perform on the national stage in front of 40,000 people with thousands of others watching live. This was an honor in itself to share such a powerful story,” he said

“We were so proud of our teens who worked so hard to bring the message of God through drama and arts not only in our community but across the country,” said Pastor Iain Swisher. They have been asked to perform at many events and have received messages from across the globe. State Senator Mark Pody saw the video and decided he wanted to honor this group for the passion and their accomplishment on this topic. They traveled to the capital and met Senator Pody, Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, and Representative Clark Boyd. Senator Pody spoke on the Senate floor about newly formed legislation called “ The Heartbeat” bill and introduced Josh Issac and his story. He also recognized The Relentless Team and their accomplishments and message presented at Nationals,” said Swisher.

“These teens are all high school students From DeKalb & Warren County and plan to carry this message in the upcoming months. “ I truly believe this is the generation that will be bold in their faith and speak out to the world. In today’s world it is so refreshing to see such Godly leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. This will be a day they will never forget and I believe this drama isn’t done yet. It still has the power to reach so many. To God be all the glory!, “ said Issac.

Relentless Student Ministries will travel to the Tennessee Fine Arts in March to compete again and they look forward to sharing a new strong message.

February 1, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The owner of a welcome center/guardshack wants to lease from the county the property on which it stands at the entrance of Riverwatch Golf Club and Resort on Billings Road.

Terms of the lease, still to be prepared, were established and approved by the county commission Monday night.

The guardshack was erected several years ago on the Billings Road right of way (a county road) by the owners of Riverwatch Golf Club and Resort with the approval of the county road supervisor at that time. After the guardshack was erected Billings Road was widened and divided at the point where the guardshack stands. Beyond the guardshack the road forks to Hopper Ridge Road to the right and Highland Trail to the left. The guardshack basically serves as a post where security cameras monitor traffic in and out of the community. The road is not gated and no motorist is denied passage.

John Fitzmartin, the new owner of Riveratch (Final Putt LLC) addressed the county commission at a workshop last Thursday night saying he wants to sell the guardshack building to the neighboring Mountain Harbour Property Owners Association but the land on which the building stands is owned by the county and is part of the Billings Road right of way. He asked that the county resolve the land issue going forward.

In response, the county commission Monday night voted to enter into a 99 year lease with the owner of the guardshack building for one dollar a year. Other terms are that the road continue to be open to the public and not gated; that the owner provide proof of liability insurance coverage; that the guardshack be maintained for the life of the lease; and that the owner pay the county’s costs of preparing the lease.

January 30, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville is cracking down on those who keep junked vehicles in plain sight on their properties.

(TO VIEW THE NEW JUNKED VEHICLE ORDINANCE CLICK THE PDF LINK AT THE END OF THIS STORY BOTTOM OF THE PAGE)

During Tuesday night’s special meeting, the aldermen adopted on first reading an ordinance regulating junked vehicles on public and private property in the City of Smithville. Second and final reading action will come following a public hearing during a meeting in March.

Mayor Josh Miller raised the issue at the last regular monthly meeting on January 7th.

“This is something that has come up and I hear it about vehicles parked everywhere. They are not tagged and have not been driven in five to ten years. It doesn’t look good. I think its time to do something about that. We don’t have an ordinance on that” said Mayor Miller.

“This is something the board and I feel is needful in the city. I think people need to keep their property up to par. I think the city council would agree and I think most of the citizens would agree. I think this will help property values. If you are someone who takes pride in your place and you live beside someone who doesn’t have that same pride in their place it is harmful to the neighborhood and doesn’t look good,” Mayor Miller told WJLE.

Under the ordinance a city police officer is authorized to issue an ordinance summons for violations on private property either upon complaint of any citizen or the officer’s own information. But the city intends to give violators a chance to remove their junked vehicles before taking them to court.

Property owners in violation will be sent a letter from the city asking them to address the violation within 30 days or risk being cited into city court and subject to a $50 civil penalty for each separate violation of the ordinance. Each day of the violation shall be considered a separate violation.

“Once you receive a letter you will have 30 days to get it cleaned up and police officers will have the authority to issue an ordinance summons or citation,” said Mayor Miller.

If the owner of the premises refuses to comply with a court order to correct the violation, the city judge can order the city to take the corrective action and pass the costs onto the property owner. If the property owner fails to pay the bill the city can add further fees on the tax rolls as a lien on the property and collect the fees in the same manner as city taxes are collected.

The ordinance makes exceptions for persons who park, store, keep, and maintain a junked vehicle on private property completely enclosed within a building and not visible from the street or abutting property; if the junked vehicle is in the process of being restored; or if the junked vehicle is parked or stored on property lawfully zoned for business engaged in wrecking, junking, or repairing vehicles.

Ordinance Regulating Junked Vehicles.pdf

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