Construction of Highway 56 Project May Cause Lane Closures in Smithville Next Week

December 15, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Motorists on South Congress Boulevard can expect lane closures next week at the intersection of East Bryant Street as the contractor on the highway construction project cuts through the pavement to install pipes across the road.

The work is planned for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, December 20, 21, & 22 at the traffic light at East Bryant and South Congress Boulevard near Ace Hardware and Walgreens. Traffic may be held up for short periods or diverted while the work is underway. Motorists may wish to take an alternate route while the project is in progress.

Meanwhile traffic has been shifted onto the detour between SR-288 and Old Blue Springs Road for the contractor to complete grade work in the area. Flaggers may be present to move equipment across roadway, unload equipment, or complete utility work. Traffic shifts in Smithville will remain from Vaughn Lane to the end of the project to allow the contractor to complete work. There is a temporary diversion for Ferrell Road, and one remains in place for Williams Road to allow the contractor to construct a new alignment. The speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone.

Motorists should use caution in this area and watch for flaggers and construction equipment.

The contractor, Jones Brothers Contractors is also continuing construction of bridges and paving from south of the Warren-DeKalb County line (LM 24.5) to East Bryant St. (LM 2.9) and is installing concrete box culverts and drainage structures. Grade work, bridge work, paving operations, and utility work on the new roadway alignment are ongoing.

TDOT opened bids in June 2019 and Jones Brothers Contractors, LLC was the low bidder on the construction project at $43,691,948 which will be done in two phases from south of state highway 288 near Magness Road to East Bryant Street in Smithville and from south of the Warren-DeKalb County line to near Magness Road in DeKalb County. A proposed third segment from near State Route 287 in Warren County to near the DeKalb County Line is not yet ready for bid letting.

The state plans to build largely two lanes of a proposed four lane project and maintain traffic on the existing Highway 56 (alignment) while construction is done on the new portion.

The estimated completion date for the two phases is May 31, 2022.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation also reports that construction of Highway SR-26 (US-70) between Alexandria and Liberty is going well with grading, drainage, and construction of retaining walls and paving from near SR-53 (LM 2) to near SR-96 (LM 6.1): The contractor has begun clearing operations, installing erosion control measures, and water and gas line relocation. Intermittent lane closures and flagging operations are expected. Intermittent blasting operation has begun resulting in temporary road closures. Motorists are advised to use caution and be alert to all construction signage while traveling through the work zone.

TDOT awarded a bid to Twin K. Contractors, Inc. for the reconstruction project at $30,875,122 which includes the grading, drainage, construction of retaining walls and paving on US 70 (State Route 26) from near State Route 53 at Alexandria to near State Route 96 at Liberty. The project is 4.1 miles long and the completion date is on or before June 30, 2024.

December 14, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A man has a date with a judge after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend last week.

25-year-old Zachary Jacob Poss of The Loop Circle, Smithville, is charged with domestic assault. He is under a $2,500 bond and his court date is January 6. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on December 6, a deputy was summoned to The Loop Circle due to an unwanted guest. Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with a woman who said that she and her boyfriend, Poss, had begun arguing about a phone which turned physical. The woman said Poss pulled her off the bed and struck her in the mouth resulting in a cut on her arm, on the inside of her mouth, and on her bottom lip.

50-year-old Richard Brandon Turner of Fisher Avenue, Smithville, is charged with violation of bond conditions. Sheriff Ray said that on December 6 a deputy went to a residence on Fisher Avenue to serve active warrants against Turner who was at the back door of the home highly intoxicated. An NCIC background check confirmed active bond conditions between Turner and the occupant of the residence. Under those bond conditions Turner was supposed to stay away from the home and the protected person.

36-year-old Michael Frederick Teachout of Walker Drive, Smithville, is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court January 13. Sheriff Ray said on December 7 Teachout knowingly violated an order of protection against him by being with a woman he was to keep away from on Luttrell Avenue in Smithville. Teachout was previously arrested on November 9 for the same offense.

46-year-old Tamara Nichole Smith of Memphis is charged driving under the influence. She was also cited for a light law violation, no insurance, misuse of registration, and driving while suspended. She is under a $2,500 bond and her court date is set for January 6. Sheriff Ray said that on December 11 a deputy spotted a vehicle on West Broad Street with no headlights or taillights. After stopping the vehicle, the deputy spoke with the driver, Smith, whose speech was slurred, and she was unsteady on her feet. Smith submitted to but performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests.

December 14, 2021
By:

The New York Yankees made two selections in last Wednesday’s Minor League Rule 5 Draft, taking right-hander and former DeKalb County High School pitcher Steven Jennings from the Pirates’ High-A roster in the first round and plucking right-hander Manny Ramírez from the Astros’ Low-A roster in the second round according to www.mlb.com

Additionally, the Red Sox chose right-hander Brian Keller in the second round from the Yankees’ Double-A Somerset roster.

Jennings, 23, owns a career 19-19 record with one save and a 4.75 ERA in 79 games (51 starts) over four Minor League seasons (2017-19, ’21).

The Brush Creek, Tenn., native combined to go 9-1 with one save, a 4.99 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 74 innings over 29 appearances (one start) this past season for Low-A Bradenton, High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona.

Pittsburgh originally selected Jennings in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft.

The 22-year-old Ramírez — who is not related to the slugger of the same name who mashed 555 home runs in the big leagues — has gone 3-5 with a 4.33 ERA in 35 games (14 starts) over three Minor League seasons (2017-19).

Ramírez, who did not pitch in 2021 due to injury, has notched 126 strikeouts against 73 hits allowed and 77 walks issued in 95 2/3 innings. The Astros originally signed the Santo Domingo, D.R., native as a non-drafted free agent in July 2017.

Keller, 27, spent last season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he went 2-2 with a 2.77 ERA in 26 games (11 starts). In 55 1/3 innings, Keller permitted 43 hits and 46 walks with 65 strikeouts. He was a 39th-round selection by the Yankees in the 2016 MLB Draft.

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