City Seeks Almost $1 Million in Grant Funding for Sidewalk Construction

October 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville is embarking on a plan to eventually build new sidewalks and improve pedestrian crossings and is hoping to obtain a grant of up to almost $1 million to help make it happen.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the aldermen adopted a resolution to authorize the submission of an application to the Tennessee Department of Transportation for a Multi-Modal Access Grant.

This program is a 95/5% match for construction of up to $1 million. If fully funded, the city would receive $950,000 in grant funding with a $50,000 local match requirement for construction of new sidewalk and crosswalk improvements along the State Route 26 (Highway 70) and State Route 56 (Congress Boulevard) corridors and intersections.

Ragan-Smith Associates of Nashville will design the project at a cost of up to $5,000.

The grant application will be filed and if approved be administered on behalf of the City by the Upper Cumberland Development District.

UCDD representative Virginia Alexander addressed the mayor and aldermen Monday night.

“In June we applied for the letter of intent for the Multi- Modal Access Grant for a project that would be on Highway 70 for intersections at Highway 70 & 56 and Highway 70 and Short Mountain Road and for sidewalks up to the Industrial Park on Highway 70. TDOT asked that we put in a full application so that is what this resolution is addressing and we can request up to $950,000 with a $50,000 match. It’s a 95/5% project which is very rare to find especially with road projects,” said Alexander.

“We are working with Ragan-Smith to come up with the design for this project and we will have to do a request for qualifications for engineers when the grant is awarded. For their services they  (Ragan-Smith)are asking for no more than $5,000 depending on the scope of work. They will be coming up to look at the project and drawing some preliminary sketches and work on the budget for us,” Alexander continued.

It may be at least January before its known if the City will be awarded the grant.

“They will take the winter time to review the applications and probably announce in January. Contracting takes from four to six months depending on TDOT’s schedule. You probably would not have to spend any funds until the 2020-21 fiscal year,” added Alexander.

October 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A woman caught driving erratically by a county deputy last week also had a variety of drugs and paraphernalia

42 year old Stephanie Lee Vanatta of Blue Springs Road, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver; sale and delivery of schedule I, IV & VI drugs, driving under the influence, and failure to appear. Her bond totals $83,500 and she will be in court on these charges October 17.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, October 3 a deputy was patrolling on Keltonburg Road when he noticed a car failing to maintain its lane of travel. He pulled it over and spoke with the driver, Vanatta and learned that she has active warrants against her. Vanatta told the officer that she was on probation. Her driver license is also suspended. The officer observed that Vanatta was unsteady on her feet and she admitted to having taken methamphetamine earlier in the day. Vanatta submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. Although she agreed to give blood for a test, a search warrant was secured for a blood sample

During a search of Vanatta’s vehicle, the officer found three baggies with a total of 15 xanax pills, four baggies of a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine totaling 1.40 ounces, 0.4 grams of a powdery substance  thought  to be heroin wrapped in tin foil, five bags of marijuana totaling 11 grams, along with drug paraphernalia including scales, extra baggies, and cash

Vanatta had failed to appear in General Sessions Court on September 26 for previous charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a prohibited weapon and another failure to appear charge.

47 year old Mark Anthony Mason, Jr. of Dearman Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. He was also cited for violation of the open container law. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 17.

Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, October 3 a deputy and Smithville Police Officer spotted a gray Dodge pickup truck on Midway Road matching the description of vehicle given by a complainant concerning a reckless driver. Officers pulled over the truck and spoke with the driver, Mason. He had a strong odor of alcohol on him and he was unsteady on his feet. His speech was also slurred. Mason submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He admitted to having consumed Vodka while driving and an open container of Vodka was found in the truck.

27 year old Richard James Horst of Edgewood Street, Alexandria is charged with driving under the influence. He was also cited for violation of the light law. His bond is $2,500 and he will make a court appearance October 17.

Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, October 4 a deputy spotted a black BMW SUV traveling north on Brush Creek Highway with a passenger side headlight out. He pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Horst. He had a strong odor of alcohol on him. Horst’s speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

October 7, 2019
By: Leigh Fuson, 4-H Agent

The Poultry Project is one of DeKalb County’s most popular 4-H activities.  In addition to the Chick-Chain where youth raise chickens, anyone can be involved in poultry judging even if they can’t raise birds at home.  DeKalb County was recently well represented by 11 members at the Central Region contest held in Lebanon.  There were over 180 participants from across middle Tennessee.

The junior team of Wade Evans, Levi Griffin, Adam Jones, and Bill Stanton placed 4^th while the team of Cali Agee, Bryson Arnold, Olivia Gilley, and Laura Magness placed 2^nd. DeKalb County also had half of the top ten high individuals: Cali 2^nd, Laura 5^th, Olivia 8^th, Bill 9^th, and Adam 10^th. We also had the 7^th place senior high team which consisted of Clayton Crook, Lily Martin, and Megan Price. Senior teams are eligible to compete at the state level contest on October 19^th in Knoxville.

During the contest, there are three classes where eggs are graded on quality: candling, broken out, and exterior. Contestants must know the parts of an egg and how it deteriorates over time when candling.  A light is held to the eggs in order to see the interior.  The shell is then graded in the exterior quality class, and contestants look for defects and abnormalities.  Egg whites and yolks are graded in the broken out class.  A class of four, live White Leghorn hens is judged on their egg laying ability.  This is determined by the pigment of their skin and abdominal capacity.  Senior High members must give oral reasons on this class to defend their decision.  Finally, meat parts are identified and carcasses are graded in the ready-to-cook poultry classes.

Many of our poultry judgers have chickens of their own, and the knowledge gained through this contest will help them better care for their birds and market their eggs. Congratulations to these young people on a job well done!

If you are interested in poultry judging or any other 4-H activity, please call 615-597-4945. 4-H is a proud part of UT Extension, the UT Institute of Agriculture, and TSU Cooperative Extension. UT-TSU Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment through the cooperation of county, state, and federal governments.

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