Child Abuse Charges Brought Against Smithville Man

October 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A 36-year-old man is facing child abuse charges after allegedly assaulting his own children.

Jonathan Lee Pedigo of Frazier Street, Smithville will be in General Sessions Court October 13 on charges of child abuse and aggravated child abuse. His bond totals $50,000.

The incident occurred on Saturday, October 1 at the Pedigo residence.

The complaint states as follows: “On Saturday, October 1, I Officer King was dispatched to the address of 524 Frazier Street for possible child abuse that was currently in progress. Upon my arrival, I made contact with the parties involved and began attempting to determine what had occurred. During my investigation, it was determined through witness statements that Jonathan Pedigo struck his 8-year-old child in the head numerous times with his hand. One of his daughters then attempted to leave the residence because she was scared. It was then that Pedigo grabbed his 12-year-old daughter in an attempt to keep her from leaving the residence. Pedigo was then placed under arrest for aggravated child abuse and child abuse.”

October 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Dr. Robert R. Atnip, the City of Smithville, and DeKalb County are joining chiropractic physicians nationwide this October during National Chiropractic Health Month to help raise awareness of non-drug approaches to pain management in the face of the U.S. opioid epidemic.

County Mayor Matt Adcock and Smithville Mayor Josh Miller signed proclamations Monday accompanied by Dr. Atnip and his wife Guylene.

WHEREAS, the opioid crisis continues to take a toll on the health and lives of millions of Americans, and has worsened in some communities during the COVID-19 pandemic;

WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as one in four patients who receive prescription opioids long term for non-cancer pain struggles with addiction and, from 1999-2000, more than 260,000 people died in the U.S. from overdoses involving prescription opioids;

WHEREAS, the interest in and need for greater access to safe and effective non-drug, noninvasive approaches to pain management has increased;

WHEREAS, the American College of Physicians (ACP) released guidelines in 2017 that promote the use of noninvasive, non-drug approaches such as spinal manipulation as a first line of defense against back pain, before the use of pain medications and surgery;

WHEREAS, the CDC in its draft 2022 prescribing guidelines also promotes diverse approaches and varied pain management solutions and specifically encourages use of non-drug therapies as a first line of treatment for subacute and chronic pain and even some types of acute pain.

WHEREAS, Doctors of chiropractic, who focus on the whole person with their non-drug, noninvasive treatments for pain management – most notably spinal manipulation – can play an important role in helping patients lessen their reliance on pain medications;

WHEREAS, there is a growing body of research supporting the early use of chiropractic spinal manipulation in helping patients with chronic low-back pain to reduce or eliminate their need later for prescription opioid pain medications and surgery;

WHEREAS, With the theme “Chiropractic: On the Frontline for Pain,” Chiropractic Health Month 2022 serves as a reminder to citizens of Smithville and DeKalb County that non-drug treatments for a low-back pain such as spinal manipulation provided by doctors of chiropractic can help to lessen or eliminate the need for riskier, potentially addictive treatments and should be utilized where appropriate before starting prescription opioid pain medications.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Smithville and DeKalb County officially join with the American Chiropractic Association (TCA) in proclaiming the month of October 2022 as National Chiropractic Health Month.

October 3, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Mayor and Aldermen Monday night paid tribute to a long-time member of the planning commission and board of zoning appeals who passed away in August.

Mayor Josh Miller presented a plaque to Jackie Smith, wife of Wade Smith, Jr.

The plaque reads as follows: “The City of Smithville honors the family of the late Wade Smith, Jr. He served the City of Smithville faithfully for many years serving on the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals. His dedication to the city will never be forgotten. Presented this 3rd Day of October, 2022”.

In other business the aldermen approved the promotions of four long time city firefighters upon the recommendation of Chief Charlie Parker including Captain Jeff Wright to Assistant Fire Chief, and Lieutenants John Poss, Donnie Cantrell, and Danny Poss to the rank of Captain. Hoyte Hale will continue serving as Deputy Chief.  These firefighters remain volunteers.

“These promotions are reflective of the leadership jobs these men have been doing, and this reclassification is to reflect that. Their promotions will be effective October 1, 2022,” said Chief Parker.

The board adopted a resolution authorizing the Upper Cumberland Development District to apply for Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation American Rescue Plan Act funds up to $1,336,999 for sewer system infrastructure improvements. The city’s local match would be 15% or $238,110. The application must be submitted by November 1.

The aldermen also voted to rename Walnut Alley downtown in honor of Country Music Star John Anderson, a longtime resident of Smithville. The alley will become known now as John Anderson Alley. Signage will soon be posted there to reflect it.

Mayor Miller also updated the aldermen on upcoming events downtown Smithville including the Pumpkin Festival October 22 from 9-4; October 28 the Habitat for Humanity Chili Cook-Off and Bake Sale from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.; and October 31 the Boo Bash from noon until 5 p.m.

The aldermen voted to table a public hearing and second reading action on a new beer ordinance after some questions have surfaced that might require a legal response from City Attorney Vester Parsley, who could not attend the meeting Monday night.

The proposed new ordinance, which was adopted on first reading last month, would re-establish the terms for regulating the sale of beer for off-premises consumption in Smithville.

Ordinance (City of Smithville)

Many provisions in the new ordinance mirror existing regulations such as the 400 feet distance requirement between a business permitted to sell beer and a place of public gathering. Perhaps the biggest change is the implementation of the Tennessee Responsible Vendors Act, which was adopted by the state in 2006 that municipalities may also enact as part of city regulations for vendors permitted to sell beer.

To become compliant with this Act each vendor employee must complete a Responsible Vendor-training program. Once a person, corporation, or other entity has been issued a permit to sell beer for off-premises consumption by the city and has received certification by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission under the Tennessee Responsible Vendor Act, penalties for violations would be less severe than for those who don’t obtain the training and certification.

According to the proposed new ordinance, the Smithville Beer Board may impose on a Responsible Vendor a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each offense of making or permitting to be made any sales to minors or for any other offense. Under state law, the beer board shall not revoke or suspend the permit of a Responsible Vendor for a store clerk’s illegal sale of beer to a minor if the clerk is properly certified and has attended annual meetings since the clerk’s original certification unless his Certified Responsible Vendor status has been revoked by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. However, the city must report the violation to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

“If the beer board determines that a clerk of an off-premises beer permit holder certified by the state sold beer to a minor, the beer board shall report the name of the clerk to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission within 15 days of determination of the sale. The certification of the clerk shall be invalid, and the clerk may not reapply for a new certificate for a period of one year from the date of the beer board’s determination,” according to the proposed new ordinance.

Nonparticipating clerks and businesses as Responsible Vendors could face license suspension or revocation or a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for illegal sales to minors.

Under the proposed new ordinance, “The beer board may, at the time it imposes a revocation or suspension, offer a permit holder that is not a Responsible Vendor the alternative of paying a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for each offense of making or permitting to be made any sales to minors, or a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for any other offense”.

“If a civil penalty is offered as an alternative to revocation or suspension, the holder shall have seven days within which to pay the civil penalty before the revocation or suspension shall be imposed. If the civil penalty is paid within that time, the revocation or suspension shall be deemed withdrawn”.

Ordinance (City of Smithville)

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