Couple Arrested After Breaking Into Love-Cantrell Funeral Home Van During Chapel Memorial Service

April 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Police have arrested a couple for burglarizing a Love- Cantrell Funeral Home van while a chapel memorial service was in progress.

41 year old Ernest R. Mashburn Jr. of 247 Circle Drive and 28 year old Heather L. Standridge of 326 Jacobs Pillar Road were arrested on April 17 for Burglary (Motor Vehicle) and Theft of Property over $1,000.

Bond for Mashburn is $20,000 and $30,000 for Standridge. They will make a court appearance on May 2.

Police were called to Love-Cantrell Funeral Home in reference to a theft. Upon arrival the officer noticed that someone had scattered items around inside a van belonging to the funeral home. The owner informed the officer that witnesses spotted a man (Mashburn) suspiciously walking around the backside of the funeral home where the van was parked. Video surveillance from the funeral home showed a man (Mashburn) and a woman (Standridge) entering the van and taking items out of it. Police later located the couple walking in front of Omega Apparel and placed them in custody.

Police recovered items taken from the van including a Ruger 22 handgun, Oakley sunglasses, key fob, radio remote, touch screen radio, FM transmitter, cassette adapter, 2XL US shirt, headphones, phone chargers, cold weather face mask, and 2 packs of baseball cards. The total value of the stolen items was $2,280.

April 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

If you would like a loyal and friendly companion in a dog then meet “Chase”.

This week’s WJLE/DeKalb Animal Coalition featured Pet is a 1-2 year old American Pit Bull Terrier.

“Loyal and friendly, Chase hasn’t met a stranger. He has been working hard with volunteers and already knows how to fetch, sit, and has leash manners. Chase is such a handsome guy and it’s like he knows to pose for pictures. He is just waiting for the perfect home. Chase would be happiest as the only pet in the household. If Chase sounds perfect to you, give us a call,” said Shelter Director Megan Moore.

Call 615-597-1363.

The shelter, located at 186 Transfer Station Road behind Tenneco Automotive, is open Thursday and Friday from noon until 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon.

April 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday declared it was a “historic day” after the Republican’s parental choice bill advanced out of the Senate.

The proposal — known as education savings accounts — supported by Governor Lee would allow families to use up to $7,300 in state funds to spend on private school tuition and other approved expenses. Families in qualifying schools districts would have to meet certain income levels to receive the funds.

The Senate’s version, which passed 20-13, conflicts with what House members narrowly passed earlier by just one vote. That means the two chambers will form a joint “conference committee” to seek a solution.

State Senator Mark Pody voted in favor of the legislation which applies only to Metro Nashville-Davidson County and Memphis-Shelby County  and would require the Department of Education to verify the income of parents participating in the program.

The House version includes having parents to verify their immigration status — a requirement that raised legal concerns and objections from Senate members — and would currently apply to the state’s top four most populated counties.

“This is an extremely small bill,” said Senator Pody. “It only focuses on 5,000 students in a couple of counties, Shelby and Davidson. They have some failing schools there so  it gives those counties choices of where they want their kids to go to school, whether it be to continue in a different public school or to transfer out of their school into a charter school or private school. The Governor said he would set aside an additional $7,300 per student who would like to do that so they could go a school of their choice.  Public education will continue to get its money whether that child is there or not so it doesn’t hurt public education in that way,” he said.

Senator Pody said he will support the concept as long as it is shown to work.

“If this program doesn’t work and doesn’t help the kids we don’t need to keep doing it but I think it’s time we give these parents and kids a shot to at least look at alternatives to some schools that have not been working. For example, in Shelby County, we’re paying almost $20,000 per student which is almost 40% more than we pay for the kids in our own county here so we have given a lot of extra money there (Shelby County) to help some of the public education schools but it’s just not working. It’s time to find an alternative,” he added.

“There are some things I am concerned about and one is I would like to see some stronger protections about potential fraud. I don’t want someone taking that money and using it to buy non educational things and not being held accountable for it and I want to make sure that we have proof it is working if it is to be expanded,” said Senator Pody.

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