Smithville Police to Crack Down on Motorists Illegally Passing School Buses

December 13, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Police Department is asking for your help to ensure the safety of the children when entering and exiting the school bus.

Multiple concerns have been expressed to the local law enforcement, bus transportation department, and school administrators about vehicles driving recklessly or passing school buses when bus lights are flashing. We have found there are two types of drivers who pass buses: those who intentionally pass a bus illegally and those who are oblivious of the school bus. State law makes no distinction.

According to state law, it is a Class A misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $1,000. A conviction of passing a stopped school bus will also result in eight points being attached to the offender’s license, with only 12 points necessary to result in a license suspension. Chief Mark Collins stated, “If you are stopped for violating this law, under no circumstances will there be a warning issued. The operator of the vehicle will receive a citation.”

Under Tennessee law, drivers are required to stop when red school bus lights are flashing, even if they’re traveling in the opposite direction regardless of two or four lanes.

Yellow lights: A bus is preparing to stop. It is illegal to pass a school bus from behind when yellow lights are flashing. When approaching a school bus traveling in the opposite direction, a driver must slow the vehicle to 20 miles per hour or less when yellow lights are seen.

Red lights: Every driver must stop. When the red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, this indicates that the bus has stopped and that children are now getting on or off the bus. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red flashing lights are turned off, the stop arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they start driving again. When a school bus is stopped at an intersection to load and unload children, drivers from all directions are required to stop until the bus resumes motion.

The Smithville Police Department will be increasing their patrol in the morning and afternoons but we are asking you to help us protect DeKalb County’s greatest commodity.

December 13, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A Lebanon man, formerly of Smithville, who crashed his car and fled the scene after a law enforcement pursuit appeared for sentencing in DeKalb County Criminal Court Tuesday.

33 year old Caleb Isaiah Rigsby of Castle Heights, Lebanon entered a plea to a charge of evading arrest in a motor vehicle. He received a two year sentence on TDOC probation. The term is to run consecutive to another case against him.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Wednesday, October 3 a deputy spotted a green 2002 Nissan Altima traveling  at excessive speeds on Nashville Highway and tried to stop it. The car overtook two other vehicles in the turning lane near the Clover leaf Restaurant at high speeds exceeding 85 miles per hour.  The pursuit turned from Highway 70 to Dry Creek Road but the officer lost sight of the car near Dry Creek Baptist Church. The deputy terminated the pursuit but continued to follow. Minutes later, he found the car, which had crashed on Pea Ridge Road. The driver had fled on foot.  Inside the car, the deputy found a wallet containing Rigsby’s driver license. The wallet was in the side compartment of the car door. A few hours later, a family member of Rigsby  called central dispatch to report that Rigsby had crashed his car while running from the cops.  Rigsby was arrested on Tuesday, October 9.

An 18 year old Brush Creek man appeared in DeKalb County Criminal Court Tuesday where he was sentenced for theft.

James Edward Anstis entered a plea to one count of theft of property $2,500 to $10,000 and received a six year sentence on TDOC probation pursuant to Judicial Diversion. He is to make restitution to two victims totaling $9,150. The crime in this case was committed on July 4, 2018

43 year old Christopher Allen Scruggs entered a plea to possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule II drug (meth) under 0.5 grams. He received a six year sentence to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The term is to run concurrently with another case against him. Scruggs was given jail credit from November 1, 2017 to December 11, 2018.

55 year old David Glen Cole entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation after serving 48 hours in jail. He was fined $350 and he will lose his driver license for one year. He was given jail credit from August 27 to August 31, 2018.

December 13, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The Steven Jennings “solo” baseball card is now live.

Jennings, a former DeKalb County High School standout, is card number 167 in the just released Panini product Elite Extra Edition.

The base card is numbered to only 999 copies, but there are various parallel versions with lower print runs and the same applies to the autographed versions.

Copies have already popped up on Ebay. Boxes of the product can also be found at hobby shops.

The long-established prospect brand highlights the latest batch of rising Major League Baseball (MLB) stars. Jennings is a pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and recently completed his first professional league season.

Jennings’ card is one of 200 in the set with multiple variations as well as an autographed version.

Tweaking the formula from 2017, each Hobby box of Elite Extra Edition averages eight autographs and two memorabilia cards. The set also has the company-exclusive players from the Dominican Prospect League.

Jennings first appearance on a professional card was late last year when he was on a two-player card insert set found in Bowman Draft.

The former DCHS right handed pitcher was selected by the Pirates in the Major League Baseball Draft as the 42nd overall pick and sixth into the second round in June, 2017. In June 2018 he was assigned to the Bristol Pirates.

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