Familiar Local Landmark for 70 Years Torn Down

March 30, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

It had been part of the Smithville landscape for 70 years but now the building that once served as home to a popular service station and a restaurant is no more.

Demolition of the structure, which many will remember as Kent’s Texaco and the Sunrise Grill, was completed over the weekend. The property, located at the corner of Highway 70 (East Broad Street) and Highway 56 (South Congress Boulevard, is currently for sale by owners Kerry (Bebo) and Kevin Robinson.

The business, started in 1950 by Erbie Robinson and his brother-in-law W.H. “Dub” Bing , was known as Bing & Robinson’s Service Station. It originally began as a Sinclaire gas station but over the years changed to Arco, Texaco, and Marathon.

After Robinson and Bing opened the service station, a restaurant adjoining the business on the same property soon started. Known as the Sunrise Grill, the restaurant, operated by Warren and Betty Smith, became one of the most popular eateries in town. It remained in business for almost two decades.

After purchasing Bing’s interest in the business, Robinson continued operating the service station for several years until he turned it over to his son Kent in the 1960’s. Kent’s brother Kerry (Bebo) had worked in the family business for a while until he began a partnership with Billy Hendrixson to start a successful convenience store, known today as Kwik-N-Ezy Exxon, which is located across the highway from the service station property. After Kent’s death in 2005 , Darrell Gill leased the Robinson property and relocated his already successful business known as DeKalb Tire & Service there from West Broad Street. A couple of years ago Gill relocated his operation to property he acquired on East Broad Street and changed the name to Gill Automotive.

March 30, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A young woman was airlifted after a two vehicle crash Friday night on Cookeville Highway near the Phillipi Church.

20 year old Chloe Cantrell of Smithville was flown by helicopter ambulance to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.

According to Trooper Jonathan Burke of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 57 year old Douglas Judkins of Smithville, driving a 2000 Chevy Silverado north on Highway 56, crossed into the southbound lane and struck Cantrell’s 2016 Hyundai Veloster.

Cantrell was treated at the scene by DeKalb EMS and taken to a helicopter landing zone set up nearby by members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department.

Judkins later went by private vehicle to the hospital.

He was cited for failure to maintain lane of travel.

March 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Many homes remain without electricity this morning (Monday) after a powerful thunderstorm blew across DeKalb County early Sunday morning downing trees and utility lines and causing some structure damage. No injuries were reported.

Although power was restored to some areas later in the day Sunday, others remain in the dark.

In a statement released Sunday night, officials of Caney Fork Electric Cooperative said an all out effort was undertaken Sunday and will continue today (Monday) to restore service.

“The storms that hit our service area around 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 29th were severe and far reaching. Our crews have been in the field working non-stop ever since the storms passed and continued to do so until 8:00 p.m. Sunday night when they were asked to go home and get some much-needed rest so that they could continue to work safely in the days ahead. Be assured that they will return to continue their efforts at 6:00 a.m. Monday, March 30 and will work throughout the day to restore power to as many members as is possible.”

“We have requested mutual aid from other Electric Cooperatives and Municipal Power Distributors and currently have their additional crews working on our system as well”.

“Because the damage from this storm system was so extensive, we were not able to restore everyone’s power Sunday night. If you have medical needs that require power in your home, we ask that you find an alternative place to stay for your safety. We truly regret not being able to restore power to everyone on our system, but there were far too many broken poles and downed power lines for that to have been possible Sunday”.

“Please remember: if you see downed lines, assume they are energized and stay away from them. We want everyone to come through this event safely. Thank you for your patience in this most trying time; we are working as hard as we can to get the lights back on while keeping the safety of our crews in mind,” the CFEC statement concluded.

Most of the damage apparently occurred over the southern and eastern portions of the county but the City of Smithville was also affected.

“We had what appears to be some strong straight line winds that affected several parts of the county from the Short Mountain Highway area to the Four Seasons community and beyond over to Sligo. There was a lot of trees down across roads and even on at least a couple of houses and an outbuilding. It took a section of the metal roof off of Mystick Market on the McMinnville Highway in the Shiney Rock community and blew it across the road up against a home. In Smithville we had some damage. Trees were down on Town Hill and Smith Road and other places but the city did not have near what occurred in the county,” said Charlie Parker, DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator.

Hours before daybreak members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department, Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad, DeKalb County Highway Department, Smithville Public Works Department, Emergency Management, and other volunteers sprung into action, many of them using chainsaws and other cutting tools and equipment to remove the debris blocking county and city roads and state highways. Crews from utilities including Caney Fork Electric Cooperative, Smithville Electric System and DTC Communications worked through the day trying to restore service.

“All the volunteers and crews were out all morning trying to get roadways opened back up and they all did a great job,” said Parker.

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