City To Purchase Pickup Trucks with COVID Grant Funds

September 6, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville will be receiving a total of $71,895 in grant funding under a coronavirus relief effort called the Tennessee Local Government Reimbursement Program. The funding is being allocated to eligible local governments on a per capita basis.

The Aldermen Friday night voted to spend the money from the grant to purchase a total of three F150 trucks for the water and sewer departments.

Governor Bill Lee and the state’s bipartisan Financial Stimulus Accountability Group recently announced that an additional $115 million in coronavirus relief funds would be made available to local governments to offset costs incurred from responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This program comes in addition to the $210 million in grants for county and municipal governments approved by the General Assembly in the state’s 2021 budget. The City of Smithville’s portion from that grant was $135,000 and specific projects have already been identified and budgeted for this year.

During Friday nights meeting, Janice Plemmons-Jackson, the city’s financial advisor informed the Mayor and Aldermen how the city may spend its allocation of almost $72,000 under the Local Government Reimbursement Program.

“We first have to spend the money and then request that it be reimbursed. It has to be spent for the right things related to COVID-19 issues. Based on the needs of the city in regard to COVID-19 we believe the water and sewer department and sewer rehabilitation could each use a new vehicle to keep our employees spread out by traveling (to job sites) in different vehicles. We got quotes from a dealership in Murfreesboro based on the state bid and those three vehicles that Public Works Director Kevin (Robinson) said would be suitable for us to use (F150s) total $74,368. Our grant is almost $72,000 so the city will need to fund a little bit, $2, 473 to get that qualified. We have to spend it by November 1. I would like to go ahead and get those ordered and paid for so we can get that requested and covered. I just want you to take that action to get this process started,” said Jackson.

“This pandemic has required a high level of coordination and support across all levels of government to ensure local needs are met and the health and wellbeing of Tennesseans are protected,” Governor Lee said. “The Financial Stimulus Accountability Group has provided another round of funding as we work to reduce any financial barriers in COVID-19 response.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented our local governments with unique challenges specific to the needs of their people. Giving local governments control over how to spend these dollars maximizes efficiency and ensures this money is deployed in the most effective way possible,” Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) said. “As we adjust to the new normal of living and working with COVID-19, it is important that local governments have the resources they need to attack the virus and address the issues it creates.”

Expenses paid for by the reimbursement program should fall within one of the following categories:
•Medical Expenses
•Public Health Expenses
•Payroll Expenses Related to COVID-19
•Public Health Compliance Expenses
•Other Reasonably Necessary Expenses Incurred in Response to the COVID-19 public
Health emergency.

“Directing additional funds to local governments will ensure they can continue to effectively meet the needs of their residents,” House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) said. “COVID-19 related decisions and expenses whether in health care, education, or in other areas will be with us for the foreseeable future.”

Funds from the CRF may not be used to replace lost government revenue. Funds also may not be used for expenses that have been or will be reimbursed under any other federal programs.

September 6, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

From the Smithville Police Department,

30 year old Bobby Ray O’Conner Jr. of 848 Foster Road was arrested on August 1 for aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. Police were called to O’Conner’s residence and learned that he had grabbed the victim by the throat trying to strangle her and that he had threatened to blow her head off. While speaking with O’Conner the officers spotted a .20-gauge shotgun lying on the couch. O’Conner is a convicted felon for an aggravated burglary on January 23, 2017. His bond is $20,000.

26 year old Richard Wayne Norrod of 310 Wade Street was arrested on August 6 for domestic assault and resisting arrest. Police were summoned to break up a verbal altercation and heard Norrod make a deadly threat against the victim while on the scene. The officers also learned that Norrod had pushed the victim in an earlier altercation between the two. Upon being arrested, Norrod resisted when told several times to put his hands behind his back. Bond for Norrod is $5,000.

59 year old Sammy Gene Taylor of Dowelltown was arrested on August 8 for public intoxication. Police were called to a residence on Jacobs Pillar Road in reference to an unwanted guest. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Taylor who appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. Taylor’s speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet.

45 year old Stephen Jason Moore of 5040 Cookeville Highway was arrested on August 11 for possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell. Police were called to 860 South Congress Boulevard to check out a suspicious vehicle stopped in the roadway and found Moore pushing a blue Mustang. Officers searched the vehicle and found a small baggie containing a clear crystal substance which weighed about 0.5 grams and field tested positive for methamphetamine. Bond for Moore is $7,500.

50 year old Rochelle Moody Lachenauer of 223 East Bryant Street was arrested on August 12 for assault. Police were called to Lachenauer’s home where they learned that she had threatened to start a fight with her victim several times that day. Due to this being the third time that police had been called to the residence, Lachenauer was taken into custody. Her bond is $2,000.

58 year old Michael Lynn Vance of 625 Highland Street was arrested on August 17 for violation of bond conditions and he was cited for criminal trespassing. On July 20 Vance was arrested but a court order granting bail was issued on condition that he stay away from the victim. On August 17 Vance was found inside the residence of the victim although he had been given notice on July 24 not to be on any property belonging to the Smithville Housing Authority where the victim’s residence is located. Bond for Vance is $1,500.

30 year old Sammy William Welch of 352 Page Street was arrested on August 19 for two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card. Police say that on August 13 at approximately 12:31 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. Welch used the credit card of his victim without consent both times at Wal-Mart. Warrants were obtained for Welch’s arrest and he was taken into custody without incident. Bond for Welch is $3,000.

51 year old Andrew Clay Williams of Cookeville was arrested for DUI on August 20. Williams was found to be asleep behind the wheel of his parked vehicle in the roadway with the engine running on south College Street. As the officer awoke him he noticed Williams had a strong odor of alcohol on his person and was unsteady on his feet while exiting the vehicle. Williams submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Police learned that Williams had consumed about two 40 ounce beers earlier. A search warrant was obtained for a blood sample from him. His bond is $1,500.

30 year old Barrett Ryan Holubek of 620 Smith Road was arrested for domestic assault on August 21. According to police, Holubek threw a pocket knife at his victim which barley missed striking a wall beside her. The knife was found in Holubek’s truck and was identified by the victim as being the one thrown at her. Bond for Holubek is $3,000 and his court date is September 23.

32 year old Bruce Carlon Cantrell of 167 Village Place was arrested on August 24 for resisting/stop/halt/frisk, failure to appear, two counts of probation violation and he was cited for a driver license violation, financial responsibility, and two counts of simple possession. Police spotted Cantrell driving a vehicle knowing that his license were revoked and that he had active warrants against him for violation of probation and failure to appear. Police tried to pull him over but Cantrell continued driving until he turned into the driveway of his residence. Cantrell then got out of the automobile and ran but he was later placed into custody. Incident to arrest, police found 9 Xanax bars and 1.5 Oxycodone pills for which Cantrell could not provide a prescription. Cantrell will make a court appearance on September 10.

57 year old Jay Kent Williams of 909 South College Street was arrested on August 25 for driving under the influence and he was cited for leaving the scene of an accident. Williams was involved in a wreck on South College Street where his vehicle struck a light pole. He then drove away from the scene almost hitting head-on an approaching officer’s patrol car. Williams then swerved off the road and nearly struck the IMI concrete plant building before coming to a stop. Upon speaking with Williams, police learned that he had consumed one and half beers at Cowboy Up Bar and a few shots of Tequila at Turtles Bar and Grille. A search warrant was obtained for a blood draw from Williams. His court date is September 10.

53 year old Jeffery Lee Johnson of 599 Pack Circle was arrested on August 26 for public intoxication. Police found Johnson on West Broad Street walking in and out of the roadway picking up small items off the ground. Upon speaking with Johnson, police learned that he had snorted a line of a white powdery substance. He was taken into custody for his safety and that of the public. Bond for Johnson is $1,500 and his court date is September 10.

33 year old Adam Daniel Taylor of 102 West Market Street was arrested on August 28 for violation of an order of protection. Police were summoned to a possible domestic incident but upon arrival were informed that everything was okay. However Taylor was found to be at the residence in violation of a court order for him to stay away from his victim. Bond for Taylor is $2,500 and his court date is September 10.

66 year old Victoria Heine Openo of 920 South Mountain Street was arrested on August 29 for public intoxication. Openo was found laying next to South Mountain Street trying to crawl out into the road. This was the second time that day police had responded to a call concerning Openo’s behavior. According to police, Openo had been heavily intoxicated that day and refused to stay at her home. She had a strong odor of alcohol on her person and was unsteady on her feet. Due to concerns for her safety and that of the public, Openo was placed under arrest. Bond for her is $1,500 and she will make a court appearance on September 10.

33 year old Troy Allen Cunningham of 4876 Jefferson road was cited for a driver license and light law violation, financial responsibility, and possession of methamphetamine. Police pulled over Cunningham on a routine traffic stop and found approximately 1.18 grams of methamphetamine in his possession. Cunningham’s court date is September 10.

18 year old Destinee Faith Ritchie of Dowelltown was cited for simple possession on August 28. Police were called to Magnolia Inn in reference to a stolen wallet and while speaking with Ritchie, the renter of the room, officers detected an odor of marijuana coming from inside the room. During a search a small amount of THC was found in a bag along with the stolen wallet.

30 year old Gregory Allen Mayo II of Liberty was cited on August 31 for possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell. Police were called to 1222 South College Street were three men were reportedly using drugs in the parking lot. After speaking with Mayo, police learned that Mayo had a small box that contained approximately 6.09 grams of methamphetamine. His court date is September 24.

September 5, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Fiddle Dee Dee on Broad again presents Fiddle Dee Dee on Broad Gospel Hour Sunday night, September 6 from 5-6 p.m.

The program airs once a month on WJLE, on the first Sunday night of each month, from 5-6 p.m. featuring recorded local talent performing gospel music.

Sunday night’s program will showcase the music of the Faith Singers and the Joyful Praises.
Tune in the first Sunday night of each month for the Fiddle Dee Dee on Broad Gospel Hour from 5-6 p.m. on WJLE AM 1480/FM 101.7.

WJLE is proud of our partner sponsors of religious programs each week and hopes you will tune in often and let them know you listen.

•Got A Minute?: 60 second message presented by the Smithville Church of Christ with Dan Gulley-Twice a day Monday-Friday each week (various times morning and around noon).

•Cross Connection sponsored by the Upper Helton Baptist Church featuring Jimmy Arms: Monday-Friday at 11:55 a.m. each week

•Morning Devotion: A 5 minute daily devotional by a different minister each week Monday-Saturday at 7:25 a.m.

The following are weekly sponsored Sunday programs:
•7:30 a.m.: Royce Moore of the New West Point Freewill Baptist Church (The Way of Life Ministry)

•8:00 a.m. Elders Joseph and Ricky Arnold for the New Bildad and Mount View Primitive Baptist Churches (The Firm Foundation)

•8:30 a.m. Outreach Baptist Church with Nathan Thomason (The Outreach Pulpit)

•9:00 a.m. The Keltonburg Missionary Baptist Church (Only Through the Blood)

•9:30 a.m. LOCAL NEWS

•9:35 a.m. Trent Colwell of the Smithville Church of the Nazarene (The Living Word)

•10:30 a.m. Bobby Thomason of the Covenant Baptist Church (Fountain of Faith Ministries)

•11:00 a.m. Worship Services from either the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian (Isaac Gray) or Smithville First United Methodist (David Lunsford) Churches

•12:00 NOON: LOCAL NEWS

•12:30 p.m.: House of Prayer with Zach Murphy

•1:00 p.m.: Truth that Transforms with Aaron Wright

•1:30 p.m. The Preaching Ministry of Toy Lawson of the People’s Pentecostal Church

•2:30 p.m. Billy Hale of the Christ Pentecostal Church of Brush Creek (The King is Coming)

•3:00 p.m. Prophet James Ferrell of the Church of Jesus Christ (The Word of the Lord)

•4:00 p.m. LOCAL NEWS

•4:15 p.m. Royce Curtis of the People’s Missionary Baptist Church

•5:00 p.m. Fiddle Dee Dee on Broad Gospel Hour (1st Sunday)

•6:05 p.m. Gospel music sponsored by Cantrell’s Furniture and Appliances

•9:05 p.m. LOCAL NEWS

Listen each week on WJLE AM 1480 and WJLE FM 101.7 and LIVE Streaming at www.wjle.com.

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