City Reapplies for Up to One Million Dollars in Grant Funding for Pedestrian Crosswalk Improvements

September 23, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville is again embarking on a plan to improve pedestrian crossings at two busy intersections.

During a special meeting Monday evening, Mayor Josh Miller informed the aldermen that the city has reapplied for a Tennessee Department of Transportation Multi-Modal Access Grant.

This program is a 95/5% match for construction of up to $1 million. If fully funded, the city would receive $950,000 in grant funding with a $50,000 local match requirement for construction of crosswalk improvements at the intersections of Highway 56 & 70 and at Highway 70 & 146.

Virginia Alexander, Community Development Planner for the Upper Cumberland Development District, was also at the meeting Monday to discuss the project.

“Smithville submitted a letter of intent to apply for a TDOT Multi-Modal Access Grant. The scope of the project is to redo the intersections at Highway 56 & 70 and Mountain Street & Highway 70 with new crosswalks and potential signalization if needed. A study would be done for rehabbing the area and intersections with crosswalks for safety and any sidewalk repair needed. It was accepted to be a full application so we are working to get that application completed,” said Alexander.

The city first applied for the grant last October but was denied.

September 22, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Its been 23 years since the community playground was built at Greenbrook Park and while it has held up well city officials believe its time for a new one to replace it.

The city recently applied for a Healthy Places Grant through the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Foundation which if approved would provide up to $750,000 in funding for a new playground.

Mayor Josh Miller addressed the issue with the aldermen during Monday night’s special called city council meeting.

Virginia Alexander, Community Development Planner for the Upper Cumberland Development District, was also at the meeting to discuss the project.

“Its done through Blue Cross as a foundational grant so its not coming from government funds. Its from Blue Cross. They started this foundation to do parks and create what they call Healthy Places. We have applied to have the Greenbrook Playground replaced with new equipment. It would be new, upgraded, safer equipment and it would have turf type material to make the grounds safer. It would also be more handicapped accessible. If this grant is awarded Smithville would be required to do the demolition of the existing park but then Blue Cross would come in and build the park with branding on it that says Blue Cross Healthy Places because they want their name on it if they are going to put up to $750,000 in it. They will come in and redo that whole area and then it transfers back over to the city once its completed. The city will be responsible for maintenance but it’s a free installation and they (Blue Cross Blue Shield) does everything during the project,” said Alexander.

The grant application was submitted in August. Grant awards are announced in January.

Since 2005, the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation has supported schools, arts and cultural groups, museums, and other organizations that make life better here in Tennessee.

In 2018, Blue Cross Blue Shield announced a new signature cause that would help make an even bigger impact on the communities they serve – the BlueCross Healthy Place Program. The foundation is creating BlueCross Healthy Places, including parks with fitness equipment and playgrounds, across the state so neighbors have places to come together, get to know one another and enjoy healthy activity.

Each BlueCross Healthy Place is uniquely designed to meet the needs of the area and people it serves, and each space is inclusive with features for visitors of all ages and abilities.

September 22, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A man accused of setting fire to a cabin on Smith Fork Road near Dowelltown last winter is under indictment for aggravated burglary and aggravated arson.

38 year old Joseph Huff Ray of Belk Road was recently arraigned in criminal court on the charges and his bond is $100,000.

The investigation began after a fire was reported at the cabin on January 12 at 10:27 p.m. The owner was not occupying the cabin at the time having used it as a seasonal residence. The cabin was destroyed in the blaze.

During the investigation, a detective of the Sheriff’s Department learned that sometime prior to the fire Joseph Huff Ray and his girlfriend had apparently broken into and taken up residence in the cabin without the knowledge of the owner.

The detective later learned that Ray and his girlfriend had posted photos of the cabin on their facebook page which were made prior to the fire. There were also facebook photos of a tractor parked near the cabin and a set of antique keys to the cabin. The keys were posted for sale. The photos were shown to the owner of the cabin who identified the property as belonging to him.

The woman with Ray at the time has not been charged with either the burglary or arson of the cabin. TBI assisted in the investigation at the scene.

30 year old Michael Joseph Lee of Old Snow Hill Road, Smithville is charged with aggravated criminal trespassing. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court October 1. Sheriff Ray said that on September 14 Lee entered a garage without the knowledge of the owner.

41 year old Michael Lloyd Ballinger of Lebanon is charged with two counts of theft over $1,000, burglary, and vandalism. His bond is $40,000 and he will be in court October 1.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 22 Ballinger broke into a 2015 Chevy Equinox at the Long Branch Recreation area on Lancaster Road damaging the front and rear passenger windows and pillar posts on passenger side to gain entry causing over $2,000 in damage. Once inside he stole two bags of assorted clothing, a rose gold purse, An Iphone 11, and a 14 karat gold diamond engagement ring. The total value of the stolen items comes to $2,486.

In a separate case on the same day, Ballinger took a beach bag full of clothing and a cross body purse with miscellaneous credit cards with a total value of $1,050.

67 year old Matthew Edwin Riihimaa of Silver Point is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court October 8.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 19 Riihimaa was found at a residence on Captain’s Point Road, Silver Point in violation of a court order to keep away from the woman who sought the action. It was the second time since August 30 that Riihimaa had been arrested for violating the order

60 year old Ivan Martel Young of Spencer is charged with criminal impersonation. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 8.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 14 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Ferrell Road where a man was spotted sleeping in the yard. Upon arrival the officer awoke the man,Young and asked him for identification. He said his name was Steven Young and he gave a date of birth and a social security number. A detective on the scene identified him and a check with central dispatch revealed Young has warrants against him in DeKalb and Van Buren Counties. During a search of his persons officers found proof of identification on him.

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