Pedigo Caught Operating a Farm Tractor Under the Influence

May 27, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A man was arrested last week after he was caught operating a farm tractor while under the influence.

52 year old Scott Green Pedigo of Pages Lane, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. His court date is June 13. He was cited for possession of methamphetamine (1.6 grams), a light law violation, violation of implied consent, driving on a revoked license, and for possession of a prohibited weapon (pair of brass knuckles).

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on May 21 a deputy was patrolling on Obie Adcock Road around 10:53 p.m. when he noticed a tractor traveling on the road with no lights on at the intersection of Obie Adcock Road and Pages Lane. He stopped the tractor and spoke to the driver, Pedigo who was very fidgety and unsteady on his feet. The deputy found 1.6 grams of a crystal like substance believed to be meth in Pedigo’s pocket. Pedigo admitted to having used meth and performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. After he refused to submit to implied consent a search warrant was obtained for a blood sample from Pedigo. He was also found to be in possession of a pair of brass knuckles.

May 27, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A McMinnville man has been charged with failure to exercise due care and registration violation after his car ran into the back of a boat trailer being towed by a Chevy Trailblazer Thursday on Highway 70 at Sligo Bridge.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 33 year old Joshua Young was driving a 2012 JGL Volkswagen west on Highway 70 and struck the rear of a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer, driven by 68 year old David Clark of Cookeville who was towing a trailer and boat and had stopped in the road signaling a left turn. The rear end collision resulted in disabling damage to the trailer and boat and minor damage to the Trailblazer. Neither Clark nor his passenger, 42 year old Eric Clark of Cookeville were injured. Young suffered possible minor injury to the head.

The crash was investigated by Trooper Caleb Bain of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

May 26, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A plane crash last October near the Smithville Municipal Airport has served as a reminder to city officials about the potential dangers and the concerns for public safety.

As a result, the city has closed the park across from the airport on Allen’s Chapel Road which for years had been used as a playground and for recreational athletics. The playground equipment has been removed and no trespassing signs will soon be erected on the property along with others warning the public of low flying aircraft in the area.

(Video below shows how low planes fly over the city park on approach to the airport runway)

Airport Manager Joe Johnson said the city has made this decision in the interest of public safety and to adhere to Federal Aviation Administration regulations in “establishing and maintaining clear approach and departure surfaces at airports”. The city park is directly within the airport’s approach and glide path for aircraft.

(Video below shows Smithville Airport Manager Joe Johnson explaining reasons for the city closing park near the airport)

IMG_6646 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

On October 3, a plane crashed on the west side of the airport upon take-off only a few yards from the end of the runway. Fortunately the pilot was not seriously injured and no one else was at risk. However, had the plane come down on the east side of the airport the crash might have occurred in the park where children and others could have been present.

Johnson said closing the park is not something city officials wanted to do but felt it necessary to ensure the safety of the public and limit liability.

“I know some people think we just wanted to close the park but that is not the case. We received a notice of memorandum from the FAA stating that it is clearly a danger to the public with people being underneath the approach of the airport. The FAA does not want us (city) to use that park for people playing ball and things like that because if an airplane were to have a problem taking off or landing it could crash there and hurt or kill a lot of people. That is something we don’t want to see happen,” said Johnson.

According to the FAA, “an airport sponsor (city) is ultimately responsible for ensuring clear runway approach and departure surfaces and must take appropriate action, to the extent practicable, to restrict the use of land adjacent to the airport to uses compatible with normal airport operations including landing and takeoff”.

Johnson said the city is asking the public for voluntary compliance in keeping off the airport city park property.

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