E911 Board Now Authorized to Assign Names to Public and Private Roads

February 27, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Although it has been the practice for a long time, the DeKalb County Emergency Communications District (E911) Board can now officially name public and private roads in the county.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission voted to delegate that authority to the E911 Board.

The DeKalb County Emergency Communications District (E-911) Board is authorized by the state to assign addresses and to make changes when necessary to conform with state standards for 911 mapping but the authority to name public and private roads and streets, including those in residential developments, is exclusively vested in the legislative bodies (county commissions) of counties for unincorporated areas, and municipalities within their incorporated boundaries, in a manner acceptable to the US Postal Service.

However, the legislative bodies (county commissions) may delegate the authority to the Emergency Communications District, provided that the legislative body shall approve road or street name changes made by the district under such terms as the legislative body may determine.

“They have been naming roads and streets unless it comes from a subdivision that the planning commission approves. Most of these they are naming are private roads or driveways but they really haven’t been given that authority. I think that would be the proper thing to do is to give them the authority to name these roads,” said County Mayor Tim Stribling Monday night.

The action was taken at the request of DeKalb E911 Director Brad Mullinax, who addressed the commission during a workshop last Thursday night.

According to Mullinax, a problem arose recently when landowners could not agree on what name the E911 Board should assign to a private road into their properties.

“What we have run into recently is an issue with a private road. When we have a driveway with multiple parcels of land and two or more houses off that driveway it is in the best interest of public safety to name that driveway a private drive, not for the purposes of maintaining the road, but to be able to get emergency services there. In this type of case the road needs to be named with addresses assigned to it and a sign posted so the road can be identifiable as a private drive and shown on the 911 map,” said Mullinax.

“In this particular case, we asked the landowners to come up with a name but not all them agreed so we decided to bring this to your attention since we do not have the authority to name roads. But if you give us this authority we will continue to do our due diligence going forward to contact each affected property owner to try and make the name we assign satisfactory to them,” said Mullinax.

Before the commission gave its approval, fifth district member Jerry Adcock had a suggestion.

“I think they should put some historical weight into it such as if the road cuts through somebody’s farm where the family has been for a long time, they should consider naming it after that family,” he said

February 26, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce has elected its Executive Board for 2020.

The Chamber President is Lisa Cripps, DeKalb Prevention Coalition; Vice-President is Jen Sherwood, DRiV aka Federal Mogul; Treasurer is Kathy Hendrixson, Justin Potter Library; Board Secretary is Billie Davis, JBeez/Canoe the Caney; and Past President is Beth Adcock, Smithville Police Department. Other 2020 Chamber Board of Directors include Leigh Fuson, DeKalb County 4-H; Debra Ruzinsky, Appalachian Center for Craft; Tom Sturdivant, Pates Ford Marina & Sligo Marina; Josh Issac, DeKalb County Schools; Cynthia Agee, Wilson Bank & Trust; Jenna Reynolds, Star Manufacturing; Pastor Chad Ramsey, First Baptist Church; Jamie Campbell, The Retreat at Center Hill Lake; Tony Luna, Lake Homes Realty; Mike Davidson, Middle TN Natural Gas; and Brad Halfacre, Edgar Evins State Park. Chamber Executive Director is Suzanne Williams.

Pictured l-r:
Kathy Hendrixson, Billie Davis, Lisa Cripps, Jen Sherwood, Beth Adcock (not pictured)

February 26, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A woman has been arrested for assaulting her father.

32 year old Amy Beth Washer of McMinnville Highway, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $2,000 and she will be in court February 27.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on February 11 Washer assaulted her father at their residence causing injury. A deputy responded and spoke with the victim who said his daughter, Washer had thrown an object which struck him in the face causing a laceration. Witnesses confirmed the man’s account of what happened.

42 year old Dorothy Herman of Bethel Road, Smithville was cited for texting while driving and simple possession of marijuana.

Sheriff Ray said that on February 19 Herman was stopped for failing to maintain her lane of travel and she admitted to texting while driving. Herman gave the detective consent to search her vehicle and he found 0.12 grams of marijuana in the center console. Her court date is March 5.

24 year old Jeffery William Rigsby of Gentry Avenue, Smithville is charged with vandalism. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court March 5.

Sheriff Ray said that on February 17 a deputy confronted Rigsby on Highland Street and placed him under arrest on active warrants. After being handcuffed and seated in the back seat of the patrol car, Rigsby kicked the inside passenger rear door panel causing it to crack. The estimated cost to replace the panel is more than $500.

28 year old Jarrod Thomas Reither of Meridian Drive, Smithville is charged with child abuse and neglect and domestic assault. His bond is $30,000 and he will make a court appearance March 5.
Sheriff Ray said that on February 19 Reither assaulted his 5 year old step son by slapping his head and then picking the child up and slamming him down causing bruises on his arm.

37 year old Brian David Woodrow of Windy Cut Drive , Dowelltown is charged with evading arrest. He was further cited for no drivers license, violation of the light law, and violation of financial responsibility. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court March 5.

Sheriff Ray said that on February 20 a deputy spotted a white flat bed truck pulling a trailer traveling east on Nashville Highway at night without its headlights on. The officer activated his blue lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop but the driver, Woodrow initially failed to pull over. The truck traveled down Nashville Highway before turning onto Windy Cut Drive and coming to a stop. Woodrow was placed under arrest. He had no driver license and could not show proof of insurance. Woodrow said he initially refused to stop because he couldn’t afford the cost of his truck being towed.

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