The Smithville Police Department is urging parents and caregivers to make sure their child safety seats are properly installed. The police department will have certified technicians available to provide free hands-on child safety seat inspections and advice from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 30th in the Wal-mart parking lot in Smithville.
Police Chief Randy Caplinger says “It’s the responsibility of every single parent and caregiver out there to make sure their children are safely restrained, every trip, every time. We are urging everyone to get their child safety seats inspected. When it comes to the safety of a child, there is no room for mistakes.”
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research, 8,959 lives have been saved from 1975 to 2008 by the proper use of child restraints. In 2008, among children under age 5 in passenger vehicles, an estimated 244 lives were saved by child restraint use (child safety seats and adult seat belts). Research shows that child restraints provide the best protection for all children up to age eight.
For maximum child passenger safety, parents and caregivers can visit their local inspection stations and refer to the following 4 Steps for Kids guidelines that determine which restraint system is best suited to protect children based on age and size:
1. For the best possible protection keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. At a minimum, keep infants rear-facing until a minimum of age 1 and at least 20 pounds.
2. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats (at a minimum age 1 and at least 20 pounds) they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in the back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds)
3. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds), they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9″ tall)
4. When children outgrow their booster seats (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9″ tall) they can use the adult seat belt in the back seat, if it fits properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest).
Remember: All children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat.

DeKalb County currently does not require homebuilders to adhere to any residential building codes, but that will change soon under the Tennessee Clean Energy Future Act.
County Mayor Mike Foster said DeKalb County had three options: to adopt the state requirements for enforcement of residential building codes; to adopt a plan of it’s own and hire a building codes inspector; or to opt out altogether. The county commission, Monday night, voted to let the state enforce the codes. “We have the building codes on file, but we feel like we should let the state do it (enforce state required building codes) for a while and if building (construction) picks back up later we can look at it. But for now, we don’t want to be in the building codes business. We’ll let the state go ahead and initiate theirs”, said Foster.
“I think it’s (building codes) a good thing, especially around the lake. If you see the horror stories of some contractors, the things they have done to some people, I think you’d agree it’s a good thing to have some oversight to make sure the house is structurally correct. They’ll tell them about things they can do to make homes more energy efficient and it will generally make the house be built to a certain level so that the person having the house built doesn’t get ripped off. It’ll be safer, more economical, and it will be a better built house”, Foster added
This new state law calls for the adoption and enforcement of a residential building code to one-and two-family residences across the state. The State Fire Marshal Office’s code enforcement program will begin in October. In the interim, the State will contract with code inspectors, establish a network of issuing agents where the construction permits can be obtained and finalize the process for payments.
Effective October 1st, the State Fire Marshal’s Office will issue residential building permits using a system similar to the electrical inspection program that it presently operates. Owners and licensed contractors will obtain a construction permit from the local issuing agents. Inspectors will then inspect residences during construction to ensure code compliance.
Cities and counties that presently enforce a building code that is current within seven years (the 2003 or 2006 edition of the International Residential Code will qualify) can notify the State Fire Marshal’s Office and continue local enforcement. Local codes may be more stringent than the state adopted code. Cities and counties may also choose to have no minimum one- and two-family residential building code and no inspections to ensure quality home construction by a two-thirds opt-out vote of their governing bodies (county commissions).
New State Fire Marshal’s Office regulations adopt the 2009 International Residential Code and the 2006 International Energy Code. These building codes will only apply to new construction of residential structures. Nonresidential structures, such as out buildings and unattached garages, are not covered. Renovation of existing structures, no matter how extensive, is also not covered. Sprinkler requirements have not been adopted, although a city or county is free to adopt a sprinkler requirement.

Two DeKalb County High School golfers will be participating in the State Tournament after outstanding regional tournament play at Chattanooga Monday.
In the Region, Logan Clark shot a 77 and earned 4th Medalist honors while Mallory Sullivan shot an 87. The DCHS boys golf team finished in third place out of sixteen teams competing in the region while the DCHS girls team tied for third place with Monterey out of fourteen teams.
Click here to listen to Coach Joe Pat Cope’s comments about the Region Tournament

The DeKalb County Commission Monday night voted 12-2 to participate in a partnership with the City of Smithville and the school system to appropriate up to three thousand dollars a year toward the cost of hiring someone to direct traffic in the school zone at Northside Elementary. First district commissioners Elmer Ellis, Jr. and Mason Carter voted against the proposal
The Smithville Aldermen voted to make the same $3,000 appropriation earlier this month with the understanding that the county and school board would each fund one third of the costs as well.
Several county and city officials held an informal meeting at the courthouse a few weeks ago to discuss the plan which calls for the County, the City of Smithville, and the Board of Education to share in the cost of funding the position of one crossing guard or officer to direct traffic in the mornings and afternoons for a total of approximately four hours a day, Monday through Friday, in the school zone at Northside Elementary School. County Mayor Mike Foster said the cost is estimated to be eight to nine thousand dollars per year, which could be split equally between the county, city, and school system.
During Monday night’s county commission meeting, seventh district member Jimmy Poss said he recently discussed the issue with Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger who mentioned that
a plan could be worked out to have someone directing traffic at both Northside Elementary and at DeKalb County High School each day, using the same amount of time and money. According to Chief Caplinger, Poss said instead of paying one person to spend four hours per day at Northside Elementary School (two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon), two people could be hired, one for Northside Elementary and one for DeKalb County High School each to direct traffic for two hours per day (one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon).
The school board has not yet taken up the proposal.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has charged a 21 year old Smithville man in a recent burglary and theft.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Matthew James Wilbur of West Main Street is charged with one count of burglary and one count of theft of property over $500. Wilbur is under a $10,000 bond and he will be in court on September 30th.
Wilbur allegedly broke into a home July 14th on Old Hickory Place. Sheriff Ray says he entered through a back window and took from the home a hammock, exercise machine, a play house, and a trash can all valued at over $500.
40 year old Jenna Sue Murphy of Restview Avenue, Smithville was arrested on Wednesday, September 22nd and charged with simple possession of a schedule II drug (morphine), simple possession of a schedule II drug (oxycodone), and simple possession of a schedule IV drug (Xanax) Total bond for Murphy is $4,500 and her court date is October 7th.
Sheriff Ray says a deputy, along with Murphy’s probation officer, went to her home to do a home check. While there, the deputy noticed Murphy putting a pill bottle behind her back as she sat down. The officer obtained the pill bottle and searched both the bottle and Murphy’s pocket book. He found two and a half xanax pills, eight oxycodone pills, and two morphine pills.
39 year old Timothy Wade Ford of Brush Creek, an inmate at the jail, has been charged again with possession of a weapon in a penal institution, after correctional officers for a second time in recent weeks, found shanks or makeshift knives while searching his cell.
Sheriff Ray says the shanks were found under Ford’s mattress. The shanks were made in jail from items he gathered around the cell, mostly wooden pieces stripped from mop and broom handles
Ford has taken responsibility for the shanks. His bond on this charge is $5,000 and he will be in court on October 21st.
26 year old Amy Leigh Estes of Vinewood Road, McMinnville was arrested on Tuesday, September 21st and charged with driving on a suspended license.
Sheriff Ray says Estes was operating a motor vehicle on Highway 146 and stopped for failure to drive in her lane of travel. A computer check revealed her license were suspended for failure to satisfy a citation on August 28th, 2006 in Cannon County. Estes is under a $1,000 bond and will be in court on October 6th.
49 year old Jimmy Dwayne Evans of Anthony Avenue, Smithville was arrested on Friday, September 24th and charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,000and he will be in court on October 7th.
While at Mapco, an officer saw a blue Nissan drive across the parking lot and almost hit the side of a deputy’s patrol car. The driver of the Nissan stopped. The deputy got out to speak to the driver and noticed that the man (Evans) had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and very slurred speech. There was also an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The deputy asked Evans to perform field sobriety tasks which he failed. He was unsteady on his feet. He refused to submit to a blood alcohol test.

A 38 year old Liberty man has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident and felony vandalism after his car crashed into posts supporting a walkway canopy, cut down a small tree, and then hit the brick exterior of the cafeteria’s outdoor dining area at DCHS early Sunday morning
Lieutenant Steven Leffew of the Smithville Police Department says Steven Blake Goad is under a $6,500 bond and his court date is October 7th.
According to police, Goad called 911 early Sunday morning to report that his car, which he said was stolen, had been wrecked at the high school. Goad later changed his story, telling police that he had been driving west on Highway 70 when he went to sleep and hit the high school. When Smithville Police Officer Matt Farmer arrived at the school at 4:49 a.m. he found the car, a 2002 Buick, abandoned at the scene of the crash. There was front end damage to the car, including the hood, fenders, and windshield.
According to Officer Farmer’s report, it appeared “the angle the car hit the school was in line from the main entrance from the football field. The vehicle hit two posts holding up the terrace (canopy), then hit a brick wall, stopping the vehicle. Extensive damage was done to the terrace (canopy). There was no other noticeable damage to the school.”
Goad was picked up in Liberty by a county deputy and returned to the scene to give a statement to police. According to Officer Farmer’s report, Goad said that “he fell asleep and did not remember how he crashed, but when he did he called his wife to come get him. Goad’s wife, Cindy, stated that he (Goad) called her at 4:07 a.m. asking her to come get him at the high school because he had crashed the car.”
Goad then placed his first call to 911 reporting the crash at 4:38 a.m.
Meanwhile in other recent city crime news, an off duty state trooper helped nab a would be thief at a local restaurant on Friday, September 17th.
Smithville Police say 38 year old Phillip John Carroll of Possum Hollow, accused of taking money from an unattended cash register at Peking Restaurant, was apprehended on site, thanks to Trooper Darrell Knowles, who was in the restaurant eating dinner at the time.
Carroll is charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, stop frisk and halt and theft over $500.
Officer Scott Davis was dispatched to Peking Restaurant and upon arrival he made contact with Trooper Knowles who had Carroll restrained on the ground outside the restaurant. Officer Davis assisted Trooper Knowles in placing Carroll under arrest. Carroll kept pulling his hands underneath his body in an attempt to keep the officers from placing handcuffs on him. Once Carroll was arrested Officer Davis spoke to Trooper Knowles who stated that he was eating when he saw Carroll open the cash register and start removing money from the till. Trooper Knowles stated that Carroll covered the register with a menu as he took the money and placed it in his front pockets. Trooper Knowles stated that he identified himself, showing Carroll his state issued identification and then asked Carroll if he worked there. Carroll replied “yea” or words to that effect. Trooper Knowles asked Carroll to wait but he took off out the door. Trooper Knowles followed him out the door and took him to the ground, holding him there until police arrived. Carroll had an odor of an alcoholic beverage about his breath at the time of his arrest. Bond for Carroll is $8500 and his court date is September 30th.
29 year old Corey Wade Thomas of Sparta Highway was arrested on Saturday, September 18th for simple possession of a schedule IV controlled substance. Corporal Travis Bryant was called to a location on East Main Street where a man had reportedly entered someone’s house at random. After speaking to the homeowner and getting a description of the man, Corporal Bryant found him walking on Smith Road. While talking with the man, Thomas, Corporal Bryant saw him remove a pill from his left pocket and drop it to the ground. The pill was recovered and Thomas was placed under arrest. Bond for Thomas is $1,500 and his court date is September 30th.
48 year old James Allen Hargrave of Old Bildad Road was arrested on Monday, September 20th for a second offense of driving under the influence and a second offense of driving on a suspended license. Corporal Travis Bryant was going home when he got behind a vehicle on Bright Hill Road which was traveling in and out of his lane, almost striking another vehicle head on. While following the vehicle, Corporal Bryant began flashing his headlights signaling the driver to pull over. After making the traffic stop, Corporal Bryant discovered that the driver, Hargrave, had a revoked license. He also noticed Hargrave had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. Hargrave, who refused to submit to field sobriety tests, stated that he was drunk and that he had consumed over twelve beers.
50 year old Victor G Gingerich of Liberty was arrested on Wednesday, September 22nd for a third offense of driving on a suspended license. Corporal Travis Bryant reports that Gingerich was operating a motor vehicle and he was stopped for having the wrong tags on his vehicle. A computer check by central dispatch revealed his license to be suspended. Bond for Gingerich is $3000 and his court date is September 29th.
25 year old Jordan Thomas Adams and 20 year old Leah Marie Grandstaff both of Game Ridge Road were arrested on Thursday, September 23rd for public intoxication. Corporal Travis Bryant, Officer Brad Tatrow, and Deputy Jeremy Taylor were called to McDonald’s restaurant in response to a complaint of two intoxicated persons there. Upon arrival the officers made contact with Adams and Grandstaff who appeared to be unsteady on their feet and had slurred speech. Bond for each is $1000 and they will be in court October 14th.

Smithville Police are asking for your help in solving a couple of recent home burglaries.
Lieutenant Steven Leffew took a report on Wednesday, September 15th of a burglary at a residence on Woodland Street. The home was burglarized sometime on September 12th.
K-9 Officer Bradley Tatrow took a report on Friday, September 17th of a burglary at a residence on East Main Street. The home was burglarized sometime between September 10th & 17th.
Anyone having any information on these offenses is asked to please contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.
Any information received that will help Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential
Meanwhile in other city crime news, 34 year old Darrell Shane Lyle of Donelson was arrested for criminal impersonation on Saturday, September 11th. He is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is October 7th. Sergeant Randy King was called to break up a fight at a location on Broad Street. Upon arrival, Sergeant King spoke to a man at the residence and asked for his name. The man, Lyle, gave a fake name. Upon further investigation, Sergeant King confirmed that Lyle was his real name and that he had a warrant against him in Cheatham County for (non-payment of ) child support. Sergeant King says that was apparently the reason Lyle gave a fake name.
27 year old Samantha Brooke Mathis of West Broad Street was arrested on Saturday, September 11th for assault. Sergeant Randy King was called to break up a fight at a location on West Broad Street between female roommates. Upon arrival, Sergeant King spoke with everyone at the residence and those involved and it was determined that Samantha Mathis became irate and began hitting her roommate. Bond for Mathis is $2,000 and her court date is October 7th.
21 year old Benjamin C Bryson of Woodbury was arrested on Monday, September 13th for evading arrest and reckless driving. While on patrol and running mobile radar on Allen Ferry Road, Officer Scott Davis saw a silver Nissan and a red Mustang near Holmes Creek Road. He clocked their speeds at 65 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone. Upon activating his emergency equipment, Officer Davis turned around to try and catch up with both vehicles, but as he got to Pack’s Circle he could only see the Nissan. After stopping the vehicle and speaking to the driver, Officer Davis was told that the operator of the Mustang was a man named “Ben”. Officer Davis learned that the driver had turned his lights off when the patrol car’s blue lights were activated and he left the scene. According to Officer Davis, the action of driving at night with no lights at a high rate of speed was very reckless. Upon conducting a follow up, Officer Davis confirmed that the driver of the Mustang was Benjamin Bryson and he was charged in the investigation. Bond for Bryson is $3,500 and his court date is September 30th.
21 year old Kendrick R Burton of Foster Road was arrested on Monday, September 13th for driving on a suspended license. Officer Scott Davis stopped a vehicle on West Broad Street for speeding. A computer check revealed that Burton’s drivers license were suspended for failure to satisfy a citation. His bond is $2,000 and his court date is September 29th.
35 year old Jennifer Gail Pursley of McMinnville was arrested by Corporal Travis Bryant on Tuesday, September 14th for failure to report to jail to serve a 30 day sentence in Warren County.