City to Consider Annexation of SRM property on Highway 70 East
by: Dwayne PageMar 16, 2025
Annexation!
The owners of Hollingshead Materials, LLC (Smyrna Ready Mix) concrete batching company at 746 East Broad Street bordering the city limits of Smithville are seeking annexation of two parcels including one where the SRM company now operates (Map 065, Parcel 073.04) and the adjoining vacant property (Parcel 073.05). The land is situated between East Broad Street, Midway Road, and Terrell Road.
During Monday night’s meeting, the Smithville Planning Commission recommended approval of a plan of services for the proposed annexation. The recommendation will now go the Smithville Mayor and Board of Aldermen for consideration in the form of a resolution at its monthly meeting Monday, April 7. Public hearings would then be scheduled after another review by the planning commission and before final action by the city council.
According to City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson and Public Works Director Kevin Robinson, the city already has most services accessible to the proposed site.
“We have to do a plan of services to show that we can provide everything (services) the city provides. Of course, providing police service is not a problem and city fire services would be available. The closest city fire hydrants are located across the street. They (SRM) already have city water. It (property) does not have sewer service. They are currently on a septic system,” said Hendrixson.
Should the adjoining property be developed in the future after annexation, city officials said the plan of services would require the developer to put in the sewer.
“If its zoned industrial and they do something in the future like housing then that would go before the Board of Zoning Appeals to get approval for a variance exception to put that (housing) in there but that could be years down the road if they even consider it but he (owner) has mentioned it but not as of right now,” said Hendrixson.
In other action, the planning commission voted to approve a preliminary plat for a proposed 36 lot subdivision in an R-1 (low density) residential zone located near Morgan Drive and O’Connor Street (Sullivan Walter Homes Division).
Five Teens and One Adult Charged in Mailbox Vandalism Cases
by: Dwayne PageMar 16, 2025
One adult and five juveniles have been charged with mailbox vandalism by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
18-year-old Aidan Michael Malone of Smithville is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is March 13. The other teens are all minors including a 15- and 16-year-old and three 17-year-olds. Because they are juveniles, Sheriff Patrick Ray is not releasing their names.
The charge against Malone alleges that “between February 17 and 27 he did knowingly and intentionally commit the act of vandalism by damaging mailboxes throughout DeKalb County using various items including a baseball bat, wood, rocks, etc. The combined damage was $4,003,” said Sheriff Ray.
“The juvenile petitions allege that between the dates of February 17 and 27 the juveniles did intentionally vandalize multiple mailboxes throughout DeKalb County using various items including baseball bats, concrete bags, rocks, etc. The combined damage investigated by the sheriff’s department is $4,003,” said Sheriff Ray.
The mailbox vandalism occurred on Ike Adcock Road, Old Bildad Road, Turner Road, Patterson Road, McMinnville Highway, Creek Road, Old Blue Springs Road, Antioch Road, Jacobs Pillar Road, Students Home Road, Keltonburg Road, Medlen Lane, Short Mountain Highway, Green Hill Road, and Joines Road.
Paxton Media Group Purchases Southern Standard and Smithville Review
by: Dwayne PageMar 16, 2025
Paxton Media Group, which owns Cookeville Herald-Citizen, has purchased the Southern Standard and Smithville Review from Morris Multimedia.
The Southern Standard was established in 1879 and will continue to be published three times per week. The Smithville Review started in 1892 and is published weekly.
Paxton Media is a family-owned company headquartered in Paducah, Ky. The company publishes daily and weekly newspapers in more than 120 communities in the Midwest and South and operates an NBC-affiliated television station. The company is currently managed by fourth- and fifth-generation family members.
The Southern Standard and Smithville Review will join the ten other Paxton-owned newspapers in Tennessee managed by Group Publisher, Jana Thomasson.