No. 3: Controversy at state intersection

The intersection of Highway 70 and Highway 136, known locally as Smithville Highway and Old Kentucky Road, remained one of White County’s most talked-about safety concerns in fall 2025, sparking both action and ongoing debate among residents, officials, and commuters. 

For years, the crossroads—often referred to as O.T. Jones Crossroads—had been the site of numerous crashes and near-misses. Traffic on Old Kentucky Road was required to stop, while drivers traveling along Highway 70 were guided only by a flashing yellow caution light. The imbalance created confusion and, according to many residents, dangerous conditions that demanded attention. 

In response, the Tennessee Department of Transportation implemented significant safety upgrades later in the fall. The intersection was converted into a four-way stop, complete with flashing red lights in all directions, new signage, rumble strips, adjusted speed limits, and electronic warning signs aimed at alerting drivers well in advance. 

“So far, so good,” White County Sheriff Steve Page said at the time, noting that a patrol vehicle was stationed nearby to help drivers adjust. “The safety of this county and all those in it is my utmost concern. I pushed for a change at this intersection – not necessarily a 4-way stop, but something – for the safety of our community.” 

Initial reaction from the public was mixed, with some residents voicing strong opposition before the changes were made. However, many who regularly traveled through the area later acknowledged that the transition was smoother than expected. 

“I was completely against the stop sign to begin with,” Cassville-area resident Lee Broyles said. “However, after driving through it multiple times a day since it started, my commute time has not increased. People are definitely more cautious and are paying attention. Everybody I’ve talked to agrees that this was not what we were expecting to happen.” 

Others echoed similar sentiments, including Amy Jarvis, whose family lived less than a mile from the intersection. “Living just to the west of that intersection, my family and I go through it may times on a daily basis and I have to say the transition turned out to be no big deal – it was easy,” she said. “So far, I think it’s a great safety improvement for our community.” 

Despite the upgrades, concern resurfaced later in the fall following another two-vehicle crash at the intersection, prompting renewed discussion on social media. When coverage of the wreck was shared online, community members debated whether additional measures were still needed. Some residents felt a roundabout would be the most effective solution, with others strongly opposing the idea of changing the road pattern. Arguments ensued with people taking sides between the county should do something versus driver error being an unsolvable problem.  

County officials – both from the Sheriff’s Department and the County Commission – continued to remind the community that because the intersection takes place on a state road, the measures put in place are out of their hands.  

“I wanted a traffic light,” Sheriff Page said, “but that’s not up to us to decide. I petitioned the state to make some sort of change for the safety of our community. This is what they settled on as being the best answer.” 

Sheriff Page continued to remind motorists to treat the intersection like any other four-way stop—first to arrive, first to proceed—and to remain alert.