By Bill Grubb
News Editor

ROGERSVILLE - Although their cases are not related, Hawkins County brothers Roger Stewart and Rick Stewart both made an appearance in Hawkins County General Sessions Court Wednesday afternoon,
    Roger Dale Stewart, 60, 5281 Highway 11W, Rogersville, waived a preliminary hearing on charges reckless endangerment (two counts), failure to exercise due care and unlawful removal of registration.
    The Hawkins County Grand Jury now scheduled to consider those charges.  The next session of the grand jury is schedule for April.
    Roger Stewart faces the criminal charges as a result of a June 11, 2012, head-on collision on Highway 11W, near R & R Auto Sales, which he co-owns with his brother, Rick Stewart.
    Stewart was allegedly driving the wrong way on the highway when he collided with a second vehicle.  Thelma Hughes, 84, of Surgoinsville, passed away in July, reportedly from injuries she suffered in the accident.  The elderly woman had apparently been celebrating her birthday with her son and a juvenile family member when the wreck occurred.
 
    Rick A. Stewart, 56, 316 E. McKinney Avenue, Rogersville, was in court on multiple counts of failure to record pawn transactions and failure to have the required pawn broker's license dealing with transactions at Rick's Trading Post, 4785 Highway 11-W, Rogersville.
    Rick Stewart's attorney, William Phillips II, told General Sessions Court Judge J. Todd Ross extra time is needed to complete a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation background check.
    "That report is needed as part of plea agreement discussions in this case," Phillips said.