Three Aldermen will be elected Thursday, September 6th in the Alexandria City Election.
Voting will be held from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Kenneth Sandlin Center at the DeKalb County Fairgrounds.
The official slate of candidates for this election, in addition to the write-in candidacy of Barbara (Bobbie) Crawford include Derrick Baker, Sheila Clayborn, Maureen Tubbs, and James R. Walker.
Crawford’s name will not be printed on the ballot. Anyone who wants to vote for her will have to “write in” her name. The voting machines that will be used allow the voter to do this on the machine rather than requesting a paper ballot. According to Tennessee Election Laws paper ballots are only to be used in an emergency situation when voting machines are not available for use.
A total of four people voted early for this election including three by personal appearance and one by mail.
Author Archive: Dwayne Page
Ruby Lee Taylor
79 year old Ruby Lee Taylor of Smithville died Monday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a homemaker and a Methodist. The funeral will be Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Bobby Charles Martin and Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in the Snow Hill Baptist Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jerry and Nannie Ray Trusty; sisters, Mazelle Gunter, Virginia Keaton, and Ruthene Murphy; and a brother, Hoyte Trusty. Survivors include her husband, Doyle Taylor of Smithville. Three children, Jeanette and her husband Cliff Stephens of Pegram, Patricia James Keeley of Mount Juliet, and Tony and his wife Donna Taylor of Ashland City. Five grandchildren, Richie Allen, Christi McDonald, Stoney Keeley, Brandi Scott, and Chelsea Taylor. Four great grandchildren, Cody Allen, Maddux McDonald, Makenna McDonald, and Aiden Scott. Brother-in-law, Solon Taylor. Sisters-in-law, Jo and her husband Frank Parton of Smithville and Barbara and her husband James Fuson of Nashville, and Patty Trustee of Nashville. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Enrollment In School System Down by 21 Students Compared to Last Year
Student Enrollment in the DeKalb County School System, after the first month of school, is down by 21 students compared to this same time last year.
Clay Farler, Attendance Supervisor, told WJLE Tuesday that system-wide, DeKalb County has an enrollment to date of 2,945, compared to 2,966 after the first month of school last year.
Enrollment is down by 13 students at Smithville Elementary School, down by one student at DeKalb Middle School, down by 16 students at Northside Elementary School, and down by 6 students at DeKalb County High School. Enrollment at DeKalb West School is up by 15 students.
Farler says one reason the enrollment number may be down at DCHS is because of the addition of the adult high school. Those attending the adult high school are not counted in the enrollment at DCHS.
The enrollment numbers include students in the four Pre-K classes at Smithville Elementary and one Pre-K class at DeKalb West School, all of which are not yet filled.
The enrollment numbers after the first month of school for 2007 and 2006 at each school are as follows:
DeKalb County High School-
Year 2007- 819
Year 2006- 825
DeKalb Middle School-
Year 2007- 527
Year 2006-528
Northside Elementary-
Year 2007-527
Year 2006-543
Smithville Elementary School-
Year 2007-645
Year 2006-658
DeKalb West School-
Year 2007-427
Year 2006-412
Early Voting Begins Monday for DTC Director Election
Early voting will be held Monday through Wednesday, September 10th-12th for the DTC Communications Director Election.
The annual meeting will be held on Saturday, September 15th at the DeKalb County Fairgrounds in Alexandria.
Directors will be elected in four exchanges, including the Auburntown (464), Gordonsville (683), Temperance Hall (548), and Woodland (765) exchanges.
Incumbents Roy N. Pugh, Robert Don Malone, and David Parker are running unopposed in the Auburntown, Temperance Hall, and Woodland exchanges, respectively.
The Gordonsville exchange is represented by two candidates: Incumbent James H. Dillard, Jr. and David A. Watson who qualified by petition.
Voting for directors will take place at the cooperative’s annual meeting on Saturday, Sept. 15 and during early voting Monday-Wednesday, Sept. 10-12.
Hours and locations for early voting include:
Early Voting Hours
Mon., Sept. 10 – Noon to 7 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 11 – Noon to 7 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 12 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Early Voting Locations
Kenneth Sandlin Building, DeKalb County Fairgrounds, Alexandria
Gordonsville Clinic/DTC Conference Room, 126 JMZ Drive, Gordonsville
DeKalb County Courthouse, Room 100, 1 Public Square, Smithville
DTC Training Center (former Woodbury phone store), located beside the DTC Customer Service Center, Woodbury
On Saturday, Sept. 15, gates to the DeKalb County Fairgrounds in Alexandria will open at 11:45 a.m., with voting from noon until 4 p.m. The business meeting will begin at 4 p.m. or once the last person in line at that time has voted.
Only DTC members may vote, and each member must present identification. For a single membership, only that individual may vote. Either member of a joint membership may vote, but not both. In the case of a business membership, a business affidavit is required.
For questions regarding membership and voting guidelines, refer to the by-laws section included in the current DTC phone directory, or call DTC at 615-529-2955.
James Calvin Knowles
61 year old James Calvin Knowles of Centertown died Sunday at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville of a brief illness. He was born in DeKalb County, a Baptist, and was a truck driver for the Batesville Casket Company. The funeral will be Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. at the Chapel of High Funeral Home in McMinnville. Michael Farr and Jeff Crips will officiate and burial will be in the Smyrna Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the service. He is survived by his wife, Brenda McCormick Knowles of Centertown. Four children and their spouses, Darrell and Sandy Knowles of Smithville, Becky and David Sullins of Rock Island, Dena and Tom Tanner of Centertown, and Jerry Beaty of Centertown. Seven grandchildren, Miranda and James Barkve of Tullahoma, Ashley Knowles and Natasha Driver both of Rock Island, Kaitom and Drew Tanner of Centertown, and Breanna and Britney Knowles of Smithville. One great grandchild, J.J. Smith of Tullahoma. Three brothers and sisters-in-law, Gerald and Altie Knowles, Donnie and Donna Kay Knowles, and Melvin and Teresa Knowles all of Smithville. Four sisters and brothers-in-law, Stella Dyer of Smithville, Faye Cole of Sparta, Linda and Steve Hale, and Anita and Eddie Moore all of Smithville. His step-mother, Sarah Knowles of McMinnville. Several nieces, nephews, and great nieces, and great nephews also survive. High Funeral Home in McMinnville is in charge of the arrangements.
Martha Linder Caldwell
68 year old Martha Linder Caldwell of Smithvlle died Monday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She was a Baptist and was retired from Kingston Timer. The funeral will be Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 4:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Classie James and Flossie Bain Linder; a son, James Clinton Gregory; and a brother, J.C. Linder. Survivors include her husband, Hoyte Caldwell of Smithville. A daughter, Brenda and her husband Authur Aguilera of Indiana. Sons, Randy and his wife Debbbie Gregory of Westmoreland and Daniel Caldwell of New Jersey. Six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Nine brothers, Joe Linder of Indiana, Carl and his wife Margaret Linder of Alexandria, Virginia; Bill and his wife Ruth, Johnny Buford, and Bobby and his wife Peggy Linder all of Smithville; Norman and his wife Gennie Linder of Lafayette; Wayne and his wife Vicky Linder of Hartsville; Jackie Linder of Gallatin; and Larry and his wife Jean Linder of Rock Island. Two sisters, Ruby Gerard and Helen and her husband Rudy Holler. Several nieces, nephews, and special sister-in-law, Carolyn Caldwell of Smithville. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Three Involved In Serious Traffic Accident Making Recovery
A week after being involved in a serious traffic accident on Banks Pisgah Road, three persons have been released from the hospital and are making a recovery.
Lieutenant Brian Lawson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 18 year old Kerrie Neal of Lee Braswell Road, Smithville was traveling south on Banks Pisgah Road last Tuesday evening in a 1994 Chevy pickup truck when she crossed the double yellow line and struck a northbound 1993 Nissan pickup, driven by 39 year old Lisa Evon Crowe of Parkhurst Road, McMinnville. Lieutenant Lawson says the crash occurred as both drivers were trying to negotiate a curve in front of the Banks Cumberland Presbyterian Church near Bethel Road.
According to Lieutenant Lawson, both Crowe and Neal were airlifted along with a passenger of Neal’s vehicle, 17 year old Billy Gene Anderson of Page Drive, Smithville.
Two were flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga and one to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
All three have since been released.
Lieutenant Lawson says Crowe, who was the most seriously injured, suffered a broken finger, broken bones in her hand and two broken ribs.
Neal was cited for failure to keep the proper lane of travel and Anderson was cited for not wearing a seatbelt.
Four Arrested by Sheriff’s Department
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department arrested four people last week on charges ranging from drug offenses to aggravated assault, DUI, and disorderly conduct.
27 year old Amanda Mae Riley of Bright Hill Road Smithville was charged last week with sale and delivery of a controlled substance. Riley was a passenger in a vehicle, pulled over on a traffic stop. When the deputy asked Riley if she had any illegal drugs on her person, she produced two pill bottles containing Hydrocodone, Lorazepam, Xanax, and other drugs. Her bond was set at $40,000 and her court date is September 20th.
On Saturday night, Deputies received a call about a disturbance at a residence on Bright Hill Road. On the way to the call, deputies stopped persons in a vehicle on Bright Hill Road believed to be involved in the disturbance.
Deputies found 32 year old Leon Ramirez Santos of South College Street Smithville under the influence of alcohol. Santos and another suspect who was in the vehicle with him, 27 year old Victor Manuel Cruz of Kendra Drive, Smithville, were questioned.
When Deputies arrived at the residence they found a man identified as 24 year old Olmos Mora Gerardo of Church Street, Smithville being detained in a bedroom by other people at the residence.
Upon an investigation, deputies found that Cruz had assaulted a 21 year old man with a baseball bat at the residence by beating him on the head.
Gerardo and Santos were also causing trouble there. The victim, whose name is being withheld, was airlifted from the scene by a Life Force helicopter ambulance and flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
Cruz is charged with aggravated assault and his bond is $10,000. Santos is charged with DUI and disorderly conduct and his bond is $3,500. Gerardo is charged with disorderly conduct and his bond is $2,500. All three will appear in court September 27th.
Sheriff’s Department Joins HELP Program in Delivering Bottled Water
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the DeKalb County H.E.L.P. Program delivered bottled water last week to elderly and others in need.
H.E.L.P. Program Coordinator Wanda Poss says “The H.E.L.P. program, which stands for Helping Elderly Live Productively, is funded through donations to help our elderly and people in need. We have decided to furnish bottled water which this program has paid for. Sheriff Patrick Ray and I delivered approximately 50 cases of water Tuesday.”
Sheriff Ray expressed his support for the program. “I was very excited to be apart of this very needed program. People in our communities, especially our elderly, are having a tough time due to the extreme heat and lack of well water. I feel this program is a very beneficial tool in helping our citizens.”
Poss says the next program will be the Christmas meals for the Elderly.
Habitat Restore Seeks Merchandise Donations
The Restore of DeKalb County’s affiliate chapter of Habitat for Humanity will open in late September and is ready to start accepting merchandise.
Restores are retail businesses which specialize in the sale of new, used and recyclable products which are given to Habitat but are not used in construction of Habitat homes. The store provides all members of the community an opportunity to support Habitat for Humanity’s mission through their patronage and donations. Once established, the Restore will become an important source of funding for Habitat for Humanity’s home building projects in DeKalb County.
The Restore will need start-up inventory of usable building materials and supplies, wooden furniture, doors,windows, cabinets, working appliances and tools, and related items. At this point, we cannot accept upholstered furniture, opened paint, any hazardous materials, computers or yard sale items.
For more information about donating, volunteering your time or the Restore project, leave a message at the Habitat for Humanity phone number, 215-8181, or contact Mike Antoniak, 536-5885.