DeKalb County’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January was 5.2%, up from the revised rate for December of 4.7%
The DeKalb County Labor Force for January was 10,080. A total of 9,560 were employed and 520 were unemployed.
Meanwhile, Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January was 4.8 percent, 0.1 percent lower than the December rate of 4.9 percent. The United States unemployment rate for the month of January was 4.6 percent.
County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for January show that all 95 counties increased. County unemployment rates cannot be seasonally adjusted and therefore reflect seasonal expansions and layoffs that occur during the year. The state and U.S. unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted to eliminate normal seasonal fluctuations and to indicate a more accurate measurement of actual economic change.
Williamson County registered the state’s lowest county unemployment rate at 3.4 percent, up from 3.0 percent in December. Pickett County was the states highest at 11.3 percent, up from 9.3 in December, followed by Lawrence County at 9.8 percent, up from 8.8 in December.
Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate at 3.9 percent, up from 3.3 in December. Davidson County is 4.1 percent, up from 3.6 in December. Hamilton County is at 4.4 percent, up from 3.8 in December, and Shelby County is 5.7 percent, up from the December rate of 5.0.

Seven candidates have qualified to run for alderman in the Smithville Municipal Election this summer with a few more days left until the qualifying deadline.
Those who have qualified to be on the ballot for the June 19th city election include Jerry W. Hutchins’ Sr, Tonya Sullivan, Willie Thomas, Todd VanDyne, W.J. (Dub) White, Paul Young, and Aaron Meeks.
Three will be elected.
White, Meeks, and Young are incumbents seeking re-election.
The election commission reports that a qualifying petition has been picked up for one more potential candidate, but it has not yet been returned.
The qualifying deadline is 12 noon on Thursday, March 15th

Smithville Police have again been active in drug and DUI enforcement which has resulted in numerous arrests over the last week.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says “On Saturday March 3rd Smithville Police Officers arrested 51 year old Jackie Sanders of 632 Highland Street, Smithville for DUI 2nd Offense while Intoxicated or Drugged. The event started when an off-duty Alexandria Police Officer reported to 911 Dispatch that he had seen a Ford Explorer driving recklessly in the area of Foster and Dry Creek Roads. Smithville Officers responded to the area and were able to find the vehicle and establish that the driver was in fact driving in a manner consistent with drunk driving. Smithville Officers performed the standardized field sobriety tests and found Sanders to be in violation of the state’s Implied Consent Law. He was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail and booked under a $3,000 bond.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday March 6th , Chief Stufano says “Smithville Officers arrested 29 year old Sharon Roseann Barnwell of 831 J E Evins Avenue, Smithville for Simple Possession of a Scheduled IV Drug. Officers were dispatched to the address to break-up a reported fight between Barnwell and her female cousin over the ownership of some jewelry. The women agreed to a search of their persons for some of the reported missing items. Found hidden inside a package of cigarettes on Barnwell was a white pill identified as SOMA. Barnwell was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,500 bond. Barnwell gave her listed occupation as a Nurse.”
In a separate case, Smithville Police responded to a second disturbance on Wednesday March 7th located at 632 Restview Avenue, Smithville. Chief Stufano says ” Upon arrival Officers saw several neighbors pointing to a disturbance. Once at the residence they made contact with an elderly victim who stated that she told her daughter, 35 year old Patsy Estes McCoy and her husband, 39 year old Mark McCoy to leave her property earlier in the morning and not return. At the time of the disturbance, the two had returned trying to gain entry into the residence. The victim stated she was in fear as the two attempted to push the door open and she told them that she had a bat and would use it if they came in. Mark McCoy then pushed the door open and was struck in the head with the bat. He responded by grabbing the bat from the elderly victim, raising it as if to strike her, and then pushed her hard into the kitchen table causing a bruise. A second party in the house, who witnessed the incident, gave the same story.”
Chief Stufano says “While Officers attempted to reconstruct the story and calm the participants down, Patsy McCoy became irate causing a continuing disturbance. After numerous attempts by Police to separate the individuals Patsy McCoy was arrested for Disorderly Conduct and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $5,000 bond. Mark McCoy was arrested for Aggravated Burglary and Assault with a bond of $30,000.”
Smithville Police Officers also responded to Green Brook Park regarding a citizen’s complaint of a woman, who had passed out inside a mini van. Chief Stufano says “Upon arrival Officer’s made contact with the driver now known as 26 year old Virginia Ayala of 1650 Old Snow Hill Road, Dowelltown. Upon further investigation Officer’s found that Ayala was missing 56 Hydrocodone pills from a prescription bottle that had just had 60 refilled the day before. Ayala stated that she had been consuming the pills at a rate of 1 per hour.”
“Her mother was later contacted and told Police that she was holding 18 of the pills for her daughter because she knew Ayala had a drug habit. Standardized sobriety tests were performed and it was determined that Ayala was in fact under the influence. Due to the fact that Ayala was in physical manual control of the vehicle and just attempting to leave she was placed under arrest for DUI. She was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail and booked under a $1,000 bond”
Chief Stufano says “Smithville Police are committed to the safety and security of the residents and guests of the City of Smithville. As springtime fast approaches, it also brings the infusion of more people enjoying our area. The Police Department will remain vigilant for DUI and other traffic hazards that could disrupt our motoring public. “

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department arrested three people Thursday night in a drug raid on Holmes Creek Road.
64 year old Gary Britt of 7694 Holmes Creek Road, 46 year old Sammy Taylor of Winter Drive, Dowelltown, and 43 year old Lou Ann Cantrell of Rocky Road, Lebanon have all been charged in the case.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says ” On March 8, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at the home of Britt and found in Britt’s possession, 28 K-4 Dilaudid’s and $242 in cash. Officers also found in Britt’s residence drug paraphernalia including hypodermic needles.”
Britt is charged with Unlawful Possession of a schedule II drug (Dilaudid) for sale and delivery, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Resisting Stop Frisk, and Halt. The Resisting is because Britt got out of a vehicle and would not obey the Officer’s command to stop.
Britt’s bond is $24,500 and he will appear in General Sessions Court on March 29th.
Sheriff Ray says Taylor was found to have two K-4 Dilaudid’s in his possession. Taylor’s vehicle, a 1993 Chevy Blazer was also seized. Taylor is charged with Unlawful Possession of a schedule II drug (Dilaudid) for sale and delivery, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia where a hypodermic needle was found in his vehicle. Bond for Taylor is $21,000 and his court date is March 29th.
According to Sheriff Ray, both Britt and Taylor, in a written statement, admitted that they had just returned from Nashville after purchasing the 30 Dilaudid’s.
Cantrell is charged with child neglect.
Sheriff Ray says ” Upon Officers entering Britt’s residence, Cantrell took off running with her 5 year old child into a deep wooded area behind the residence. The child had no coat and was wearing a short sleeved shirt. When Officer’s found the child, the youngster was shivering and complaining about being cold. Cantrell’s bond is $2,500 and her court date is March 29th”.
He says “The search warrant was the result of an extensive investigation into the illegal drug sales and high traffic volume at Britt’s home.”
Anyone who has information about the illegal sale or possession of drugs should call Sheriff Ray at 597-4935. All calls are kept confidential.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, 49 year old James Anthony Clemons of McMinnville Highway was arrested Wednesday for DUI.
Sheriff Ray says “On March 7, deputies from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department responded to a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Jefferson Road and JC Jones Road. Deputies found Clemons to be the driver. Clemons was charged with DUI and Driving on revoked license 2nd offense and a citation was written for no insurance.
Total bond for Clemons is $4,500 and his court date is March 29th

Alexandria voters will be electing three aldermen this fall, but not a mayor.
DeKalb County Election Commission Officials say that despite reports in the local media, the office of Mayor will not be on the September 6th ballot.
The office of Mayor was on the ballot in 2005 for a 4 year term. If a vacancy occurs before the end of that 4 year term, a mayor must be appointed by the aldermen on the city council.
The office of Mayor for the City of Alexandria will not be on the ballot until 2009.
Incumbent Mayor David Cripps was appointed by the Alexandria Aldermen last summer after the elected Mayor Clara Lee Vantrease resigned.
Cripps says he will resign the office, effective in September.
Election Commission Officials say if Cripps resigns, the Alexandria Aldermen will have to appoint another Mayor to serve.
The qualifying deadline for the Alexandria election is June 21st at 12 noon. Petitions may be picked up at the Election Commission office beginning March 23. The last day to register is August 7.
For more information please contact the Election Commission office.

The Sheriff’s Department Tuesday arrested a man described as a “major cocaine and methamphetamine dealer” in DeKalb and Warren Counties.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 34 year old Jose Antonio Bautista Morales of 10580 West Green Hill Road, Smithville is charged locally with unlawful possession of a schedule II drug (Dilaudid), unlawful possession of a schedule III (Hydrocodone), unlawful possession of a schedule IV (Xanax and Valium), possession of a schedule VI (Marijuana), possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Public Intoxication. Total bond is $32,000.00. Morales has a Smithville address but he actually lives in Warren County.
According to Sheriff Ray, ” On the 6th day of March, a Detective with the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department stopped a vehicle on 1st Street in Smithville. Upon a search of the vehicle, the Detective found illegal narcotics including Dilaudid, Xanax, Valium, Marijuana, and Hydrocodone. Also found was drug paraphernalia and $1,765 in cash believed to be from the sale of illegal narcotics.”
Sheriff Ray says “Morales has been a major cocaine and methamphetamine dealer here in DeKalb and Warren Counties for sometime. Both departments have been working in cooperation with each other and we finally got the break we needed.”
Warren county authorities were contacted about the DeKalb County traffic stop and a search warrant was executed on Morales’ home in Warren County. The search netted approximately one ounce of cocaine, approximately one ounce of ice which is a purer form of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia including digital scales, gravity scales, pipes, and assorted baggies.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department seized the $1,765 and Morales’ vehicle which is a 1998 Ford Mustang. The Tennessee Department of Revenue will also be contacted.

Six candidates have qualified to run for alderman in the Smithville Municipal Election this summer with a few more days left until the qualifying deadline.
Those who have qualified to be on the ballot for the June 19th city election include Tonya Sullivan, Willie Thomas, Todd VanDyne, W.J. (Dub) White, Paul Young, and Aaron Meeks.
White, Meeks, and Young are incumbents seeking re-election.
The election commission reports that qualifying petitions have been picked up for two more potential candidates, but they have not yet been returned.
The qualifying deadline is 12 noon on Thursday, March 15th