The DeKalb County Fighting Tiger band traveled to Lebanon on Saturday to compete in the 21st Annual Blue Devil Invitational.
The band took the field at 3:30 p.m. and performed a great show. After the last band had performed, the senior band students, guard captains, and field commander took the field for the award ceremony.
The band received an excellent rating. The DeKalb County group placed 4th in a very competitive medium class. Out of 22 bands at the competition, the Fighting Tiger Band ranked 7th. They scored higher than all small and large class bands. “The scores were very close. We were hurt by little things. Little things that can and will be fixed before next weekend”, said director Chuck Gilbert.
The best news of the day was the announcement of Dustin Estes as the top field commander in the medium class. Later, when the scores were reviewed, it was announced that Dustin had received the highest score overall at the contest with a 95 out of 100.
This Saturday, the band travels to Vanderbilt University to compete. Anyone wishing to travel with the band and would like more information can call the band office at 597-7213 or check the band’s website at www.dekalbband.com.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has charged a father and son in connection with a recent burglary at a residence in Liberty.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 46 year old Ricky Allen Ashford, Sr. of 120 Lavergne Street, Alexandria, and his son, 27 year old Ricky Allen Ashford II of 131 East Main Street, Liberty have each been charged with aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000.
Sheriff Ray says the burglary occurred a couple of weeks ago and some long guns, ginseng, and other items were stolen from the residence.
The Ashford’s are each under a $40,000 bond and will appear in General Sessions Court on October 26th.
Meanwhile in a separate investigation, the Sheriff’s Department has taken juvenile petitions against three juveniles charging them with vandalism over $500 and theft under $500.
Sheriff Ray says two 16 year old’s, one from Liberty and the other of King Ridge Road, Smithville, and a 17 year old Brush Creek youth allegedly went to a home in Liberty on September 22nd and vandalized two vehicles parked there by taking a key and scratching down the sides and beating them with a metal bar. They also allegedly squirted milk, ketchup, mayonnaise, and bathing lotion inside the vehicles and in the cd players of the radios. Several cd’s were also stolen from the vehicles.

During the weekend September 22-24, seven DeKalb County firefighters completed the Live Firefighting Course at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. The 22 hour course applies hands-on skills firefighters learned in the Basic Firefighting course.
Assistant Chief and Training Program Coordinator Roy Merriman says that Travis Johnson, Bobby Koger, Andy Pack, Jason Rice, Jonathan Scurlock, C.J. Tramel, and Calvin Tramel successfully completed the weekend training that involved rigorous hands-on drills that tested the firefighter?s skills. ?Our department is extremely proud of these men?s commitment to develop and improve their firefighting skills. Because of this commitment, our department is better prepared to handle the various emergency situations that we are faced with,? says Asst. Chief Merriman.
Chief Donny Green also commends these seven dedicated firefighters. ?In the end, it means that we are providing a higher level of service to the citizens we protect. It also means that we are doing everything we can to make sure our firefighters are trained to the fullest extent to allow them to do their jobs safely. Our goal is that everyone goes home at the end of the day. Training is a great place to start to make sure this happens,? added Chief Green.
DeKalb County Fire Department currently has 68 volunteer firefighters and officers that are 100% volunteer. The department works out of 10 stations that are strategically located throughout DeKalb County.

The 2006 Homecoming Queen at DeKalb County High School is Jessica Bain.
Bain is the 17 year old daughter of Larry and Teresa Johnson and Harold and Debbie Bain of Smithville.
Bain has been a DCHS football cheerleader for four years serving as co-captain her senior year. She was an All-American cheerleader nominee for three years. Bain was also a member of the Lady Tiger basketball team her freshman year.
Bain is a member of FBLA, the Literature Club, French Club, Science Club, and she is the treasurer of the HOSA Club. She has received the TSSAA academic achievement award for three years and was named “Most Improved Cheerleader” her freshman year. The football team voted her “cutest’ her freshman year and “Most Compatible” her junior year at the football banquet. She was voted “Most Popular” by her senior class.
Bain attends the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church.
The Senior Attendant is Martha Ilean Robertson, the 17 year old daughter of Bill and Joyce Robertson of Smithville and the late Judy Robertson.
Robertson has been a DCHS football cheerleader for four years serving as captain her senior year. She has been an NCA All-American cheerleader nominee for four years and was named to the NCA All-American cheering team her Junior and Senior year. She was chosen by her squad as “Most Spirited Cheerleader” her junior year. This year, her squad won the Top Team trophy at NCA camp.
Robertson is a member of FBLA, the Literature Club, French Club, FCA, and Science Club. She is an active member of the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church and their youth group.
She was chosen by the faculty as a Top 20 Senior and she received the TSSAA academic achievement award for three years.
Robertson is the youngest of eleven children.
The Junior Attendant is Geri Anna Wilson, the 16 year old daughter of Don and Vicki Wilson of Dowelltown. She is the older sister of Bruce Wilson, also of Dowelltown.
Wilson has been a football cheerleader for three years. She was nominated for homecoming attendant her freshman and junior years and was an NCA All-American cheerleader nominee her sophomore year. She has received the TSSAA academic achievement award for two years and was voted “Most likely to succeed” by the football team her sophomore year.
She is a member of FCA, FBLA, French Club, the Literature Club, Science Club, BETA Club, and Student Council. She attends the Smithville First United Methodist Church and is a member of the Smithville Church of God youth group.
Jessie Young Strickland is the Sophomore Attendant.
She is the 15 year old daughter of Jerry Strickland, Jr. of Alexandria and the late Melissa Strickland. She has an older sister, Kristen Strickland. She is a member of the FCCLA, Science Club, and the Literature Club. She enjoys playing softball, volleyball, and tennis. She attends the West Main Street Baptist Church in Alexandria.
Brittany Leeann Brown is the Freshman Attendant.
She is the 14 year old daughter of Glenn and Teresa Brown of Alexandria. She is a member of the DCHS football cheerleading squad. She was nominated for the NCA All-American cheerleading team this year.
Homecoming activities will be held at DCHS all week. The annual Homecoming Day Parade will be Friday, October 6th.
The parade will leave DCHS at 12:20 p.m. and arrive at Smithville Elementary School by 12:40 p.m. The parade will then move to Northside Elementary School by 1:00 p.m. and then make it’s way to the public square by 1:30 p.m., led by the high school band.
The Tigers will host the Upperman Bees Friday night in the Homecoming Game at 7:30 p.m.

If you want to become a registered voter in time for the November 7th Tennessee General Election, you have one more week to do so.
The deadline for voter registration in person is October 6th. If by mail, it must be postmarked by October 8th.
Early Voting will be October 18th through November 2nd.
The election will be held for the purpose of choosing a Governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. Congressman, State Senator, and State Representative..
The candidates for Governor are Democratic Incumbent Governor Phil Bredesen versus Republican challenger Jim Bryson. Independent candidates are David Gatchell, Maurivauna Stout Leinoff, Charles E. Smith, Howard M. Switzer, and Carl “Twofeathers” Whitaker.
Candidates for the United States Senate are Republican Bob Corker and Democrat Harold Ford, Jr., Independent candidates are Emory “Bo” Heyward, Gary Keplinger, and Christopher Joseph Lugo.
Candidates for State Senator of the 17th District are Republican Incumbent Mae Beavers and Democratic challenger Bob Rochelle.
Candidates for U.S. Representative of the 6th Congressional District are Democratic Incumbent Bart Gordon and Republican challenger David R. Davis. Independent candidates are Robert L. Garrison and Norman R. Saliba.
Candidates for State Representative of the 40th District are Democratic incumbent Frank Buck versus Republican Terri Lynn Weaver and Independent Carl Jones.

Almost two months after the August 3rd election, it appears there is now a winner in the race for Criminal Court Judge Part II in the 13th Judicial District.
Retired Nashville Judge Ben Cantrell, appointed to hear the election contest lawsuit filed by Lillie Ann Sells, dismissed the case Wednesday night after hearing two days of testimony in the Putnam County Chancery Court hearing.
Judge Sells, who lost her re-election bid to challenger David Patterson by 10 votes, asked that the election be voided
Sells filed her “contest of election” suit on August 17, alleging that various irregularities occurred in the voting on election day and asking the Chancery Court to review her allegations and either declare her the winner or order a new election.
Among her allegations are claims that convicted felons voted in one county, that voters applying for absentee ballots were not required to furnish their Social Security numbers, that voters spent too much time in the voting booths in some instances, and that a non-resident of the district was allowed to vote in one county.
Judge Cantrell ruled that he could find only one or two votes that shouldn’t count. One of those ballots was cast by a convicted felon in White County. The other was an absentee ballot signed by someone who assisted the voter, with no witness signature present.
The other contested ballots had missing information, such as a Social Security number, reason for voting absentee or dates of the voter’s absence.
Many of the requests or applications for absentee ballots were elderly voters, who are allowed by law to vote absentee if they are over 65 years old. However Stephen Zralek of Nashville, Sells’ attorney, said that those votes should not be counted when the voter’s age is not specifically listed as the reason for voting absentee, even though the voter’s birth date is clearly on the application.
Zralek claimed that those missing items were necessary in order to process applications for absentee voting, according to the law governing absentee ballots. Zralek contended that the strict rules of absentee voting should be followed, saying, “The violations of the statute affect the freedom and purity of the ballot. Either the law is strictly complied or it’s not.”
Defense attorneys argued that Sells’ complaint over the election alleges no fraud or purposeful wrongdoing on the part of administrators or voters in that election.
Judge Cantrell sided with the defense saying there was no proof of any fraud, no allegations of any fraud and no proof of conspiracy. The judge said he didn’t believe that the statute requires applications for absentee ballots to list Social Security numbers.
Sells has 30 days to appeal Judge Cantrell’s decision.
John M. Roberts of Livingston has been serving as an appointed interim judge, pending the outcome of this case.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has made an arrest in a local theft investigation.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 22 year old Daniel Rose of 410 South College Street has been charged with aggravated burglary, theft under $500, and forgery.
Sheriff Ray says on or about Wednesday, September 20th, Rose allegedly stole a check made out for $400 from a residence on Allen’s Ferry Road. He then allegedly forged a signature on the check and cashed it at a local bank.
His bond is set at $12,500.