Congressman Diane Black has announced a series of town hall meetings that will be held throughout Tennessee’s 6th Congressional district during the week of August 8th – 12th.
She will have a Town Hall meeting in Smithville in the first floor courtroom of the courthouse on Thursday, August 11 at 5:00 p.m.
“I believe Tennesseans deserve a representative in Congress who is accountable to them and who listens to their concerns. In that spirit, I will be holding public town hall meetings across our region next week,” said Congressman Diane Black. “At each event, I’ll provide an update on the top issues I hear about from constituents, then we’ll give attendees an opportunity to ask me their questions directly. I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new faces as I travel our district to hear from the people I serve.”

Smithville Police have charged a Murfreesboro man with rape.
64 year old Walter Kenneth Tubbs, formerly of Smithville is accused of raping a woman at her residence on Smith Road Tuesday, July 26. According to the warrant obtained by WJLE, Tubbs allegedly rubbed the woman’s breast and then took his hand and put it down her pants. The woman told him to stop immediately. Tubbs then allegedly used force to remove the woman’s pants and underwear and he had sex with her against her will. The whole time the woman told Tubbs to stop what he was doing or she would scream. After the incident Tubbs apologized and pleaded for the woman not to press charges. He also called family members and apologized to them for what he had done, according to the warrant.
Tubbs was arrested Monday at his home and he is under a $50,000 bond. He will make an appearance in General Sessions Court on August 11.

Members of the Alexandria community joined churches and merchants on the public square Tuesday evening in a prayer service for our police, schools, community, and nation. The event drew a large crowd of concerned individuals.
Dusty Desimone of the West Main Baptist Church moderated the program, delivered a brief message, and offered prayers.
Other local ministers participating in leading prayers were Jimmy Arms of the Upper Helton Baptist Church; David Revelle of Shepherds Fortress Ministries; Ronnie Smith of the New Hope Baptist Church; Thurman Seiber of the Salem Baptist Association; and Josh Brown of Salem Baptist Church.
The program began with a recorded performance of the National Anthem followed by the audience singing along with a recorded rendition of Amazing Grace. After the message and prayers by the ministers, the crowd joined in singing with a recorded version of God Bless the USA.

Members of the Center Hill Soccer Club (formerly DeKalb County Youth Soccer League) want to relocate their recreational soccer games from the field at Northside Elementary School to the City of Smithville’s Airport Park.
Russ Hackett, a representative of the league, addressed the Mayor and Aldermen Monday night asking them consider allowing the league to lease the park and develop it for soccer.
“We currently have our recreational games at the Northside field but in the next couple of years we will be losing those fields because of the school systems need for additional space for future construction. We’re looking for a place to have recreational soccer. The airport park will suit our purpose for what we want to do. We would like to level the ground, put in fields and goals, and condition the building. We want to turn it into a real soccer sports complex,” said Hackett.
Currently, the city airport park, which consists of an open field with some children’s playground equipment on it and restroom facilities, is available for all who want to use it. “The field right now is being used on a first come, first served basis. Everybody can use it,” said City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson.
“What I have seen out there is two tee ball teams that religiously use it. A majority of teams that use it are soccer, both youth and adults. And there are occasionally kids out there playing. And we don’t mind stipulating in the lease that other sports leagues can come and use the fields” said Hackett.
“Are you planning to build a building over there,” asked Mayor Jimmy Poss.
“We’re planning on adding on to that building (restrooms),” answered Hackett.
“The problem we’ve got is with the airport. Having buildings erected in the glide zone,” Mayor Poss continued.
“We don’t plan on making it any taller, just wider,” said Hackett
“We’ll have to do some research,” added Mayor Poss
City Administrator Hendrixson said the city could not grant approval until the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics authority is consulted since the area is in the airport’s glide zone. The city has already had to purchase a two story brick home near the airport park which will have to be taken down and the trees around it because of FAA regulations. The home was purchased using TDOT Aeronautics grant funds. The city’s local grant match was 5%.
According to Hackett, the Soccer Club would assume maintenance of the property and remove the playground equipment if the city wishes. The Club would also carry liability insurance for the sporting events.
“What I would like to do is give this proposal to TDOT Aeronautics, being that the park is in the glide zone, and let them look it over. Lets start with the state because they fund a lot of what we have out there. We’ll start with them and hopefully have an answer by the next meeting,” said City Administrator Hendrixson.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps was the guest speaker at the Smithville Rotary Club last Tuesday.
“Mr. Cripps gave us an update on the many great things going on in our school system as well as some of the goals he has for the 2016-2017 school year,” said Rotarian Clint Hall.
“We also look forward to starting an Interact Club this year at DCHS. Mr. Cripps is definitely on the “Energy Bus” and we know great things are ahead for our school system,” he added.
Pictured: L to R, Becky Thompson, Chad Colwell, Lindy Jenkins, Chris Griffith, Mr. Cripps, Jim Beshearse, George Oliver, Brenda Cantrell, and Pam Redmon.

Three people named in sealed indictments by the DeKalb County Grand Jury last Monday, July 25 have been picked up by the Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said 33 year old Brandi Lynn Dorris of Liberty is indicted for possession of a schedule III controlled substance ( 4-Suboxone) with the intent to sell or deliver on or about December 21, 2015. Her bond is $30,000 and she will be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday, August 8. Dorris was arrested on Tuesday, July 26.
28 year old Amanda Brooke Washer of McMinnville Highway, Smithville is indicted for Simple Possession of a Schedule VI drug (Marijuana) on or about December 14, 2015. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be arraigned in criminal court on Monday, August 8. Washer was arrested on Wednesday, July 27.
29 year old James Robert Lee (Jimmy) Fuson of Four Seasons Road, Smithville is indicted for theft of property over $500. His bond is $7,500 and he will be arraigned in criminal court on Monday, August 8. He was arrested on Thursday, July 28.
According to the indictment obtained by WJLE, Fuson did knowingly obtain or exercise control over certain property, to wit: $905 the property of Middle Tennessee Outfitters between January 1 and February 23, 2016 with the intent to deprive Middle Tennessee Outfitters of its property, constituting the offense of theft.
Two other people also named in sealed indictments by the grand jury last week have yet to be arrested.
Meanwhile in other cases, 53 year old Kathy Irene Miller of Martin Drive, Liberty is charged with driving under the influence. Her bond is $1,500 and she will make a court appearance on August 11. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, July 26 a deputy responded to a reckless driver on Highway 70 from the Dowelltown area. The officer spotted the vehicle and noticed that it crossed the center line several times. He stopped the automobile and spoke with the driver, Miller. Her speech was slurred and she was very unsteady on her feet. Miller submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. She also took a blood test.
20 year old Caleb Lee McGhee of Bright Hill Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property under $500. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on August 11. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, July 25 McGhee allegedly took a set of cornhole boards valued at $200. He was arrested on Wednesday, July 27.

A total of 1,050 people cast ballots during the fourteen day period of early voting for the August 4 elections.
Saturday, July 30 was the last day of early voting and 143 cast ballots including 140 in person and 3 by absentee. A total of 69 voted in the Tennessee Republican Primary and 35 voted in the Democratic Primary. Thirty nine voted only in the DeKalb County General Election. Sixty people voted in the Smithville Municipal Election on Saturday.
For the fourteen days of early voting combined, 1,050 cast ballots including 993 in person and 57 by absentee.
The vote totals in each election are as follows:
Tennessee Democratic Primary: 378 (total)
Tennessee Republican Primary: 490 (total)
DeKalb County General Election Only: 182 (total)
Smithville Municipal Election: 397 plus 59 property rights voters for a total of 456
Dowelltown Municipal Election: 4 plus 2 property rights voters in Dowelltown
Liberty Municipal Election: 14
The voting by precinct during the fourteen days of early voting is as follows:
Alexandria: 36
Temperance Hall: 28
Edgar Evins State Park: 2
Liberty: 30
Dowelltown:18
Snow Hill:47
Church of God: 255
Rock Castle: 4
Courthouse:189
Johnson Chapel: 32
County Complex: 146
Belk: 4
Keltonburg: 38
Blue Springs: 38
Church of Christ Annex: 183
TOTAL: 1050
Five elections are set for August 4—the DeKalb County General Election, the Tennessee Republican and Democratic Primaries, and city elections in Smithville, Liberty and Dowelltown.
Voting at all fifteen precincts in the county on Thursday will be from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Listen LIVE for election return coverage on WJLE when the polls close Thursday night at 7 p.m.

Members of the community concerned about our school system answered the call to pray Sunday afternoon during what has become an annual event prior to the start of school.
This year’s prayer time called ” Back 2 School Call 2 Prayer” was held at Northside Elementary School and drew the largest crowd ever. As in past years it featured several local ministers offering prayers for each school as well as the school transportation staff, athletic activities and band program, law enforcement agencies, and the school board.

“I had some ladies who came to me who were involved years ago just getting together to pray at the entrances of the schools. They told me that we cannot stop doing this. Since the beginning this has developed into a larger prayer gathering. But it all started with some mothers who went to the different schools having prayer, said Donnie Kelly, minister of the First Assembly of God who moderated the program.
“As ministers and educators as well as community leaders, we need to join together and pray for each of our teachers, principals, children, the schools, so many things. We need that covenant. We need to join together to do everything we can to help our children to be able to achieve the very best,” said Kelly
Local ministers participating were Chris Moore, Pastor of the Smithville Church of God (who prayed for DeKalb County High School), Jordan Atnip, Youth Pastor at the Smithville First Baptist Church (who prayed for DeKalb Middle School), Bernard Houk, Pastor of the Smithville Free Will Baptist Church (who prayed for Smithville Elementary School), Trent Colwell, Pastor of the Smithville Nazarene Church (who prayed for Northside Elementary School), Mark Miller, Pastor of the Long Branch Community Church (who prayed for DeKalb West School), Jim Eddins, Pastor of The Gathering (who prayed for School Transportation Staff), Ryley Young, Youth Pastor of the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church (who prayed for Athletic Activities/Band), Dwayne Cornelius, Pastor of the New Life United Pentecostal Church and Chaplain of the Smithville Police Department (who prayed for the local law enforcement agencies, and Graden Kirksey, Community Evangelist, who prayed for the School Board.
Kelly opened the program with a welcome followed by Director of Schools Patrick Cripps who made some remarks about academic plans for the new school year including an emphasis on reading initiatives
Before the prayers, Josh Isaac sang the National Anthem.

U.S. Senator Bob Corker will be making a 31 county tour across Tennessee during the month of August and one of his stops will be in DeKalb County.
Corker will travel across the Volunteer State to hear from Tennesseans and share his perspective on how to address some of the major challenges facing our nation.
“One of the most enjoyable and valuable parts of my job is spending time with the people who have given me the great privilege of serving them in the United States Senate,” said Corker. “I am excited to travel across our state over the next four weeks and look forward to hearing from Tennesseans about the issues they care about most.”
Corker will visit DeKalb County on Wednesday, August 17 at noon at the courthouse.
In 2012, Tennesseans overwhelmingly re-elected Bob Corker to his second term in the U.S. Senate, where he serves as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and is an active member of the Banking Committee and the Budget Committee. Corker was Tennessee’s commissioner of finance and mayor of Chattanooga, but he spent most of his life in business. It’s that results-driven businessman’s perspective that allowed him to make a mark early in the Senate, where he is considered a pragmatic thought leader on the issues Tennesseans care about most.

DeKalb County Schools will re-open with registration for all students on Wednesday, August 3.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW ACTUAL 2016-17 SCHOOL CALENDAR)
2016-17 SCHOOL CALENDAR.pdf (352.21 KB)
Thursday, August 4 will be an administrative day for teachers only
The first full day of school for all students will be Friday, August 5.
The first day of school education celebration (free school supplies) will be Friday, August 5 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on the Smithville Public Square.
All teachers will report to their individual schools on Monday and Tuesday August 1 & 2
The 2016-17 school calendar is as follows
Students will not attend on Monday, Labor Day, September 5.
Schools will be closed for the fall break October 10-21
Students will be off for the Thanksgiving holiday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, November 23, 24, & 25 and for the Christmas break December 22 through January 3. Wednesday, December 21 will be the last day students attend before Christmas break and that will be an abbreviated school day. Wednesday, January 4 will be a stockpile day for teachers.
Students will return after the holidays on Thursday, January 5.
Schools will be closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 16; for President’s Day, Monday, February 20; and Good Friday, April 14.
Spring break will be April 20-24.
Students will not attend on Thursday, May 25. That will be an administrative day and all teachers must attend. The last day of school will be Friday, May 26 and report cards will be sent home.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 25 and Tuesday, March 14 at DeKalb County High School from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will also be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Thursday, October 27 and Thursday, March 16 at DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary, Smithville Elementary, and DeKalb West School.
Report cards will be sent home from all schools on Tuesday, October 25; Tuesday, January 10; Tuesday March 14; and Friday, May 26.