Thursday marked an important milestone on the road to the White House, which will cross Tennessee during the 2016 election cycle. Secretary of State Tre Hargett has now certified the names of presidential candidates for the March 1 presidential preference primary, or “SEC Primary,” when Tennessee will join six other southern states to help decide who will be the next president of the United States.
“It is likely one of these men or women will hold our country’s highest elected office. Hopefully Tennesseans understand how much of an impact their votes will make,” Secretary Hargett said.
It’s important to note that once a candidate is certified for a party primary they are unable to appear on the November 8 general election ballot as the nominee of a different political party. Hargett presented the list of 14 Republicans and three Democrats to the State Election Commission December 1.
The following candidates will be placed on the March 1 ballot:
Republican Primary Ballot
•Jeb Bush
•Ben Carson
•Chris Christie
•Ted Cruz
•Carly Fiorina
•Jim Gilmore
•Lindsey O. Graham
•Mike Huckabee
•John R. Kasich
•George Pataki
•Rand Paul
•Marco Rubio
•Rick Santorum
•Donald J. Trump
Democratic Primary Ballot
•Hillary Clinton
•Martin J. O’Malley
•Bernie Sanders
Noon Thursday was also the withdrawal deadline for 2016 presidential delegate candidates. Delegate candidates cannot be considered qualified unless the Division of Elections received a letter from a presidential campaign identifying them. The finalized list is posted at: sos.tn.gov/elections.
Both the Tennessee Republican Party and the Tennessee Democratic Party have their own rules about how someone becomes a presidential delegate. The Republican presidential delegates are decided by election, which is coordinated through the division. The Democratic presidential delegates are decided by party rules. More information can be found here: sos.tn.gov/products/elections/qualifying-procedures-2016-presidential-delegates.

A Smithville man was arrested earlier this month after having in his possession a stolen truck from Hamilton County.
41 year old Kevin Donald Bogle of Barnes Mill Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $1,000. His bond is $25,000 and he will make a court appearance on January 21.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday, December 8 a deputy went to a residence on Midway Road to speak with Bogle. He was detained there while a check was made for possible warrants against him. When asked to empty his pockets, Bogle produced a key to an F150 pickup and laid it on the table in the living room. Upon further investigation, officers learned that the pickup, found parked in the driveway on Midway Road, was stolen from Hamilton County. Bogle was taken into custody to be interviewed about the truck. During questioning Bogle admitted to having driven the pickup to the Midway Road residence and that he had personal belongings in the truck including a green Carhartt jacket, a Sony CD player, and a Ziplock baggie of water. He was found to be in possession of a stolen vehicle and was placed under arrest.
68 year old Bettye Sharron Crook of Winter Drive, Dowelltown is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $1,500.
Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, December 10 Crook intentionally and knowingly got a loaded Winchester 22 caliber rifle and told her sister that she would kill her. The weapon had to be forcibly removed from Crook’s possession by another family member. According to Sheriff Ray, Crook told officers that she would kill her sister. Crook was placed under arrest.
28 year old Lindsey Paulette Davenport of Woodbury Highway, Liberty is charged with introduction or possession of drugs into a penal institution where prisoners are quartered. She is under a $2,500 bond.
Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, December 12 Davenport was arrested on a violation of probation warrant. While in her jail cell, a female correctional officer saw Davenport acting suspiciously. After being removed, the cell was searched and five suboxone strips and three xanax pills were found. Davenport had produced the drugs while in the cell after apparently having concealed them on her person.
50 year old Nohemi Sosa Brown of Four Star Loop, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. She was further issued a citation for driving on roadways laned for travel. Her bond is $1,500.
Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, December 13 a deputy was traveling on Highway 70 when he spotted a red Chevy car in front of him cross the yellow line several times as well as the turning lane. After making a traffic stop the officer spoke with the driver, Brown and detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle. Brown’s speech was slurred and slow. She submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. She also took a blood/alcohol test.

Losing a child is unspeakably painful and perhaps the most devastating ordeal a parent could have to encounter.
Tyler and Jessica Cripps of Alexandria know what that’s like. Their daughter Paislee Cheyanne Cripps was stillborn on May 3, 2013. Their hearts were broken. Their world was shattered. But during their grief they received the love and support of family, friends, church, and the community in such a way that it inspired Tyler and Jessica to help other parents mourning infant loss. As a result, Paislee’s Foundation was formed by the Cripps’ along with their friend Wesley McCubbin.
“It’s a non-profit organization that Wesley and my wife and I started. We take up money through donations and fundraisers and we donate that to families who are going through stillbirth and infant loss up to three years of age,” Tyler Cripps told WJLE .
“It started on May 3, 2013. Tyler and I lost our little girl. She was stillborn. Paislee’s death was very unexpected and we were completely unprepared to deal with this type of situation. But our family, friends, church, and community lifted us up, supported us, and took care of everything we needed,” said Jessica Cripps.
After some time passed, Tyler said he got the idea for starting the foundation. “I was riding through work one day and the idea popped in my head. I talked to Wesley about it and we furthered the idea until it’s turned into what it is today,” he said.
An approved 501c3 non-profit organization, Paislee’s Foundation was formed in October 2013 and the first official fundraiser was held in January 2014.
“We have three main fundraisers which are all held at the Kenneth Sandlin Center at the fairgrounds in Alexandria. A chili supper will be held on February 6 along with a corn hole tournament. We have a 5K in May and a craft show in the fall. They have all generated pretty good amounts of money. At the 5K we have even had some of the parents (served by the Foundation) actually come to help. To see that come full circle has been great. We’ve had such big responses from the start and we thank our whole community for supporting us,” said McCubbin.
There are no paid staff in the Foundation and all money raised is given to parents. “One hundred percent of it goes to the foundation. No money goes to anyone’s pocket,” said Tyler.
“We got money given to us when we lost Paislee. At the end of it all we had to buy her headstone and that was $400. We had $400 exactly left. So that’s what we give people $400. They are welcome to use it for whatever they need including bills, food, groceries, headstone, burial expenses, etc. We have already served roughly 20 families,” said Jessica.
Families needing support may contact Paislee’s Foundation through Facebook. ” They can come to us. We have a facebook page. It’s already up and going. Its Paislees Foundation on facebook. The website is now online at www.paisleesfoundation.org. It has our story and how you can donate, all of our contact information, and different resources. If you want to donate a wedding dress for a burial gown for a child that link is there. Photographers who do sessions at the hospital for keepsakes, that is on there. We recently did a hoodie sale with a logo on it and that is on the website too. If you want to make a donation Paislee’s Foundation has an account at Liberty State Bank. We’re also working on Paypal. It’s coming soon. We don’t want to just be about the money. That’s a big part of it. To alleviate financial stress but we also want parents to be able to have someone to talk to. We would like to eventually be able to put them in touch with grief support groups,” said Jessica
“We want to thank Scott Koffman who designed our logo and our 5K shirt; Ashley McCubbin who is right there with her camera every time we need her for an event; and Nikia Vensel who has designed all our flyers and posters. They have all done this free of charge,” said Tyler. Also a special thanks to the Foundation’s CPA Kathy Finley.
“We want to thank everybody who has gotten behind us and given us the push to get to where we are now. That’s the main thing about our foundation. It could not run without the support that we have gotten,” said Tyler.

Seventy four children at the Smithville Head Start Center were treated to bags of gifts Thursday during the annual Cops for Kids effort by the Smithville Police Department.
Police Chief Mark Collins, Mayor Jimmy Poss, and other members of the police department presented the children with the gifts. Other guests were on hand for songs and special treats.
“Today is our Toys for Tots. Each year the Smithville Police Department tries to do something around this special holiday. This year we chose the Head Start. What we do is we collect donations and presents from throughout the city and we give them to the kids. They get to interact with us. Its really enjoyable for all of us to interact with the kids, ” said Chief Collins.
“The local merchants collect gifts for us and we have fundraisers. All the officers of the police department also participated in “No Shave November” and paid $40 to enter. All that money went toward this to buy presents and things for this event.” Chief Collins continued.
“This is a good event for us. Its a way we can give back to the community and these kids really appreciate it and seem to enjoy it,” he concluded.

Caney Fork Electric Cooperative is reminding farmers, timber harvesters, and nurserymen who are members of CFEC
about the Tennessee Agriculture Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption.
Every fourth year, the Tennessee Department of Revenue re-issues Agriculture Certificates of Exemption to all current exemption holders. If your exemption certificate expires on December 31, 2015, you will be mailed a renewed certificate during the latter part of December. These new certificates will have an effective date of January 1, 2016 and will expire December 31, 2019.
In order for Caney Fork Electric Cooperative to continue NOT charging you Tennessee Sales Taxes on your monthly electric bill, CFEC will
need a copy of your NEW Certificate of Exemption.
Please stop by any of the four CFEC offices for a copy to be made of your NEW Certificate for the files.

UCHRA’s effort to sell Lakeside Resort and reduce the agency’s debt has cleared a preliminary hurdle.
Officials were informed last week that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given initial approval to allow the buyer to enter into a lease agreement to take over operations of the facility, located off Highway 56 north in DeKalb County.
UCHRA Executive Director Luke Collins explained in a recent memo that Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch has made a proposal of $600,000 for the facility along with $100,000 in services over a 10-year period (or $10,000 per year). He said if the proposal could be accepted at the agency’s next real estate meeting on December 29, a check for $50,000 would be presented as earnest money, with the balance paid at closing.”
In the meantime, the Ranch is currently in discussion with Tennessee Tech to partner with the university to meet educational requirements set forth by the Corps. The Corps’ final approval of the proposal also is subject to the request submitted by UCHRA, which must meet “assignment of lease”
application requirements.
“This lease has both educational and transient use components,” said Michael T. Abernathy, district chief of real estate with the Corps of Engineers’ Nashville district. “The official request needs to be specific in how Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch will be providing education for its members and how compliance with the ‘transient use’ condition will be met.” The transient use clause prohibits stays longer than 30 days during any 60-day period.
UCHRA is currently paying on two loans relating to Lakeside at a total cost of nearly $1.3 million and at an interest rate of 4.25 percent.
With the purchase price, UCHRA’s debt would be reduced to $663,895, which Collins said could be paid over three years.

DeKalb County will soon have a new director of the local UT Agricultural Extension Service.
Johnny Barnes will be taking over from Michael Barry effective January 1. His first day on the job will be January 4.
Barry has taken another position.
County Mayor Tim Stribling made the announcement during the County Commission meeting Monday night. “The UT Extension/ Agriculture Committee met a couple of times. County Commissioners Mason Carter, Betty Atnip, and Jeff Barnes are on that committee. On November 24 they conducted interviews along with Mark Willoughby and Jim Stewart, who is the regional director for the Central Region of the Extension Service. They conducted interviews for Director of the Extension Service. The former Director Michael Barry took a position with the Extension Service in Davidson County. That left an opening here. Requirements were that you had to have an agriculture degree and a masters degree. They interviewed and then the Extension Service met on Tuesday, December 8. They again met with Jim Stewart and they have hired Johnny Barnes as the Agriculture Agent and Extension Director,” said Stribling.
“Barnes has worked for ten years in Wilson County as a 4-H agent. He lives in Alexandria and is a DeKalb County native,” Stribling added.
“I’d like to ask everyone to stop in on January 4 and welcome Barnes. I think he is going to be a great asset to our county,” said Commissioner Betty Atnip.

A shoplifter at Walmart was also found with drugs in her possession earlier this month.
43 year old Patsy Lynn Estes was arrested by Smithville Police on Friday, December 4 for theft of property, criminal trespass, simple possession of Schedule IV & VI drugs and tampering with evidence. Police were dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. Upon arrival officers saw Estes placing items in plastic bags. Estes had previously been ordered by store management to keep away from Walmart through a “Notification of Restriction from Property”. As she was being taken into custody and placed in the patrol car, Estes was observed with a bag in her hand which contained a leafy green substance which was later determined to be marijuana. Also in the bag was a prescription bottle containing two pills which didn’t match the prescription. While in custody, Estes removed a pill from her person and crushed it before it was checked into evidence. Her bond is $13,000 and she will be in court on December 17.
19 year old Justin Michael Bone was cited on Sunday, December 6 for simple possession of a Schedule VI drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police responded to a report of a vehicle traveling all over the highway. An officer later stopped the automobile and spoke with the driver, Bone. An odor of marijuana was inside the vehicle. After obtaining consent to search, one gram of a leafy substance believed to be marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle. Bone’s court date is January 28.
51 year old Janice Lynn Johnson was arrested on Tuesday, December 8 for DUI and cited for two counts of simple possession or casual exchange. Officers, dispatched to a hit and run, spotted the vehicle on West Broad Street and pulled it over at Kilgore’s Restaurant. The driver, Johnson was incoherent and shaking uncontrollably. Johnson was unsteady on her feet and she refused to submit to sobriety tasks. Upon receiving consent to search the vehicle, police found 33 round white pills believed to be Soma and one oblong white pill thought to be Hydrocodone. Johnson had no prescription for the pills. Bond for Johnson is $1,500 and she will be in court on January 7.
61 year old Lawrence E Willet, III was arrested on Friday, November 27 in Wal-Mart parking lot for DUI. An employee flagged down an officer on routine patrol at Wal-Mart concerning a man whose vehicle had struck one of the cart returns. The officer stopped the automobile and identified Willet as the driver. He had an odor of alcohol on his person and there was an empty beer bottle in the back seat floorboard. Willet submitted to but performed poorly on sobriety tasks. His bond is $1,500.
33 year old David Allen Cobb was arrested Tuesday, December 8 for public intoxication. Police were dispatched to the Sheriff’s Department in reference to an intoxicated person. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Cobb who was standing inside demanding to speak with the Sheriff regarding another matter. Cobb had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. He was unsteady on his feet and he appeared to be disoriented. Cobb’s bond is $1,500 and his court date is January 7.
45 year old Kevin Matthew Dossett was arrested for joy riding on Wednesday, December 9. According to police, Dossett took a vehicle without the owner’s consent and returned it later in the day. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is December 17.
26 year old Jeremy Ray Mooneyhan was arrested on Thursday, December 10 for a third offense of driving on a revoked license. Police made a traffic stop of Mooneyhan’s vehicle and he couldn’t provide a valid driver’s license. A computer check with Central Dispatch revealed that Mooneyhan had two prior offenses for driving on a revoked license. Mooneyhan was taken into custody. His bond is $4,000 and his court date is January 28.