Director of Schools Mark Willoughby announced Thursday night during the board of education meeting that he has employed the support staff for the 2014-2015 school year.
Those employed at DeKalb County High School are:
Rena Adcock, Wanda Bradford, Kathy Chapman, Kenderly Cripps, Debbie Eaton, Regina Estes, Beverly Ferrell, Darnette Hibdon, Melissa Hicks, Deborah Magness, Carl Malone, Thomas Maney, Charles Martin, Paulette McDonald, Rhonda Merriman, Sara Parker, JoAnn Pittman, Brian Reed, Denise Rutland, Vicky Sandlin, Carol Swope, Norman Underhill, Tiffanie VanWinkle, Jamie Wright, and Debbie Young.
DeKalb Middle School:
Sue Arnold, Jennifer Benton, Pauline Braswell, Anita Conley, Tammy Ferrell, Fay Gilreath, Doris Graham, Jeremy Haas, Connie Haggard, Angie Moore, Chris Moore, Lisa Norton, Angela Patrick, Paula Pinegar, Pauletta Ruffner, Mary Sanders, Teresa Spenser, Tammy Maynard, and Vicky Walker.
Smithville Elementary School:
Janis Barnes, Debora Cunningham, Brenda Beth Cantrell, Cindi Dias, Darlene Evans, Myra Fox, Jennifer Gay, Betty Griffith, Jean Hayes, Vicki Jefferies, Milinda League, Sara Lomas, Talitha Looney, Pat Milam, Tera Mooneyham, Ronda Northcutt, Holly Owens, Rebecca Parker, Rhonda Pelham, Amelia Phillips, Freeda Phillips, Lori Poss, Brenda Rigney, Amanda Trapp, Mary-Margaret Tripp, Tammy Tyler, and Celia Whaley.
Northside Elementary:
Pam Baines, Amy Buchanan, Sue Close, Evril Cubbins, Tena Edwards, Terrie Ford, Robbie Joan Frazier, Gary Good, Phyllis Hallum, Sherry Judkins, Deborah Knowles, Melinda Lattimore, Sunshine Martin, Thelma Martin, Rebecca Moss, Lynn Pichey, Jo Dean Redmon, Tenille Rowland, Ruby Thomason, JoAnn Vanatta, Kim Violet, Sharon Washer, Deneene Willingham, and Rita Young.
DeKalb West School:
Holly Bain, Brenda Bandy, Donna Driver, Dorothy Duggin, Ruth Frazier, Pauline Frazier, Stephanie Fuson, Shelly Gibson, Lisa Hale, Donna Hale, Jennifer Martin, Nancy Mulloy, Faye Nixon, Tina Paschal, Rhonda Pilgrim, Elizabeth Redmon, Beverly Starnes, Kristi Sullivan, and Rena Willoughby
County Wide Positions:
Chandra Adcock, Sandra Billings, Chance Bomen, W.C. Braswell, Rosalinda Cervantes, Cindy Childers, Tommy Clark, Christie Colwell, Billy Curtis, Bettye June Dodd, Christie Driver, Wade Ferrell, Julie Fitts, Greg Frasier, LeAnne Frasier, Yvonne Hale, Rebecca Hawkins, Terry Hicks, Earl Jared, Freda Johnson, Tammy Judkins, Amy Lattimore, Jenean Lawson, Debbie London, Marie Martin, Shirley Mathis, Brelle McCormick, Teresa Miller, Shelby Mulloy, April Odom, Shirley Ours, Angela Patrick, B.J. Patterson, Melissa Pirtle, Jo Dean Redmon, Joyce Robinson, Roger Sharp, Kimberly Turner, Barbara Vanatta, Jamie Vickers, Judy Wiggins, Polly Wilkins, and Joannie Williams.
Transportation:
Danny Bond, Dwayne Cantrell, Elaine Davis, Suzanne Dunn, Debbie Eaton, Ricky Edwards, Marshall Ferrell, Julie Fitts, Tina Fletcher, Linda Fowler, Bill Fowler, Lynn Griffith, Orlando Guzman, Donald Haggard, Darnette Hibdon, Melissa Hicks, Kathy Jacobs, Dwight Knowles, Daniel Lawson, Josh Lawson, Kimberly Lawson, Donnie Lewis, Bobby Martin, Michael Merriman, Ronald Merriman, Linda Gail Pack, Jimmy Poss, Myron Rhody, Eric Snow, Jimmy Sprague, Carol Swope, Ken Taylor, Bobby Taylor, B.J. Thomason, Tony Trapp, Danny Washer, Angela Wilkerson, and Donald Young.

Starting almost 70 years ago, DeKalb County Historian Tommy Webb began devoting his life to learning everything possible about DeKalb County and its people and documenting that information. As a means of preserving those historical papers, Webb is donating his files to the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
Charles (Chuck) Sherrell, State Librarian and Archivist, his assistants, members of the local library board, and friends met at Webb’s home on College Street Thursday for a formal announcement followed by a luncheon.
Although Webb’s original papers will be kept at the State Library and Archives, copies will remain at Justin Potter Library. “I am donating to the Tennessee State Library and Archives all the historical material that I have collected about DeKalb County over the past 70 years. I’ll be 83 in July. I started when I was around 12 or 13 years old. I got a very early start. I have what amounts to two- four drawer filing cabinets full of material about DeKalb County and its families, churches, schools, civil war battles, and everything else about DeKalb County. We have copies at the library of all this material. The originals are going to the state library and archives. They wanted the originals and that’s what they’re getting. But we have copies of everything at Justin Potter Library so we’re not really letting anything go. And I am at Justin Potter Library from 9:00 a.m. until Noon every day except Sunday to answer any questions people may have,” said Webb.
Sherrell said the State Library and Archives is honored to receive such an impressive collection of historical material. “We’re excited today to bring the collection of Mr. Webb back to the state library and archives for permanent preservation and to make it available to researchers. A collection like this accumulated over a lifetime, carefully tended and representing many of the people who came from this part of the state, is a rich treasure for researchers, both historians and genealogists. We’re excited about the potential for that as part of the collections at the state library and archives. For the last 60 years that the state archives has been in its building, we have brought in maybe seven or eight collections like this so it’s a rare opportunity to find a collection of this depth and breadth. I had known of Mr. Webb for a long time even before I became state librarian but after I took the job he wrote me a letter and asked me to come down and take a look at his collection and to discuss with him what might be the best options for preserving it and making it available. We did that about four years ago and recently he contacted me again and said he thought it was time to make the transfers so that’s why today is such a special day,” said Sherrell.
“The originals will always be preserved. One of the services we have to offer is careful temperature and humidity controls so that the paper will be preserved in acid free folders and boxes. We will also microfilm the collection. A lot of people today say why would you still microfilm now that we have digitalization. But microfilm is the preservation media. We know that microfilm will still be here and still be readable without specialized equipment 500 years from now. We will also be able to make digital copies from the microfilm. Digital is the access medium. Digital files degrade over time. We know that we can create a digital copy and make it available perhaps on the Internet but we will always have that microfilm backup to go to in order to make a new copy when its needed,” said Sherrell.
Kathy Hendrixson, Director of Justin Potter Library, said this is a special moment, not just for Mr. Webb but for the county as well. “I think it’s important for the library and for the county because this is a great honor. How many people do you know that has their papers and their life’s work put in the state library and archives? I think it’s a big deal. Our library board is really enthused and proud of it. In fact, they fixed a luncheon for everyone who came today. Mr. Webb is just a treasure. He’s there (library) from 9:00 a.m. until noon every day. There’s hardly a day that goes by that we don’t have two or three people who come in. He’s in there helping them trace their family history. He knows so many things and a lot of it is off the top of his head. It’s not something he has to go to a file for. For example, he’ll say “so and so is buried over there. They lived there. The house stood there.” And he is related to everybody. We are so proud of Mr. Webb and his accomplishments and we are thankful for him and all the things he does for the county and especially for the library because if he wasn’t there during the day, we would have to be doing all these little things. For example, if somebody calls from California and says my great great granddaddy lived there in 1840, do you have any information on that? I’d have to say Mr. Webb is not here today. Wait and call back tomorrow. He can generally find that information. We are really pleased that Chuck Sherrell from the Tennessee State Library and Archives has come to collect these for the archives. It’s an honor for us and for Mr. Webb. We’re just so proud of him,” said Hendrixson.
At an early age, Webb acquired an interest in local and family history and as he grew older, that interest became an obsession.”My mother and daddy both, but particularly my mother always talked about her family and who we were kin to and how we were related. She knew a good bit of the family history because she had lived with her grandmother for a good while so I had heard her talk and decided I’d like to find out more. It became an absolute obsession. When I was in high school I would go down to the register’s office after school and read the deed books. I started with the first one and read them all the way through. When I was in college, if I were bored in class I would sit there and draw a map of the Caney Fork River and put in every loop and turn. I’d put in the school houses where they belonged and that sort of thing. I didn’t watch TV. I didn’t care a thing about TV. I’d much rather dig into the history of DeKalb County. And I might add, I found out a lot about family history. I was interested in mine first and when I found what mine was like I thought Lord have mercy, I wonder what everybody else’s is like so I dug into everybody else’s (family history). I found out that they are all about alike. They all have some really fine people that you’re proud of and you hope everybody knows you’re kin to them. And they all have some that are just awful and you hope nobody knows you’re kin to them but you are. People come into the library from places like Texas, California, and DeKalb County and they want to know where great grandpa is buried and why he doesn’t have a tombstone and things like that and I can tell them. It’s a pleasure to them and it’s a pleasure to me,” said Webb.
(PICTURED ABOVE: Jan Thomas of DeKalb Library Board (seated), Tommy Webb, State Archivist Charles (Chuck) Sherrell, and Bobby White of DeKalb Library Board (seated); Standing behind Webb are Genrose Davis of DeKalb Library Board, Director Kathy Hendrixson of Justin Potter Library, an Assistant of Mr. Sherrell, Susan Hinton, Assistant of Mr. Sherrell, Joe Webster, and Brenda Hooper of DeKalb Library Board)

Director of Schools Mark Willoughby has signed contracts with the Professional Personnel for the 2014-2015 school year.
Willoughby presented a list of the employees to the Board of Education Thursday night.
Certified personnel at each school are as follows:
DeKalb County High School-
Angie Anderson, Charlotte Blaylock, Danny Bond, Amanda Brown, Kathy Bryant, Kevin Burchfield, Kelley Burgess, Amee Cantrell, Jeanine Cantrell, Todd Cantrell, Gary Caplinger, Mary Anne Carpenter, Joe Pat Cope, Patrick Cripps, Bethany Davis, Deborah DePriest, Andrew Dixon, Brittany Dixon, Donna Emmons, Marshall Ferrell, Tina Fletcher, Amanda Fuller, David Gash, Josh Gulley, Sara Halliburton, Susan Hinton, Sonja House, John Isabell (LOA), William Jennings, Natasha Judkins, Dylan Kleparek, Brad Leach, Lynus Martin, Taylor McDaniel (Interim), Lori Myrick, Rolando Navarro, Jenny Norris, Scott Odom, Nallely Ortega-Prater, Shelly Painter, Walteen Parker, Linda Parris, Leslie Parsley, John Pryor, Mary Anne Puckett, Jane Rice, Marilyn Roberts, Melissa Ruch, Daniel Seber, Michael Shaw, Tracy Slone, Steve Trapp, Chris Vance, Dianne Werth, Michael Whitefield, Shea Wiegele, and Sara Young.
Northside Elementary School-
January Agee, Marla Beshearse, Kelly Birmingham, Mollie Bratten, Linda Bush, Regina Campbell, Megan Carroll, Wendy Colvert, Trent Colwell, Michael Crockett, Alisha Day, Ashley Dean, Tabitha Farmer, Danny Fish, Jerry Foster, Carrie Gottlied, Amy Green, Amanda Griffith, Jennifer Griffith, Melissa Hale, Cynthia Hale, Jessica Hale, Patty Hale, Jennifer Herndon, Greg Hibdon, Karen Jacobs, Shelly Jennings, Kristy Lasser, Lisa Mabe, Jama Martin, Amanda Mathis, Libby McCormick, Elizabeth Nolt, Josh Odom, Beth Pafford, Amy Raymond, Dr. Gayle Redmon, Ashley Reeves, Melissa Roysdon, Carol Sampley, Tammy Sims, Julie Styer, Carol Tripp, Kristen Van Vranken, Betsye Walker, Ginger Wenger, and Sandy Willingham.
DeKalb West School-
Doris Cantrell, Jenny Cantrell, Jeanna Caplinger, William Conger, Kim Crook, Martha Damron, Tonya Ellis, Janet England, Sabrina Farler, Lesa Hayes, Ricky Hendrix, Cathleen Humphrey, Kristen Kell, Regina Kent, Nadine Manganielle, Shelia McMillen, Diana Moon, Amanda Mullinax, Danny Parkerson, Tammy Payne, Debra Poteete, Cynthia Preston, Lori Pryor, Cynthia Pulley, Audrey Russell, Teresa Sullivan, Shelia Vanatta, Natasha Vaughn, Susan West, Vicki Wilson, and Amy Young.
Smithville Elementary School-
Misty Agee, Ashley Barnes, Renee Beaty, Kelly Birmingham, Lindsey Bouldin, Whitney Brelje, Beth Cantrell, Layra Crook, Vicky Duke, Tina Gash, Sydney Gremmels, Vicky Hawker, Bradley Hendrix, Holly Hendrix, Mary Henny, Tanya Howard, Kelly Huling, Lisa Hull, Lorie Isabell (LOA), Ana Jarvis, Amanda Johnson, Angela Johnson, Jennifer Judkins, Karen Knowles, Carrie Lee, Leah Magness, Kristen Malone, Adrienne McCormick, LeVaughnda Midgett, Hannah Mummert, Susan Palmer, Jane Ramsey, Amanda Rhoady, Allison Rigsby, Bethany Rigsby, Heather Shehane, Audra Stangeberg, Carol Tallent, Ashlee Thomason, Janet Trapp, Carol Tripp, Julie Vincent, Sherian Waggoner, Tiffany Wheatley, Kristy Williams, Janet Woodward, Christie Young, and Crystal Young.
DeKalb Middle School-
Joey Agee, Josh Agee, Lori Alexander, Suzette Barnes, Nancy Cowan, Margaret Coyle, Lisa Craig, Amanda Dakas, Tena Davidson, Courtney Davis, Jenny Elrod, Holly Espinosa, Amy Farler, Jason Farley, Suzanne Gash, Kerry Gibson, Lori Hendrix, Randy Jennings, Bryan Jones, Michelle Jones, Amy Key, Michael Lewis, Michael Littrell, Martha Melching, Debra Moore, Justin Nokes, Karen Pelham, Emily Phillips, Justin Poteete, Anita Puckett, Candice Scrabo, Penny Smitty, Tonya Sullivan, Kitty Thomas, Tad Webb, Jennifer West, Rebecca Whimpey, Kathryn Wisinger, and Alicia Wittenberg.
Central Office Staff-
Gina Arnold, Katherine Ballard, Lisa Bell, Michelle Burklow, Dr. Danielle Collins, Lisa Cripps, Stephanie Dyer, Amy Fox, Joey Reeder, Dee Anna Reynolds, and Lori Rogers.
Meanwhile, the Board of Education voted to grant tenure to the following teachers upon the recommendation of Director of Schools Mark Willoughby:
Courtney Davis, Elizabeth Nolt, Tiffany Wheatley, Tanya Howard, Susan Palmer, Adrienne McCormick, and Susan West.
According to Director Willoughby, these teachers have successfully completed the probationary period of five years and received evaluations demonstrating an overall performance effectiveness level of above or significantly above expectations as required for tenure.
The Board also approved the following teachers for a professional license upon the recommendation of Director Willoughby:
January Agee, Brittany Dixon, Justin Nokes, Ashley Reeves, Lindsey Bouldin, Joshua Gulley, Nallely Ortega-Prater, Kelley Burgess, and Jennifer Herndon.
According to Director Willoughby, these teachers have successfully completed the statutory apprentice period of three years as required for license advancement.

Members of the DeKalb County Fair Association are busy preparing for this year’s edition of the Grandpa Fair of the South which is set for Monday through Saturday July 21-26.
With the theme ” Twenty Years of Volunteers”, this year’s DeKalb County Fair will feature a fun filled week of activities including rides by the Family Attractions Amusement Company and new events, a Kids Pedal Tractor Pull and DeKalb’s Kidnation Talent Showcase, a non-competative talent show for youngsters up to age eighteen.
The fair will be bringing back the Rodeo, ATV/Mini-Rod Outlaw Pull, Super Tractor and Truck Pull, Go Cart Racing, Four Wheelers and Motorcycle Racing, ATV Rodeo and many other popular attractions.
Fair goers are encouraged to take the time to enjoy lots of delicious foods from the food booths and stop by to see the many commercial, agricultural, and women’s exhibits.
The Kenneth Sandlin Center will be open Monday through Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
All Non- Perishable exhibits ONLY will be accepted Saturday, July 12 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. All Perishable items ONLY will be accepted on Saturday, July 19 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Take a stroll down Memory Lane and enjoy nightly entertainment at the Memory Lane Stage in Memory Village, sponsored by DeKalb Community Bank.
Meanwhile, the DeKalb County Fair 5K Fun Run will be July 19. Registration begins at 7 pm at the Fair Office. The Run will start at 7:30 PM. Pre-registration available by contacting Matt Boss at 615-464-8627. Pre-registration guarantees a DeKalb County Fair 5K T-Shirt $15 entry fee for youth and $20 for adults. Parking available behind Fair Office. For more info. contact Matt Boss at number above.
Fair events each night are as follows:
Monday, July 21: National Anthem at 5:45 p.m.; Cattle Show at 6:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; Rodeo at the T.C. McMillen Arena at 6:00 p.m.; Junior Fair Princess Pageant for contestants ages 13-16 at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Fairest of the Fair Pageant for contestants ages 17 to 20 at the Lions Club Pavilion and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 22: Snowbird from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.; Little Mr. and Miss Pageant for contestants ages 4-6 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion followed by David Turner and Friends; Corn hole Contest at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; Go-Cart Racing at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 23: Little Miss Princess Pageant for contestants ages 7-9 at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Miss Sweetheart Pageant for those ages 10-12 at the Lions Club Pavilion; 4 Wheeler and Motorcycle Racing at 6:30 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 24: Senior Citizen Day activities at 9:00 a.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion; Junior Goat Show at 6:00 p.m. at the Tot Kelly Barn; a Baby Show at 6:00 p.m. followed by Kidnation at the Lions Club Pavilion; and ATV Rodeo at the T.C. McMillen Arena at 7:00 p.m.; and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Friday, July 25: Toddler Show for contestants 13 months to 47 months at 6:00 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion; Kids Pedal Tractor Pull at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; ATV/ Mini-Rod Outlaw Pull at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 26: Horseshoe Tournament at the Tot Kelly barn at Noon.; Gospel Singing at the Lions Club Pavilion at 6:00 p.m.; Super Tractor and Truck Pull at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena: and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Events subject to change without notice.
CASH GIVEAWAY: Two tickets for $500 each will be drawn each night at the Lion’s Club Pavilion. Drawings will be held Monday through Saturday, each night at 9:30 p.m. Your gate admission ticket is your ticket for the cash drawing. You must be present to win. Tickets must be presented within three minutes. Tickets will be emptied each night. Fair board members and their spouses are not eligible to win.
Rides on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company. Unlimited rides will be available for $15.00 on Monday night; $16.00 on Tuesday night; $14.00 on Wednesday and $18.00 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Admission to the fair is $4.00 per person. Children age four and younger will be admitted free! Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Parking is Free!
For more information, call 529-FAIR or visit on-line at www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com.

Highway 70 near Sligo Bridge was closed to all traffic Thursday due to blasting in the construction zone which caused material to accumulate in the roadway.
A TDOT official told WJLE the contractor blasted today and more material got into the roadway than expected. It happened on the Sparta side. The road will eventually be opened to one lane and flag traffic until they can get both lanes reopened.

Shiroki North America, Inc. of Smithville is hiring more workers to keep up with the production demand on a new product line for Subaru.
“We are extremely busy right now. We’re right in the midst of launching a new door line for Subaru. This is for the Subaru Outback and the Subaru Sedan. We have recently added 80-90 people but we still have open jobs and spots to fill. So far it is starting out with a bang,” said Gina Haley, Plant Manager for Shiroki North America of Smithville in an interview with WJLE Wednesday.
“We have about 300 hourly employees out on the floor plus support staff here so there’s about 500 at this location. We’re working two shifts, more than eight hours a day, seven days a week,” Haley said.
Workers will also be needed for another new line coming soon. “We have another door line. The Subaru Nissan Maxima door line is coming. The machines will be here in a couple of weeks. We’ll be starting production on that early in 2015 and we are needing people to come right behind these current projects to start filling those jobs and start training,” she said.
Shiroki North America is a premier manufacturer of automobile seat tracks and adjusters, in addition to door frames. ” Our newest project is the steel door frame, which is the Subaru door. At the current time we make seating products, which is the slide mechanism that slides the seat back and forth on the front seat and also the reclining mechanism. All of those lines are current mass production. We also make the General Motors aluminum door frame. It goes in the Cadillac CTS,” said Haley.
“The doors go directly to Subaru and General Motors in Lansing, Michigan. The seats go to another plant where they are assembled with the fabric and the foam and then go on to be made as a full seat,” she said.
Applicants may apply at Shiroki in Smithville or on Tuesday’s at the Career Center in Smithville from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. “We’re looking for people who want the opportunity to move up, who are serious about working,” said Haley. “There’s lots of opportunity for growth here as far as group leader, team leader, and trainer type positions. Through the years we have proven to be a very stable employer. We have competitive wages. We have good benefits. We’re not going anywhere. If you’re looking for somewhere to call home. We’re your place,” Haley concluded.
For more information about job openings, call HG Staffing at 615-215-1482 or after 5:00 p.m. at 931-743-6627. HG Staffing is the staffing agency for Shiroki North America of Smithville.
In addition to Smithvile, Shiroki North America has manufacturing plants in Dalton, Georgia, and in Gordonsville, while continuing to support operations in Japan, China and Thailand.
(TOP PHOTO: Jeremy Givens, Area Manager for HG Staffing, Gina Haley, Plant Manager for Shiroki North America in Smithville, and Dahynelia Grayson, On-Site Manager for HG Staffing, which is a staffing agency for Shiroki)

Although his name will apparently remain on the August 7 General Election Ballot, long time Second District County Commissioner Bobby Joines has decided to withdraw from the race for re-election due to his health.
In a prepared statement to WJLE, Joines expresses his appreciation to the people of the second district for their support but because of an illness, he will not be able to run for re-election.
Joines, a Republican was first elected to the county commission from the second district in 2002. He was re-elected in 2006 and again in 2010. He will be completing his third term August 31.
Before learning of his illness, Joines had intended to seek a fourth term. He was nominated by the DeKalb County Republican Party Caucus earlier this year.
Joines’ statement is as follows:
“To the DeKalb County Election Commission and Administrator Dennis Stanley, The Republican Nominating Committee and Party, and the residents of the 2nd District of DeKalb County.
As the August General Election is approaching fast, I want to let you know due to my battle with cancer and declining health, I will not be able to fill my obligation to run in the election in August.
I would like to thank the voters in the 2nd district for putting your trust in me over the past 12 years. Your support has always been greatly appreciated. I always voted from my heart, what I felt like was in the best interest for the 2nd district and DeKalb County as a whole.
It has been a pleasure to serve with our County Mayor and County Commissioners from the other districts. I am proud of what our county has accomplished over these years.
Thank you again for all your support these past 12 years. God Bless You.”
Other candidates vying for the two positions on the county commission from the second district in the August General Election are Democratic nominees Joe N. Johnson and Clarence Trapp and Independent candidate James “Jimmy” E. Midgett.

The DeKalb Utility District is asking the Chancery Court to dismiss a counter claim by the City of Smithville seeking a judgment from the DUD of more than a million dollars for alleged “underpaid” water purchases from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013.
In the answer to the counter claim filed on Monday June 2, attorneys Dewey Branstetter, Jr. and Keith Blair for the DUD state that “the City of Smithville has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”
Attorneys Kristen E. Berexa of Nashville and City Attorney Vester Parsley, Jr. filed the counter claim Thursday, March 27 in DeKalb County Chancery Court along with an answer to the DUD’s lawsuit against the city over the $5.00 per thousand gallon water rate. Attorneys for the city claim the DUD underpaid for water purchases from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013 and owes the city more than one million dollars. As a result, the city is seeking a judgment against the DUD to recover the amount of the undercharges. “The total amount DUD underpaid the City for potable water during the period from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013 is $1,099,323 plus the underpayment for the period between July 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012,” according to the counter claim.
Even though the city had a water purchase contract with the DUD from March 15, 2004 through December 31, 2013 establishing the amount the DUD would pay for water each year, city attorneys claim a 2013 water cost study found that the municipality had not charged the DUD enough to cover all of the actual costs of producing and distributing water to the DUD, and the City did not recover any of its capital costs from DUD during the period between July 1, 2008 and December 31, 2013.
In the answer, DUD attorneys contend that the water purchase contract governed the rate to be charged over the ten year period. “The 2004 Water Purchase Contract, an express contract, governed the water rate between the DeKalb Utility District and the City of Smithville for the applicable time period of the Contract. The Contract was reasonable and flexible and applied to these parties until its termination. The Contract did not freeze the water rate paid by the DeKalb Utility District or restrict the City’s statutory duty of financial solvency. The DeKalb Utility District paid the contractual rates. There is no authority for the City of Smithville to claim that it should be paid more than the water rate that was mutually agreed upon in the 2004 Water Purchase Contract, which Contract has been fully performed by the parties. There has been no showing of increased costs imposed upon the citizens of the City of Smithville due to the terms of the Contract and therefore no authority for the terms of the Contract to be voided or adjusted by the Court in any respect.”
Attorneys for the City assert that under state law, Smithville is entitled to recover from the DUD the amount by which DUD was undercharged in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated § 7-35-414 which states in part that….”Such rates and charges shall be adjusted so as to provide funds sufficient to pay all reasonable expenses of operation, repair, and maintenance, provide for a sinking fund for payment of principal and interest on bonds when due, and maintain an adequate depreciation account, and they may be readjusted as necessary from time to time by amendment to the ordinance establishing the rates then in force. Any upward adjustment of rates and charges for sewerage services shall not be granted solely on the basis of increases of rates and charges for water service, but shall be made only after a finding by the governing body that such an adjustment is reasonable and justified….”
According to the city’s counter claim, “The provisions of Section 8 of the 2004 (water purchase) contract are void for the period beginning July 1, 2008 through the end of the 2004 contract because they violate Tennessee Code § 7-35-414(a) and the common law requiring DUD to pay just and equitable rates.”
If the city had knowledge of under charges, DUD attorneys question why the city waited so long to address it. “As alleged in the Counterclaim of the City of Smithville, the City has had full knowledge of facts giving rise to the Counterclaim filed in this case since March of 2013. Nevertheless, the City waited a full year before bringing this claim against the DeKalb Utility District. In addition, in its Counterclaim, the City asserts that the 2004 Water Purchase Contract is void for the period beginning July 1, 2008-almost six years ago-through December 31, 2013. The DeKalb Utility District has been prejudiced by the City’s lengthy delay because during the period of delay, the DeKalb Utility District has set water rates for its customers based on the water rate that it paid to the City of Smithville. Consequently, the City’s Counterclaim is barred by the doctrine of laches,” according to DUD’s answer to the counter claim.
In the counter claim, the city is asking that a judgment be entered in favor of the City and against the DUD in the amount of $1,099,323 plus the amount by which DUD was undercharged for water during the period from July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012; that DUD be denied all relief on its complaint against the City and same be dismissed with prejudice; that the City be granted such other and further relief as is just and proper in the premises; and that the City be awarded its reasonable costs in this action.
In the answer to the counter claim, the DUD states that “The City of Smithville is not entitled to relief because the City acted and reacted to the matters alleged in its Counterclaim with unclean hands.”
“Wherefore, Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant (DUD) requests that the Defendant (City of Smithville) Counterclaim be dismissed and prays for judgment in its favor as follows:
That the Defendant (City) takes nothing by reason of its Counterclaim;
That the Plaintiff (DUD) be awarded its attorneys’ fees for the defense of this action;
That the Plaintiff (DUD) recover the costs of this suit: and
That the Plaintiff (DUD) has such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper”

The victim in a Coffee County murder is not from DeKalb County, as reported by a Nashville television station.
WSMV reports that “the victim has been identified as Lisa Marie Hyder of DeKalb County”. Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves told WJLE by phone today (Tuesday) that the 36 year old victim, Hyder, was from another county, either Sequatchie or Bledsoe, but not DeKalb.
The man arrested in the case, 37 year old Gregory Scott Hale of Pete Sain Road, Manchester is charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse and is being held on a $1.5 million bond at the Coffee County Jail.
According to media reports, Hale is charged with murder and abusing the corpse of the woman and has admitted to killing, dismembering, burning and eating part of her remains.
Officers reportedly went to Hale’s home Sunday after getting information that he was seeking help in disposing of the victim’s body. The remains have been sent to Nashville for an autopsy.
Reports say Hale and Hyder did not know each other until meeting in Manchester the day investigators believe she was killed.
Hale told investigators that after he and Hyder met, they went to his home.
They were sitting around the fire talking, and that’s when the incident occurred, according to officials.
Hale gave no reason for the killing.
He is due for a court appearance June 23 in Coffee County

Dozens of people from the Smithville Church of Christ are rolling up their sleeves and pitching in to help show their Christian love for others during the congregation’s second annual Work Camp being held this week.
“The Bible says Jesus went about doing good. We’re trying to follow his example by doing the same thing to show the community how much we care. Hopefully, all the glory will go to God and not to us,” said Shawn Jacobs, a church elder and one of the volunteers.
The church began the work camp last summer as a means of helping less fortunate residents of the county do some fix up and cleanup projects around their homes. “Many of them are economically disadvantaged and perhaps elderly and unable to do various types of work around their house that needs to be done. Things we’re doing are pressure washing houses, clearing brush, trimming hedges, and things like that. We’re building several handicapped ramps for folks who need them and need assistance in getting them built. We’re going to build a porch for one family. We’re doing some roof repair and a little bit of automotive repair, just various things like that,” said Jacobs.
Last year’s work camp proved to be quite productive and this year looks to be equally as rewarding. ” It’s been a tremendous success. Last year we had all we could do and this year it looks like it’s going to be the same,” Jacobs said. “We’re doing this with the help of our congregation and especially our youth group. The Gregg Avenue Church of Christ in Florence, South Carolina has a group that has come up to help us. We used to go down and help them do Vacation Bible Schools when they were a smaller church. They have become more established now so they are helping us. We also have a contractor in from Lafayette who came last year for our first work camp, who is very skilled and very accomplished. He serves as an advisor for some of the more technical jobs. Some members of our church have taken their vacations this week just to help out with work camp. Others have taken sick days and holidays. We also have church members who aren’t able to get out and actually do the physical labor. A lot of them are cooking meals for us. We all meet at church at noon for a meal and then go back to work,” he said.
“We’re not trying to draw attention to ourselves but to draw attention to Christianity and hopefully show the good influence Christianity can have in this community. There is a saying that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. We’re trying to show people we care. We’re doing this for free for these folks. We just try to lend a hand in any way we can,” Jacobs concluded.