While military deployments and hospital stays may keep many of our nation’s heroes away from their families this holiday season, the American Red Cross is collecting and distributing cards that send words of encouragement, gratitude and cheer.
Between October 1 and December 7, Americans can give something that means something by sending a card of thanks and support to members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
“It just takes a moment to sign a card to share your appreciation for the sacrifices members of the military community make,” said Kathy Nesmith, Chapter Executive, Warren County Chapter which includes DeKalb County. “You say thanks, we’ll do the rest.”
The Red Cross is inviting the public to send messages of thanks and holiday cheer until December 7 by mailing them to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
Pitney Bowes Inc. receives cards at the special Holiday Mail post office box, and screens them for hazardous materials. Pitney Bowes screens, packages and ships the cards at no charge, and contributes thousands of volunteer hours at sites around the country.
Red Cross volunteers across the United States and on military installations overseas then sort and deliver the cards throughout the holiday season. The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes have received and distributed more than 4.7 million cards for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and their families since the program began in 2006.
Local card signing dates to be announced.
To ensure that cards are delivered in time for the holidays, they must be postmarked no later than December 7. Individuals are asked to refrain from sending “care packages,” monetary donations, or using glitter or any other kinds of inserts with the cards. More information and card requirements are at redcross.org/holidaymail.
The public can connect with fellow card senders through Facebook at facebook.com/redcross and Twitter.com/redcross using the hashtag #holidaymail.
The Red Cross relies on the support of the American people to carry out its mission of service to the 2 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces, 24 million veterans and their families. During this holiday season, people also can support all Red Cross services by making a financial donation at redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS. Individuals can also give the gift of life by making an appointment to give blood at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS.

Voting and paying tribute to our nation’s active and retired armed services personnel are two of the most patriotic acts citizens can perform. A new program launched by the Secretary of State’s Office this week allows people to tie the two together.
Secretary of State Tre Hargett announced the “Tennessee Honor Vote” program, which will provide citizens with an opportunity to dedicate their votes in the upcoming election to the servicemen and servicewomen of their choice.
A new page has been developed on the Secretary of State’s web site where people may sign up and dedicate a personal message to one or more active or retired members of the armed forces.
Once the messages have been reviewed, they will be posted online. Each participant in the program will receive an “Honor Vote” button and a letter of appreciation from Secretary Hargett.
The program will begin with dedications for the upcoming Nov. 6 election, but it will continue for future elections as well.
“Members of our armed services fight and sometimes make the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms,” Secretary Hargett said. “Their service highlights how important it is for us to exercise our constitutional right to vote. I encourage Tennesseans to participate in this program, which is absolutely free of charge. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and prepare a message. And those messages to our active military and veterans may mean more to them than we’ll ever realize.”
“More than 27,000 members of the Tennessee National Guard have deployed since 9/11, making Tennessee the fourth largest National Guard state for deployments,” Major General Max Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, said. “Many of these soldiers and airmen have seen firsthand in Iraq and Afghanistan just how important the right to cast your vote really is. This is a right we too often take for granted. Nothing means more to a service member than to be appreciated for their selfless service. The Tennessee Honor Vote program is just another way to show your support for the men and women defending the freedoms that we all enjoy.”
“It is extremely important to remember and recognize those who have courageously served our state and country, for without their selfless service, we may not be able to hold elections with the democratic right to vote,” Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder said. “This is an innovative and unique way to reinforce the importance of voting as well as reminding our service members and veterans that we value and support their service and sacrifice.”
To participate in the program, go to: www.GoVoteTN.com/honor or call toll-free 1-877-850-4959.

The county commission last week authorized County Mayor Mike Foster to enter into discussions with a professional engineering company in Sparta which will provide some options for the county to consider for future landfill needs.
“I’ve met with the Professional Engineering Company out of Sparta and talked to them about a transfer station for our garbage rather than building another Class I cell,” said Foster. “They are getting us some numbers together so we can talk about the possibility of building another Class I and Class III/IV cell together; or doing a transfer station and a Class III/IV cell; or doing a transfer station and no Class III/IV cell. The Class III/IV cell would be construction material only. No garbage. And it (Class III/IV cell) doesn’t have to be lined with a real expensive liner. We would still have to line it with clay but the leachate would not have to be transported. It could run off like any other storm water. That would be one option. The other option would be to transfer everything to another county and have it hauled away. The third option would be to do just like we’ve been doing. So maybe by this month (October) we can begin looking at a possible site or two. This is not something that is going to happen right away but we need a tentative agreement to proceed with talks with Professional Engineering about these scenarios,” said Foster.
The issue is whether the county should develop a new Class I landfill once the existing site is full within the next two or three years or to establish a solid waste transfer station and maintain a class III/IV cell that doesn’t require so many regulations and which would be mainly for construction materials.
Last fall, County Mayor Foster and several local county commissioners visited Overton County’s Solid Waste Transfer Station. (Shown in picture above).
Under a transfer station operation, household garbage would continue to be collected at local convenience centers across the county, then loaded onto trucks and brought to the transfer station, where the garbage would be separated from recyclables and then loaded onto semi trucks and transferred to a landfill site in another county. DeKalb would contract for the garbage to be hauled out of county and for the disposal of it at a certain price per ton. The recyclables would be baled and sold.
According to Foster, DeKalb County would have fewer environmental worries about solid waste, if it had its own transfer station or contracted with some entity or company to provide the service. “Right now (at the landfill) we have to put a 40 mil plastic liner over the entire mound of dirt when you’re through as well as a 60 mil liner underneath it and then you have to put dirt on top of all that. The costs have just gone through the roof in the last three or four years so we’re going to look at the option of doing that (transfer station). We may still want to run a class III/IV cell that doesn’t require that (so many regulations) which would be mainly for construction materials and things like that and not household garbage,” said Foster
“If we do that (develop a transfer station) we don’t have the expense of building a new (Class I landfill) cell which is so expensive because now you have to put a rubber liner under and over it. These environmental issues are overpowering and you have a lot of liability there,” In addition, environmental regulations require the county to monitor old landfill sites for several years after they have been closed.
Should the county develop a transfer station, Foster said it would be situated on about a four acre site somewhere in the county. “Ideally it would be better if it were centrally located but we would have room at the (existing) landfill. We would also probably want to keep a Class III/IV cell for construction materials. We’ve got two or three years to make this decision,” said Foster.
Convenience sites would still be required throughout the county and residents could continue to bring their household garbage there or directly to the transfer station.

Its been a full year since a Nashville surgeon went missing while kayaking on Center Hill Lake.
The disappearance of 55 year old Dr. William Coltharp, who was last seen on October 2, 2011 is still considered a “missing person” case and no foul play is suspected at this time, according to Sheriff Patrick Ray.
An intensive search for Dr. Coltharp continued for several weeks after he went missing.
Meanwhile, the family of Dr. Coltharp is offering a reward of $10,000 for the recovery of any body-remains, clothing, and or personal effects of Dr. Coltharp who is believed to be deceased. He was last seen wearing a Khaki-colored cotton pull over with zipper and leather elbows, jeans, and sandals. Any items found should be taken to the sheriff’s department. The reward is only payable from the death proceeds of insurance policies insuring Dr. Coltharp’s life which are payable to Dr. Coltharp’s wife and or children.
In the days after his disappearance, Sheriff Ray said that Dr. Coltharp left his residence in Nashville at approximately 4:00 p.m. Sunday, October 2, 2011 enroute to Center Hill Lake to kayak.”
“Dr. Coltharp went to Hurricane boat ramp that evening. There were two independent witnesses who confirmed that Dr. Coltharp arrived at the Hurricane boat ramp by himself at approximately 6:00 p.m. We also confirmed by other sources such as cell towers where he had used his cell phone that Dr. Coltharp was in this area. A witness stated that he had spoken to Dr. Coltharp. The doctor was last seen on Center Hill Lake on the west side of Hurricane bridge”.
“Sometime after midnight on Monday, October 3, 2011 Dr. Coltharp’s wife left Nashville enroute to Center Hill Lake. She did not know the exact location that Dr. Coltharp had launched his kayak but was somewhat familiar with that area of Floating Mill and the Hurricane Marina. While enroute to DeKalb County, she contacted law enforcement about her husband being missing. She was directed to the dispatch center for the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. She talked with a TWRA officer and eventually found her husband’s vehicle, a 1999 White Chevy Suburban, in the parking lot of Hurricane boat ramp. DeKalb Central Dispatch was notified at 1:22 a.m. by TWRA about the missing man. Deputies from the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department arrived on the scene at 1:44 a.m. Monday morning, October 3, 2011. Neither Dr. Coltharp nor his kayak were anywhere to be found,” said Sheriff Ray.
“At approximately 2:30 a.m. a search was started for Dr. Coltharp. At approximately 5:00 a.m., an upside down kayak, which contained a life jacket, was found which is believed to be Dr. Coltharp’s kayak. A paddle was found further down stream later that day. An Apple MacBook laptop computer was also found in the kayak’s storage box. The computer was soaked in water but was retrieved from the kayak and sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Lab to see if any information could be retrieved from it. The kayak was found approximately one mile from the Hurricane boat ramp”.
“Later that same morning (Monday, October 3, 2011), at approximately 9:40 a.m., a worker, contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was working at the Hurricane boat ramp and found a handgun case as he was changing out garbage bags. There was no handgun inside the case. Through an investigation, the handgun case was found to belong to Dr. Coltharp.”
“On Friday evening, October 7, 2011 authorities confirmed through a witness that Dr. Coltharp arrived at the lake right before dark (Sunday, October 2, 2011) and was seen loading a cylinder concrete block onto the kayak with him. He then paddled in the direction where the kayak was later found”.
“The only thing we have in our investigation are facts and these are the facts of the case. There is no evidence that points towards foul play. Its only a missing person report at this time and it will continue to be until we find the body or find him,” said Sheriff Ray.
Although Coltharp’s kayak, life jacket, a pair of kayak gloves, computer and gun case were recovered, authorities never found the keys to Dr. Coltharp’s SUV or his cell phone. As for the gun case, Sheriff Ray said authorities confirmed that Dr. Coltharp owned a handgun and the serial numbers matched those on the gun case.
TWRA Officer Nick Luper said the search for Dr. Coltharp was in a general area about a mile downstream of the Hurricane boat ramp, in about sixty feet of water. “Part of our search involved dragging the bottom of the lake. We did a lot of that in the beginning stages. The Nashville Office of Emergency Management later brought in a towfish which is a type of sonar. Anytime we came across an image of interest to us, we sent down a diver to confirm that,” he said.
The DeKalb County Rescue Squad received assistance in the search for Dr. Coltharp from Coffee, Cannon, Jackson, Warren, and White Counties, the City of Smyrna, the United Auto Workers of Nashville, members of the Bloodhound Search and Rescue Group, the Nashville Office of Emergency Management, the Corps of Engineers, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, among others.

The Utility Management Review Board (UMRB) will meet Thursday to discuss a petition challenging the DeKalb Utility District water rate increases, quality of service, and the proposed water treatment plant. The meeting begins at 10:00 a.m. at Legislative Plaza in Nashville. The UMRB reports to the Tennessee State Comptroller, and they have added this issue to their monthly agenda.
Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss and Secretary-Treasurer Hunter Hendrixson, who both plan to attend, informed the aldermen of the meeting Monday night and invited anyone who wants to attend to go along.
Although the issue is on the UMRB’s agenda, it could be continued or delayed until next month or beyond. Two of the lawyers Vester Parsley and Bill Purcell, representing the city in the matter cannot attend. The DUD wants to proceed hoping for a quick resolution.
In the meantime, the DUD has presented the city a proposed 30 year water contract for review. The DUD’s current ten year contract with the city ends in early 2014. The DUD currently buys water from the city at $2.00 per thousand gallons and the rate increases by five cents per thousand gallons each year.
“They have presented a 30 year contract for us to review,” said Secretary-Treasurer Hunter Hendrixson. “I’d like to sit down, whether it be informal or whatever to discuss what we want, what they want and if we can resolve it in a 30 year contract or whatever, I’d like to go that route. They (DUD) have requested some more public records which I will have for them this week. We’re just conversing right now back and forth by certified mail,” he said.
Alderman Tim Stribling said he would like to see a study done on the city’s cost of producing a gallon of water. “One of those things they’ve (DUD) proposed is a cost study. Because we don’t know, with the new (city) plant, what it cost to make a gallon of water and what to sell it for,” said Stribling.
“Nobody can tell me what it cost to make a gallon of water. We’ve updated the plant and spent a lot of money. We’ve got a lot of factors involved. Depreciation and all sorts of things. We need to know for our purpose,” he said.
“Regardless of what happens with DUD, even if they don’t come along with us, we still need to do a cost study for our purposes so we know what it cost to make a gallon of water so we know what to charge,” added Stribling.
In the (proposed) contract, they (DUD) are willing to go in halvers with it (cost study). We do need to know and I don’t blame them for wanting to know,” said Hendrixson
The proposed contract states that “The initial rate for water furnished by the seller (city) to the purchaser (DUD) shall be subject to and in accordance with a Cost of Service Study. The parties shall have prepared and jointly fund a Cost of Service Study that shall serve as the basis for seller’s allocated revenue requirement on a per thousand gallons of water basis to the purchaser.” “The COSS shall adhere to industry accepted Cost of Service methodologies such as the latest edition of the American Water Works Association’s principals of water rates, fees, and charges M1 Manual of Water Supply Practices or other methodologies mutually agreed upon by the parties. During the term of this agreement, seller agrees to continue to treat purchaser as a separate customer classification for water rate setting purposes in any COSS performed.”
“The parties shall agree on any entity to perform the COSS as set forth above, so as to be unbiased as reasonably possible. Commencing on the first anniversary of the affective date of this agreement and thereafter on each anniversary of the affective date, the rate for water furnished by the seller to purchaser per the COSS shall be adjusted by a percentage equal to the percentage of the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers, not seasonally adjusted, as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the preceding twelve month period.”
“I think everybody is in agreement that we can’t sell water to somebody else at a loss,” said Alderman Shawn Jacobs.
“If we’re going to enter into a contract, we don’t want to overcharge. We need to work together,” said Alderman Danny Washer..
“If it doesn’t cost as much as what we think it does, we could roll it back,” added Mayor Poss. “I’ve told them (DUD), I’m open to sitting down and talking to them,” he said.

A correction as to what laws apply to those supporting or opposing an upcoming liquor referendum has been issued by the DeKalb County Election Commission office.
Originally it was announced that communications such as signs, broadcast and print advertisements must include a disclaimer of who paid for the communication.
“We have since found out that is in error,” said Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections. “Based on a Supreme Court ruling, individuals and organizations are exempt from the ‘paid for’ law that applies to political candidates. We’re sorry for any confusion this may have caused.”
However, there is a different election law that does apply to certain proponents and opponents of questions on the ballot. Stanley said if two or more persons join forces to support or oppose or an entity such as a church takes a position on a referendum they are subject to the state’s campaign finance laws.
Specifically “reports of appointment of treasurers and disclosure of contributions and expenditures are required of : (1) a group of two or more individuals making expenditures to support or oppose any state or local measure in a referendum, (2) a corporation or any other organization making expenditures to support or oppose any state or local referendum, (3) any committee, club, association or group of persons receiving contributions or making expenditures totaling more than $250 in a calendar year to support or oppose any state or local measure in a referendum.”
Those who fail to follow this law could be subject to civil penalties.
“The election commission obviously is not taking a position on the referendum, but just informing those who are that certain state laws may apply to their activities,” Stanley said.
Questions regarding either the advertising disclosure law or campaign finance disclosure law can be directed to the local election office at 597-4146.

An intoxicated driver, allegedly looking for a place to pull over to shoot up some dilaudid, chose
a spot where more than a dozen law enforcement officers had gathered for in-service training.
22 year old Dustin Allen Pedigo of King Ridge Road, Dowelltown is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and unlawful possession of a schedule II drug for resale (dilaudid). He was also issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is $6,500 and he will be in court on October 4.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Pedigo pulled into the driveway of the county fire department’s main station on King Ridge Road last Wednesday, September 26 where ten or twelve patrol cars were parked. The officers were there for an in-service training. A few officers, who were outside the building at the time, saw Pedigo pull up and then back up several times in his automobile. At one point, Pedigo’s vehicle almost hit the key pad for the gate. Sheriff Ray said he believes Pedigo was looking for a place to stop and “shoot up some dope (dilaudid)”.
A deputy approached Pedigo and found that his speech was slurred. Pedigo got out of the vehicle and the officer saw him holding a cut straw and a hypodermic needle. Pedigo submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to a blood alcohol/drug test at the hospital. Pedigo admitted to drinking beer, according to Sheriff Ray. While at the hospital, Pedigo went to use the restroom and there a small clear package fell onto the floor. Inside the package were four small yellow pills believed to be dilaudid.
37 year old James Paul Wright and 29 year old Jessica Louise Verbeke both of Lebanon are each charged with theft of property over $500. Bond for each is $4,500 and they will be in court October 11. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, September 27, Wright and Verbeke allegedly stole a trailer and a weedeater, valued at over $600, from a residence on Dry Creek Road. Wright and Verbeke have allegedly admitted to taking these items, according to Sheriff Ray.
61 year old Mark E. Soales of Davis Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. He was also cited for violation of the implied consent law, violation of the registration law, violation of the financial responsibility, no drivers license, and for having a headlight out. His bond is $2,000 and he will be in court on November 1.
Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, September 27 a deputy responded to a BE ON THE LOOKOUT (BOLO) for a possible drunk driver on Highway 56 south. The officer spotted the vehicle and got behind it. According to the deputy, the automobile, driven by Soales, crossed the center line of the highway several times. The officer activated his blue lights signaling for the driver to stop. Soales stopped in a lane of travel. The deputy found that Soales had a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and his speech was slurred. Soales admitted to being drunk and told the officer to take him on to jail. Soales, who was very uncooperative with the officer, refused to submit to any field sobriety tasks or a blood alcohol test.
24 year old Lindsey Paulette Davenport of Woodbury Highway, Liberty is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $500. Her bond is $11,000 and she will be in court October 4. She was arrested on Friday, September 28
Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, September 12, Davenport allegedly broke into a residence on Cecil Hale Road. Entry was made by prying open the front door. Davenport allegedly stole nose trimmers, a Radio Shack Weather Alert Radio, two fishing poles, a wind up grandfather clock, and a red tool box with miscellaneous tools with a total estimated value of $817.
The case was investigated by a criminal investigator of the sheriff’s department.
24 year old Crispin Gonzalez Perez of Talley Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. He was also issued a citation for no drivers license, violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance), violation of the implied consent law, and for driving on the wrong side of the road. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court October 4.
According to Sheriff Ray, on Saturday, September 29 a deputy saw a small pickup truck traveling on the wrong side of the road on Lee Braswell Road. The officer stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver, Perez, who had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Perez told the officer that he had drank six beers. Perez submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He was very unsteady on his feet. Perez refused to submit to a blood alcohol test.
53 year old Annette Melvin of Sparta Highway, Sparta is charged with aggravated assault. Her bond is $3,500 and she will be in court October 4.
Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, September 29, Melvin allegedly assaulted a man in her room at Ragland Bottom Motel. The responding officer determined that Melvin was the primary aggressor. The victim had been hit in the back of the head with a glass beer bottle, causing a cut. The victim also had a cut to his right hand. Melvin and the man had gotten into an argument and when he tried to take the bottle away from her, she hit him with it. DeKalb EMS was called to the scene.
34 year old James Frederick Summers of Toad Road, Dowelltown is cited for simple possession of a schedule IV controlled substance (diazepam), simple possession of a schedule III drug (hydrocodone), and simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana). He will be in court October 25.
Sheriff Ray said that an officer found Summers in possession of these drugs in his vehicle, including four diazepam pills, two hydrocodone pills, and some marijuana.