The May 4th DeKalb County Democratic Primary will feature three contested races for county wide public offices, county clerk, county mayor, and register of deeds, and three contested races for the county commission in the third, fourth, and fifth districts. All other candidates will be unopposed.
Today (Thursday) at noon was the qualifying deadline for Democrats running in May and for Republicans and Independents running in the August 5th DeKalb County General Election.
County Clerk Mike Clayborn will be seeking his third term. His opponents in the Democratic Primary are Glynn Merriman and Chris Smithson. The winner will be unopposed in August.
County Mayor Mike Foster will also be seeking his third term, facing a challenge from Robert (Bob) Snyder in the Democratic Primary. The winner will be unopposed in August
Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen, seeking his seventh term, will face Clarence Trapp in the Democratic Primary. The winner will be unopposed in August.
Road Supervisor candidate Jimmy Sprague will be unopposed in the Democratic Primary but he will take on the Republican incumbent Kenny Edge in the August General election. Edge will be seeking his sixth term.
Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack, seeking her third term, will be unopposed in the Democratic Primary and the August General Election.
There will be no democratic candidates for Sheriff and Trustee this year. Both Republican Sheriff Patrick Ray and Republican Trustee Sean Driver, running for their second terms, will be unopposed in August.
Circuit Court Judge Amy Hollars will be unopposed in both May and August in her bid for election to finish her father, Judge John Turnbull’s unexpired term. Hollars was appointed by Governor Bredesen in October, 2008 after her father submitted a notice of physical disability. Judge Turnbull, who held the position since 1989, officially left the bench on June 15th, 2009. He was last elected in 2006 and his term expires in 2014.
District Attorney General Randy York will also be unopposed in both May and August as he seeks election to fill the unexpired term of Bill Gibson, who resigned in July, 2008. York was appointed by Governor Phil Bredesen in September, 2008 to fill the vacancy until the election. Gibson’s term expires in 2014.
The three contested races for the county commission in the May Democratic Primary are in the third, fourth, and fifth districts.
In the third district, Democratic Incumbent Jerry Scott, seeking a fifth term, is up for re-election. Other democrats in the race are Roy Merriman, who served on the commission for one term from 2002 to 2006, and Bradley Hendrix. Two can be nominated. The winners will be unopposed in August.
In the fourth district, Democratic Incumbent Wayne Cantrell will be seeking re-election to a fifth term. Other democratic candidates are Ronald H. Rogers, David L. McDowell, and Jesse Baker. Mr. Baker served on the commission from 2002 to 2006. Two can be nominated. The winners will be unopposed in August.
In the fifth district, Democratic Incumbent John D. Green is seeking re-election to a third term. Other democrats running are Johnny Ringo Colwell, Randy Braswell, and Bobby R. Taylor. Two can be nominated. The winners will face opposition from Republican Jerry Adcock and Independent Lloyd Emmons in the August General Election. Two will be elected in August.
In the seventh district, Democratic Incumbent Larry Summers is running for re-election. Jimmy W. Poss is also a democratic candidate. Two can be nominated. Summers served three terms on the commission from 1978 to 1990 and another three terms since 1998. Poss served on the commission for three terms from 1994 to 2006. They will face opposition from Independent Richard (Dick) Kinsey in the August General Election. Two will be elected in August.
First District Democratic Incumbent Elmer Ellis, Jr. will be unopposed in May. Then in August, both he and Republican Incumbent Mason Carter will be unopposed for re-election, since two can be elected. Both Ellis and Carter are seeking their second terms.
Second District Democratic Incumbent Jack E. Barton, III, seeking a second term, will be unopposed in May. In August, both he and Republican Incumbent Bobby Joines will be unopposed for re-election, since two can be elected. Joines is running for his third term.
In the Sixth District, Democratic Incumbents Jeff Barnes and Marshall Ferrell will be unopposed in both the May Primary and the August General Election. Both Barnes and Ferrell are seeking their third terms on the commission.
Administrator of elections Dennis Stanley reminds all candidates they must file a campaign treasurer form or a campaign financial exemption with the local election commission office as soon as possible. This includes candidates in the upcoming Democratic Primary and Republican and Independent candidates running in the August general election.

The DeKalb County High School Basketball teams made their debut in the District 8-AA Tournament Thursday night at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville.
The fifth seeded Lady Tigers defeated the fourth seeded York Institute Lady Dragons 73 to 68 but the fourth seeded Tigers lost to the fifth seeded Cannon County Lions 73 to 63.
Meanwhile, DeKalb County’s Seth Willoughby was named the “Most Improved Player” among boys players in the district and he earned a spot on the First Team All District. Payne Denman was named to the Second Team All District; Sonni Young made the Third Team All District, the All Freshman Team, and the All Defensive Team. Destry Wiggins and Hunter Poteete received Honorable Mention.
For the girls, Cynthia Woodward was named to the All-District Second Team. Martha Webb and Kristina Stephens received Honorable Mention and Alex Meadows made the All-Defensive Team.
McKenzie Sells and T.J. Smith both of Livingston Academy were named Most Valuable Players in the district. Smith was also named Defensive Player of the Year. Alyson Roberts of Upperman was the girls’ Defensive Player of the Year.
Richard Melton of Livingston Academy for the boys and Michael Dodgen of Cannon County for the girls were named District Coaches of the Year
On opening night of the District Tournament Wednesday, the third seeded Upperman Lady Bees eliminated the sixth seeded Smith County Lady Owls 46 to 28 and the third seeded York Institute Dragons got by the sixth seeded Smith County Owls 56 to 50 in overtime.
The Cannon County Lionettes, the top seed in the tournament, drew a bye and will play the DeKalb County in the semi-finals on Friday night, February 19th at 7:00 p.m. while the second seeded Livingston Academy Lady Wildcats, who also drew a bye, will meet Upperman in the semi-finals on Friday at 4:00 p.m. The girls consolation game will be played Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and the championship game will be Monday, February 22nd at 6:00 p.m.
In the boys bracket, the top seeded Livingston Academy Wildcats, who drew a bye, will meet Cannon County in the semi-finals on Friday, February 19th at 8:30 p.m. while the second seeded Upperman Bees, who also drew a bye, will take on York Institute in the semi-finals on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
The boys consolation game will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and the Championship game will be on Monday, February 22nd at 7:30 p.m.
All District Selections for Girls are as follows:
Most Valuable Player
McKenzie Sells- Livingston Academy
Coach of Year- Michael Dodgen- Cannon County
Most Improved Player- Taylor King- Cannon County
Freshman of the Year- Ashley Wright- York Institute
Defensive Player of Year- Alyson Roberts- Upperman
First Team All District
Kayla Biles- Upperman
Alyson Roberts- Upperman
Emily Sissom- Cannon County
Karissa Dyer- Upperman
Rachel Brown-York Institute
Second Team
Taylor King-Cannon County
Lauren Ruehlen- Cannon County
Shelby Taylor- Livingston Academy
Cynthia Woodward-DeKalb County
Ashley Wright- York Institute
Third Team
Mallory MaHaney- Livingston Academy
Caroline Owen- Smith County
Ashley Campbell- Cannon County
Samantha Maya- Livingston Academy
Kelly Jones- York Institute
Elizabeth Carter-Upperman
Freshman Team
Abby Jakes- Cannon County
Sydney Staggs- Livingston Academy
Katherine Carter- Upperman
Katelyn Butler- York Institute
All Defensive Team-
Karissa Dyer-Upperman
Taylor King-Cannon County
Rachel Brown-York Institute
Mallory MaHaney of Livingston Academy
Alex Meadows- DeKalb County
Honorable Mention
Erica Melton-Cannon County
Lindsey Reed-Cannon County
Martha Webb-DeKalb County
Kristina Stephens-DeKalb County
Abby Miller-Livington Academy
Alyssa Thompson- Livington Academy
Amber Welch- Livington Academy
Taylor Randolph-Upperman
All District Selections for Boys are as follows:
Most Valuable Player
T.J. Smith- Livingston Academy
Coach of Year- Richard Melton- Livingston Academy
Most Improved Player- Seth Willoughby-DeKalb County
Freshman of the Year- Mason Ramsey-Livingston Academy
Defensive Player of Year- T.J. Smith-Livingston Academy
First Team All District
Justin Davenport-Cannon County
Tyrel Asberry-York Institute
Mitchell Simmons-Upperman
Seth Willoughby-DeKalb County
Mason Ramsey-Livingston Academy
Second Team
Chris Nash-Upperman
Anthony Williams-York Institute
Cody Stephens-York Institute
Brad Jackson-Livingston Academy
Payne Denman-DeKalb County
Third Team
Kailen Melton-Livingston Academy
Ryan Allen-Smith County
Sonni Young-DeKalb County
Colin Jones-Cannon County
Jared Nave-Cannon County
Freshman Team
Sonni Young-DeKalb County
Kailen Melton-Livingston Academy
Brock McCoin-Livingston Academy
Beau Carr-Smith County
Jordan Craighead-Smith County
All Defensive Team
Tyrel Asberry-York Institute
Mitchell Simmons-Upperman
Sonni Young-DeKalb County
Jared Nave-Cannon County
Cody Ruehlen-Cannon County
Honorable Mention
Cody Ruehlen-Cannon County
Jake Huitt-Livingston Academy
Will Wilson-York Institute
Lance Maynard-York Institute
Daniel Taylor-York Institute
Destry Wiggins-DeKalb County
Hunter Poteete-DeKalb County

A tractor trailer rig overturned Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 56 north and Allen’s Ferry Road near Village Market.
Central dispatch received the call at 3:52 p.m.
Smithville Police say Jason Underwood of McMinnville, hauling a load of drive shafts for Foutch Industries, was traveling south on Highway 56 when he lost control, went off the road, over an embankment, and overturned, coming to rest on it’s side. Underwood told police that he lost control on a patch of ice.
Underwood was not believed to have been seriously hurt but police say he was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital for treatment.
Members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department, the Smithville Police Department, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and tow trucks were on the scene for several hours and Allen’s Ferry Road near the convenience store was blocked to traffic for a period of time until the wreck was cleared up.

The winners of the annual Leadership DeKalb Alumni awards were honored Tuesday night during the Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet at the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church.
Laura Stone received the Community Leader of the Year Award and Judy Sandlin was presented the Legacy Award.
The Community Leader of the Year award goes to someone who has made a significant and positive impact on the county, specifically during 2009 and in a capacity beyond commitment to his or her profession. Stone was recognized for her work in founding the non-profit DeKalb County Angel Tree Incorporated which provides gifts for hundreds of disadvantaged children in DeKalb County. Stone also serves as board member for Habitat for Humanity and is a Class of 2005 Leadership DeKalb graduate. She has been an active committee member of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life since 2005 and is an active volunteer for many other worthwhile causes and events including the Edgar Evins State Park History Hayride, the Nashville Rescue Mission and the Hope Center, serving meals to indigents and the homeless of Nashville.
Patricia Zornow was also nominated for the award.
The Legacy Award goes to the person who has made a significant and positive impact on DeKalb County over a considerable period of time and in multiple or lasting ways. Sandlin was honored for the countless dinners she has prepared and served to people associated with the DeKalb County Fair, Alexandria Senior Center, and Leadership DeKalb, among others. Sandlin was also noted for her work with the DeKalb County Fair Board, the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, the Alexandria Lions Club, and the Senior Center. Her recipes are legendary but her legacy is her selfless nature in demonstrating true leadership and hard work.
The other nominee for the award was Sue N. Puckett-Jernigan.
The guest speaker was Watson Brown, head football coach of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles.
Click here for Coach Watson Brown’s entire remarks
The retiring members of the Chamber board are Gina Denman of Denny Lamp; Elmer Ellis, Jr. first district county commissioner; Kelly Garrett of Swallows-Garrett Insurance Agency; Charlie Parker of Smithville Builders Supply; and Chris Griffith of DeKalb Farm Bureau.
New members are Tom Miller of Liberty State Bank; Keith Blair, Attorney-at-Law, George Oliver of the Smithville Rotary Club; Jason Ray, Leadership Alumni from the Class of 2009; Mike Williams of the DeKalb County Fair Board and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department; Janna Gillard of the DeKalb County Guide; and Angie Meadows of the Smithville Review.
Other members of the Chamber Board are Robin Driver of Center Hill Realty; Tim Hintz of Off the Beaten Path; Valerie Laprad of the Middle Tennessee Times; Judy Sandlin of the DeKalb County Fair Board; Rob Willingham of Middle Tennessee Natural Gas; Les Greer of DTC Communications; Michelle Burklow of the DeKalb County Board of Education; and Kathie McGlamery of the Appalachian Center for Crafts.
The 2010 officers are President Tim Hintz, Vice President Les Greer, Secretary Valerie Laprad, Treasurer Kathie McGlamery, and Past President Robin Driver.

A Smithville woman was arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department in a drug bust on Friday, February 12th.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 29 year old Nieka (Nikki) Danielle Patton of 409 Hayes Street in Smithville was arrested after complaints of illegal drug activity at her home. Sheriff Ray says when officers entered the home, they detected an odor of marijuana. After obtaining consent to search, authorities found drugs such as percocets, Xanaxs, marijuana, adderall, methadone, and methamphetamine in Patton’s bedroom along with drug paraphernalia such as razors, gravity and digital scales, a pill grinder and rolling papers. While searching an outbuilding, detectives also found a methamphetamine lab, a two liter bottle of a three layer liquid, a gallon of muratic acid, jars of unknown liquids, propane tanks with burners, turkey baster, coffee filters, Pyrex dishes, tubing, funnel, rubber gloves and a duffle bag containing butane fuel, lighter fuel, and a leatherman tool. Patton also had in her bedroom more components of the lab including 14 lithium batteries, coffee filters, and 168 cold tablets that contained pseudoephedrine.
Patton was charged with simple possession of a schedule II drug (Percocet), simple possession of a schedule IV drug (Xanax), simple possession of a schedule II drug (methadone), simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana), simple possession of schedule II drug (adderall), simple possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, and manufacture of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine). Patton’s total bond was set at $32,000 and she will appear in court on March 4th. The Sheriff’s Department also contacted the Department of Children Services after finding in the home Patton’s three children, ages are 13, 10 and an infant. The Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force’s response truck and an Environmental Cleanup Service were summoned to assist detective’s at the scene.
25 year old Ginger Faye Trapp of Circle Dowelltown is charged with driving on a revoked license Sheriff Ray says on Monday, February 8th a deputy spotted Trapp turning from the roadway into the parking lot of a business on Highway 70 West. The officer had prior knowledge that Trapp’s driver’s license was revoked . The license had been revoked due to a driving under the influence conviction. Bond for Trapp was set at $1,000 and she will appear in court on March 4th. Trapp’s vehicle, a 2002 Ford Taurus, was also seized.
33 year old Norma Jean Henry Layne of Mayberry Street Sparta was arrested on Tuesday, February 9th and charged with simple possession of a schedule IV drug (Xanax). She is also wanted in Marion County, Tennessee on other charges. Sheriff Ray says a deputy, while on patrol, stopped Layne, who was driving a vehicle on Highway 70 East. She had committed a traffic violation. The officer ran a background check on Layne for any outstanding warrants and found that she was wanted in Marion County on charges of Reckless Endangerment, failure to yield to blue lights, improper passing, no insurance, and speeding. During a pat down search, Layne was found to have a pill believed to be Xanax in her jacket pocket.Her bond was set at $1,000 and she will appear in court on February 18th..
Deputies went to a residence on Luttrell Avenue, Smithville on Sunday, February 14th looking for a female who is charged in state warrants. As they walked to the door, the officers saw the woman in the home but when they knocked on the door, she went into the back of the residence. 29 year old Christopher Garner Daniels came to the door. When deputies asked if the woman they were looking for was there, he replied that he did not know her. The officers confronted Daniels again telling him they had seen her in the home. Again, Daniels replied that he did not know the woman. Officers made entry into the home and found the woman hiding in a closet. As the deputies were making the arrest, Daniels spoke up saying “Oh, you mean her.” The officers discovered that the woman is Daniels’ sister. Daniels was charged with filing a false report and bond for him was set at $5,000. He will appear in court on February 25th.
48 year old Michael Hutfles of Rex Lake Drive Akron, Ohio was arrested Sunday, February 14th for simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana) after a deputy stopped to check a vehicle which was setting at the overlook on Highway 56 North. The officer took the Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 around Hutfles’ vehicle and the dog alerted on it. The deputy found a burnt marijuana cigarette and a small bag of marijuana in the automobile. Hutfles admitted that the marijuana belonged to him. Bond for Hutfles was set at $1,000 and he will appear in court on April 15th.
Deputies were summoned to Highway 70 East around Sligo Bridge to work an automobile accident on Sunday, February 14th. After an investigation, 42 year old Gregory Allen Mayo was charged with filing a false report. Mayo told the officers that it was not he but his wife who was the driver. After interviewing Mayo’s wife and witnesses at the scene, it was determined that Mayo was the driver. Bond for Mayo was set at $5,000 and he will appear in court on February 18th.
Also on Sunday, February 14th, deputies were called to Students Home Road, Smithville on a complaint of a suspicious person. After arriving, they spotted 31 year old Shawn Bradley Patton of Oak Place Drive Smithville. Patton was talking out of his head, jumping around everywhere, and he appeared to be under the influence. Patton was placed under arrest after he started trying to climb on the back of the patrol car. Patton was charged with public intoxication and his bond was set at $1,000. He will appear in court on February 25th.