A republican has announced plans to run for DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk in 2018
Susan Martin of Alexandria told WJLE Saturday that she intends to seek the GOP nomination for the office in the August 2018 DeKalb County General Election.
The DeKalb County Republican Party selects its nominees for the general election by caucus.
Martin, a court reporter, is a lifelong resident of DeKalb County. She and her husband Shane Martin are the parents of three children, 27 year old Hope Cripps, 20 year old Brooke Martin, and 7 year old Lance Martin.
Susan is a graduate of DeKalb County High School. She earned her court reporting degree at the Tennessee Career College in Donelson. Martin has been a court reporter for twelve years, including five years in private practice. Her husband Shane is employed by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department as an officer.
Martin and her husband attended the fall picnic Saturday at Green Brook Park, hosted by the DeKalb County Republican Party.
The election commission will begin issuing petitions for the following offices on November 17: Road Supervisor, County Mayor, Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff, Register of Deeds, County Clerk, and Trustee and for the county commission in each of the seven districts (two per district for a total of 14).
DeKalb County Democrats will be nominating candidates for county offices in a primary set for May 1, 2018.
Democratic nominees will face any Republican and or Independent challengers in the August, 2018 general election. The DeKalb County Republican Party will be choosing its nominees by caucus. The qualifying deadline for all candidates will be the same, NOON February 15, 2018.

The first republican has stepped forward to announce plans to run for DeKalb County Road Supervisor.
Reed Edge told WJLE Saturday that he intends to seek the GOP nomination in the August 2018 DeKalb County General Election.
The DeKalb County Republican Party selects its nominees by caucus.
Edge is the son of former Road Supervisor Kenny Edge and the late Janice Davis Edge. He and his wife Sonya reside in the Dry Creek community. Her parents are Shelie “Pee Wee” and Pam Aksew of the Lower Helton community. The Edges have four daughters, Rachel and Destiny Edge and Alexis and Olivia Nokes.
“I just want to continue to do the good work that my dad started. I’ve had a great teacher and I plan to follow his example of efficiency, hard work, dedication and continued service to the people of DeKalb County bringing their roads to as good a standard as possible with the money available without asking for a tax increase. We’ll make it work to help the people of the county,” said Edge.
Edge and his wife attended the fall picnic Saturday hosted by the DeKalb County Republican Party.
Meanwhile, Danny Hale of Liberty, who also attended the picnic, told WJLE that he is considering a run for Road Supervisor as a Republican but is not making any formal announcement at this time.
The election commission will begin issuing petitions for the following offices on November 17: Road Supervisor, County Mayor, Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff, Register of Deeds, County Clerk, and Trustee and for the county commission in each of the seven districts (two per district for a total of 14).
DeKalb County Democrats will be nominating candidates for county offices in a primary set for May 1, 2018.
Democratic nominees will face any Republican and or Independent challengers in the August, 2018 general election. The DeKalb County Republican Party will be choosing its nominees by caucus. The qualifying deadline for all candidates will be the same, NOON February 15, 2018.
Road Supervisor candidates must also meet the statutory deadline for filing with the Tennessee Highways Officials Certification Board.
In order to be certified, a candidate for county road supervisor must:
(1) Be a graduate of an accredited school of engineering, with at least 2 years’ experience in highway construction or maintenance; or
(2) Be licensed to practice engineering in Tennessee; or
(3) Have at least 4 years’ experience in a supervisory capacity in highway construction or maintenance; or
(4) Have a combination of education and experience equivalent to either (1) or (2).

Gubernatorial candidate Mae Beavers was among the guests at the DeKalb County Republican Party fall picnic Saturday at Green Brook Park.
All county residents were invited to come and share in fellowship and hear from Republican candidates or representatives of their campaigns.
Each of the candidates for state offices was given a chance to speak briefly.
Beavers was the only candidate for Governor to attend.
Mark Pody, candidate for State Senate, also made remarks. He is not seeking re-election to his current position of State Representative in District 46. Two GOP candidates, Clark Boyd and Menda Holmes spoke at Saturday’s picnic. Each is hoping to get the Republican nomination in the race to succeed Pody in the state house.
40th District State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver spoke to Saturday’s gathering as did her Republican opponent Chad Williams.
Steve Allbrooks, representing the Marsha Blackburn U.S. Senate campaign also made remarks.
In addition to the state candidates, local elected officials attending were Sheriff Patrick Ray, Trustee Sean Driver, Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell, and fifth district county commissioner Jerry Adcock. Tom Chandler, a party officer, announced that he plans to seek the GOP nomination to run for one of two county commission positions in the 1st district in 2018.
GOP nominees for county wide and local district offices will be selected by caucus to run in the August 2018 DeKalb County General Election.
Republican nominees for state wide and state district offices will be running in the August 2018 GOP primary. Winners will then run in the November 2018 Tennessee General Election.

The first Democratic candidate for DeKalb County Road Supervisor is making his intentions known.
Jimmy Sprague told WJLE last week that he intends to seek the Democratic nomination for the office in the May 1, 2018 primary.
Sprague is a former employee of the office but for the last several years has worked for the DeKalb County School System as the Transportation Supervisor.
He and his wife Johnna reside in Smithville and are the parents of three children, Shelby, Evan, and Jacob.
Sprague said if elected he would be a working road supervisor and would make himself available to the public to address concerns.
“I will do my best to make every effort to make the roads in DeKalb County safer,” said Sprague.
The election commission will begin issuing petitions for the following offices on November 17: Road Supervisor, County Mayor, Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff, Register of Deeds, County Clerk, and Trustee and for the county commission in each of the seven districts (two per district for a total of 14).
DeKalb County Democrats will be nominating candidates for county offices in a primary set for May 1, 2018.
Democratic nominees will face any Republican and or Independent challengers in the August, 2018 general election. The DeKalb County Republican Party will be choosing its nominees by caucus. The qualifying deadline for all candidates will be the same, NOON February 15, 2018.
Road Supervisor candidates must also meet the statutory deadline for filing with the Tennessee Highways Officials Certification Board.
In order to be certified, a candidate for county road supervisor must:
(1) Be a graduate of an accredited school of engineering, with at least 2 years’ experience in highway construction or maintenance; or
(2) Be licensed to practice engineering in Tennessee; or
(3) Have at least 4 years’ experience in a supervisory capacity in highway construction or maintenance; or
(4) Have a combination of education and experience equivalent to either (1) or (2).

A woman escaped injury but lost her double wide mobile home and three automobiles in a fire Friday afternoon which started from a lawn mower.
Central dispatch was alerted at 3:27 p.m. to send firefighters to the home of Joyce Hoff on Pages Lane in the Antioch community.
According to DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green, Hoff had just gotten on her riding lawn mower, which was parked beside a shed and when she started it up, the mower caught fire. She was not injured by the flames quickly spread to the shed and then to the home.
The fire destroyed all the woman’s belongings including three automobiles, two parked in the shed and a travel camper parked under another shed near the home.
Members of the Belk and Short Mountain Highway stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded along with tanker 1. Chief Green said members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department came at his request to provide mutual aide support. DeKalb EMS and Sheriff’s Department deputies were also on the scene.
Firefighters were called to the scene again early Saturday morning after the fire rekindled.

The DeKalb County Tigers lost 42 to 0 to the Marshall County Tigers at Lewisburg Friday night in the 1st round of the TSSAA Class 4A playoffs ending their season at 3-8.
Marshall County (8-3) advances to the 2nd round to play Springfield next Friday night, November 10.
In the game Friday night, Quarterback Bryce Wallace scored on a 4 yard run with 8:14 left in the 1st period. Caleb Estes tacked on the extra point and Marshall County led 7-0
Wallace later found Devon Wilson on a 25 yard touchdown pass play with 3:29 left in the 1st period. Estes added the extra point and Marshall County led 14-0.
Brandon Rowan caught a 10 yard touchdown pass from Wallace with 8:49 left in the 2nd period. Estes booted the extra point to give Marshall County a 21-0 lead
Wallace hooked up with Rowan again with 2:12 left before halftime on a 23 yard touchdown pass. Estes tacked on the extra point to give Marshall County a 28-0 advantage.
Billy Cheek had a pick 6 for Marshall County with 1:06 left before the half. Cheek intercepted a Tyler Cantrell pass and returned it 15 yards for a score. Estes added the extra point and the halftime score was 35-0.
The only score of the 2nd half came on a 63 yard touchdown pass from Wallace to Wilson with 1:10 left in the 3rd period. Estes booted the extra point and the DeKalb County Tigers fell 42-0

Students and teachers at Smithville Elementary School paid tribute to hometown heroes during the school’s annual Veterans Appreciation assembly program held Friday morning,
Veterans Day is Saturday, November 11
Students from pre-K to the second grade were led in singing “God Bless the USA” and other patriotic songs in honor of veterans who have served in each branch of the military. The Dailey and Vincent music video “Unsung Heroes” was also shown which features several locations and people from DeKalb County.
Adrienne McCormick read the following “Veterans Day” poem by Cheryl Dyson:
“On Veterans Day we honor all,
Who answered to a service call,
Soldiers young, and soldiers old,
Fought for freedom, brave and bold
Some have lived, while others died,
And all of them deserve our pride,
We’re proud of all the soldiers who,
Kept thinking of red, white, and blue,
They fought for us and all our rights,
They fought through many days and nights,
And though we may not know each name,
We thank ALL veterans just the same.”

Veterans either attending or who were recognized or remembered for their service are:
Brian Reed, U.S. Air Force in Desert Storm/Enduring Freedom
Jimmy Sprague, U.S. Army in Operation Just Cause-Panama
Walter Johnson, U.S. Army in the Korean Conflict-
Barbara Boehm, U.S. Army Nurses Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan-
Jerry Pistole, U.S. Navy in Vietnam
James T. Owen, U.S. Army in Vietnam
Wayne Storey, U.S. Air Force, Army, and Navy in Vietnam
Eddie Young, Sr. U.S. Navy in Vietnam and Desert Storm
Stephen Merz, U.S. Navy, Post Vietnam 1970-92
Kenneth Vincent, U.S. Army
Ken Clark, U.S. Army in Vietnam
Alan Stengel, U.S. Navy in Vietnam
Steve Warner, U.S. Army in Gulf War Desert Storm
James Cantrell, U.S. Air Force in Korea
Ronnie Redmon, Sr. U.S. Air Force in Vietnam
Paul Neal, U.S. Army in Korea
Paul Robinson, U.S. Navy in World War II
David Petty, U.S. Army in Vietnam
Marcus Boyd, U.S. Army in Korea
Thomas Miller, U.S. Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Corbin Keith, U.S. Army in Korea
Christopher Benson, U.S. Army in Operation Enduring Freedom
Alysha Garmer, U.S. Air Force
Joshua Reed, U.S. Army
Drew Ehlert, U.S. Army in Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom
Christopher Powell, U.S. Navy in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Gene Cook, U.S. Army in Korea
Ronald Cook, U.S. Army in Operation Enduring Freedom
Dimple Blanchfield, U.S. Army in the Vietnam era
Archie Garmer, U.S. Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Oneita Storey, U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Army in Vietnam
John Clements, U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam
Paul Cantrell, U.S. Navy in Korea
William Heath Philllips, U.S. Navy
Earl Sims (deceased), U.S. Army
Robert Lee Hilla (deceased), U.S. Navy in Vietnam
Carl Albert Hilla (deceased) U.S. Army in World War I
Robert Karl Hilla (deceased), U.S. Army in World War II

Members of the Smithville Police Department are participating in “No Shave November” to raise funds for Saint Jude Cancer research.
No-Shave November is a nationwide fundraiser for cancer awareness.
All officers who choose to participate will make a cash donation. All proceeds raised will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
“At some point in time almost everyone will personally know someone afflicted with cancer. It is a privilege to work alongside fellow officers who care enough to try to make a difference,” said Police Chief Mark Collins.
As the participants let their beards grow, family and friends are encouraged to join the campaign and become more educated about cancer prevention, saving lives, and helping those fighting cancer.
“You will soon see some Smithville police officers that could use a shave, but it’s for a good cause,” said Captain Steven Leffew. “Many of our officers are very enthusiastic to take part in the fundraiser. I’m very proud to work beside such caring people,” he said.

DeKalb County residents will have the opportunity to donate Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes, beginning Monday, November 13.
Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse is the world’s largest Christmas project that collects and distributes gift-filled shoeboxes for needy children around the world.
Since 1993, the project has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 146 million children in more than 160 countries and territories. This year’s goal is to send gifts to 12 million children worldwide. Also, to help offset shipping costs, participants are asked to donate $9 per shoebox gift. They will receive a tracking label, enabling them to learn the destination of their shoebox gift.

The week of November 13th through Monday, November 20th, is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child. The drop-off/relay center for this area is located at the Indian Creek Baptist Church, 967 Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville, Tennessee, and is a convenient place for churches, clubs, schools, businesses, and individuals to bring their filled shoe boxes.
The local drop off center will be open, as follows:
*Monday, November 13 through Friday, November 17 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
* Saturday, November 18 – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
*Sunday, November 19 – 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
*Monday, November 20 – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
You may select from the above dates and hours to deliver your filled shoe boxes to the center.
This holiday season you can experience the true meaning of Christmas with a child in need by simply packing your shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and other small gifts.
For further information please contact:
Sue Puckett:
615/597-7370 (office)
615/597-7325 (home)
615/464-7700 (cell)suepuckett@dtccom.net (e-mail)
For more information, including guidelines for shoebox gifts and an option to virtually “Build a Box,” visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ

Only 147 of the 10,084 active voters in DeKalb County took advantage of early voting in the 17th Senatorial District Special Primary election.
Thursday was the last day for early voting. Election day is November 7.
“We knew the turnout would be low because this phase of the balloting was a primary and neither candidate was opposed. In addition, people are just not accustomed to voting in odd-numbered years,” said Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections. “As for election day, the turnout may be a little better, but far below the normal number of voters.”
But election officials are anticipating a larger turnout for the General Election, which is set for December 19th.
“Because the candidates will be squaring off against each other, we anticipate a better turnout for the General balloting, Stanley said. “And the fact that election day is so close to Christmas, we anticipate a much better turnout for early voting.”
The following is a breakdown of the early voting numbers:
TOTAL 147
In person—124
Absentee/Nursing home—23
Total votes in Republican Primary—91
Total votes in Democratic Primary–56
The polls will open at 8 a.m. November 7 and close at 7 p.m.