Three more persons have picked up qualifying petitions from the election commission office.
Travis Bryant of Holmes Creek of Holmes Creek Road, Smithville plans to run as an Independent in the August General Election to fill the remaining two years of a vacant constable position in the third district
Bobby R. Taylor of Midway Road, Smithville will be a candidate for the Democratic nomination for a fourth district county commission position in the May 6 primary.
Michael Agee of Holmes Creek Road, Smithville will be a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Sheriff in the May 6 primary.
Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley said with elections on the minds of voters, now is a good time to update your address if you have moved.
“We’ve had three petitions returned already and I’ve noticed some of the voters signing petitions have listed addresses that are different than what we have on file in our database,” Stanley said. “It is very important for voters to keep their residential address up to date with our office in order to avoid unnecessary delays when they go to the polls next year,” he added.

A 24 year old man has been indicted on the charge of statutory rape for allegedly engaging in sexual activity with a fifteen year old girl.
Bryan Cunningham is among more than fifty persons who were indicted by the new term of the DeKalb County Grand Jury which convened on Monday, November 25. Seven persons were named in sealed indictments
All the defendants will be arraigned on Monday, December 9.
The incident involving Cunningham occurred on Friday, July 5.
Smithville Police said that Lieutenant Matt Holmes and Sergeant Brad Tatrow caught Cunningham and a young girl engaging in sexual activity in the woods by the creek on Holmes Creek Road. The officers were patroling the area because it’s a known hangout.
The names of defendants indicted and their charges are as follows:
April Lynn Anderson- Theft over $1,000
Anthony Adcock and Tammi Adams- Initiation of a process to manufacture meth; Manufacture of marijuana; and Possession of a weapon by a felon (2 counts)
Matthew Baker- Promotion of meth manufacture, Possession of a Schedule II & III drug, Possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest
Christopher Barnes-Burglary and Theft over $1,000
Bryan Keith Boring- Driving under the influence
Jason Cline-Driving under the influence (2nd offense)
Jimmy Corder- Aggravated assault and Vandalism under $500
Bryan Cunningham- Statutory Rape
Hector Alejandro Caballero- Driving under the influence and Violation of the Implied Consent law
Anthony Lynn Colwell- Initiation of a process to manufacture meth
Billy Joe Rigsby and William Cory Dickens- Theft over $60,000 and Theft over $10,000
Brandon Hutchings, Sherry Malone, and Patricia Durham- Initiation of a process to manufacture meth and Promotion of meth manufacture
Billy Joe Davis, II- Driving under the influence
David Wayne Dowell- Aggravated Burglary, Theft under $500, and Vandalism under $500
Lonnie Ray Dyer- Aggravated Burglary and Theft under $500
Crystal Dianne Fults- Introduction of Contraband into a Penal Institution, DUI, and Possession of a Schedule II drug
Don Groshon- Prescription Fraud
Steven Levan Gandy- Driving on a revoked license and Initiation of a process to manufacture meth
Victor Gingerich- Driving on a Revoked License (3rd offense)
Rhonda Goff- Forgery (5 counts)
Josh Wayne Goff- Assault and Driving on a suspended license
Thomas Bruce Greene- DUI (2nd offense) and Driving on a suspended license
Andrew Tyler Hall-DUI (2nd offense)
Jessie Comer Harris- Initiation of a process to manufacture meth, Aggravated assault, Tampering with evidence, Evading with a motor vehicle, DUI, Reckless endangerment, and Resisting arrest
Brandon Hutchings and Jessica Jenkins- Auto burglary, Theft under $500, Promotion of meth manufacture, Possession of a schedule II drug, and Possession of paraphernalia
Joseph Ray Huff- Theft over $1,000 and Evading arrest
Jason Johnson- Possession of a handgun while intoxicated, DUI, and Violation of the Implied Consent law
Rhonda Michelle King- Initiation of a process to manufacture meth
Megan Ann Lann- Theft under $500
Molly Lawrence- Theft over $1,000 (2 counts)
Sharon Malone- Possession of a schedule III drug
Jonathan K. McCormick- Burglary and Theft over $1,000
Travis Melton- Introduction of contraband into a penal institution
Stephen Jason Moore- Possession of paraphernalia
Hector Orozco-Larragaita- DUI and Driving without a driver’s license
Karie Lynn Padgett- Theft under $500
Ralph Edward Pease, Jr.- Possession of a schedule II drug, Possession of paraphernalia, and Driving on a suspended license
Bradley Pugh- Initiation of a process to manufacture meth
Danny Austin Reeder- Possession of a schedule IV drug
Dennis Reeder- Possession of a schedule VI & III drug, DUI (2nd offense), and Violation of the Implied Consent law
Carl Schwartz- DUI (2nd offense) and Driving on a revoked license
Casimiro Silva- DUI and Leaving the scene of an accident
Walter Smouthers- Stalking (3 counts)
Erik Suarez- DUI (2nd offense), Driving on a suspended license, and Violation of the implied consent law
Megan Ann Tramel- Forgery (6 counts)
Abigail Vogel- Introduction of contraband into a penal institution and Public intoxication
Ryan Walden- Theft over $1,000, Evading arrest (2 counts), Resisting arrest, and Aggravated burglary
Autumn White- Possession of a schedule II drug for resale, Possession of a schedule III drug, Possession of a schedule IV (2 counts), Evading arrest, and Resisting arrest.
Jeremy Edward Woodard- Driving a revoked license
Jarrod Cain West- Driving on a suspended license

Another long time judge in the 13th Judicial District has decided to call it quits after completing his current term of office.
After serving for what will be 30 years next year, Circuit Court Judge John J. Maddux, Jr. has announced that he will not seek re-election and will be leaving the bench when his term expires on August 31, 2014.
Judge Maddux was first elected Circuit Court Judge in 1984, and was re-elected unopposed in 1990, 1998 and 2006.
He serves DeKalb and six other counties in the 13th Judicial District.
Criminal Court Judge Leon Burns, Jr. is also expected to retire at the end of his term next year, although he has apparently made no official announcement.
Judge Maddux has served as past president of the Tennessee Judicial Conference and the Tennessee Trial Judges Association. He has been a member of the Tennessee Pattern Jury Instruction-Civil Committee for 28 years. He was a member of the two person sub-committee which drafted the initial comparative fault jury instructions which were later modified and adopted by the full committee.
He was chairman of the Tennessee Pattern Jury Instruction Clarity Sub-¬Committee, which rewrote the entire pattern jury instruction book so that civil jury instructions would be more easily understood by jurors, attorneys and judges.
He has sat by special designation on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and the Supreme Court Special Workers’ Compensation Panel. Judge Maddux was offered, but respectfully declined, a nomination for a Federal District Court judgeship.
Judge Maddux currently serves as chairman of the Judicial Conference’s Long Range Planning Committee and has served as a member of the Legislative Committee and the Judicial Education Committee.
He was Tennessee’s delegate to the National Conference of the Judiciary on Bioethical Issues.
In 2010, Judge Maddux was elected chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Judicial Conference Foundation, Inc., a position he now holds.
The past presidents of the Judicial Conference along with three at large board members comprise the directors of the Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to offer need based scholarships for students at each of the colleges of law in Tennessee.
In 2011, Judge Maddux was awarded the Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award.
Last year, he was chosen to be a fellow of the American Bar Association which is an honor limited to less than one percent of the lawyers in America.
Judge Maddux has presided in approximately 600 judicial settlement conferences.
These settlement conferences are a form of mediation and have been successful almost 85 percent of the time.
For 35 years, he has served as State Chairman of Tennessee American Legion Boys State. During that time approximately 20,000 17-year-old delegates have attended Tennessee American Legion Boys State at Tennessee Tech University.
He is the author of a book titled “Tennessee Government,” a copy of which is given to each Boys State delegate to study and be tested on during the week of Boys State.
Tennessee’s American Legion Boys State is currently ranked as the number one Boys State program in the nation.
Judge Maddux has made presentations on comparative fault law to the Tennessee Judicial Conference, the Tennessee House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, and several Tennessee attorney organizations.
He is one of the instructors who teaches the section on jury trials at the Tennessee Judicial Conference’s Judicial Academy for new judges. Judge Maddux has taught the course on business law at Tennessee Tech University.
Judge Maddux attended undergraduate school at Tennessee Tech University and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Tennessee.
He practiced both civil and criminal law in state and federal courts in Tennessee.

The only true fix to the Affordable Health Care Act is to repeal it and replace it with smarter market based reforms. That from Congressman Diane Black, who was in Smithville Monday.
While Obama administration officials say they expect to meet the President’s goal of having the troubled website HealthCare.gov working for the “vast majority” of users by November 30, Congressman Black told WJLE Monday that she is still pushing for an alternative.
Congressman Black is co-sponsoring a bill called the American Health Care Reform Act, which would repeal Obamacare and then focus on reducing health care costs and increasing access by allowing Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines. “The bill is from our Republican Study Committee that would look at using market based patient centered principles in reforming health care. The bill would actually repeal the entire Obamacare (Affordable Health Care Act). The reason for this is that we believe we can do the kinds of things that need to be done like pre-existing conditions and helping to take care of people who truly cannot afford or don’t have access to insurance. We can do that in a lot more efficient way where the individual actually has more choice and is patient centered for them and market based,” said Congressman Black.
The legislation, co-sponsored by Congressman Black, would also put in place common-sense medical malpractice reform that would limit lawsuit abuse in the health industry and help lower costs associated with doctor and hospital visits.
“Our plan would protect individuals with pre-existing conditions by bolstering state-based high-risk pools and extending existing guaranteed availability protections under HIPAA. We expand access to health savings accounts and level the playing field for families and individuals by giving them the same tax deductions for health care costs that businesses and employers enjoy,” she said.
“Obamacare is failing to live up to even its most basic expectations and is creating havoc on our health care system and exposing Tennesseans and Americans across the country to dropped coverage, reduced access and dramatic premium increases. This cannot sustain itself and must be stopped. There is not a day that goes by in my office that we don’t hear a new story about either someone losing their healthcare because their employer said I’m just not going to do this anymore and I’d rather pay a fine, or their rates going up. This is what we’re hearing a lot of. They’re getting rates in the mail from their insurance companies. Some of those rates are going up by 200%. We also hear from people who are losing their jobs where companies want to stay under their fifty employees so rather than have fifty or fifty five employees, they are making employees either part time and in some cases employees are losing their jobs. So a lot of negative impact has come with this health care bill (Obamacare). We believe this can be done (healthcare reform) and these problems and situations we have could be solved without the government taking over one sixth of the economy,” said Congressman Black.
During her visit to Smithville Monday, Congressman Black stopped by Middle Tennessee Natural Gas. “I wanted to come and talk about what happens here in the utility district. The amount of folks who are served here is remarkable and to make sure that as an official on the federal side I am doing whatever I can do to help make sure they can serve their customers in an efficient way,” she said
Congressman Black also paid a visit to DeKalb Community Hospital and DTC Communications.
During a brief interview with WJLE, Congressman Black said exploring how to make the tax code simpler and more fair for families is another issue she is seeking to address in legislation called the Student and Family Tax Simplification Act. This legislation consolidates four existing education provisions — the Hope Credit, the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), the Lifetime Learning Credit, and the tuition deduction — into a single, modernized and strengthened AOTC.
“We would like to be able to take a 1986 out of date tax code and bring it up to date by having something fairer, flat, and simpler where we bring down the rate so that money can go back into the economy. That’s another thing we are concerned about is the economy and the amount of jobs. When people have money in their pockets they spend that money and when they spend that money, it creates more jobs and it helps to grow revenue so that we can get out of this situation with our debt and deficit spending. That all kind of flows together. If you do the tax reform, more jobs are created, there’s more money in people’s pockets, and it raises their quality of life and at the same time it helps to raise revenues so we can grow our way out of this debt and deficit spending.
As outlined in the legislation, the new AOTC, which would be permanent and partially refundable, would:
•Provide a 100-percent tax credit for the first $2,000 of eligible higher education expenses and a 25-percent tax credit for the next $2,000 of such expenses (for a maximum credit of $2,500).
•The first $1,500 of the credit would be refundable, meaning that families could receive the benefit regardless of whether they have Federal income tax liability.
•The credit could be used to offset expenses for tuition, fees and course materials.
•The credit would be available for up to four years of post-secondary education at qualifying four-year universities, community colleges, and trade and vocational schools.
•The credit would begin to phase out for families with income between $86,000 and $126,000 (half those amounts for single individuals), ensuring that the credit provides the greatest benefit and value to low- and middle-income families.
“Streamlining the number of education provisions and retooling those that are most effective has another benefit, too – it allows us to simplify the code and reduce some of the confusion that exists today. As a result, students can spend less time figuring out how to finance the cost of a higher education and more time developing the skills they need to succeed in a knowledge-based economy. It ought to be easier for any family to plan, save and invest in education. Our bipartisan bill makes common-sense reforms to make the tax code simpler and fairer when it comes to helping Americans afford the cost of a college education,” she said.
Congressman Black said she is also concerned about an agreement between Iran and several world leaders including the United States that seeks to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lighter economic sanctions. “I’m very concerned about it. I haven’t gotten into all the details but I’m very concerned that there would be a deal made that doesn’t seem to be a good deal for the United States or even the world where we have Iran that is enriching this fuel for nuclear energy. They (Iran) keep talking about how they want to use this (nuclear) for energy. They’re sitting on the biggest pile of natural gas of any country in the world so why are they doing nuclear? They have not abided by the resolutions that were set up by the United Nations. We know they have broken their promises there. What makes us think they’re going to keep their promises now when they have broken their promises before? If we release those sanctions then there is no leverage. It seems like we’re giving up a lot and getting really nothing for it,” she said.
The fact that Israel, the United States’ strongest ally in the region, is opposed to this agreement is also cause for concern , according to Congressman Black. “I have had the opportunity to visit Israel and meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. What they have shown us behind closed doors is classified but what they know is very concerning so at this point we don’t need to release those sanctions and allow Iran to move forward with their nuclear development,” said Congressman Black.
(PICTURED ABOVE: MTUD Vice President of Human Resources and General Counsel Mike Corley, Congressman Diane Black, and MTUD Executive Vice President and CEO Jim Hodges)

A Smithville man has been charged with theft for allegedly stealing farm equipment and selling most of it at a local recycling center.
28 year old Steven Dale Davidson of Antioch Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $1,000. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court on December 12.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday November 5, Davidson allegedly took several items from property on Jones Mill Road including an Allis Chalmers dozer winch, a three point hitch bush hog, a three point hitch pickup disk, a two bottom plow, a three point hitch pond scoop, logging forks from a fork lift, and two-three point hitch cultivators. Davidson allegedly admitted to taking these items. Most of them were sold to a local recycling center but Davidson said he sold the bush hog to a family member for thirty dollars. The case was investigated by a detective of the Sheriff’s Department.
Meanwhile, 49 year old Victor Locklear of Toad Road, Dowelltown is charged with possession of schedule III and IV drugs for resale, possession of drugs in a drug free zone, and possession of a prohibited weapon. He was also issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond totals $40,000 and he will be in court on December 19.
Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, November 18 a deputy went to the office of the Department of Children’s Services on Walker Drive to serve a Wilson County warrant on Locklear. While there, the officer conducted a search of Locklear and found a white container with fifteen pills believed to be Hydrocodone and six blue pills thought to be Clonazepam. He also found a cut straw believed to have been used for illegal drug activity. The straw contained a white powdery substance. Found In Locklear’s pants pocket were a pair of brass knuckles. The drug free zone charge was filed against Locklear because the Department of Children Service’s office where Locklear was found with the drugs is within one thousand feet of the Smithville Elementary School property, which is a drug free zone. Locklear was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
51 year Gregory Herman Wessels and 45 year old Christine Anne Fekete both of Franklin are cited on drug charges. Wessels is cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and Fekete is cited for simple possession. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, November 20 a deputy was dispatched on a call and he made contact with these individuals on Highway 70 east. After obtaining consent to search, the officer found a marijuana pipe in a back pack that belonged to Wessels. He also found a small amount of marijuana in Fekete’s possession. Both Wessels and Fekete will be in court on December 12.
58 year old Curtis Lee Rust and 61 year old Sharon Sue Rust of Dearman Street, Smithville are charged with domestic assault for allegedly attacking their son-in-law. Sharon Rust is also charged with being a fugitive from Justice in Broward County Florida where she is wanted for possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Bond for Curtis Rust is $2,500. Her bond is $152,500. Both will be in court on December 12. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, November 23 Curtis Rust allegedly assaulted his son-in-law at a residence on Sparta Highway by tackling and taking him to the ground, not letting him get up. Sharon Rust also allegedly assaulted the man by punching him in the face with her fist, leaving his eye black and swollen. Both Curtis and Sharon Rust were arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
An officer did a background check through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and discovered that Sharon Rust is wanted on active warrants in Broward County, Florida for possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Florida authorities plan to seek extradition of Sharon Rust.

A 27 year old man was arrested on three counts of forgery last week.
Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger said Andrew Tyler Hall is under a $15,000 bond and he will be in General Sessions Court on December 12.
The investigation began on August 21 when Corporal Travis Bryant took reports from a local bank concerning checks being forged on an account holder who resided in another county. Video surveillance showed Hall passing checks on the victim’s account July 29, August 9, and August 13. After confirming the checks were forged, police took warrants for Hall’s arrest. On Thursday, November 21, Detective Matt Holmes saw Hall on the Smithville public square. He asked Hall to meet him at the Police Department. After arriving there, Hall was read his rights and placed under arrest.
In other cases, 31 year old Jessica French Hale was cited for shoplifting on Tuesday, November 12. K-9 Officer James Cornelius was dispatched to the Dollar General Store where he was informed that someone had taken items from the business without paying for them and then had driven away. A description was given of the vehicle in which the shoplifter had left. Officer Cornelius later located the suspect, Hale and the items taken from the store were recovered.
Officer Matt Farmer cited 29 year old Randall Jake Hines for shoplifting at Ace Hardware on Saturday, November 16. Hines was spotted by an employee putting an item belonging to the store under his shirt and walking out without paying for it. The stolen item was returned to the store. Hines will be in court on December 12.
Captain Steven Leffew was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter on Saturday, November 16. A store employee saw 47 year old Peggy L .Jordan put items in her purse. After speaking with Jordan, Captain Leffew recovered the unpaid for items. Jordan was cited to appear in court on December 12.
Officer Will Judkins cited 38 year old Stephanie Ann Pierce for shoplifting at the Dollar General Store on Monday, November 18. Pierce was found with several items from the store inside of her clothing that she had not paid for.
25 year old Steven Cuevas was arrested for domestic assault on Wednesday, November 20. Officer Will Judkins responded to a domestic and upon arrival he spoke with the victim. According to police, it appeared that the victim was trying to get her belongings and leave when Cuevas pushed her and hit her in the face. The victim’s left eye appeared to be swollen and red. Bond for Cuevas is $2,500 and he will be in court December 12.

Friday was the first day persons could pick up qualifying petitions to run for public offices next year and seven potential candidates wasted no time.
Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections reports that Michael Clayborn for County Clerk, Jeffrey McMillen for Register of Deeds, James L. Poss for County Clerk, James Sprague for Road Supervisor, Katherine Pack for Circuit Court Clerk, Bratten H. Cook II for General Sessions Judge, and Jonathan Low for Constable in the Second District were all issued petitions on Friday, November 22.
All but Low plan to be candidates in the May 6, 2014 DeKalb County Democratic Primary.
Low, a resident of Hillview Heights in Dowelltown, will be an Independent candidate to fill the remaining two years of the vacant constable seat in the second district. His name will appear on the DeKalb County General Election ballot in August.
Clayborn, who not only picked up but has already completed and returned his petition to the election commission office, will be seeking his fourth term as County Clerk. Poss, a resident of Bright Hill Road, will challenge Clayborn in the primary.
McMillen, who was first elected Register of Deeds in 1986, will be seeking his eighth term.
Pack will be looking to win a fourth term as Circuit Court Clerk.
Cook is hoping to secure a third eight year term as General Sessions Judge.
Sprague, a resident of Holmes Creek Road, is running for the Democratic Nomination for Road Supervisor, a seat that has been held by Republican Kenny Edge since 1990. Edge is not seeking another term.
The qualifying deadline is NOON February 20, 2014
The DeKalb County Democratic Primary, to be held May 6, establishes the qualifying deadline for Republican and Independent candidates. Republicans and Independents must qualify by the same time as Democrats, noon February 20.
The DeKalb County Republican Party is expected to certify its nominees for county offices by Caucus.
Both parties will have primaries to nominate candidates for judicial offices in the 13th district, which includes DeKalb County.
Democratic and Republican nominees for all local and district offices along with Independent candidates will appear on the DeKalb County General Election ballot in August.
Offices up for election in 2014 include County Mayor, Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Trustee, Road Supervisor, Sheriff, General Sessions Judge, and all fourteen county commissioners and possibly unfilled constable seats. All terms are for four years except the General Sessions Judgeship, which is an eight year term.
In the 13th Judicial District, two criminal court judges, two circuit court judges, a chancellor, district attorney general, and district public defender are also to be elected, each to serve an eight year term.
DeKalb County School board seats in the first, second, third, fourth, and seventh districts will be filled in the 2014 August County General Election. Terms are four years. School board candidates are non-partisan, which means they run neither as Republicans or Democrats. The qualifying date for school board candidates is not until April, 2014. Qualifying petitions are not yet available for school board positions.
“Individuals may be announced candidates and may begin soliciting campaign funds at any time before the election. However, before a candidate raises or spends money, the candidate needs to file an “Appointment of Political Treasurer” with the Election Commission,” said Stanley. “This form is available at http://www.tennessee.gov/tref/forms/ss-1120.pdf or can be obtained at our office. You can print it out online and bring it to us. We must have the original, so a fax or email will not work.”
”You may file the Appointment of Political Treasurer at any time, but it must be filed before you raise or spend money,” Stanley continued. “The Registry of Election Finance has said that “incidental” expenses while you are thinking about running do not count. There are different regulations for judicial candidates, so please ask us before soliciting campaign funds.”
Once a candidate files an Appointment of Treasurer form, the candidate is required to file periodic disclosure reports. The reports are to be filed quarterly during the election year and semi-annually in either the year(s) before or after. Additionally, a report is due 10 days before any election. The report dates can be found at http://www.tennessee.gov/tref/cand/cand_filing.htm or you can obtain a copy at the local election office.
“The State Registry of Election Financial (615-741-7959) or http://www.tennessee.gov/tref/contact.htm has jurisdiction over election financial issues,” Stanley said. “The DeKalb County Election Commission merely files the reports and makes them available to the public. The state office can answer any question you have about financial reports or requirements.”
More information about the petition process, including additional deadlines for Road Superintendent and Sheriff candidates, can be obtained at the election commission office on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse or by logging on to www.dekalbelections.com.
The DeKalb County Election Commission Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

8th grader Ethan Martin is the D.W.S. Junior Beta nominee for the John W. Harris award. His nomination has been submitted to the National Jr. Beta Club for consideration. Only twenty-five students across the nation are selected for the Beta Club’s top trophy. Martin, the son of Dewayne and Stacy Martin, has been in Junior Beta since his 5th grade year. His brother, Zack Martin, won the Harris award when he was at DWS.
The Harris award is given to students who exemplify the qualities of leadership and service. Ethan has maintained Honor Roll grades while staying busy with sports, academic fairs, and community events.
He has volunteered for the DeKalb County Fair where he helps prepare the grounds for the annual event. The last years he has also worked the entrance gates almost every night for a few hours. Martin shows his creative side as well with the Christian puppet ministry at his church that travels to other congregations to entertain children and adults. “This is something I think is very fun to do, and I feel it is a good way to express and share my Christian beliefs,” Martin said.
Martin also helps organize and monitor activities for the kids at Vacation Bible School. He lends a hand packing food bags for those who need a little extra help with charitable causes like the DWS Backpack program. Previously, Martin has helped with the City of Alexandria’s annual Halloween celebration, dressing up and handing out candy or walking the streets to greet the kids.
“This year was especially fun and a little hard,” he admits. “I was a wolf and had to walk on small crutches humped over all night, but the reactions from the crowd were worth it.”
Martin recently initiated a project to benefit a variety of charities, and he is leading other Beta members in accomplishing the task. Boxes have been set up in churches to collect items each month to send to the Nashville Rescue Mission or other worthy organizations.
“I always try to volunteer my services when they are needed, while keeping my grades up to a high average,” Martin said in an essay he wrote for the Harris award.
The National Beta Club office will announce the winners of the Harris award later this year.

A sixty four year old private act governing the manner in which members of the DeKalb County Democratic Party’s Executive Committee are selected has been deemed unconstitutional by the Tennessee Attorney General.
AG Robert E. Cooper, Jr. issued a written opinion Tuesday at the request of State Representative David A. Shepard of Nashville on behalf of local party leaders who wanted an opinion as to the “enforceability” of the Act as originally adopted in 1949 and amended in 1972 by the Tennessee General Assembly.
Cooper’s opinion basically finds that the legislature can’t constitutionally place burdensome restrictions on political parties in how they may organize.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO READ ACTUAL ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION)
http://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/op/2013/op13-090.pdf
In his opinion, the attorney general wrote that “the statute constitutionally burdens the associated rights of the Tennessee Democratic Party and its members in DeKalb County and therefore is unenforceable”.
The DeKalb County Democratic Executive Committee was established under Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 771 and was subsequently amended in 1972. The Act calls for forty members to be elected from nineteen different precincts according to the population at those times. Several of the old precincts in the statute no longer exist and attempts by local party leaders to determine the old boundaries proved unsuccessful. It has been several years since anyone ran for the executive committee in DeKalb County on the primary election ballot, something the Private Act requires every two years, and the Act does not provide for reapportionment in redrawing the precincts.
Instead of electing members to the executive committee, as the Private Act calls for, the party sought an answer as to whether members could be appointed under the Tennessee Democratic Party Rules. Without a compelling state interest, Cooper’s opinion basically finds that the party may determine for itself how to organize, a right protected by the U.S. Constitution.
In seeking the AG opinion on the enforceability of the Act, local party leaders posed the question as to whether the DeKalb County Democratic Party could cease following provisions of the seemingly antiquated private act, which remains the law for DeKalb County, and hold a reorganization convention pursuant to Tennessee Democratic Party rules, organizing every two years under the general statutory law for the purpose of conducting business
Local party leaders, through State Representative Shepard, requested an expeditious opinion from the Attorney General on October 21. The AG opinion was issued Tuesday, November 19
Not knowing when the AG opinion would come down and facing a November 22 deadline in calling a Primary for May 6, 2014, party leaders held a reorganization convention last Saturday, November 16 at the courthouse . The local party organized under Tennessee Democratic Party rules and selected members to the newly organized DeKalb County Democratic Executive Committee, naming one person from each of the seven districts in the county to serve. But in an effort to ensure that the party leadership was legally constituted in the event the AG were to uphold the Private Act in his opinion, another vote was taken to follow rules provided for under the act, calling on the last known duly elected members of the executive committee in attendance to caucus and appoint others at the convention to fill vacancies on the committee. After the appointments were made, the committee then voted to name the same seven members chosen earlier in the meeting under state party rules to become the official DeKalb County Democratic Executive Committee for the next two years. Those members include Judy Slager, Frank Buck, Faye Fuqua, David McDowell, James Hale, Flint Gilley, and Tommy Webb.
In his opinion, Attorney General Cooper wrote that “A political party’s determination of the boundaries of its own association, and of the structure which best allows it to pursue its political goals, is protected by the United States Constitution”. He cited a California case in which the U.S. Supreme Court found unconstitutional several California statutes restricting the organization and composition of political party committees. The high court ruled that the restrictions limited a political party’s discretion in how to organize itself, conduct its affairs, and select its leaders and that because these were constitutionally protected associational rights, the state of California’s restrictions could only be upheld if they served a compelling state interest. In that case, the court ruled California had not shown a compelling interest.
Under the DeKalb County Act, the State Attorney General opined that “the General Assembly directed that the DeKalb County Democratic Executive Committee have forty members elected in the Democratic Primary from a list of precincts, some of which apparently no longer exist. Members must be elected to two-year terms. The Act thus sets the size of a single county executive party committee, the method by which its members must be elected, and the terms they must serve. The Act clearly imposes restrictions limiting the Tennessee Democratic Party’s discretion in how to organize itself, conduct its own affairs, and select its leaders in DeKalb County. This Office is unable to identify any compelling State interest “necessary to the integrity of the electoral process” that these restrictions serve. For this reason, the Act unconstitutionally burdens the associational rights of the Tennessee Democratic Party and its members in DeKalb County and is unenforceable,” wrote AG Cooper.
The State Attorney General’s opinion does not change a law already on the books, therefore legislation may be filed seeking to abolish the private act for DeKalb County once the General Assembly convenes early next year.

Surrounded by her parents, coaches, and fellow players, DCHS Softball standout Danielle Tyson signed Wednesday with Trevecca Nazarene University to play softball after she graduates here.
Trevecca is a private Christian liberal arts college located in Nashville.
“I chose Trevecca because I felt like it was where the Lord was calling me to go,” said Tyson. ” It is a great school. I loved the players when I went there to camp this past summer. I just really liked the atmosphere and the campus. Those are the major factors why I chose Trevecca,” she said.
DCHS Tigerette Coach Danny Bond said Tyson has been an asset to his program and has helped put them in contention for district and regional championships in recent years. “Dani Tyson came in four years ago having moved in here. She tried out for the team and we found that she had a lot of talent. She has refined her skills through the years and has led us in many categories each and every year. Last year she led the team in about seven categories, including batting average and stolen bases. She has developed into a good overall player. Dani can do a lot of different things. She can play the outfield or infield, which she has done here. She pitches for us and has turned from being a dominant batter from the right side to the left side with the drag and slap. She has great speed and I think that will be one of her biggest assets in college along with her size and raw talent. She will do well at Trevecca. Dani has been a big plus for our program here at DCHS the last three years. We’ve been in the hunt for the district championship and regional tournaments each year that she has been here. I see great success for her and Trevecca with her being on the team,” said Coach Bond.
Tyson’s mother, Fran gives much of the credit for Dani’s abilities to her high school coaches. “We appreciate very much the coaching staff at DCHS. I think that is such a crucial part of developing Danielle into the player she is now. They have worked hard with her and been patient with her and pushed her. I think that produced the ability for her to go on to the next level and play so we just appreciate all the coaches who were involved here,” said Tyson.
Danielle was joined at the signing at DCHS Wednesday by her parents, her coaches, and fellow players.
(Pictured above: Standing left to right- Emily Robinson, Shauna Taylor, Lauren Colwell, Tyra Graham, Chelsey Brannon, Hannah Walker, Loren Cripps, Dani Meadows, and Katie Hall. Seated left to right: Melissa Ruch, Danny Bond, Jeffrey L. Tyson, Danielle Tyson, Fran Tyson, Linus Martin, and Danny Fish.)