The current makeup of the 13th Judicial District, which includes DeKalb County, would remain unchanged under a consensus plan to redraw Tennessee’s judicial districts as unveiled by Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) today (Monday)
The districts were last drawn nearly thirty years ago in 1984.
Under the plan, the 13th Judicial District would remain intact with no changes. The district includes Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White Counties.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO SEE NEW MAP WITH CHANGES SHOWN IN COLOR)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/judredist/9-1-14-Plan.pdf
A previous plan under consideration would have included DeKalb County in a new eight county district with Coffee, Cannon, Warren, Smith, Jackson, Trousdale, and Macon.
Local judges and attorneys argued that the judicial system works well in the 13th district and that there was no need for redistricting here.
The new proposed map causes minimal disruption to the current system affecting only 22 counties in 8 districts. To maximize efficiency, the number of judicial districts has been reduced from 31 to 29. Factors such as regional integrity, geographic boundaries and ease of inter-county travel were also heavily considered.
The changes are as follows:
Cannon, Coffee, Warren, and Van Buren would form the 14th Judicial District
Rutherford County would be a district unto itself as the 16th Judicial District
Williamson County would be a district unto itself as the 21st Judicial District
Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Maury, Perry, and Wayne counties would form the 22nd Judicial District
Cheatham, Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, and Stewart counties would form the 23rd Judicial District
Lake, Dyer, Obion, and Weakley would form the 27th Judicial District.
Joining Lt. Governor Ramsey in making the announcement Monday were judicial redistricting bill sponsors Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) and Representative Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol) along with Supreme Court Chief Justice Gary Wade, Tennessee Trial Judges Association President Chancellor Daryl Fansler, Tennessee Judicial Conference President Robert Holloway and Tennessee Bar Association President Jackie Dixon.
“When the issue of judicial redistricting was first presented to me it was clear action needed to be taken,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “Tennessee is a vibrant and growing state. After thirty years, the changes experienced in our state needs to be reflected in the districts of Tennessee’s judges, district attorneys and public defenders.”
“While the 1984 map made great strides by consolidating public defenders, district attorneys and judges into unified districts, it clear that the particular politics of the time influenced the map resulting in untenable inefficiencies,” Ramsey explained. “This map corrects those mistakes and brings our judicial districts into the 21st century.”
“We came into this process with open minds and a desire to work with interested parties,” Ramsey continued. “I am pleased that, in the end, all concerned could come together and agree on a consensus plan. I am extremely satisfied with the result.”
“I would like to commend all involved for working hard to reach common ground,” said Senator Norris. “Change is never easy but we have come together to create a map that ensures Tennesseans get the best possible service from their public defenders, district attorneys and judges.”
“This is a common sense plan for judicial redistricting that corrects the mistakes of the past and updates districts to reflect population changes in the state,” said Rep. Lundberg. “I’m proud to be a part of this process.”
An open call for judicial redistricting proposals went out in February. Fourteen maps were submitted as well as informal input from members of the public and stakeholder groups. The current plan will be presented as Senate Bill 780/House Bill 636 and can be found online at http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/judredist/judredist.html.

A 30 year old Smithville man has been arrested for the rape of an eight year old boy.
Jose Juan Reyes of Old Blue Springs Road is charged with two counts of rape of a child and one count of sexual battery. His bond is $135,000 and he will be in court March 14
According to the warrants, Reyes did have unlawful sexual contact with and committed the offense of child rape by sexual penetration of an eight year old boy on two occasions in February at the Reyes residence on Blue Springs Road. He was arrested on Wednesday, March 6
37 year old Russell Allen Blackwell of Sparta is charged with driving on a revoked license. His bond is $1,500.
Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, March 7 a deputy saw a man operating a vehicle on Short Mountain Highway outside his lane of travel. The officer stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Blackwell. After checking his license, central dispatch informed the officer that Blackwell’s license were revoked for a third offense of driving under the influence on January 3, 2008.

DeKalb County Volunteer Firefighters prevented the Company Store from being destroyed by a blaze Saturday night.
The business, located on Highway 96 near Cove Hollow, was closed at the time of the fire.
A passerby spotted the blaze coming from the roof on one end of the building and reported it.
County Fire Chief Donny Green told WJLE that members of the Liberty, Temperance Hall, and Main Stations responded along with manpower from other stations. The tanker and equipment truck were also on site. County firefighters contained the blaze to the kitchen and office area side of the building and kept it from spreading.
The cause of the fire is undetermined.

A 50 year old Nashville woman was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash Saturday evening on Highway 96 (Dale Ridge Road)
Central dispatch received the call 5:16 p.m.
Trooper Jimmy Tisdale of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Terri O. Allbright was operating a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle on Highway 96 traveling toward Highway 70 when she apparently failed to negotiate a curve and struck a guardrail. She was thrown from the motorcycle over the guardrail. Allbright landed on a wooded embankment off the road.
Allbright was treated at the scene by DeKalb EMS and then loaded onto a ground ambulance and taken to meet a helicopter on Highway 70 at the top of Snow Hill. She was airlifted by Life Force to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville
Sheriff’s department deputies and members of the Main Station and Liberty Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded to the crash scene and or helicopter landing zone.

The 2013 Chamber Annual Membership Banquet is set for Thursday, April 11, 2013 at the DeKalb County Complex, 732 South Congress Blvd., Smithville. “We are excited to again host this enjoyable and informative event. This is a special milestone year for the Chamber as we are celebrating our 50th year. We invite you to share in this fun-filled night of dining, entertainment, and the latest updates from the Chamber including the introduction of our new Board, recognition of our retiring board members, and 2013 Officers,” says Chamber Executive Director Suzanne Williams. In addition, Leadership Director, Jen Sherwood, will present winners for “Community Leader of the Year” and “Legacy” awards.
The special evening begins at 5:30 PM with a “Silent Auction.” The dinner and program start at 6:00 PM. Dinner music will be performed by Tomomi McDowell. State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver will sing the National Anthem as Boy Scout Troop #347 presents the flags. The musical entertainment for the evening will be by local singing talent, Josh Melton. The delicious meal will be prepared by Chef Jason Evans of The Inn at Evins Mill. The Leadership DeKalb Class of 2013 will serve the meal.
The keynote speaker for the evening will be Ralph Vaughn, probably best remembered as the manager of WJLE for 15 years and 21 years as the Program Director and MC of the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival. Ralph was president of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce in Murfreesboro for 12 years and the Morgan County Chamber of Commerce in Madison, Georgia for 3 years. A native of DeKalb County, he recently retired from Barrett Firearms Manufacturing in Murfreesboro where he served as the Special Projects Coordinator. Ralph is currently serving as the President of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame.
At press time, Corporate Sponsors for this event are Caney Fork Electric, Cumberland Insurance, DeKalb Community Bank, DeKalb Community Hospital, DTC Communications / DTC Wireless, Federal Mogul, FirstBank, Liberty State Bank, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas “Project Hometown Help,” Tenneco, and Wal Mart.
Special thanks to our Annual Banquet Committee Members: Ralph Vaughn, chair; Valerie House, Kathy Hendrixson, Susan Young, and Darlene Willingham.
Please contact the Chamber office at 597-4163 for more information, to donate a silent auction item or door prize, to place an ad in the commemorative tabloid that will be inserted in the April 3rd edition of the Smithville Review plus used as night’s program, or to become a Corporate Sponsor. Deadline to place your ad in the tabloid is March 15th. Banquet tickets prices are $25 per person and can be purchased by calling the Chamber or from the Chamber Board of Directors.

A sergeant in the Cookeville District of the Tennessee Highway Patrol has been promoted to Lieutenant.
Mark Dial is among fifteen members of the THP who were formally recognized for promotions in a special ceremony Thursday at the Tennessee Highway Patrol Training Center in Nashville. The announcement was made by Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security officials Commissioner Bill Gibbons, Deputy Commissioner Larry Godwin, Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott, and Assistant Commissioner David Purkey were on-hand to congratulate the employees.
A commissioned state trooper since 1997, Dial’s first assignment was in White County in the Cookeville District. Dial went on to serve as a Road Trooper in White County for nine years. In late 2006, Dial was promoted to Sergeant in Putnam County, where he served for 14 months before transferring to DeKalb County as a Patrol Sergeant over both Dekalb and Smith Counties, where he is currently assigned. Throughout his career, Dial has served as a member of the THP Riot Team, and after being promoted to the rank of Sergeant, he was selected as a Squad Leader on the Riot Squad. Dial is member of the THP Honor Guard. In May of 2011, Dial became the “Officer in Charge” of the Honor Guard.
(Photo above: From L-R, Deputy Commissioner Larry Godwin, Commissioner Bill Gibbons, Lt. Mark Dial, Colonel Tracy Trott, Major Cheryl Sanders, Captain R.C. Christian)

Due to federal government spending cuts with sequestration, L.B.J & C Head Start will be adjusting its schedule in the twelve counties it serves including DeKalb starting this August.
“As everyone knows it’s a federal decision across the board, across the nation and Head Start did suffer from that,” said Dorothy Pippin, L.B.J. & C. Head Start Director in an interview with WJLE Thursday. ” It is estimated that nationwide 70,000 children may lose their services of Head Start. In the state of Tennessee its estimated that 1,200 children may lose services of Head Start,” she said.

“L.B.J. & C. has worked it out to where we will not reduce the number of children that we are serving,” said Pippin. “However we’ve had to make other adjustments. Staff will be going to seven hours a day versus eight so they will be cut one hour. Our operation will be from 7:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., cutting about an hour back from the services to the children who stay all day,” she said.
Locally at the Smithville Head Start Center, thirteen employees will be affected. “We have four classrooms here with eight education staff. We have two cooks, a family service person and an assistant. We also have a custodian. A total of thirteen staff. This will take affect next August when they return to work from being laid off this summer,” said Pippin.
“The central office staff, the administrative staff hours will be cut beginning May 1,” she added.
The Smithville Head Start Center serves 74 children ages three and four. While it is not good news that the cuts are coming, Pippin said at least no one is losing their job and Head Start services are still being provided to the children. “Hopefully this is not going to have a real large impact on anyone. Its bad news but it is good news because nobody is losing their job. They are not losing any of their benefits. They are losing one hour a day which will amount to five hours a week. I’m also concerned about the children and families but I believe we can all make adjustments and make this work,” she said.
L.B.J. & C Head Start will also be closing for the summer a few days earlier than normal this year according to Pippin. “We will be closing our Head Start Centers on April 26 for the children. We have extra days built into our program and all of it depends on the weather and how bad the winters are. But normally we close out the first two or three days of May so it will only affect maybe two or three days,” she said.
Pippin said she is hopeful federal funding will be restored for the Head Start program. “There is a possibility that our money will be restored and we’re hoping that will happen. If it does everything will go back to normal. I hope everyone will continue to support our program and send their children because Head Start is a wonderful program,” said Pippin.
L.B.J. & C. Head Start is currently accepting applications for the next school year which begins in August to provide free comprehensive child development services to children 3-5 years of age from low-income families in a full day program. Services are also offered to meet the special needs of children with disabilities. L.B.J.& C. Head Start helps all children succeed.
L.B.J.& C. Head Start provides children with activities that help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically. The L.B.J.& C Head Start recognizes that, as parents, you are the first and most important teachers of your children. They will welcome your involvement in L.B.J.& C. Head Start activities, and will work as partners with you to help your child and family progress.
Children who attend L.B.J.&C. Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities, receive free medical and dental care, free healthy meals and snacks, and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe environment.
L.B.J.& C. Head Start staff members will offer your child love, acceptance, understanding, and the opportunity to learn and to experience success.
For more information contact the Smithville Head Start Center at 615-597-5168.

Potential candidates have two weeks to decide if they want to run for Alderman in the Smithville Municipal Election in June.
The qualifying deadline is 12 noon on Thursday, March 21
The three incumbent aldermen up for re-election, Gayla Hendrix, Shawn Jacobs, and Danny Washer all plan to run. All three have picked up their qualifying petitions with the election commission office and all three have returned them.
Three others, Josh Miller, Anthony Scott, and Aaron Meeks have picked up petitions. Miller and Scott have returned their petitions to the election commission office.
The election will be held on Tuesday, June 18. The terms of the three elected will begin July 1 and run through August 2016. The aldermen-elect will serve a one time- three year term. Thereafter, the terms of office for these three positions will be for four years beginning with the city election in August 2016, subject to final approval of proposed changes in the city charter.
For more information, contact the DeKalb County Election Commission Office at 597-4146

The City of Smithville has apparently sprung some water leaks.
Todd Bowman, Supervisor of the Water Treatment Plant, informed the mayor and aldermen Monday night that even after fixing a major leak recently, the system is still pumping more water than it should be for this time of year which is indicative of more leaks.

The city has leak detecting equipment but it is older and not as reliable as new devices now available. Bowman said the city could contract with someone to come in with newer equipment to help locate the leaks throughout the system at a cost of $5,600. The city also has the option of purchasing new leak detecting devices for around $2,600.
Bowman said the amount of water the city is pumping has been ramping up in recent months. “Theoretically each month, you should pump about the same amount of water and you should meter out the same amount unless you have new businesses or industries come in. If you look at November 2011 you can see the amount of water was at 47.9 million gallons. In November 2012 is was 49.7 million gallons. That’s when I noticed we had a leak,” said Bowman. ” In December 2011 it was 49 million and December 2012 it was 54.8 million. Then they found the big leak and fixed it at the end of January,” he said.
According to Bowman, the problem has persisted even after the leak was fixed. “In January 2012 it was 49 million and January 2013 it was 56.4 million. In February 2012 it was 46.1 million and February 2013 it was 50 million. Normally in the winter your water (usage) will ramp down. There are no pools or gardens being watered and no lawns. I just wanted you to look at these numbers because I think the system still has a few problems out there. If you compare the numbers to a year ago, they are extremely high. We’re up to about two million gallons (usage) per day. When I started we were at 1.7 million per day. You can just gradually see the water ramping up and it should be vice versa right now. In the winter it should fall down and pick back up in the spring. If it stays like this we’ll be pumping up to 60 million gallons (per month) by summer. We have talked to a leak survey guy who said he could come in and do the whole system and the whole 54 mile of main for $5,600. He will walk every main in the city. He will spot the leaks and put an “x” on the road and then you have the guys go out and repair the leaks,” said Bowman.
Mayor Jimmy Poss said he preferred the city purchasing its own new leak detecting equipment. “We’ve talked about buying this equipment. We’ve got one (leak detector). Its older and not as good. It won’t detect like this (new equipment). I’d like to buy it. We’ve got the people to do it (find and repair the leaks).” said Mayor Poss.

The American Red Cross has launched its official Tornado App, putting lifesaving information right in the hands of people who live in, visit or have loved ones in tornado-prone areas.
This free app—available in English or Spanish—gives iPhone, iPad and Android smart phone and tablet users instant access to local and real-time information, so they know what to do before, during and after a tornado. The app includes a high-pitched siren and “tornado warning!” alert that signals people when a NOAA tornado warning has been issued in their area – even if the app is closed. An “all clear!” alert lets users know when a tornado warning has expired or has been cancelled.
“Tornadoes often happen in the overnight hours when people are sleeping,” said Kathy Nesmith, Chapter Executive, Caney Fork Chapter. “The audible alerts in this app can save lives – even if users can’t monitor the weather because they are away from radio, TV or in places where weather band radios may not work.”
Other features of the app include:
·Location-based NOAA tornado, severe thunderstorm and flood watch and warning alerts;
· Enhanced weather maps;
· One-touch “I’m safe” messaging that allows users to broadcast reassurance to family and friends that they are out of harm’s way;
·Simple steps and checklists people can use to create an emergency plan and share it with household members;
· Preloaded content that gives users instant access to critical action steps, even without mobile connectivity;
·Toolkit with flashlight, strobe light and audible alarm;
·Locations of open Red Cross shelters; and
· Badges users can earn through interactive quizzes and share on social networks.
Launched during National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, the Tornado App is the latest in a series of mobile apps created by the Red Cross, the nation’s leader in emergency preparedness. The apps have been used to help save lives during hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires.
“The Red Cross has made great strides in putting vital information in the hands of people who need it during emergencies. In fact, our apps are now on more than two million mobile devices across the country,” added Nesmith.
Mobile activity soared due to Superstorm Sandy:
* More than 400,000 people downloaded the Red Cross Hurricane App;
· Nearly 6 million NOAA weather alerts were sent;
·Preparedness content was the most popular feature of the app followed by alerts and the shelter locator;
· The average time spent using the app increased 300 percent; and
· The app had 15 million page views.
Right after the storm, the Hurricane App was updated with real-time recovery information including Red Cross shelter and feeding sites, FEMA sites, open gas stations and warming centers to help those affected by the storm.
The Tornado App, along with the others, can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps. Apps can help prepare people for disasters, but they are not a substitute for training. Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED training empowers people to know how to respond to emergencies in case advanced medical help is delayed. People can visit redcross.org/takeaclass for course information and to register.
The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters each year and we help people get ready to respond to emergencies by providing these apps for free. The Red Cross needs the help of the public to continue this lifesaving effort. People can make a donation to the Red Cross by going to redcross.org, texting REDCROSS to 90999 or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS.