The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce recently presented a Milestone Award to the New Bildad Primitive Baptist Church in celebration of the church’s Bicentennial.
Elder Ricky Arnold, pastor of the church, says the church has been in the Seven Springs-Keltonburg community for 200 years.” We want to take this opportunity to thank God for His amazing Grace. In 200 years, the church has probably touched the lives of a lot of people and families that are here in DeKalb County. We’d love for those folks to come back and visit us.”
“The church divided in 1854 and the church that became known as Old Bildad changed their original church covenant but the church that became known as New Bildad still holds the church covenant and the Articles of Faith from 1809 and we still practice and worship as they did 200 years ago. We have a rich history and we want to thank God for that.”
Pictured from left:
Debbie Arnold, Pastor Ricky Arnold, Deacon Ralph Arnold, Chamber Director
Suzanne Williams

A 33 year old Smithville woman was injured in a one vehicle accident Wednesday morning on Highway 70 in Alexandria near Highway 53.
Trooper Darrell Knowles of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Lynda M. Neville was traveling west on Highway 70 in a 2006 Kia when she went off the right side of the roadway, overcorrected, came back across the left side of the road, hit a road sign, a ditch, and a culvert.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Rescue team were summoned to the scene to extricate Neville from her vehicle. She was airlifted from nearby by a Life Force Helicopter Ambulance and flown to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.
Trooper Knowles says Neville’s injuries were not believed to have been life threatening.
Others on the scene were members of DeKalb EMS, the Alexandria Police Department, the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department, and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

The DeKalb County Tigers snapped a two game losing skid Friday night with an 18 to 15 win at York Institute.
The victory improves the Tigers record to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in District 8AA.
Neither team scored in the first quarter and points were precious in the second quarter.
York Institute’s first half score came on a four yard Matt Brown touchdown run with 7:37 left in the second period. The P.A.T. kick was good and the Dragons led 7-0.
The Tigers only points of the first half came on the leg of kicker Zach Taylor who connected on a 31 yard field goal with 3:35 left in the second quarter to trim the Dragon lead to 7-3. That was the half time score.
Taylor was called upon for another 31 yard field goal try with 10:04 left in the third period and again came through to pull the Tigers to within one at 7-6.
DeKalb County got their first touchdown of the night later in the third period on a 12 yard run by Tyler Weatherby. The two point conversion attempt failed but the Tigers led 12-7. That was the score at the end of the third period.
York Institute took the lead again with 10:34 left in the fourth period on a 45 yard punt return by Tyrel Asberry. The Dragons also scored on the two point conversion try and pulled ahead of the Tigers 15 to 12.
DeKalb County scored it’s next go ahead touchdown with 7:38 left in the fourth period on a five yard quarterback keeper by Hunter Poteete. Taylor’s P.A.T. attempt was no good but the Tigers led 18 to 15.
On their final drive, the Dragons were moving the ball on the ground against the Tigers and found themselves in scoring position with less than a minute and a half left in the game, but Abram Edwards picked off a pass by the Dragon quarterback to seal York Institute’s fate and preserve a DeKalb County lead and victory.

Smithville Police, investigating a reported child neglect case Thursday, found drugs and made five arrests at a residence on West Main Street.
Chief Richard Jennings says 52 year old Billy Joe Rigsby and 44 year old Marla A. Turner of 214 West Main Street are charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance for resale, possession of drug paraphernalia, and simple possession. 19 year old Phyllis Danielle Lack of 214 West Main Street is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. 24 year old David Franklin Turner and 21 year old Toni Michelle Turner are charged with child abuse and neglect.
Officer Travis Bryant says he initially responded to a call of a child in the street and a subsequent investigation of a possible child neglect case was conducted by Detective Jerry Hutchins, who responded to the home of Billy Joe Rigsby and Marla Turner at 214 West Main Street along with Drema Edel of the Department of Children Services. Upon arrival Detective Hutchins and Edel spoke with both David and Toni Turner, the parents of the child. Danielle Lack,.Billy Joe Rigsby, Marla Turner were also at the residence. Rigsby and Marla Turner gave the officers consent to search the premises and Chief Jennings, Patrolman Matt Farmer, K-9 Officer Bradley Tatrow and Patrolman Randy King joined Detective Hutchins at the scene.
The search revealed a bottle containing yellow pills believed to be K-4 Dilaudid. Several clean and dirty needles were also found through out the home along with several cut straws containing residue and a prescription belonging to someone who was not present.
Bond for Rigsby and Marla Turner was set at $30,000 each $5,000 each for David and Toni Turner. All five defendants are to appear in court October 22nd.
36 year old John Allan Judkins of 4762 Jefferson Road was arrested Thursday, October 1st for possession of drug paraphernalia. According to the report, on that day Officer Bradley Tatrow observed a vehicle driving erratically on West Broad Street near Stewart’s Auto. Upon activation of blue lights to signal the vehicle to stop, the automobile continued to travel for about ¾ miles before stopping. While behind the vehicle, Officer Tatrow saw the passenger of the vehicle reach into the back seat. Upon making contact with the driver, Dale Evans and passenger John Judkins, Officer Tatrow immediately executed a safety pat down of the men for weapons. Evans gave verbal consent to search his vehicle and one used hypodermic needle along with a cut off straw with powdery residue were recovered from the back seat area where Tatrow had observed Judkins reaching while the vehicle was in motion. Judkins was placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia and transported to the Smithville Police Department. His bond was set at $1,000 and his court date is October 29th.
47 year old Dawn Elizabeth Beavers of 731 Webb Lane was arrested Friday, October 2nd for theft of property. Detective Jerry Hutchins arrested Beavers for allegedly taking $20 scratch off tickets from Kwik N Ezy, where she worked, and putting the tickets in her purse without paying for them. According to the report, Beavers has committed this act several times in the past. The total value of the stolen tickets amounts to more than $10,000. Beavers allegedly cashed in the winning tickets at other stores. Her bond is set at $10,000 and her court date is October 22nd.
28 year old Julian G Soto of 203 Bryant St was arrested September 25th for driving under the influence. According to the report, on that date Officer Bradley Tatrow observed a vehicle traveling 55 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone on Highway 146 North. Upon stopping the vehicle, Officer Tatrow made contact with Soto, the driver. Soto had an odor of an alcoholic beverage about his person and he was unsteady on his feet. Soto submitted to and performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He was placed under arrest for DUI. Soto refused a chemical test to determine the alcohol/drug content of his blood and he was charged with a violation of the implied consent law. His bond was set at $1,000 and his court date is October 15th.
21 year old Pablo O. Valenciano was arrested on September 27th for violation of probation. Officer Randy King reports that he pulled over Valenciano for failing to yield to a stop sign at the corner of Miller Road and Anthony Avenue in Smithville. He did not have a license, insurance or registration. After issuing citations, Officer King was advised that Valenciano was wanted for violation of probation in Warren County. He was placed under arrest and transported to the police department.
Meanwhile, Chief Jennings says citizens and business operators need to be aware that counterfeit twenty (20) dollar bills are circulating in the city and county. If you receive one of these bills, please call Central Dispatch at 215-3000 and they will send an officer or deputy to make a report.

The DeKalb County Beer Board, following a hearing, voted five to nothing Thursday night to revoke the off premises permit of Nicoles Market at 7024 Short Mountain Highway.
The owner of the store, Areceli Soto has ten days to file an appeal to the Chancery Court through her attorney Frank Buck. Unless a court injunction or restraining order is sought to prevent the beer board from enforcing the revocation, no further beer sales will be permitted at Nicoles Market effective immediately.
Ms. Soto, who apparently speaks little or no English, answered questions from her attorney through her brother who served as an interpreter during the hearing. Her brother also apparently works in the store.
Ms Soto said she has spent about $5,000 upgrading the coolers in the store where the beer is kept and that she has about $5,000 worth of beer in inventory. That investment, she said, would be lost if her beer permit were revoked and she might even have to go out of business. Ms. Soto said she would like to have at least thirty days to dispose of her inventory.
Chairman Mack Harney asked County Attorney Hilton Conger whether the beer board could vote to revoke now and have it take effect November 1st. Conger said a revocation is immediate and the only way it could be postponed would be for the board to delay it’s action to revoke until another meeting.
In November 2008, the beer board granted the off premises permit for Nicole’s Market apparently not knowing the store is less than 2,000 feet from the Mount Pisgah Free Will Baptist Church, a violation of the county’s distance regulations
DeKalb County has a rule forbidding the sale, storage and manufacture of beer and like beverages within 2,000 feet (or some lesser distance) of schools, churches, and other places of public gathering.
In making his case for the revocation, Conger said the county commission, in 1939 adopted a resolution establishing the distance requirement and that Nicole’s Market is clearly in violation.”The quarterly court of DeKalb County that met in regular session in October 1939 adopted regulations for the guidance of the beer committee which states that no permit shall be issued for the sale, storage, or manufacture of beer at locations which are within 2,000 feet of any church, school, or other place of public gathering. And then we have a survey of Mr. Eugene O’Neil showing that Nicoles Market is 1,439 feet from building to building (to the church). That would be the proof that the county would offer for the revocation of this permit, that it is certainly within the 2,000 foot rule.”
Buck asked the board to consider the predicament in which this places Ms. Soto and her family.”Gentlemen, these people didn’t lie to anybody. They didn’t tell any lies here. The board should have probably checked it out (distance between the store and church). We should have probably checked it out. But certainly it’s not a circumstance where these people willfully tried to trick anybody. It would be my hope that the board would consider the possibility of permitting these folks to have sixty days to dispose of their inventory, thirty days, or forty five days. Had this been a fraud case, had this been somebody coming in here and not telling the truth, it would be a different matter. But that’s not what happened here.”
The board, apparently unwilling to wait any longer, voted to revoke the permit. Board member Harrell Tolbert made the motion, based on the proof presented by Conger. Board member Frank Thomas seconded the motion. Board members Harney, Jim Stagi, and Basil Dick Knowles joined Tolbert and Thomas in voting for the revocation. Board members Robert Rowe and Edward Frazier were absent.
Approximately twenty five people, mostly residents of the community, attended the meeting and looked on quietly during the hearing as the board delivered it’s decision.

The DeKalb County Jail and Jail Annex have again met standards for re-certification by the Tennessee Corrections Institute.
Sheriff Patrick Ray, in a prepared statement, says “On July 28th, the Tennessee Corrections Institute did an inspection of the DeKalb County Jail and the DeKalb County Jail Annex. The report states that at the time of inspection the jail was not overcrowded, all records and logs appeared to be in order, and all medical exams were up-to-date. The report goes on to say that the kitchen was clean, the dietician letter was current, and the physical plant appeared to be in good state of repair and was clean. At the time of inspection, there were 62 males and 20 females incarcerated in the DeKalb County Jail. The inspector recommended the jail to be certified.”
Sheriff Ray adds that on Thursday October 1st, he received the certification from the Tennessee Corrections Institute that says the DeKalb County Jail has complied with the Tennessee Minimum Standards for local Correctional Facilities.

The DeKalb County Trustee’s office mailed out the 2009 DeKalb County property tax statements Wednesday
DeKalb County Trustee Sean Driver says tax payers have until February 27th, 2010 to pay their tax bill but if you pay in either October or November, you’ll get a discount. “We have prepared tax cards, we mailed those September 30th, and today we are in collection mode. We are preparing to get ready for all you who want to come in and pay. Of course, we are collecting today but the last day to pay is February 27th, 2010. That falls on a Saturday and our office will be open all day that day until 4:30 p.m. We are offering discounts this year, as passed by resolution of the county commission. We are offering a 2% discount through the last day of October and a 1% discount if you pay in November. That resolution (establishing the discounts) was passed after the county budgets were approved so the resolution (notice about the discounts) didn’t get printed on your (tax notice) card to say that discounts will be offered but we want you to take advantage of this if at all possible.”
Seniors, be sure to check with the office on the state property tax relief program. The income limit is $25,360 for single or combined household incomes.
Trustee Driver says Tennessee’s tax relief program is state-funded and provides a rebate of credit for all or a portion of the property taxes on residential property owned and occupied by low-income elderly, low-income disabled, and disabled veteran homeowners and their surviving spouses. “In order for the elderly to apply for tax relief, you must be age 65 on or before December 31st, 2009 to meet the elderly requirements. To be a disabled applicant, you must be 100% disabled as deemed by the Social Security Administration or some administration thereof. Disabled veterans can get a tax relief as well. They do not have to report their income but they have to be 100% disabled as deemed by the Veterans Administration. We can sign you up now through April 5th, 2010. Remember, whenever you get ready to pay your taxes, the taxes must be paid in full before we can ever submit your application to the state (for property tax relief).This year the income limit to apply, using your 2008 income including income from all owners, is $25,360. That’s using all sources of income in 2008. You will be applying for 2009 tax relief using 2008 income.”
Driver says the law now requires applicants to include their spouses income when seeking state property tax relief. “This is a state property tax relief program through the State of Tennessee and this year, under new legislation passed by the state, if you are legally married and your spouse’s name is not on the deed, you are still required to submit your spouse’s 2008 income. In the past you did not have to do that but now if your spouse’s name is not on the deed, whether living with you or not living with you, you are required this year to submit your spouse’s income.”
Driver adds that all applicants approved for state property tax relief will get a little extra relief thanks to recent action by the county commission. “We have gone to the county commission and proposed that all applicants that are state approved will get an extra $50 off of their tax bill. This year all applicants are getting $91 off along with an extra $50 off for a total of $141. And if you pay in October or November you will get the one or two percent discount as well.”
Property Tax Relief Eligibility requirements for Elderly Homeowners are as follows:
Must be 65 or older on or before December 31st, 2009
Must provide evidence of age (i.e. driver’s license, birth certificate, marriage license)
Must own and use the property on which you are applying as your primary residence
Qualified applicants will receive property tax relief on the first $25,000 of their property’s market value.
According to the deed of the property, Must have records of the combined 2008 income of all owners of the property not exceeding $25,360. Income (i.e. social security, SSI pension, etc)
Eligibility requirements for Disabled Homeowners are as follows:
Must have been totally and permanently disabled as rated by the Social Security Administration or any other qualified agency on or before December 31st, 2009
Must provide evidence of age (i.e. driver’s license, birth certificate, marriage license)
Must own and use the property on which you are applying as your primary residence
Must have records of the combined 2008 income of all owners of the property not exceeding $25,360
Eligibility requirements for Disabled Veteran Homeowners and/or widow or widower:
Must own and use the property on which you are applying as your primary residence.
Your disability must meet one of the following categories:
A service-connected disability that resulted in (1) Paraplegia, (2) Permanent paralysis of both legs and lower part of the body resulting from traumatic injury or disease to the spinal cord or brain, (3) Loss or loss of use of, two or more limbs, and (4) Legal blindness.
A total and permanent disability rating from a service-connected disability
A 100% total and permanent disability rating from being a prisoner of war.
The Veteran’s Administration Office determines eligibility from the applicant’s information in the Trustee’s Office forwarded to the State of Tennessee.
If you meet these requirements you may apply in the Trustee’s Office as soon as you receive your property tax bill. The deadline to apply is 35 days after February 27th, 2010 or April 5th, 2010.
If you have any additional questions concerning the tax relief program, come by the Trustee’s office in the courthouse or call 597-5176.

If the numbers are accurate, DeKalb County had record sales tax collections in July, up over 40% from the same month last year.
County Mayor Mike Foster said Monday that the latest report from the state shows that DeKalb County is due to receive $384-thousand 842 in local option sales tax collections. Foster says that’s the largest in the history of the county.
But Henry Bowman, Senior analyst for the Upper Cumberland Development District doubts that DeKalb County had a 40% growth when the Upper Cumberland Region and the state continue to suffer from the economy. “DeKalb County showed a 40.2% increase this July compared to July, 2008 whereas the region, as a whole, was down 2.4% and the State of Tennessee was down 8.2%. I suspect there’s some sort of one time anomaly that got worked into that. I don’t have anyway of knowing what it is or what caused it, if it’s a one time thing, or some sort of recurring thing. But we’ll know when the next report comes out. I have results of the state sales tax only (not local option sales tax). That’s the way I do it (analyze it) because the state sales tax is uniform throughout the state. Every county has the same rate. If you get into local sales tax you get into variations that make comparisons difficult. DeKalb shows $1-million 135 thousand dollars in August of this year (July collections) compared to $809 thousand dollars a year prior and that’s where the 40.2% increase comes in. But if you look for the full twelve months, which is something I also do, for the twelve months ending in August, the increase for DeKalb County over the corresponding period a year ago was only 0.3% so that makes me suspect that there’s something out of whack with the August monthly number. The most promising thing I see about this particular report is the fact that our regional numbers are not down as much as the state. The state’s numbers are down 8.2% and ours (Upper Cumberland) are down by just 2.4% so that’s sort of encouraging in a kind of back hand way. It seems to be that the numbers are getting less worse as we go on. We’re going to expect the deterioration to lessen because we’re working off of a lower base than we have in the past.”
In May 2007, DeKalb County voters passed a referendum increasing the local option sales tax rate locally from 1.5% to 2.75%. Foster says that move alone has helped local coffers. “We started keeping up with the sales tax figures in 2006-07 and in July of that year the money we received was $173-thousand 154. The money was collected two months prior in May. The money we received last year, in July 2008, was $340-thousand 838 dollars (collected in May). This year, it was $348-thousand 993 dollars in July (collected in May). The biggest month we’ve ever had in the history of DeKalb County was July, 2009 at $384-thousand 842 dollars which is reflected in the August report from the state. We haven’t received the money for this yet. The report has just come. I think a lot of it has to do with tourism and people are probably buying more at home, spending money here rather than taking it to another county, and the Jamboree probably contributes to it.”
DeKalb County’s unemployment rate for August held steady at 10.7% and while that is still too high, Bowman admits that it is better than most in the Upper Cumberland. In fact, he says the only county that had a better jobless rate in August among the fourteen county region was Putnam, at 10.4%. Still DeKalb County’s rate is much higher than a year ago.”When we look at a year ago, in August 2008, the DeKalb jobless rate was only 6.8%, but that is pretty typical. Every county is up dramatically in that time period. For the region as a whole, the rate was 12.2% and for the state as a whole it was 10.8%. So in that regard DeKalb County is doing rather well. Our (regions) highest unemployment rate for August was 14.5% in Jackson and White counties. You’re (DeKalb) doing somewhat better. The national recession has affected all of us. It’s just a matter of time before we overcome all that, I just don’t know when that will be but things don’t seem to be deteriorating as badly as they have been.”
County Mayor Foster says while the local jobless rate remains high, he is hopeful for better days ahead for DeKalb County. “Some of the industries that we have been going around talking to are even seeing maybe a little increase. They’re hiring some extra people. One of them has put in for a contract and if they get it, they may get 112 new jobs even above what they have been having. We’ll probably know about that in December. We’ve got some factories and industries that have been here a long, long time. They were healthy going into this (recession) and maybe had some fund balances built up and still maintain quite a bit of their business. We’ve got some business that have been here for twenty five years and I think they are able to withstand that better with their after market products that go out but we still have some factories where their orders are down some while we have some that are picking up really well.’

The Alexandria mayor and alderman-elect were sworn into office Tuesday night prior to the city council meeting at city hall.
City attorney Vester Parsley administered the oath to Mayor Ria Baker and Alderman Tony Tarpley who were elected unopposed earlier this month.
During the meeting, the aldermen appointed a new member, Pat Jackson, to fill a vacancy on the board. Jackson was also sworn into office by Parsley.
The city government leaders now include Mayor Ria Baker and Aldermen Tony Tarpley, Derrick Baker, Shelia Clayborn, Maureen Tubbs, and Pat Jackson. One alderman seat remains vacant.
(Pictured left to right: Pat Jackson, Tony Tarpley, and Ria Baker)

DeKalb County recorded the third highest Travel-Related Expenditures in the Upper Cumberland Region in 2008, according to recently released figures from the U.S. Travel Association.
The report shows that travel-related expenditures in DeKalb County were $35.46 million in 2008.
This reflects a $1.1 million (3.2%) increase over the previous year’s figure of $34.36 million.
DeKalb County also experienced an increase in each of the report’s other four categories; travel related employment 280, up by 1.1% over 2007; payroll $7.2 million, up by 1.2%; local taxes $4.6 million, a 4% increase; and state taxes collected in DeKalb County $1.9 million, up by 2.5% over 2007. The tax relief per household in DeKalb County due to tourism is $747, determined by dividing the total sales tax figure by the number of households.
Henry Bowman, Senior Analyst for the Upper Cumberland Development District says these numbers reflect the economic impact that Center Hill Lake has on DeKalb County. ” Within the fourteen county region, DeKalb County is number three. It was surpassed only by Cumberland (with travel-related expenditures of $94.17 million) and Putnam ($99.78) which are much larger counties and who have the benefit of having the Interstate go through them. This high showing in DeKalb County is undoubtedly directly related to the presence of Center Hill Lake and all the tourist businesses associated with those developments here. They estimate a payroll in excess of seven million dollars and almost three hundred jobs associated with the tourism industry in DeKalb County so it’s quite a significant impact.’
Bowman says these statistics are compiled by the U.S. Travel Data Center. “They do it on a contract basis with the folks at the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. The department contracts with these people to generate these numbers. They start with a national kind of aggregate number and sort of step that down to the state level, and then down to a local level. They use things like retail sales at restaurants, hotel-motel expenditures, and various things they build into the model. They gather the basic data from the state and local level and at the Tennessee Department of Revenue based on the sales tax collections.”
2008 Travel-Related Expenditures for the other counties in the Upper Cumberland Region are as follows;
Warren- $22.18 million
White- $17.19 million
Fentress- $11.30 million
Smith- $8.91 million
Van Buren- $7.99 million
Overton- $7.23 million
Pickett- $6.68 million
Clay- $6.69 million
Macon- $6.27 million
Cannon- $3.54 million
Jackson- $2.07 million