Charles Robinson Wins Re-election To School Board

Second District School Board Member Charles Robinson was re-elected Thursday beating back a challenge from John Allen.
Robinson won with 374 votes (62%) to Allen’s 222 votes (37%)
Here’s how the vote breaks down by precinct:
Liberty- Robinson 126, Allen 38
Dowelltown- Robinson 61, Allen 42
Snow Hill- Robinson 71, Allen 70
Early Voting- Robinson 111, Allen 70
Absentees- Robinson 5, Allen 2.
Others running for the board of education unopposed and their vote totals include:
First District Incumbent John David Foutch- 347
Third District Incumbent Kenny L. Rhody- 475
Fourth District- Joan Draper- 296.
Seventh District Incumbent- Johnny W. Lattimore- 360
Draper will succeed Keith Garrett who did not seek re-election.

Three Aldermen Elected In Dowelltown

Dowelltown voters elected three aldermen Thursday.
The winners are Brad Driver, Tom R. Duggin, Jr., and Keith Farler. Joe L. Bogle lost his bid for election to the board.
Driver received a total of 85 votes, Duggin had 70, Farler 58, and Bogle 33.

Rochelle Carries DeKalb In State Senate Primary Race

Former State Senator Bob Rochelle beat Aubrey T. Givens in a primary battle Thursday for the right to take on Republican Incumbent Senator Mae Beavers in November.
In DeKalb County Rochelle won 877(54%) to 734 (45%)
Beavers, who ran unopposed for the GOP nomination, received 819 complimentary votes in DeKalb County.
Rochelle carried the following DeKalb County precincts: Alexandria- 66 to 60, Edgar Evins State Park- 7 to 2, Dowelltown- 29 to 21, Courthouse 67 to 57, Johnson’s Chapel- 17 to 14, Blue Springs- 25 to 23, and Early Voting 376 to 235. Rochelle had 18 absentees.
Givens carried the following DeKalb County precincts: Temperance Hall- 26 to 21, Liberty- 22 to 16, Snow Hill- 22 to 18, Middle School 60 to 58, Cherry Hill 7 to 6, Rock Castle 9 to 8, Elementary School- 55 to 53, Keltonburg- 33 to 24, and Church of Christ Annex 54 to 43. Givens had 9 absentees.
Rochelle and Givens tied at 25 each at Belk.
Meanwhile, Democratic State Representative Frank Buck, who ran unopposed in the primary Thursday, received 1,784 complimentary votes in DeKalb County while his November challenger, Republican Terri Lynn Weaver, got 629 complimentary DeKalb County votes. She was unopposed in the GOP Primary.
In other races, 6th District Democratic Congressman Bart Gordon defeated his primary challenger J. Patrick Lyons on Thursday.
Gordon received 1,969 DeKalb County votes to 151 for Lyons.
Republican David R. Davis, who was unopposed in the GOP primary, received 554 votes here. Davis will face Gordon in the November General Election.
In the U.S. Senate Primaries, DeKalb County voters choose Harold Ford, Jr. as the their favorite Democrat and Bob Corker as their favorite Republican.
In DeKalb County Ford received, 1,346 votes followed by Gary G. Davis with 221 votes, John Jay Hooker with 189, Charles E. Smith with 70, and Al Strauss with 27 votes.
In the GOP primary, Corker got 476 DeKalb County votes, followed by Ed Bryant with 303, Van Hilleary with 261, and Tate Harrison with 10.
Corker and Ford will square off in the November General Election. The winner will succeed Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bill Frist, who did not seek re-election.
In the Governor primary races, Democratic Incumbent Phil Bredesen received 1,755 DeKalb County votes followed by John Jay Hooker with 207, Tim Sevier with 111, and Walt Ward with 27.
In the Republican primary for Governor, Jim Bryson received 357 DeKalb County votes followed by David M. Farmer with 80, Joe Kirkpatrick with 58, Wayne Thomas Bailey with 49, Mark Albertini with 47, Wayne Young 25, and Timothy Thomas with 20.
Bryson will try to unseat Bredesen in the November General Election.

Smithville Police Destroy Old Evidence No Longer Needed

The Smithville Police Department destroyed approximately 171 items of old evidence on Tuesday.
The evidence ranged from drugs including marijuana , pills , cocaine , and methamphetamine to knifes, brass knuckles, swords, moonshine , and other items.
The evidence destroyed were all used in cases that have been disposed of in court and are no longer needed by the police for prosecution.
Chief Gus Clemente and Det. Sergeant Chris Russell said that destroying these items helps take some of the drugs and weapons off the streets and makes sure the items do not get back into the wrong hands.

Election Day Has Arrived

DeKalb County voters will elect a new Sheriff and Trustee and decide several other races on Thursday.
Voting at all sixteen precincts in DeKalb County begins at 8:00 a.m. August 3rd and ends at 7:00 p.m.
WJLE will have LIVE election return coverage starting at 7:00 p.m. at the courthouse. Election results may also be viewed on-line at www.wjle.com.
The Election Commission has an announcement for all the voters in the 3rd District who vote at DeKalb Middle School on election day. The room normally used for voting is the old gym. There is no air conditioning in the gym and voting has been moved to another room at the Middle School. The room does have an outside door on the front of the building to the right of the main entrance. Look for the large signs that say “VOTE HERE”.
In addition to the DeKalb County General Election, voters will be casting ballots in the Tennessee Democratic and Republican Primaries for the offices of Governor, U.S. Senate, U.S.. House of Representatives, State Senate, State House of Representatives, State Executive Committeeman and committee woman.
A referendum will also be on the ballot asking voters to cast a yes or no vote on whether the local option sales tax should be increased from 1.5% to 2.75% which would make the total sales tax in DeKalb County go from 8.5% to 9.75%.
Dowelltown voters will also be electing three aldermen on August 3rd.
Voters will also be asked to vote “yes” or “no” on the retention of twenty seven State Supreme Court and Appellate Court Judges from across the state.
Democratic candidates on the ballot running for their party’s nomination in the state primary for Governor include Incumbent Phil Bredesen; John Jay Hooker of Nashville; Tim Sevier of Hixon; and Walt Ward of Chattanooga.
Republican candidates for Governor are Mark Albertini of Chattanooga; Wayne Thomas Bailey of Smyrna; Jim Bryson of Franklin; David M. Farmer of Kingston; Joe Kirkpatrick of Nashville; Timothy Thomas of Murfreesboro; and Wayne Young of Cleveland.
Candidates for State Senator, 17th District include Incumbent Mae Beavers of Mount Juliet, unopposed in the Republican Primary; and Democrats Bob Rochelle of Lebanon, and Aubrey T. Givens of Lebanon.
Candidates for State Representative, 40th District include Incumbent Frank Buck of Dowelltown, unopposed in the Democratic Primary; Terri Lynn Weaver of Lancaster, unopposed in the Republican Primary; and Independent candidate Carl Jones of Macon County.
Candidates for U.S. House of Representatives, 6th District are Incumbent Bart Gordon of Murfreesboro and J. Patrick Lyons of Bell Buckle in the Democratic Primary and David R. Davis of Brush Creek in the Republican Primary.
Democratic candidates for the U.S Senate are Harold Ford, Jr. of Memphis; Gary G. Davis of Nashville; John Jay Hooker of Nashville; Charles E. Smith of Chattanooga; and Al Strauss of Nashville.
Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate are Ed Bryant of Jackson; Tate Harrison of Dayton; Van Hilleary of Murfreesboro; and Bob Corker of Chattanooga.
Candidates in the DeKalb County General Election are as follows:
Democrat Myron Rhody and Republican Patrick Ray for Sheriff and Democrat Anthony (Doc) Green and Republican Sean Driver for Trustee;
Unopposed candidates include Democratic Incumbents County Mayor Mike Foster, Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack; County Clerk Mike Clayborn; Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen; General Sessions-Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook II; and Republican Incumbent Road Supervisor Kenny Edge.
Two county commissioners can be elected from each of the seven districts in the county. County Commission candidates are Democrats Elmer Ellis, Jr. and Charles Griffith and Republican Mason Carter in the first district; Republican Incumbent Bobby Joines and Democrats Jack Barton, and Shane Cook in the second district; Republican Randy Caplinger, and Democratic Incumbents Roy D. Merriman, and Jerry Scott in the third district; Incumbent Democrat Wayne Cantrell and Democrat Chris J. Smithson in the fourth district; Democratic Incumbent John D. Green and Democrat Jeffrey Barrett in the fifth district; Democratic Incumbents Jeff Barnes and Marshall Ferrell in the sixth district; and Democratic Incumbent Larry Summers and Democrat Willie E. Thomas in the seventh district.
In the 13th Judicial District; the candidates are as follows:
Democrat Ronald Thurman and Republican Jerry Burgess of Cookeville for Chancellor; Democratic Incumbent Lillie Ann Sells and Independent challenger David A. Patterson of Cookeville for Criminal Court Judge Part II; Democratic Incumbent Leon Burns, Jr. of Cookeville for Criminal Court Judge Part I; Democratic Incumbent John A. Turnbull of Livingston for Circuit Court Judge Part I; Democratic Incumbent John Maddux of Cookeville for Circuit Court Judge Part II; Democratic Incumbent William E. (Bill) Gibson of Cookeville for District Attorney General; and Democratic Incumbent David N. Brady and Republican challenger Samuel Harris of Cookeville for District Public Defender
Candidates for the School Board are Incumbent John David Foutch in the first district; Incumbent Charles L. Robinson and challenger John Allen in the second district; Incumbent Kenny L. Rhody in the third district; Joan Draper in the fourth district; and Incumbent Johnny Lattimore in the seventh district.
Candidates for Dowelltown Aldermen include Tom R. Duggin, Jr., Joe L. Bogle, Keith Farler; amd Brad Driver. Three can be elected.
Candidates for DeKalb County Democratic Executive Committee include Judy A. Slager and Betty Mildred Clayborn in the first district; Peggy Pursell and Dennis Slager in the second district; and Donna Emmons in the fifth district. More than one can be elected in each district.
Democratic Candidates for State Executive Committeewoman, 17th Senatorial District are Jennifer Kyle Bassett of Castalian Springs and Mary A. Patterson of Mount Juliet. Republican candidate for State Executive Committeewoman, 17th Senatorial District is Susan Witcher of Red Boiling Springs.
Democratic candidates for State Executive Committeeman, 17th Senatorial District are David R. Harper of Hartsville and Ben Johnson of Gordonsville. Republican candidates for State Executive Committeeman, 17th Senatorial District are Bob Ousley of Mount Juliet and Albert B. McCall, Sr. of Carthage.

Fire Damages Home On Possum Hollow Road

A fire Friday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. damaged the residence of John Barber at 125 Possum Hollow Road.
DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green says a neighbor reported smoke coming from the double wide mobile home.
Green says the DeKalb County Fire Department quickly responded and was able to extinguish the fire. ” Upon our arrival, we found heavy smoke coming from the eaves. We made entry and found fire coming from the living room wall behind an entertainment center. The fire was contained to the wall and a small portion of the attic just above the entertainment center. The remainder of the home received extensive smoke and heat damage. No one was at home at the time of the fire.”
Members of the Cookeville Hwy, Short Mountain Highway, and Liberty stations of the DeKalb County Fire Department responded along with the department’s tanker truck. DeKalb County
Sheriff’s deputies were on hand to provide traffic control.

Applicants Sought For Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Low-income households may be eligible to receive between $300 and $500 toward their electric, wood, coal, natural gas, LP gas or kerosene costs from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
UCHRA Executive Director, Phyllis R. Bennett, says the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency administers the program for a fourteen county area in the Upper Cumberland. Applications will be available and clients in DeKalb and Warren counties may apply August 7th through August 18th.
Applicants for LIHEAP assistance must be at or below 125% of the poverty level and must provide proof of all household income. Even individuals receiving benefit checks such as VA, SSI or Social Security will need to submit verification of their award amounts. Applicants must also submit a copy of a utility bill and or propane gas, wood, coal, or kerosene purchases.
Sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Human Services, LIHEAP provides assistance regardless of age, race, creed, national origin, handicap, or sex. Minorities are encouraged to apply.
Individuals interested in applying for LIHEAP may pick up an application at their local UCHRA office or at their local senior citizens center from August 7th through August 18th between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Appointments may be scheduled with agency personnel for individuals requiring assistance. Energy assistance awards are based on a priority point system and are not first come, first serve.

DeKalb County Man Charged With Growing Marijuana

The discovery of several marijuana plants Friday led to the arrest of a DeKalb County man.
Captain Mark Collins of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department says 43 year old Ray Martin has been charged with cultivating and manufacturing marijuana.
Collins says on Friday afternoon he received an anonymous tip that marijuana plants were being grown in pots at 455 Parsley Road off Cookeville Highway. When he went to the scene to investigate, Captain Collins found 18 marijuana plants, 3 to 4 feet tall, in pots next to Martin’s residence.
Martin was placed under arrest. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in General Sessions Court on the charges August 17th

Woodbury Man Injured In Motorcycle Accident

A 41 year old Woodbury man was injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday morning on Highway 146 near the Cannon County line in DeKalb County.
Trooper Brian Raymond of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Gerald F. Suess of Valley Drive, Woodbury was riding a 2006 Honda Shadow north on the Short Mountain Highway when he went off the road, through a ditch, and struck a culvert. Suess, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown from the motorcycle.
He was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital where he was treated and released.

A Total of 2,079 Vote During Early Voting Period

A total of 2,079 people cast ballots during the early voting period of July 14th – 29th at the courthouse.
The DeKalb County Election Commission reports the following daily voting breakdown: Friday, July 14th -139, Saturday, July 15th -148, Monday, July 17th-84, Tuesday, July 18th- 131, Wednesday, July 19th- 145, Thursday, July 20th- 240, Friday, July 21st- 132, Saturday, July 22nd- 114, Monday, July 24th- 120, Tuesday, July 25th- 111, Wednesday, July 26th -120, Thursday, July 27th- 224, Friday, July 28th- 147, and Saturday, July 29th- 224. These numbers also include the mail ballots received.
The DeKalb County Election Commission reminds you that Thursday, August 3rd is election day.
Polling places at all sixteen precincts across the county will be open Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
WJLE will have exclusive LIVE election return coverage starting Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. at the courthouse. WJLE will also have regular updates throughout the night on www.wjle.com.