Sean Driver won a decisive victory in his race for DeKalb County Trustee Thursday.
Driver, a Republican, defeated Democratic nominee Anthony (Doc) Green 3, 065 (72%) to 1,161 (27%).
Driver carried all sixteen precincts including Alexandria- 217 to 41, Temperance Hall- 82 to 14, Edgar Evins State Park 16 to 5, Liberty- 143 to17, Dowelltown- 101 to 25, Snow Hill- 133 to 25, Middle School- 230 to 79, Cherry Hill- 25 to 11, Rock Castle- 32 to 12, Courthouse- 163 to 77, Johnson’s Chapel- 79 to 21, Elementary School- 131 to 93, Blue Springs- 96 to 47, Belk- 69 to 47, Keltonburg- 67 to 60, Church of Christ Annex- 164 to 94, and Early Voting- 1, 253 to 470. Driver had 64 absentees to 23 for Green.
Driver will succeed Bobbie Young as Trustee. Young, who was first elected in 1986 will be completing her fifth term on August 31st.

When asked in Thursday’s election whether the local option sales tax should be increased from 1.5% to 2.75%, DeKalb County voters said “No”.
The referendum failed by a vote of 1,898 (53%) to 1,646 (46%), a difference of 252 votes.
The question failed in all but three precincts, Liberty, Middle School, and Rock Castle and the vote on the referendum at the courthouse ended in a tie.
County officials say passage of the referendum would have meant more funds for local governments. A majority of the extra revenue would have been earmarked for schools.
The following is a breakdown of the “For” and “Against” vote by precinct:
Alexandria: 108-for, 115-against
Temperance Hall: 38-for, 53-against
Edgar Evins State Park: 6-for, 16-against
Liberty: 75-for, 72-against
Dowelltown: 44-for, 53-against
Snow Hill: 61-for, 78-against
Middle School: 136-for, 118 against
Cherry Hill: 16-for, 19-against
Rock Castle: 28-for, 19-against
Courthouse: 103-for, 103-against
Johnson’s Chapel: 20-for, 77-against
Elementary School: 96-for, 101-against
Belk: 46-for, 49-against
Keltonburg: 46-for, 58 against
Blue Springs: 49-for, 81-against
Church of Christ Annex: 70-for, 114-against
Early Voting& Absentees: 704-for, 772-against

The DeKalb County Commission will have seven new members September 1st.
The new members are Democrats Elmer Ellis, Jr., Jack Barton, Chris J. Smithson, Jeffery Barrett, and Willie Thomas, and Republicans Mason Carter and Randy Caplinger.
The returning members are Republican Bobby Joines and Democrats Jerry D. Scott, Wayne Cantrell, John D. Green, Jeff Barnes, Marshall Ferrell, and Larry Summers.
Democrat Elmer Ellis, Jr. and Republican Mason Carter were elected Thursday in the first district beating Democratic challenger Charles Griffith.
Carter received 251 votes (39%), Ellis had 240 votes (37%) and Griffith got 142 votes(22%).
Here’s how the vote breaks down by precinct: Alexandria- Ellis 144, Carter 133, Griffith 93. Temperance Hall- Carter 67, Ellis 42, Griffith 19. Edgar Evins State Park- Ellis 9, Carter 8, Griffith 4. Early Voting- Carter 41, Ellis 38, Griffith 22. Absentees- Ellis 7, Griffith 4, and Carter 2.
Carter and Ellis will succeed Democrats Kenneth Clayborn and Shelie “Pee Wee” Askew who did not seek re-election.
In the second district, Democrat Jack Barton and Republican incumbent Bobby Joines were elected Thursday, beating Democratic challenger Shane Cook.
Joines won with 341 votes (41%). Barton received 316 votes (38%) and Cook garnered 171 votes (20%).
Here’s how the vote breaks down by precinct: Liberty- Joines 82, Barton 64, Cook 42. Dowelltown- Joines 75, Barton 46, and Cook 33. Snow Hill- Barton 93, Joines 71, and Cook 38. Early Voting- Barton 112, Joines 109, and Cook 54. Absentees- Joines and Cook each with 4 and one for Barton.
Barton will succeed Democrat Frank Thomas who did not seek re-election.
Republican Randy Caplinger and Democratic Incumbent Jerry D. Scott were elected in the third district. Democratic Incumbent Roy D. Merriman lost his bid for re-election.
Caplinger received 415 votes (43%). Scott had 287 votes (30%), and Merriman picked up 252 votes (26%).
Here’s how the vote breaks down: Middle School- Caplinger 189, Scott 114, Merriman 108. Early Voting- Caplinger 211, Scott 167, and Merriman 138. Absentees- Caplinger 15, and Scott and Merriman each with 6.
The two nominees in the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Districts were unopposed.
Democratic Incumbent Wayne Cantrell received 418 votes and fellow Democrat Chris J. Smithson had 321 complimentary votes in the Fourth District.
Democratic Incumbent John D. Green garnered 313 votes and fellow Democrat Jeffery Barrett had 258 complimentary votes in the Fifth District.
Democratic Incumbents Jeff Barnes had 429 votes and Marshall Ferrell received 366 in the Sixth District.
And Democratic Incumbent Larry Summers had 321 votes and fellow Democrat Willie Thomas received 353 votes in the Seventh District.

Lillie Ann Sells, Democratic Criminal Court Judge Part II of the 13th Judicial District, defeated Independent challenger David A Patterson in DeKalb County Thursday, 1,822 (59%) to 1,234 (40%) while Democrat Ron Thurman beat Republican Jerry Burgess locally in the race to succeed retiring Chancellor Vernon Neal.
Thurman received a total of 1,388 votes in DeKalb County (58%) to Burgess’ 976 votes (41%)
Judge Sells carried the following DeKalb County precincts: Alexandria- 88 to 62, Temperance Hall- 39 to 24, Dowelltown- 53 to 31, Snow Hill- 55 to 52, Middle School- 116 to 98, Courthouse – 108 to 95, Johnson’s Chapel- 51 to 37, Elementary School- 121 to 59, Belk- 60 to 20, Keltonburg- 63 to 28, Blue Springs- 42 to 31, Church of Christ Annex- 118 to 56, and Early Voting 786 to 512. Sells had 45 absentees.
Patterson carried the following precincts: Edgar Evins State Park- 13 to 8, Liberty- 51 to 37, Cherry Hill- 20 to 17, and Rock Castle- 32 to 15. Patterson had 13 absentees.
In the Chancellor race, Thurman carried the following DeKalb County precincts: Temperance Hall 33 to 18, Dowelltown- 31 to 21, Snow Hill- 45 to 41, Middle School- 88 to 76, Cherry Hill- 18 to 15, Rock Castle- 31 to16, Courthouse- 104 to 53, Belk- 39 to 19, Keltonburg- 40 to 26, Blue Springs- 33 to 24, Church of Christ Annex 71 to 47, and Early Voting- 632 to 368. Thurman had 35 absentees.
Burgess carried the following DeKalb County precincts: Alexandria- 59 to 57, Edgar Evins State Park 13 to 8, Liberty- 41 to 27, Johnson’s Chapel 46 to 28, and Elementary School- 73 to 68. Burgess had 20 absentees.
In the only other contested race in the 13th Judicial District, Incumbent Democratic Public Defender David N. Brady defeated Republican challenger Samuel Harris in DeKalb County 1,368 to 777
In other unopposed races, Incumbent Democratic Circuit Court Judge Part I John A. Turnbull received 2,124 DeKalb County votes.
Incumbent Democratic Circuit Court Judge Part II John Maddux garnered 1,916 votes.
Incumbent Democratic Criminal Court Judge Part I Leon Burns, Jr. got 2,005 votes in DeKalb County.
Incumbent Democratic District Attorney General William E (Bill) Gibson received 1,955 votes here.
Unopposed county officials, and their vote totals, include:
Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack- 3,671
Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen- 3,597
County Mayor Mike Foster- 3,417
County Clerk Mike Clayborn- 3,375
Road Supervisor Kenny Edge- 3,234
General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Hale (Butch) Cook II- 3,019

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.

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.

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.

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.