Early Voting Begins For August Elections

The DeKalb County Election Commission reminds you that early voting for the August elections will be held through July 29th.
Early voting hours will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until noon and Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in the basement courtroom of the courthouse next to the election commission office.
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.
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 disttrict; 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.

Donald Jennings

66 year old Donald Jennings of Liberty died Monday at his residence. He was born in Wilson County and was a member of the Tennessee Horseshoe Pitching Association. Jennings was also a retired Supervisor of Engineers for DTC Communications. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at the West Main Baptist Church in Alexandria, where he was a member. James Daniel and Rob Amason will officiate and burial will be in Hillview Cemetery in Alexandria. Visitation will be Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his wife, Annie Neville Jennings and his parents, Walter Ray and Maybelle Bethel Jennings. Survivors include two sons, Ricky and his wife Wanda Jennings of Lebanon and Randy and his wife Jill Jennings of Brush Creek. Two daughters, Tina and her husband Tony Nixon of Alexandria and Lisa and her husband Ricky Atnip of Smithville. One brother, Van and his wife Dorothy Jennings of Statesville. Two sisters, Linda and her husband Roy Dale “Pig” Curtis of Watertown and Sarah and her husband, Robert Walker of Alexandria. Five grandchildren, Shanea Nixon and Katie Nixon both of Alexandria, Dilyse Jennings of Lebanon, and Cori Jennings and Steven Jennings both of Brush Creek. Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria is in charge of the arrangements.

Nola Pegram Bell

94 year old Nola Pegram Bell of Murfreesboro and formerly of Smyrna died Sunday at NHC. The funeral will be Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. at Woodfin Chapel in Smyrna. Paul Chiguar will officiate and burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. She was a native of Asheville, North Carolina and the daughter of the late Thomas Calvin and Annie Morgan Pegram. She was married to the late Sergeant William Bell. She was a member of the Rutherford County Baptist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Sylvia Jones of Murfreesboro. Grandchildren, William and his wife Melissa Jackson Jones of Smithville and Sylvia Ann and her husband Kirk Jones Gordon of Erie, Pennsylvania. Great grandchildren, Noah, Sarah, Mariah, and Isaiah Jones, Kirk Gordon, Jr., Joshua Gordon, and Jacob Gordon. Woodfin Memorial Chapel in Smyrna is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. This information provided as a courtesy of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home.

Jake Baker

72 year old Jake Baker of Sparta died Monday morning at DeKalb Community Hospital. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home in Sparta. Burial will be in the Elrod Cemetery. The family will receive friends after 5:00 p.m. Tuesday. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Cole Baker of Sparta. Four daughters, Donna Howell, Darlene and her husband Cecil Young, Doreen and her husband Jack “Chipper” Conley, and Dina and her husband Johnny Roberts all of Sparta. A brother, Raymond and his wife Carol Baker of Sparta. Six grandchildren, Jimmy Howell and his wife Amanda, Michael Conley, Stephen Conley, Kristin Choate, Jacob Choate, and Celene Young. Two great grandchildren, Kayla and Tyler Howell. Hunter Funeral Home in Sparta is in charge of the arrangements.

Donald Allen Rogers

71 year old Donald Allen Rogers of Smithville died Friday at NHC of Smithville. He was manager of Safe Way Grocery. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Rogers. Survivors include five children, April Hendrix, Lora Butler, Mark Rogers,and Lisa Rogers all of California, and Christina Rogers of Seattle, Washington. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. There will be no funeral. The family has chosen direct cremation

Monterey Woman Charged with Drug Fraud

A Monterey woman was arrested by Smithville Police Saturday and charged with drug fraud.
34 year old Anissa Renee Allison Adams is charged with two counts of drug fraud. Her bond is set at $30,000 and she will appear in General Sessions Court July 13th.
Detective Sergeant Chris Russell says that on Saturday at approximately 11:45 a.m. he and Officer Loni Defore responded to Family Medical Center Pharmacy to investigate a female who was attempting to obtain Sudogest, a cold medicine, on another person’s prescription.
Upon arrival, the officers identified Adams and discovered that she had previously passed the same prescription on June 24th, obtaining Sudogest using another person’s prescription.

Body of Nashville Banker Recovered from Center Hill Lake

A 45 year old Nashville banker lost his life on Center Hill Lake Saturday afternoon.
Dead is David Brian Williams.
Sheriff Lloyd Emmons says Williams was with his family on the lake when he went down while swimming.
TWRA Officer Ben Franklin says the incident occurred in Raccoon Hollow in the Holmes Creek area of the lake. “He was swimming from one boat to another and went under water in the Raccoon Hollow section of Center Hill Lake between Holmes Creek and Indian Creek.”
Officers of the TWRA, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and members of the DeKalb County Rescue Squad were summoned to the scene around 3:11 p.m.
Officer Franklin says dragging operations began shortly thereafter and the body was subsequently recovered from the lake. “The DeKalb County Rescue Squad recovered the body in approximately 17 feet of water. We were very lucky to find him as fast as we did. From the time we got the call until the time we recovered the body was approximately two hours.”
The Rescue Squad left the scene at 5:14 p.m.
Officer Franklin thanked all those who assisted in the recovery effort. “Everyone did an excellent job. They were very professional and we appreciate everybody who took part in it from the Rescue Squad, TWRA, Sheriff’s Department and the Medical Examiner.”
Sheriff Emmons says an autopsy would likely be conducted to determine if the man drowned or experienced some medical problem that caused his death.
Williams reportedly helped build Sun Trust Bank’s Music Division into a National entity.
In 1990, he moved the Bank’s Music Industry Division to Music Row, making it Music Row’s first full service branch.

Joe Kenneth White

73 year old Joe Kenneth White of Smithville died Saturday at his residence of an extended illness. He was a retired brick mason, a U.S. Army veteran, and a Holiness Pentecostal. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Paul Sanders and Frances Foster will officate and burial will be in the Adcock Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Willie Waldon White and an infant brother. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Susie White of Smithville. Two daughters, Elizabeth and her husband Delbert Colwell of Smithville and Lisa and her husband Donald Bain of Smithville. One grandson, Kenneth Colwell of Smithville. Two granddaughters, Sherry and her husband Chris Vanatta and Amanda and her husband Timmy Proctor of Smithville. Three great grandchildren, Gabriella and Nicholas Vanatta and Clayton Paul Proctor. Two brothers, W.J. and his wife Treva White of Smithville and Jimmy and his wife Nancy White of Manchester. Several nieces and nephews also survive. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Body of Nashville Man Recovered from Center Hill Lake

A 45 year old Nashville banker lost his life on Center Hill Lake Saturday afternoon.
Dead is David Brian Williams.
Sheriff Lloyd Emmons says Williams was with his family on the lake when he went down while swimming.
TWRA Officer Ben Franklin says the incident occurred in Raccoon Hollow in the Holmes Creek area of the lake.
Officers of the TWRA, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and members of the DeKalb County Rescue Squad were summoned to the scene around 3:11 p.m.
Dragging operations began shortly thereafter and the body was subsequently recovered from the lake.
The Rescue Squad left the scene at 5:14 p.m.
Sheriff Emmons says an autopsy would likely be conducted to determine if the man drowned or experienced some medical problem that caused his death.
Williams reportedly helped build Sun Trust Bank’s Music Division into a National entity.
In 1990, he moved the Bank’s Music Industry Division to Music Row, making it Music Row’s first full service branch.

Joe K. White

Joe K. White of the Midway Community died Saturday morning at his residence. The body is at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Arrangements are incomplete.