The voter registration deadline is drawing near for the Smithville Municipal Election.
Lisa Peterson, DeKalb County Administrator of Elections says the deadline for registering as a city voter is Monday, May 19th and since the first of the year, voter registration in the city has been up. “As always, when there is a contested race, there is a little bit more interest. Registrations are up, both for residential registrations and also property rights voters. As of today (Friday) we have 3,188 registered voters in the city of Smithville, up by 102 since January. We also have about 130 registered property rights voters, up by 22 since the first of the year so people are interested in the issues and are registering. I encourage them to come out and vote.”
Peterson says May 19th is the deadline for new registrations. “That’s voters who have never been registered to vote anywhere in DeKalb County. Others have up until election day to change their address if they are already registered in DeKalb County and moved inside the city limits. I encourage them to go ahead an update their registrations if that’s the case because they will be required on election day to fill out a change of address form if they have not already taken care of that.”
Peterson says May 19th is also the deadline to register as a property rights voter. “The term ‘property rights voter’ applies to those people that live inside DeKalb County but outside the city limits and yet they own property inside the city limits. The Smithville Charter does allow property rights voting. It does have a (city property) size requirement of at least 7,500 square feet. I’d like to remind people that we don’t automatically know who owns property inside the city limits. Some people think we have a massive computer system and automatically know who registers a deed, but the offices in the courthouse are not linked like that.”
“They (property rights voters) are required to bring us proof of ownership, such as a deed or a current tax notification. Only two persons per property may register as property rights voters. In other words, if four people own the property, only two out of that four can register as a property rights voter. So they’re going to have to decide among themselves who they want to be able to register and vote the property rights.”
A mayor and two aldermen will be elected on Tuesday, June 17th.
Candidates for mayor are Incumbent Taft Hendrixson and challenger Faye Fuqua.
Aldermen contenders are incumbents Steven White and Cecil Burger and challengers Danny Washer and Alford Webber.
According to Peterson, city candidates have been active this year in getting more people registered. “Candidates have been canvassing the neighborhoods. Many people enjoy meeting the candidates. However, keep in mind we’re living in different times now and some people may not want the candidates to come into their homes. I’ve had a few calls where people have expressed to me that they felt pressured to register to vote or to let the candidates in. I’d just like to remind the candidates to be respectful of their wishes and realize that some people may not want them to enter their homes, especially those who may be vulnerable such as the elderly.
Meanwhile, the dates for early voting have been set for the Smithville election. Voting will be held Mondays through Saturdays, May 28th through June 12th in the basement courtroom of the courthouse. Voting hours will be Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Peterson says early voting hours have been extended during this election to better accommodate the voters. “We have had some requests from people to extend our voting hours. We are always interested in the voters comments and suggestions so we’re going to try to do that for this election. Usually we have one late afternoon every Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.. During this early voting period we’ll have two late afternoons of early voting. That’ll be every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.. The other days during the week, voting will be from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
On election day, the polls will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. also in the basement of the courthouse.
Two Micro Vote Infinity machines will be used during early voting. Two machines will also be used on election day.
Peterson reminds candidates that the election commission will enforce the 100 foot boundary during early voting and on election day. Candidates will not be permitted within the 100 foot boundary. “There will be a 100 foot boundary enforced from all entrances of the courthouse, not just the basement entrance. That is what the election law states and that is what we will be following. We had so many positive comments from the last election. The voters really showed a big support for the election commission’s decision to enforce that boundary. From the basement entrance, the 100 foot boundary would actually end in the middle of the street. Of course we can’t have candidates standing in the middle of the street so the boundary is extended to the other side of the street.”
Peterson urges voters to study a sample ballot before election day. “People may want to keep an eye out for the local papers. There will be a sample ballot published before long. We also have a website. It is dekalbelections.com and there are sample ballots published there as well as other information. I encourage people to become informed and find out about the candidates and the issues and then turn out and vote. Again, we would like a good turn out.”

In its 11th year, citizens form all parts of DeKalb County will go around the track at beautiful Greenbrook Park in the battle against cancer during the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of DeKalb County.
Teams of DeKalb County residents will gather at Greenbrook Park on May 9th at 6:00 pm for an overnight relay against cancer. Relay For Life is a family-oriented team event where participants walk relay-style around the track and take part in fun activities off the track. Teams can include coworkers, club members, family and friends and have gathered donations prior to the event. Live music, food, games, & fun are offered for everyone.
This year 31 teams have joined together to raise money to aid in the battle against cancer.
“Relay For Life is a unique opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against the disease,” said Chris Summers, Community Representative with the American Cancer Society. “Many of the participants are cancer survivors (anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer), which serves as a reminder that our community is not immune to this disease and we can actually help our friends, families and neighbors that have been touched by cancer,” Chris added.
The public is also invited to attend the Luminaria Ceremony, which will take place after sundown at 9:00 pm. To honor the community’s cancer survivors and to remember those lost to the disease, citizens will circle the track rimmed with glowing luminaria while the names of survivors and those lost to the disease are acknowledged. Luminaria can be purchased for $5.00 by calling Melanie Judkins at (615) 597 1132.
Funds raised at Relay For Life will enable the American Cancer Society to support local services and resources for cancer patients and their families. Funds also support critical cancer research and community education programs designed to teach people how to reduce their risk of developing cancer.
The American Cancer Society has to date spent over 9 million on cancer research in our state in 2008! This money is raised by over 130 Relay For Life events across Tennessee in communities that care about fighting cancer.
For the 2008-2009 academic year, the Mid-South Division of the American Cancer Society will award 218 scholarships in the amount of $1,000.00 each to some very deserving young students. Since the beginning of this program in 2001, more than 1,300 of these $1,000.00 scholarships have been awarded.

A 53 year old woman was injured in a pickup truck wreck around 8:10 a.m.Thursday morning on Jacob’s Pillar Road.
Trooper Dewaine Jennings of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Teresa Lynn Eaton of 4640 Blue Springs Road was driving north on Jacobs Pillar Road in a 1985 Ford F-150 when she went off the roadway to the right into a ditchline, traveled north of the ditchline until she struck a metal culvert, and then came back out onto the roadway. The truck then exited the road to the left and made head-on impact with a large tree. She was not wearing a seatbelt.
Eaton was airlifted from the scene by a Life Force helicopter ambulance and flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
DeKalb EMS treated Eaton at the scene.
Meanwhile, two people were injured in an accident around 5:55 p.m. Tuesday on West Broad Street near DeKalb Community Bank.
Smithville Police say 70 year old Willie Louise Jones of 224 Vickers Hollow Road, Smithville was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier, crossing West Broad Street going south toward Dry Creek Road, when her car was hit in the passenger side door by a 2007 Ford Fusion, driven by 32 year old Debbie Jean Herman of 599 Foster Road, McMinnville. Herman was east on Broad Street. 13 year old Mark Ryan Stanley of McMinnville was a passenger of the Herman vehicle. He wasn’t believed to have been injured.
Both Jones and Herman were taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital. Jones was reportedly later airlifted by a helicopter ambulance to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
The accident was investigated by Officer Travis Bryant of the Smithville Police Department.

Smithville Police arrested two people on burglary and theft charges last week.
Chief Richard Jennings says 18 year old Amanda Brook and 20 year old Troy Allen Lee Cunningham, Jr. are charged with burglary to a motor vehicle and theft of property under $500.
The two allegedly entered a vehicle at 848 Foster Road on Wednesday, April 23 belonging to Glenda Witty and removed a JVC CD player without the owner’s knowledge or consent. Both will appear in General Sessions Court on the charges May 29th.
Bond for the woman is $5,000 on each charge. Cunningham’s bond is $10,000 on the burglary charge and $5,000 in the theft case.
The CD player has been recovered.
The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Jerry Hutchins, Jr.
Meanwhile, 24 year old Ryan Lee Walden of Dale Ridge Road, Dowelltown was charged last week with possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is set at $2,500 and his court date is May 22nd.
Officer Randy King, in his report, states that “ On April 23rd, I was dispatched to Anthony Avenue in reference to a suspicious person. Dispatch advised that the subject was walking door to door asking to pressure wash homes or to mow lawns. I observed a subject fitting the description stopping traffic on J.E. Evins Avenue. I approached Walden in the parking lot of the Habitat for Humanity Restore on Miller Road. I asked Walden if he had been going door to door asking to pressure wash homes. Walden replied that he had. Walden was acting evasive while I was speaking to him. I asked if he had any weapons or drugs on him. He replied that he had a needle in his front left pocket. I asked him if it was capped and he said it was. Walden said he found the needle in a yard. The hypodermic needle contained a yellow residue with blood in the syringe.
Walden was taken into custody and charged in the case.
In other cases, 43 year old Diane Woodside McIntyre of Clarksville was charged on Friday with a first offense of driving on a suspended license. Her bond is $1,000 and her court date is May 14th
Officer Bradley Tatrow stopped a vehicle on East Broad for speeding 52 miles per hour in a 40 miles per hour speed zone. McIntyre told the officer that her license was suspended. A computer check showed that the license was suspended for failure to satisfy a citation in Rutherford County.
20 year old Justin Andrew Cantrell of Adcock Cemetery Road was charged Saturday with a first offense of driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is May 8th.
Officer Tatrow observed a vehicle on Highway 70 east with no head lights and the tags were displayed in the back window. After stopping the vehicle, Cantrell got out and was very unsteady on his feet. He had slurred speech and his motor skills were very slow. Cantrell performed several field sobriety tasks which he performed poorly. He submitted to a blood alcohol test.
30 year old Jores Trijo of Luttrell Avenue was charged Sunday with domestic assault. His bond is $2,500 and his court date is May 8th.
Officer Tatrow, in his report, states that he responded to 817 Luttrell Avenue to a possible domestic between an Hispanic male and a female. Upon arrival, I made contact with the female. The woman advised me that she had gone to Cookeville to see her 14 year old son. Upon her return, the woman’s boyfriend, Trijo, who had been drinking, had gotten mad at her thinking she was cheating on him. Trijo allegedly grabbed her by the shoulder forcing her onto the bed. The woman claims that Trijo was yelling and calling her names and that he threatens bodily harm to her on a regular basis. Trijo was placed under arrest and charged with domestic assault.
23 year old Wallace Marlon Rackley of North Congress Boulevard was charged Sunday with aggravated assault. He is under a $3,500 bond and his court date is June 5th.
Officer Matt Farmer, in his report, states that Rackley is charged with assaulting Amiel John Land by hitting him with his fists several times and kicking him in the ribs. Mr. Rackley allegedly came home and began yelling at Mr. Land ordering him to leave. As Land was trying to get out the back door, Rackley jumped him and hit Land several times. When Land got outside, Rackley came out and began kicking and hitting him again. Land was taken to the hospital where he was treated for several cuts and bruises to the face and head area. He had to have stitches to his left eye and his left jaw was broken.
29 year old Kenny Wayne Bly of Midway Road, Smithville was arrested last week for a fourth offense of driving on a revoked license. His bond is $4,500
Officer Matt Holmes, in his report, states that he observed Bly operating a motor vehicle on West Broad Street. Having prior knowledge that his license was revoked, Officer Holmes stopped Bly. A computer check confirmed that his license was revoked.
18 year old Wesley Tolbert Young of Woodbury was charged Thursday with a first offense of driving under the influence and underage consumption of alcohol. His bond is $2,500 and his court date is May 1st.
Sergeant Joey Jones states that he stopped a vehicle at South Mountain and Miller Road for failure to maintain the proper lane of traffic. Upon speaking to the driver, Young, Officer Jones noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was very unsteady on his feet. Young was asked to perform several field sobriety tasks which he performed poorly. He allegedly admitted to drinking 2-24 ounce beers and he did take a breathalyzer test and the result was .09.
21 year old Angel R. Farless of McMinnville was charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession of marijuana. Her bond is $1,000 and her court date is May 1st.
Farless was a passenger of a vehicle in which the driver, Wesley Young, was arrested for DUI. Officer Jones observed a glass pipe on the seat near her purse with residue in the pipe. She was also in possession of marijuana and had an open container of an alcoholic beverage under her seat. Her purse contained a small baggie with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.
24 year old Daniel Ray Wilson of Dowelltown was charged Monday with a first offense of driving under the influence. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court May 14th.
Officer Travis Bryant states that he was dispatched to an accident on Riley Avenue. The driver, Wilson, was very unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech, and had bloodshot eyes. Wilson stated that he drank two beers. He was transported to the hospital and due to this, Wilson was not asked to perform field sobriety tasks. He also refused to submit to a blood alcohol test.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and DTC Communications have issued a warning about a scam involving e-mails requesting your personal DTC Communications Customer Information such as Username, Password or other vital credentials.
Officials say these messages DO NOT come from DTC Communications. Please DO NOT reply to these type messages or send any confidential information.
They say DTC Communications will NEVER send e-mail requesting your information. Also remember, any correspondence from DTC will include a local contact phone number for you to call in case you have any questions about the content of the email.
If you have received one of these type messages, please DELETE it. Do NOT reply to it. DTC has taken steps to prevent messages of this type from coming to you the user. However, if you do receive one, it is an attempt to obtain your personal information.
If you have any questions, please do not reply to this email, simply send your questions to support@dtccom.net or call Technical Support at 615.683.4033 or 866.232.8010.

The DeKalb County Commission Monday night adopted a resolution honoring Eagle Scout Anderson Webb.
County Mayor Mike Foster, in reviewing Webb’s Scouting Experience, said “Anderson has been involved in Scouting since Tiger Cubs in 1st Grade. His fondest memories of his time in Cub Scouts are the camping trips with family and friends and his participation in the Pinewood Derby Races.”
“After completing the requirements in Cub Scouts, Anderson received the highest rank in Cub Scouts, the Arrow of Light, in 2001. He then advanced to the Boy Scouts of America in 6th Grade where he would learn to be prepared.”
“While finishing the requirements for his Life Scout, the last ranking before Eagle, Anderson began to think about his Eagle project. He chose a project that would benefit the entire community and something he felt was useful to the community. By choosing to provide seating at Greenbrook Park, he knew he would have the opportunity to increase the accessibility to the amphitheater.”
“After receiving the Eagle Scout Rank, the highest rank in BSA, Anderson says he has learned skills that will benefit him throughout his life including responsibility, persistence, and organization skills. According to Anderson, ‘Eagle Scout projects take a long time and a lot of planning. Through working on my Eagle Project, I have become a more accomplished and well-rounded person.’
“Though he has successfully completed his Eagle Scout rank, Anderson looks forward to staying involved in BSA. He is looking forward to his 14 day trek through the mountains of Northern New Mexico at Philmont this summer.”
The resolution honoring Webb states that ” Whereas, it is fitting that the DeKalb County Commission and the DeKalb County Mayor should announce their pride, respect, and honor in the young people of our community who so capably fulfill their requirements and duties to reach lofty goals and levels of achievement.”
“Whereas, Anderson Webb has performed all the years of tasks to work his way to the highest honor bestowed by the Boy Scouts. Anderson Webb has climbed to a level in scouting reached by only a very select few, and has earned the Eagle Award.”
“Whereas, the DeKalb County Commission and County Mayor wish to thank Anderson Webb, his family and leaders for the honors they have brought to themselves and DeKalb County. We also wish to thank the fellow Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and volunteers who helped Anderson complete his project. Anderson and his assistants built seating at the amphitheater in Greenbrook Park. This seating will be used for many, many years and stand as a monument to them. It will also show their commitment to give to their community and their willingness to serve.”
“Now therefore be it resolved by the DeKalb County Commission, that May 4th, 2008 be officially named Eagle Scout Anderson Webb Day.’
“Be it further resolved that this accomplishment be spread across the records of this meeting and preserved as a lasting part of our appreciation to Eagle Scout Anderson Webb.”