Election ballots for the DeKalb County Farm Service Agency’s local committee election will be mailed to all eligible voters in Local Administrative Area # 3 on Friday, November 5. Ballots must be completed and returned in person or postmarked no later than December 6, 2010.
Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb County Farm Service Agency, says the farmer-elected committee is your voice in USDA’s programs here in DeKalb County. Members of the committee work with area farmers to maintain the local focus on many USDA programs, inform people of what’s available, and help producers understand how the programs work. Committee members work to help shape national programs into working local programs.
Timmie Adcock was nominated as a candidate and will be the only candidate listed on the ballot. Write-in nominations are accepted and should be written on the official ballot. All candidates must meet eligibility requirements to hold the office on the Committee.
Once eligible voters receive their ballots, careful attention should be given to the instructions provided on the ballot that outline proper procedures for voting in this election. Voters can vote for only 1 nominee listed, or can write-in only 1 eligible candidate on the ballot. A return envelope is provided to seal the ballot. After the voted ballot is placed inside the return envelope, the voter must sign the address label affixed to the outside of the return envelope. Voted ballots can be mailed back to the DeKalb County FSA, or can be hand delivered to the FSA.
“It’s vitally important that we have good participation in our County Committee Elections. We need all eligible voters to take the time to vote and return their ballots. This sends a strong message that our local farmers support the farmer-elected committee system,” says Green. Ballots will be opened and tabulated in a public meeting at the DeKalb County USDA Service Center, located at 647 Bright Hill Rd. in Smithville, at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 7. Contact the DeKalb County FSA office at 597-8225, ext. 2 for more information.
FSA committee elections are open to all voters without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, or disability.

State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver lost DeKalb County by 335 votes but carried Smith and Macon Counties enroute to re-election to a second term and a victory over her Democratic opponent James C. Hale and Independent candidate Pleas Ford.
In DeKalb County, Hale received a total of 2,564 votes (52.8%) to Weaver’s 2,229 votes (45.9%) and Ford’s 59 votes. Hale carried nine precincts including Alexandria, Church of Christ Annex, Courthouse, Dowelltown, Edgar Evins State Park, Elementary School, Keltonburg, Middle School, and Temperance Hall. Hale also had a majority of the combined early votes/absentees. Weaver carried Blue Springs, Cherry Hill, Johnson’s Chapel, Liberty, Rock Castle, and Snow Hill. Hale and Weaver tied at Belk with 56 votes each.
District-wide, Weaver won with a total of 8,369 votes to 6,680 for Hale and 221 for Ford.
In Macon County, Weaver defeated Hale 3,120 to 1,588. Ford had 90 votes
In Smith County, Weaver won with 3,020 votes to 2,528 for Hale and 72 for Ford.
CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR THE RESULTS BY PRECINCT IN DEKALB COUNTY.http://www.wjle.com/node/11684
CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR DISTRICT AND STATE ELECTION RESULTShttp://elections.tn.gov/
Meanwhile, State Senator Mae Beavers cruised to re-election beating Democratic challenger George McDonald. Beavers carried five of the seven counties in the 17th State Senatorial District. District-wide Beavers won with 35,747 votes to 21,332 for McDonald.
In DeKalb County Beavers received 2,571 votes (55.9%) to 2,025 (44%) for McDonald.
Beavers carried all precincts in DeKalb County except the Church of Christ Annex, where she lost by only 10 votes. She also carried a majority of the combined early votes/absentees.
In the 6th District Congressional race, Republican Diane Black was elected beating Democrat Brett Carter. Black also won in DeKalb County 2,633 (57.7%) to 1,694 (37.1%) for Carter. Black carried all sixteen precincts in DeKalb County and she had a majority of the combined early votes/absentees. Independent candidates with DeKalb County votes included Jim Boyd with 35, Brandon E. Gore 28, Tommy N. Hay 101, David Purcell 35, and Stephen R. Sprague with 26 votes.
Republican Bill Haslam will be the next Governor of Tennessee. He carried all sixteen precincts in DeKalb County and had a majority of the combined early votes/absentees in beating his Democratic opponent Mike McWherter 2,870 (58.3%) to 1,947 (39.6%) Independent candidates for Governor with DeKalb County votes include Bayron Binkley with 18, Brandon Dodds 9, Samuel David Duck 8, David Gatchell 3, June Griffin 2, Toni K. Hall 3, Mike Knois 6, Boyce T. McCall 5, Donald Ray McFolin 7, Linda Kay Perry 5, James Reesor 1, Thomas Smith, II 2, Howard M. Switzer 9, and Carl Twofeathers Whitaker 19.
DeKalb County voters also favored passage of a state Constitutional Amendment guaranteeing the right to hunt and fish in Tennessee. The ballot question prevailed in all sixteen precincts in DeKalb County and received a vast majority of the combined early votes/absentees with 3,791 (93.5%) voting “yes” and 263 (6.4%) voting “no”
A total of 5,009 people voted in DeKalb County including 2,008 early voters/absentees combined and 3,001 on election day.

If you are interested in operating the Smithville Golf Course and Swimming Pool you have until noon Friday, November 12th to submit a proposal.
The Smithville Aldermen Monday night voted to delay a decision on the golf course until the next meeting, November 15th. That will give interested parties more time to offer a proposal, specifically someone Mayor Taft Hendrixson has talked to, who has asked for more time.
Alderman Steve White said the city needs to act soon.”We just keep dragging it out. I think we need to set some type of deadline (on accepting proposals). We’ve been here for six weeks already. I think after two more weeks we need to make some type of decision on what we’re going to do.”
Smithville Golf Management LLC submitted their letter of 60 days (notice) for termination to the city on August 24th. The termination became effective on Saturday, October 23rd. The golf course has been closed since Monday, October 25th.
Mayor Hendrixson said he thought it best to close the golf course to the public until the city gets someone over there to run it. “Since no one was over there to run the golf course, I did have some chains put across the entrances (to the golf course) and closed it down last week until we do something. I don’t think you can let it stay open to the public with no one over there to see after anything. So I did the best I knew what to do and that’s what I did. If the board has any other thing they need to do or wants to do, that’s fine. But I didn’t know what else to do with it. The utilities have been changed over in our (city) name. I also had some people look at the greens to see what, if anything needed to be done, and to get the water drained out of the irrigation pipes in case it freezes. So that’s what’s happened over there. As it stands right now, it is closed unless you desire to do something else.”
The city has already received proposals from Faron Hendrix and Tony Poss, who are interested in managing the golf course for the city, but Mayor Hendrixson wants to give others a chance to put in a proposal. “I have been in touch with two or three people that has a possible interest in it that are knowledgeable in the golf course business. There is a possibility that they may be interested. They asked me to ask the board to give them just a few days to come up with some sort of proposal, if they are all interested. Both of them been out of town.”
Mayor Hendrixson said he wanted to see all proposals before the city makes a decision. ” We did get two other proposals from the people that’s just given up their lease (Hendrix) but I would like to see all proposals before we make a decision. We already have two people (Hendrix and Poss) with proposals and hopefully we’ll have a third one. We’ll review them and the board can make a decision.
Alderman Aaron Meeks suggested that the city wait two more weeks to give the people that the mayor has talked to more time to submit a proposal. “Sounds like you (mayor) have done what’s necessary at the present time. My opinion is that we leave everything as it stands now until the next meeting.”
The board set a deadline for noon, Friday, November 12th for all proposals to be in. Again, the next meeting is Monday, November 15th at 7:00 p.m. at city hall.

A 22 year old homeless man has been charged with the aggravated rape of two male children, ages 6 and 10 in Liberty
Sheriff Patrick Ray said Joshua Taylor Cook, who has been staying in Liberty, was arrested on Thursday, October 28th.
According to Sheriff Ray, Cook allegedly performed sexual acts on a six year old and a ten year old male child on Church Street in Liberty and then he allegedly had the two children perform sexual acts on him. These events allegedly took place on September 15th.
Cook is under a $100,000 bond and he will be in court on November 4th.
Meanwhile, in other county crime news, 18 year old Richard Lee Sloan of Douglas Avenue, Murfreesboro is charged with three counts of simple possession of a schedule II, III, and VI controlled substance.
On Tuesday, October 26th on Highway 70 in DeKalb County, a deputy assisted another officer on a traffic stop. The officer received consent to search from the owner of the vehicle and upon a pat down search of Sloan, the passenger, a bulge was found in his left front pocket. Sloan told the officer that the bulge was a cell phone. The officer checked and found the cell phone but also a plastic bag containing methamphetamine, two hydrocodone pills, and marijuana.
Sloan is under a $4,500 bond and his court date is November 4th.
31 year old Charles Barton Seals, Jr. of Old Smithville Highway, Sparta is charged with leaving the scene of an accident and disorderly conduct.
On Wednesday, October 27th, Seals was involved in an automobile accident on Sligo Bridge but left. He was stopped by an officer on Highway 70 in the city limits of Smithville, about five miles from the scene of the accident. Sheriff Ray said Seals was very loud, used vulgar language, and refused to comply with what the officer instructed him to do.
Seals is under a $3,000 bond and he will be in court on December 16th.
40 year old David Gerald Vanatta of Snow Street, Smithville, a prisoner in the DeKalb County Jail, is now charged with possession of prohibited weapons in a penal institution.
On Friday, October 29th, correctional officers at the jail were conducting a shake down. While searching Vanatta’s bed, two objects were found underneath the bunk behind the front rail, including a piece of metal 12 inches long and a piece of wood with a plastic spike sharpened on the end.
His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court on November 18th.
36 year old Kevin E. Bowling, Jr. of Hillview Drive, Mount Juliet is charged with theft of property over $1,000. He is under a $5,000 bond and his court date is set for November 18th.
On Wednesday, October 27th, Bowling allegedly stole a 1958 Chevy pickup truck, valued at over $1,000 from a field on Dale Ridge Road. Bowling allegedly sold the truck at a salvage yard in Mount Juliet. The truck has been recovered.
Two people were charged with public intoxication on Friday, October 29th after an officer conducted a welfare check at their parked vehicle on Highway 70.
22 year old Matt Miller of High Springs, Florida was inside the car and 30 year old Kristy Lynn Blaylock of Knowles Street, Sparta was outside standing beside the car.
Sheriff Ray said when Miller got out of the vehicle, the officer noticed he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. He was taken into custody. Miller’s bond is $1,000.
The deputy also discovered that Blaylock had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person. She was also unsteady on her feet. The officer tried to get her to call someone to pick her up but she refused. For her safety, Blaylock was carried to jail. Her bond is $1,000.
Miller and Blaylock will be in court on December 2nd.
30 year old Joshua Lionel Jones of Hodges Road, Smithville is charged with driving on a suspended license, felony evading arrest, and simple possession of a schedule III controlled substance.
On Saturday, October 30th, Jones was operating a motor vehicle on Miller Road in Smithville when an officer, who spotted Jones and had prior knowledge of his having a suspended drivers license, activated his emergency equipment signaling Jones to pull over. Jones instead accelerated and drove from Miller Road onto Anthony Avenue and then to the Wal-mart parking lot before stopping. Jones gave consent to search and the officer found on Jones, one and a half hydrocodone pills. A computer check confirmed that his license were suspended for failure to satisfy a citation on October 4th in Cannon County.
Jones’ bond totals $8,000 and he will be in court on November 4th.
50 year old Jeffrey Mark Gibbons of Baxter is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on December 2nd.
On October 30th, Gibbons was operating a motor vehicle at night with no lights on Highway 56. He had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. Gibbons submitted to and performed poorly on one field sobriety task and refused to do any more. He did submit to a blood test.

The Smithville Golf Course is closed.
Smithville Golf Management terminated it’s lease with the city as of Saturday, October 23rd and closed the operation on Monday, October 25th. On Thursday, city officials placed “no trespassing” signs at the entrances to the golf course.
The issue is on the agenda for the mayor and aldermen to discuss Monday night, November 1st at 7:00 p.m. during the next city council meeting at city hall.
Farron Hendrix of Smithville Golf Management gave written notice to city officials of his intentions to terminate the lease in August, but the mayor and aldermen have not yet decided whether to lease the municipal golf course and swimming pool to someone else or hire a golf course manager.
Hendrix, in his notice to the city, wrote that the golf course was no longer economically viable for his operation. “We entered into the lease, not for personal gain, but with the hopes of maintaining the golf club as a non-profit entity. However, due to the downturn in the economy, extreme weather conditions, increased competition from surrounding courses, and increased expenses, we can no longer manage this city property at our own personal expense.”
The aldermen recently voted to seek written proposals from parties interested in leasing or managing the operation and during the October 18th city council meeting, two were offered, including a four option proposal from Tony Poss and one from Farron Hendrix, who said he could keep the golf course open ” during the transition” under certain conditions. One of Hendrix’s conditions was that “The City of Smithville purchase our equipment at an appraised value.”
Click here to read the specific proposals by Poss and Hendrix (http://www.wjle.com/news/2010/mayor-and-aldermen-review-golf-course-prop…)
The city does not own any golf course equipment.
Mayor Taft Hendrixson said the city could not purchase equipment directly from Smithville Golf Management, because of the competitive bidding requirement. He added that only new equipment could be purchased, if the city were to buy through competitive bidding. Another problem is that no city funds are budgeted this year for golf course equipment, unless the money is taken from the general fund surplus. But that is something neither the mayor or aldermen seem anxious to do.
A workshop was held on Thursday, October 21st to further discuss the proposals of Hendrix and Poss but nothing was settled. During that workshop Hendrix asked if the city would be interested in hiring Smithville Golf Management to continue managing the golf course. Mayor Hendrixson said Hendrix could put his proposal in writing and present it to the city.
On Monday, October 25th, Hendrix submitted two proposals.
Under the first option, Hendrix proposes the following:
1. The City will pay to Golf Club Management $3,000 per month to manage the Smithville Country Club (golf course and swimming pool).
2. Pursuant to T.C.A. 12-3-1003 (state law), the City will purchase Golf Club Management, LLC’s mowing equipment and golf carts at an appraised value.
3. Golf Club Management will submit to the City 30% of profits received from green fees.
4. The City will be responsible for all repairs and maintenance of the equipment and property.
5. The City will be responsible for all supplies, utilities, and maintenance of the swimming pool
6. Golf Club Management will submit to the City all money received from the swimming pool gate.
7. Golf Club Management will hire needed employees to operate the swimming pool
8. The City will pay the lifeguards and a lifeguard supervisor during the hours of pool operation.
9. The City will pay the insurance for the Golf Course and the Swimming Pool.
10. The City will transfer the Smithville Country Club utilities to the City’s name and will assume responsibility for the utilities beginning Monday, October 25th, 2010.
Under the second option, Hendrix proposes the following:
1. The City will pay to Golf Club Management $4,500 per month to manage the Smithville Country Club (golf course and swimming pool).
2. Golf Club Management will provide mowing equipment and golf carts, and will be responsible for all repairs and maintenance of said equipment.
3. Golf Club Management will submit to the City 30% of profits received from green fees.
4. The City will be responsible for all repairs and maintenance of the Country Club property.
5. The City will be responsible for all supplies, utilities, and maintenance of the swimming pool.
6. Golf Club Management will submit to the City all money received from the swimming pool gate.
7. Golf Club Management will hire needed employees to operate the swimming pool.
8. The City will pay the lifeguards and a lifeguard supervisor during the hours of pool operation.
9. The City will pay the insurance for the Golf Course and the Swimming Pool.
10. The City will transfer the Smithville Country Club utilities to the City’s name and will assume responsibility for the utilities beginning Monday, October 25th, 2010.

If you are contacted by anyone raising funds for under privileged children or any other cause in the name of the Smithville Police Department, it is not legitimate.
Police Chief Randy Caplinger said several local residents have received calls recently from someone soliciting donations on behalf of the Smithville Police Department for under privileged children. But the department has not authorized any one or group to conduct such a fundraiser
Chief Caplinger said if you should receive such a call, hang up or report it to police. But do not send money.
Meanwhile, in city crime news 27 year old Jason Lynn Knowles of Dry Creek Road is charged with driving on a suspended license Officer James Cornelius stopped Knowles for a traffic violation on Friday, October 22nd at which time a check through central dispatch revealed his driver license were suspended. Bond for Knowles is $1000 and his court date is November 4th.
33 year old Bobby Lee Anderson of Tommy Harold Street was charged on Saturday, October 23rd with hindering a secured creditor. Officer James Cornelius stopped Anderson for a traffic violation. A computer check through dispatch revealed an active warrant against him in DeKalb County. Bond for Anderson is $3,500
34 year old Sharon Kay Skinner of Sparta Highway was arrested on Tuesday, October 26th for criminal impersonation, simple possession of drug paraphernalia and for other active warrants against her in DeKalb County. Skinner was a passenger of a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation and when asked for her ID, Skinner said she did not have one. She also gave a false name. Upon further investigation, Officer James Cornelius discovered her real identity and a check through dispatch revealed active warrants against her. Upon search incident to arrest, drug paraphernalia was found inside an overnight bag that she had in her possession. Bond for Skinner is $3,000 and her court date is November 4th.
26 year old Jineane Cristana Wagner of Kendra Drive was arrested by Officer David Phillips on Monday, October 25th for domestic assault. According to the warrant Ms. Wagner assaulted a family member. Bond for Wagner is $2,500 and her court date is November 4th.
19 year old Royce Prater of South 3rd Street was charged with driving on a suspended license on Tuesday, October 26th. Prater was stopped for a traffic violation and a computer check through dispatch revealed that his license were suspended. Officer James Cornelius made the arrest. Bond for Prater is $1,000 and his court date is December 2nd.
34 year old Royce D McCrary of Miller Road was arrested by Sergeant Joey Jones on Thursday, October 28th for violation of probation.
23 year old Virginia Ruth Carrier of Haley Road was arrested by Officer David Phillips on Thursday, October 28th for theft of merchandise and possession of drug paraphernalia. A Food Lion employee saw Carrier allegedly taking items and putting them in her purse, before leaving the store without paying for them. A search incident to arrest revealed a needle in her purse. Bond for Carrier is $3,000 and her court date is November 4th.
26 year old Joshua Rhyan Cripps of Steeple Chase Drive was arrested on Friday, October 29th for simple possession. Officer David Phillips was dispatched to the probation office where a man had reportedly passed out. Cripps was asked by a probation officer to empty his pockets and he produced a schedule II drug. Bond for Cripps is $1000 and his court date is November 18th.
Anyone having any information on a crime is asked to please contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.
Any information received that will help Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential.

A great crowd turned out on Friday to enjoy chili and delicious baked goods at Habitat for Humanity’s Seventh Annual Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale, which was held at the 303 Building on the square. Jason Evans of The Inn at Evins Mill won the “Best Chili” award, and “Cauldron of Fire” from the DeKalb County Board of Education followed in second place. In the Best Decorated booth contest, “Hillbilly Chili – It’s a Natural Gas” from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas took top honors.
Tecia Puckett Pryor of Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County said the event raised over $3,000, which will be used toward the building of the fourth Habitat house here. “We had a great turnout today, maybe the best we’ve ever had. We sold a lot of pies, cakes, and cookies and raised over $3,000 toward the building of our fourth Habitat house. So we are really pleased with the cook-off today and we are thankful to all the teams that participated as well as everyone who brought out baked goods for sale and of course everyone who came out to eat chili today.”
Eleven teams participated in the event, including “Blessed and Highly Flavored” from Allen’s Chapel Methodist Church; “Cauldron of Fire” from the DeKalb County Board of Education; “Hot Checks Chili” from DeKalb Community Bank; “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials; “Edgar Evins Chili Peppers” from Edgar Evins State Park; “Hale’s Bowls of Fire” from James C. Hale for State Representative; “Hillbilly Chili – It’s a Natural Gas” from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas; “The Bean Counters” from Tom Janney, CPA and Associates; “Red Hot Kilowatts” from Smithville Electric System; “Hollywood Corpse Review” from the Smithville Review, and The Inn at Evins Mill.
Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity builds and renovates houses in partnership with volunteers and families in need, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged. To contact Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, please call 215-8181.
(Photos provided by Sharon Evans)