DeKalb County grew 7.5% to a population of 18,723 according to 2010 census results released by the government on Wednesday. That’s an increase of 1,300 people from the 17,423 count in the 2000 census for DeKalb County.
The DeKalb County Hispanic population almost doubled going from 633 to 1,239
The cities of Smithville, Alexandria, and Dowelltown experienced some growth over the last ten years but Liberty’s population decreased.
2010 census figures show Smithville’s population at 4,530, an increase of 13.4%. That’s 536 more people than the 3,994 counted in the 2000 census.
Alexandria’s population is at 966, an 18.7% increase or 152 more people than the 2000 census count of 814
Dowelltown’s population count grew by 53 people from 302 to 355, an increase of 17.5%
Liberty’s population dropped from 367 to 310, a decrease of 57 people or 15.5%
The DeKalb County 2010 population breakdown by race is as follows compared to 2000:
White:
17,352 (2010)
16,653 (2000)
Black:
250 (2010)
250 (2000)
American Indian, Alaskan:
35 (2010)
48 (2000)
Asian:
49 (2010)
24 (2000)
Hawaiian, Pacific Islander
2 (2010)
3 (2000)
Other:
797 (2010)
282 (2000)
Multi-Racial:
238 (2010)
163 (2000)
Hispanic Origin:
1,239 (2010)
633 (2000)
The numbers for the 14-county Upper Cumberland region were tabulated by Upper Cumberland Development District analyst Henry Bowman, showing an overall growth in the area of 10.9 percent or 338,158 total residents.
Cumberland County saw a 19.8-percent jump in population, from 46,802 to 56,053.
Putnam County, with the largest population of any county in the Upper Cumberland at 72,321, grew by 16.1% from the 2000 census.
Numbers for other counties in the Upper Cumberland include: Cannon County, which saw a 7.6-percent increase to 13,801. Clay County saw a 1.4-percent decrease in population, falling to 7,861. DeKalb County grew 7.5 percent to a population of 18,723. Fentress County also saw an 8-percent increase and now stands at a population of 17,959.
Jackson County saw a 6-percent population increase and now stands at 11,638 residents. Macon County saw a 9.1-percent increase to 22,248. Overton County now has 22,083 residents, a 9.8-percent increase. Pickett saw a 2.7-percent increase to 5,077. Smith County saw a 8.2-percent increase and has a population of 19,166.
Van Buren County, meanwhile, saw a slight 0.7-percent increase to 5,548. Warren County saw a 4.1-percent increase to 39,839; and White County saw a 11.9 percent increase to 25,841.
The Tennessee population grew by 11.5% to 6,346,105 and the United States count increased by 9.7% to 308,745,538.

Attorneys for a local family involved in a traffic accident with a DeKalb County School bus almost a year ago filed a circuit court lawsuit Tuesday seeking a total of one million dollars in damages against the bus driver Walter Phillips, individually; DeKalb County, and Phillips’ employer, the DeKalb County Board of Education.
Ashley Spivey is suing on behalf of herself and her minor children, Isaac Dyal and Alissa Dyal, asking for “a money judgment in favor of herself in the amount of $300,000; for a money judgment in favor of herself for loss of consortium in the amount of $100,000; for a money judgment in favor of her daughter Alissa Dyal, a minor, in the amount of $300,000; and for a money judgment in favor of her son, Isaac Dyal, a minor, in the amount of $300,000.”
Spivey, who is represented by Nashville attorneys Blair Durham and Ben Winters of Durham and Dread, PLC., also wants a jury to try the case.
The accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, April 27th, 2010 near the school zone at the intersection of North Congress Boulevard and Smith Road in front of Northside Elementary School. Phillips and the eighteen students aboard his bus (#3) escaped injury. However, Kenny Waymon Dyal, Jr., Ashley LeAnn Spivey, Alissa Dyal, and Isaac Dyal, who were in the 1992 Chevy Blazer that struck the bus, were injured in the crash and taken to the hospital.
After conducting the investigation that day, Lieutenant Randy Maynard of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that bus # 3, driven by 81 year old Walter Phillips, had just left the school with the students and was on Smith Road, turning south on Highway 56 when a Chevy Blazer, driven by 23 year old Kenny Waymon Dyal, Jr. of Smithville, struck the bus. Dyal was traveling north on Highway 56 (North Congress Boulevard). The impact damaged the rear left side of the bus and detached the rear axle from the frame. The bus had to be towed away and the blazer was totaled.
Lieutenant Maynard said the three persons in the Blazer with Dyal were 23 year old Ashley LeAnn Spivey and their children, a two year old girl (Alissa Dyal) and a one year old boy (Isaac Dyal).
In the lawsuit, Spivey alleges that she and her children were passengers of the vehicle operated by Kenny Dyal, Jr. traveling north on North Congress Boulevard when Phillips, who was traveling westbound on Smith Road, turned left in front of Dyal’s vehicle, causing the collision.
Spivey claims that Phillips was negligent and violated state laws in that he “failed to yield the right of way; was not paying attention; failed to keep his vehicle under due and reasonable control; and was driving in a reckless manner without regard for the safety of the public in general and the plaintiffs in particular.”
The lawsuit further alleges that “DeKalb County and the DeKalb County Board of Education, employers of Phillips, are and should be vicariously liable to the Plaintiff for the acts and omissions of their employee pursuant to (state law)”
As a result of the accident, Ashley Spivey alleges that she and her two children have “sustained severe, permanent painful injuries from which they have incurred and shall continue to incur pain, suffering, emotional duress, and the loss of ability to participate in and enjoy the pleasures of life, for all of which they deserve to be compensated; and that they have incurred and shall continue to incur medical expenses for the treatment of these injuries, for all of which they deserve to be compensated.”

The three Smithville aldermen up for re-election will be challenged in this summer’s municipal election
Aldermen Shawn Jacobs, Aaron Meeks, and W.J. (Dub) White are seeking a new two year term in the city balloting on Tuesday, June 21st. All three were elected two years ago. Jacobs is completing his first term. Meeks served as alderman from 2003 to 2007 when he lost a bid for re-election. He ran again in 2009 and was elected. White served as alderman from 1993 to 2001. He served as alderman again from 2003 to 2007 when he lost a re-election bid. White ran again and was elected in 2009.
Others hoping to win a seat on the city council as aldermen this summer are Smithville attorney and former educator Gayla Hendrix and local businessmen Cordell Walker and Danny Washer.
All three are familiar faces on the political scene. Walker is a former Smithville alderman. Washer made a run for alderman in 2008 and Hendrix ran for state representative three years ago.
All six, Jacobs, Meeks, White, Hendrix, Walker, and Washer have qualified by petition with the DeKalb County Election Commission.
Three aldermen will be elected on Tuesday, June 21st. Each term is for two years. The terms of office for those elected will begin on July 1st.
Early voting for the Smithville Municipal Election will be June 1st through June 16th. Meanwhile, May 23rd is the voter registration deadline for the Smithville City Election.
Voters who don’t live in Smithville but own property in the city may vote in the municipal election under certain conditions.
The Smithville Charter allows Property Rights Voting. The property must be a minimum of
7500 square feet and the person owning the property must reside in DeKalb County. Proof of ownership and residence must be shown by the following means: (1) A certified copy of the deed and the execution of an affidavit that the person still owns this property and (2) A copy of the most recent DeKalb County real property tax notice, and (3) Proof of residence in DeKalb County. Property rights registrants are entitled to vote but not to hold any municipal office or serve on any municipal board or commission. Proof of ownership and registration form must be provided to the Election Commission office by the May 23rd registration deadline.
Meanwhile, Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley reminds voters who have moved since registering to vote that the election commission office needs your current address on file.
“While checking the names of registered voters on some of the petitions returned recently, we noticed some voters have moved but have not informed the election commission office of their change of address,” Stanley said. “Updating the record is a simple process. All the voter needs to do is fill out a change of address form, which is available at the election commission office. To see if you need to update your record, simply check the address on your voter registration card. If it is different than your current address, you need to update the information with the election commission.”
“Updating the address will make your voting experience go much easier and quicker.” Stanley said,” and will not slow down the line at the polling place during early voting or election day.”
For more information, you may contact the DeKalb County Election Commission Office which is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The phone number is 615-597-4146.

A DeKalb County man has been arrested in connection with a recent Cannon County burglary in which over $10,000 worth of items were stolen.
Cannon County Sheriff’s Investigator Anthony Young said the burglary occurred on January 6th year at a home on Basham Ridge Road in Woodbury, according to a report on the Cannon Courier website.
Investigator Young arrested Matthew Allen Baker, 1022 Pine Grove Road, Smithville, on March 10.
“I received information in relation to the theft, and after a thorough investigation, determined Baker was allegedly one of the persons involved in the taking of the items,” Investigator Young said.
The case remains under investigation and an additional arrest is expected, Young said.
Among the items taken were gold jewelry, guns, knives, a 42-inch flat screen TV, tools, video games and a laptop computer.
In addition to charges of aggravated burglary, theft over $10,000 and criminal trespass, Baker incurred additional charges while he was being booked at the Cannon County Jail. Baker was arrested by DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputies and transported to Cannon County.
During that process, Corrections Officer Albert Summers discovered within Baker’s personal property a black flashlight. Upon opening the flashlight, Summers observed that the batteries had been removed and replaced with a small plastic baggie. Inside of the baggie was a substance which tested positive for methamphetamine.
Additional charges of possession of a Schedule II drug and introducing contraband into a penal institution were levied against Baker.
Total bond was set at $30,000. Initial court date is May 3.

Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons on Tuesday announced the state will soon issue new and improved driver licenses and identification cards. The new license and its updated security features will help combat document fraud and protect the identities of Tennesseans by using the latest credentialing technology. This is the first major revision of Tennessee driver licenses and ID cards since 2003.
“A top priority of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security is safeguarding the identity of Tennessee citizens to prevent identity theft and document fraud,” said Commissioner Gibbons. “The new cards will be the most secure our state has issued to date.”
All current Tennessee licenses and IDs will remain valid until the expiration date; at that time, license holders will apply for a newly-designed card. New card production began on a pilot basis on Tuesday, March 15 in Gallatin. The new cards will begin to roll out across the state starting at driver license stations in the four metropolitan areas (Davidson, Knox, Hamilton, and Shelby Counties) later this month. Statewide implementation of the new card is expected to be completed at all locations within four to six weeks.
“Tennessee driver licenses have not been updated in eight years, and the technology behind them is eight years old,” Gibbons explained. “These new cards utilize the latest technology. They are more secure and are designed to be more difficult to counterfeit, alter, or duplicate,” he stressed.
The driver license and ID cards include several upgraded design and security features, including:
·new banner showcasing Tennessee landmarks and icons;
·new background design;
·enlarged organ donor symbol, when authorized;
·multiple date of birth placements on front and back of the card;
·vertical format to distinguish driving privilege from identification only cards;
·digital portrait and signature, both stored in a permanent database, to easily verify identification;
·lamination, with a tamper resistant coating and holographic designs;
·machine-readable barcodes for law enforcement purposes; and
·applicable class, endorsements, and restrictions printed on back of the card.
“The existing licenses are still valid. There is no need for citizens to get a new license before their existing licenses expire,” stressed Driver Services Director Michael Hogan. “But anyone applying for a new license or renewing an existing license will receive the newly designed format,” he added.
To help protect identities and prevent document fraud, the state of Tennessee requires all new applicants for a driver license or identification card to present the following:
·proof of lawful status in the United States to include U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency or authorized stay in the U.S.;
·proof of identity to include birth certificate, visa, or passport;
· verification of Social Security number with Social Security Administration; and
· proof of Tennessee residency.
Fees for the new driver license and ID will not change. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Driver Services Division annually issues 1.5 million licenses and ID cards to Tennesseans. For more information on the new driver license and ID card or to conduct business online, please visit http://www.tn.gov/safety/dlmain.htm.

Looking for an affordable opportunity to put your family in your own home?
Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is now searching for their next partner family and has begun accepting applications for the fourth house to be built. The location of the next home is on Hayes Street in Smithville.
An Informational Meeting and Application Fair will be held on Tuesday, March 29th at 6 p.m. in the basement of the DeKalb County Courthouse in downtown Smithville. During the meeting, families will receive help in completing the application and will be given information about the Habitat Program.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may call the Habitat phone number 615-215-8181 and leave your name, address and phone number and a Habitat volunteer will contact you to provide additional information and perhaps mail an application to you.
To be considered, completed and signed applications must be postmarked by Thursday, April 21, 2011.
The purpose of Habitat is to build homes with families and sell the houses at no profit and no interest to families who could not otherwise afford a house. This Christian ministry is financed through private donations and utilizes volunteer labor and donated materials, if possible.
Habitat guidelines are basically 3 major qualifications: need for housing, ability to pay and a willingness to partner. In addition, partner families must have been a resident of DeKalb County for at least 1 year prior to March 2011 and must be a US citizen or have permanent resident alien status.
A Family Selection Committee will consider applications, based on those major qualifications as well as some other general guidelines as follows:
“Must have a housing need: For example, no indoor plumbing, poor heating, leaks in the roof, overcrowding ( 3 to a bedroom), unsafe or unsanitary conditions
“Ability to Pay
“For a family of 4, the maximum allowable annual income is $25,520, which is 55% of the median income for families in our community. If you are age 60 or have a special needs household member, the maximum allowable annual income level for a family of 4 is $27,840. The income levels vary according to family size. You may get detailed information specific to your family at the informational meeting on March 29.
“With your permission, we will verify employment and other income, verify checking and savings account balances, get a statement from your current landlord, have a credit check completed and and a criminal background check.
“Willingness to Partner
“If approved for a Habitat house, we will ask that you be willing to join in programs to learn and practice budgeting, home repair and home maintenance.
“If approved for a Habitat house, we require that all adult household members ( 18 years and older) be willing to work a combined total of 500 hours of “sweat equity”, with 100 of those hours completed before construction. Children who are members of the household may help with “sweat equity” by improving their grades in school and having good attendance at school.
Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is very anxious to help another family have their dream of home ownership become a reality.