A total of 263 persons have cast ballots during the first three days of early voting in DeKalb County.
Eighty five voted in person and sixteen by absentee on Wednesday; eighty four voted on Thursday including 82 in person and two by absentee; and 78 voted on Friday including 77 in person and one by absentee
Voters can cast early ballots through Oct. 30 at the DeKalb County Courthouse on the square in Smithville. Early Voting will be available six days a week during the following hours: Mondays 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays 9 am. until 1 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., Thursdays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. until noon.
Election day is Tuesday, November 4

A 52 year old Smithville man is charged with child rape.
Jacky Lynn Fults is under a $150,000 bond and he will be in court November 6.
Fults is accused of committing anal penetration with his finger on a seven year old girl at his Foster Road residence on September 28. According to the warrant, the child was examined by Our Kids in Nashville on September 29 and doctors did find evidence consistent with abuse. The child did give disclosure on September 30 at the Child Advocacy Center in Cookeville.
The case was investigated by Lieutenant Matt Holmes of the Smithville Police Department

Tenneco recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary of doing business in Smithville as well as National Manufacturer’s Day on October 3rd.
Employees enjoyed a plant-wide cookout on all shifts. Also invited to attend were City and County Officials as well as the Industrial Board. Tenneco Plant Manager Jeff Starkey and Plant Controller Anthony Cantrell presented the officials in attendance with a plaque thanking them for their commitment to Tenneco’s future growth.
Tenneco has hired approximately 100 team members in 2014 and will be adding approximately 100 more jobs in 2015.
(Pictured: Left to right: Jeff Starkey – Plant Manager, Kevin Robinson -City Public Works Director Jimmy Poss – City Mayor, Tim Stribling – County Mayor, Anthony Cantrell – Plant Controller)

The county commission may consider appointing someone to the school board from the fourth district at its next meeting later this month.
A public notice has been published seeking names of those interested in filling the vacancy which exists in the fourth district with the recent resignation of Billy Miller.
According to the notice, the DeKalb County Commission will meet in regular monthly session on Monday, October 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the courthouse to appoint a member of the public to serve in the capacity of School Board member.
Before the county legislative body votes or considers any motion or resolution regarding the office to be filled, the chair shall allow voters of the county an opportunity to submit names to the county legislative body for consideration. The names may be submitted in writing to the chair prior to the meeting or submitted in person at the meeting. In order for a name to be considered, a member of the county legislative body must subsequently nominate the person. Members of the county legislative body may also nominate a candidate or candidates to fill the office or vacancy without the name being submitted by a voter. Nominations do not require a second. If the person nominated is not present at the meeting, the person making the nomination shall submit a signed statement from the nominee that the nominee is willing to serve in the office if appointed.
Any person appointed by the county legislative body to fill a vacancy serves in that capacity until a successor is elected by the county voters at the next general election (August, 2016).

Twenty-seven-year-old Brandon Davis of Liberty has published his first novel, Cinder Fingers.
Cinder Fingers is a dark fantasy novel released just in time for Halloween. Davis is having his first signing for the novel at F. Z. Webb and Sons Gift Shop in Smithville on Friday, October the 24th from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Anyone who likes to read and is a fan of the supernatural should pick up the first edition of this story for their collection. On this date, you can get a signed copy with a limited edition bookmark made available through F.Z. Webb and Sons Gift Shop.
Davis is the oldest son of Timothy Davis and JoAnn (Braswell) Davis of Pea Ridge. He graduated from DCHS in 2005 and worked at Kingston Timers for two years after graduation. In those two years he wrote out Cinder Fingers and edited it the years leading up to its release. Since then, he has graduated from Tennessee Technology Center and Motlow Community College of McMinnville. He currently attends Middle Tennessee State University where he studies Psychology and writes his stories on the side.

A City of Smithville liquor by the drink referendum will be on the election ballot Tuesday, November 4
Registered city voters will decide the question.
The Consumption on the Premises Referendum asks city voters to either vote “for legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in Smithville” or “against legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in Smithville.”
Should the referendum be approved, eligible restaurants in the city of Smithville could apply to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission for an on premises license to sell liquor by the drink, but it would still be up to the Smithville Beer Board whether or not to grant a permit for those same businesses to sell beer (If they don’t already have a permit), according to Keith Bell, Director of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
“If Smithville passes liquor by the drink, if a restaurant is properly permitted to sell liquor by the drink, then they would be “authorized”, and I emphasize the word “authorized”. They would be authorized by the Tennessee Code to also sell beer, but they would have to be permitted through the appropriate jurisdiction, which in this case would be the Smithville Beer Board. Let me repeat this so it’s completely understood. If Smithville voters pass the referendum to allow liquor by the drink in their restaurants and then a restaurant applies for a license to sell liquor by the drink with the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, essentially if they’re licensed or permitted to sell liquor or wine for on premises consumption, pursuant to Chapter 4 of Title 57, they’re also allowed to sell beer at the establishment if they are properly authorized to sell liquor or wine, provided that the establishment lawfully obtains a beer permit from the Smithville Beer Board,” said Bell.
The city aldermen in December, 2012 changed the city’s beer ordinance to allow eligible restaurants to apply for an on-premises permit to sell beer with meals in their establishments
If restaurants in the city were licensed to sell liquor by the drink, they would have to abide by the designated serving hours, but could sell on Sunday, according to Bell. “No licensee shall permit alcoholic or malt beverages to be consumed on the licensed premises between the hours of 3:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Monday through Saturday or between the hours of 3:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, unless the local jurisdiction has opted out of the expanded hours. If such is the case, then the consumption and or sale of alcoholic beverages may begin at 12:00 noon on Sunday,” said Bell.

City voters will decide on November 4 whether they want liquor stores in the City of Smithville.
The Retail Package Store Referendum asks city voters to either vote “To permit retail package stores to sell beverages in Smithville” or “not to permit retail package stores to sell alcoholic beverages in Smithville”.
The City of Smithville has a beer board that issues permits to eligible applicants for the sale of beer within the city limits. While the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission has the authority over the issuance of liquor licenses, the City of Smithville would still have a role to play. According to officials of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, if the referendum were to be approved by the voters, the City of Smithville would have to adopt Certificate of Compliance regulations. The city also has the authority to limit the number of liquor stores. For example, Gallatin’s Municipal Code allows one liquor store for each 4,000 residents. Hendersonville currently allows one liquor store per 12,000 residents, one of the most restrictive in the state. State law prohibits governmental subdivisions from being unreasonably restrictive.
If the city approves an applicant’s certificate of compliance to operate a retail liquor store, then the process moves to the Tennessee ABC Commission for a final decision.
The Tennessee ABC Commission requires applicants to meet the following conditions:
*Fill out an application form
*Fill out a questionaire: Owners, partners, officers, managers and/or any person who owns five percent (5%) or more in the corporation or the business, should complete these forms
*Certificate of Compliance: The Certificate of Compliance may be obtained from the local municipality Mayor’s office. Please contact the local Mayor’s office in the jurisdiction in which the store will be located for additional information.
*Certificate of Occupancy: The Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the local municipality’s Codes Department. Please contact the local Codes Department in the jurisdiction in which the store will be located for additional information.
*Proof of Possession : A copy of the lease must be furnished to this office. Along with the lease, a copy of the Deed (registered with the Registrar of Deed’s Office) must be furnished also. If the application is for a change of ownership, a copy of the Bill of Sale or Purchase Agreement must be provided.
*Charter from the State of Tennessee: (This document is required only if the applicant is a corporation, a limited liability company (LLC) or a formal partnership). A copy of the Tennessee charter must be furnished to this office and it may be obtained from the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office, 6th Floor, William Snodgrass Building, 7th Avenue North between Charlotte Avenue and Union Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, telephone (615) 741-2286.
*List of Officers and or owners of corporations: A separate list of officers (with their titles) and owners with five percent (5%) or more of ownership, indicating amount of percentage of ownership, must be furnished with the application. Please use form AB-0099.
*Waiver of any right to an administrative hearing by applicant
*Tennessee Sales Tax Number
*Copy of Newspaper Notice and Sworn Statement Regarding the Publication: Prior to the Certificate of Compliance hearing date, a newspaper notice must be published in the local newspaper for three (3) consecutive issues. Further, an affidavit from the local newspaper should be provided verifying publication.
*An inspection will be conducted by a TABC agent after the application has been reviewed by the local TABC office.
*Financial Background Check of Applicant
*Credit Check from Banking/Lending Institution
*Employee Permits: All employees must obtain an employee permit card. See Retail Employee permit (blue card) information.

Early voting begins Wednesday (Oct. 15) for the Nov. 4 general election, and the DeKalb County Election Commission is encouraging voters to take advantage of that opportunity.
“If you go ahead and vote early, you will have that done and you won’t have to worry about potential lines on election day,” said Dennis Stanley, administrator of elections.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW SAMPLE BALLOT)
DekalbTN-G14-NewspaperInfinity.pdf (28.79 KB)
Voters can cast early ballots through Oct. 30 at the DeKalb County Courthouse on the square in Smithville. Early Voting will be available six days a week during the following hours: Mondays 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays
9 am. until 1 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., Thursdays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. until noon.
Stanley urged local voters to educate themselves about the candidates, constitutional amendments on the ballot and the two City of Smithville liquor referendums before making their selections.
A sample ballot can be viewed at the election office, on the commission’s website at www.dekalbelections.com and at wjle.com.
Tennessee voters will elect a Governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. Congressmen, State Representatives, and State Senators.
The General Election Ballot also includes four proposed Tennessee Constitutional amendments.
Amendment #1 inserts constitutional language empowering the legislature to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion.
Amendment #2 empowers the Governor to appoint judges subject to confirmation by the General Assembly
Amendment # 3 prohibits the legislature from levying or permitting any tax upon payroll or earned personal income
Amendment #4 empowers the legislature to permit lotteries for events that benefit 501 (c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organizations.
The City of Smithville has two referendums on the ballot on November 4.
The Retail Package Store Referendum asks city voters to either vote “To permit retail package stores to sell beverages in Smithville” or “not to permit retail package stores to sell alcoholic beverages in Smithville”.
The Consumption on the Premises Referendum asks city voters to either vote “for legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in Smithville” or “against legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in Smithville.”
Candidates on the Tennessee General Election Ballot are as follows:
Governor:
Bill Haslam-Republican
Charles V. “Charlie” Brown-Democratic
Shaun Crowell-Constitution
Isa Infante-Green
Steven Damon Coburn-Independent
John Jay Hooker-Independent
Daniel T. Lewis-Independent (pending)
United States Senate:
Lamar Alexander-Republican
Gordon Ball-Democratic
Joe Wilmoth-Constitution
Martin Pleasant-Green
Tom Emerson, Jr.-Independent
Edmund L. Gauthier-Independent
Joshua James-Independent
Danny Page-Independent
Bartholomew J. Phillips-Independent
C. Salekin-Independent
Eric Schechter-Independent
Rick Tyler-Independent
U.S. House of Representatives (District 6)
Diane Black-Republican
Amos Scott Powers-Democratic
Mike Winton-Independent
Tennessee Senate (District 17)
Mae Beavers- Republican
Tennessee House of Representatives (District 40)
Terri Lynn Weaver- Republican
Sarah Marie Smith-Democratic
Tennessee House of Representatives (District 46)
Mark A. Pody-Republican
Candace Reed-Democratic
The actual wording on the ballot concerning the proposed constitutional amendments is as follows:
Constitutional Amendment 1
Shall Article I, of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language as a new, appropriately designated section:
Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.
□Yes
□No
Constitutional Amendment 2
Shall Article VI, Section 3 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by deleting the first and second sentences and by substituting instead the following:
Judges of the Supreme Court or any intermediate appellate court shall be appointed for a full term or to fill a vacancy by and at the discretion of the governor; shall be confirmed by the Legislature; and thereafter, shall be elected in a retention election by the qualified voters of the state. Confirmation by default occurs if the Legislature fails to reject an appointee within sixty calendar days of either the date of appointment, if made during the annual legislative session, or the convening date of the next annual legislative session, if made out of session. The Legislature is authorized to prescribe such provisions as may be necessary to carry out Sections two and three of this article.
□Yes
□No
Constitutional Amendment 3
Shall Article II, Section 28 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following sentence at the end of the final substantive paragraph within the section:
Notwithstanding the authority to tax privileges or any other authority set forth in this Constitution, the Legislature shall not levy, authorize or otherwise permit any state or local tax upon payroll or earned personal income or any state or local tax measured by payroll or earned personal income; however, nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting any tax in effect on January 1, 2011, or adjustment of the rate of such tax.
□Yes
□No
Constitutional Amendment 4
Shall Article XI, Section 5 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by deleting the following language:
All other forms of lottery not authorized herein are expressly prohibited unless authorized by a two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house of the general assembly for an annual event operated for the benefit of a 501(c)(3) organization located in this state, as defined by the 2000 United States Tax Code or as may be amended from time to time.
and by substituting instead the following language:
All other forms of lottery not authorized herein are expressly prohibited unless authorized by a two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house of the general assembly for an annual event operated for the benefit of a 501(c)(3) or a 501(c)(19) organization, as defined by the 2000 United States Tax Code, located in this state.
□Yes
□No

A Manchester man is charged with the aggravated assault of his wife, step daughter and another man in an altercation in August.
46 year old Napoleon Wainwright is under a $30,000 bond and he will be in court on January 29. He was arrested on Wednesday, October 8. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Wainwright allegedly assaulted his wife by grabbing and shoving her into the wall, which caused her to fall on the floor. While she was on the floor, Wainwright allegedly grabbed and beat her head against the floor. He also allegedly tried to hit the woman with a hammer. The victim had physical markings on her face and arms and her face was bleeding due to the altercation. Wainwright is also accused of assaulting his step-daughter and another man by striking both of them with a vehicle, leaving physical markings on her leg. The male victim had physical markings on his legs and arms, which resulted in him having to be medically treated at DeKalb Community Hospital.
26 year old Christine Nicole Moore of Bloom Lane, Asheville North Carolina is charged in a sealed indictment with sale and delivery of a schedule III drug. The indictment was returned by the Grand Jury on September 16, 2013 as the result of a sheriff’s department investigation. Moore was arrested on Thursday, October 9. Her bond is $20,000 and she will be in court November 12.

The 2014 Homecoming Queen at DeKalb County High School is Kamien Leshay Sparks.
A senior, Sparks is the 17 year old daughter of Jimmy and Tonyia Sparks of Smithville. Sparks is a member of the FBLA and Science Clubs and has been on the DCHS girls soccer team for three years. She has been an officer of FBLA for two years.
The Homecoming Attendants are:
Senior Attendant -Loren Jane Cripps, the 18 year old daughter of Scott and Gena Cripps of Smithville. She is on the DCHS girls basketball team and the Tigerette softball team. Cripps has earned the following honors and awards: Softball- 2nd Team District and District All Tournament Team; Basketball- District All Freshman Team, 3rd Team District (2 yrs.), completed 1,000+ points in junior year, Co- MVP, and All Upper Cumberland 3rd Team 2014. Cripps is also in the Beta Club. She is a member of the Smithville Church of Christ.
Senior Attendant- Brooke Danielle Roller, the 17 year old daughter of Richard and Rose Roller of Smithville. She is a member of the HOSA and Literature Club. Roller is also a two year member of the DCHS Golf and Soccer Teams. She was the Homecoming Junior Attendant last year.
Junior Attendant- Kaylene Marie Ferguson, 16 year old daughter of Rickey and Diane Hale of Smithville. Ferguson is a DCHS basketball cheerleader and football manager. She is a cheerleading STAR Award winner and is a member of the Smithville First Free Will Baptist Church Youth Group
Sophomore Attendant- Alexis Kay Bates, the 16 year old daughter of Todd and Kathy Bates of Smithville. Bates is a member of the Literature and Junior Beta Clubs. She is also a cheerleader and member of the DCHS Tigerette softball team. Bates was also the 8th grade Homecoming Queen in her 8th grade year and was a Freshman Class Favorite. She was an All American nominee in her 9th and 10th grade years and made the team in the 10th grade. She attends church at the Gathering.
Freshman Attendant- Amelia Patterson, the 15 year old daughter of Adrian Patterson and April Odom of Smithville. She is a basketball cheerleader and won the Freshman Award at the UCA Cheerleading Camp. She is a member of the Baptist Tabernacle
Spirit week activities will be held October 13-17 at DCHS. The Homecoming Parade will take place Friday afternoon, October 17 and the Tiger Homecoming Football game will be at 7:00 p.m. that night against Macon County. WJLE will have LIVE coverage of the game.
Homecoming 2014 Spirit Week Activities:
Monday- Camo/Hat Day
Tuesday-Patriotic/Super Hero Day
Wednesday-Twins/Neon/Flashback Day
Thursday-Sports T-Shirt or Jersey Day
**Bonfire at 7:00 p.m.
**Homecoming Dance at 7:30 p.m.
Friday- Black & Gold Day
Field Games
Parade and Downtown Pep Rally
Presentation of Queen & Attendants at 6:30 p.m.
Homecoming Game versus Macon County at 7:00 p.m.
*** Dress Code still applies and teachers are encouraged to participate
*** Cheerleaders will be selling items during lunch
*** Penny Wars- Classes will compete against each other all week to see who can collect the most pennies. Silver coins or dollars will cancel out pennies. The class with the most pennies at the end of the week will get to keep the money they raised.