Local News Articles

Final Slate Of Candidates Set For DTC Election of Directors

The final slate of candidates is set for DTC Communications’ election of directors next month.

Directors will be elected in four exchanges, including the Auburntown (464), Gordonsville (683), Temperance Hall (548), and Woodland (765) exchanges.

Incumbents Roy N. Pugh, Robert Don Malone, and David Parker are running unopposed in the Auburntown, Temperance Hall, and Woodland exchanges, respectively.

The Gordonsville exchange is represented by two candidates: Incumbent James H. Dillard, Jr. and David A. Watson who qualified by petition.

Voting for directors will take place at the cooperative’s annual meeting on Saturday, Sept. 15 and during early voting Monday-Wednesday, Sept. 10-12. Thursday, Sept. 6, will be the last day to make changes to your membership for the 2007 election.

Hours and locations for early voting include:
Early Voting Hours
Mon., Sept. 10 – Noon to 7 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 11 – Noon to 7 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 12 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

One Man Seriously Injured In Tuesday Night Crash

One man was seriously injured in a one car crash Tuesday night on Highway 70 east near Sligo Bridge.

Michael Reid apparently lost control of his car and went off an embankment.

He was later airlifted from the scene by a helicopter ambulance and flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with serious head and back injuries.

Sheriff Patrick Ray says a fisherman on the lake heard the crash and reported it around 10:00 p.m.

Officers quickly responded and found where the vehicle had run off an embankment. They soon discovered the car and found Reid hanging onto to a vine to keep from falling off the bluff into the lake.

A deputy helped pull him to a safer place on the embankment until more help could arrive.

Sheriff Ray says he would like to commend the DeKalb County Rescue Squad, County Volunteer Fire Department, and DeKalb EMS who were on the scene within minutes. He says they got to Reid, secured him in a basket, and brought him back up to the top of the hill.

DeKalb County Jail & Annex Meet Standards For Re-Certification

Sheriff Patrick Ray says he is pleased to announce that the DeKalb County Jail and the Jail Annex have both met standards for re-certification by the Tennessee Corrections Institute.

According to Sheriff Ray, "On June 21st, John Hanna, Jr., Detention Facility Specialist for the Tennessee Corrections Institute conducted an inspection and on June 26th, we received our certification for both the DeKalb County Jail and DeKalb County Jail Annex."

Concerning the DeKalb County Jail, Hanna wrote in the summary of his report that "This facility is run by officers that seem to care about the conditions of the overall jail. I went through the cell areas that did not have evidence of pest or vermin. The medical section had a medical receipt system well established and the kitchen was up to date with the meal plans. I recommend continued certification of this jail."

D.A. Says No TBI Investigation Needed In Stufano/Ray Case

The District Attorney General's Office will not be requesting a TBI investigation into allegations of wrongdoing against Smithville Police Chief Thomas J. Stufano by Roy Ray.

The Smithville Aldermen voted 3 to 1 on Monday, July 16th to place Chief Stufano on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of an independent investigation into the Stufano/Ray case. Lieutenant Richard Jennings, the senior ranking officer within the department at the time, was named acting police chief.

Two days after that meeting on Wednesday, July 18th, Mayor Taft Hendrixson sent a written notice to city attorney John Pryor that he was casting a veto of the council's action. The aldermen were also notified. As a reault of the mayor's veto, Stufano was reinstated as Police Chief.

Annual Sales Tax Holiday Returns August 3-5

Governor Phil Bredesen and Department of Revenue officials remind you that the second annual Sales Tax Holiday begins this Friday, August 3, at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, August 5, at 11:59 p.m.

This holiday provides statewide sales tax exemption for school and art
supplies and clothing priced $100 or less per item and computers priced
$1,500 or less. This is the first holiday that art supplies will be
exempt, which includes clay and glazes; tempera and oil paints;
paintbrushes for artwork; sketch and drawing pads; and watercolors.
Please visit the dedicated Sales Tax Holiday Web site at
www.tntaxholiday.com ( http://www.tntaxholiday.com/ ) to learn more
about what items are exempt from sales taxes.

“This holiday is another way we can show our commitment to Tennessee
families and their children’s education,” said Governor Bredesen.
“Our Sales Tax Holiday not only helps families save on their

Second Annual Education Celebration Set for Monday

The Second Annual Education Celebration for DeKalb County has been set for August 6th from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. downtown around the courthouse square.

The celebration is being organized by DeKalb County Board of Education Federal Programs Supervisor Michelle Burklow along with committee members Jennifer Mitchell, Angela Johnson, Pamela Poss, Suzette Barnes, Gina Denman, Melissa Pirtle, and Jamie Vickers.

This Education Celebration is nationally known as First Day of School America and is held annually in a lot of the bigger cities in the United States. Since 1997 the First Day Foundation organization has been assisting schools, families and communities to come together for a celebration on the First Day of each new school year to support education and begin a year-long partnership to promote student success. This is also a time that parents and students can become more familiar with the faculty, staff and PTO of the school that they are entering.

Traffic Stop Results in Three Drug Arrests

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department made a traffic stop last Wednesday which led to the arrest of three people on drug charges.

Sheriff Patrick Ray says 28 year old Donald Bart of Old Eagle Creek Road Smithville was pulled over on Highway 70 East for a traffic violation and when the deputy asked who he was, Bart gave a fictitious name. Upon further investigation, the deputy learned the man's real identity. Bart said he gave the deputy a fictitious name because he was wanted in Texas. Bart was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after the deputy found a syringe in Bart's belt line.

Meanwhile, 52 year old Thomas Pavone of Old Eagle Creek Road, Smithville was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and 32 year old Tracy Schunke of Foster Road Smithville was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession of a schedule II drug (Dilaudid).

Both Pavone and Schunke were in the vehicle with Bart.

DeKalb County Fair Draws to Close Saturday Night

If you haven't been to the DeKalb County Fair this week, today (Saturday) is your last chance.

The week long fair will draw to a close late tonight.

Today's events are as follows:

A performance of the DCHS Band at 5:00 p.m.; DeKalb Idol Final Competition at 6:00 p.m. followed by a performance by Joanie Compretta at the Lions Club Pavilion; a Horse Shoe Tournament at 3:00 p.m. at the barn; and a Super Tractor and Truck Pull at 7:00 p.m. at the Hilltop Arena. On the Memory Lane Stage, Southern Dream will be performing at 8:00 p.m. The Sympathetic Scarecrow Band, which was scheduled to perform, will be unable to attend.

There will be no cash drawing tonight. All the prize money has been given away.

Rides on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company. Unlimited rides will be available for $14.00.

The fair will feature lots of delicious foods and many commercial, agricultural, and women's exhibits.