News
Town of Liberty Hires New City Recorder
April 21, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
The Town of Liberty has a new city recorder secretary treasurer
During last Monday night’s special meeting of the Liberty Mayor and Aldermen, the council voted to hire Laura Foutch to succeed veteran employee of 46 years Charolette Bratten who recently retired but has continued in the role in the absence of a successor. An earlier motion to combine the positions of tax collector with the duties of the city recorder/secretary-treasurer failed to get support for passage.
Foutch will earn a monthly salary of $800 working out of the town hall at ten hours per week.
Meanwhile the board voted 4-1 to pay Bratten for the months of March, April, and May for work already done and for Bratten’s help assisting Foutch as she takes over the job.
Questions were raised about Bratten still being on the job after resigning January 31 and for her keeping city records at home where she has conducted city business. In the absence of a successor at the time, Bratten’s employment was extended through February 28.
“I brought this up last month and I took it upon myself to keep her (Bratten) but I need to get everybody’s okay on that,” said Mayor Audrey Martin.
“Has she already been paid for March and April,” asked Alderman Kendra Stanford.
“Not until we vote on it. I haven’t written her a check,” said Mayor Martin.
The conversation between the mayor and Alderman Stanford then turned to the city records kept at Bratten’s home.
“In the February meeting when we extended her (Bratten) to February 28th she said she would have all city property (records) up here by February 28th. Have the records been brought up here yet from her house,” asked Alderman Stanford.
“Not for the last six months because we are still working trying to get everything together and up here in a timely manner,” said Mayor Martin
“But the records still need to be at town hall,” Alderman Stanford said
“And they will be,” answered Mayor Martin
“The comptroller’s report said she (Bratten) had 35 years’ worth of city records and that should have been turned over last January 2024. That’s my concern with the new recorder coming in because she needs all of this stuff to be here to do her job,” said Alderman Stanford.
“Everything will be here by the end of the month but the last six months are not here,” said Mayor Martin.
Meanwhile Mike Eaton, a realtor for Blackwell Realty and Auction addressed the mayor and aldermen requesting that the city donate back to Citizens Bank of Lafayette a portion of the parking lot of the old Liberty State Bank location at 311 East Main Street previously owned by the bank but donated to the city in 1947. The bank closed its Liberty location last summer and Eaton said the property is for sale with a buyer waiting in the wings, Tony Bates of Bates Ford in Lebanon who has also recently bought properties in Alexandria.
“Citizens Bank of Lafayette asked me to help them sell their property and we listed it at 311 East Main Street in Liberty and we have a buyer for it,” said Eaton. “During a title search it came to our knowledge that in 1947 Liberty Savings Bank gave to the town of Liberty for a dollar the parking lot so the city could have extra parking. We would like to ask for the city to quick claim that deed back over to Citizens Bank of Lafayette. The bank actually owns 18 feet from the door out which is basically the drive through window spot. That is all the bank owns and the rest of the parking lot is the town of Liberty’s,” said Eaton.
The Mayor and Aldermen have scheduled a special town hall meeting outside at the parking lot location on Monday, April 28 at 6 p.m. to get input from the public before making a decision.
Meanwhile, Liberty is in search of a new mowing and maintenance employee, a position left vacant with the recent resignation of Dale Pursell. If you are interested contact Mayor Audrey Martin at 615-648-2701
DCHS Freshman writes winning “Parents of the Month” essay for his mom and dad
April 20, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A 9th grader at DCHS prepared a winning essay in tribute to his mom and dad for the honor of “Parents of the Month” for March.
Christopher Gallegos’ parents, Tiffany and Abel Cota received a certificate from the school and a gift card for a meal at El Rancho Mexican Restaurant.
“My mom and dad are the best support I have had my whole entire life. I just wanted to show them a little appreciation and how much I love them,” said Gallegos in explaining why he wrote the essay.
“We are very proud of Christopher,” said his mom Tiffany. “He has come a long way. When he was born he had a fractured skull and needed two pints of blood so we think of him as a miracle child because he was a very sick baby. We are very honored to have him recognize us for this,” said Tiffany.
Christopher is a member of the FBLA and Spanish Clubs and math is his favorite subject in school. His future plans are to pursue a career either in the automotive industry or in construction.
Ms Cota said her husband is a contractor for Meadows Homes and she is a stay at home mom. In addition to Christopher the Cota’s have a daughter, Jasmine Gallegos.
Two Charged in Separate Fraudulent Use of Credit Card Cases
April 20, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
Two women have been charged in separate cases of fraudulent use of a credit card.
37-year-old Molly Sue Lawrence of East Main Street, Dowelltown is under a $5,000 bond and she will be in court April 24.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that between February 7 and March 17 Lawrence allegedly used a Tennessee Way 2 Go card belonging to someone else to make several purchases totaling $5,432 without the consent of the card holder. The case was investigated by a detective.
Meanwhile, 39-year-old Melinda Beth Murphy of Frosty Point Road, Dowelltown is under a $3,500 bond and her court date is April 24.
Sheriff Ray said that on March 31 and April 1 Murphy allegedly used an EBT card at Walmart belonging to someone else to place several online grocery orders for pickup and delivery. The orders totaled $1,065. Murphy did not have consent of the card owner for the purchases. The case was investigated by a detective.
38-year-old Christopher Eugene Layne of Bright Hill Road is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court April 24.
Sheriff Ray said that on April 7 a deputy responded to several calls on Tabernacle Road about a man trying to get into the front door of a residence. The officer found Layne standing in a yard. He had pinpoint pupils, and he was acting erratically. For his safety and that of the public, Layne was arrested for public intoxication.
65-year-old Charles Anthony Farless of Short Mountain Road, Woodbury is charged with public intoxication. He is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is April 24.
Sheriff Ray said that on April 9 a deputy was dispatched to Pea Ridge Road where a man was reported to be knocking on doors. Upon arrival the officer found Farless unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred and his pupils constricted. For his safety and that of the public, Farless was arrested for public intoxication.
46-year-old Gregory Wayne Roberts of Rodonna Drive, Smithville is charged with resisting arrest. His bond is $2,500 and he will make a court appearance on April 24.
Sheriff Ray said that on April 11 a deputy confronted Roberts who had active warrants against him, but he ran out the door of a camper. After a short foot pursuit, Roberts was apprehended.
35-year-old Jerry Donald Cantrell of Adcock Cemetery Road is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court May 1.
Sheriff Ray said that on April 13 Adcock allegedly spat in his mother’s face and aggressively pushed his head against her head making threats while in a vehicle on the way to Adcock Cemetery Road.
