Stage set for August Municipal Elections

April 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Mayor Josh Miller will be unopposed for re-election on August 4th.

Today (Thursday, April 7) at noon was the qualifying deadline for the Smithville Municipal Election. Miller will be running for his second term as mayor.

Meanwhile three people are seeking one of two aldermen positions up for election August 4.

The candidates are Incumbent Alderman Beth Chandler, Don Crook, and Rhonda Tiefenauer. Two from that group will be elected.

All terms are for four years.

In the Liberty Municipal Election, a mayor and five aldermen will be elected on August 4.

Incumbent Mayor Jason Hayes Ray will be challenged by Audrey M. Martin while six candidates will be in the running for one of the Alderman seats including Kendra Stanford, James Ryan Dodd and Incumbents William H. Reynolds, Jr., Derek Johnson, Joe D. Bratten, and Kevin R. Mullinax.

All terms are for four years.

The Alexandria Municipal Election on August 4 will feature a contested race for Mayor between Lloyd D. Dyer and Jana Beth Tripp, who both currently serve as Aldermen.

In Alexandria, voters are to elect a Mayor to a full four-year term and were to have elected three Aldermen each to a full four-year term; and two Aldermen to fill unexpired terms. Only one person, Curtis J. Rutter qualified to run for an unexpired Alderman seat.

In Dowelltown, the Municipal Election on August 4 was to elect two Aldermen each to a full four-year term but only one will be elected. Incumbent Alderman Greg Fish is the lone candidate on the ballot.

April 7, 2022
By:

Mingy K. Ball has announced her candidacy for the DeKalb County General Sessions Court and Juvenile Court Judge in the upcoming election of 2022.

Mrs. Ball is seeking the Republican Nomination in the Republican Primary on May 3, 2022.

Her announcement is as follows:

Mrs. Ball firmly believes that every person, before the Court, has a fundamental right to be heard without discrimination, bias, undue influence, or advantage. Mrs. Ball vows to uphold the U.S. Constitution, the Tennessee Constitution, and laws that govern our great State.

Mrs. Ball is married to Johnny D. Ball who works in the medical field, and together, they have five sons: Scotty, Justin and Nathan Colwell, Lance and Lane Ball, and six grandchildren. Mrs. Ball understands the importance of family and community.

Mrs. Ball is licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee and the Middle District of the U.S. Federal Court. She has practiced at the State Appellate Level. Since 2012, Mrs. Ball has owned and operated a successful solo law practice in Smithville. Combined, she has more than twenty years of experience working with the Department of Children’s Services; the Juvenile Courts; and the General Sessions Courts; including an array of civil and criminal cases. She worked seven years for DCS in the Child Protective Service Division (CPS) as a Severe Child Abuse Investigator; two years in the Juvenile Justice Division (JJ) as a Juvenile Probation Officer, and two years in the Family Service Division (FSW), helping children through reunification or adoption. She interned two years as an attorney for DCS in the Special Division for Termination and Adoption, pro bono.

Mrs. Ball was the President of the DeKalb County Republic Party for two terms and President of the DeKalb County GOP Women’s Club for four terms. She is a member of the Tennessee Bar
Association and several boards within the community. She has received Certificate of Recognition from the Tennessee Supreme Court over the last several years for her service to the community through pro bono work.

Mrs. Ball supports the Dekalb County Recovery Court Program. The program is very challenging
in that it holds those involved to a high standard of accountability. Successful completion of the program is life changing, not only for those that graduate, but for their friends, families, and the community. She also advocates for the Dekalb County Prevention Coalition.

Mrs. Ball states awareness is key to success and bringing about change.

Mrs. Ball goes on to describe her personal experiences, I know firsthand what it is like to experience the loss of a family member through cancer, mental illness, suicide, and overdose. I know the negative impact that addiction has on friends, family, and society as a whole. I was lost in the system as a child, in and out of foster care, separated from my siblings. I have worked night shift at fast food restaurants and factories, attending school at night and on the weekends, while raising a family. I have been a single parent operating under a parenting plan with all the challenges of co-parenting.

“I have an in-depth understanding of day-to-day life with all the struggles and rewards. Hard work got me here, I am not a product of political favor. I owe no one and I cannot be bought. Through knowledge and experience, I bring an insight to the bench that no other candidate has”, Mrs. Ball concluded.

April 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville First Baptist Church is hosting its 4th annual Spring Community Day on Saturday, April 9 from 9 am until 12 noon at the church’s Life Enrichment Center (gym).

The community is invited to turn out for great fellowship and a lot of freebies.

“Over at the church we will have a free yard sale for everyone. Everything will be free so take what you need, take what you want. Come into our gym from 9 a.m. until noon or until things run out and have a great time shopping,” said FBC Pastor Chad Ramsey.

“If you are a senior adult or a single mom, we want to give you a free oil change. If you want a free oil change call us at 615-597-4275 and leave a message because those will have to be scheduled,” said Ramsey.

“We are happy to provide this. We just want to let the community know how much we love them but more importantly how much God loves them. This is our way of reaching out and saying we love you. This is something we do every year, and we are excited that this year we get to do it again. We look forward to have you come out this Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m. until 12 noon at Smithville First Baptist Church,” said Pastor Ramsey.