Early Voting Begins Tomorrow (Wednesday) for Presidential Election

October 13, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Early voting for the State and Federal General Election (often referred to as the Presidential Election) begins tomorrow (Wednesday) on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse in Smithville.

(Click Link Below to View Sample Ballot)

Sample Ballot

Voters are reminded that there are different hours for different days and voting will also be held on Saturday mornings.

“Early voting is extremely convenient, and the local election commission has varied the times throughout each week to accommodate various segments of the community,” said Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections.

Early voting hours are as follows:

Mondays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursdays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (except the last Thursday, Oct. 29 when the hours will be 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (except the last Friday, October 23 when the hours will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Saturdays 9 a.m. to Noon.

Also, safeguards will be in place to help protect both workers and voters during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Covid-19 Election Information

“Our office, in conjunction with the local election commission and state office, has worked to make the voting process as ‘No Touch’ as possible, just as it was in August” said Stanley.

“Voters will have access to a disposable pen when they arrive to vote which will minimize contact with shared surfaces and voting machines. Voters may also use their own pen or may use disposable gloves.”

Hand sanitizer will be available at the polling locations and poll workers have been equipped with face masks and/or face shields and some will be stationed behind plexiglass sneeze guards. Social distancing signs will be displayed either on the floor or walls throughout the entrance and voting area.

“We encourage all voters to do their part in making the voting experience a safe and efficient process,” said Stanley.

The following candidates have qualified to appear on the November 3 General Election ballot:

Candidates for President and Vice President of the United States:
*Republican Party Donald J. Trump for President and Michael R. Pence for Vice President
*Democratic Party Joseph R. Biden for President and Kamala D. Harris for Vice President
* Independent Don Blankenship for President and William Mohr for Vice President
*Independent Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente for President and Darcy G. Richardson for Vice President
*Independent Howie Hawkins for President and Angela Walker for Vice President
*Independent Jo Jorgensen for President and Jeremy “Spike” Cohen for Vice President
*Independent Alyson Kennedy for President and Malcolm Jarrett for Vice President
*Independent Gloria La Riva for President and Sunil Freeman for Vice President
*Independent Kanye West for President and Michelle Tidball for Vice President

Candidates for the United States Senate
*Republican- Bill Hagerty
*Democrat-Marquita Bradshaw
*Independent- Yomi “Fapas” Faparusi Sr.
*Independent- Jeffrey Alan Grunau
*Independent- Ronnie Henley
*Independent- G. Dean Hill
*Independent- Steven J. Hooper
*Independent-Aaron James
*Independent- Elizabeth McLeod
*Independent-Kacey Morgan
*Independent-Eric William Stansberry

Candidates for the United States House of Representatives-6th District
*Republican- John Rose
*Democrat-Christopher Martin Finley
*Independent-Christopher B. Monday

Tennessee House of Representatives-40th District
*Republican-Terri Lynn Weaver
*Independent-Paddy Sizemore

Tennessee House of Representatives-46th District
*Republican-Clark Boyd

October 12, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The next term of the DeKalb County Grand Jury will meet on Monday, November 16th, 2020, pursuant to T.C.A. 40-12-105.

“It is the duty of your grand jurors to investigate any public offense which they know or have reason to believe has been committed and which is triable or indictable in the county. Any person having knowledge or proof that an offense has been committed may apply to testify before the grand jury subject to the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated 40-12-105. The foreman in this county
is presently Ms. Katherine Pack, 1 Public Square, Room 201, Smithville, Tennessee, 37166,” said Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin.

“The grand jury will next meet on Monday, the 16th day of November, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.. You may be prosecuted for perjury for any oral or written statement which you make under oath to the
grand jury, when you know the statement to be false, and when the statement touches on a matter material to the point in question,” said Martin

October 12, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A Lebanon woman has been charged with identity theft.

36 year old Ashley Dawn Williams is under a $1,500 bond and her court date is October 29.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on March 1 Williams used the name and social security number of another person in order to open an account with Xfinity for herself. She admitted to having committed the crime.

The case was investigated by a Sheriff’s Department Detective.

22 year old Cito Santiago Garcia of Teakwood Circle, Rock Island is charged with driving under the influence. He was also cited for violation of implied consent and possession of a schedule II drug (oxycodone). His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 28.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 6 a deputy responded to a reckless driver call on McMinnville Highway. The deputy arrived on the scene where a Sheriff’s Department Detective had already pulled over the vehicle. The deputy spoke with the driver, Garcia who appeared to be under the influence. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Garcia refused to give a sample for a blood alcohol test. During the investigation officers found a blue round tablet believed to be oxycodone.