Election Day Has Arrived!

August 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Election Day has arrived!

From the city halls to the state house, voters in DeKalb County will be making their choices at the ballot box today for candidates they want to represent them in public office over the next two or four years.

August Sample Ballot

WJLE will have exclusive LIVE election return coverage and candidate interviews when the polls close starting at 7 p.m. on WJLE AM 1480/ FM 101.7 and AUDIO LIVE STREAM. Look for precinct returns in all contested local races at the following links as they come in tonight:

Live Results

(Click link below to view results of District 40-State House Race between Terri Lynn Weaver and Michael Hale)

District 40-State House Race

The ballot is lengthy and will consist of the DeKalb County General Election which includes the offices of County Mayor, Sheriff, Road Supervisor, Register of Deeds, Trustee, County Clerk, General Sessions Court Judge, Circuit Court Clerk, County Commission (seven districts), Board of Education (five districts), and judicial offices in the seven-county 13th judicial district which includes DeKalb County. The ballot also includes municipal or city elections in Smithville, Alexandria, Dowelltown, and Liberty and the Tennessee Republican and Democratic Primaries to select nominees for state and federal offices for the November General Election.

The polls at all 12 precincts in DeKalb County will be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Those precincts are at Alexandria, Temperance Hall, Liberty, Snow Hill, Smithville Church of God, Courthouse, Rock Castle, Johnson Chapel, County Complex, Keltonburg, Blue Springs, and the Smithville Church of Christ Annex.

Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections urges voters to study the sample ballot and be better prepared to help avoid longer lines at the polls.

“The ballot is rather lengthy and hopefully voters will do some homework before showing up at the polls. The ballot is available on our website at www.dekalbelections.com and on www.wjle.com. We hope voters will not wait until the very last minute. Of course, the polls are open until 7 p.m. and if you are in line at 7 p.m. you will be able to vote. Study the ballot and things will go a lot smoother if you are prepared. If you have a question where your precinct is give us a call at the election office at 615-597-4146,” said Stanley.

The DeKalb County General Election will feature four contested races for county offices including County Mayor, General Sessions Court Judge, Register of Deeds and Road Supervisor.

August Sample Ballot

Former County Mayor Mike Foster, a Democrat, is hoping for a return to the office but he is facing a challenge from Republican Matt Adcock, who currently serves on the county commission. The term is 4 years beginning September 1

Local attorneys Brandon Cox, a Republican and Tecia Puckett Pryor, a Democrat are running against each other to determine who succeeds retiring General Sessions Court Judge Bratten Cook, II. The winner will take over from Judge Cook on September 1, who will be completing 24 years on the bench as DeKalb County’s General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge. The term of office is 8 years.

Republican Daniel Seber and Democrat Shelby Reeder are in the race to see who will succeed longtime Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen, who is retiring August 31 after 36 years in office. The term is 4 years.

Meanwhile, Republican Incumbent Road Supervisor Danny Hale, seeking his second- 4-year term, is being challenged for re-election by Democrat Wayne Shehane.

The other county officials up for re-election to new 4-year terms, all Incumbent Republicans, are running unopposed as follows:

County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss enroute to a third term

Trustee Sean Driver seeking his fifth term

Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin looking toward her second term.

Sheriff Patrick Ray on his way to fifth term.

The field of county commission candidates in each district are as follows:

First District: Julie Young (Democrat), Bennett Armstrong (Republican), Tom Chandler (Republican), and Daniel Cripps (Independent). Two are to be elected.

Second District: Myron Rhody (Democrat), Sabrina Farler (Republican), and Jim Pearson (Republican). Two are to be elected.

Third District: Susannah Cripps Daughtry (Democrat), Jack Barton (Democrat), Tim Perricone (Republican), and Tony Luna (Independent). Two are to be elected.

Fourth District: Janice Fish Stewart (Democrat), Greg Matthews (Republican), Tony (Cully) Culwell (Republican), and Wayne Cantrell (Independent). Two are to be elected.

Fifth District: Larry Green (Republican) and Glynn Merriman (Republican). Both are to be elected unopposed.

Sixth District: Jeff Barnes (Democrat), Danny McGinnis (Democrat), Doug Stephens (Republican), and Justin Douglas Adcock (Republican). Two are to be elected.

Seventh District: Beth Pafford (Democrat), Bruce Malone (Republican), and Timothy Reynolds (Republican). Two are to be elected.

There are two contested Board of Education races in the August 4 DeKalb County General Election.
Voters in districts 1, 2, 3, 4, & 7 will elect a school board member. The terms are for 4 years beginning September 1.

There are no Democratic or Republican candidates for the Board of Education in District 1 but Incumbent Danny Parkerson is running unopposed as an Independent for re-election.

Incumbent school board member Alan Hayes (Republican) is unopposed in District 2.’

Incumbent school board member Jim Beshearse (Republican) in District 3 is unopposed.

Three people are in the race to succeed Incumbent school board member Kate Miller in District 4 who is not seeking re-election. Those candidates are Democrat Dr. Scott Little, Republican Eric Ervin , and Independent Tony Poss.

Incumbent school board member Shaun Tubbs in District 7 is running for re-election as an Independent and will face opposition from Republican Ryan Mollinet.

Seven judicial positions in the 13th district will be filled in the elections but only one of them is contested. All terms are for 8 years beginning September 1.

Incumbent Circuit Court Judge Part I Amy Hollars of Livingston (Independent) will be challenged for re-election by Republican William T. “Will” Ridley of Crossville.

The six other judicial candidates, all Republicans, are running unopposed as follows:

Circuit Court Judge Part II- 13th Judicial District
Caroline Knight

Chancellor- 13th Judicial District

Ronald Thurman (Incumbent)

Criminal Court Judge Part I- 13th Judicial District:

Gary S. McKenzie (Incumbent)

Criminal Court Judge Part II- 13th Judicial District:
Wesley Bray (Incumbent)

Public Defender- 13th Judicial District:
Craig P. Fickling, Jr. (Incumbent)

District Attorney General- 13th Judicial District:
Bryant C. Dunaway (Incumbent)

All four cities in DeKalb County will have municipal elections

Smithville voters will elect a mayor and two aldermen. All terms are for 4 years beginning September 1.

Smithville Mayor Josh Miller will be unopposed for re-election. Three people are running for Alderman. The candidates are Incumbent Alderman Beth Chandler, Don Crook, and Rhonda Tiefenauer. Two from that group will be elected.

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

Incumbent Mayor Jason Hayes Ray will be challenged by Audrey M. Martin while six candidates will be in the running for one of the five 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 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 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.

The Tennessee Democratic and Republican parties will have primaries on Thursday, August 4th to select nominees for Governor, U.S. House of Representatives, Tennessee House of Representatives and State Executive Committeemen and Committeewomen.

Unlike the DeKalb County General Election and Municipal Elections, voters must declare in which state primary (Democratic or Republican) they intend to vote

The most hotly contested state primary race in DeKalb County is the 40th District State Representative Republican Primary battle between 14-year incumbent Terri Lynn Weaver of Lancaster and Smithville businessman Michael Hale. The winner will face Democrat Tom Cook of Silver Point in the November 8th Tennessee General Election. Cook is unopposed in the state Democratic Primary. The 40th District includes all of DeKalb, Smith, Jackson, and Cannon Counties and a small portion of Wilson County.

The candidates on the State Primary Ballots are as follows:

Governor:
GOP Primary: Incumbent Bill Lee

Democrat Primary: Carnita Faye Atwater of Memphis , Jason Brantley Martin of Nashville, and JB Smiley Jr. of Memphis

U.S. House of Representatives (6th District)
GOP Primary: Incumbent John Rose of Cookeville

Democrat Primary: Randal Cooper of Nashville and Clay Faircloth of Nashville

Tennessee House of Representatives (40th District)
GOP Primary: Incumbent Terri Lynn Weaver of Lancaster and Michael Hale of Smithville.

Democrat Primary: Tom Cook of Silver Point

GOP State Executive Committeeman (16th District): Jerry S. Anderson of Winchester

GOP State Executive Committeewoman (16th District): Amy L. Dennis of Winchester

Democratic State Executive Committeeman (16th District): Bobby Eddress Bush Jr. of Morrison

Democratic State Executive Committeewoman (16th District): Sheila Younglove of McMinnville

Meanwhile the ballot will also feature 26 State Judicial Retention questions in which voters may vote to either “retain” or “replace” judges.

August 3, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Make a friend for life! Adopt “Zoe” the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”

“Zoe is a beautiful Siamese mix. She is super sweet and loving. Zoe is fully vaccinated and ready to go. She does great with other cats as well as kids and grownups. Zoe is an all-around cuddle bug. We just need to find her a forever home,” said Shelter Director Emmaly Bennett.

“Visit our website at https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/ and fill out and submit an adoption application and we will call you to come in and meet Zoe,” said Bennett. She is sponsored by the Friends of DeKalb Animal Shelter and her adoption fee is only $40,” added Bennett.

The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 8 to 4 and Saturday from 8 to 12 on Transfer Station Road behind Tenneco Automotive.

August 2, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Two men found growing marijuana on their properties on Barnes Mill Road more than a year ago have been arrested after being named in sealed indictments recently returned by the DeKalb County Grand Jury.

60-year-old Steven James Cantrell and 71-year-old Larry Adcock are each charged in the indictments for possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana) with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. Bond for each is $3,500. They appeared for arraignment in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday, August 1.

Members of the Governor’s Task Force on Marijuana Eradication conducted a flyover in portions of DeKalb County on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 searching for marijuana grow operations.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said the Task Force reported finding a total of about 30 plants in two separate grows including in-doors and outdoors at the properties of Cantrell and Adcock on Barnes Mill Road.

“They called us to come and process the scenes. We seized the marijuana and grow equipment,” said Sheriff Ray.

Meanwhile, 38-year-old Tabatha Marie Batey of McMinnville is cited for possession of drugs without a prescription and possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana). Her court date is August 18. Sheriff Ray said that on July 25 during a vehicle search Batey, who consented to the search, was found to be in possession of two white pills believed to be Gabapentin without a prescription. She also had 0.29 ounces of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.

43-year-old Scotty Wayne Knowles of Jacobs Pillar Road, Smithville is charged with possession of a schedule I drug (Heroin). His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on August 18. Sheriff Ray said that on July 25 a deputy spotted a possible stranded motorist on Cookeville Highway. He stopped to render assistance and observed that the driver, Knowles appeared to be nervous. A background check revealed that Knowles’ driver license was revoked. Knowles informed the officer that he was on probation. Knowles consented to a search of his person and vehicle and the deputy found him to be in possession of 0.24 grams of a pink powdery substance believed to be Heroin.

64-year-old Julienne Leigh Daniel of Captain’s Point Road, Silver Point is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. Her bond is $10,000 and she will be in court August 11. Sheriff Ray said that on July 26 a deputy was dispatched to the area of Captain’s Point Road due to a report of a possible intoxicated motorist parked in the roadway. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the driver, Daniel whose white Honda was blocking the road. She had a strong odor of alcohol on her and three vodka bottles were found in the floorboard. When Daniel got out of the car the officer noticed that she was unsteady on her feet. Daniel was unable to complete field sobriety tasks.

53 year old Curtis Lee Adams of Midway Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will make a court appearance August 18. Sheriff Ray said that on July 30 Adams got into an argument with a woman that turned physical when he took her phone and grabbed her arms resulting in bruises and scratches on her left arm. The woman also claims that Adams hit her in the forehead.

40-year-old Anthony Charles Skaroupka of South College Street, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on August 18. Sheriff Ray said that on August 1 a deputy was patrolling Short Mountain Highway when he spotted two men riding bikes on the road. He stopped them and found that one of the men, Skaroupka was unsteady on his feet and that his speech was slurred. Skaroupka admitted to having earlier taken some prescription medication and had smoke marijuana.