Thirty Eight Issued Candidate Petitions for May 2022 Primaries

December 28, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A total of 38 persons interested in running for county offices in either the May 3, 2022 DeKalb County Democratic or Republican Primary have picked up qualifying petitions from the election commission

According to the election commission office, the following persons have been issued petitions this week.

Republican Primary:
Danny Lynn Hale, Road Supervisor (Incumbent)
Sabrina R. Farler, County Commissioner, District 2 (Incumbent)
Susan L. Martin, Circuit Court Clerk (Incumbent)
Jim Beshearse-School Board, District 3(Incumbent)
Anita Puckett-County Mayor
Thomas E. “Tom” Chandler- County Commissioner, District 1
Sean D. Driver-Trustee (Incumbent)
Gregory S. “Greg” Mattthews, County Commissioner, District 4
Justin Douglas Adcock, County Commissioner, District 6
Joshua E. Holloway, County Commissioner, District 5
Larry L. Green- County Commissioner, District 5
James L. “Jimmy” Poss- County Clerk (Incumbent)
Matthew N. “Matt” Adcock- County Mayor
Mingy Kay Ball- General Sessions Court Judge
Brandon J. Cox- General Sessions Court Judge
Daniel A. Seber- Register of Deeds
Patrick R. Ray- Sheriff (Incumbent)
Keneth Lee Whitehead-Sheriff
James David “Jim” Pearson- County Commissioner, District 2
Tony L. “Cully” Culwell-County Commissioner, District 4
Boyd Bruce Malone-County Commissioner, District 7 (Incumbent)
Trevin Merriman-County Commissioner, District 7

Democratic Primary
Timothy Robert Stribling, County Mayor (Incumbent)
Margie Rigsby Miller, General Sessions Court Judge
Jeffery K. “Jeff” Barnes-County Commissioner, District 6 (Incumbent)
Julie Ann Young-County Commissioner, District 1 (Incumbent)
Janice. M. Fish Stewart-County Commissioner, District 4 (Incumbent)
Wayne Shehane- Road Supervisor
Mike Foster- County Mayor
James Waylon Kyle- County Commissioner, District 1
Tecia Puckett Pryor-General Sessions Court Judge
Shelby D. Reeder- Register of Deeds
Billy Myron Rhody-County Commissioner, District 2 (Incumbent)
Jack E. Barton, III-County Commissioner, District 3
Susannah Cripps Daughtry- County Commissioner, District 3 (Incumbent)
Jenny A. Trapp- County Commissioner, District 3 (Incumbent)
Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Pafford- County Commissioner, District 7 (Incumbent)
Robert D. (Danny) Parkerson, Jr.- School Board, District 1 (Incumbent). Parkerson also obtained a petition to run as an independent candidate for School Board, District 1 but he can only return one petition to the election commission to run either as a Democratic Candidate in the May Primary or as an Independent Candidate in the August County General Election..

Offices on the May primary ballots include: County Mayor; Road Supervisor; Sheriff, General Sessions Judge; Circuit Court Clerk; County Clerk; Trustee; Register of Deeds; County Commissioner in all seven (7) districts (2 can be nominated per district); School Board members in districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7; Constable in District 4 to fill a vacancy; Circuit Court Judge Part I and Part II (13th Judicial District); Chancellor (13th Judicial District); Criminal Court Judge Part I and Part II (13th Judicial District); District Attorney General (13th Judicial District); and Public Defender (13th Judicial District).

Petitions must be returned by Noon February 17th.

There is an additional earlier deadline for Sheriff and Road Supervisor candidates. They must have appropriate paperwork to the Peace Officer Standards Training Commission (POST) for sheriff and the Tennessee Highway Officials Certification board 14 days before the qualifying deadline.

While the above offices will appear on May primary ballots, candidates also have the option to run as Independent candidates who will not appear on the ballot until August. However, the same qualifying deadlines apply.

Winners of the May primaries will square off against each other in the August DeKalb County General Election along with any properly qualified Independent candidates.

The local election office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is located on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

December 28, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A 76-year-old pedestrian was airlifted this morning (Tuesday) after being hit by a car in the parking lot of the Dollar Tree.

According to Trooper Joseph Van Bommel of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Beverly Jones had just come out of the store and was walking to her vehicle when 58-year-old Joseph Hunter of Smithville, driving a 2011 Dodge Avenger, backed out of a parking space and struck Jones. She was taken by DeKalb EMS to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital where she was airlifted by helicopter ambulance to Vanderbilt Hospital.

Hunter has been charged with a 2nd offense of driving under the influence, vehicular assault, driving while suspended, and he was cited for no driver license. He is under a $16,000 bond and his court date is February 10.

In addition to the THP and DeKalb EMS, the Smithville Police and Fire Departments were on the scene to render assistance.

The preliminary report by the THP states as follows “On 12/28/2021 at approximately 10:56 a.m. I was dispatched to a vehicle vs pedestrian crash in the parking lot of Dollar Tree in Smithville TN. Upon arrival I learned a Beverly Ann Jones (1/22/1945) had left the Dollar Tree and was walking across the parking lot towards her vehicle when she was struck by a car going in reverse. The vehicle was a 2011 White Dodge Avenger driven by Joseph Hunter (02/17/1963). Mr. Hunter was parked in a parking spot facing Moses Discount Tobacco and Beer. As he was backing out of the parking spot he struck Ms. Jones. During my investigation I observed signs of impairment on Mr. Hunter and he admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the morning. He performed standardized field sobriety tasks unsatisfactorily and was placed under arrest. Mr. Hunter also had a suspended license for failure to maintain future proof of insurance. The THP Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene . Mr. Hunter was transported to the DeKalb County Jail and charged with Vehicular Assault, DUI 2^nd, Driving on Suspended, and cited for No insurance. Ms. Jones was transported by air to Vanderbilt Nashville for treatment and listed in stable condition at the time of this report”.

December 28, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Two people were involved in a one car crash Sunday morning on Highway 56 at Pine Creek Bridge near County House Road.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 44-year-old Amanda Knowles was driving north on Highway 56 in a 2019 Nissan Rogue when she crossed the center line, ran off the left side of the roadway, and struck a guardrail face and bridge end. The impact caused the vehicle to rotate, striking the bridge rail with the car’s right side before coming to a final rest in the roadway.

Knowles was injured in the crash, but her passenger 28-year-old Mercedes Porter was not hurt. In addition to the THP, DeKalb EMS and the DeKalb County Fire Department responded along with the Sheriff’s Department.