The 2012 election season will begin with the Tennessee Presidential Preference Primaries and the DeKalb County Democratic Primary on March 6th.
On the local scene, the office of Assessor of Property will be up for election along with all seven constable positions. Each of the terms is for four years. The qualifying deadline is 12 noon on December 8.
In 2008, Assessor of Property Timothy Fud Banks was re-elected while those elected as constable were Reed Edge in the second district, Wayne Vanderpool in the third district, Paul Cantrell in the fourth district, Mark Milam in the fifth district, Cantrell Jones in the sixth district, and Johnny King in the seventh district. No one was elected in the first district.
Paul Cantrell has qualified to seek re-election as constable in the fourth district. Constable Mark Milam has also qualified for re-election in the fifth district. Others who have picked up petitions for constable are Johnny King in the seventh district, Wayne Vanderpool in the third district, and Richard Bullard in the sixth district. Scott Cantrell has picked up a petition for Assessor of Property.
While the local Democratic Party will be selecting its nominees through the primary process, the DeKalb County Republican Party will choose any nominees it has by convention.
“Petitions can be picked up for all of the local offices on the March ballot,” said Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections. The qualifying deadline is NOON, December 8, 2011. The same
qualifying deadline will apply to the Republican Party nominees (chosen by caucus) and Independent candidates.
Any Republican and Democratic nominees for the offices of Assessor of Property and Constable will face off in the August 2012 DeKalb County General Election
(Pictured Above: Constables Cantrell Jones in the sixth district, Johnny King in the seventh district, Reed Edge in the second district, Wayne Vanderpool in the third district, Mark Milam in the fifth district, and Paul Cantrell in the fourth district)

A Giles County High School football fan was arrested for trying to steal a DeKalb County High School Tiger Football sign following the state play-off game last Friday night in Smithville.
18 year old William Carson Burns of Agnew Road, Pulaski is charged with theft of property under $500 and evading arrest. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court on November 17.
Sheriff Patrick Ray reports that on Friday, November 4, Burns allegedly took a sign from the DCHS football field that belonged to the school, valued at less than $500. When officers asked him to put down the sign, he ran off with it. He ran about 200 yards before officers caught up with him.
Giles County defeated DeKalb County in that game 35-28, eliminating the Tigers from the state play-offs.
Meanwhile, 43 year old Raymond Earl Tague of Bluhmtown Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $500. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court November 17.
Sheriff Ray reports that on Wednesday November 2, Tague allegedly took from property on Bluhmtown Road, a door, a large window, and two small windows, all valued at over $500.
36 year old Lisa Yvonne Rogers of Aaron Webb Road, Smithville is cited for violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance), simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her court date is November 17
Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, November 5 an officer was dispatched to Creek Road to check out a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, the officer found Rogers sitting in the car. After receiving consent to search the vehicle, the deputy found 1.8 grams of marijuana and a pipe. Rogers could not show proof of insurance.

Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews will close the Hurricane Bridge on State Route 56 over the Caney Fork River in DeKalb County to all traffic between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. CST on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. The closure is necessary to allow the contractor to pour a portion of the new concrete deck. The work is part of a $26.9 million rehabilitation project which is scheduled to be complete in October 2013.
The work is weather dependent. If the contractor is unable to perform the work on Tuesday evening, it will be rescheduled to take place on either the evening of Wednesday, November 9 or Thursday, November 10 during the same time period.
Message boards will be in place to notify drivers of the closure. While the bridge is closed, all traffic will be redirected to the currently posted truck detour that utilizes I-40 at Exit 254 to SR-53. The bridge will be reopened to normal one-lane signal-controlled traffic by 6:00 a.m. the following morning. The current weight postings of 10 tons for two-axle vehicles and 18 tons for vehicles with three or more axles will continue to remain in effect and will be strictly enforced.
For travel and TDOT construction information visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway or call 511 from any land-line or cellular phone. You can also receive traffic alerts via TDOT’s multiple Twitter feeds, including statewide traffic tweets @TN511 or Chattanooga area alerts @Chattanooga511. Smart phone users can use the TDOT SmartWay Mobile website at http://m.tdot.tn.gov/SmartWay/ to access TDOT’s SmartWay cameras and information on construction related lane closures and incidents on interstates and state routes.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

15 year old Lauren Ashley Medlin captured the Fall Fest Crown Saturday night during the annual pageant at the DeKalb County High School gym. The event is sponsored by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club.
Nineteen young ladies, ages 14-18 competed for the title.
Medlin, daughter of Greg and Teresa Medlin of Smithville, succeeds the retiring Fall Fest Queen, 15 year old Lauren Elizabeth Colwell, daughter of Trent and Christie Colwell of Smithville.
Meanwhile, Katlin Alli Emme was named Miss Congeniality of the pageant. She is the 15 year old daughter of Jessica and Gordon Rackley and Michael and Leslie Emme of Smithville..
First runner-up in the pageant was 16 year old Zoe Elaine Whaley, daughter of Celia and Scott Whaley of Smithville.
Kami Denise Bogle was second runner-up. She is the 15 year old daughter of Amy Scott and Chris Bogle of Smithville.
17 year old Katie Sue Haggard, daughter of David and Vicki Haggard of Smithville, was the third runner-up
Fourth runner-up went to 15 year old Brittany Nicole Wilkerson, daughter of Sean Wilkerson and Michelle Cantrell of Smithville.
Others in the top ten were Kelsey Hale, the 17 year old daughter of Kevin and Judith Hale of Smithville; Stephanie Carmen Rackley, the 17 year old daughter of William and Angie Meadows and Gordon and Jessica Rackley of Smithville; Sarah Elizabeth Edwards of Liberty, the 15 year old daughter of Tena and the late Clay Edwards; Darrian Lanay Turner, the 14 year old daughter of Shane and Regina Turner of Smithville; and Christian Janette Atnip, the 17 year old daughter of Veronica Atnip of Smithville.
Others in the pageant were Paige Cantrell, the 16 year old daughter of David and Angela Cantrell of Alexandria; Carlie Sullivan, the 16 year old daughter of Inga and Darrell Johnson of Liberty; Shauna Faith Taylor, the 16 year old daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor of Smithville; Ashlee Michelle Whitehead, the 17 year old daughter of Keneth and Tina Whitehead of Smithville; Jasmine Marie Dimas, the 17 year old daughter of Lynda Hamilton and Juan Dimas of Smithville; Makayla Shea Funk, the 16 year old daughter of Amie Funk of Dowelltown; Haley Marie Hale, the 14 year old daughter of Chad and Melissa Hale of Smithville; and Jessica Diane Ball, the 17 year old daughter of Donald and Mary Lou Ball of Smithville.
(Second Photo From Top: Pictured Left to Right: Fall Fest: 4th runner-up Brittany Nicole Wilkerson, 2nd runner-up Kami Denise Bogle, Queen Lauren Ashley Medlin, 1st runner-up Zoe Elaine Whaley, 3rd runner-up Katie Sue Haggard)

13 year old Tyra Grace Graham is the first ever Autumn Sweetheart.
The inaugural pageant, sponsored by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club, was held Saturday night at the DCHS gym. Twelve contestants, ages 11-14 competed for the crown.
Graham is the daughter of Kyle and Doris Graham of Smithville.
First runner-up in the pageant was Hannah Walker, the 13 year old daughter of Scott and Misty Walker of Smithville. Walker was also named Miss Congeniality
Destiny Danielle Franklin, 12 year old daughter of Jennifer and Charles Ware of Smithville, was second runner-up.
Third runner-up went to Morgan Faith Green, the 12 year old daughter of Suzanne and Jon Harrison of Smithville.
Brooklyn Storm Estes was the fourth runner-up. She is the 11 year old daughter of Chris and Shanna Bogle of Smithville.
Others participating in the pageant were Alexis KaSara Davis, 12 year old daughter of Scott and Angela Davis of Smithville; Chloe Elizabeth Sykes, 11 year old daughter of Robbie and Jennifer Sykes of Smithville; Baylie Ann Davis, 11 year old daughter of Shara Cowan and Jason Davis of Smithville; Abigail Hope Taylor, the 11 year old daughter of Ken and Cindy Taylor of Smithville; Kerra Nicole Blackwell, the 13 year old daughter of Candra and Brian Neal and Russell Blackwell of Smithville; Kayla Jayne Belk, the 11 year old daughter of Chrisanne Belk and Andrew Fults of Smithville; and Madison Elaine Colwell, the 11 year old daughter of Gabe and Heather Colwell of Smithville.
Second Photo From Top: (Pictured left to right: 4th runner-up Brooklyn Storm Estes, 2nd runner-up Destiny Danielle Franklin, Queen Tyra Grace Graham, 1st runner-up Hannah Walker, 3rd runner-up Morgan Faith Green)

10 year old Anna Rachel Blair is the 2011 Autumn Princess
Blair, daughter of Keith and Amanda Blair of Smithville, succeeds the retiring Autumn Princess, Emma Brooke Jennings, the eight year old daughter of Chad and Shelly Jennings of Smithville
The pageant, featuring nineteen girls ages 7 to 10, was sponsored by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club and held Saturday night at the DCHS gym.
First runner-up was Natalie Morgan Snipes, the 7 year old daughter of Tim and Michelle Snipes of Smithville.

Second runner-up was Kennedy Grace Agee, the 8 year old daughter of Josh and January Agee of Liberty. Agee was also named Miss Manners.
Alexis Grace Atnip, the 8 year old daughter of Veronica Atnip and John Atnip of Smithville, was named third runner-up.
Ellisyn Kelsey Cripps was fourth runner-up. She is the 8 year old daughter of Troy and Jamie Cripps of Smithville.
Rounding out the top ten were Haylie Lockard, the 9 year old daughter of John and Brittany Lockard of Smithville; Malia Nichole Stanley, the 9 year old daughter of Steve Stanley of Smithville and the late Amy Tollison; Madison Rae Rackley, the 8 year old daughter of Gordon and Jessica Rackley of Smithville; Shaunta Rose Koegler, the 10 year old daughter of Brian and Leticia Koegler of Smithville; and Madi Elizabeth Cantrell, the 10 year old daughter of Todd and Jenny Cantrell of Smithville.
Others participating in the pageant were Sophia Eileen Angeletti, the 7 year old daughter of Stacey Angeletti of Smithville; Skylor McKinlee Fuson, the 8 year old daughter of Aleisha and Scotty Fuson of Smithville; Katherine Malone, the 9 year old daughter of Kevin and Dana Malone of Smithville; Tesla Cheyenne Tapp, the 10 year old daughter of Latisha and Jimmy Stephens of Smithville; Lera Renae Britt, the 9 year old daughter of Lou Ann Cantrell and Jason Britt of Smithville; Alley Elaine Sykes, the 9 year old daughter of Robbie and Jennifer Sykes of Smithville; Madison Faith Whitehead, the 10 year old daughter of Keneth and Tina Whitehead of Smithville; Julia Grace Curtis, the 10 year old daughter of Bruce and Amy Curtis of Smithville; and Megan Emilee Cantrell, the 10 year old daughter of Todd and Jenny Cantrell of Smithville.
Second Photo From Top: (Pictured left to right: 4th runnerup Ellisyn Kelsey Cripps, 2nd runnerup Kennedy Grace Agee, Queen Anna Rachel Blair, 1st runnerup Natalie Morgan Snipes, and 3rd runnerup Alexis Grace Atnip)

The State Comptroller of the Treasury’s Division of County Audit has released the annual Financial Report of DeKalb County for the year ended June 30, 2011
The audit resulted in fifteen findings and recommendations which have been reviewed with DeKalb County Management.
(CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK TO VIEW THE ENTIRE STATE AUDIT OF DEKALB COUNTY GOVERNMENT)http://www.comptroller1.state.tn.us/repository/CA/2011/dekalb.pdf
Six of the findings were in Road Supervisor Kenny Edge’s department.
The findings were as follows:
The office did not maintain adequate controls over consumable assets
The office had deficiencies in payroll procedures
Competitive bids were not solicited for crushed stone
A property owner erected a gate on a county road
A complete county road list was not submitted to the County Commission for approval
The Highway Department performed work and provided materials on roads to private cemeteries without authorization.
When contacted by WJLE Thursday afternoon, Edge said there is no truth to the finding that competitive bids were not solicited for crushed stone. While Edge apparently could not provide sufficient proof to satisfy the state, he said the notices were clearly published in the local newspaper during the summer. “There were bids. You can go back and get the Smithville Review in June of this year and see where I bid on them and we got bids,” said Edge.
Edge doesn’t deny that a property owner erected a gate on a county road, as found in the audit. In fact, he said there are gates on county roads in several places across the county. “The one they’re talking about here is a gate across the Love Valley Road. There’s a graveyard there but they let anybody go to the graveyard who wants to. There are gates all over this county on county roads. There are two or three in Wilder Hollow. There’s one at the head of Dry Creek. They are all over the county on the end of these roads, on Hurricane Ridge and everywhere. I’ve always worked with the landowners,” said Edge.
Edge also denies that he has failed to provide the county commission a complete road list for approval, as found in the audit. Edge insists that he submits road lists to the commission each year.
As for performing work and providing materials on roads to private cemeteries, Edge said he has done that throughout his years as road supervisor and that the county commission is well aware of it even though a resolution either has never been adopted by the commission or is currently unavailable acknowledging the practice. “They’re saying the county needs to pass a resolution and the county may have but they said I couldn’t produce it for them,”
Edge said its frustrating how that the state has such a problem with him putting gravel or a tile in a driveway, but sees nothing wrong with the state putting down hot mix and installing guardrails to a dead end on private property in the midst of a cedar thicket on the side of a hill along side a state highway (referring to property at the foot of Snow Hill on Highway 70)
Concerning the finding about deficiencies in the payroll procedures, Edge said ” You’re supposed to have one (employee) to receipt the money and another employee to write the checks to the employees. But we don’t have the money to hire two people for that. Its always been done this way ever since we’ve had a road department,” he said.
As far as the finding concerning maintaining adequate controls over consumable assets, Edge said “they write me up every year on the road tiles. I furnish everybody in the county a road tile that wants a driveway to build a new house. We don’t write down every tile for every particular location. We overlook them along. But if you miss one they (state) write you up just like you missed them all. They want you to put down every tile that you buy and then write down every location that you put it in. You know, you could have another employee over there doing nothing but trying to keep up with every nail, what bridge it was drove in, what gully every tile was put in, and what gully you put every gravel in. You can’t keep up with everything the auditors want you to and then they write you up for it,” said Edge.
WJLE will have a follow up story on other state audit findings soon.