2013 will be a light election year in DeKalb County.
Only three city elections will be held starting with the Smithville Municipal Election on Tuesday, June 18. The qualifying deadline is noon March 21.
Three aldermen seats will be up for election. Those positions are currently held by Aldermen Gayla Hendrix, Shawn Jacobs, and Danny Washer.
Petitions can be issued as soon as the election commission receives a letter from the city and then approves the request for the election. The election commission meets again on Tuesday, January 15.
Meanwhile the Liberty Municipal Election will be Thursday, August 1. The qualifying deadline is noon on May 16. A mayor and two aldermen will be up for election. Those positions are currently held by Mayor J. Edward Hale and aldermen Jarrett Pistole and Howard Reynolds, Jr.
Petitions in Liberty can be issued 90 days before the qualifying deadline, provided the election commission receives a letter from the city and then approves a request for the election.
The Alexandria Municipal Election will be September 5. A mayor and three aldermen are to be elected. The qualifying deadline is noon June 20
Petitions can be issued 90 days before the qualifying deadline, provided the election commission receives a letter from the city and then approves a request for the election.

One person was injured when he lost control of his car and overturned New Year’s night on Highway 56 south near Whorton Springs Baptist Church.
Central dispatch received the call at 9:01 p.m. Tuesday.
Trooper Jeremy Wilhite of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 26 year old Andrew Tyler Hall of Midway Road, Smithville was traveling north in a 1994 Buick when he went off the left side of the road, hit a culvert, and overturned. The car came to rest upright. Hall was treated at the scene by DeKalb EMS and then transported to DeKalb Community Hospital for further treatment.
Trooper Wilhite has charged Hall with a second offense of driving under the influence.
Members of the Short Mountain Highway of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene.

Registration for a Tennessee Hunter Education course will be required to be made online beginning Jan. 1, 2013 on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s website.
On the TWRA website, those wishing to register for a class will click the “register for a hunter education class” link. Once clicking the link, there will be directions to search for hunter education classes closest to your area.
Registration must be completed prior to the starting date of a class to ensure a spot in a particular class. For those persons without computer access, they are encouraged to visit a local library or call a TWRA regional office for further assistance.
Advance registration provides more time for instructors to devote to students. It also provides a quicker method for the registration process.

Students are returning to school today now that the holidays are over.
Schools will be closed again for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 21 and for President’s Day, Monday, February 18.
Schools will be closed for spring break March 25-29
Students will not attend on Thursday, May 23. That will be an administrative day and all teachers must attend. The last day of school will be Friday, May 24. That will be an abbreviated school day and report cards will be sent home. DCHS graduation will be Friday, May 24
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, March 12 at DeKalb County High School from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will also be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary, Smithville Elementary, and DeKalb West School.
Report cards to be sent home from all schools on Tuesday, January 8. DCHS report cards to be sent home Monday, March 11 and at all other schools Tuesday, March 12.
AYP-EOC/Gateway Testing at DCHS will be May 7-9 and a make-up AYP-EOC/Gateway Test will be May 10.
ACT Test for the 11th grade will be Tuesday, March 19
Writing Assessment for the 5th, 8th, and 11th grades will be Tuesday, February 5. Writing Assessment make-up will be Wednesday, February 6.
TCAP testing of elementary students will be April 22 through May 3