Mike Foster Joins the Race for County Mayor

January 24, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Former County Mayor Mike Foster is now officially in the race to get his old job back.

Foster filed his qualifying petition with the election commission today (Wednesday) and it has been verified.

Foster is among three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the office in the May 1 Primary along with incumbent County Mayor Tim Stribling and 3rd District County Commissioner Bradley Hendrix, who have already filed their petitions and been verified. Randy Paris picked up a petition Tuesday to run for County Mayor in the DeKalb County General Election on August 2. He has not yet filed it.

The qualifying deadline for all county wide offices and the county commission is February 15.

January 24, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The Sozo Children’s Choir brings its vibrant and joyful voices to Smithville First Baptist Church on February 6. Twenty-two Ugandan children and six adults will sing traditional African songs, children’s church songs and the contemporary music from worship bands like Chris Tomlin, Hillsong United, and Elevation Worship. The community is invited to the performance starting at 6:30 p.m. at Smithville F.B.C., 101 West Church Street.Seeing a need to rescue the children immediately from their suffering, abuse, and neglect, Sozo Children was formed in 2010.
“The Sozo Children are raised by born-again Christian Ugandans to become future leaders and carriers of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their country,” says Jon Brennan, Pastor of Spiritual Development and Sozo Choir Director. “Christ is our foundation, and education is a priority.”
Sozo now has 121 children. 81 live in four homes, and the others still live with their families while the ministry provides school fees and/or medical needs.
14-year-old Dennis Nabireeba, who has been with Sozo since its beginning, is one of the choir’s best singers, dancers, and performers. The 6th grader enjoys playing soccer and riding bikes.
“Dennis is all boy!” Brennan says. “He’s a trickster and you have to watch him,” he adds with a smile.
“He has a mother and father, but as is very common in Uganda, the father never married his mom, and he has rarely seen him. His mom is unable to care for him, and she placed him in a children’s home many years ago, which is where Sozo found him suffering and neglected without school fees or food. This children’s home was eventually closed by the government of Uganda.”
“Occasionally Dennis goes to visit his mother for “home visits” but there is not a strong relationship. We try to keep them connected to their families, but often the parents are not interested.”
The choir director says working with the ministry fills him with mixed emotions.
“Uganda, as much of Africa, is extremely heartbreaking because of poverty but extravagantly joyful. We, as Americans, have a lot to learn about the hospitality, immediate friendship and joy that Africans, particularly Ugandans, share with us. It is very rewarding. I get the blessing rather than them.”
Link to website performance: http://www.sozochildren.org/choir

January 23, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The most interest shown in any county wide race so far seems to be for County Mayor, at least as far as potential candidates are concerned.

Randy Paris picked up a petition Tuesday to run for County Mayor as an Independent in the August 2 DeKalb County General Election.

Already Incumbent Tim Stribling and 3rd District County Commissioner Bradley Hendrix have filed petitions to run for County Mayor in the May 1 DeKalb County Democratic Primary and former County Mayor Mike Foster, who recently obtained a petition, is also expected to officially join the primary race.

No Republican has yet emerged but if Paris files his petition and becomes a qualified candidate, the August General Election for County Mayor will be contested at least between Paris and the Democratic nominee.

Meanwhile, Lloyd Emmons has picked up a petition to run for the county commission in the 5th district in the May 1 DeKalb County Democratic Primary.

Two commissioners will be elected from each of the seven county commission districts in August.

Incumbent 5th district commissioner Anita Puckett has already picked up her petition for the May Democratic Primary and Incumbent Republican 5th district commissioner Jerry Adcock will be seeking the DeKalb GOP nomination on February 11 to run in August.

The qualifying deadline for all candidates for county offices and the county commission is February 15.