Circuit Court Clerk Announces Temporary Change in Office Hours to Attend Training

January 11, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office has announced a temporary change in office hours from January 19 to April 1 in order for the staff to participate in some mandatory training.

“The State of Tennessee is requesting for now, requiring in the near future, that all Clerk’s Offices implement a new juvenile case system called Quest that will be a paperless system in the near future,” said Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin. “This new system will “go LIVE” on April 1 here in DeKalb County. Every week from now until April 1st we will close the office for 90 minutes to attend this mandatory training,” she said.

Below are the dates that the office will be closing at 3:00 p.m. for staff to attend the required training:

January 19, 2024
January 22, 2024
January 31, 2024

February 9, 2024
February 13, 2024
February 23, 2024

March 1, 2024
March 8, 2024
March 15, 2024
March 22, 2024
March 28, 2024

January 11, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Administrator of Elections Dustin Estes is calling on residents willing to serve as poll workers for the March 5 DeKalb County Republican and Democratic Primaries and the Tennessee Presidential Preference Primary.

Sample Ballot

DeKalb County needs approximately 70 to 75 poll workers each election. “We need people of DeKalb County to step up and help out,” Estes said. “If you are looking for temporary work, we need your help.”

Those who have been long-time workers, who have not been contacted and would still like to work again this year are asked to call the local election office to report if they wish to work in March, and potential new workers who wish to join the list are encouraged to do the same. The phone number is 615-597-4146. Current or interested workers may also email the office at dekalb.commission@tn.gov.

The election office will provide training for all poll workers before the election.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A POLL WORKER?

Poll workers conduct assigned duties at a polling site on Election Day (and early voting). Duties can include processing voters, monitoring the voting equipment, or include a greeter who assists with answering questions and directing voters to the voting areas.

WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF WORK?
Polling places on Election Day open at 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Generally, the hours are 7a.m. (to get the polls ready for opening) until about 7:30 at night or possibly later in the case of the November election.

ARE POLL WORKERS PAID OR VOLUNTEER?
Poll workers are compensated for working and are compensated for attending training sessions.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BE A POLL WORKER?
To be a poll worker, a person must:
• Be a registered voter
• Be able to read and write in the English language
• Not be a candidate
• Be 16 years of age or older
• Not work directly under the supervision of a county or municipal elected official who is on the ballot
• Not be a close relative of a candidate. Close relatives are defined as the spouse, parent, father-in-law, mother-in-law, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of a candidate on the ballot or a write-in candidate.

HOW DO I BECOME A POLL WORKER?
If you are interested in becoming a poll worker, you should apply by contacting the DeKalb County Election Office at 615-597-4146 or by email at dekalb.commission@tn.gov. A postal mail request can also be accepted. The mailing address is: DeKalb Election Commission, P.O. Box 549, Smithville, TN 37166

Poll officials are appointed at the county level by the Election Commission and those selected will be notified by letter at the appropriate time.

If you plan to vote in the March 5 DeKalb County Republican and Democratic Primaries and the Tennessee Presidential Preference Primary you have less than a month to make sure you are properly registered.

The voter registration deadline for the March 5th primaries is February 5.

Voters who have moved within DeKalb County or have had a name change since the last time they voted can update their registration online at GoVoteTN.com or call the DeKalb County election office at 615-597-4146. By making sure your registration is up to date, you can shorten the time you will need to spend at your polling location.

Sample Ballot

January 10, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A 30-year-old man lost his life in a single vehicle crash this morning (Wednesday) on Highway 146 (Short Mountain Highway).

Dead is Thomas Claston Beltz

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Beltz was traveling south on Highway 146 in a 2017 Ford F150 when he failed to negotiate a curve and overcorrected. The vehicle went off the right side of the roadway striking a utility pole before overturning and then coming to a final rest. Beltz was not wearing his seatbelt

The crash was reported around 1:38 a.m.