Early Voting Ends with Turnout of 2,134 in DeKalb County

November 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The largest single day turnout for early voting in DeKalb County turned out to be the last day!

The DeKalb County Election Commission reports that 280 people cast ballots on Thursday, November 3 for next Tuesday’s state and federal general elections. That’s 275 in person and five by absentee.

For the 14 day early voting period, October 19 through November 3 a total of 2,134 people voted. While that is a good turnout, it is down a bit from the early voting total for the August DeKalb County General Election at 2,357.

The early voting breakdown by precinct is as follows:
Alexandria: 147
Temperance Hall: 96
Liberty: 136
Snow Hill: 124
Smithville Church of God: 381
Rock Castle: 12
Courthouse: 417
Johnson Chapel: 110
County Complex 254
Keltonburg: 125
Blue Springs: 88
Church of Christ Annex: 244
Total: 2,134

The early voting numbers are also down in DeKalb County from the November elections of 2020 and 2018 but there are reasons for that.

In November 2020, a total of 4,606 voted early in DeKalb County but that was a Presidential Election which always creates a greater turnout. Four years ago, in November, a total of 3,135 cast ballots early in DeKalb County but there were more contested races on the ballot that year including a U.S. Senate and State Senate Race along with the Governor, Congressman, and two State House of Representative elections.

Next Tuesday, November 8, voters will be making their selections for Governor, Congressman and State Representative and voters in the 4th district only will have a candidate for Constable to fill an unexpired term. In addition, voters will be making their choices on four constitutional amendments. Polls at all 12 precincts in DeKalb County will be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. and WJLE will have LIVE election return coverage after the polls close at 7 p.m.

Candidates for Governor are: Republican incumbent Bill Lee, Democratic nominee Jason Brantley Martin and Independents Constance M. Every, John Gentry, Basil Marceaux, Charles Van Morgan, Alfred O’Neil, Deborah Rouse, Michael E. Scantland and Rick Tyler.

Candidates for U.S House of Representatives District 6 are Republican incumbent John Rose and Democratic challenger Randal Cooper.

Candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives District 40 are Republican Michael Hale and Democrat Tom Cook, both from DeKalb County.

The lone candidate for Constable in the 4th District is Republican Lane Ball.

November 3, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Almost two years after first being appointed as one of the county’s three judicial commissioners, David Gash has resigned.

Applications to fill the vacancy can be obtained at the County Mayor’s Office. The application deadline is 3 p.m. on Friday, November 18. Resumes are preferred along with the application.

The County’s Judicial Committee will meet on Monday, November 21 to select an applicant to recommend to the full county commission for final approval.

During the regular monthly meeting on Monday, November 28, the county commission will make the one-year appointment and is expected to re-appoint the other two judicial commissioners, Tammy Ashburn and Joy Whitman to new one-year terms.

Duties of the Judicial commissioners include processing the following: Criminal summons for the general public; Orders of protections; signing all arrest warrants for the Smithville, Alexandria, and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Departments, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Edgar Evins State Park Rangers, and TWRA Officers; signing search warrants and search warrants for blood draws; signing Mittimus; setting bonds; speaking with every person who has been arrested; answering any and all calls from the public; and attending certification classes three days each year with no pay for hours attended.

Judicial Commissioners are subject to call at all hours of the day and night when on duty. Only one judicial commissioner works at a time during a one-week period on call for 168 hours. They rotate their weeks one week on duty and two weeks off.

The county commission has the sole authority in appointing judicial commissioners and terms may be from one to four years according to state law. For several years the county has had a judicial committee to vet and recommend applicants for appointment to the county commission. The committee is made up of Sheriff Patrick Ray, County Mayor Matt Adcock, Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin, General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Brandon Cox, and Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong.

Each judicial commissioner is paid $14,900 per year.

November 4, 2022
By:

Country music legend John Anderson to be honored this month in Smithville, TN. On Saturday, November 19th at 10:00am Smithville City, Chamber of Commerce, and DeKalb County officials will hold a dedication of the previously named Walnut Alley. The new name of this historic walkway in downtown Smithville will be ‘John Anderson Alley.’

John Anderson has been immersed in music his entire life. At age 15, while playing in a Rock band, he heard some of the Country greats (Haggard and Jones) and decided that Country was his passion. Anderson moved to Nashville when he was 17 to pursue a career in music, which paid off in 1977 when he signed with his first music label, Warner Brothers Records. Since his first single in 1977, ‘I’ve Got a Feelin’ (Somebody’s Been Stealin’)’, John has had over 40 singles hit the Billboard Country music charts! He’s been nominated several times for the CMA awards- Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year. He’s also won the CMA Horizon Award and Single of the Year for his song ‘Swingin’’. In 1993, the Academy of Country Music awarded him the Career Achievement Award.

After attending a special event featuring John at the Grand Old Opry, Smithville resident and business owner Tony Luna had the idea to name the alley after the Country icon. John, his wife, and children have lived in Smithville for over 30 years and at one time owned a downtown building attached to the alley. “I couldn’t believe our community didn’t already have something commemorating John’s local connections,” says Luna. “I remembered seeing John as a kid around our family’s marina and he was always so friendly and down to Earth. So, I took the idea to our City Mayor, Josh Miller.” Miller says, “We felt it was good recognition for John and to show him that we appreciate what he does for Smithville.” He presented the idea to the City Council for their approval to change the name of the alley. After hearing that the Council would approve the name change, Tony Luna, and his wife Sommer, immediately had a mural commissioned for the alleyway. Mayor Miller says, “I was amazed at the mural they had done, it’s a beautiful tribute to John.”

All City and County officials would love to invite and encourage you to attend the dedication on November 19th at 10:00am. John Anderson and his family will be in attendance as well as many community leaders. Please come show your support and respect for this giant in the Country Music industry. John will be saying a few words and plans to do a free concert for Downtown Smithville in the Summer of 2023. This is just a small way for the community to show their love and appreciation!

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