(UPDATED) County Commission Appoints Redistricting Committee (View video here)

May 25, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Redistricting Committee will consist of eleven members including seven county commissioners, two school board members, the county mayor, and the administrator of elections.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission took the first step toward redistricting by adopting a resolution establishing the redistricting committee. The committee will begin the process of preparing a redistricting plan when the population numbers from the 2020 Census count are released later this summer or fall. The plan must be completed and in the hands of the county commission by no later than October 25.

In addition to County Mayor Tim Stribling and Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley, members of the Redistricting committee are County Commissioners Shaee Flatt from the 1st district, Myron Rhody- 2nd district, Susannah Cripps Daughtry- 3rd district, Janice Fish-Stewart- 4th district, Anita Puckett – 5th district, Matt Adcock – 6th district, and Bruce Malone from the 7th district. The two school board members appointed were Jim Beshearse of the 3rd district and Shaun Tubbs of the 7th district.

By law the county commission district boundary lines must be redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.

The U.S. Census Bureau announced in February that it would deliver the detailed datasets needed for redistricting by September 30, 2021 although the numbers could be released as early as August 16.

Once the census numbers are known, the redistricting committee must produce a recommendation to submit to the county commission, which has the final say on redistricting. The approved plan then goes to the election commission to redraw precinct boundary lines so that voters and candidates for the 2022 elections know in which districts and precincts they reside.

Commissioner Bruce Malone made a motion that the redistricting committee be made up of the seven members of the county commission, who are not serving on the budget committee, along with the county mayor, administrator of elections and two school board members. Commissioner Myron Rhody offered a second to the motion. Commissioner Anita Puckett suggested that those two school board appointees be the 3rd and 7th district members since their districts may be impacted most by redistricting. Malone included Puckett’s suggestion in his motion.

Fifth district Commissioner Jerry Adcock then moved to amend Malone’s motion saying all fourteen county commissioners should be included on the redistricting committee, the same as 10 years ago. Commissioner Julie Young offered a second to Adcock’s motion to amend but it failed by a vote of 10 to 3. Even Young voted against it. Adcock was joined in the vote by only Commissioners Flatt and Pafford.

After Adcock’s amendment failed, the commissioners approved Malone’s motion on the make-up of the redistricting committee by a vote of 12-1 with Jerry Adcock voting against it. Commissioner Sabrina Farler was absent.

Once the census numbers are released, the redistricting committee will have to get to work quickly.

Matthew Hill explained the redistricting process for members of the county commission last Thursday night during a committee meeting of the whole.

Hill, who will be assisting the DeKalb County Redistricting committee, is the senior GIS Specialist for the TN Comptroller’s office and has presided over the Redistricting process for other Local Government officials the last 10 years.

Hill said it is estimated that DeKalb County has grown in population over the last 10 year and is now at more than 20,000 residents with the third and seventh districts having grown the most.

“Right now we think the county commissioners will represent about 2,860 per district. That is up from the 2,675 residents that you represent now. It also looks like the growth and declines in your county have actually been evenly distributed. With the estimates it looks like District 6 may have to gain some folks while Districts 3 and 7 may have to lose some population. All that means is that Districts 3 and 7 have grown at a faster pace than the other districts while District 6 has lagged a little bit behind the other districts in population,” said Hill.

“ We can start redistricting as soon as we begin processing all the data but even then you have only a very slim timeline to redistrict in DeKalb County. For counties like yours who have a primary in 2022, we recommend that you get your district lines set as quickly as possible and get the plan over to the election commission in preparation for that primary,” Hill said. “The worst thing that could happen is for people to come in to pick up a petition and the district lines are not set which would cause confusion.”

“I will come down here with my laptop and project on a screen all the census blocks and form those districts. Our office has GIS technology which allows us to redistrict with precision. We can zoom down and adjust these census blocks to generate statistics in real time to allow you to see it before we commit to it. Census blocks are what the Census Bureau gives to us. It is the smallest statistical geography that we get from the Census. The way I typically describe a census block is it is dotted by roads or by features you can see such as a power line, a creek but it can be non-visible features like county line boundaries, city limits, or school boundaries.”

“The Census Bureau provides us the total population with the makeup of all the demographics including white, black, Hispanic, and others and our GIS software will calculate as we select census blocks how many people we are moving from district to district and what it does to the overall deviation. Census blocks are really the building blocks of the plan. We are grouping census blocks to create districts and voting precincts”, he added.

DeKalb County Election Administrator Dennis Stanley, who also addressed the county commission during Thursday night’s committee meeting, said a redistricting plan must be in place before the election commission begins issuing candidate petitions in mid-December for the 2022 local primaries.

“Whatever the impact of redistricting, it will take my office quite a while to make those changes in the voter data system”, said Stanley.

May 25, 2021
By:

DeKalb Middle School had the honor to recognize a few of their outstanding students on May 19th. These students strived for excellence during this extremely difficult school year. Awards were given to the following students:

8th Grade:

TOP Rank – Based on Student’s Cumulative GPA
1. Kora Kilgore
2. Madeline Martin
3. Andrew Dakas
4. Layla Newby
5. Emily Robinson
6. Seth Fuson
7. Owen Snipes
8. Annabella Dakas
9. Dallas Kirby
10. Tyler Belcher

Math Award
Kora Kilgore – Algebra
Taylor Colwell
Jackson Mathis

ELA Award
Owen Snipes
Emily Robinson

Science Award
Andrew Dakas
Landon Perdue

Social Studies
Seth Fuson
Madeline Martin

Citizenship Award
Joyce Portillo
Brayan Aguirre

FCA Award
Sara Moore
Antonio Thomas

All A’s Honor Roll: Avery Agee, Macy Anderson, Ian Barnes, Cale Brown, Dare Collins, Taylor Colwell, Kobe Curtis, Andrew Dakas, Annabella Dakas, Olivia Davenport, Seth Fuson, Alyssa Gilpin, Allison Goodwin, Caleb Gray, Alexis Hawkins, Leah Johnson, Hannah Keith, Kora Kilgore, Dallas Kirby, Katherine Knowles, Madeline Martin, Jackson Mathis, Brody Mathis, Addison Miller, Keara Milligan, Sara Moore, Layla Newby, Jordan Parker, Nicholas Perdue, Bryan Ramirez, Laurie Rigsby, Emily Robinson, Owen Snipes, Emily Teague, Emma Thompson, Ty Webb

A/B Honor Roll: Joshua Bane, Jaden Barber, Kelsie Barber, Tyler Belcher, Caleb Buckley, Tanner Cantrell, Elizabeth Cardin, Hector Cervantes, Landon Colwell, Martin Coronado Jr., Raylie Cowan, Adreana Cuevas, Leonardo Delgado, Milas Driver, Katlynn Ellis, Maddox Hale, Clayton Hattaway, Erick Hernandez, Charles Holland, Zoe Keys, Cody Love, Aidan Malone, Cesar Martinez, Cole Mcmillen, Luke Midgett, Deeanna Neal, Mara Oakley, Charlotte Paladino, Megyn Patterson, Jesus Perez, Lucia Perez, Mylie Phillips, Alison Poss, Christopher Pulley, Maite Rivera, Kinsley Savage, Julio Sebastian, Braden Sprague, Mason Taylor, Jayden Wildes

7th Grade:

TOP Rank – Based on Student’s Cumulative GPA
1. Cali Agee
2. Chase Vaughn
3. Laura Magness
4. Ethan Spears
5. Carsyn Beshearse
6. Aidan Turner
7. Jaxon Kleparek
8. Emily Anderson
9. Turner Bryant
10. David Wheeler

Math Award
Chase Vaughn
Nickolas Daw

ELA Award
Kevin Ramirez
Cali Agee

Science Award
Carsyn Beshearse
Ethan Spears

Social Studies
Lilly Fox
Aidan Turner

Citizenship Award
Canaan Johnson
Sarah Pugh

All A’s Honor Roll: Cali Agee, Emily Anderson, Carsyn Beshearse, Nickolas Daw, Devin Fish, Lilly Fox, James Johnson, Jaxon Kleparek, Laura Magness, Kevin Ramirez, Ethan Spears, Madelyn Tobitt, AidanTurner, Chase Vaughn, David Wheeler

A/B Honor Roll: Deanna Agee, Bryson Arnold, Alejandro Avalos, Carleigh Beckham, William Blair, Aubrey (Turner) Bryant, Caroline Butler, Makaligha Caldwell, Wyatt Carter, Jaylie Cowan, Logan Duke, Jack Gassaway, Olivia Gilley, Jarett Hamilton, Hunter Hawkins, Jon Hendrix, Bairon Hernandez, Jayde Lester, Ava Pack, Sydney Polk, Sarah Pugh, Cameron Ramsey, Addison Swisher, Aiden Taylor, Carson Tramel, Jamison Troncoso, Chloe Vanvranken, Tatum Young

6th Grade:

TOP Rank – Based on Student’s Cumulative GPA
1. Kinley Niehuus
2. Taylor White
3. Mariana Amaya (TIE)
3. Belen Garcia (TIE)
5. Lillie Young (TIE)
5. Olivia Derrick (TIE)
7. Haylie Holt
8. Brooklyn Fuson (TIE)
8. Matthew Lasser (TIE)
10. Katherine Inglis

Math Award
Haylie Holt
Carly Thomas

ELA Award
Kloe Davis
Taylor White

Science Award
Lily Stanley
Mariana Amaya

Social Studies
Lillie Young
Kinley Niehuus

Citizenship Award
Belen Garcia
Boston Cantrell
Landen Tubbs
Lillie Young

All A’s Honor Roll: Mariana Amaya, Olivia Derrick, Brooklyn Fuson, Belen Garcia, Haylie Holt, Katherine Inglis, Adam Johnson, Luke Johnson, Brylee Kirby, Matthew Lasser, Hayden Merriman, Kinley Niehuus, Morgan Smithson, Lily Stanley, Carly Thomas, Tucker Webb, Taylor White, Lillie Young

A/B Honor Roll: Alexa Acosta, Zoe Bennett, Chloe Boyd, Boston Cantrell, Marco Cuellar, Kloe Davis, James Farmer, Tytianna Fisk, Makenlee Gard, Priscilla George, Ashly Guerra, Kaleb Hale, Kayce Hale, Grady Hancock, Yandel Herevia, Christian Hernandez, Silas Kirksey, Abram Koegler, James Lackey, Devon Lombardi, Gracelynn Mckeown, Brookelyn Morris, Giavanti Nardone, Levi Singleton, Candace Smith, Ryder Stanfield, Gracelynn Mckeown, Carlyn Sweeton, Ethan Trapp, Leah Trapp, Landon Tubbs, Leann Wakefield

May 25, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Angry spouses were arrested last week in separate cases after ramming vehicles into their mates’ automobiles during domestic disputes.

34 year old Phillip Andrew Martin of Kings Court Trailer Park, Smithville is under a $25,000 bond for aggravated assault and his court date is June 3.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, May 20 a deputy was summoned to the jail to speak with a woman who came to report an assault by her husband, Martin. The woman claims that on Wednesday, May 19 she and Martin got into an argument that resulted in Martin ramming a vehicle with her inside it. Even after she got out of her automobile, Martin allegedly continued to ram it placing the woman in fear of her life.

A similar offense occurred involving a different couple days before.

29 year old Vanessa Renee Poss of Old West Point Road, Smithville was charged on May 17 with domestic assault. Her bond is $10,000 and she will make a court appearance June 3.

Sheriff Ray said that Poss allegedly threw a metal flower pot at her husband hitting him in the right hand causing a cut. According to her husband, Poss then kicked windows out of their residence and rammed her vehicle into his automobile which was parked in their lawn. Poss allegedly admitted to the crime.

32 year old Trenton Thomas Pedigo of Nashville Highway, Dowelltown is charged with being a fugitive from justice. His bond is $50,000 and he will make a court appearance May 27th.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 18 a deputy arrested Pedigo after a background check through central dispatch and NCIC confirmed that Pedigo had warrants against him in Sarpy County, Nebraska for Child Abuse, assault on an officer, disturbing the peace, assault, and resisting arrest.

33 year old Molly Sue Lawrence of Page Drive, Smithville is charged with possession of a schedule I drug (Heroin) with intent to sell or deliver and possession of Methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. Lawrence is under a $50,000 bond and her court date is June 24.

According to Sheriff Ray, Lawrence was found with the drugs and paraphernalia during a search of her residence. Sheriff Ray along with a detective, and other officers executed a search warrant there where Lawrence was found in the main bedroom of the home. During the investigation, Lawrence pulled from her bra a white container with three baggies and a large quantity of cash. Two of those baggies held a gray colored powder and white powder was in the other. All the powder was believed to be heroin and weighed a total of 3.0 grams. Other baggies of a white powdered substance were found on a night stand also thought to be heroin which weighed 0.1 gram. Another baggie of a crystal like substance which weighed 1.0 gram was recovered from a trash can by the bed believed to be methamphetamine. The search of Lawrence’s bedroom also turned up syringes, pipes, a large quantity of empty baggies, scales, and other paraphernalia.

51 year old Billy Eugene Cook of Floyd Drive, Smithville is charged with burglary. He is under a $10,000 bond and his court date is June 24.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 21 a deputy was summoned to Mountain View Drive due to a burglary in progress. Upon arrival the officer spoke to a man and woman who said they spotted Cook allegedly trying to steal their Dodge pickup truck. The woman claims she heard a car door and when she looked off her porch she saw Cook in the truck looking around.

58 year old Pamela Palmateer of Pumpkin Hollow Road, Liberty is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $7,500 and she is due in court June 17.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 21 a deputy was called to a residence on Pumpkin Hollow Road due to a domestic violence offense. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a man who said that his girlfriend struck him on the top of the head and began pulling his hair during an argument. He even produced video evidence of the assault. The woman, who had injuries to her right hand, admitted to hitting her boyfriend.

79 year old Sarah Opal Atnip of Shady Drive Smithville is charged with having contraband in a penal institution. Her bond is $5,000 and she will make a court appearance June 10.

Sheriff Ray said on May 22 Atnip was brought to the jail on an active warrant for failure to appear. During a pat down search, a female correctional officer found on Atnip a baggie containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. Atnip admitted that the substance was weed.

46 year old Frank Stanley Smith of Sherwood Circle, Smithville is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court June 17.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 23 a deputy was east in the area of Sparta Highway when he spotted a woman who was bleeding and sitting on the ground near the road. Smith was standing over her. When the officer stopped to investigate, Smith took off in a white Nissan Titan. The officer radioed another deputy who conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. An NCIC check revealed that Smith was under an active order of protection from Warren County to keep away from the woman found with him. Smith admitted that he violated the order by bringing the woman to a bar.

Meanwhile the woman, 41 year old Kimberly Diane Smith of McMinnville is charged with public intoxication. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court June 17. She was arrested after refusing to arrange or take advantage of safe transportation from the scene. Smith, who was intoxicated, insisted on walking.

24 year old Braxton Kain Bennett of Smith Road is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond is $2,000 and he will be in court June 17.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 23 a deputy went to a residence on Cleveland Way trying to find someone wanted in Smith County. Upon arrival the officer spotted Bennett in front of the home. Knowing that Bennett had active warrants against him in DeKalb County the deputy arrested Bennett and during a search found inside Bennett’s wallet a white crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine which weighed 0.12 grams.

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