Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen-Elect Sworn Into Office. Two Other Aldermen Vacancies Filled

August 13, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The newly elected Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen have been sworn into office.

Five days after their election on Thursday, August 2, Mayor Bennett Armstrong and Aldermen Lloyd Dyer, Bridgette Rogers, and Shane Blair took their oath of office prior to a special meeting on Tuesday, August 7 at city hall. City Attorney Vester Parsley Jr. administered the oath.

Two other vacancies on the council were also filled during the meeting with the appointment of Linda Dickerson and Cindy Overstreet. They too were sworn into office. The other alderman already on the council is David Cripps.

Although the results of the August 2 election were not officially certified by the election commission until Monday evening, August 13, the newly elected city officials were apparently authorized to take office right away according to the Town of Alexandria’s city charter which states as follows in Article II section 2.01

“The terms of office of Mayor and all Aldermen shall commence at 12:01 p.m. on the next day following their elections, and they shall serve until their successors have been elected and qualified”.

Mayor Armstrong won a write-in campaign for re-election August 2 to a second four year term. Armstrong defeated Donna Davis 34 to 28. She also ran as a write-in candidate. No one qualified to get their name on the ballot to run for mayor.

Three aldermen were elected in Alexandria August 2 but only one of them qualified to get his name on the ballot, Lloyd Dale Dyer. He was elected to a four year term with 130 votes. Two other persons mounted a write-in campaign for alderman including Shane Blair, an incumbent, who won a four-year term with 19 votes and Bridgette Rogers, who was elected with 11 votes to a fill a two-year vacant term.

August 13, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A McMinnville woman was airlifted after a two vehicle crash Monday morning at the intersection of Highway 70 and Dale Ridge Road on Snow Hill.

According to Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol 44 year old Sarah Murphy was traveling west on Highway 70 in a 2014 Chevy Equinox when her vehicle was hit in the passenger side by a 2005 Chevy Tahoe, driven by 31 year old Kyle Mecham of Lancaster who was turning east onto Highway 70 from Dale Ridge Road and failed to yield the stop sign. Four minors were passengers with Mecham.

After hitting the Equinox, Mecham’s Tahoe then went across all lanes of travel and over a steep embankment. She was cited for failure to obey a traffic control device and violation of financial responsibility.

Murphy was airlifted from near the scene and flown to Vanderbilt Hospital. No one else was transported to the hospital.

Members of the DeKalb EMS, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and DeKalb Volunteer Fire Department were on the scene.

Meanwhile a Smithville man is facing charges after a truck crash Thursday on Allen Ferry Road.

According to Trooper William Jackson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol 46 year old Mark A. Mason, Jr. was east on Allen Ferry Road in a 2002 Chevy S-10 when he failed to maintain the proper lane and ran into a ditch off the left side of the roadway striking a fence line and a utility pole. The truck came to a final rest in a pasture.

Mason was not believed to have been seriously injured and reportedly refused transport by DeKalb EMS to the hospital. Members of the DeKalb County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene

Mason was charged with failure to exercise due care, failure to carry and exhibit drivers license on demand, and violation of financial responsibility.

August 13, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A retirement reception is scheduled Friday, August 17 for Katherine Pack, who steps down at the close of business August 31 after 16 years serving as DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk.

The five-hour reception will be from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the auditorium of the DeKalb County Community Center at 712 South Congress Boulevard, Smithville. Family, friends, and DeKalb County elected officials would like to invite you to help celebrate Katherine’s retirement. Refreshments will be served.

Katherine was first elected in 2002 and is completing her fourth term. She chose not to seek re-election.

“I am still upset with her that she is leaving but I understand. She has devoted virtually her entire life to public service and she deserves to enjoy retirement and not be tied to a schedule and all the obligations that her office has entailed,” said General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II.

“I have known Katherine for many years. Prior to her becoming Circuit Court Clerk she was the probation officer for misdemeanor offenders through the UCHRA program and before that she worked at the jail for many years. During her time as Circuit Court Clerk, Katherine has operated the office with courtesy, efficiency,  and every single lawyer that ever walks into that door will tell you that there is not a clerk’s office that they have ever been to that was as courteous , friendly, and cooperative as Katherine’s and that is a testament to her. She is a blessing to our community and everyone that knows her or has come in contact with her I think feels the same way. She is a gift to us. I want to wish her well in her retirement but I am going to miss her tremendously,”  said Judge Cook.

Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen said he could always count on Katherine for sound advice especially  in helping solve problems.

“She is more than a friend. She is like a family member to me. I have known her since her husband at the time, Kenneth Pack was elected Sheriff for the first time in 1986. That was the same year I was first elected Register of Deeds. She worked for him at the sheriff’s office and over the years she became like family. She is just a great person and has been a mentor of mine. The thing I will always appreciate about her is that she always looked for a solution to a problem. Sometimes when we did have issues I would always go to her and ask for her advice on what we needed to do because she was always level headed. I appreciate her friendship and its good to know she is still just a phone call away if I need her advice on something,” said McMillen.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said he also has a close working relationship with Katherine

“She and I both were born and raised in the Belk Community, so I have known Katherine my entire life.”

“I really got to know her on a personal level when I started with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department in 1989. She was a great person to work with at the Sheriff’s Department and we have continued our working relationship with each other while she has served as Circuit Court Clerk and me serving as Sheriff,” said Ray.

“She has always been someone I could go and talk to about things that were happening in my profession as a law enforcement officer and my personal life as well. She has always tried to give ne Godly advice about whatever problem I was having,” he said

“Katherine is a wonderful person that I will miss seeing on a daily basis. I wish her the best in her retirement and in her future endeavors,” added Sheriff Ray.

“She has paid her dues and its time for her to relax and make those good coconut cakes and Elvis Presley cakes she makes me every year for my birthday and she had better keep doing it,” concluded Judge Cook.

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