The winners of the annual Leadership DeKalb Alumni Association awards were honored Thursday night during the Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet at the County Complex.

Blake Cantrell received the Community Leader of the Year Award and the Legacy Award went to Jackie Smith. The awards were presented by Leadership DeKalb representatives Jen Sherwood and Beth and Darrell Gill.

The Community Leader of the Year is awarded to the individual who most emulates the definition of community trustee and servant-leader in his or her recent service to DeKalb County. Nominees are considered who have made a significant and positive impact on our county specifically in 2017 and in a capacity beyond their professional role. The 2017 Community Leader of the Year is Blake Cantrell. Blake works in IT professionally, but while attending the DeKalb County Citizen Fire Academy in the fall of 2014, he saw the opportunity to give back. He became a volunteer fireman in 2015. His commitment didn’t stop there, however. Since January 2016, he has served as the DeKalb volunteer fire department communications officer. Blake was recognized for his many volunteer hours to the county fire department as the recipient of the 2017 “Git-R-Done” Award. He is the current President of DeKalb Emergency Services Association, President of 2017-18 Project Graduation Committee, and has served as Vice-President of the DCHS Quarterback Club for 9 years. Blake also gives freely his IT and technical services to many community groups throughout DeKalb County, such as Help, Haven of Hope, and Lighthouse Christian Camp, and various churches. Darrell and Beth Gill presented the award to Blake and thanked him for his leadership and service to DeKalb County.

The Legacy Leader Award is awarded to someone who most emulates the definition of community trustee and servant-leader in his or her continued service to DeKalb County. The winner has made a significant and positive impact on our county over a considerable period of time and in multiple and lasting ways. This year’s award was presented to Jackie Smith. Jen Sherwood awarded Jackie this year’s Legacy Leader Award, with the support and backing of so many in DeKalb County who have been influenced by her as a teacher, a friend and State Farm agent, and through the many community boards and organizations she has served.

Leadership DeKalb also announced that Darrell and Beth Gill will be taking over as directors of the Leadership DeKalb program. The monthly leadership training series was previously under the direction of Jen Sherwood from 1997-2016. “I am thrilled to announce the continuation of the LD program, and feel the Gills are amazing leaders in our community, and have the qualifications and passion for leadership development to guide the program for years to come. It is with great pleasure that I pass the LD baton off to such proven servant leaders.” Anyone who would like to learn more about the community, meet existing business and government leaders, and explore increased leadership opportunities are encouraged to consider participating in Leadership DeKalb. For more information, call the chamber office at 615-597-4163.

Voters turned out in a much larger number Thursday on the last day of early voting for the DeKalb Democratic Primary.

A total of 247 people cast ballots Thursday including 244 in person and 3 by absentee, the largest single day turnout by far of the 14 day early voting period from April 11 to 26. That puts the total number of early voters at 1,215.

Election day voting at all 15 precincts in the county will be from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1.

WJLE will have exclusive LIVE coverage of the local election returns starting at 7 p.m. on AM 1480/FM 101.7 and LIVE streaming at www.wjle.com.

Next Tuesday, May 1 voters will make their choices as to who will represent the Democratic party as nominees in the August General Election for the offices of Road Supervisor, County Mayor, Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff, Register of Deeds, County Clerk, and for the county commission in each of the seven districts. There is no Democratic candidate for Trustee.

The primary will feature two county wide contested races for County Mayor and Circuit Court Clerk. There are four contested county commission district primary races including in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th districts.

The candidates for County Mayor are first term incumbent Tim Stribling, former three term incumbent Mike Foster, and two term incumbent 3rd District County Commissioner Bradley Hendrix. The winner will face Independent candidate Randy Paris in the August 2 County General Election. There is no Republican candidate for County Mayor.

Meanwhile Nicole Wright and Mark Milam are looking to become the party nominee for Circuit Court Clerk, a position Incumbent Katherine Pack, a democrat, has held since 2002. Pack is not seeking re-election to a fifth term. Wright works for Pack in the Circuit Court Clerk office. Milam has served as Constable of the 5th district for over 25 years. The winner of the primary will face Republican Susan Martin in the County General Election on August 2.

Other candidates in the May 1 DeKalb County Democratic Primary and the Republican and Independent opponents in the August 2 DeKalb County General Election are as follows:

COUNTY CLERK:
James L. (Jimmy) Poss—(Incumbent): Unopposed in May and August

SHERIFF:
Michael Agee-Unopposed in May. Agee will face Republican Incumbent Sheriff Patrick Ray on August 2

ROAD SUPERVISOR:
Jimmy Sprague- Unopposed in May. Sprague will face Republican Danny Hale on August 2

REGISTER OF DEEDS:
Jeff McMillen (Incumbent): Unopposed in May and August

TRUSTEE:
Republican Incumbent Sean Driver to be unopposed on August 2

COUNTY COMMISSION-FIRST DISTRICT (Two to be nominated in May)
Julie Young (Incumbent)-Unopposed in May
Dennis Slager-Unopposed in May
Republican Tom Chandler to be on the ballot with Slager and Young in August (Two to be elected in August)

COUNTY COMMISSION-SECOND DISTRICT (Two to be nominated in May)
Joe Johnson (Incumbent)
Nora Harvey
Myron Rhody
Republican Sabrina Farler to be on the ballot with the two Democratic nominees in August (Two to be elected in August)

COUNTY COMMISSION-THIRD DISTRICT (Two to be nominated in May)
Jack Barton (Incumbent)
Jenny Trapp
Bobby Johnson
Republican Renee Steff to be on the ballot with the two Democratic nominees in August (Two to be elected in August)

COUNTY COMMISSION-FOURTH DISTRICT (Two to be nominated in May)
Jonathan Norris (Incumbent)
Wayne Cantrell (Incumbent)
Dr. Scott Little
Bobby Taylor
Janice Fish-Stewart
Republican Greg Matthews to be on the ballot with the two Democratic nominees in August (Two to be elected in August)

COUNTY COMMISSION-FIFTH DISTRICT (Two to be nominated in May)
Anita Puckett (Incumbent) Unopposed in May
Lloyd Emmons Unopposed in May
Republican Incumbent Jerry Adcock and Independent candidate William Rutherford to be on the ballot with Puckett and Emmons in August (Two to be elected in August)

COUNTY COMMISSION-SIXTH DISTRICT (Two to be nominated in May)
Betty Atnip (Incumbent) Unopposed in May
Jeff Barnes (Incumbent) Unopposed in May
Republican candidate Matt Adcock to be on the ballot with Atnip and Barnes in August (Two to be elected in August)

COUNTY COMMISSION-SEVENTH DISTRICT(Two to be nominated in May)
Kevin Robinson (Incumbent)
Larry Summers (Incumbent
Beth Pafford
Republican candidate Bruce Malone to be on the ballot with the two Democratic nominees in August (Two to be elected in August)

Tennessee Tech baseball pitcher Ethan Roberts will be the featured guest on “All About Sports with Ken and Pete” Friday morning, April 27 at 8:30 a.m. on WJLE.

Roberts has helped lead the Golden Eagles to a #20 ranking in the country this season . Tech also owns the nation’s longest winning streak at 26 wins in a row.

“All About Sports with Ken and Pete” features weekly commentary and special guests talking about baseball, golf and a variety of other local, regional, state, and national sporting events. Listeners also have a chance to win giveways during the show.

The program is hosted by Ken Lacy and Pete Ferguson, who have been associated with Riverwatch Golf & Resort and who now serve as managers of the Smithville Municipal Golf Course and Swimming Pool.

Sports fans be sure to tune in weekly for “All About Sports with Ken and Pete” Fridays at 8:30 a.m. on WJLE AM 1480 and FM 101.7 and LIVE Stream at www.wjle.com.