News
Circuit Court Judge Jonathan Young Suspended for Remainder of his Term
July 29, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
Circuit Court Judge Jonathan Young of Cookeville has been suspended for the remainder of his term after the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct issued an order Tuesday detailing multiple complaints against him including one in which he allegedly had sex with a woman who was a party in an adoption case before his court.
(Read more at link below)
This is the second time Young has been suspended by the board for improper conduct. Almost two years ago Judge Young received a public reprimand from the Board of Judicial Conduct and was suspended for 30 days for inappropriate messages he sent to women on various social media platforms from 2015 to 2020 which included content ranging from flirtatious to overtly sexual.
Again, the Board has handed down a 30-day suspension effective August 2 keeping him from holding court for the remainder of his term which ends August 31, 2022. Young was defeated in the Republican Primary in May by Caroline Knight who will become the next judge as she is unopposed in the General Election next Thursday.
Judge Young has served the last eight years as Circuit Court Judge Part II in the 13th Judicial District representing DeKalb and six other counties.
Little Known Candidate to Become Democratic Nominee for State Representative
July 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
The election is not until next Thursday, August 4 but Tom Cook has already punched his ticket to the November General Election as he will be the Democratic nominee for State Representative in District 40.
Cook, a resident of the Silver Point community of DeKalb County, is unopposed for the office in the Tennessee Democratic Primary. He will face the Republican nominee, either Incumbent Terri Lynn Weaver or Michael Hale in November. The term of office is two years.
Cook, who has lived in DeKalb County for the last four years, said he decided to get into this race after being contacted by the Democratic Party. “I was notified by the party and they asked if I was interested in becoming a candidate. I hadn’t really thought about it before then. Once I was asked to become involved I thought I would have a lot to offer. It’s a great opportunity to try and offer what I think is important with regard to change in the five counties that make up District 40,” said Cook.
A native of New Jersey, Cook furthered his education in Chicago, Saint Louis, and Nashville and made a career in healthcare as a nurse practitioner before retirement.
“I left home right after high school and went to Loyola University in Chicago for my bachelor’s degree. I went to Saint Louis University in Missouri for my master’s degree in nursing and finally finished my final degree which is a PhD which I got from Vanderbilt University. I have worked as a nurse for my whole life and retired as a nurse practitioner. I worked at Vanderbilt University for almost 40 years,” said Cook.
Some of the issues Cook said he is passionate about include healthcare, abortion rights, and more gun laws among others.
“I think rural health is a hugely important issue in all of the counties that I am running in and in the state. There are 16 hospitals that have closed since 2010 in rural areas of Tennessee. That is the second highest number of hospital closings in the country. I would like to help people take advantage of health opportunities that are out there and for them to live long and healthy lives,” said Cook.
As for guns, Cook said there should be more restrictions. “I am not interested in taking away guns except for assault weapons. We don’t need assault weapons to kill deer. Often the alternative for some seems to be that we have to focus more on mental health but in the murders that have taken place in schools where children are killed and in churches where parishioners are killed finding out about mental health after the fact has not been a useful kind of thing. I think we need more mental health opportunities to help people become their best selves, but I am also interested in gun safety. I think people need to be as interested in where they put guns and the access their children have to guns,” Cook continued.
“Other things I am interested in include serving veterans and active military personnel. I am also interested in supporting everyone who calls Tennessee home. That is the framework I come from”.
Cook said he discovered DeKalb County four years ago after deciding to relocate from Nashville to a more rural area. “ I lived in Nashville and had an opportunity with prices that went up for selling in Nashville to take advantage of that and then move to a more rural setting which I was glad to do and I am glad that I have. I love it here,” he said.
Cook, who is gay, is married and has an adopted son. “I am married and I adopted a child who is now 33 years old. I don’t have a wife. I have a husband and I am very proud of that,” said Cook.
Although a political newcomer to DeKalb County, Cook said he has held public office before.
“When I lived in rural Pennsylvania, I ran for the local school board and was not elected the first time that I ran. The second time I ran I was elected, and I was glad to be on the school board,” said Cook.
Back to School Education Celebration Returns but at New Location
July 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
The Back to School Education Celebration is back again but at a new location.
Instead of the public square where the event was held for several years, this year’s Back-To-School Bash” for free school supplies will be held on Tuesday, August 2nd from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM inside at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center, 101 West Church Street, Smithville.
Smithville FBC pastor Chad Ramsey encourages all parents and children in DeKalb County to participate for free school supplies and fun activities. There will also be free food and drinks for all attendees.
“It is still being called the Back to School Education Celebration but instead of it being on the public square we will have it at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center (Gym) so that means rain or shine we will have the Education Celebration from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. All kids and parents are invited to come and get free school supplies. Its for those in pre-K and kindergarten all the way up to 12th grade. This event is for our community and we will distribute as much as we have until we have no more. There will be free food and more. We hope you will come out,” said Ramsey.
The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber will present awards for the best-decorated “Back-to-School” booth.
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