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Mingy K. Ball Announces Candidacy for DeKalb General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge

April 7, 2022
By:

Mingy K. Ball has announced her candidacy for the DeKalb County General Sessions Court and Juvenile Court Judge in the upcoming election of 2022.

Mrs. Ball is seeking the Republican Nomination in the Republican Primary on May 3, 2022.

Her announcement is as follows:

Mrs. Ball firmly believes that every person, before the Court, has a fundamental right to be heard without discrimination, bias, undue influence, or advantage. Mrs. Ball vows to uphold the U.S. Constitution, the Tennessee Constitution, and laws that govern our great State.

Mrs. Ball is married to Johnny D. Ball who works in the medical field, and together, they have five sons: Scotty, Justin and Nathan Colwell, Lance and Lane Ball, and six grandchildren. Mrs. Ball understands the importance of family and community.

Mrs. Ball is licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee and the Middle District of the U.S. Federal Court. She has practiced at the State Appellate Level. Since 2012, Mrs. Ball has owned and operated a successful solo law practice in Smithville. Combined, she has more than twenty years of experience working with the Department of Children’s Services; the Juvenile Courts; and the General Sessions Courts; including an array of civil and criminal cases. She worked seven years for DCS in the Child Protective Service Division (CPS) as a Severe Child Abuse Investigator; two years in the Juvenile Justice Division (JJ) as a Juvenile Probation Officer, and two years in the Family Service Division (FSW), helping children through reunification or adoption. She interned two years as an attorney for DCS in the Special Division for Termination and Adoption, pro bono.

Mrs. Ball was the President of the DeKalb County Republic Party for two terms and President of the DeKalb County GOP Women’s Club for four terms. She is a member of the Tennessee Bar
Association and several boards within the community. She has received Certificate of Recognition from the Tennessee Supreme Court over the last several years for her service to the community through pro bono work.

Mrs. Ball supports the Dekalb County Recovery Court Program. The program is very challenging
in that it holds those involved to a high standard of accountability. Successful completion of the program is life changing, not only for those that graduate, but for their friends, families, and the community. She also advocates for the Dekalb County Prevention Coalition.

Mrs. Ball states awareness is key to success and bringing about change.

Mrs. Ball goes on to describe her personal experiences, I know firsthand what it is like to experience the loss of a family member through cancer, mental illness, suicide, and overdose. I know the negative impact that addiction has on friends, family, and society as a whole. I was lost in the system as a child, in and out of foster care, separated from my siblings. I have worked night shift at fast food restaurants and factories, attending school at night and on the weekends, while raising a family. I have been a single parent operating under a parenting plan with all the challenges of co-parenting.

“I have an in-depth understanding of day-to-day life with all the struggles and rewards. Hard work got me here, I am not a product of political favor. I owe no one and I cannot be bought. Through knowledge and experience, I bring an insight to the bench that no other candidate has”, Mrs. Ball concluded.




Fellowship and Freebies during Smithville FBC Community Day Saturday, April 9

April 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville First Baptist Church is hosting its 4th annual Spring Community Day on Saturday, April 9 from 9 am until 12 noon at the church’s Life Enrichment Center (gym).

The community is invited to turn out for great fellowship and a lot of freebies.

“Over at the church we will have a free yard sale for everyone. Everything will be free so take what you need, take what you want. Come into our gym from 9 a.m. until noon or until things run out and have a great time shopping,” said FBC Pastor Chad Ramsey.

“If you are a senior adult or a single mom, we want to give you a free oil change. If you want a free oil change call us at 615-597-4275 and leave a message because those will have to be scheduled,” said Ramsey.

“We are happy to provide this. We just want to let the community know how much we love them but more importantly how much God loves them. This is our way of reaching out and saying we love you. This is something we do every year, and we are excited that this year we get to do it again. We look forward to have you come out this Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m. until 12 noon at Smithville First Baptist Church,” said Pastor Ramsey.




Wright arrested in Church burglary and theft of van

April 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A Dowelltown man, who eluded a deputy during a pursuit Sunday night, is in even more trouble with the law after he broke into the Dry Creek Baptist Church and stole a 2002 Chevy church van on Tuesday.

40-year-old Kenneth Adam Wright of Vandergriff Hollow Road, Dowelltown is charged with reckless endangerment, evading arrest (2 counts), burglary of an auto, theft of property, burglary, and vandalism. His total bond is $68,500 and he will make a court appearance on April 21.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said the story began Sunday night when a deputy spotted a man, who he thought to be Wright, at DeKalb Market. Store video surveillance later confirmed that the man was Wright. Knowing that Wright had active warrants against him for failure to appear and was to be held without bond, the officer drove into the parking lot of DeKalb Market to speak to Wright but he jumped in his vehicle and fled. The deputy then activated his blue lights and sirens and began a pursuit of Wright’s vehicle on Nashville Highway which reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour with Wright, at times, traveling on the wrong side of the highway almost hitting several oncoming automobiles. Wright stopped at Wilder Hollow in Dowelltown before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing on foot.

On Wednesday, someone from the Dry Creek Baptist Church on Dry Creek Road near Dowelltown discovered that the church van was missing and that the church building itself had been broken into and vandalized. It appeared someone had entered the building through the return to the central heat and air unit. Sheriff Ray said investigators believe the break-in and theft had actually occurred sometime on Tuesday.

Three hours after the church burglary and theft were reported Wednesday at 2:36 p.m. an Alexandria Police officer, having heard about it, spotted a van behind a church in Alexandria, which turned out to be the one stolen from Dry Creek Baptist Church. Two detectives from the sheriff’s department responded and upon arrival saw someone fitting Wright’s description. As the detectives approached, the man tried to flee on foot but they caught up and placed him in custody. The man was Wright.

Sheriff Ray said Wright admitted to stealing the church van, valued at $8,500 and breaking into the church and vandalizing the heating and air system causing over $1,000 in damage.




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