County Commissioner Tom Chandler has his Say (View Video Here)

July 23, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Getting some things off his chest!

During Monday night’s monthly county commission meeting, First District Commissioner Tom Chandler expressed his frustrations in the wake of the successful petition drive which has thwarted, at least for now, the county moving forward on issuing bonds to borrow up to $65 million for a jail/judicial center.

While Chandler said he supports the public having a voice, he believes many of the 2,500 who signed the petition may have been misinformed by some who circulated it and questioned why more of those people, if they have concerns, don’t show up at county commission meetings to express their views and learn more.

“I expected the commission meeting in June to be standing room only. A packed house. It wasn’t. Not even close. When they asked for comments from the public just three people came forward to comment on the tax increase. Yet last month’s commission meeting and budget vote was probably the most important in the last 25 years by far. Those meetings were all publicized. Where were the 2,500 who signed the petition” asked Commissioner Chandler.

Chandler also doesn’t like the way the local media, WJLE and the Smithville Review, covered the story of the petition drive calling it “less than unbiased” and further claimed the press was “crucifying” County Mayor Matt Adcock for being a “messenger” to the county commission on the jail issue. Chandler commended Adcock for his tie breaking votes last month to increase the property tax levy for debt service as well as the bond resolution for the jail/judicial center saying it was the “right thing to do”.

When the petition was turned over to the county clerk earlier this month, the media spoke with and made photos of County Commissioner Beth Pafford and Dennis Stanley, volunteers of the petition drive. Jon Slager, DeKalb County native and Lascassas resident and attorney, who assisted in organizing the petition drive also issued a prepared statement. Chandler criticized WJLE and the Smithville Review for not contacting other county commissioners for comment. WJLE did seek a statement on the petition filing from County Mayor Matt Adcock, who is also chairman of the county commission, but he declined to make a comment at that time.

“The best thing you had in your coverage of the petition drive was a comment from Dennis Stanley that the public should have the right to express its vote on the $65 million bond issue. I pointed that out in our last commission meeting and so did Beth Pafford. However, you also should have noted that the public signatures and votes should be based on logic, facts, and an understanding of the situation DeKalb County and this commission finds itself in and not on emotion, misinformation, intimidation, half-truths, just plain lies, or personalities, all of which I believe were exhibited during the petition drive. Some apparently were told that they would not have to pay the tax increase if they signed the petition, and the bond issue was defeated in November. This is not true. I note that both WJLE and the Smithville Review pointed this out in their articles, “said Chandler.

Commissioner Chandler said he still believes a judicial center is the best option in solving the county’s jail/courtroom issues and further delays may result in the Tennessee Corrections Institute decertifying the remaining 52 beds at the existing jail, putting the county at greater liability risk.

“When we started looking at the big picture it became apparent very quickly that the justice center housing both the jail and the criminal court facilities was the correct and cheapest way to go, and we have reaffirmed that multiple times over the last year. The justice center is still the correct solution and its still our plan,” said Chandler.

“I challenge the public, especially those who promoted and signed the bond petition to come forward with any viable, well thought out and financially sound solutions the county commission has not considered for a justice center and or dealing with the issues in the jail or at the courthouse. Who knows? Maybe we missed something over the last 18 months and countless meetings and discussions we have had on this matter. But please if you are going to do that, do your homework. Bring us something substantial and not band aids and musical chairs,” added Chandler.

Meanwhile Commissioner Pafford said she believes the county should take another look at possibly addressing a jail only model at the existing site without a judicial center, relocating offices currently in use at the courthouse to available space at the county complex, and making better use of the courthouse only for judicial purposes.

Commissioner Tony Luna said while an unfinished room at the complex could be finished to possibly relocate the election commission and veteran’s service offices, there might not be enough adequate space at the county complex for other courthouse offices.

Commissioner Chandler added that relocating offices from the courthouse to the county complex would not solve overcrowding and lack of space issues on court days.

Commissioner Pafford suggested that the judges might be persuaded to work with the county in better scheduling court cases to help address some of those concerns.

Pafford asked County Mayor Adcock what the next step is on the referendum now that the election commission has certified the petition.

Adcock said the county commission at the August 26 meeting will either entertain a resolution calling for a referendum on the November election ballot or let the bond resolution die.

In other business, the commission voted to dissolve the jail committee which was made up of the entire 14 members of the county commission to make recommendations to the full commission on jail/judicial center issues.

Commissioner Tony Luna moved that the seven-member public works committee take over from the jail committee to discuss issues and make recommendations concerning the jail which was already part of its duties anyway.

July 22, 2024
By: Bill Conger

Many a middle school student might face some teasing from their peers for playing with dolls, but Jaxson Murphy doesn’t have that problem. The DeKalb County boy’s love for puppets has garnered respect and praise from the ventriloquist community. So much so that this past week, 11-year-old Jaxson won first place in the Junior Open Mic at the 2024 International Ventriloquist Convention. He performed July 18 at the Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport in Erlanger, KY, located at the Ohio/Kentucky border.

“I liked it, but I was a little nervous [before the performance],” Murphy said. Jaxson, an upcoming 6th grader at DeKalb West School, is the son of Heath and Rachel Murphy and Lindsay and Daniel Greer. He competed against youth up to age 18. Last year, he took home second place in the event.

“We were so tickled for him,” said Jaxson’s grandfather, David Turner [wife Roenia], a well-known local ventriloquist. “It was just a joy to hear the laughter. One of the judges called him the next [professional ventriloquist] Jeff Dunham.”

“He’s always been my little shadow,” Turner adds. “To see the whole community of ventriloquists that I’ve known for the last 30 years embrace him was just great.”

“I’ve been around it all my life,” Jaxson says of the talent he’s learned. “I saw my grandpa do it, and I wanted to do it.”

Jaxson stood on stage for his performance with two wooden puppets, Egore and Dwayne, that his grandfather made. He practiced the 5-minute skit over and over again in front of a mirror prior to the big day.

“Nobody hardly ever does two wooden puppets at the same time,” Turner said in advising his grandson before the competition. “It would be awesome, and he perfected it. As many times as I’ve performed there, I’ve never enjoyed it more than when he performed.”

A chip-off-the-old-block, Jaxson was enamored with his grandfather’s hobby practically from birth, and his interest never waned.

“I’ve got pictures of him as a little bitty kid holding puppets,” Turner said. “He’s always hung around me, and we videoed him with puppets. I never did think he would do it. You know how kids pick up stuff, and it’s just a phase they go through. So far Jaxson still likes it. I hope he stays with it.”

Turner started ventriloquism in the 5th grade, but by the end of 7th grade he gave it up until after high school. “I quit because kids made fun of me, but I never did know about the convention when I was younger. But he’s got so many friends, kids and adults, that encourage him. I didn’t have that when I was growing up.”

Jaxson is already excited about next year and even had one person had him a business card to book him for a show in the near future.

July 22, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Two men were arrested Sunday after a large amount of drugs including methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, Xanax, and buprenorphine were found during a traffic stop by the sheriff’s department.

41-year-old Jonathan Kyle McCormick of Old West Point Road, Smithville and 40-year-old Matthew Randall Sullivan of Old Snow Hill Road, Dowelltown will be in court on their charges August 15. Bond for McCormick is $200,000 and $195,000 for Sullivan.

McCormick is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of a schedule I drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of a schedule II drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of a schedule IV drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of a schedule III drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; driving while in possession of methamphetamine; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sullivan’s charges include possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of a schedule II drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of a schedule II drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of a schedule IV drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of a schedule III drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on July 21 a deputy was patrolling Sparta Highway when he spotted a blue Jeep with the driver’s side taillight out. He conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the driver/ owner of the vehicle, McCormick and a passenger, Sullivan. The officer searched the vehicle and found two baggies that contained a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. One of the bags weighed 451 grams and the other weighed 225 grams with a combined weight of 676 grams. Also found were several baggies and a scale in addition to the following: a baggie that contained a white powdery substance believed to be heroin that weighed 32.01 grams; a baggie that contained a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine that weighed 4.51 grams; a baggie that contained 10 yellow pills believed to be Xanax; a straw with residue; a scale with residue; a glass with a red liquid inside; a pill bottle that contained two orange pills believed to be Buprenorphine; and several burnt pieces of aluminum foil.

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