Dana Looper Disqualified as Republican Candidate for Judge

March 5, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

One of the candidates who had planned to run in the Republican primary for Circuit Court Judge Part I has been disqualified from that race.

Dana R. Looper of Putnam County sought the Republican nomination for the judgeship in the Thirteenth Judicial District.

Potential candidates can be challenged as “bona fide” members of a party. Each political party’s state executive committee went through the appeal process and the Republican Party disqualified Looper.

With Looper’s departure from the race, William T. “Will” Ridley will be unopposed in the May 3 GOP Primary and will face Incumbent Judge Amy Turnbull Hollars, an Independent candidate in the August General Election.

This district includes Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White Counties.

In a Facebook post, Looper responded to the challenge against her.

“Two ‘interested parties” challenged my status as a candidate in the Republican Primary based on a recent change in the Republican bylaws. I am disappointed and somewhat bewildered to announce that I have been disqualified from continuing in the race for Circuit Court Judge, part 1. My disqualification results from a challenge placed by unknown persons regarding my voting record,” said Looper.

“When filing my campaign papers, I never thought twice about what’s in my heart, I chose the party that best reflects my beliefs today. I had hoped to be the first Republican female judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit District. But reality is, the voters will not get to decide, and my opponent will run unopposed in the Republican primary. I appreciate everyone who has voiced their support and everyone’s willingness to work in this campaign. I’ve faced closed doors before and will grow from this obstacle as well,” said Looper.

March 3, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County High School has released the names of 44 Top Rank students in the Class of 2022 including the Valedictorian Isabella G. France and the Salutatorian Jacey A. Hatfield.

Bella is the daughter of Kim and Will Frazier and Tim and Karen France. Jacey’s parents are Jeremy and Jennifer Hatfield.

To be considered for top Rank, students must take at least 10 honors, dual enrollment, and AP courses and students must have a 21 or higher ACT composite score.

The following students have met requirements to be considered for Top Rank:
1. Isbella G. France
2. Jacey A. Hatfield
3. Jasmine M. Bilbrey
4. Sean B. Antoniak
5. Natalie M. Snipes
6. Aidan G. Whitman
7. Kadee B. Ferrell
8. Haidyn R. Hale
9. Kennedy G. Agee
10. Nathaniel P. Crook
11. Dexton B. Emberton
12. Steve D. Trapp
13. Kennedy G. Polk
14. Jordan M. Young
15. Shanti Liu
16. Isaac D. Knowles
17. Sadie R. West
18. Amarious J. Shaw
19. Jenna L. Cantrell
20. Madelyn R. Ray
21. Kaydence R. Thompson
22. Lynsie P. Cooper
23. Isaiah L. Harrington
24. Madison N. Lack
25. Kiley I. Speaks
26. Jathan R. Willoughby
27. Ian M. Paladino
28. Allison J. Wilbur
29. Richard D. Martinez, III
30. Grayson S. Hendrix
31. Faith J. Betancourt
32. Ariel B. Patterson
33. Allison D. Eastes
34. Tylan C. Panker
35. Summer M. Crook
36. Jonathan D. Lawson
37. Matthew D. Keaton
38. Breanna G. Cothern
39. Malayna N. Nokes
40. Alexandra B. Cook
41. Dawson L. Bandy
42. Jamison R. Trapp
43. Erykah S. Duverne
44. Hagen W. Waggoner

March 3, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The new owners and staff of Galaxy Ford will be celebrating a grand opening on Friday, March 4.

Matt and Lisa Kuhn of Charleston, South Carolina recently purchased the business, formerly known as Florence and White Ford from Jim Florence and Jimmy White.

Everyone is invited to stop by Galaxy Ford at 710 West Broad Smithville for the grand opening to meet the new owners, enjoy refreshments, and check out the selection of new and pre-owned automobiles. The ribbon cutting will be at 11:30 a.m. and food will be served from 12 noon until 2 p.m.

“We will have a meet and greet, and some food will be catered. Basically, it will be just an open-door event. We want folks to come in and meet us, see the new cars that we have on the lot, and get to know us. We want to be part of the community and for the community to be part of us,” said Matt Kuhn.

Although he has been in the business for more than 40 years, this is Kuhn’s first new car dealership.

“This is a first for us. Our big endeavor. We have a business in Charleston affiliated with Mercedes and we do some customized van work for them, but I have always wanted to be in the new car business although its difficult to become a dealer. There is a stringent criterion, and you have to have a name for yourself in the industry to be recognized by the manufacturers. We have been doing that for the last 10 years and we were fortunate enough to meet Mr. White and Mr. Florence. They wanted to have a change in their life and sell their business and we were able to procure it,” Kuhn said.

After being introduced to the community, Kuhn said he fell in love with it especially the lake and looks forward to getting to know the people here.

“One of my key managers lives about 40 minutes from here and frequents the area and he is one of the folks that figured out this dealership was up for sale. I love this area and the lake. I am a big lake guy. That is definitely in my future to be on the lake. I also like the market. It’s a growing market. It’s the right demographic of folks. I like smaller businesses and the hometown feel. That’s where we have had success in our other businesses as well,” Kuhn continued.

Kuhn and his automotive team look forward to becoming an active part of the community.

“We have a team of people ready to serve you including David Fitzpatrick, our interim general manager, and Jimmy White who has stayed on as the sales manager and we will eventually roll into a permanent position in general manager. I will also be here more frequently than I have been. We plan to develop and refresh this store and have already looked at some plans for a new building so there is a lot that is going to happen that will keep our presence here consistently. We are a family business. My wife and I and my three adult sons run our businesses and we want this one to be a family business as well”.

Kuhn said he wants Galaxy Ford to be the go-to place here for new or pre-owned automobiles.

“The inventory of new cars will be Ford products, but you will see a whole array of used products here as well including late model used cars down to affordable driving cars. We want to make it so everybody feels they can come here and trade a vehicle whether it’s a commuter car or a fully loaded pickup truck. We want to be a full-service community dealer and in the service phase as well. We will also service other models as well as Ford,” said Kuhn.

Galaxy Ford can also accommodate customers with an eye toward a new eco-friendly automobile.

“People are going to have to embrace electric vehicles because that is our destiny for a host of different reasons but mostly because of EPA regulations. Zero emission vehicles are mandated by the federal government,” said Kuhn. “By 2035 even large trucks will have to be electric. This evolution is coming. In our showroom today we are selling E-Mustangs. The E-transit work vans will be here this summer. The F150 Lightning pickup truck is also coming. It will change people’s psyche on how a vehicle is operated. The biggest issue with electric cars is range anxiety. You’ll wonder if you’ll be able to get to a car charger in time. Will there be somebody else at the charger if there is only one. We are spoiled with vehicles that burn fuel because there are plenty of gas stations and you can normally get to a pump without waiting. Its going to change. You’ll be fueling your car at home so to speak with your own charger so habits are going to change. How you use your vehicle will change and certainly the prices of the vehicle will change because the battery technology is more expensive so even on an entry level vehicle on the electric side it’s going to be a fairly pricey vehicle mostly because of the cost of the batteries. The flip side of that is electric cars require very little maintenance. You’re not changing oil and there is very little brake wear because the electric motor slows the vehicle down and regenerates power for the battery. Things like your air conditioner are not driven by a belt anymore. Tires and wiper blades will be about the biggest wear items so while you may have a little higher price in acquiring the car you should see it saving in maintenance,” added Kuhn.

All too often, new car dealers in many places have become big box stores. Kuhn wants to change that perception with this dealership.

“For me its kind of nostalgic. When I was a young man, it was always exciting to go to the car dealerships. Every September when the new cars were rolled out the dealers would black out the windows of the store with paper or soap. You were not allowed to see the new cars until they let you see them. It was the fabric of the community. It was always something exciting to do. We have lost that. A lot of dealerships have become big box stores or supermarket type car dealerships. I personally don’t like that approach. I’d like to get back to where we were. It felt better. The transactions are more relaxed and more trustful than they are in the superstores,” he said.

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